Australian Cricket - Crisis, What Crisis ??

[Professer E]

Thanks,  i can see the merit in that approach.

Personally,  i couldn't middle it with a 12" pizza board.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Sounds like something my father made, it looks more like a paddle than a cricket bat.

If it is, the idea is to use it in the nets to help you hit the ball in the middle of the bat as there is less middle to work with, when you have a full width bat, it makes it seem very easy.

Seems like a  more refined method of the stump/golf ball routine that Bradman used......think there was footage of ex Aus player Joe Burns using the stump/golf ball to train with too....

[Bear]

Thanks,  i can see the merit in that approach.

Personally,  i couldn't middle it with a 12" pizza board.

I could edge to the keeper for Australia.

[LP]

Years ago my brother coached junior cricket had some odd bats in his kit a bit like this, but one like ProfE described had triangles cut down the edges to be used for slips practice to make the ball spin and act less unpredictably.

For batting he had bats with long tapered shoulders, tapered toes, short bats, thin bats, all designed to get kids thinking about using the whole bat and where to place their hands.

He had one very good coaching technique that helped kids heaps with defense. He'd get them in the net and bowl to them and have them catch the ball with no bat at all. He was making the point that if you had to stand there and catch the ball you would never not get a hand on it. His point was to get the kids thinking about the best way to defend and using the splice for many defensive shots by getting their hands close to the ball. I was watching Kohli at the weekend and he bats very much in that manner, low hands quick wrist movement.

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Back on the cricket, Langer has been in the media stating no changes for Perth. I'm not sure if this is good to hear him backing them in, or back to the bad old days of a welded on line up.

[Professer E]

Can't see Finch,  being predominantly a front foot player, opening in Perth.

I prefer the term "rusted on" LP,  "welded on" has an air of permanency, unlike our batting.

[LP]

I prefer the term "rusted on" LP,  "welded on" has an air of permanency, unlike our batting.

I get your point.

[crashlander]

Can't see Finch,  being predominantly a front foot player, opening in Perth.

I prefer the term "rusted on" LP,  "welded on" has an air of permanency, unlike our batting.

Finch has been playing in the middle order for Victoria. That is where he should be at this point in his career.
Khawaja looked to be totally out of form in the last test: no big surprise considering the lack of cricket he has had lately. But he has done his best work opening.
Harris probably deserves another try, but I'd like to see some more shots.
I wouldn't have picked Marsh, but that is another tale. He hit his best 4th innings score in the last game, so he saved himself for a little while longer.
Handscomb also needs to play a few more shots. He gets out when he is bogged down.

Starc: well, Warnie is probably right, their is a softness to Starc's game that come out every so often. I think it is probably his personality. While he is there we'll probably have to live with that. But I hope he can bowl better than he has been doing; he has the talent.

I'd like to see Carey in, to be honest. I think he is the future. Paine's batting has always promised a lot, but has delivered very little. He may have a lot of batting talent, but he has never produced on the big stage.

[sandsmere]

Agree, Finch is not an opener.

Joe Burns is a bit erratic I know, but he is an established opener and can make runs.
Should be in the side.

Damn good close in fieldsman too.

Finch, Harris, Handscomb must all perform in
Perth.

[LP]

Finch has been playing in the middle order for Victoria. That is where he should be at this point in his career.
Khawaja looked to be totally out of form in the last test: no big surprise considering the lack of cricket he has had lately. But he has done his best work opening.
Harris probably deserves another try, but I'd like to see some more shots.
I wouldn't have picked Marsh, but that is another tale. He hit his best 4th innings score in the last game, so he saved himself for a little while longer.
Handscomb also needs to play a few more shots. He gets out when he is bogged down.

Look at the coaching names Crashlander, Langer and Hick, while on average they have reasonable figures, reliable grinders would be a good description of their typical game style.

It's still beyond me how guys get to test or 1st class level and have so many quirky traits and defects in their batting. You can't slag off their ability, but the coaches have a lot to answer for in my opinion, they are greatly over-rated.

[Jack Burton]

Heard Warne talking about this today, and I thought he made some good points. Once guys get to Test level you can't change their technique, very minor cosmetic changes only. It's all above the shoulders at that level. He was concerned about what is happening at academy level, with the teenagers and how they are being coached. Noted that when he went to the academy there was Ian and Greg Chappell doing the batting coaching, Rod Marsh for keeping, and Dennis Lillee for the fast bowlers. I'm not sure who is there now, but I doubt we have that type of quality