Australian Test Tour - Sri Lanka 2016

[heater31]

has zampa made himself unavailable for this tour or something?

He is in the West Indies. Stayed behind to play in their 20/20 competition.

[bennymacca]

Marsh is just a liability at 6. He's never done enough at any level of cricket to justify that spot. 25 with the bat in tests isn't good enough for number 7, let along number 6. And the worst thing is that's about right for a bloke with a first class average of 30. If his bowling is so important, then he earns number 8 and he plays ahead of a specialist bowler. But he bowled 9 overs last game. 9 overs where we lost one bowler during the game. Until we have a number 6 who contributes regularly enough we're always going to be far more susceptible to a batting collapse. Lucky at the moment we have a top 5 who average 46, 50, 47, 60 and 87 which hides Marsh's awful contribution in most circumstances. But then something like this happens, you need a middle order and out walks the tail.

You would be better off with glenn maxwell (dont shoot me)

Or someone else that is a batting allrounder - or a batter that can bowl a bit.

[The Dark Knight]

Marsh is just a liability at 6. He's never done enough at any level of cricket to justify that spot. 25 with the bat in tests isn't good enough for number 7, let along number 6. And the worst thing is that's about right for a bloke with a first class average of 30. If his bowling is so important, then he earns number 8 and he plays ahead of a specialist bowler. But he bowled 9 overs last game. 9 overs where we lost one bowler during the game. Until we have a number 6 who contributes regularly enough we're always going to be far more susceptible to a batting collapse. Lucky at the moment we have a top 5 who average 46, 50, 47, 60 and 87 which hides Marsh's awful contribution in most circumstances. But then something like this happens, you need a middle order and out walks the tail.

You would be better off with glenn maxwell (dont shoot me)

Or someone else that is a batting allrounder - or a batter that can bowl a bit.

I agree with you Benny. I've thought before someone like Maxwell would be very handy in that role and it would suit him. Unfortunately it seems that he will never live up to his full potential due to never finding any consistency to his game.

Anyway back to Marsh, he was actually one of the better performing players in the first test, it shows how bad we were. Perhaps he will soon be dropped for Henriques who I feel could be a more solid contributer.

[bennymacca]

Henriques 32 with the bat and 30 with the ball

Marsh 30 and 27 with the ball

Reckon we would be better off finding someone that averages 40 with both bat and ball.

Could travis head be that guy?

[The Dark Knight]

Henriques 32 with the bat and 30 with the ball

Marsh 30 and 27 with the ball

Reckon we would be better off finding someone that averages 40 with both bat and ball.

Could travis head be that guy?

Yeah well playing six batsman where one or two could bowl a bit worked for Australia when we were absolutely dominating test cricket in the past. Trav is definitely suited to that roll, perhaps a couple more solid Sheffield Shield seasons with the bat and also the ball as our second spin option should put his name in the national selectors minds a bit more.

I think someone like Marcus Stionis could also play in that same roll down the track.

[Dogwatcher]

Throughout our history, number 6 has been the starting point for young batsmen, giving them a chance to learn and consolidate a spot without the pressure of higher-order expectations - Harvey, Walters, Ponting.
It's time to revisit that policy.

[Corona Man]

Throughout our history, number 6 has been the starting point for young batsmen, giving them a chance to learn and consolidate a spot without the pressure of higher-order expectations - Harvey, Walters, Ponting.
It's time to revisit that policy.

100% agree with you DW.

[heater31]

Throughout our history, number 6 has been the starting point for young batsmen, giving them a chance to learn and consolidate a spot without the pressure of higher-order expectations - Harvey, Walters, Ponting.
It's time to revisit that policy.

Traditionally yes. But when you have fast bowlers made of glass, the number six batting spot has morphed into a bat that can bowl a bit if required.

[bennymacca]

Throughout our history, number 6 has been the starting point for young batsmen, giving them a chance to learn and consolidate a spot without the pressure of higher-order expectations - Harvey, Walters, Ponting.
It's time to revisit that policy.

Traditionally yes. But when you have fast bowlers made of glass, the number six batting spot has morphed into a bat that can bowl a bit if required.

That's a good point.

Our our fast bowling depth is very good though.

[Corona Man]

Throughout our history, number 6 has been the starting point for young batsmen, giving them a chance to learn and consolidate a spot without the pressure of higher-order expectations - Harvey, Walters, Ponting.
It's time to revisit that policy.

Traditionally yes. But when you have fast bowlers made of glass, the number six batting spot has morphed into a bat that can bowl a bit if required.

And now we have tweaked who break down after a 12 over spell FFS.

Still say pick the best 6 batters, a keeper and the best 4 bowlers for the conditions. Smith can roll out 10 overs in a crisis...

[bennymacca]

He should bowl himself more imo

[Grahaml]

A Maxwell type would absolutely be a far better option. Right now he doesn't seem to be in great form, so they can't go there at the moment but even as a hit and miss kind of guy, in tough conditions he could prove to be exactly the right sort of bloke.

The idea that we need a back up bowler to me is really only something they felt was important because of Shane Watson. Watson really got picked because he was a batsman, but his bowling became handy. But before him, it was always a pure batting slot. Even with Gilchrist's numbers equal to a genuine batsman, we kept playing a batsman there. I think it's a myth and now they have no confidence to go away from it. But Hazlewood seems robust, Lyon just went past 200 wickets and gets better all the time. I don't think with those two in the side you need to worry too much about bowlers breaking down or giving quicks a rest.

[Booney]

Throughout our history, number 6 has been the starting point for young batsmen, giving them a chance to learn and consolidate a spot without the pressure of higher-order expectations - Harvey, Walters, Ponting.
It's time to revisit that policy.

Traditionally yes. But when you have fast bowlers made of glass, the number six batting spot has morphed into a bat that can bowl a bit if required.

Play less hit and giggle, more long form, train the body to do this instead of "high performance managing" 15 minute net sessions. Perhaps DW's old school theory should be couple with some old school training and playing for the fragile big blokes.

[Jim05]

Mennie with 5fa as Australia A smash the Saffers. Saffers had 9 or 10 blokes in that side who have played test cricket

[The Dark Knight]

The Australian 11 for the second test has been confirmed and there will be only one change- John Holland will come into the side with O'Keefe obviously out injured.

[helicopterking]

Mennie with 5fa as Australia A smash the Saffers. Saffers had 9 or 10 blokes in that side who have played test cricket

Had a very good game. Scored 50* in the first dig! bowled 20odd overs for nothing, then took 5fa.
Will get a Aussie one day gig within the year.

[The Bedge]

SL 2/19 - Starc running through them again

[locky801]

Lankans well on top now, may well be chasing 450/500

Sri Lanka 3/184

The saviour Jon Holland 9 overs for 41

[carey]

Lankans well on top now, may well be chasing 450/500

Sri Lanka 3/184

The saviour Jon Holland 9 overs for 41

Your post worked.

[locky801]

Worked as usual

Starc picks up Mendis for 86

4/184