Cricket

[Desmond]

Commentators are fond of advocating low-percentage exciting options like captains declaring on anorexic leads and players swishing their bats like escaped axe murderers, often justified by the term "moving the game forward". It would make a good drinking game.

The result was unfortunate for Australia but a blessing for Foxtel subscribers, who will not have to listen to Warnie banging on for the next five years about how Australia should have declared with a margin of 250.

Punter was calling for an earlier declaration in the 3rd test also, mid second session day 4. He said the aussies already had enough and India wouldn't break 200 in the 4th innings. We would have lost that one too on that advice.

[Garvinator]

Are you referring to his stats at the Adelaide Oval specifically? Because otherwise I can't see how that could be true.

No. The stats shown were Mitchell Starc's results in pink ball tests compared to red ball tests. But yes, there will be a large bias towards Adelaide Oval matches as that is where the majority of Australia's pink ball test matches are played. I think only Australia has only played one other pink ball test at the Gabba.

Green absolutely should be persisted with. But not picking up any wicket is a bit disappointing of course.

I am not disagreeing with you. I am questioning how he was used and his role in the future. If he is not going to be used as a batting all rounder and he is only going to be used as a batter, then it is a fair question to ask if he is amongst the top six batsmen in the country?

If his role is as a batting all rounder, then the usual standard is that their batting average is higher than their bowling average. Considering how little Cameron Green has bowled, and that he has not taken a wicket so far, tough standard to be judged by :o

I am also willing to throw in Tim Paine's wicket keeping and captaincy as well as up for review. But with our next tour being to South Africa (if it goes ahead with Corona Virus issues), difficult to change captains before that tour.

[Kevin Bonham]

If he is not going to be used as a batting all rounder and he is only going to be used as a batter, then it is a fair question to ask if he is amongst the top six batsmen in the country?

He has a first-class average of 50 so I'd be persisting with him for at least a few more Tests as a batsman alone in preference to Wade. And the problem is there don't seem to be too many others bashing down the door for a place in the middle order.

[Garvinator]

He has a first-class average of 50 so I'd be persisting with him for at least a few more Tests as a batsman alone in preference to Wade. And the problem is there don't seem to be too many others bashing down the door for a place in the middle order.

Wade's normal position has been at 5, which he batted in the last two tests. And I commented that I think his time is up. So my comments in regards to Cameron Green are separate to what happens to Matthew Wade.

If Will Pucovski is fit and able for the South African tour, then it is likely he will be opening with David Warner. I am really concerned though about Will Pucovski's high concussion rate for someone so young. Either he is very unlucky (doubtful), or he finds it difficult to get out of the way of the short ball.

Given how much Pujara was hit during his fourth innings, it seems to a continually developing trend for players to allow bouncers to hit them on the helmets, rather than to know how to duck and sway out of the way of bouncers.


And then that leaves what happens with Marcus Harris. And Travis Head was a bit unlucky to be dropped in favour of Matthew Wade, but was mainly done because Wade had played the team game in putting his hand up to open in the first two tests and so dropping him after that would have been a bit rude.

So unless the selectors are going to persist with Wade, to which I do not see any compelling reason to do so, then I think it is a choice between Harris and Head.

I will just throw one comment in though. I have always had a high opinion of Glenn Maxwell and have thought that he should have been given a long opportunity to secure a position at 5 or 6 in the Australian middle order. When he has been picked, it has been at short notice most of the time, and he has been shuffled between 3 to 6 and all positions in between.

But the selectors have always been extremely cold on Maxwell, and his time has probably passed, so time to look for others.

[Kevin Bonham]

I will just throw one comment in though. I have always had a high opinion of Glenn Maxwell and have thought that he should have been given a long opportunity to secure a position at 5 or 6 in the Australian middle order. When he has been picked, it has been at short notice most of the time, and he has been shuffled between 3 to 6 and all positions in between.

But the selectors have always been extremely cold on Maxwell, and his time has probably passed, so time to look for others.

Yes it seems there is some objection to Maxwell that is not on sporting talent grounds, probably perceptions that he does not get on with others in the team. While his first-class average is not that high he is incredibly talented and probably no more prone to getting out with stupid shots than Wade.

[Kevin Bonham]

Geoff Lemon Sport
@GeoffLemonSport
One number that made an impression: up until November 2018, India had won 5 Tests in Australia in 71 years.

Since then, India won 4 Tests in Australia in 2 years.

[Desmond]

No. The stats shown were Mitchell Starc's results in pink ball tests compared to red ball tests. But yes, there will be a large bias towards Adelaide Oval matches as that is where the majority of Australia's pink ball test matches are played. I think only Australia has only played one other pink ball test at the Gabba.

This article may be what you're referring to, though the claim is a bit different from the one you made.

Basically it's saying he performs very well in night games, and very poorly against India specifically. Stats are from before the series:

... The 30-year-old fast bowler has claimed 244 Test scalps in 57 matches at an average of 26.97.

... Against India in Test cricket, the senior pacer has claimed 24 wickets at home at 32.13.

... He averages 36.19 against the Indian cricket team, besides an economy rate of 3.30.

...In seven Day-Night Test matches, Starc has racked up 42 wickets at a staggering average of 19.27 and a strike rate of 35.67.

[Basil]

Maaaarvellous result.

[Adamski]

Maaaarvellous result.

Great test for us neutrals. Well deservd win in the end to India. The chase was large enough normally to be enough, but Pant and co did the deed.

[Desmond]

Exciting finish to the big bash, with the team in 2nd last vying for a finals berth even until the last game.

[Patrick Byrom]

Exciting finish to the big bash, with the team in 2nd last vying for a finals berth even until the last game.

There are three teams finishing with seven wins and seven losses, with the Heat qualifying only because they have one extra bonus point. The Stars needed all four points to qualify, but it doesn't look like they'll get any from their final game.

[Scott Colliver]

Chess even got a mention thanks to Dan Christian

[Desmond]

Wade dropped for South Africa tour.

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.

[Scott Colliver]

Jhye Richardson should be in the squad ahead of any of Abbot, Neser or Steketee. Not sure we really need 7 fast bowlers in the squad.

Dropping Wade, picked a specialist batsman and adding a specialist wicket keeper in Carey leaves the batting weak. No idea what Henrique's is doing anywhere near the squad

[Ian Rout]

Wade dropped for South Africa tour.

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.

Not unexpected that Wade was shelved - even if it's not permanent it's sensible to audition someone else, and he's more use in the T20. Head is harder to understand - is he considered to have gone back up the rankings by standing still? Perhaps the plan is to play Carey at 5 or 6 with a view to him replacing Paine in the Ashes if he keeps dropping catches.