The Cricket Thread

[RedRaider]

Mitchell Marsh back in the squad for Travis Head. Siddle in the 12. Is this the Ashes or a retirement benefit Charity match?? Siddle is 35 in November. He won't play another Ashes Test after this series, unless Hohns is still a selector. Selectors change a winning Test squad but leave the worst performers alone. The old saying, its harder to get out of the Test squad than into it, seems to be coming true.

IMO there is argument to say Siddle is the perfect squad member/ 12th man. His experience, professionalism and reliability is what all coaches want, and could easily be mentoring/ coaching the other bowlers from inside the playing group. He can help the other players, and if a bowler went down in the warmup, you know he could slot in at a moments notice and not disgrace himself. That said, he definitely inst talented enough to be there on his own merit these days.

As for MMarsh, how many chances do you get? I get it, Head and Wades form hasnt been the best, and we have already tinkered as much as we can with the top order, but.... ooph!

I would have given a younger bloke some experience. Why is Neser on tour again?

[Brewdle]

Starc out, Sids in


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[Matt]

Siddle and Marsh?!?
Why?!?

[yeh raiders]

Unless Starc is missing both his arms, Peter Siddle should not be replacing him.

[Matt]

Oh...
Paine won the toss and bowled.
WEIRD?!?

[yeh raiders]

I just want to see Starc bowling. I love watching him. This is Bull

[RedRaider]

Siddle and Marsh?!?
Why?!?

Trevor Hohns.

Lyon has a damaged spin finger. Marsh has never been a great wicket taker. Siddle is half the bowler he was 4 years ago. Good luck to Cummins and Hazelwood and Labu. Won the toss and sent the opposition in. Everything crossed for a positive first session.

[gerg]

Siddle isn't good enough to be in the 11. The treatment of Starc this series is absolutely baffling.

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[Azza]

****. Poor selection.

Like the rest of you I cannot understand why Starc hasn't been selected.. I wonder if there's something going on behind the scenes

[yeh raiders]

Now he drops an absolute babysitter.

**** sake.

[Matt]

Siddle drops a sitter at fine leg.
Root gets a life

[Azza]

Well this siddle selection is proving a master stroke

[-TW-]

Get in the bin Siddle, **** sake

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[Azza]

We need Smith to score a quadruple hundred

[Azza]

Amateurs!

[Matt]

Paine drops it right in front of Warners eyes.
Oh dear!

Root life #2

[RedRaider]

Dear oh me Peter Siddle. A Test player dropping a catch like that? Stevie Wonder could have caught it. Feel sorry for Pat Cummins. Root gets a life and now another with Paine putting down a sitter again off Cummins. 2 lives for Root.

[Azza]

We are rooted.

[-TW-]

Dunno how we assfluked retaining the Ashes

We are putrid

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[Azza]

Only because England are more putrid

[Northern Raider]

Terrible start by Aussies given we sent them in. You would be targeting at least 3 in the first session. 1 down makes its Pom's session comfortably.

[Northern Raider]

Only because England are more putrid

Classic case of individual performances prolong up both sides. Smith and Cummins for Aussies. Broad, Archer and Stokes for poms.

[RedRaider]

Can't bowl, Can't catch. Well done Trevor Hohns in changing a winning side. The body language does not look like an Ashes retaining side. Give them an inspirational speech over lunch Trevor. It could start with "I'm on the first plane back to Australia, This arvo". It might just work.

[RedRaider]

Siddle gets an edge from Root and Smith puts down a tough one. Root has 3 lives. Will he get to 9?

[yeh raiders]

Peter Siddle deadset makes his own bad luck.

[RedRaider]

Stumps England 8-271. Marsh surprised taking 4 wickets. Cummins and Hazelwood look exhausted in the final session but have 2 each. Siddle, the bowler preferred over Starc, has no wickets.

[Azza]

I told you saps the marsh selection was a master stroke

[-PJ-]

Hang on a min guys..

I thought we were putrid.

[Matt]

Siddle has been a mistake selection all series. Today proved why.

Marsh did his job, and repaid the selection with 4 for. Allowing Cummins, Hazelwood and Lyon reprieve.

Awful awful awful fielding.

Terrible choice to bowl 1st by Paine.

Buttlers swashbucking at the end to make it 271/8 is about even. On day 1.

[yeh raiders]

Joe Root’s innings - 4/50

His form has fallen off a cliff.

[Northern Raider]

Well Marsh did the job he was selected for. Concern is he scratches out a 30 odd and locks himself into the no6 spot for the next two test series.

Root given several lives and didn't make us pay too badly. Problem is when you elect to bowl first you can't afford to let those opportunities slip. The game is now in the balance. We could knock them over for under 300, which isn't too bad a result. If Butler gets going again and Leach/Broad hang around we might be looking at a 400 total, which just about rules out our winning chances.

[RedRaider]

The Australians didn't look happy to be out there last night. The rare smile I saw, other than taking wickets, was from Warner when Paine wanted to change his fielding position and both Paine and Marsh were trying to get his attention and he must have had something far more important to do than look in the direction of his captain. Finally he turned around after several Paine expletives and had a smile on his face as he jogged to the new position.

Considering the catches put down, we are not in a bad position but it could have been so much better. Hopefully clean them up quickly tonight and see opener Warner walk on and then walk off with a smile on his face.

[Makaveli]

**** off Warner you suck

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[yeh raiders]

Well that’s the just **** batting from Warner.

Must’ve been a feather on it, even though it looked like he missed it.

[yeh raiders]

“Good too see Warner trying to play shots...”

Give me a spell... not excusing anyone for getting out in the 2nd over, playing a cross bat shot. Batting 101.