God help me - the Test Cricket thread

[Professer E]

NSW cricket mafia pushing Sangha based on BB form,  what a dead set joke.  The spin cupboard must be awfully bare ATM.

[LP]

Left field,  but I'd pick Maxwell .........................

If the news rags are accurate even Maxwell has given up on that dream ................ what is worse I've heard Maxwell and Finch have been told don't bother rolling up for Vic Shield cricket either! That's cutting them off at the source so that even if the weight of public opinion grows in their favour they'll have no basis for a claim.

This is how the cricket mafia works, it's tenticles cross all borders, even oceans.

[Professer E]

That's Cricket Victoria being straight out stupid, but then again, a lack of common sense and overt politicking have beset cricket at all levels for a long time.

[LP]

That's Cricket Victoria being straight out stupid, but then again, a lack of common sense and overt politicking have beset cricket at all levels for a long time.

Or corrupt, where does the motivation come from.

It seems that fundamentally it is all about maximising dollars in the long term scheme of things, but for who?

[Milhanna13]

If the news rags are accurate even Maxwell has given up on that dream ................ what is worse I've heard Maxwell and Finch have been told don't bother rolling up for Vic Shield cricket either! That's cutting them off at the source so that even if the weight of public opinion grows in their favour they'll have no basis for a claim.

This is how the cricket mafia works, it's tenticles cross all borders, even oceans.

Does seem a bit much if Vic rolls out  Finch, Maxwell, Handscome in the top 6 - half your top 6 with no real chance of playing test cricket again... should be trying to produce future test players (def dont drop them all, you do need some senior players to keep comp tough) - maybe this is the thinking?

[ElwoodBlues1]

Wade axed from the test squad to South Africa and Carey in along with Steketee,... Abbott, Neser and Swepson have maintained their places in the squad. Not sure Paine will be thrilled seeing Carey in the squad and I think the pressure will be on him to perform as captain as well as with the gloves and bat.
Steketee may be the leading Shield quick this season in terms of wickets? but has also come from the BBL and bowls a reasonable line but IMO wont bother the Saffies or anyone else too much. Honest trier at best IMO.
Saffies are playing Pakistan and were rolled for 220 but their quicks are all over the Pakis and have them 4 for 30 odd which i think tells you plenty about how they roll as a test nation in todays cricket and we should find them a lot easier than the plucky Indians to dismiss, its whether we can stand up with the bat and I think Smith might give us the edge in that area given he is the standout batter in either team.

[Professer E]

Net bowler for Smith EB.

Went to a Cricket Vic session this morning EB,  there really is a purple circle on the white board (figuratively speaking) mate.

[Professer E]

Only two Vics in the test squad,  might be time to rebuild because that's rubbish for the second most populous state.

[LP]

Only two Vics in the test squad,  might be time to rebuild because that's rubbish for the second most populous state.

As I've stated before, the world is gobsmacked our national team had no room for Maxwell, the rest of the planet rates him as one of the world's greats.

Maxwell is probably worth more the team just fielding in covers or gully than Head is with the bat!

Locally Maxwell is bagged for his erratic behaviour, yet many of the same people doing the bagging keep selecting Warner with impunity!

FMD, what has Zampa done wrong too, how does Swepson get a run ahead of that kid?

In comparison to Zampa, Swepson looks to be like a Pie Chucker who has the ability to deliver a one in a thousand unplayable ball, and then cannot repeat it! The first rule of good bowling, any bowling, is control, of course I write this and I presume they've picked Starc again! Starc is the test teams version of Liam Jones, a captain of chaos!

FMD, Henriques and Nesser, do we have to take our own commentary team? I'm pegging Moises for Captainano if Paine slips, and Carey will keep, Henriques now known as the Phoenix!

[Professer E]

How on god's green earth does Henrique's make a test squad. Really!?!  FMD,  play for NSW get a baggy green in a brown paper bag...  Was finished five years ago.