Cricket Season Thread

My bite the bullet team
1.Kwajaja ( on notice )
2. Konstas
3.Labuschagne
4.McSweenry
5.Head
6.Marsh ( must prove fully fit as he looked unfit in Adelaide.)
7. Inglis or Carey ( whoever shows best current form )
8. Starc
9. Cummins
10.Lyon
11.Hazelwood ( if fully fit otherwise Boland )
12.Webster ( on standby for Marsh )

Imo - Boland gets the nod over Hazelwood for the MCG as its his home deck
This team is my attempt to build for the future
REALITY -THERE IS ZERO CHANCE OUR SELECTORS MAKE ANY CHANGES TO A TEAM THAT JUST WON BY 10 WICKETS
IT AINT PROTOCOL !
 
Stevec said:
My bite the bullet team
1.Kwajaja ( on notice )
2. Konstas
3.Labuschagne
4.McSweenry
5.Head
6.Marsh ( must prove fully fit as he looked unfit in Adelaide.)
7. Inglis or Carey ( whoever shows best current form )
8. Starc
9. Cummins
10.Lyon
11.Hazelwood ( if fully fit otherwise Boland )
12.Webster ( on standby for Marsh )

Imo - Boland gets the nod over Hazelwood for the MCG as its his home deck
This team is my attempt to build for the future
REALITY -THERE IS ZERO CHANCE OUR SELECTORS MAKE ANY CHANGES TO A TEAM THAT JUST WON BY 10 WICKETS
IT AINT PROTOCOL !
Click to expand...
I think you're right in that the team won't change pending Hazlewood's fitness. However, I'd say if Smith does not score some significant runs in the next game he should undoubtedly be on the chopping block.

Personally looking at the stats I think Kurtis Patterson has to be seriously in the frame in some way. In just 6 innings he's amassed 527 runs @ 105.4, only beaten by Henry Hunt on 537 in 12 innings and Hilton Cartwright on 530 in 11 innings. This is more than Konstas who has scored 471 in 8 innings (does not include PM XI) @58.87.

Obviously the big difference is that the most likely person to be replaced on form would be Smith and McSweeney would slot into 4 as he's earned that on his shield and PM's XI form. That means that we'd need a new opener and Kurtis Patterson has scored his runs this season at 3 (although 167* at 4 due to T Sangha as nightwatchman). Kurtis does have lots of experience opening though, doing it at club level, in the BBL (doesn't count for much) and previously in shield but is it worth risking it? Konstas I was initially unconvinced given he scored two centuries in a game then nothing for a while until the PM XI 50 over game and the most recent shield game and I'm now convinced within the next 18 months he makes his debut essentially as soon as Khawaja retires.

Patterson this year has scored: 91, 66, 71, 99, 33, 167*
Konstas (incl. PM XI): 152, 105, 2, 43, 0, 16, 3(@4), 73*(@4), 10, 28, 39, 14, 107 (50ov), 88

Clearly we have a very interesting battle in line if an opening spot were to become available, although if it was another spot in the batting line-up apart from Marshes I'd say Patterson gets the nod easily with his form. Another thing in Patterson's favour is his prior experience in the Test arena and over many seasons in Sheffield Shield which could be vital against a side of such quality as India and lets not forget a Test average of 144! However, he's 31 and 2/3 years (I guess would have 4 more potential years) while Konstas has just turned 19. Is it worth blooding a younger highly promising player?

Another thing worth pointing out is Khawaja spent all of Shield batting at 4 in the season leading up to his re-entry into the test team (last ashes) in 2022 he opened apart from the first game he batted at 5 to replace Travis Head. He ended up averaging 56 opening in 2022 then 52.6 in 2023. So could Kurtis do the same?

All in all very interesting battle playing out which we may never see a winner if Smith and Khawaja find form.

You talked about Inglis and Carey, whoever has best form. In Shield batting wise it is quite clearly Alex Carey with the upper hand where he scored 452 runs @90.4 in 6 innings with 2 hundreds and a fifty while Inglis scored 363 in 6 innings @72.6 with 2 hundreds but no fiftys.
With gloves I have no clue. Probably the one part of cricket where stats are least useful unless they are dropped catches as byes could be from an inswinging around the wicket delivery that just brushes past the pad and is unreachable. From a dismissal POV Carey wins again with 17 dismissals in 6 innings compared to Inglis' 8 in 5 innings. Sam Harper is the only player with a greater dismissal/inning average at 2.9 to Kez's 2.8 but I think Carey is a much better batsman. Carey also managed to take 7 catches in an innings which is pretty impressive as well. Carey's had some good form in Shield so I expect he'll make some good scores at some stage this summer.

I think as for the batters, Khawaja must have an innings of note in this test and most certainly in the next 2 or he's gone. McSweeney batted really well in Adelaide particularly with Marnus under lights on Day 1 and I don't see any need to drop him as I reckon he's quality. Good to see Labuschagne have a good knock, hopefully it continues. Head is phenomenal but I'd rather we don't rely exclusively on him to score runs. Marsh been a bit iffy hopefully he sorts his body out but Beau Webster been in solid shield form and did very well in PM XI so we have a solid back up plan if he needs more rest.

As for the bowlers as much as I love Scott Boland I just think Hazlewood was in such good form in Perth it'd be stupid to leave him out. Indian batters also looked a bit too comfortable hitting him all around the ground due to his super-consistency in line and length but took the wickets of each of 3 of the Indian top 4 + Rohit Sharma and Siraj. Can't say much for Lyon other than he looked dangerous in the 2nd innings in Perth (was away for first innings), in Adelaide only 1 of 30 wickets were from spin and that was getting Mitch Marsh "out". Starc was excellent in Adelaide and Cummins looked a lot better in the second innings than other times particularly during his first spell of the second innings.

I'd probably keep the line-up unchanged but let the team know there are some promising players knocking on the door in shield that could take their spot.
 
Last edited:
Charred said:
I think you're right in that the team won't change pending Hazlewood's fitness. However, I'd say if Smith does not score some significant runs in the next game he should undoubtedly be on the chopping block.

Personally looking at the stats I think Kurtis Patterson has to be seriously in the frame in some way. In just 6 innings he's amassed 527 runs @ 105.4, only beaten by Henry Hunt on 537 in 12 innings and Hilton Cartwright on 530 in 11 innings. This is more than Konstas who has scored 471 in 8 innings (does not include PM XI) @58.87.

Obviously the big difference is that the most likely person to be replaced on form would be Smith and McSweeney would slot into 4 as he's earned that on his shield and PM's XI form. That means that we'd need a new opener and Kurtis Patterson has scored his runs this season at 3 (although 167* at 4 due to T Sangha as nightwatchman). Kurtis does have lots of experience opening though, doing it at club level, in the BBL (doesn't count for much) and previously in shield but is it worth risking it? Konstas I was initially unconvinced given he scored two centuries in a game then nothing for a while until the PM XI 50 over game and the most recent shield game and I'm now convinced within the next 18 months he makes his debut essentially as soon as Khawaja retires.

Patterson this year has scored: 91, 66, 71, 99, 33, 167*
Konstas (incl. PM XI): 152, 105, 2, 43, 0, 16, 3(@4), 73*(@4), 10, 28, 39, 14, 107 (50ov), 88

Clearly we have a very interesting battle in line if an opening spot were to become available, although if it was another spot in the batting line-up apart from Marshes I'd say Patterson gets the nod easily with his form. Another thing in Patterson's favour is his prior experience in the Test arena and over many seasons in Sheffield Shield which could be vital against a side of such quality as India and lets not forget a Test average of 144! However, he's 31 and 2/3 years (I guess would have 4 more potential years) while Konstas has just turned 19. Is it worth blooding a younger highly promising player?

Another thing worth pointing out is Khawaja spent all of Shield batting at 4 in the season leading up to his re-entry into the test team (last ashes) in 2022 he opened apart from the first game he batted at 5 to replace Travis Head. He ended up averaging 56 opening in 2022 then 52.6 in 2023. So could Kurtis do the same?

All in all very interesting battle playing out which we may never see a winner if Smith and Khawaja find form.

You talked about Inglis and Carey, whoever has best form. In Shield batting wise it is quite clearly Alex Carey with the upper hand where he scored 452 runs @90.4 in 6 innings with 2 hundreds and a fifty while Inglis scored 363 in 6 innings @72.6 with 2 hundreds but no fiftys.
With gloves I have no clue. Probably the one part of cricket where stats are least useful unless they are dropped catches as byes could be from an inswinging around the wicket delivery that just brushes past the pad and is unreachable. From a dismissal POV Carey wins again with 17 dismissals in 6 innings compared to Inglis' 8 in 5 innings. Sam Harper is the only player with a greater dismissal/inning average at 2.9 to Kez's 2.8 but I think Carey is a much better batsman. Carey also managed to take 7 catches in an innings which is pretty impressive as well. Carey's had some good form in Shield so I expect he'll make some good scores at some stage this summer.

I think as for the batters, Khawaja must have an innings of note in this test and most certainly in the next 2 or he's gone. McSweeney batted really well in Adelaide particularly with Marnus under lights on Day 1 and I don't see any need to drop him as I reckon he's quality. Good to see Labuschagne have a good knock, hopefully it continues. Head is phenomenal but I'd rather we don't rely exclusively on him to score runs. Marsh been a bit iffy hopefully he sorts his body out but Beau Webster been in solid shield form and did very well in PM XI so we have a solid back up plan if he needs more rest.

As for the bowlers as much as I love Scott Boland I just think Hazlewood was in such good form in Perth it'd be stupid to leave him out. Indian batters also looked a bit too comfortable hitting him all around the ground due to his super-consistency in line and length but took the wickets of each of 3 of the Indian top 4 + Rohit Sharma and Siraj. Can't say much for Lyon other than he looked dangerous in the 2nd innings in Perth (was away for first innings), in Adelaide only 1 of 30 wickets were from spin and that was getting Mitch Marsh "out". Starc was excellent in Adelaide and Cummins looked a lot better in the second innings than other times particularly during his first spell of the second innings.

I'd probably keep the line-up unchanged but let the team know there are some promising players knocking on the door in shield that could take their spot.
Click to expand...
Good and interesting commentary S.
 
Stevec said:
My bite the bullet team
1.Kwajaja ( on notice )
2. Konstas
3.Labuschagne
4.McSweenry
5.Head
6.Marsh ( must prove fully fit as he looked unfit in Adelaide.)
7. Inglis or Carey ( whoever shows best current form )
8. Starc
9. Cummins
10.Lyon
11.Hazelwood ( if fully fit otherwise Boland )
12.Webster ( on standby for Marsh )

Imo - Boland gets the nod over Hazelwood for the MCG as its his home deck
This team is my attempt to build for the future
REALITY -THERE IS ZERO CHANCE OUR SELECTORS MAKE ANY CHANGES TO A TEAM THAT JUST WON BY 10 WICKETS
IT AINT PROTOCOL !
Click to expand...
If Marsh can’t Bowl 15 overs in a day then Webster needs a hat.
Just yes to Konstas, we need an actual opener. Do whatever ya like with McS.
If Hazo is fit I’m picking him.
 
Charred said:
I think you're right in that the team won't change pending Hazlewood's fitness. However, I'd say if Smith does not score some significant runs in the next game he should undoubtedly be on the chopping block.

Personally looking at the stats I think Kurtis Patterson has to be seriously in the frame in some way. In just 6 innings he's amassed 527 runs @ 105.4, only beaten by Henry Hunt on 537 in 12 innings and Hilton Cartwright on 530 in 11 innings. This is more than Konstas who has scored 471 in 8 innings (does not include PM XI)
Click to expand...
Re Patterson vs Konstas I'm just a little biased towards a young guy whose never been tried over one whose been around for a few years and has actually had a go at the top level and failed . Admit recent stats of Patterson impressive .
Also Konstas got a ton against the actual test Indian bowling line up except just Bumrah . That was impressive
Agreed Stick with Carey but its nice to have a great back up in Inglis
If Hazelwood fit id pick him .Mitch Marsh needs to get fitter .He looked very cumbersome in the field
Like your summary and the thought going in to it !
 
Buttface said:
If Marsh can’t Bowl 15 overs in a day then Webster needs a hat.
Just yes to Konstas, we need an actual opener. Do whatever ya like with McS.
If Hazo is fit I’m picking him.
Click to expand...
Hey Notice BF it's almost unanimous on dropping Smith on this forum however the perpetually smiling George Bailey will probably be a dissenting vote .LOL
 
Stevec said:
Hey Notice BF it's almost unanimous on dropping Smith on this forum however the perpetually smiling George Bailey will probably be a dissenting vote .LOL
Click to expand...
Yeah I haven’t actually voted yet on smudge, his name is the one I’ve tried to leave hoping he comes good. I have a soft spot for him as I would tell anyone who’d listen he was gunna be our next Richie Benaud, only better. I was close.
I remember hacking on Kieron Perkins at an Olympic Games when he scraped into lane 8. Uncle BF tried to say something about thoroughbreds and experience. Uncle BF also gladly took my money after Perkins slayed em.
I would have no hesitation dropping anyone in that team but him.
So I need someone else to make that call, but that call needs to be made.
 
Test day
Looking at the stats for first 2 tests its a scary picture
We are a one man band with Travis Head
He is way ahead of all other batsmen from either side
Total runs 240 Ave 80.0
The next 5 are all Indian
Jsiswal 185 runs Ave 46.8
N K Reddy 163 runs Ave 54.3
KL Rahul 147 runs Ave 36.7
V Kohl 123 runs Ave 41.0
Shub Gill 59 runs Ave 29.5
Australian runs Carey 72 ,Labuschagne 69 Marsh 62 McSweeney 59
Kwajaja 34 Smith 19
Averages ranging from 24 Carey down to 6 Smith
Basically Head has scored the same runs as the rest of the top 7 combined

My point is Head is masking our extremely fragile batting line up
If we say averages over 30 are the bare minimum with over 40 good and over 50 fantastic
Then we've got one guy at 80 and the rest of our batting line up are FAILURES
HOWEVER our Bowling stats collectively are superior
So at this stage Head plus the bowlers are the reason we are still in this series
 
Our Average batting card
McSweeney 19
Kwajaja 16
Labuschagne 23
Smith 6
Head 80
Marsh 21
Carey 24
That's 7-189 which won't win many matches unless our bowlers are all on fire
 
Smith and Khawaja have earned the chance to turn things around, at least for this series. The side have lost 7 tests in the last 6 years, won 32. Form has been down since the Ashes but they are still winning. If they lose this test series and Uzzie and Smith struggle I would expect some changes with at least one of them
 
McSweeney surviving but that's all 4 off 31 balls .Problem is he doesn't have many shots .If we want to be a champion test side both openers need to have some attacking shots .
 
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