Summer of Cricket thread

[Richie]

half century up!

Richie here, a mate of Decentric.
Sam took to Bumrah like he was a grade bowler. But like the seasoned pro he is Bumrah bounced back and has challenged the kid in the second innings. Got him with a beauty. In fact the new ball is seaming all over the place and is hard work for all the Aussie bats.

 

[Richie]

Pasquali, does the forum have dark mode as well as lite mode software installed. And are we permitted a avatar. I will also attempt to recruit some other members here.

 

[Richie]

Konstas pulled them off.

Chasing 474 India at 7-274 is fighting back. Marsh can't bowl enough back up overs in a big innings like this. Webster can.

Yes DC. Webster in Sydney Test for a dead duck Marsh. You can still call me Baggers if you wish, just like on Inside Cricket. That is if permitted by Pasquali.

 

[Richie]

I think it is now quite obvious that generational succession, or to the layman, a changing of the guard, has to happen soon to Australian cricket in both red and white ball formats. But does George Bailey and his panel also see it that way as he continues to hold fast to his 'jobs for the boys' policy.

comments.

 

[Richie]

A bit of a collapse by the Aussies with India making good with a seaming ball this morning. Looks a completely different acting Kookaburra to the one our bowlers used yesterday and which gave India quite a counter punch taking them within 106 runs of our score.

 

[Pasquali]

Pasquali, does the forum have dark mode as well as lite mode software installed. And are we permitted a avatar. I will also attempt to recruit some other members here.

No dark mode. Yes you can install avatar by clicking on your profile

 

[Richie]

those sweeps over the head against fastbowling look reckless, but I reckon they are a test match shot

I'd say a calculated risk from Sam as he did same in the PMX1 game. To time that reverse ramp took an incredible eye. Went for 6 too and not off a top edge. Brilliance for mine..

 

[Hounddog]

IMO the Aussies should bat on tomorrow and try to make another 10-20 runs.

I think India will still think that they are a chance of making 350.

This is still a game either side can win, 10 more runs and Australia are favourites.

 

[Decentric]

Richie here, a mate of Decentric.
Sam took to Bumrah like he was a grade bowler. But like the seasoned pro he is Bumrah bounced back and has challenged the kid in the second innings. Got him with a beauty. In fact the new ball is seaming all over the place and is hard work for all the Aussie bats.

Great to see you here, Richie.

Welcome to the forum. Your cricket insights and knowledge will value add to this place, mate.

Missed Konstas' second dig. Joined the coverage shortly after. Which direction did it seam to dismiss Konstas? In or out?

 

[Richie]

Great to see you here, Richie.

Welcome to the forum. Your cricket insights and knowledge will value add to this place, mate.

Missed Konstas' second dig. Joined the coverage shortly after. Which direction did it seam to dismiss Konstas? In or out?

Thanks DC.
In. Bowled him thru the gate.

 

[Decentric]

Yes DC. Webster in Sydney Test for a dead duck Marsh. You can still call me Baggers if you wish, just like on Inside Cricket. That is if permitted by Pasquali.

I'm sure Pasquali won't mind anyone calling you Baggers!

I've looked up a quite a few averages in the last few days.

Marsh averaged 50 in 2022.
45 in 2023
12 in 2024.

Just can't believe they've kept selecting him, this season? He can't bowl sustained spells either?

Looked up:

Labu - 33, 28 and 27 for the last three years. This is simply atrocious for a specialist batter. He would have been dropped in any other era.

Ditto Usman - 68, 53, 25. Seasons 2023 and 2024 were good, but apparently Usman has only reached 50 once in his last 18 innings. At age 38, I'm not sure he can come back? Plus he is the worst fielder in the team.

McDonald as coach, and Bailey as head selector, have basically told players to put their feet up as soon as selected, and rest from playing any red ball cricket in the Shield!

Before this Test in Melbourne, Head had scored as many runs in the Indian series as the other top five batters (Usman, McSweeney, Smith, Labu and Marsh) put together - 410 runs. It is putting a lot of pressure on the bowlers to dig them out of holes all the time.

 

[Decentric]

Thanks DC.
In. Bowled him thru the gate.

Shame.

He has taken the potent Indian attack on.

Labu's 70 was pretty poor. He had a lot of luck with LBWs, was hit in the groin a lot, plus made a lot of plays and misses. Boland looked more assured at number 11!

 

[Decentric]

IMO the Aussies should bat on tomorrow and try to make another 10-20 runs.

I think India will still think that they are a chance of making 350.

This is still a game either side can win, 10 more runs and Australia are favourites.

I'm in a closed Tasmanian Cricket Members' FB Messenger group. Nobody could decide whether to declare or keep batting tomorrow.

Ostensibly, Starc is struggling with a back injury. Can an attack of Cummins, Boland, Lyon plus Marsh/Head/Labu bowl them out?

Not sure I've seen you post? Welcome to the forum, Hound dog.

 

[Decentric]

Have to laud this Indian attack to fight back, whilst behind on the scorecard.

Plus that high middle order partnership from Washington and Nitish. They were really under scoreboard pressure when they made that huge batting stand.

 

[Decentric]

I'd say a calculated risk from Sam as he did same in the PMX1 game. To time that reverse ramp took an incredible eye. Went for 6 too and not off a top edge. Brilliance for mine..

Pretty amazing to play ramp shots in one's First Test!

Amongst the Crick Tas Members' cricket network, which extends all across Aus, Konstas is very highly rated by all involved in cricket. He is extremely confident in his ability too.

 

[Decentric]

I think it is now quite obvious that generational succession, or to the layman, a changing of the guard, has to happen soon to Australian cricket in both red and white ball formats. But does George Bailey and his panel also see it that way as he continues to hold fast to his 'jobs for the boys' policy.

comments.

Just find this bizarre, Baggers.

They've barely dropped anyone. If they have it has been young 20 year old plus members, Green and McSweeney. It is like the Aus Test players have asked for the selectors and coach they want.

Completely different to the Aus football scenario, the Socceroos, which is the main sport of this forum. Nobody has an assured place in the Socceroos. A lot of new players have been selected by Popa the new coach. And younger ones including a 19 yo and a 22 yo. They are building for the future.

Word is that Bailey and Mac's heads will roll at the end of this series - if India wins.

 

[Decentric]

those sweeps over the head against fastbowling look reckless, but I reckon they are a test match shot

I'm not saying you never get out to it, but its probably lower risk than a cover drive. It is an easy shot to adjust if the ball is moving and probably buys you a wicket sometimes since you remove a slip to put a fielder back. Reckon most teams do that shot regularly soon

Konstas must be seeing the ball well for it to come off.

In the second innings Konstas was beaten though the gate, between bat and pad, by Bumrah.

 

[Decentric]

Australia in trouble here. Pitch getting easier so draw most likely imo

Fast forward and it looks like a result on the 5th day. Aus have a 330 odd run lead with one wicket left.

Aus collapsed in the second innings against a relentless Indian pace attack.

 

[Decentric]

Streaky early as u would expect but eventually the shots came out and he got better at handing 4th stump balls

One standout in his game is bumrah has such a well disguised stump ball but mcsweeney didn't even look fussed by it

Interesting observation, Grazor.

Above my cricket knowledge.

So are you saying Bumrah's variations are hard to pick?

 

[Decentric]

This Young Sam Konstas seems to have a big future, only 19

Not going to believe it, but the next youngest player in the team is aged 30, now they've dropped McSweeney.

Pretty tough on a lot of current Shield players sweating their guts out, getting no recognition playing high quality red ball cricket.

Whilst the Tests are on Seven, the network is flogging BBL. Many BBL players aren't even good enough to play Shield cricket for their states. Yet they are appearing as TV network guests with superhero status, whilst the Test cricket is being broadcast. They should be interviewing current Shield players pushing for Test selection instead.