God help me - the Test Cricket thread

[DJC]

Why not give Khawaja 5 or 10 overs to get his double ton ? It's not like the game or the series (or even in the summer) is in the balance. Cr@p decision IMO.

Back in the day Bill Lawry declared with Rod Marsh eight runs short of his maiden test century.  The team outcome is always more important than individual milestones.

Apart from the one-sided contests, the decision to drop Scott Boland has meant that this test has zero interest for me.

[LP]

Yet I can't help but think the declaration today would never have happened if it was say a Smith, Warner or Waugh on 195.

Lawry made a horrible mistake, and has expressed his regret about that on more than one occasion, although he admits in the moment he thought it was the right thing to do. He basically burned the future for the benefit of the now!

[kruddler]

Remember when Tubby Taylor declared overnight on 334, 1 more run would've broken bradmans record, but he couldn't afford to waste the extra time it would've taken for changeover had he chose to bat.

[Professer E]

Warner MOTS....WTF !?!

[ElwoodBlues1]

Warner MOTS....WTF !?!

Had to be Smith, Head or Cummins didnt it ?......think they want to keep Warner in the team for the next 12 months and not have him run off to short format money leagues.  Looked at the fixture for home tests next summer and we are playing three tests vs Pakistan and two vs the Windies, are fans really going to be bothered to come and watch two more non competitive teams get flogged every test. I would have thought New Zealand would have featured in at least one series after such a nondescript summer of rubbish test cricket, at least the Kiwis are competitive and interested in the longer format unlike most of the other teams who now pay token respect to Test cricket and want the money from the shorter formats.
Elgar wanted to say more at his presser but couldnt but clearly isnt happy with the state of the game in South Africa and how they are looking at Test Cricket in the future.

[Professer E]

Sth Africa cricket is rooted, just another thing that has failed to flourish with the change of management.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Aus picking a very large squad for India including 4 spinners which is a first for me seeing us go with that many.
India will be strengthened by the return of Ravi Jadeja who is a gun player and will probably use him with Ashwin and Axar as their spinners. Handscomb as a backup batter is an interesting choice for me, been picked as he is a reputed good player of spin but everytime he comes to the wicket if he plays Id expect the likes of Bumrah, Shami and Siraj to be brought into the attack as everyone knows he shuffles back and in front of his stumps and imho he will just be target practice for the Indian quicks as a lbw candidate.
India have been off their game in recent times and a few of their players have got ahead of themselves as the rupees have been flowing in and their heads getting bigger with their rock start status. Kholi and Pant who are usually bogeyman have been out of form and they have also had to recall Pujara who looked finished a while back so I reckon we are a chance if we get the run of the toss and the Indians dont stitch us up with dodgy wickets spinning at right angles.
A drawn series would probably be a win for us and thats my favoured result....

[DJC]

The Australian test squad must be one of very few teams selected on potential and/or scenario planning rather than runs on the board. 

[ElwoodBlues1]

Bumrah and Pant out of the first two tests and probably the series with injuries....India have gone with a few of their short format stars in their test squad so Id be expecting some real roads to bat on devoid of grass and favouring the spinners late in the games.

[Professer E]

Familiar script....win toss, bat for two days in a heat wave, the pitch deteriorates rapidly from mid test and later innings are over in two sessions.  Four-nil India, because we can't bat time.

And some squeal when some grass is left on a pitch.