2011/12 Australian Summer Of Cricket (*SPOILERS*)

I really really feel sorry for Shaun Marsh - he simply cannot take a trick at the moment.

If Shaun Marsh fell into a barrel full of nipples, he'd come out sucking his thumb!

Shaun Marsh is the BEST paid fielder in World cricket. LOL!

The Batting wasn't Great. Very Excited watching Matthew Wade play! Can't Wait to Watch Mitchell Marsh play more and more! Already a Big Fan of him!

Some questions about the Aust20-20 team:

1. Why did they change a winning 20.20 side from Game 1 to Game 2?
2. Why did they reward Shaun Marsh with a game when he just got 17 runs at 2.67 ave in a 4 match Test Series? I wouldn't have tapped him on the shoulder to play, I'd have tapped him on the shoulder to go back to grade cricket and score some runs. Then try out for Sheffield Shield again.
3. Why did Wade get pushed down the order? Surely you want your master blasters up front...Finch, Warner, Wade, M Marsh.
4. How does Brett Lee keep his spot? His bowling is diminishing and his speed in the field is slow, slippery and his throws back to the keeper are getting a touch on the embarrassing side.
5. Why did Mitchell Starc not get a go in either game? Surely he was a better option than McKay in Game 2? Hell, why isn't Siddle or Hilfenhaus or Lyon rewarded for their great Test form with a couple of hit n giggle games?
6. If a batsman doesn't get more runs than balls faced, why aren't they hooked after 6-8 balls?
7. When did 20-20 become so serious? It's the bubblegum form of the game.

Finally, if I friggin' hear Nicholas, Taylor, Slater or Healy tell me one more goddamn time about how Ravi Shastri told them just how slick, fast, well drilled this 'new' Indian team are, I will puke. For that matter, I don't give 2 ****s if this 'younger' team is brash, take no prisoner, in your face, modern India. We heard all this in 2007/08 and I don't see many of them still around in 20.20 or ODI nor graduating in to the Test side. Australia's first team for the 20.20 was brash, take no prisoner, in your face, modern Australia...but no mention of that.

James Pattinson...you are a star. Succinct and insightful. Pity you're paired with the inane Mark Nicholas who wouldn't have to ask stoopid questions or brim in hyperbole if he had ever actually played international cricket. I used to think James Brayshaw was in the same mould, and not being an AFL person myself, don't know much about him, but geez, this summer he has stepped up and made the game commentary better. There's a reason why there's no more 12th Man albums...it's because Taylor, Healy, Slater, Nicholas are just so bloody dull!!!

Finally, congrats to India. You squashed the life out of Australia last night. Showed how astute bowling and lightning fielding should be.

At the end of the day it's Mickey Mouse and not much else. I can see why the selectors want to give every member of the squad a chance, there are so few International T20's played apart from the T20 World Cup, it must be hard to try and work out who will and won't make it to the World Cup squad, whenever the tournament actually is (I honestly have no idea).

To an extent the two matches have been pretty boring I reckon, if the ICC is fair dinkum they need to schedule 3 matches - we often see a 1-1 series, which is a waste of time I'd have thought, particularly as there is a ranking table for this format too and not much can be concluded from a draw!

I am happy that the ODI tri-series is back - last season it was absolutely nonsensical that Australia and England played in fourteen successive international matches (5 Tests, 2 T20's, 7 ODI's).

Just as a thought...if they let batsmen change their stances, why not let the bowler have ONE full bouncer and TWO leg-side deliveries (within a margin) per over. Let the bowlers mix it up too.

And yeah...it is confectionary and I love my ODIs and Tests...and stoked Tri-series is back. Now if they could only bring back the uniforms so all 3 teams wore the same clobber in their national colours...I'd be even happier (lightning bolts circa 1992/93 and 1993/94 anybody?).

What I would really, really love is a catchy tune to go with the ODI series, or the entire summer for that matter. Something that, even years after, people still remember fondly. Something like this

Usman Kawaja scores a ton in Tassie.

The Mad Hatter said:

Usman Kawaja scores a ton in Tassie.

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That's my boy.

What a shame - Brett is a star, I love the wholehearted approach he has to the game. He has been a terrific role model I reckon. Not sure where this leaves him as far as the future is concerned - if he misses the West Indies tour other young pacemen might leapfrog him.

I like this line from his Cricinfo bio, written by Peter English:

A gentleman off the field, he was aggressive on it and rarely went over the top in comparison to his team-mates, although his bouncers at the tail-enders were uncomfortable viewing. Mostly he was a shining example to young players in all forms of the game.

liamszaraz said:

That's my boy.

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Pretty nice bloke! Met him in Brisbane a couple of weeks ago

Shame with Brett Lee, there's way too much injury occuring in the Australian quicks for my liking!

Good Catch By Ricky Ponting Of MITCHELL STARC'S BOWLING!

The Little Master is Out for 2!

Easy win for the ozzies. How good is Matthew Wade? Bye bye Haddin.

kingjack said:

Easy win for the ozzies. How good is Matthew Wade? Bye bye Haddin.

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he has really taken his chances hasnt he? 2 man of the matches from 3 games, a great start. dont think we'll see haddin playing T20's or ODI again, with wade to also take over the test spot until we know more about Tim Paines finger.

Tim Paine has probably missed his opportunity.

You can't continue to carry Haddin as he ages, declines and they bring in fresh flesh and sit on Wade waiting for Paine.

Sad to say it, but Haddin should be tapped, Paine will miss out, but geez, if Wade carries his form on in to Test match cricket and can play 20-20 and ODI also, we'll be set for a bit.

BLOWN8 said:

he has really taken his chances hasnt he? 2 man of the matches from 3 games, a great start. dont think we'll see haddin playing T20's or ODI again, with wade to also take over the test spot until we know more about Tim Paines finger.

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I just like the fact that he looks confident at the crease unlike Haddin. Can't wait to see him in the baggy green. He has great glove work aswell doesn't even look like dropping a catch.

I wish our blokes would do ads like this one, not those silly bloody KFC ones.


Go Maxy!

Good luck to ex-NSW and now-QLD batsman Peter Forrest, who is reportedly making his international debut tomorrow against Sri Lanka at the WACA. The selectors are injecting some good, hard-working players into the various squads and we will be all the better for it. Go Pete!

Matty76 said:

Good luck to ex-NSW and now-QLD batsman Peter Forrest, who is reportedly making his international debut tomorrow against Sri Lanka at the WACA. The selectors are injecting some good, hard-working players into the various squads and we will be all the better for it. Go Pete!

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Great to see. I played juniors with him. Very under-rated player.