01-18-2021, 12:40 PM
Crash - it's very frustrating. Drop in pitches ensure loss of character of the 'natural' pitches - a bit like $10 wine - doesn't matter what bottle, if the grape is the same, it will taste the same.
A couple of things:
20/20 has changed the focus of cricket from a contest to run scoring. Test cricket is about the contest. A great test match is first innings both done mid day 3 with a difference of 30-50 runs and a run chase of 230 on a deteriorating wicket finishing on the fifth day. A good 20/20 or 50 over game is described through the runs scored not wickets taken. Can you imagine a 20/20 where the score is 75 to 78, because the pitch was a bit green? There would be an outcry.
Bowlers are sacrificed for batting pitches and have to contain, as there aren't often suitable conditions for them to utilise.
From what I gather, our bowlers haven't spent a huge amount of time trying to get the batsmen out, rather bowled without imagination, getting the balance between bouncers and line and length wrong.
The Australian cricket program is now pretty poor in terms of test match prep. Players were getting picked for tests on 20/20 form. This does appear to be changing, but there isn't enough Shield Cricket around the test matches. I'm not sure of the quality of Shield matches (they tried to address this to some point this season, but got interrupted). Travis Head's first class batting average is under 40. What are we expecting of him at test level? We all know Wade's limitations, yet he gets selected and people don't vehemently disagree - first class average is a tick over 40. At least Cam Green's is over 50. Who are the others putting up their hand?
I'll actually forgive the batting to some degree. When you know we're going to be 2 for nothing with the openers out, then it is pretty tough. There aren't many screaming out to be opening for Australia.
Overall, I'm not sure of the quality of the Australian Second XI.
Finally, there doesn't appear to be a strong captaincy candidate. We need a Tubby, or AB - both managed to get a lot out of their players. Waugh and Ponting had a couple of great sides that didn't really need captaining. Tim Paine has repaired some damage that was done to the image of the team, but we need a captain that is great tactically. Two Victorians spring to mind, so that won't happen, but Finch and Maxwell certainly understand the game and can inspire. Henriques is also a good skipper, but not up to international level.
A couple of things:
20/20 has changed the focus of cricket from a contest to run scoring. Test cricket is about the contest. A great test match is first innings both done mid day 3 with a difference of 30-50 runs and a run chase of 230 on a deteriorating wicket finishing on the fifth day. A good 20/20 or 50 over game is described through the runs scored not wickets taken. Can you imagine a 20/20 where the score is 75 to 78, because the pitch was a bit green? There would be an outcry.
Bowlers are sacrificed for batting pitches and have to contain, as there aren't often suitable conditions for them to utilise.
From what I gather, our bowlers haven't spent a huge amount of time trying to get the batsmen out, rather bowled without imagination, getting the balance between bouncers and line and length wrong.
The Australian cricket program is now pretty poor in terms of test match prep. Players were getting picked for tests on 20/20 form. This does appear to be changing, but there isn't enough Shield Cricket around the test matches. I'm not sure of the quality of Shield matches (they tried to address this to some point this season, but got interrupted). Travis Head's first class batting average is under 40. What are we expecting of him at test level? We all know Wade's limitations, yet he gets selected and people don't vehemently disagree - first class average is a tick over 40. At least Cam Green's is over 50. Who are the others putting up their hand?
I'll actually forgive the batting to some degree. When you know we're going to be 2 for nothing with the openers out, then it is pretty tough. There aren't many screaming out to be opening for Australia.
Overall, I'm not sure of the quality of the Australian Second XI.
Finally, there doesn't appear to be a strong captaincy candidate. We need a Tubby, or AB - both managed to get a lot out of their players. Waugh and Ponting had a couple of great sides that didn't really need captaining. Tim Paine has repaired some damage that was done to the image of the team, but we need a captain that is great tactically. Two Victorians spring to mind, so that won't happen, but Finch and Maxwell certainly understand the game and can inspire. Henriques is also a good skipper, but not up to international level.