God help me - the Test Cricket thread

[crashlander]

The question for me at the moment, is who is going to open?
I'm not a great fan of making an opener out of something else. Especially Green, whose performances promise much but deliver little.
I think Smith goes well enough at #4: making him open opens a hole in the middle of the order with no obvious replacement.
The specialist openers, I don't know that I'm convinced any of them will be what we need, but if we ignore guys who have done the hard yards, what message does that send to the guys playing Shield cricket? We've been something of a closed shop for too long and do need some new blood.

[LP]

The squads are somewhat bizarre, I can't see any rational to how some get bypassed while others get promoted, I suspect it's more about politics than form lines or potential. For example Renshaw gets in but has no form.

[ElwoodBlues1]

The squads are somewhat bizarre, I can't see any rational to how some get bypassed while others get promoted, I suspect it's more about politics than form lines or potential. For example Renshaw gets in but has no form.

Its amusing isnt it.....Warner pressured Bancroft who was trying to be one of the boys club by making him part of sandpapergate and has been banished every since yet all was forgiven with Warner and Smith. Bancroft throws the bowling contingent under the bus by saying they knew about what was going to happen but they sent him to Coventry and captain Cummins doesnt want him in the team and has the yes man coach Ronnie Mac doing what the players want. Of course Bancroft is a Justin Langer favourite so thats probably not helping him either.
Smith isnt an opener and I am yet to see what Green has done to be played at No4 apart from hang out with the right people....saying all that with such garbage opposition in Pakistan and the Windies this summer anyone could bat anywhere and still make runs or take wickets.

[LP]

Smith isnt an opener and I am yet to see what Green has done to be played at No4 apart from hang out with the right people....saying all that with such garbage opposition in Pakistan and the Windies this summer anyone could bat anywhere and still make runs or take wickets.

When they behave like this it's an old boys club, but it's probably good in that they conspire to make tests go 3 or 4 days, otherwise such is the difference between the best and the rest that we might be seeing more debacles like India vs The Saffies!

[ElwoodBlues1]

When they behave like this it's an old boys club, but it's probably good in that they conspire to make tests go 3 or 4 days, otherwise such is the difference between the best and the rest that we might be seeing more debacles like India vs The Saffies!

South Africa with proper funding and management would be a force in world cricket but are in danger of being owned by India and becoming an irrelevant cricket colony.
The old cricket boys club is alive and well with its HQ in NSW, as people have always said its hard to get into the inner sanctum but once you get in its even harder to get pushed out.

[Gointocarlton]

South Africa with proper funding and management would be a force in world cricket but are in danger of being owned by India and becoming an irrelevant cricket colony.
The old cricket boys club is alive and well with its HQ in NSW, as people have always said its hard to get into the inner sanctum but once you get in its even harder to get pushed out.

I caught the tail end of an interview with Kim Hughes on SEN this arvo, the bloke was absolutely furious over the promotion of Smith to open as well as the non selection of highest domestic run makers like Bancroft.

[ElwoodBlues1]

I caught the tail end of an interview with Kim Hughes on SEN this arvo, the bloke was absolutely furious over the promotion of Smith to open as well as the non selection of highest domestic run makers like Bancroft.

GTC...Its a bit of WA vs Cricket Australia at the moment, in the old days form and runs in Shield cricket got you selected but now its about who the inner sanctum want in the team as much as anything else and its clear that Bancroft isnt wanted even though he has been the leading run getter for the last two seasons.
Smith will probably make it look a good move vs the hapless Windies who are struggling vs some no name team in their tour game and Bailey will get the kudos but long term its not a good move and we should be introducing younger players for the future.

[spf]

Had a look through the West Indies line-up and recent Aus XI game. This is my take on their 1st Test line-up for Adelaide:

01.Kraigg Brathwaite
02.Joshua Da Silva
03.Tagenarine Chanderpaul
04.Alick Athanaze
05.Kirk McKenzie
06.Kavem Hodge
07.Justin Greaves
08.Kemar Roach
09.Alzarri Joseph
10.Gudakesh Motie
11.Shamar Joseph

They experimented with Da Silva opening and I like the look of them more with Chanderpaul at number 3 (given the choices).

[crashlander]

Not a lot of experience in the West Indies line-up, but unknowns can catch the unwary unprepared. There hasn't been a lot of talk from the players and those close to them, but thinking they're going to walk over teams is the way to suffering ignominy. I'd rather see us have our homework done and preparations complete to prepare for a battle.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Had a look through the West Indies line-up and recent Aus XI game. This is my take on their 1st Test line-up for Adelaide:

01.Kraigg Brathwaite
02.Joshua Da Silva
03.Tagenarine Chanderpaul
04.Alick Athanaze
05.Kirk McKenzie
06.Kavem Hodge
07.Justin Greaves
08.Kemar Roach
09.Alzarri Joseph
10.Gudakesh Motie
11.Shamar Joseph

They experimented with Da Silva opening and I like the look of them more with Chanderpaul at number 3 (given the choices).

They will get flogged, get more opposition from the Netherlands....