The Australian cricket non-official thread!

The summer of cricket is officially underway! I'd imagine SA supporters must be frustrated though after a 7 wicket loss to the CAXI. Good to see the young guys get a win though.
 
I tell you what, I'm glad Matthew Wade wasn't back for Tassie's game against WA the other day. Not because of Wade himself, but because it meant Dunk had to take the gloves and hence couldn't bowl!

The Tigers are finally on the board after they beat the Redbacks today, and Peter Handscomb scored a quick ton in Victoria's win against the CAXI.
 
With just over a month until the first test and I thought we could give our first test line ups. I will kick it off.

David Warner
Matt Renshaw
Usman Khawaja
Steve Smith
Peter Handscomb
Hilton Cartwright
Peter Nevill
Mitch Starc
Pat Cummins
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood

The six and seven will be interesting and think the first two shield games will possibly decide it.
 
Good team.

For me Neville is s no brained at keeper and 7. Already having three quicks do we look to go a specialist batsman in 6, knowing how fragile our batting can be!!
 
Brendan_B said:
Good team.

For me Neville is s no brained at keeper and 7. Already having three quicks do we look to go a specialist batsman in 6, knowing how fragile our batting can be!!
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I agree we should be using a specialist batsmen at 6. I think they are hedging their bets with an all rounder and often it leads to that player bowling half a dozen overs and scoring 10-20 runs.

Opportunity for someone to step up in those first two games before the team is chosen....
 
For all intents and purposes, Cartwright is a specialist batsman. I mean, he has a first-class batting average of 51! I think if he didn't bowl at all he'd be seen in a more favourable light - instead, because there's this mentality at the moment that all-rounders are the cause of all our problems, his batting ability isn't appreciated, leading to people who insist on "six specialist batsmen" being picked discounting Cartwright, when he would have a higher FC average than whoever else they are suggesting.

By the way that mini-rant wasn't aimed at anyone here, just an observation from reading forums/social media and talking to people :)

In saying that, this would be my team for the Gabba:

1. David Warner
2. Matt Renshaw
3. Usman Khawaja
4. Steve Smith
5. Peter Handscomb
6. Shaun Marsh
7. Cameron Bancroft
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Pat Cummins
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Nathan Lyon

Bancroft selection may be slightly biased! But he's been very good with the gloves so far in the JLT Cup, and with no stand-out 'keeper at the moment he surely won't do much worse than anyone else. He'd need a very good start with the bat in the Shield, though. Same with SMarsh, but so far he's looking the goods.

36 days to go until the first ball! :D
 
My XI

1. David Warner
2. Matt Renshaw
3. Usman Khawaja
4. Steve Smith
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Peter Handscomb
7. Peter Nevill
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Pat Cummins
10. Nathan Lyon
11. Josh Hazlewood

For better or worse, I think the selectors will bank on Maxwell "coming off" with the bat early in the series - they are seemingly obsessed with making him a Test cricketer. The bowling line-up picks itself, although the like of Jason Behrendorff and Chadd Sayers would be terrific replacements if injury was to strike our incumbent pacemen.

David Warner has been shooting his mouth off about sledging. Try as he might to alter the public perception, he is still as adept at tact and diplomacy as Liberace was to oxy welding!! Just nonsensical, needless, boorish comments.
 
Matty76 said:
My XI

1. David Warner
2. Matt Renshaw
3. Usman Khawaja
4. Steve Smith
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Peter Handscomb
7. Peter Nevill
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Pat Cummins
10. Nathan Lyon
11. Josh Hazlewood

For better or worse, I think the selectors will bank on Maxwell "coming off" with the bat early in the series - they are seemingly obsessed with making him a Test cricketer. The bowling line-up picks itself, although the like of Jason Behrendorff and Chadd Sayers would be terrific replacements if injury was to strike our incumbent pacemen.

David Warner has been shooting his mouth off about sledging. Try as he might to alter the public perception, he is still as adept at tact and diplomacy as Liberace was to oxy welding!! Just nonsensical, needless, boorish comments.
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Any reason in particular for Maxwell at 5 and Handscomb at 6?
 
I wouldn't mind seeing Michael Klinger in there at 6. Been a great player for a long time. Always seems to be overlooked for some reason. Yet he keeps piling on the runs.
 
Scotty_WCE said:
Any reason in particular for Maxwell at 5 and Handscomb at 6?
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Mate, it was basically a toss of the coin on my behalf - however if Maxwell is to be selected, I don’t want him to be a novelty at number six where it’s too easy to blame those above him if he’s dismissed cheaply in a collapse. Abandoning the idea of him being a genuine all rounder and demanding more of him as a batsman should be the priority. No. 5 gives him that chance. I think Handscomb would be a terrific No. 6, either against pace or Moeen Ali, who none of our blokes could get on top of during the last series.
 
Matty76 said:
Mate, it was basically a toss of the coin on my behalf - however if Maxwell is to be selected, I don’t want him to be a novelty at number six where it’s too easy to blame those above him if he’s dismissed cheaply in a collapse. Abandoning the idea of him being a genuine all rounder and demanding more of him as a batsman should be the priority. No. 5 gives him that chance. I think Handscomb would be a terrific No. 6, either against pace or Moeen Ali, who none of our blokes could get on top of during the last series.
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Fair call! Now that I think about it, Handscomb seems like the type of player who would be good at batting with the tail too.
 
Scotty_WCE said:
You're almost as biased as me :p
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Okay time for some QLD bias...

If Joe Burns can hit the ground running in the longer format is he a viable option at 6?

I have always felt he was never an opener and was pushed into that role. He will open for the Bulls in the Shield, hopefully he can show the Selectors he is not done yet. His test average isn't horrible, 873 runs @ nearly 38. Three tons and four x 50's
 
Brendan_B said:
Okay time for some QLD bias...

If Joe Burns can hit the ground running in the longer format is he a viable option at 6?

I have always felt he was never an opener and was pushed into that role. He will open for the Bulls in the Shield, hopefully he can show the Selectors he is not done yet. His test average isn't horrible, 873 runs @ nearly 38. Three tons and four x 50's
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He'd be an outsider, but as you said he's got a pretty reasonable Test record. He'd need to have a really outstanding three Shield games to be any sort of a chance you'd think, but if he does you never know!
 
Final: SA vs WA, played in Tassie

Geez how long until this comp completely dies

Do love the fact you can stream the games and commentary is fine by me
 
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