Australian Cricket Season 2018-2019

[rock86]

I didn’t diss the performances at all but contextualisibg. And we are talking of the Ashes in the UK and merely suggested that we don’t get ahead of ourselves but instead look at the performances as encouraging. I was pleased to see Head doing well and hopefully Khawaja has got some confidence back.

I did find your post rather contradictory with the first and second statements.

How many catches were dropped by SL? England won’t do that to the same extent.

I can’t wait for the Barmy Arny. I’m betting they are getting their songs prepared for Smith and likely Warner.

The comment wasn't directed particularly at you Pushka, more so the chat around (happening a lot in current cricket circles) disregarding performance purely because of the opposition. Sure getting a century or bagful of wickets against SL is not the same as it is against India, it should not however be disregarded (as some would have it) when looking forward to a future Ashes series.

 

[Pushka]

The comment wasn't directed particularly at you Pushka, more so the chat around (happening a lot in current cricket circles) disregarding performance purely because of the opposition. Sure getting a century or bagful of wickets against SL is not the same as it is against India, it should not however be disregarded (as some would have it) when looking forward to a future Ashes series.

Ok. Fair enuf. I guess I react to the media hype and down play anything the media says these days. Not just cricket but pretty much everything these days is over amped.

One thing that gives it context the other way is that the first 3 batsman didn’t get the runs. Sadly (I think) they’ve handed Warner his place back.

Talking about this the other day and we’d feel better if Bancroft was offered a place before Warner.

 

[QF WP]

Was on the phone when the next wicket fell, so couldn't report

31.6
Wicket
Richardson to de Silva, OUT, chipped straight to mid-on! A pretty weak shot, a good-length delivery on off stump, de Silva aiming to flick to the leg side, the bottom hand takes over and he just sends a pretty simple catch to mid-on. He's been keen to take everything leg side and it's cost him
DM de Silva c Head b Richardson 6 (13b 1x4 0x6) SR: 46.15

6/97

But Khawaja has just grassed a sharp change after 3 attempts:

40.6
0 runs
Labuschagne to C Karunaratne, no run, dropped after three attempts by Khawaja at slip! A flashing drive, it flew quickly to Khawaja who couldn't grab it first time but nearly claimed it twice on the rebounds before it went to ground

and then a multi-player catch that almost came off:

41.1
6 runs
Lyon to Mendis, SIX runs, brilliant effort at deep midwicket, almost a wonderful team-effort catch...Mendis slog swept, Burns grabbed it, knew he was going over the rope, and tried to flick it back to Richardson who was running round from long-on

 

[CaptJCool]

Sitting right behind the ‘catch’ on the boundary.

Sadly the foot was on it!

6

 

[QF WP]

Another bites the dust:

44.6
Wicket
Labuschagne to Mendis, OUT, caught at cover! That was a bit soft. He looped up a leg break full and wide of off, he was tempted into a booming drive, he strides out but doesn't get all his weight over the front foot, and slaps the drive chest high to Patterson at cover! Easy catch.
BKG Mendis c Patterson b Labuschagne 42 (69b 3x4 1x6) SR: 60.86

7/143

and another one gone:

45.4
Wicket
coughmins to C Karunaratne, OUT, caught behind! 138kph, good length wide of off, he is lured into a drive away from his body, he flashed hard, but got a thin edge and it flies straight through to Paine. Easy catch.
C Karunaratne c †Paine b coughmins 22 (38b 4x4 0x6) SR: 57.89

8/143

 

[CaptJCool]

5 slips and a gully
6 plays and misses

Next over coughmins 9/148

 

[CaptJCool]

All over 149

Bowled just clipped over the bails

Starc 5/54. Match figures 10/100

 

[QF WP]

Oh, that'll teach me to have lunch and take my eyes off the screen:

another one gone:

49.1
Wicket
coughmins to MDK Perera, OUT, caught behind! Perfect delivery. Would have got a lot of top order players out. 135kph, good length, fourth stump line, it wobbles away off the seam, he pushes at it from the crease, gets a thin edge through to Paine. The end is near
MDK Perera c †Paine b coughmins 4 (9b 1x4 0x6) SR: 44.44

The final one bites the dust:

50.6
Wicket
Starc to Fernando, OUT, Bowled him! Starc gets 10! Australia win! 146kph, searing yorker, gun barrel straight fired into the base of middle and off, he gets the feet out of the way and jams the bat down but misses and it crashes into the base of the stumps!
MVT Fernando b Starc 0 (9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

All out 149. Great effort from the Aussies, winnings by 366 runs.

Starc gets a Michelle in each innings and a game tennfer. coughmins 4 for the game (3 in last innings).

 

[CaptJCool]

 

[CaptJCool]

 

[JohnK]

I would doubt any Australian cricket fan is using this SL series as a benchmark (if they are then there's something wrong up top), but you can't just completely disregard player performances because SL aren't the juggernaut of a side India are.

It's already started. Oh look how good we are. We're bullying Sri Lanka who are struggling to rebuild worse than we are.

@Pushka made a good point. Why raise the hopes of a young batsman struggling with mental health and then leave him out of the team.

Harris was solid against India but struggled against Sri Lanka. Khawaja is a shadow of his former self.

Assuming Warner is back for Ashes

Warner
Harris/Burns
Khawaja
Smith
Head
Patterson
Paine

Is that how the selectors are likely to go? Is that solid enough? We have more than enough bowling talent.

 

[QF WP]

I wouldn't have Warner back in the team. The rest are solid - plus emergencies like Wade (to cover both batting and spare wicketkeeper)

 

[CaptJCool]

On the flat tracks of Melb and Sydney

Starc was flat track cough.

On the Gabba, the swing bowlers did the damage. coughmins and Richardson (Ashes here they come)

On the flat track of Canberra Starc was the flat track bully 10/100 with fear of getting hurt
Ugh Dickwella today getting caught by a half tracker that didn’t bounce

So are England at home more flat track fodder or swing is King

If so, England’s no place for Doug Walters lookalikes or Thommo projectiles

 

[CaptJCool]

PS Apparently Greg Chappell aged 70 and 71 during the Ashes will quit the selection panel then....

 

[Pushka]

On the flat tracks of Melb and Sydney

Starc was flat track cough.

On the Gabba, the swing bowlers did the damage. coughmins and Richardson (Ashes here they come)

On the flat track of Canberra Starc was the flat track bully 10/100 with fear of getting hurt
Ugh Dickwella today getting caught by a half tracker that didn’t bounce

So are England at home more flat track fodder or swing is King

If so, England’s no place for Doug Walters lookalikes or Thommo projectiles

You see this is exactly what I mean about the media. They are praising Starc like the Phoenix rising from the Ashes. (That’s quite apt really, isn’t it )

Swing is King in the Ashes. Which is why Sayers needs a go. But no, it has to be fast.

 

[JohnK]

You see this is exactly what I mean about the media. They are praising Starc like the Phoenix rising from the Ashes. (That’s quite apt really, isn’t it )

Swing is King in the Ashes. Which is why Sayers needs a go. But no, it has to be fast.

Media? Last week a Star was born. Now Starc bullying batsmen who don't average 40 in Test cricket.

England have their own issues but as said don't write them off. Their batting have let them down.

 

[zenyattamondatta]

One of the greatest test victories to SL just now... freakin' magnificent last wicket partnership.

 

[Dudditz]

One of the greatest test victories to SL just now... freakin' magnificent last wicket partnership.

I still have no idea how they managed this. What an innings from Kusal Perera!

 

[zenyattamondatta]

For those with TV access, SL are about to take the series against RSA 2-0. Not bad after losing the toss and conceding a sizable first-innings lead.

First time an Asian side will have won a series in RSA.

 

[JohnK]

Smashed in New Zealand, trounced by Australia. The first test win was a miracle. The second test win?

Makes no sense.