The Australian cricket non-official thread!

The Mad Hatter · Jul 15, 2015

His batting average is 30-something. His bowling average is 1.something wickets a test.

As Geoff Lawson has said for about two years, this is exactly what you get from Watto.

He won't ever get better with age.

If we're happy with that, good. But people can't go complaining when he delivers pretty much what he averages.

Good luck to M Marsh and Nevill.

Matty76 · Jul 16, 2015

Australia have won the toss and are batting first. The expected changes - Watson and Haddin out, M. Marsh and Test debutant Nevill in - have been confirmed. Mitchell Starc is fit to play.

Chaaaaaaaaaaarge!!

Scotty_WCE · Jul 16, 2015

Really need to have a big first innings here!

mounteverest · Jul 16, 2015

Let's go!!!

The Mad Hatter · Jul 17, 2015

Day 1 - nice

The Mad Hatter · Jul 17, 2015

I love Chris "Buck" Rogers.

Seriously.

It gives older plods like me - who missed their shot at an Australian spot - a chance to vicariously wear the baggy green via his achievements. An honest bloke and honest bat. I hope he gets a double century and slips in to retirement with a giant smile on his dial.

Bravo. More to do today but here's hoping we can peg it back to 1-1.

Wookiedragon · Jul 17, 2015

Memories - Dizzy Gillespie 201no in his last test.

Higher test score than Mark & Steve Waugh LOL

Seriously though, what a day for the Aussies. Hopefullly they continue to pile on the runs on Day two, declare with plently of runs on the board & with a handful of overs to go in the day & pick up a wicket or two before stumps.

Great turn around, look to see Peter Nevill get a few runs tonight & do a stellar job behind the stumps.

Matty76 · Jul 17, 2015

What a difference winning the toss makes. There is a great little story on Fox Sports about Ricky Ponting having a joke with Michael Clarke yesterday regarding his poor recent luck at the toss. Apparently Pup has called "tails" throughout his captaincy career and yesterday called "heads" based on a premonition!

I am delighted for Steven Smith - surely has has silenced the doubters after yesterday's innings. David Warner will be kicking himself but he sort of looked as though he could get out at any stage yesterday. As for Chris Rogers - he ain't ready for the Old Age Pension yet!

All in all, Australia are in a remarkable and (in my opinion) highly unlikely position of strength following the Cardiff performance. This might be an occasion where Pup says "Boys, we're batting ONCE only"

Keatoboy · Jul 17, 2015

Warner doesn't seem to play Moeen Ali's deliveries on their merit, has no respect for his bowling. Just thinks he can smash it all out of the park.

Was great to see Rogers break through for that elusive ton and Smith continue his form!

Wookiedragon · Jul 18, 2015

Congrats Steve Smith 215. Great partnership with Buck Rogers who made an excellent 173.

Steve Smith Very very unlucky to be given out LBW. If that ball was not hitting outside the line I will dead set give it away. Rediculous reasoning....

Well done also to Peter Nevill solid innings to start a test career.

Matty76 · Jul 18, 2015

Stayed up until 3am South Australian time to watch the entire day's play. Had to get up at 7am. Tired. If any bastard looks sideways at me today, I'll smash 'em!

Well worth it though - England are on the rack and Australia are back in the series. The look of joy on Peter Nevill's face after taking his two catches shows just how much it means to represent his country.

aussie26 · Jul 18, 2015

If I was a betting man which I am some times lol , the 2nd test will be a draw, cant see Australia taking 20 wickets on this pitch

Eels Guru · Jul 19, 2015

Good to see Mitch Marsh grab a couple of wickets hopefully gives him confidence with the bat.

mounteverest · Jul 19, 2015

aussie26 said:
If I was a betting man which I am some times lol , the 2nd test will be a draw, cant see Australia taking 20 wickets on this pitch

What do you reckon now?

Eels Guru · Jul 19, 2015

Glad I got on the Aussies at 2.50

mounteverest · Jul 19, 2015

Dosn't seem alot in a two horse race lol
Good luck

Wookiedragon · Jul 19, 2015

mounteverest said:
What do you reckon now?

That he is doing a rain dance!

Matty76 · Jul 19, 2015

I read with great delight the various complaints in the English media about the state of the Lord's pitch. Strangely, I can't recall such criticism a week ago when England's success was attributed to their "excellent captaincy and bowling".

That said, it will be very hard work ahead for the Australian bowlers today and tomorrow. Nathan Lyon will come in to his own I reckon, particularly as a few of the England batsman seemingly still don't rate him.

drobfan8 · Jul 19, 2015

Matty76 said:
Shane Watson has been dropped for the Lord's Test and has been replaced by Mitchell Marsh.

I just don't know what to think about Watto - it's a bit "chicken and egg" with him I reckon. From what I have seen and heard from him, he appears to be a very deep thinker, as well as being extremely self-critical. I guess he can never be accused of not caring about his performance. I wonder sometimes if the selectors tried to turn him into something his body won't allow him to be.

As I mentioned to a site member elsewhere, dreams of a "125 not out and 5/50" Botham-esque performance were never going to be a regular feature of Shane's Test career. He was never able to settle on a niche position, which you can see by the following:

Opener: 52 innings
No. 3: 27 innings
No. 4: 9 innings
No. 5: 1 innings
No. 6: 14 innings
No. 7: 6 innings

I would love to hear your opinions on Watto.

On another matter, a magnificent piece by Greg Baum on the beleaguered Brad Haddin:
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cric...-haddin-the-wicketkeeper-20150714-gicg56.html

I think if Watson was making 30s at 5 or 6 and taking a big wicket or two he'd be still there. We needed him to do more in Cardiff and that was his final chance, even though that was a team loss. Because he got out both times LBW shows he never got on top of that type of dismissal vs England.

The Aussie fightback has been great and hopefully we can take some wickets later today, seal it tomorrow first session

Loving the energy from Nevill and Marsh, that's why you need some fresh blood in there at times. Their passion is infectious. I still believe if Aus had made the tough calls to bring in Hussey and Clark back in 2005 we could have won that series. Instead they stuck with Martyn and Gillespie who just weren't up to it anymore.

Eels Guru · Jul 19, 2015

drobfan8 said:
I think if Watson was making 30s at 5 or 6 and taking a big wicket or two he'd be still there. We needed him to do more in Cardiff and that was his final chance, even though that was a team loss. Because he got out both times LBW shows he never got on top of that type of dismissal vs England.

The Aussie fightback has been great and hopefully we can take some wickets later today, seal it tomorrow first session

Loving the energy from Nevill and Marsh, that's why you need some fresh blood in there at times. Their passion is infectious. I still believe if Aus had made the tough calls to bring in Hussey and Clark back in 2005 we could have won that series. Instead they stuck with Martyn and Gillespie who just weren't up to it anymore.

I still think Macgill should of played the last test

The Australian cricket non-official thread!

OzCardTrader

Banned User

West Coast card collector!

OzCardTrader

OzCardTrader

OzCardTrader

OzCardTrader

Banned User

Travis Head #34

OzCardTrader

Banned User

CBF

OzCardTrader

OzCardTrader

OzCardTrader

OzCardTrader

OzCardTrader

Banned User

OzCardTrader

OzCardTrader

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency