Australian Cricket - Crisis, What Crisis ??

[Bear]

I actually think this will be closer than people think - could be some good cricket ahead of us.

Hope so anyway.

[Professer E]

We have a good first day and we will give them a lot of curry.

[DJC]

We have a good first day and we will give them a lot of curry.

I'm not sure that will be a problem.  Perhaps we could give them a good helping of roast beef - if that's not too politically incorrect 

[malo]

An all-rounder not doing well enough with bat to hold a place,  and not bowling enough (which equates to not enough wickets as well)  to contribute.  Not surprised he was dropped.

Pace bowling all-rounders are gold,  but if we don't have one up to snuff,  look elsewhere

Could be a long couple days in the field with the weather  if we lose the toss and Starc sprays the pill around before lunch. Head might need to contribute a few overs.

Hazelwood & Cummings need to take the new ball....Starc can come on after they've built up a bit of pressure......and release it all

[LP]

Hazelwood & Cummings need to take the new ball....Starc can come on after they've built up a bit of pressure......and release it all

But it's not ODI or T20, I think in tests Starc spraying the ball just makes him harder to bat against for the long haul.

In an ODI or T20 batsmen are primed for a short period of time to maximise the return from loose deliveries. It's too hard to stay in the ODI mindset during a test innings, and the fields are set to dismiss not to restrict. In test cricket generally they get set for the long haul and look to score from the predictable deliveries, almost the exact opposite.

I've had debates with family about McGrath, why was he so good if he was so predictable? But that opinion comes from cursory analysis. If you look at McGrath his control was so good that he could deliver little cutters in either direction, and land the ball around defects in the pitch at an uncomfortable length, with ridiculous ease. He could find what makes the batsmen uncomfortable and repeat it with ease.

Starc is a different prospect, in my opinion he must be more like batting against Thommo, you don't know what is coming because he doesn't know what is coming, and it all happens so quickly blink and your dead! Thommo was the same in tests and ODI as Starc, generally expensive but possible devastating. Thommo could take 5/40 or 0/100 on the same pitch, you never knew what you were going to get!

[malo]

Gee it is nice to hear Tim Lane back doing cricket commentary !

[malo]

Starc taking the pressure off at 1 end as usual......

Edit....but gets a wicket with 1 ball on line !  Typical...

[LP]

Starc taking the pressure off at 1 end as usual......

Edit....but gets a wicket with 1 ball on line !  Typical...

Fans forget Starc spent most of his junior career as a keeper.

[BluesRock]

4 Wickets in the first session! Great start.

That catch from Kawaja... wowsers  ;D

[Professer E]

Cummins shouldn't be underestimated.  Bowls wicked off cutters and takes wickets with pure effort balls when the pitch is flat and doing nothing.

Makes me laugh though,  blokes averaging 50+ with good techniques  being found out by footwork deficient shots against solid test match bowling.... Sustained pressure causing batsmen to go hard at sucker balls.  If the Indians reckon this is tough,  they won't want to see a spicy deck.