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Dravid

Dravid

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Herbie66 said:
And they will trot out the same lines again and again

Eventually surely they have to make some changes
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I think you write off the second innings today, but yeah can't continue.

Not sure there will be any changes for Melbourne and if we win in Melbourne, probably no changes for Sydney, regardless of form.

Time to tap Uzzie on the shoulder as a minimum.
 
Herbie66

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Dravid said:
I think you write off the second innings today, but yeah can't continue.

Not sure there will be any changes for Melbourne and if we win in Melbourne, probably no changes for Sydney, regardless of form.

Time to tap Uzzie on the shoulder as a minimum.
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Spot on.

Then it will come down to "we need to stick with everyone to qualify for the WTC Final"

Trying to catch up with all the news today.

Have you seen anything official that they have added Konstas to the Test Squad. ?

Injury concern for Head , if Bison can't bowl regularly enough time they brought in someone for him as well (Webster , saw Edwards name mentioned)
 
Dravid

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Herbie66 said:
Spot on.

Then it will come down to "we need to stick with everyone to qualify for the WTC Final"

Trying to catch up with all the news today.

Have you seen anything official that they have added Konstas to the Test Squad. ?

Injury concern for Head , if Bison can't bowl regularly enough time they brought in someone for him as well (Webster , saw Edwards name mentioned)
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Have Sri Lanka first don't they? Suspect they'll get creative there (Head opening).

Don't think they have done anything with the squad yet. Suspect Inglis and Webster are next men up. Don't reckon Konstas gets a look in yet.
 
Herbie66

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Dravid said:
Have Sri Lanka first don't they? Suspect they'll get creative there (Head opening).

Don't think they have done anything with the squad yet. Suspect Inglis and Webster are next men up. Don't reckon Konstas gets a look in yet.
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Correct 2 Tests Away

Haven't read the latest scenarios to see what we need to do to qualify after the draw today.

Head or Maxwell 😅

Fingers crossed we get updated Squad news tomorrow or Friday.

Thanks
 
Darkie

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It seems there is a clear need for regeneration, but I’m not sure who has actually earned a spot as a replacement.

It seems the selectors feel that guys like Harris and Bancroft have had their chances.

They moved Smith up to open, having never played in that position before, and surprise surprise, it didn’t work.

Then they try the same with McSweeney …

I don’t follow the Shield, but it doesn’t seem like many are banging down the door. I just had a look through those averaging 50 this season, and I think only two of those players even average 40 over their careers - which seems like a very low bar, given we are unhappy with anyone who averages below that at Test level. Those two are Konstas and Connolly, who have only played 15 first class matches combined!
 
Dravid

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Darkie said:
It seems there is a clear need for regeneration, but I’m not sure who has actually earned a spot as a replacement.

It seems the selectors feel that guys like Harris and Bancroft have had their chances.

They moved Smith up to open, having never played in that position before, and surprise surprise, it didn’t work.

Then they try the same with McSweeney …

I don’t follow the Shield, but it doesn’t seem like many are banging down the door. I just had a look through those averaging 50 this season, and I think only two of those players even average 40 over their careers - which seems like a very low bar, given we are unhappy with anyone who averages below that at Test level. Those two are Konstas and Connolly, who have only played 15 first class matches combined!
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If they were to follow Shield form, they probably should have picked Bancroft instead of Smith to open, but they wanted to get Green in. No way they could pick Bancroft this year.

Webster was the leading runs scorer last year and McSweeney has had a couple of decent years. This year Patterson has come back and scored run as well.

But yes, no one really banging the door down, which I think why so many are calling for Konstas.
 
Darkie

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Dravid said:
If they were to follow Shield form, they probably should have picked Bancroft instead of Smith to open, but they wanted to get Green in. No way they could pick Bancroft this year.

Webster was the leading runs scorer last year and McSweeney has had a couple of decent years. This year Patterson has come back and scored run as well.

But yes, no one really banging the door down, which I think why so many are calling for Konstas.
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Thank you.

When you put it like that/when I check a few more stats, they may have actually picked the right ones, in McSweeney and Webster.

Bancroft and Harris are 31 and 32, average high 30s at FC level, and mid 20s at Test level. I was keen on Bancroft a season or two ago when he was in great form, but we can’t really be relying on a purple patch of form to be able to get up to standard … we need players who can do it repeatedly!

Patterson could probably feel harshly done by, but he has similar FC stats and seemed to really drop off for a while there.

Webster is much the same age, but obviously bowls as well, which is pretty valuable.

McSweeney is younger than all of those guys, which makes his (similar) average look better by comparison, and if he makes it work, he’s in the side for a much longer period.
 
mike89

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Dravid said:
I think you write off the second innings today, but yeah can't continue.

Not sure there will be any changes for Melbourne and if we win in Melbourne, probably no changes for Sydney, regardless of form.

Time to tap Uzzie on the shoulder as a minimum.
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I hope that Ussie pulls the pin in Sydney.

England are not being subtle: they are blooding a series of express bowlers and the hell with their records. That is not a series you want a 39 year old opener to lead off.

Australia has a history of players going one series too long in the push for another Ashes (truthfully, so do England - but their ageing warriors are now gone).

Head could open in SL which would kick the opener can down the road, and here's the flip side - then you're potentially looking at a new opener debuting in the final (!) against Rabada and co, followed by an Ashes series.

Is a 20yo Konstas the best equipped in the country to handle that? Who knows, maybe. Only one way to find out.
 
Dravid

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mike89 said:
I hope that Ussie pulls the pin in Sydney.

England are not being subtle: they are blooding a series of express bowlers and the hell with their records. That is not a series you want a 39 year old opener to lead off.

Australia has a history of players going one series too long in the push for another Ashes (truthfully, so do England - but their ageing warriors are now gone).

Head could open in SL which would kick the opener can down the road, and here's the flip side - then you're potentially looking at a new opener debuting in the final (!) against Rabada and co, followed by an Ashes series.

Is a 20yo Konstas the best equipped in the country to handle that? Who knows, maybe. Only one way to find out.
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I think Uzzie has been pretty adamant he isn't retiring, but agree Sydney should be his last test.

We"re now 1 test loss away from not winning the series with an aging, underperforming top 6. I don't reckon Cam Green coming back in will solve all of our problems!
 
Shannon

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Australia's leading runscorers this series

Travis Head: 409 runs in five innings @ 81.80.

Steve Smith: 124 runs in five innings @ 24.80.

Marnus Labuschagne: 82 runs in five innings @ 16.40.

Nathan McSweeney: 72 runs in six innings @ 14.40

Mitchell Marsh: 69 runs in five innings @ 13.80.

Usman Khawaja: 63 runs in six innings @ 12.60

I hope Head is fit for the Boxing Day test ...:oops::LOL:
 
Dravid

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Shannon said:
Australia's leading runscorers this series

Travis Head: 409 runs in five innings @ 81.80.

Steve Smith: 124 runs in five innings @ 24.80.

Marnus Labuschagne: 82 runs in five innings @ 16.40.

Nathan McSweeney: 72 runs in six innings @ 14.40

Mitchell Marsh: 69 runs in five innings @ 13.80.

Usman Khawaja: 63 runs in six innings @ 12.60

I hope Head is fit for the Boxing Day test ...:oops::LOL:
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Alex Carey 162 runs @ 40.50

Also, shout out to Starc averaging 19.00
 
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