Australian Cricket - Crisis, What Crisis ??

[ElwoodBlues1]

England have sent out a very average team IMO....their batting is very ordinary bar Cook and Root, the other blokes barely average between 20-30 at test level.
To me it looks like they expect to lose and have sent a seconds team sprinkled with a few regulars ...other than Anderson and Broad their bowlers are unknowns.

I reckon Carey might get the gloves ahead of Neville...Smith has been under fire for picking his mates so I reckon he might go the new boy...

[Professer E]

Our batting is pretty shaky as well EB, too early to say the poms are weak, we normally have more than a few passengers as well.

[flyboy77]

Our batting is pretty shaky as well EB, too early to say the poms are weak, we normally have more than a few passengers as well.

Hazelwood 9 overs 3 for 13 against WA.

S. Marsh out for 2, M. Marsh a duck!

Maxwell might just get the #6 spot.

Wade? Meh....time to try another option. Nevill at 32 yo?

Might as well blood a younger bloke imo. Bancroft?

[DJC]

I reckon this article sums up what is ailing Australian cricket:

Steve Smith admits he played a key role in Ed Cowan's Sheffield Shield snubbing, saying New South Wales batsman Daniel Hughes is a player of Test potential who deserves his spot.

Ed Cowan's 16-17 Shield record

Matches: 9
Innings: 16
Runs: 959 (top-ranked in competition)
High score: 212
Average: 73.76

The availability of Test batsmen Smith and David Warner meant Cowan was overlooked for the Blues' season-opening Shield clash with South Australia that starts on Friday at Adelaide Oval.

Former Test opener Cowan was the leading Shield run-scorer during the 2016-17 season, a performance that resulted in him winning the Steve Waugh medal as NSW's best player.

But state selectors have instead turned to Hughes, who recently scored two centuries during the domestic one-day competition plus a double-ton in grade cricket.

"I did have an involvement and it's a tough selection," Smith told reporters at the launch of his biography The Journey.

"Unfortunately people have to miss out and on this occasion it's Ed.

"I've told him myself that when he comes back into the team … he has to continue to set the standard and do what he did so well last year."

The decision to pick 28-year-old Hughes ahead of 35-year-old Cowan has triggered widespread debate, with some pundits alleging the latter's dim view of Cricket Australia and vocal role in this year's pay dispute contributed.

Chris Rogers, who played Test cricket until he was almost 38 years old, called it "confusing" given Cowan scored 959 runs during the most recent Shield season.

Smith described Hughes, who averages 36.68 from 17 first-class games, as a player of Test potential.

"He looks like he has a very good technique. He plays the new ball well as we've seen in one-day cricket," he said.

Cricket's civil war isn't over yet

"He's been in terrific form. It's a good opportunity for him to play with the likes of myself and Davey [Warner], learn a little bit off us and the way we prepare.

"And a good chance for me to see him play as well … against some good pink-ball bowlers in Adelaide."

Warner agreed Hughes was capable of donning the baggy green in the future.

"Definitely. He's got composure, got patience … he's an exceptional talent," Warner said.

"Ed will be a bit disappointed … he knows exactly what he needs to do and that's what he does all the time — just churn out runs.

"He's eager to still put that baggy green on. I wish him all the best, he's a great person and a great leader."

The best batsman in NSW is left out because a younger bloke "has potential" - no performances to speak of (apart from a grade cricket 200) but potential  :

Meanwhile, Cowan's chances of getting back into the Test squad are shot.  Of course he can get back if he churns out runs - but isn't that what got him dropped from the NSW team?

As long as individuals like Smith have the power to effectively rule someone out of Test selection, we will continue to field teams that don't include the best performing cricketers.

[malo]

I reckon this article sums up what is ailing Australian cricket:

The best batsman in NSW is left out because a younger bloke "has potential" - no performances to speak of (apart from a grade cricket 200) but potential  :

Meanwhile, Cowan's chances of getting back into the Test squad are shot.  Of course he can get back if he churns out runs - but isn't that what got him dropped from the NSW team?

As long as individuals like Smith have the power to effectively rule someone out of Test selection, we will continue to field teams that don't include the best performing cricketers.

Gee, I reckon Tassie would take Cowan back in a heartbeat the way they're capitulating this season....Wade might be dropped for Timmy Paine at Shield level !

[laj]

The only positions we need to look at are no.6 and the keeper, both of which could go to anyone. In Australia the rest of the batting line up is pretty good and at home the tail often make a good contribution too. Bowling line up is very strong.

Not sure where to go with the keeper. Wade is finally keeping pretty well but then is batting terribly. None of the other keepers are burning it up either. Wade will probably stay on the basis of being the incumbent given none of them are in form. No.6 I have no idea. That's just as difficult on form.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Gee, I reckon Tassie would take Cowan back in a heartbeat the way they're capitulating this season....Wade might be dropped for Timmy Paine at Shield level !

Harshly done by has been Cowan, his strong approach/criticisms with player payments/rights vs the ACB have cost him IMO.
Reckon the ACB pressured Smith to knife him.....Cowans form was excellent last season and there is no logic to his NSW dropping other than the ACB's dislike of him...

[malo]

The only positions we need to look at are no.6 and the keeper, both of which could go to anyone. In Australia the rest of the batting line up is pretty good and at home the tail often make a good contribution too. Bowling line up is very strong.

Not sure where to go with the keeper. Wade is finally keeping pretty well but then is batting terribly. None of the other keepers are burning it up either. Wade will probably stay on the basis of being the incumbent given none of them are in form. No.6 I have no idea. That's just as difficult on form.

I think the Ashes this year will be a battle of which batting lineup collapses least.  England have Cook & Root & that's it, Aus still look brittle if a couple of early wickets fall.  The Aus attack looks very strong although you can never write off Broad & Anderson (Broad will be more dangerous, he always is in Australian conditions).  I hope we target Moen Ali on these pitches like we did Swan last time.  He's honestly not good enough to be their number 1 spinner.  If he gets smashed early, make the Poms decide if they really want to carry him for his batting alone.

Looking forward to 1st Test......as I'm heading up for it !

[JonHenry]

I think the Ashes this year will be a battle of which batting lineup collapses least.  England have Cook & Root & that's it, Aus still look brittle if a couple of early wickets fall.  The Aus attack looks very strong although you can never write off Broad & Anderson (Broad will be more dangerous, he always is in Australian conditions).  I hope we target Moen Ali on these pitches like we did Swan last time.  He's honestly not good enough to be their number 1 spinner.  If he gets smashed early, make the Poms decide if they really want to carry him for his batting alone.

Looking forward to 1st Test......as I'm heading up for it !

I don't see Cook being to effective out here.
If he does it will be a great effort but my money will be on Starc and Hazlewood getting him pretty cheaply.

[LP]

I don't see Cook being to effective out here.
If he does it will be a great effort but my money will be on Starc and Hazlewood getting him pretty cheaply.

Probably won't be their worst, but probably won't have a great impact either.

Could do a Boycott and cause us some frustration if he holds up an end!