God help me - the Test Cricket thread

[ElwoodBlues1]

No Jhye Richardson is just wrong.  Just takes wickets (including at test level).  GIves a bit of difference to HWood and Cummins (pitches it up a bit more)

Been injury prone and I think the selectors want some more long game minutes from him, agree he is lively and bowls a good length. Its very hard to prise Starc and crew out of the team given the boys club that exists.....interesting that Pattinson has made the tour, if fit he might be the one bowler that may oust Starc from the team.

[LP]

Been injury prone and I think the selectors want some more long game minutes from him, agree he is lively and bowls a good length. Its very hard to prise Starc and crew out of the team given the boys club that exists.....interesting that Pattinson has made the tour, if fit he might be the one bowler that may oust Starc from the team.

Pattinson and Richardson can both swing the ball late at good pace, Pattinson was the bowler most feared by the Pommie top order batsmen.

I think Starc cleaning up the tail with old ball reverse swing is valuable but over-rated, I'd much rather guys who can knock over the top end and let Lyon clean up the dregs while the others have a break.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Pattinson and Richardson can both swing the ball late at good pace, Pattinson was the bowler most feared by the Pommie top order batsmen.

I think Starc cleaning up the tail with old ball reverse swing is valuable but over-rated, I'd much rather guys who can knock over the top end and let Lyon clean up the dregs while the others have a break.

I think both Lyon and Starc struggled to clean up the tail and thats where some of our problems were...both got hammered and Starc hardly moved one off the straight yet the Indian net bowlers moved the ball. Starc was unlucky with some poor fielding but was generally was the bad Starc with no accuracy and bowling inane bouncers wide of the mark.
I wouldnt play him in the first test and go with Pattinson who swings the ball away from right handers even though the Saffies have a few decent left handers in Elgar and DeKock.

[Milhanna13]

I think both Lyon and Starc struggled to clean up the tail and thats where some of our problems were...

That is pretty much starc’s only job!!!  If he can’t do it, get Jhye or patto (who can bat!!) in

[Professer E]

Travis Head is another who is really at the crossroads. I know it's only BB but his most recent dismissal in the BB was dreadful.  Trying to drag Marnus from wide of off,  that's not the shot of a bloke comfortable with his game.  He's running out of time to get his crap sorted out.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Travis Head is another who is really at the crossroads. I know it's only BB but his most recent dismissal in the BB was dreadful.  Trying to drag Marnus from wide of off,  that's not the shot of a bloke comfortable with his game.  He's running out of time to get his crap sorted out.

Head looked terrible, couldnt find the middle of the bat and wasted deliveries trying to slog, when you are struggling you push ones and get off strike but he couldnt even do that, how he made the South African trip is a mystery.
Richardson was ordinary last night and got pummeled by Vince the English player, yeah there was dew on the ball/outfield but he still got carted and couldnt contain what is a 2nd Eleven English player, much prefer Pattinson if he can get and stay fit.

[Professer E]

Yep,  Head was trash versus the heat,  what's wrong with knocking singles around to get in and going? 

I hate to say it EB,  but I reckon that Shaun Marsh is the best credentialed of the "other options" as an opening option.  I know he's 152 years old but he really is a solid player.  Problem is that you get one Marsh and you get the other.... Who is a good short form player but an utter crab at test level. 

[ElwoodBlues1]

Yep,  Head was trash versus the heat,  what's wrong with knocking singles around to get in and going? 

I hate to say it EB,  but I reckon that Shaun Marsh is the best credentialed of the "other options" as an opening option.  I know he's 152 years old but he really is a solid player.  Problem is that you get one Marsh and you get the other.... Who is a good short form player but an utter crab at test level. 

Marsh is averaging 97 in Shield cricket and Head 65 for 2021, hard to go back to Marsh for me though.
Looking through the entire batting order and options...
Inglis is averaging 118 at Shield level but is a keeper, do we do a India and play Inglis as a batsman like they do with Pant?
McDermott is the other with runs at Shield level but I still think of him as a BBL player...
Henriques is going at 67 but as discussed is a long way from test cricket and isnt young either...
Other option is Warner and Harris to open with Pukovski and Green at 5 and 6.
If I wanted another discrete opener I would go with Whiteman from WA, English born, good technique.

[Professer E]

Another clueless dismissal by Cameos last night, wicket just thrown away when he was looking OK.

[LP]

Another clueless dismissal by Cameos last night, wicket just thrown away when he was looking OK.

Over coached [member=65]Professer E[/member]‍.

His demise always looks premeditated, like he's a cricket robot that has been programmed or been coached in the moment and can't act in deference to the circumstance.

It reminds me of quite a few of those AFL footballers who to the fans will seem to do just the wrong thing at just the wrong moment, yet are loved by the coach.