The Cricket Thread

[Northern Raider]

Marsh is the AB Medalist... why does that make me feel like we sucked this past 12months?!? And we won the Test Champs and a WC.

Because as Australians in our 30’s/40’s(I’m assuming) we expect nothing but wins, we’ve been very blessed in the periods of crickets we’ve had the pleasure of watching.

We’re not as good as we used to be but we’re still the best in the world.

That's probably it.
I know he's been good this yr, but surely it was Cummins... weird

AB medal is a cumulative vote/points system. Always goes to a player who is a regular in all 3 formats. Marsh one of the few candidates in that regard. Bats and bowls plus he's been in good form overall. No real shock he's taken it out.

[Matt]

And just on the earlier talk of the transitioning of this test team…. The Ashes showed the real glue of the side and the most irreplaceable player/person is Nathan Lyon.

There is no obvious way to try and ready Murphy or Sangha etc. We knew we’d never have another Warne but we’re also never going to have another Lyon.

I’d say his career and the way he is embedded in the Aussie culture will have the brains trust hoping he wants to keep playing through to 40 to try and ease the transition of the bowling unit.

Unfortunately for Lyon he’ll never be seen as a great, even if he played until he’s 40 and gets 700 wickets he’ll never be seen in the same light a Warnie.

Shane’s shadow will cast as big a shadow as Bradman’s until generations that didn’t witness his career.

Stuey MaGill know all about Warnie’s shadow.

Well... MacGill would have been Warne if not for Warne.

I agree Lyon will be hard to replace. TBH, the quicks will too. Though we do produce more

[Northern Raider]

Lyon already is viewed as one of our great Test bowlers. As a spinner 2nd only to Warne. As a finger spinner he's set in concrete as our best ever.

Yes, replacing him will be tough. Mainly because he's so effective on non-spin friendly decks. You can safely pick him for any test regardless of conditions. That is a very rare commodity.

At least we have a few in the pipeline. Murphy the obvious one and is still very young. Matt Kuhneman is continually improving in all formats and still only 27. Showed in India he's up to the job at Test level. A few more young guys could put their hand up in the next year or so.

Let's just hope they don't churn through the options like they do post Warnie, before Lyon came along.

[Azza]

And also remember in the early years of Lyon’s career he was in and out of the team probably quite unfairly. He has a better record against the Indians - who are traditionally regarded as the best players of spin - than Shane Warne.

[Northern Raider]

And also remember in the early years of Lyon’s career he was in and out of the team probably quite unfairly. He has a better record against the Indians - who are traditionally regarded as the best players of spin - than Shane Warne.

He got left out a couple of times early on, like most players. In his first couple of years his returns were OK without being anything special. Fortunately they stuck with him and didn't go chasing the next shiny object.

[Azza]

I think it was more than a couple of times from memory. He showed more promise than any of the other spinners coming through.

[Northern Raider]

I think it was more than a couple of times from memory. He showed more promise than any of the other spinners coming through.

Would need to check history to see how often Lyon got left out. The famous one was when they went for Agar who subsequently scored 98 batting no11.

[Azza]

My biggest disappointment with this current generation is despite the resurgence in our our test team over the last several years we still haven’t won a series in India or England.

[Matt]

Agar and Beer were both tried before going back to Lyon.

[Matt]

My biggest disappointment with this current generation is despite the resurgence in our our test team over the last several years we still haven’t won a series in India or England.

Even the great sides struggled in India. Waugh's and Ponting's didn't fair much better.

Don't think Ponting ever won the Ashes in England???
Had the McGrath trending on the ball. Did Warnie miss a series for diaretics? And then there was the Kasper strangled down the legside game/series where we looked to have it wrapped up (actually... was Kasper playing because McGrath wasn't???).

[-TW-]

2001?

[Azza]

2001?

Yes

Which is insane.

We won in India in 2004, we need to stop legitimising it by saying even the great sides struggled, and find a way

[Matt]

2001?

Yes

Which is insane.

We won in India in 2004, we need to stop legitimising it by saying even the great sides struggled, and find a way

TBF, the 3 big nations struggle away from home.
India struggled to win here, England struggled to win here.
England doesnt win in India - I know they just got 1 game.
India didnt win in England til recently too.

Home field is important. That said, I agree with you all, find a way. Train for it - Hayden swept, now Root and Pope are reverse sweeping. Its not reinventing the wheel, its reusing it.

[Matt]

Cause we're not winning by an innings every test and scoring 600 like they did in the mid 2000s

It's been refreshing to watch some cricket on tougher decks with lower scores where the game is still alive after Australia bats

I love a contest too, but doesnt change that we should have won all 5 games against 2 teams worse than us, esp at home. Our batting was a big issue.

[Matt]

Yeah they'll be regretting it in a year or two when, with a few further retirements, our batting completely goes down the toilet and we're losing tests left right and centre. Same thing happened around the 2010 mark, I'm expecting it to happen again.

It could happen

I think it will happen. We were in dire straits for a few years after the greats of the 00's retired, until eventually Smith started to find his feet as a batsman. Then Warner came into the side, and a few other things clicked and our batting became stronger. I can see the same cycle repeating.

A lot will rely on Head and Labuschagne during the transition. They will be the senior members of the batting lineup. We're yet to establish who the other players are going to be.

Marsh has been very good since his recall. Average over 50 in that period. The true test will be whether he can sustain it for another 3-4 years. The infatuation with Green cannot last if he doesn't score runs. Next in line is tough to ID at this stage. I'm a huge fan of Aaron Hardie and would love to see him given a crack at no.5 or 6 if the opportunity presents.

Yup, Smith and Uzi very much have the end in sight as they are 34 and 37. Carey and Marsh are both 32. So there might be a 3yrs left... maybe.

So the new core needs to revolve around Labu and Head as the senior 2, either side of 30, and Green at 24.

It also doesnt help that we thought we found a Test quality opener in Will Pukovski, and he has fitness/medial issues.

[Azza]

2001?

Yes

Which is insane.

We won in India in 2004, we need to stop legitimising it by saying even the great sides struggled, and find a way

TBF, the 3 big nations struggle away from home.
India struggled to win here, England struggled to win here.
England doesnt win in India - I know they just got 1 game.
India didnt win in England til recently too.

Home field is important. That said, I agree with you all, find a way. Train for it - Hayden swept, now Root and Pope are reverse sweeping. Its not reinventing the wheel, its reusing it.

India have won their last 2 series here, and I reckon they are a good chance of winning a third. England won a series in India more recently than we have. I think Bazball threw India off a bit, will be interesting to see how the rest of the series goes.

[Matt]

2001?

Yes

Which is insane.

We won in India in 2004, we need to stop legitimising it by saying even the great sides struggled, and find a way

TBF, the 3 big nations struggle away from home.
India struggled to win here, England struggled to win here.
England doesnt win in India - I know they just got 1 game.
India didnt win in England til recently too.

Home field is important. That said, I agree with you all, find a way. Train for it - Hayden swept, now Root and Pope are reverse sweeping. Its not reinventing the wheel, its reusing it.

India have won their last 2 series here, and I reckon they are a good chance of winning a third. England won a series in India more recently than we have. I think Bazball threw India off a bit, will be interesting to see how the rest of the series goes.

It's still the unusual, not the norm.

[Azza]

If we want to be the best, we need to stop worrying about "the norm" and set the standard. Don't think we will though, I expect we will regress for quite a few years.

[Matt]

If we want to be the best, we need to stop worrying about "the norm" and set the standard. Don't think we will though, I expect we will regress for quite a few years.

Agreed.
I dont see long format batsmen.
I dont see the next keeper.
The next spinner has potential.
There seem to be an all-rounder or 2.
Quicks we might find, but as good as the current 3, 4 or 5? Good Q.

[bonehead]

Inglis looks an out and out flat track bully and Carey has fallen apart from where I thought he was going

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[Matt]

Inglis looks an out and out flat track bully and Carey has fallen apart from where I thought he was going

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He looked like a 40 avg kinda guy, but he's regressed to 30 quickly.

[-PJ-]

1st ODI AUS v WI @ MCG.

AUS have won the toss and will bowl.

Xavier Bartlett and Lance Morris on debut for AUS

Congrats to both.

[Matt]

1st ODI AUS v WI @ MCG.

AUS have won the toss and will bowl.

Xavier Bartlett and Lance Morris on debut for AUS

Congrats to both.

2 new quicks. Interesting

[Matt]

Bartlett is ON FIRE!

[Matt]

Been watching Morris. I thought he was supposed to be really rapid?!?! He's barely touching 140 ATM. Green is bowling as fast.

Speaking of Green, he has his 1st wicket

[-PJ-]

Bartlett is ON FIRE!

The ball that got Greaves was beautiful.

[Matt]

Bartlett is ON FIRE!

The ball that got Greaves was beautiful.

Perfect quick ball.
Angle in.
Swing away.
Top of off.
Wow

[Matt]

Smith joins Green in the 50s

[Matt]

Green and Smith get the job done. They barely broke a sweat TBH. Smith finished it with a run a ball 79, Green 77 from 104. 11.5 (half, not balls) overs to spare.

[-TW-]

Was a bit of a snooze fest

[-PJ-]

Yeah that was a little easy.

Game 2 moves to Syd on Sunday.

[RedRaider]

Bartlett is ON FIRE!

The consistent movement away from the right handers was impressive. Averaging about 26 runs per wicket in Shield cricket too. He looks taylor made for English conditions next time we go there.

[Matt]

Bartlett is ON FIRE!

The consistent movement away from the right handers was impressive. Averaging about 26 runs per wicket in Shield cricket too. He looks taylor made for English conditions next time we go there.

Fit right into Jhye Richardson's role. It was impressive.

[BJ]

Been watching Morris. I thought he was supposed to be really rapid?!?! He's barely touching 140 ATM. Green is bowling as fast.

Speaking of Green, he has his 1st wicket

Morris needs to change his nickname to the Mild Thing.

[-TW-]

Meh first game, probably nervous as **** and dialled it back to land it on the pitch

See how he goes tomorrow