The Australian cricket non-official thread!

Just to prove how dire touring is, NSW and WA will play a Sheffield Shield fixture in Christchurch NZ as a warm up tour match for the NZ tour.

Really?

Geez I miss the old days of proper tours with warm up games. It spread the word of cricket far more than these professional era tours ever did.
 
I would rather watch a Test or ODI than an international T20 anyday but I will still have a look if we are playing.

Player selection is obviously the big issue, why would you pick Marsh ahead of Khawaja?

Don't get me wrong, Marsh is a solid domestic T20 player but not in the class or form of Khawaja at present. My only criticism of Khawaja is his fielding.

Further to this I actually put a good chunk of the blame on Marsh for last nights capitualtion. 0/95 and going at just under 10 an over and by this stage he must know that Finch has tweaked his hammy. Instead of chipping that ball down to long on and continuing to consolidate a great start he holes out with an ordinary and uncalled for shot.
 
These ODIs and T20s proved that Australia aren't picking their best sides.

Broadcasters and ticket purchasers deserve to have the best team on the field (barring injuries and suspensions).

I just don't think that has been the case.
 
I think it's the "rotation policy" taken to an extreme level, something which the larger 15 or 17-man squads admittedly allow. I would have preferred for the selectors to have actually stated that "these three T20 games will be used to test our entire squad, as the inexperienced players need exposure at this level" - which is essentially what has happened.

@The Mad Hatter it is a potential slippery slope for Cricket Australia re: team selection. With the A-League, Big Bash, Australian Open, NBL and of course the upcoming football (AFL and NRL) seasons vying for the spectator dollar, CA shouldn't simply assume that a team wearing the Australian shirt will bring a great rush of paying spectators. The contest needs to be authentic - something that we have bemoaned already this season, due to the flat pitches and small boundaries.

The ABC has already confirmed that it will NOT be covering the tour of New Zealand on either its traditional or digital radio services. Macquarie radio has not yet committed to sending a commentary team but they may elect to take commentary from New Zealand. Television coverage will be on Fox Sports ONLY (via Sky Sports in NZ).
 
The Nine Network's contempt for the viewing public is in evidence during this innings break. This is a self-indulgent absurdity. This bloke is more of a Master Bater than a Master Mentalist!! :-)

In on-field news, what a remarkable performance by Shane Watson. Hopefully this innings will seal a T20 World Cup berth for him.
 
And that's the summer (for me).

Matador Cup, BBL, Tests, ODIs and T20s.

Sure, the Shield returns but for mine, once school is back, the international calendar has been completed...my summer is done and dusted.

For all the naysaying (me included) its been another fun summer. Just kind of wish there was a 7th or 8th test in January. That said, two against NZ over there should be interesting.
 
Yep that's "Ham TV", proudly brought to you by the Nine Network, done and dusted for another summer :-)

For mine, the highlight of the 2015/16 season was the overwhelming success of the Big Bash. A times the West Indies Tests seemed like a filler until 7:00pm arrived each evening. The success of the tournament is perhaps a further indictment on the performance of the national team in T20 internationals generally. Remember the old jokes about England: "you blokes invented One Day cricket, but you're no good at it!".....

Looking at the upcoming T20 World Cup, I can't see Australia even getting out of its group. We play New Zealand, a qualifier (like a Hong Kong or Oman or someone), Pakistan and India. I reckon one win will probably see us out, to be honest. That said, does it REALLY matter? The riches are in the various domestic T20 competitions around the world, and Cricket Australia clearly see our international fixtures as an "entertainment package" rather than a meaningful contest.
 
Cricket Australia clearly do not care about international T20's.

They have sent our ODI squad to New Zealand to prepair for an away ODI series when they should be preparing for a T20 World Cup.

CA have used the three games to blood some new faces into international cricket instead of fielding our full strength side. Cameron Bancroft who is a stand in keeper at best for his Big Bash side (Whiteman missed the BBL through injury) missed what would seem a regulation stumping when Raina was on 0. He made 49 not out & hit the winning boundary of the last ball.

Not sure why they traet this format with such distain, especially as it clearly is a licence to print money with the success of the BBL. The next TV rights will go through the roof, while all other internatioanl series bar India & to some extent England lose them money.

The cash cow is definately the BBL, yet the National side is not given any weight....
 
Australia are staring five successive international defeats in the face and - at 6 for 57 chasing 308 in the first ODI in New Zealand - abject humiliation. I can't remember if there are T20's on this tour, but I'd back New Zealand to make a score of 250+ in at least one of them. It is impossible to fathom how fortunes have swung in the space of two weeks, save for the "experimental" selection policies.

To not play even one warm-up game before an away series of any type is an absurdity and makes a mockery of the so-called "professional" era. Make no mistake, New Zealand are spoiling for an ambush. Australia may not win a single international match on tour.
 
Matty76 said:
Australia are staring five successive international defeats in the face and - at 6 for 57 chasing 308 in the first ODI in New Zealand - abject humiliation. I can't remember if there are T20's on this tour, but I'd back New Zealand to make a score of 250+ in at least one of them. It is impossible to fathom how fortunes have swung in the space of two weeks, save for the "experimental" selection policies.

To not play even one warm-up game before an away series of any type is an absurdity and makes a mockery of the so-called "professional" era. Make no mistake, New Zealand are spoiling for an ambush. Australia may not win a single international match on tour.
Click to expand...

Well said. We could not win a game but I bet Rod Marsh still has a job
 
I just think back to Blacktown and the NZ tour match.

I think that's the way of the future where host nations won't offer anything.

Australia quite literally hopped off a plane 2-3 days ago and in to the ODIs.

The selections are laughable too. Absolutely laughable.
 
The Mad Hatter said:
He's beginning to cop it from all quarters.

You really have to wonder WTF goes through his mind.
Click to expand...

In a recent press conference he was asked what does Khawaja have to do to get an ODI jersey

His response was who doesn't he ask Shaun Marsh how he feels missing out.

Ridiculous

Some of the selections on the most recent Ashes tour were farcical to.
 
I've thought for a long time that selectors need to be paid a proper wage or retainer and do the bloody job properly. No commentary on the side, no assistant coaching elsewhere - NOTHING during cricket season that will affect your ability to be assigned to watch a four-day Sheffield Shield match, a third of the Big Bash and the same amount of Matador Cup matches.

I don't blame Rod Marsh, Mark Waugh or any of the selectors - I blame the half-arsed way that competing interests have been allowed to interfere with an integral part of the on-field performance. You've got poor Steve Smith acting as the biggest patsy going around as it is he who wears the "wins" and "losses", not the selectors or Cricket Australia in general.
 
You tell me the bowling attack they've had in the ODIs and T20s vs India and NZ has been much chop.

All this 'resting'.

There are 2, possibly 3, key performance indicators.

Batsmen score runs.
Bowlers take wickets.
Fielding.

Some players don't even qualify.

They let Johnson walk out because he was well and truly toast after constant touring, criticism etc. They ran Starc in to the ground. They took Hazelwood and stuffed him up. They changed Pattinson's action and it did him no good, so he changed back and took wickets. They keep telling us Cummins will play one day instead of telling him to go find a real job.

Surely Haddin would still be a better keeper than Scissorhands. Hell, Nevill, Paine and Hartley are in front of Wade IMHO as Wade just can't catch. It's deplorable.

The fielding has been sub standard. S Marsh misses regulation sitters and then looks like he's puffed a cone with that goofy smile.

They promote players like Maxwell who plays a good game here and there but PUT THE DINKY SHIT AWAY SON!!!

Smith is only a run of outs away from people questioning not only his batting but his captaincy.

M Marsh is out of his depth too.

Then you've got guys in form not being picked at all.

Surely the selectors can see this?
 
The Mad Hatter said:
You tell me the bowling attack they've had in the ODIs and T20s vs India and NZ has been much chop.

All this 'resting'.

There are 2, possibly 3, key performance indicators.

Batsmen score runs.
Bowlers take wickets.
Fielding.

Some players don't even qualify.

They let Johnson walk out because he was well and truly toast after constant touring, criticism etc. They ran Starc in to the ground. They took Hazelwood and stuffed him up. They changed Pattinson's action and it did him no good, so he changed back and took wickets. They keep telling us Cummins will play one day instead of telling him to go find a real job.

Surely Haddin would still be a better keeper than Scissorhands. Hell, Nevill, Paine and Hartley are in front of Wade IMHO as Wade just can't catch. It's deplorable.

The fielding has been sub standard. S Marsh misses regulation sitters and then looks like he's puffed a cone with that goofy smile.

They promote players like Maxwell who plays a good game here and there but PUT THE DINKY s*** AWAY SON!!!

Smith is only a run of outs away from people questioning not only his batting but his captaincy.

M Marsh is out of his depth too.

Then you've got guys in form not being picked at all.

Surely the selectors can see this?
Click to expand...

Well written.

The worst thing of Johnson & to an extent Harris was the roads they were forced to bowl on in the 18 months leading up to their respective retirements. Harris was always injury prone but I really thing that these 'roads'sped up his retirement.

The loss of Coulter-Nile has hurt us also but credit where credit is due I think Hastings has been good for us, really hits the deck hard and has probably asked the most questions. I am not a big Richardson fan, really seems to have dropped pace in the last 12 months, I seem to recall him being mid 140's a while back.

The way in which Haddin was forced out of the national team was a joke. Neville is a good replacement and even though Haddin claims to be happy with how he finished I thought he deserved better. Wade is terrible, Hartley and Paine are twice the keepers he is. If they wanted a part time keeper for the T20 why not Ben Dunk. He left QLD as he was behind Hartley and can really bat.

S.Marsh and M.Marsh, the former reminds me a bit of the Marcus North situation and how they kept giving him a go until he would make a score (didn't matter how weak the opposition was) so he could justify another go. M.Marsh is a work in progress, struggling at present but not ready to scrap heap him yet. They love looking after the WA boys!

Ah the big show, put your damn head down! In saying that I would have him in the team almost solely for his fielding, a bit like Symonds until he hit that purple patch. He is worth a wicket and at least 20 runs with the ones that he stops and the pressure he creates and if he can just use his brain when he bats.

My ODI team based on form and selection availability;

Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Lynn / Burns
Bailey (just hanging on)
Maxwell
M.Marsh
Paine
Hastings
Hazlewood
Pattinson (not sure if he is injured at present)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom