Australian International Summer 2024/25

[mal]

Tough place for Aussie cricket at the moment.

The team has been extremely successful winning the test championship, there is no denying that.

However, the writing has been on the wall a tad in recent times, the test loss to WI, and more so a batting line up thats relied on individual brilliance rather than team consistency, Smith carried the batting for a while, Labuschagne had an amazing run and then Trav had a couple of years of craziness.

There has been no denying the bowling line up has been Australias strength and our back up bowling stocks don't look to bad either.

What are they are going to do with the batting line up though. You look through the shield and you hardly see a name that you think is unlucky to not be in the sad.

Smith looks like this could be close to his final summer.
Trav looks like he might be back in one of his slumps albeit a few more hits won't do him any harm and one his innings away from being back in great form.
Labuschange had that amazing stint but let's not forget when he came into the test side he was low thirties averaging shield cricketer. Maybe his not as good as that scintillating start he had suggested.

Going to be very interesting to see how the selectors play this one.

Excellent comprehensive post

[dedja]

No news this morning?

A few cleaned up in the IPL auction …

[Booney]

Tough place for Aussie cricket at the moment.

The team has been extremely successful winning the test championship, there is no denying that.

However, the writing has been on the wall a tad in recent times, the test loss to WI, and more so a batting line up thats relied on individual brilliance rather than team consistency, Smith carried the batting for a while, Labuschagne had an amazing run and then Trav had a couple of years of craziness.

There has been no denying the bowling line up has been Australias strength and our back up bowling stocks don't look to bad either.

What are they are going to do with the batting line up though. You look through the shield and you hardly see a name that you think is unlucky to not be in the sad.

Smith looks like this could be close to his final summer.
Trav looks like he might be back in one of his slumps albeit a few more hits won't do him any harm and one his innings away from being back in great form.
Labuschange had that amazing stint but let's not forget when he came into the test side he was low thirties averaging shield cricketer. Maybe his not as good as that scintillating start he had suggested.

Going to be very interesting to see how the selectors play this one.

Khawaja is about to turn 38.

Look at Shield cricket and who is making the runs :

Carey, Cartwright, Harris, Konstas, Handscomb, Weatherald, McDermott, Inglis....bar Konstas there isn't any youth making a case for themselves.

[whufc]

100% batting stocks look at an all time low.

It would be very unAustralian but do they need to just put all their faith in the few young talented lads we have and accept a few years of hurt whilst the Konstas, Kellaway, Connelly who were stars at international u/19 level develop. Connelly averaging 61 in his first 4 shield games.

Have fun trying to pick the Australian batting line up in 2026.

Khawaja, Smith and Marsh more than likely retired. Carey will be 35 by then so who knows

Labuschagne and Head will be 32 then so still playing but both are pretty hot and cold with form so would take a brave person to say they will 100% be in the side.

Only bloke with any confidence you could say should be in the top 6 come 2026 is Cam Green.

Bit of pain to come given thats before taking into account it would be hard to see all 4 of the current bowlers being around in 2026. At least you have the likes of Boland, Neser, Johnson, Murphy who look like they may be up to the next level.

[Lightning McQueen]

Khawaja is about to turn 38.

Look at Shield cricket and who is making the runs :

Carey, Cartwright, Harris, Konstas, Handscomb, Weatherald, McDermott, Inglis....bar Konstas there isn't any youth making a case for themselves.

Traditionally most don't debut until their late 20's, there are some exceptions though.

[Jim05]

Drop Lab
Open with Hunt and Khawaja and McSweeney at 3
When Khawaja retires Konstas comes in
Trav will open in Sri Lanka and then we have the Windies and the Ashes next year when most likely Smith, Khawaja and Starc all finish up

[am Bays]

Khawaja is about to turn 38.

Look at Shield cricket and who is making the runs :

Carey, Cartwright, Harris, Konstas, Handscomb, Weatherald, McDermott, Inglis....bar Konstas there isn't any youth making a case for themselves.

Jayden Goodwin and Jack Clayton are in the Konstas age bracket and have had good (not great) starts for the year are ones to watch https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/batting-most-runs-career/sheffield-shield-2024-25-16509

Hunt will put his name up there if he doubles his current score against Paris, Richardson and Morris tonight. Currently 5th highest run scorer in teh Shield this season

[am Bays]

100% batting stocks look at an all time low.

It would be very unAustralian but do they need to just put all their faith in the few young talented lads we have and accept a few years of hurt whilst the Konstas, Kellaway, Connelly who were stars at international u/19 level develop. Connelly averaging 61 in his first 4 shield games.

Have fun trying to pick the Australian batting line up in 2026.

Khawaja, Smith and Marsh more than likely retired. Carey will be 35 by then so who knows

Labuschagne and Head will be 32 then so still playing but both are pretty hot and cold with form so would take a brave person to say they will 100% be in the side.

Only bloke with any confidence you could say should be in the top 6 come 2026 is Cam Green.

Bit of pain to come given thats before taking into account it would be hard to see all 4 of the current bowlers being around in 2026. At least you have the likes of Boland, Neser, Johnson, Murphy who look like they may be up to the next level.

All time??

You missed the late 70s and mid 80s!

[Armchair expert]

Boland is older than the current crop and Neser is 2 months younger than Starc, we can't rely on them into the future.

[mal]

Australia in 3 years time

1 Konstas
2
3
4 Green
5
6
7
8
9 Roc or Murphy
10 JJjJjJjJjJJohnson
11 MmMmMmMmmorris

Fill in the gaps if all the current players are retired

[Armchair expert]

Something seriously wrong with the batting in this country, guys like Teague Wyllie, Tim Ward, Kurtis Patterson just completely fall off the face of the Earth.

[Armchair expert]

Australia in 3 years time

1 Konstas
2 Hunt
3 McSweeney
4 Green
5 Connolly
6 Hardie
7 Carey/Inglis
8 Buckingham
9 Roc or Murphy
10 JJjJjJjJjJJohnson
11 MmMmMmMmmorris

Fill in the gaps if all the current players are retired

[mighty_tiger_79]

The Academy needs to be revitalised.
The shield schedule needs urgent attention

[whufc]

100% batting stocks look at an all time low.

It would be very unAustralian but do they need to just put all their faith in the few young talented lads we have and accept a few years of hurt whilst the Konstas, Kellaway, Connelly who were stars at international u/19 level develop. Connelly averaging 61 in his first 4 shield games.

Have fun trying to pick the Australian batting line up in 2026.

Khawaja, Smith and Marsh more than likely retired. Carey will be 35 by then so who knows

Labuschagne and Head will be 32 then so still playing but both are pretty hot and cold with form so would take a brave person to say they will 100% be in the side.

Only bloke with any confidence you could say should be in the top 6 come 2026 is Cam Green.

Bit of pain to come given thats before taking into account it would be hard to see all 4 of the current bowlers being around in 2026. At least you have the likes of Boland, Neser, Johnson, Murphy who look like they may be up to the next level.

All time??

You missed the late 70s and mid 80s!

Yeah should have said my lifetime.

Controversially and given the selectors aren't going to make wholesale changes i would almost consider Head to open with Khawaja, McSweeney at 3, Labuschagne 4 and Smith 5.

Just feel in modern test cricket you need someone who can play some shots and be positive at the top of the order. Break up the field settings, make the captain think, get some bowling changes happening. Thats what we have lost most with Warner retiring imo.

[dedja]

All credit to India, they were humiliated at home by the Kiwis, and it looked like that was going to continue in Perth after their first innings.

Australia have been wallpapering cracks in their Test team for years, so perhaps some massive defeats at home is required to jolt a few people into reality.

[am Bays]

**** Katich is coming off the long run on SEN today!!

[mal]

The Academy needs to be revitalised.
The shield schedule needs urgent attention

Great post Meticolus_Tiger_79

The SS was and still is an entertainment packed 4 day spectacle
Crowds were very good, geez was it that long ago when MT79, Mal and Ambays sat and watched a game in the Bradman stand togeteher
However no crowds of note any more
SO
Why not make the SS a 5 day comp
The benefit will be grooming players at Test level
Spinners like Lyold Pope would play more games[ we need to play spin better with all the sub continental teams at present ]
Batsman could bat on and accrue scores of 200 +


Yep it will cost more for expenses but its 10 days extra in a season IF the games get into a 5th day

[Lightning McQueen]

The Academy needs to be revitalised.
The shield schedule needs urgent attention

Great post Meticolus_Tiger_79

The SS was and still is an entertainment packed 4 day spectacle
Crowds were very good, geez was it that long ago when MT79, Mal and Ambays sat and watched a game in the Bradman stand togeteher
However no crowds of note any more
SO
Why not make the SS a 5 day comp
The benefit will be grooming players at Test level
Spinners like Lyold Pope would play more games[ we need to play spin better with all the sub continental teams at present ]
Batsman could bat on and accrue scores of 200 +


Yep it will cost more for expenses but its 10 days extra in a season IF the games get into a 5th day

It might mess with the EBA and paternity leave.

[whufc]

Another thought of the day???

Watch the replay of Smiths two catches yesterday. We would all probably agree fairly regulation especially for a bloke of his quality.

Both catches he took were almost in the wrists and slightly bobbled.

Are his eyes going on him???

[dedja]

Are his eyes going on him???