SA Footy

Head's being dropped due to his record against spin would make sense, but for his strong recent form. A very negative and defeatist decision not to back him, after the summer he had in Australia, IMO.

If ever he was going to 'turn the corner' on turning wickets - which in fairness to him he has had limited experience batting on anyway - it would be now.

Trav has the right to be feeling very stiff sitting there in the sheds.

Trader wrote:

Booney wrote:It's terrible management of the bloke, especially when you consider we've got this series and the Ashes not too far behind it, awful timing to shatter a blokes confidence.

What shatters your confidence more, thinking the selectors don't think you can make runs against world class spinners on turning decks, or going out and confirming you can't make runs against spinners?

Not getting backed in to find out.

Trader wrote:or going out and confirming you can't make runs against spinners?

I don't think it's that black and white.

I agree the chances of him batting exceedingly well are slim.

But I also think you're overestimating the chances of him having four dud tests.

I reckon, given his form, there's every chance he'd make a couple of 50s, and maybe a 40-odd, and average between 25-30, with only a couple of Australians behind him.

Given all that's been said about his ability to play spin, I reckon he'd take a fair bit of confidence out of that. Plus, he heads to England on the back of not being dropped. Again, better for his confidence that way.

The Bedge wrote:

Trader wrote:Travis Head
For example, he averages 152 vs Sri Lanka in Australia, but just 7.66 in Sri Lanka, a ratio of just under 20:1.

Yeah but in his defence - one tour, 2 tests - 3 innings.. scores of 6, 12 and 5 were shit - but not the only failures.. Green struggled, Warner struggled, Smith failed twice.

How can you improve on those wickets if you're not given a reasonable crack?

Smith - 151 runs but 145 came in one knock.
Green - 104 runs but 77 came in one knock.
Warner - 64 runs eww.

Yes 3 innings in that tour to Sri Lanka, however in all spinning countries it pushes into double figures.

No doubt Smith, Green and Warner also struggle at times on spinning decks, but as you mentioned, Smith showed once in he can go on with it, as did Cameron Green.

5 years ago he made a 72 in the UAE.
Since November 2018, he's had scores on spinning decks of: 8, 23, 26, 11*, 6, 12, 5
Hasn't made a thirty.
Averaging 15.17

I'm not saying he had to go, but for everyone to act so shocked is carry on. He was always in the firing line.

RB wrote:

Trader wrote:or going out and confirming you can't make runs against spinners?

I don't think it's that black and white.

I agree the chances of him batting exceedingly well are slim.

But I also think you're overestimating the chances of him having four dud tests.

I reckon, given his form, there's every chance he'd make a couple of 50s, and maybe a 40-odd, and average between 25-30, with only a couple of Australians behind him.

Given all that's been said about his ability to play spin, I reckon he'd take a fair bit of confidence out of that. Plus, he heads to England on the back of not being dropped. Again, better for his confidence that way.

So are we going to india to win? Or are we going to India to keep Travis's confidence up before England?

I thought we are there to try and win.

Yes, clearly in form Trav might have had a good series and averaged 30-odd. That's clearly a possibility.

But equally, its possible the incoming batsman, might also average 35 is it not?

Renshaw has experience in India, averaging just under 26.
For the selectors to think he's a better chance of making runs than the bloke who hasn't scored more than 26 in his last 7 knocks on spinning decks (averaging just 15.2 in that period) isn't an unreasonable position.

Sure, you can argue either way, but the only way it's a shock for someone is if they are blinded by the fact that Trav is 'one of ours'.

Trader wrote:Renshaw has experience in India, averaging just under 26.

Opening, or at 5?

Warner - 1 and out in 5 balls

I wonder whether his sweetheart deal with ACB requires him to make runs or whether he stays in the team for however long he wants


****ing pitiful

Jimmy_041 wrote:Warner - 1 and out in 5 balls

I wonder whether his sweetheart deal with ACB requires him to make runs or whether he stays in the team for however long he wants


****ing pitiful

What bugs me is the bloke seems to be dictating when he is going to retire. As if it’s preordained that he gets another tour or Summer. FFS, just drop him and start putting games into the next bloke in line.

Who is the 5th bowling option?
Renshaw or Marnus?

Not Renshaw, Agar is fielding as Renshaw hurt his knee in the warm ups.

Booney wrote:Not Renshaw, Agar is fielding as Renshaw hurt his knee in the warm ups.

His selection just gets better and better............

Booney wrote:Not Renshaw, Agar is fielding as Renshaw hurt his knee in the warm ups.

Might be from when the ball cannoned into it yesterday

Trader wrote:

RB wrote:

Trader wrote:or going out and confirming you can't make runs against spinners?

I don't think it's that black and white.

I agree the chances of him batting exceedingly well are slim.

But I also think you're overestimating the chances of him having four dud tests.

I reckon, given his form, there's every chance he'd make a couple of 50s, and maybe a 40-odd, and average between 25-30, with only a couple of Australians behind him.

Given all that's been said about his ability to play spin, I reckon he'd take a fair bit of confidence out of that. Plus, he heads to England on the back of not being dropped. Again, better for his confidence that way.

So are we going to india to win? Or are we going to India to keep Travis's confidence up before England?

I thought we are there to try and win.

I think we're a much better chance of winning with Trav in the team. Obviously that's dependent on him batting reasonably well.

I don't think there's many teams who've won a series after dropping one of their best batsmen.

I'm not one for a horses for courses approach. You tie yourselves in knots and lo and behold the others all fail.

Pick your best batsmen - i.e. the KISS method - and you're more likely to win, is my general approach.

Sharma will pass our total by himself the way he’s batting

Booney wrote:

Trader wrote:Renshaw has experience in India, averaging just under 26.

Opening, or at 5?

Mainly opening but interestingly both.
Pune he batted 1 in the first dig for 68, and at 5 in the second for 31:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/ind ... -scorecard

Anyway, all acedemic now, selectors made the call and we won't be able to replay it with a different xi.

amber_fluid wrote:

Booney wrote:Not Renshaw, Agar is fielding as Renshaw hurt his knee in the warm ups.

Might be from when the ball cannoned into it yesterday

Or he dropped it on to Head's cranium to get his spot.

Murphy gets Ashwin lbw.

2/118

Booney wrote:Murphy gets Ashwin lbw.

2/118

Nice.... Goggles.

well captained Pat, keep our best bowler from yesterday out of the attack for the first hour
Sack Pat!

Murphy and Boland have bowled well here. Only 2 guys look like taking wickets.