Cricket Season Thread

Sri Lanka have been a lot more competitive in South Africa. It was good to see Malinga still playing. I love watching that guy bowl. I'd be scared absolutely you-konw-what-less if I had to face him. Something about that slinging motion delived low down makes a 135-140kph ball look like it's coming out at 160kph
 
Yeah SA has a much better team on paper then India, really their team is equally as good as England in my opinion. Probably one of their opening slots, the number 6 position and Boucher at number 7 is what has held them back.

In saying that, a line up with Smith, Amla, Kallis and De Villiers should still regularly post big scores consistently. Also with Steyn in the attack who is in my opinion very close to being classed an all time great and good support with also Kallis chipping in, their attack is also very good.

Their ranking is being held back by their home record, they've drawn series against England (1-1, with number 11 Graham Onions batting out the last over twice), India (1-1) and Australia (1-1) over the past 3 Summer's, add to that, they have lost matches against Sri Lanka and West Indies recently at home too which may not affect the series outcome, but it does affect rankings.
 
@Yossarian said:
England getting touched up by Pakistan…

ENG 192 & 7/102
PAK 338
Click to expand...

Top 2 teams in the world are copping some hammerings away from home.
In saying that I wouldnt completely disregard Broad and Swann at the moment, they could easily add 150 in quick time and set up a tricky chase for Pakistan.
 
@Jazza said:
@Yossarian said:
England getting touched up by Pakistan…

ENG 192 & 7/102
PAK 338

Top 2 teams in the world are copping some hammerings away from home.
In saying that I wouldnt completely disregard Broad and Swann at the moment, they could easily add 150 in quick time and set up a tricky chase for Pakistan.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

As soon as I read this Broad got out. They were lucky in that partnership, a wicket overturned on a no ball (how often does that seem to favour England!) and a DRS that went against them. 8 down and 11 behind still. Given it is Pakistan you wouldn't want them too far behind chasing in the 4th innings. Be a nice result for the guys playing for them though. Not every Pakistani is a cheat and the guys left playing deserve a result.

9 down now…
 
Marsh looked like a No 11 then

Bat and pad needed to be close together 2-31 Sehwag's captaincy has been refreshing to see bringing on the spinner after 5 overs
 
Are we allowed to question Shaun Marsh's suitability for test cricket yet? The only thing in his favour at the moment is the lack of an obvious replacement apart from maybe Khawaja.
 
To me Watson at 3 defeats the purpose of moving him from opener. He's a natural 6 IMO. I'd rather see Ponting move back up.

Cowan
Warner
Ponting
Clarke
M Hussey
Watson
Wade…
 
Very well played centuries by Ponting and Clarke today, they've totally shown up the Indians yet again, who are by far and away the laziest fielding team I have seen in a while.
 
@willow said:
Very well played centuries by Ponting and Clarke today, they've totally shown up the Indians yet again, who are by far and away the laziest fielding team I have seen in a while.
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and the worst touring side ….......
 
@willow said:
Very well played centuries by Ponting and Clarke today, they've totally shown up the Indians yet again, who are by far and away the laziest fielding team I have seen in a while.
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Once again the Indians started off positively, much like Sydney, and then allowed a partnership to totally destroy their confidence. Yadav bowling like a busted, Sehwag has to take on the bowling load himself because Khan is useless unless the ball is reverse swinging.
 
Shame to see Marsh fail again, I like him as a cricketer, he was a victim of stupid scheduling coming back from injury. I supported his selection over Khawaja as he has performed better in test cricket and proven he is good enough to play in the international scene, something we're yet to see from Usman. The fact the only warm up game he got was a T20 is unfortunate. The shouldn't start the big bash until after christmas, and play shield cricket up until then. Watson should return at 4, with Ponting moving back to 3\. Unless he makes a big score here, I'd also bring Wade in for Haddin who's talking a big game yet failing to deliver.

Team beyond this series
Cowan
Warner
Ponting
Watson
Clarke
Hussey
Wade
Pattinson
Harris/Siddle/Cummins
Hilfenhaus
Lyon
 
Well as they say: Form is temporary, class is permanent. Great to see Punter stick it up everyone again. A much more controlled and fluid ton there. Hope he carries on tomorrow and goes the big double along with Pup.

I'd be inclined to say give Marsh a chance considering we gave North, Hughes et al such a long lease at life. However, I'd pick the following for the next series:

1\. Watson
2\. Warner
3\. Cowan
4\. Ponting
5\. Clarke
6\. Hussey
7\. Wade
8\. Pattinson
9\. Siddle
10\. Hilfenhaus
11\. Cummins/Lyon

Cowan is our answer to Rahul Dravid IMO. Watson and Warner can both hang out there if they get a start, and if they both get a roll on together it would decimate the confidence of opposing sides.

I like Haddin, but his work behind the pegs is matching his batting. He needs to go, Paine is injured and already 27\. Give Wade a go and if he proves his worth, we have a keeper/batsman with a FC average of 40 with ten years of international cricket ahead of him.

Cummins before Lyon? I rate the bloke (Lyon that is,) BUT I can see Australia succeed with a specialist four quick attack, at least in Australia and England. Why? Between the four pacemen I have chosen we have, youth, experience, ability to move the ball, mongrel and arrogance. Siddle looks like 100 times the bowler he was this time last year, McDermott has worked some magic on these blokes. We have Watson on top of that and two quite useful part time bowlers in Clarke (who doesn't bowl often enough IMO,) Hussey (a genuine partnership breaker.) Obviously I'd take Lyon to India/Sri Lanka and drop Cummins for him.
 
@Cultured Bogan said:
Well as they say: Form is temporary, class is permanent. Great to see Punter stick it up everyone again. A much more controlled and fluid ton there. Hope he carries on tomorrow and goes the big double along with Pup.

I'd be inclined to say give Marsh a chance considering we gave North, Hughes et al such a long lease at life. However, I'd pick the following for the next series:

1\. Watson
2\. Warner
3\. Cowan
4\. Ponting
5\. Clarke
6\. Hussey
7\. Wade
8\. Pattinson
9\. Siddle
10\. Hilfenhaus
11\. Cummins/Lyon

Cowan is our answer to Rahul Dravid IMO. Watson and Warner can both hang out there if they get a start, and if they both get a roll on together it would decimate the confidence of opposing sides.

I like Haddin, but his work behind the pegs is matching his batting. He needs to go, Paine is injured and already 27\. Give Wade a go and if he proves his worth, we have a keeper/batsman with a FC average of 40 with ten years of international cricket ahead of him.

Cummins before Lyon? I rate the bloke (Lyon that is,) BUT I can see Australia succeed with a specialist four quick attack, at least in Australia and England. Why? Between the four pacemen I have chosen we have, youth, experience, ability to move the ball, mongrel and arrogance. Siddle looks like 100 times the bowler he was this time last year, McDermott has worked some magic on these blokes. We have Watson on top of that and two quite useful part time bowlers in Clarke (who doesn't bowl often enough IMO,) Hussey (a genuine partnership breaker.) Obviously I'd take Lyon to India/Sri Lanka and drop Cummins for him.
Click to expand...

I think our next tour is the West Indies From what I have seen these tracks are very spin friendly now
I would prefer to see Watson at 3 and leave Cowan at the top of the order with Warner
 
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