The Cricket Season of 2018/19

[WBennett]

So Warner, Smith, Bancroft and Wade play... what happened to the guff about how we play being important?

They have all had their time in purgatory and hopefully a few moments of self reflection.

I'm with Grumpy - pick your best team, even if they are a team of hard arses. And you can still think Dave Warner is a bell end if he is making tons.

[Sydney Hacker]

My comment was more about the dribble they carried on about after the suspensions, the smile with us campaign (or whatever it was).

Although I would be more then happy to see that prick Warner never play for us again!

[Grumpy8]

According to sen sports radio Aussies have gone back to old ways , can’t get interviews access etc , seems they might have looking at selections .

[AndyP]

So Smith will be appointed captain as soon as he is eligible then?

[Grumpy8]

So Smith will be appointed captain as soon as he is eligible then?

Timeline might be nearly perfect, won’t Paine be ready to retire about then

[Grumpy8]

I am really interested in this ashes , but from the perspective of if the Aussie boys win will all the critics who want the three villains suspended for life shut up and jump on board again . Turned the radio off last night on way home , all these morally outraged critics ringing in still carrying on about cheats etc etc . Most will ring in after they win and say how great it is “we” won the ashes . Of course it will all be their fault if Aussies get their butts kicked .

[oldracer]

I dont take a great deal of notice of cricket anymore but it seems to me Khawaja is always “due” or is he in a rich vein of form and will carry all before him against the poms???

[Yossarian]

Career average of 42.

Series averages for last 5.

56 v sri lanka
28 v india
76 v Pakistan
20 v south africa
47 v england

He isn't due he is just a bit hot and cold but not in a SOS way

[TheNuclearOne]

I dont take a great deal of notice of cricket anymore but it seems to me Khawaja is always “due” or is he in a rich vein of form and will carry all before him against the poms???

He's been good overall since his re-entry and his overall average is solid. He was a bit lean against India but he may have had other things on his mind. I doubt he'll carry all before him in their conditions but he could have a good series. It will actually be a great test for him and we will see where his batting is at that's for sure. He's a senior member now with heaps of experience and we need him to step up and deliver particularly given he is batting at #3.

[AndyP]

It might be worth watching now that the two top blokes are out.

[TheNuclearOne]

Nice positive batting from Head to get the scoreboard ticking over after runs were extremely hard to come by. Bizarre stuff for Warner, caught behind first ball then not actually LBW when he strode off with barely a second thought. Well before the first session was over we saw two caught behinds that were not picked up and an LBW that wasn't out. Reviews and their use will as important as ever. Tho unsuccessful Anderson bowled a beautiful opening spell of accurate probing swing. I thought he was the best of them but Broad bowled a few absolute unplayables here and there. The pitch doesn't look overly fast or bouncy so Siddle could come in handy. Bancroft has scored a lot of runs of late but gee he was playing around that front pad quite a bit.

[PerryGroves]

Warner appears to be the anti Watto, not prepared to challenge, did Bancroft say anything to him?

[Toxic]

Warner appears to be the anti Watto, not prepared to challenge, did Bancroft say anything to him?

Not really

[coalesce]

These 2 umpires very average. Has there been a correct decision yet?

[Sydney Hacker]

I am really interested in this ashes , but from the perspective of if the Aussie boys win will all the critics who want the three villains suspended for life shut up and jump on board again . Turned the radio off last night on way home , all these morally outraged critics ringing in still carrying on about cheats etc etc . Most will ring in after they win and say how great it is “we” won the ashes . Of course it will all be their fault if Aussies get their butts kicked .

Always have liked that Smith kiddy... damn unlucky to be suspended for that year 😀

[TheNuclearOne]

Still the best Test bat on earth. Great effort by Siddle and Lyon too it's not every day you see 150+ from your last two partnerships. The rest of the top order is a bit of a worry and that is after Anderson went lame after just 4 overs. It will be fascinating to see how our total stacks up.

[LarryLong]

Warner appears to be the anti Watto, not prepared to challenge, did Bancroft say anything to him?

I'm not great at lip reading, but I think he said "it was plumb, now **** off back to the pavillion you dickhead"

I couldn't believe he didn't review it though. Batting a foot outside his crease, Broad bowling from wide around the wicket and he's working it to leg. How could it possibly be out?

Actually, I can't believe he didn't hit it for 4.

[oldracer]

WTF is with the names and numbers, really cant be serious

[Yossarian]

54278296_2238569663120259_3383977034274308096_o.jpg

[TheNuclearOne]

There's really no words for Steve Smith and gee it was good to see Wade back up all that first class form with a ton on such an immense occasion. There was a lot still to do when Head departed. Some nice little support roles through the innings too. Tonight will be intense and i hope we can get a roll on. Come on Lyon.

[Grumpy8]

Will be interesting to see if the poms have a crack or shut up shop , either way it sets up nicely for Lyon

[chappy1970]

With a spin receptive deck, Smith may also roll the arm over.

[Stuart]

Some good signs in this Test, but mostly that is due to Smith's return. Amazing how much of a difference one person can make to a batting lineup. Still, Ussie was looking pretty good in both innings, as was Head.

Still not at all convinced by Bancroft - no matter how much love Langer has for him. I have commented before on his technical short-comings, and he doesn't appear to have fixed them during his time away. He still 'lunges and sticks' on his front foot, meaning that he has to play around his front pad if the ball moves in, and then follows the ball if it moves away. On a flat track or against weaker bowling, you can get away with playing the line, but I just can't see him succeeding consistently long term as an opener against decent bowling attacks. I feel sorry for Harris, as his problems appeared more mental (i.e. working out what balls to leave) than technical, and that is a much easier fix (unless you are Glen Maxwell).

Irrespective of whether we get the 10 wickets today or not, I would assume that they will keep largely the same side for the Second Test, with the only possibly change being Starc coming in for Siddle. But if Bancroft fails again at Lords, I would hope they give Harris another chance.

[TheNuclearOne]

With a spin receptive deck, Smith may also roll the arm over.

Absolutely.

[TheNuclearOne]

Some good signs in this Test, but mostly that is due to Smith's return. Amazing how much of a difference one person can make to a batting lineup. Still, Ussie was looking pretty good in both innings, as was Head.

Still not at all convinced by Bancroft - no matter how much love Langer has for him. I have commented before on his technical short-comings, and he doesn't appear to have fixed them during his time away. He still 'lunges and sticks' on his front foot, meaning that he has to play around his front pad if the ball moves in, and then follows the ball if it moves away. On a flat track or against weaker bowling, you can get away with playing the line, but I just can't see him succeeding consistently long term as an opener against decent bowling attacks. I feel sorry for Harris, as his problems appeared more mental (i.e. working out what balls to leave) than technical, and that is a much easier fix (unless you are Glen Maxwell).

Irrespective of whether we get the 10 wickets today or not, I would assume that they will keep largely the same side for the Second Test, with the only possibly change being Starc coming in for Siddle. But if Bancroft fails again at Lords, I would hope they give Harris another chance.

He deserved a gig based on results but after having a good look at him he's still got that same old habit even after the Pattinson spray LOL

Not sure what's ahead for Anderson but he'd ask a lot of questions of Bancroft i think. Having said that i hope he sparks up and gets lots of runs.