2017/8 Cricket, Ashes, etc.

[RB]

Saw this opinion posted in the SMH & thought it was pretty measured

• DonNov 24 2017 at 11:06pm
  Where the disappointment is after 2 days of 5 (with Australia to bat last) is that yet again England have dominated technically.
  
  Bowling lengths can be adjusted by coughmins, Starc and Hazelwood who will remain dangerous, spin bowling variation is clearly in England's favor and will remain so
  
  'Keeping is about even - but potential runs may give England the edge
  
  But, England have worked over our batting line up, noting both Bancroft and Handscomb played County cricket last winter with, at best, average results, both averaging in the low 30's.
  
  So England have worked out Bancroft, Warner, Khawaja and Handscomb by attacking their technique deficiencies - which is a very real problem
  
  And they have multiple plans for Smith, getting him hooking or pulling or 6th Stump line
  
  Marsh has survived - but he knicks
  
  What is obvious is that we must identify players with excellent batting technique, front foot and back foot and with excellent application.
  
  The reason for this is because it is shown that England will work you over technically, honing in on any deficiency (and anyone we select will receive the same attention hence technique is an absolute necessity)
  
  A good ball will get you, but it has to be a very good ball not because of a technical deficiency England identify and attack
  
  So batting spots are up for grabs
  
  This is Test cricket at its fiercest so opportunity to belt the ball over the park will be absent.
  
  You have to survive to prosper.
  
  If you have not got the technique to survive the examination there is no place for you in Test cricket.
  
  This is the problem with the morphing of short form cricket with Test selection.
  
  We are selecting the wrong batsmen - and elsewhere talking up the wrong batsmen

 

[samh004]

First Ashes Night match. Saturday afternoon start.

I'm sure I've mentioned this before but I don't get the point in having day/night tests if you're going to start later. You never know what the weather is going to do, so it should be the same start time as a day-test and that gives you the ability to play longer if weather remains good. Yes, quite often you don't need the 5 days, but sometimes you do and a few hours extra each day could make those matches really interesting

 

[Pushka]

I'm sure I've mentioned this before but I don't get the point in having day/night tests if you're going to start later. You never know what the weather is going to do, so it should be the same start time as a day-test and that gives you the ability to play longer if weather remains good. Yes, quite often you don't need the 5 days, but sometimes you do and a few hours extra each day could make those matches really interesting

They are just mixing it up. Adelaide oval at nighttime events is simply spectacular.

 

[k_sheep]

What a lovely show from coughmins. Looks like a proper test batsman.

 

[RB]

Aussies are currently in a much better position than I imagined at stumps last night. Thought the Poms were bit unlucky with the stumping dismissal. Think it is the best match I have seen Lyon have

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Indeed. He was such a rebel when playing but now he’s just a cranky knowitall.

He needs to be shown the door by Channel 9. Yesterday he spent five minutes trashing Alistair Cook and yet Cook has played more Tests than him, scored more runs than him, has a higher batting average than him and scored more Test 100s and 50s than him.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Famous person spotting - look who I ran into (actor Ioan Gruffudd, think Hornblower, Fantastic 4 and Liar)

View attachment 111154

LOL I was about to ask if you saw him there.... he was on the lunchtime TMS interview with Aggers and he talked about being in the QCC.

 

[travelislife]

I'll be 3 days in Brisbane, 2 in Adelaide, 3 in Perth, 2 in Melbourne and 3 in Sydney. Then following from late February there are 3 days in each of Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Jo'burg. Hilton are making a fortune out of me! Life is tough but someone has to do it. As an aside, the total cost of the 12 best seats I can get in South Africa for the 4 Tests is less than one single day at the MCG. Really looking forward to the next few months.

Can I carry your bags!? Jealous a lot!

 

[QF WP]

Was sad not being able to head to the QCC yesterday or today, but I have been watching on TV and on ESPN this morning briefly.

Well who would have thought that the openers could carry off such a spectacular 10 wicket win - cruised today, with barely a chance given. 0/173 and now it's off to Adelaide. That will help both their averages.

 

[RooFlyer]

Steve Smith loses it during press conference re Bairstow head-butt.

 

[QF WP]

That video of the press conference is Gold, absolutely priceless .

As Bancroft said deadpan: "I've actually got the heaviest head in the Western Australian squad. It's been measured" and then later "It was a good hit. Play on."

Can't wait to see him as the Australian captain down the track, he handled himself well.

Jonny Bairstow's press conference wasn't as good: Alleged clash with Bancroft just players 'having a laugh', Bairstow says

 

[Pushka]

That video of the press conference is Gold, absolutely priceless .

As Bancroft said deadpan: "I've actually got the heaviest head in the Western Australian squad. It's been measured" and then later "It was a good hit. Play on."

Can't wait to see him as the Australian captain down the track.

So the media totally ramped this as a malicious event. Weird yes, not malicious.

 

[RooFlyer]

Was he damming Bancroft with faint praise? (As in "yes he did it, but it didn't worry me" )

 

[QF WP]

So the media totally ramped this as a malicious event. Weird yes, not malicious.

Would seem to be the case of Australian journos wanting to stick the boot in before the ADL Test. The English journos seemed a little more circumspect. Certainly hasn't been portrayed as malicious. Guess your husband will be in attendance at the Second Test this weekend (assuming he didn't rule out Friday from the work calendar ).

Was he damming Bancroft with faint praise? (As in "yes he did it, but it didn't worry me" )

Did you mean to say "Bairstow" in the quote above - if so, then my reaction is yes absolutely. Bancroft will have been schooled to not make a big thing of it and call Bairstow a "thug" etc lest it backfire. Played a straight bat back to the reporters with some humour as well. That should die unless the journos try to make it something it's not...

 

[Pushka]

Would seem to be the case of Australian journos wanting to stick the boot in before the ADL Test. The English journos seemed a little more circumspect. Certainly hasn't been portrayed as malicious. Guess your husband will be in attendance at the Second Test this weekend (assuming he didn't rule out Friday from the work calendar ).


Did you mean to say "Bairstow" in the quote above - if so, then my reaction is yes absolutely. Bancroft will have been schooled to not make a big thing of it and call Bairstow a "thug" etc lest it backfire. Played a straight bat back to the reporters with some humour as well. That should die unless the journos try to make it something it's not...

Yes. All the P family will be there plus older MasterP’s partner who is a Pom! And who does not follow cricket. Quelle horreur!

We are hoping the Shield Room is open as a photo of MrP and the SA shield winning team feature prominently in the entrance. But sometimes access is blocked as this is where Touring Teams pass by. She at least understands the importance of that.

 

[RooFlyer]

Did you mean to say "Bairstow" in the quote above - if so, then my reaction is yes absolutely. Bancroft will have been schooled to not make a big thing of it and call Bairstow a "thug" etc lest it backfire. Played a straight bat back to the reporters with some humour as well. That should die unless the journos try to make it something it's not...

Oops, yes, I meant Bairstow there. What I was wondering was if Bancroft was subtly dropping Bairstow right in it while staying humorous. Perhaps management had told him to drop it and he didn't think it should be dropped. Several times he absolutely confirmed that he received a head butt, and it was unexpected. Harder to sweep it under the carpet if a national player goes into a press conference and says "that player head-butted me."

 

[SponsorSFC]

We are heading over to Adelaide for the first 3 days of the 2nd test. We have twilight tickets for day 3 so are squeezing in a Barossa Valley tour before heading to the Adelaide Oval the last 2 sessions.

Sydney FC vs Adelaide at Coopers on Friday night too.

My VA J Upgrade Me Bid just cleared though the wife's still hasn't. I don't dare mention it yet.

 

[SponsorSFC]

Wife's upgrade cleared but looking at the forecast it seems a bit of rain in Adelaide over the next few days, can't win them all I guess.

 

[Pushka]

Tomorrow is going to be THE rain day but they are being cagey about Saturday and Sunday. SACA desperately want people not to go, they are planning on it - something to do with selling thousands more memberships than they have capacity for.

 

[QF WP]

Well it's not looking good for the Poms now - firstly a great first innings by Australia, then a collapse in their batting with Joe Root the most recent dismissal (now 3/50):

15.3

coughmins to Root, OUT, full in the channel, Root goes hard... and slices to third slip!
JE Root c Bancroft b coughmins 9 (10b 1x4 0x6) SR: 90.00