God help me - the Test Cricket thread

[capcom]

Main thing was India didnt win......just hope we dont get sucked in with Mitch Marsh and put him in the test team at some stage.
Good short format player but not test material IMO.

We'll need our best team against England and he's not part of it [member=57]ElwoodBlues1[/member] . 

By the way, thank you for your support.  I appreciated that  ;D

[ElwoodBlues1]

We'll need our best team against England and he's not part of it [member=57]ElwoodBlues1[/member] . 

By the way, thank you for your support.  I appreciated that  ;D

No probs Cap... 60 mins had a nice piece on our Chinese friends and their bully boy antics.

[capcom]

What the U.S. will or won't do with regard to supporting Taiwan (should it come to that) might tell us much about our alliance.

[Professer E]

And other elephants in the room EB: Smith in average touch,  Finch finished,  big????  on Warner at test level,  Starc bowling rubbish.  Great innings from Marsh,  but straight into the test team,  pffft, no way.  Don't get sucked in by slog and giggle cricket.

[ElwoodBlues1]

And other elephants in the room EB: Smith in average touch,  Finch finished,  big????  on Warner at test level,  Starc bowling rubbish.  Great innings from Marsh,  but straight into the test team,  pffft, no way.  Don't get sucked in by slog and giggle cricket.

Prof, Think Smith will enjoy the flat tracks we will deliver devoid of any seam but with true bounce and designed for your 200cm quick of which we have several and England only the ageing Broad. Agree on Finch.....gone.....Warner with Harris I cant see being a successful opening pair. Starc will get games and probably bowl well initially say in Brisbane where he can get a few to swing early but once he starts pitching up on the decks with bright blue skies and the shine off the ball he will be back to bowling pies that dissapear as quickly as they came. Only way I can see Marsh getting a run is if Green breaks down or isnt making runs.

[ElwoodBlues1]

What the U.S. will or won't do with regard to supporting Taiwan (should it come to that) might tell us much about our alliance.

Seems like Biden will support Taiwan if necessary, not sure we need to supply troops or any equipment. For sure the USA will use their tracking facilities in Aus they have setup at Pine Gap etc and probably direct their sub fleet from here but I think they would do their own thing without asking us what we think.
There was talk on 60mins from some of the strategists that they might let Taiwan be taken over rather than get involved in any large scale war effort to defend them given the options they would have available and the risk they would have to go nuclear.
If I was in Taiwan I'd be seeing the writing on the wall and leaving.....
China have zero respect for us and our small military force, the USA couldnt be trusted to keep their agreements with us either if they pulled the plug on the Taiwanese and thats more concerning.

[laj]

Massive no to khawaja.

Might average 50+ in oz versus average bowling but his overall record suggests a mediocre player,  and his record versus finger spin (that innings aside) is appallingly bad.  Plus,  is a very average fielder.  I'd prefer him to Harris,  but only just.

Who else is there? We are playing in OZ where he averages 53. Would have said no overseas but at home definitely. England's bowling falls away alot once away from their green pitches, cloud and Dukes Ball.

[laj]

Prof, Think Smith will enjoy the flat tracks we will deliver devoid of any seam but with true bounce and designed for your 200cm quick of which we have several and England only the ageing Broad. Agree on Finch.....gone.....Warner with Harris I cant see being a successful opening pair. Starc will get games and probably bowl well initially say in Brisbane where he can get a few to swing early but once he starts pitching up on the decks with bright blue skies and the shine off the ball he will be back to bowling pies that dissapear as quickly as they came. Only way I can see Marsh getting a run is if Green breaks down or isnt making runs.

Smith plays well anywhere, he'll be ok. That's how he got to average 62. With Pucovski out I'd have Ussie open with Warner. Pucovski should be back for the 2nd Test. Maddinson at no.5, like last year his form is terrific, Green at 6 as Marsh is a limited overs player and had his chance. Very tempted to play Jhye Richardson ahead of Starc too.

[capcom]

And now Tim Paine stands down as captain after admitting sexting ....

We're getting good at stuffing everything up.  Seriously  >

[tonyo]

The sexting happened in 2017, 4 months after he got the captaincy.

The wheels may grind slowly, but they do grind.....