Australian Cricket Season 2024-2025

[WilsonM]

Some stats I saw mentioned on the Cricinfo commentary:
After two matches and two centuries, Steve Smith is now equal fifth on the list of Test Centurions with 36.
As he’s still not out his average just climbed back over 57.00
During the Sri Lankan innings he took a couple of catches and overtook Ponting for the most by any Australian fielder (ex wicketkeepers).

Love how the tune has changed from "Steve Smith is washed, he needs to go" to "He's back to his absolute best" in the space of 5 test matches...

Labuschagne on the other hand...

 

[Scarlett]

Yep. Results matter.
Khawaja is another.

I guess Labuschagne could have volunteered to go back and play in the Shield to try and find some form or score more runs. But I’m sure he’s working plenty hard whilst still on tour. Who knows, maybe he’ll invite some good local kids to bowl at him in the nets for three hours today whilst the rest of the batsmen rack up their scores.

 

[cjd600]

I guess Labuschagne could have volunteered to go back and play in the Shield to try and find some form or score more runs. But I’m sure he’s working plenty hard whilst still on tour. Who knows, maybe he’ll invite some good local kids to bowl at him in the nets for three hours today whilst the rest of the batsmen rack up their scores.

that might further dent his confidence lol

 

[DejaBrew]

No doubt Labuschagne will be afforded some leeway and opportunity to regain form as long as the team is winning convincingly. As mentioned up thread, similar could be said of Smith not long ago and he’s certainly turned a corner.

 

[cjd600]

Afforded some more leeway, he’s already had a lot….

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Afforded some more leeway, he’s already had a lot….

Agree the team winning saves the pressure a bit

 

[drron]

Well all out at lunch with a lead of 157. Not a great morning for the Aussies. Up to the bowlers now.

 

[cjd600]

Disappointing morning for sure.

 

[Cossie]

Must be a humdinger of a pitch in WA,

 

[Cossie]

Yikes, it gets worse! One batter nearly half that total....

 

[DejaBrew]

Yikes, it gets worse! One batter nearly half that total....
View attachment 430894

Oof....

 

[love_the_life]

In the Sri Lanka-Australia match, terrible sportsmanship of the Australians to walk off when it was patently obvious that it was not a catch - to say they did not realise it had bounced first....really? It was designed to intimidate the Sri Lankan batsmen and unfortunately it worked.

 

[Happy Dude]

Afforded some more leeway, he’s already had a lot….

View attachment 430646

Post automatically merged: Saturday at 3:10 PM

Agree the team winning saves the pressure a bit

That's an unusual stat and it'd be interesting to see Smith, Warner, Khawaja for comparison (none would be pretty), but he's practically been an opener the last few years so maybe that's where the latitude stems from? Avg 27.5 over the last 2.5 yrs will definitely be a topic at then next selectors meeting but he'll go to the Caribbean and if things don't get worse he'll play in the Ashes.

 

[cjd600]

That's an unusual stat and it'd be interesting to see Smith, Warner, Khawaja for comparison (none would be pretty), but he's practically been an opener the last few years so maybe that's where the latitude stems from? Avg 27.5 over the last 2.5 yrs will definitely be a topic at then next selectors meeting but he'll go to the Caribbean and if things don't get worse he'll play in the Ashes.

With Usman and the in-form Smith both ageing, they'll be loathe to force any more experience out unless they have to

 

[Happy Dude]

With Usman and the in-form Smith both ageing, they'll be loathe to force any more experience out unless they have to

Tru dat. Same for the bowlers too.

 

[OZDUCK]

Surprising development regarding Matthew Kunemann's action. He seems to have played a lot of games before this report - "Matt has played 124 professional matches since his debut in 2017, including five Test matches and four one-day internationals. He has played 55 Big Bash League games since 2018. This is the first time in those eight years of professional cricket that his action been questioned."

To be honest I have no skills or suitable experience to really offer an opinion but I do remember looking at him during the second test and thinking his action looked a 'bit odd'. However it didn't seem to approach the levels of 'straightening' of other bowlers I have seen.

Kuhnemann reported for suspected illegal bowling action

Australian spin bowler Matt Kuhnemann has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action, following his terrific series against Sri Lanka.

www.abc.net.au

 

[CaptJCool]

South Australia lead the shield table with 3 rounds to go

There was a 7/11 in Perth recently that got them there
Was like taking snacks from … on the Perth pitch

Can they stay ahead ?

 

[drron]

i did suspect when I noted that the TV umpire and the match referee I did in a humourously way think there might have been a problem for Australia but really didn't think it would be like this.