[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1059932, member: 377”]An all too typical collapse away from home from India. This will be a 4-0 job now.
I just can’t understand how Shane Watson can operate at Number 3, he’ll hit a few strokes nearly every innings, but will invariably get out between 20-30. A better knock from Rogers last night but he doesn’t convince as an opener. Haddin’s miserable from with the bat in 2014 continues with a score of 1. At 37, you’d wonder how secure his tenure is now.
That defeat for the WIndies is too depressing to dwell on. Its at the stage now where their continuance as a test playing entity could be coming under review. They are a constant shambles both on and off the pitch.[/QUOTE]
I’d be surprised if Rogers and Haddin aren’t kept in place til the Ashes, and even more surprised if they continued beyond. Especially if Clarke is gone, they’ll want to keep a bit of experience/continuity. I think Rogers has been good for Warner, and gets just about enough runs himself. Haddin is still very reliable behind the stumps, don’t think they’ll risk a change there and no obvious candidates to replace him as far as I know. Agreed on Watson, he’s a number six all-rounder as far as I’m concerned. Always thought his batting was overrated and his bowling underrated.
I’d agree with all of that. They definitely want to have Haddin and Rogers there for the Ashes. Haddin is still the best wickie option but his batting for the last year has been diabolical, covered over by performances from others. Rogers probably has done just enough in the last test, but if he continues to fail, there will be more pressure on him. Watson bowled brilliantly at the Gabba and they’ll move him up to 6 now, as Joe Burns from QLD will make his test debut at the MCG, coming for the injured Mitch Marsh. Good batsman, hit 183 in a Shield game in November that Trevor Hohns and Mark Waugh (both selectors) attended. He’s potentially a dangerous player. But questions have to be asked about why Ed Cowan (4 centuries including a 200 in the shield this year so far) and Adam Voges are not ahead of Burns. Voges probably because of his age. Seemingly, Lehmann just doesn’t like Ed Cowan and there does seem to be a personality clash there. I think the real test for Australia at the moment is what happens if both Warner and Smith get out early. Where do the runs come from then? Shaun Marsh is flaky as fuck, Rogers doesn’t score big, Clarke is gone, Watson can’t occupy the crease, you’re basically back to hoping Mitch Johnson can do something.
I’d say Peter Siddle might have played his last test for Australia as well.
The big question mark over Australia going into the Ashes next summer is away from the hard bouncy home pitches in Australia and the similar type tracks in South Africa, this body of players almost to a man have failed abjectly. In their last 11 tests against Pakistan (in Dubai), England and India, they’ve been presented with varying different conditions and surfaces and they just haven’t been able to adapt losing 9 and drawing just 2 of those 11 tests.
They could really do with Michael Clarke for the Ashes as he’s done well in England (Clarke has adapted and prospered on all surfaces against all opposition). Johnson and Watson in particular have really struggled in England.
Yeah, I actually switched over to watch a bit of McCullum on the red button when it was getting a bit turgid at the MCG. 195 off 134 balls. He’s some sight in full flow. Pity he didn’t bring up the double ton. Fastest double century in test cricket is Nathan Astle’s off 153 balls against England in Christchurch again (different pitch though Lancaster Park) in 2002.
Very poor captaincy from Steven Smith. Has greatly reduced Australia’s chances of winning the 3rd test to allow Shaun Marsh the chance to score a century. The lead is now 382 runs, the declaration should have came half an hour ago and now some absolute comedy gold as Marsh has gone and run himself out on 99 trying to run a single that was never there.
Compare that to the decisive captaincy of Michael Atherton in Sydney on the 1994/95 Ashes tour when he declared when Graeme Hick was on 98. The needs of England took precedence over any personal milestones.
Some effort from Kumar Sangakkara overnight. A knock of 203 to bring Sri Lanka from 78/5 to 356 all out, 1st innings lead of 135 in the 2nd test against New Zealand in Wellington. He went past 12,000 runs, fastest of the 5 men who’ve done so to get there & his 11th double ton, one shy of the record 12 of the Don.
Very good first three days in Cape Town. With the WIndies you always feel a batting collapse is imminent but they dug deep today bowling South Africa out for 421 from 384/5 to restrict South Africa’s 1st innings lead to 92 and 88/2 at stumps, just 4 runs behind after losing both openers early.
Scary to think what sort of a career we would have lost had Sanga been made keep wicket, as some in Sri Lankan cricket wanted.
I still maintain it cost Andy Flower his place at the very top table of test batters.
Kumar Sangakkara (if I could find the smilies on the mobile I’d add a clapping hands after this) one if my all time favourite sportspeople. what a joy to watch him play cricket.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1066285, member: 377”]Some effort from Kumar Sangakkara overnight. A knock of 203 to bring Sri Lanka from 78/5 to 356 all out, 1st innings lead of 135 in the 2nd test against New Zealand in Wellington. He went past 12,000 runs, fastest of the 5 men who’ve done so to get there & his 11th double ton, one shy of the record 12 of the Don.
Very good first three days in Cape Town. With the WIndies you always feel a batting collapse is imminent but they dug deep today bowling South Africa out for 421 from 384/5 to restrict South Africa’s 1st innings lead to 92 and 88/2 at stumps, just 4 runs behind after losing both openers early.[/QUOTE]
watched a good bit of these over the weekend, very enjoyable
that game in cape town is a cracker
the settings for both games are wonderful, with some cracking talent on display
Sydney test starts tomorrow. India to be led by kohli who I think will be a much better captain than the Dhoni of late. Mitchell Johnson out with a sore hammy, Mitchell stark recalled, will be interesting to see who opens the bowling. An emotional test at the ground Philip Hughes suffered his accident, alLong with the pink ribbon day in memory of Jane McGrath.
[QUOTE=“mickee321, post: 1066879, member: 367”]watched a good bit of these over the weekend, very enjoyable
that game in cape town is a cracker
the settings for both games are wonderful, with some cracking talent on display[/QUOTE]
It’s a bit like watching a dull stage in the Tour de France. Fuck all happening but it looks so sunny and bright and warm on a dark winters day.
Very few things in cricket more predictable than an Australia v India test match. India can’t play on the hard pitches in Australia, they’ve never won a series there and only ever won 5 tests. At least a bit of cowardly captaincy from Steven Smith in not going after the win in Melbourne has spared India yet another 4-0 whitewash in India this time around.
Australia can’t play on the dust bowls in India, they’ve won only won one series there since the 60’s, whitewashed on their last two tours to India and have lost 9 and drawn 2 of the last 11 tests they’ve played in India.
I was at the first two days of the corresponding fixture in Sydney 11 years ago. Tendulkar hit his then highest test score of 241 n.o. They didn’t have the pink shirts back then. A very worthy cause.
