Australian International Summer 2020/21

[Lightning McQueen]

What is with the Australian top order batsmen when they're given out ? They just stand around thinking they've been hard done by all the time.

It's the attitude that's been instilled into the group with the re-emergence of Smith and Warner, I'm a fan of Smith's but I'm rapidly losing respect for him again, Marnus is a deadset wanker, it's hard to tell when Smith ends and he starts.

Wade and Warner are a pair of floggers too, I hope Green can remain level-headed.

Piss Langer off and get in Punter or Tugger, even AB for that matter, get some Aussie grunt and tenacity back in the squad.

[Booney]

This series really has highlighted weaknesses in the current Australian national team.

Leadership - Well documented on here how I feel about Langer, he was the right man for the job to bring Australia out of the mire post Sandpapergate, his pride, moisture inducing pride, in the baggy green was what was needed to bring some respect back to the Australian side. He did that, along with Tim Paine, they once again demanded we respect our opponents. That had eroded under Smith and Lehmann. Now though, as demonstrated in Sydney and Melbourne, we don't know how to show some mongrel when we have too. We've gone too far the "other" way. Warner, clearly on best behaviour barely says much and if he does it's a much more tempered approach than before and the likes of Labuschagne and Paine have had to push themselves into that role, the aggressor, and it doesn't suit, or work for, either of them.

We've debated on here who the next long term captain of Australia is and the best we can come up with is Cummins in the short term, perhaps Head if he can get back in and cement his spot and Carey who isn't even in the side! Given Smith won't be given it and who the f*ck would want to listen to Labuschagne as skipper the cupboard is bare bar a 37 year old keeper and a bowler. Good times ahead.

Batting depth - No Smith, no 'Straya. With Warner hobbled this summer we looked to Smith to build us totals and when he failed we had nobody to turn to. Burns was thrown to the wolves, Wade went from 5 to open and back to 5, we would never have debuted a young opener against the best attack in the world if we didn't have to then it was back to the future with Harris at the top of the order. Bar the shining light of Green the summer has been a disaster when it comes to finding blokes who can build scores. Labuschagne keeps keeping on, credit to him, he's the only bat who has done his job this summer.

So, bar leadership and batting we're in good shape.

[whufc]

This series really has highlighted weaknesses in the current Australian national team.

Leadership - Well documented on here how I feel about Langer, he was the right man for the job to bring Australia out of the mire post Sandpapergate, his pride, moisture inducing pride, in the baggy green was what was needed to bring some respect back to the Australian side. He did that, along with Tim Paine, they once again demanded we respect our opponents. That had eroded under Smith and Lehmann. Now though, as demonstrated in Sydney and Melbourne, we don't know how to show some mongrel when we have too. We've gone too far the "other" way. Warner, clearly on best behaviour barely says much and if he does it's a much more tempered approach than before and the likes of Labuschagne and Paine have had to push themselves into that role, the aggressor, and it doesn't suit, or work for, either of them.

We've debated on here who the next long term captain of Australia is and the best we can come up with is Cummins in the short term, perhaps Head if he can get back in and cement his spot and Carey who isn't even in the side! Given Smith won't be given it and who the f*ck would want to listen to Labuschagne as skipper the cupboard is bare bar a 37 year old keeper and a bowler. Good times ahead.

Batting depth - No Smith, no 'Straya. With Warner hobbled this summer we looked to Smith to build us totals and when he failed we had nobody to turn to. Burns was thrown to the wolves, Wade went from 5 to open and back to 5, we would never have debuted a young opener against the best attack in the world if we didn't have to then it was back to the future with Harris at the top of the order. Bar the shining light of Green the summer has been a disaster when it comes to finding blokes who can build scores. Labuschagne keeps keeping on, credit to him, he's the only bat who has done his job this summer.

So, bar leadership and batting we're in good shape.

Disagree about the potential in our batting.

With Smith, Labuschagne and Warner we have 3 world class batters. Yes Warner was injured but long term he should be fine and in general has been injury free.

Green looks the goods and could be the perfect defensive foil to Smith, Warner and Laba. Should be batting at 5 imo.

Paine has averaged over 50 and funnily enough it would be his batting that guarantees his spot. His batting average is the second best of all time Australian keepers behind the one and only Gilchrist.

Pucovski showed some promise in his one test but doesn't appear overly reliable when it comes to injuries.

[Booney]

LOL

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/au ... 32155936d0

‘Bit of the gloss has come off’: Paine under the microscope as Warne, Gilly call out Aussie captain

[Booney]

Batting depth - No Smith, no 'Straya. With Warner hobbled this summer we looked to Smith to build us totals and when he failed we had nobody to turn to. Burns was thrown to the wolves, Wade went from 5 to open and back to 5, we would never have debuted a young opener against the best attack in the world if we didn't have to then it was back to the future with Harris at the top of the order. Bar the shining light of Green the summer has been a disaster when it comes to finding blokes who can build scores. Labuschagne keeps keeping on, credit to him, he's the only bat who has done his job this summer.

Disagree about the potential in our batting.

Cool, what do you think about our depth though?

[whufc]

Batting depth - No Smith, no 'Straya. With Warner hobbled this summer we looked to Smith to build us totals and when he failed we had nobody to turn to. Burns was thrown to the wolves, Wade went from 5 to open and back to 5, we would never have debuted a young opener against the best attack in the world if we didn't have to then it was back to the future with Harris at the top of the order. Bar the shining light of Green the summer has been a disaster when it comes to finding blokes who can build scores. Labuschagne keeps keeping on, credit to him, he's the only bat who has done his job this summer.

Disagree about the potential in our batting.

Cool, what do you think about our depth though?

Our depth isn't great which is obvious but I guess you could argue we are fortunate to have two blokes averaging 40 that cant make or aren't presently in our line up, Head and Pattinson.

Just a shame there is no shield cricket on at the moment to sort the boys out from the men.

Leadership is an absolute shambles though.

[Lightning McQueen]

This series really has highlighted weaknesses in the current Australian national team.

Leadership - Well documented on here how I feel about Langer, he was the right man for the job to bring Australia out of the mire post Sandpapergate, his pride, moisture inducing pride, in the baggy green was what was needed to bring some respect back to the Australian side. He did that, along with Tim Paine, they once again demanded we respect our opponents. That had eroded under Smith and Lehmann. Now though, as demonstrated in Sydney and Melbourne, we don't know how to show some mongrel when we have too. We've gone too far the "other" way. Warner, clearly on best behaviour barely says much and if he does it's a much more tempered approach than before and the likes of Labuschagne and Paine have had to push themselves into that role, the aggressor, and it doesn't suit, or work for, either of them.

We've debated on here who the next long term captain of Australia is and the best we can come up with is Cummins in the short term, perhaps Head if he can get back in and cement his spot and Carey who isn't even in the side! Given Smith won't be given it and who the f*ck would want to listen to Labuschagne as skipper the cupboard is bare bar a 37 year old keeper and a bowler. Good times ahead.

Batting depth - No Smith, no 'Straya. With Warner hobbled this summer we looked to Smith to build us totals and when he failed we had nobody to turn to. Burns was thrown to the wolves, Wade went from 5 to open and back to 5, we would never have debuted a young opener against the best attack in the world if we didn't have to then it was back to the future with Harris at the top of the order. Bar the shining light of Green the summer has been a disaster when it comes to finding blokes who can build scores. Labuschagne keeps keeping on, credit to him, he's the only bat who has done his job this summer.

So, bar leadership and batting we're in good shape.

I'd never give the captaincy to a bowler, it's the captains curse, you either over or under bowl yourself and it plays on your mind, let Cummins just do his job, so yeah, we are stuck with Paine for a bit longer.

In your final line I think you missed out bowling, we are all clouded by the Adelaide 2nd dig, we're not that good.

India won by 8 wickets in Melbourne, despite being 1/0 then 3/64 they took the first innings with relative ease.

They held on for 131 overs in Sydney where batting on day 5 is usually a war zone, our bowling was pathetic and without tactic.

In the first dig in Brisbane we allowed some nobodies to pile on 150 runs for the last 4 wickets soaking up 45.1 overs, and they had to endure the new ball.

[Lightning McQueen]

Our depth isn't great which is obvious but I guess you could argue we are fortunate to have two blokes averaging 40 that cant make or aren't presently in our line up, Head and Pattinson.

Just a shame there is no shield cricket on at the moment to sort the boys out from the men.

Leadership is an absolute shambles though.

I think our depth is ok, we just need to find a solid opening combo, something we've been blessed with for a very long time, it needs to be left/right IMO.

Its far easier coming in at 1/120 than 1/7 and so forth.

[Booney]

In your final line I think you missed out bowling, we are all clouded by the Adelaide 2nd dig, we're not that good.

India won by 8 wickets in Melbourne, despite being 1/0 then 3/64 they took the first innings with relative ease.

They held on for 131 overs in Sydney where batting on day 5 is usually a war zone, our bowling was pathetic and without tactic.

In the first dig in Brisbane we allowed some nobodies to pile on 150 runs for the last 4 wickets soaking up 45.1 overs, and they had to endure the new ball.

Disagree, our bowling is world class, but our plans ( read leadership ) are rubbish and give the Indians some credit, they have played beautifully, particularly against Lyon but that's no surprise given Washington and Ashwin have been their net bowling offies.

Our bowlers are bowling to the plans the coach devises and the captain implements. Our plans are crap.

[Lightning McQueen]

In your final line I think you missed out bowling, we are all clouded by the Adelaide 2nd dig, we're not that good.

India won by 8 wickets in Melbourne, despite being 1/0 then 3/64 they took the first innings with relative ease.

They held on for 131 overs in Sydney where batting on day 5 is usually a war zone, our bowling was pathetic and without tactic.

In the first dig in Brisbane we allowed some nobodies to pile on 150 runs for the last 4 wickets soaking up 45.1 overs, and they had to endure the new ball.

Disagree, our bowling is world class, but our plans ( read leadership ) are rubbish and give the Indians some credit, they have played beautifully, particularly against Lyon but that's no surprise given Washington and Ashwin have been their net bowling offies.

Our bowlers are bowling to the plans the coach devises and the captain implements. Our plans are crap.

Hopefully that is the issue as I think the Indians bowl with patience and intent, they work on areas relentlessly to draw a false shot with a slight variation in one of their deliveries.

We just bowl short crap constantly.

[Dutchy]

What is with the Australian top order batsmen when they're given out ? They just stand around thinking they've been hard done by all the time.
Just get off the ground unless it's a howler of a decision and then review it.
Warner hangs around for about 20 seconds knowing he was plumb LBW and then blows a review
Then how the hell does Smith review his? You'd have to be pretty dumb not to know his hand was on the bat at point of impact because it was the impact of the ball that knocked his hand off the bat but stands there in disbelief before wasting more time and another review by reviewing it.
I try to like Australia and i do admire a number of the players but overall i just cant get passionate about supporting a team that just continues to fail the spirit of cricket test.

Not a huge fan of Boof's coaching but under him there used to be a plan about reviews, both batters would meet and debate the merits with many times the non-striker talking the batter out of a review. Under Langer it seems to be just left to batter and no discussion apart from yelling at each other from 22 yards

[David Brent]

This series really has highlighted weaknesses in the current Australian national team.

Leadership - Well documented on here how I feel about Langer, he was the right man for the job to bring Australia out of the mire post Sandpapergate, his pride, moisture inducing pride, in the baggy green was what was needed to bring some respect back to the Australian side. He did that, along with Tim Paine, they once again demanded we respect our opponents. That had eroded under Smith and Lehmann. Now though, as demonstrated in Sydney and Melbourne, we don't know how to show some mongrel when we have too. We've gone too far the "other" way. Warner, clearly on best behaviour barely says much and if he does it's a much more tempered approach than before and the likes of Labuschagne and Paine have had to push themselves into that role, the aggressor, and it doesn't suit, or work for, either of them.

We've debated on here who the next long term captain of Australia is and the best we can come up with is Cummins in the short term, perhaps Head if he can get back in and cement his spot and Carey who isn't even in the side! Given Smith won't be given it and who the f*ck would want to listen to Labuschagne as skipper the cupboard is bare bar a 37 year old keeper and a bowler. Good times ahead.

Batting depth - No Smith, no 'Straya. With Warner hobbled this summer we looked to Smith to build us totals and when he failed we had nobody to turn to. Burns was thrown to the wolves, Wade went from 5 to open and back to 5, we would never have debuted a young opener against the best attack in the world if we didn't have to then it was back to the future with Harris at the top of the order. Bar the shining light of Green the summer has been a disaster when it comes to finding blokes who can build scores. Labuschagne keeps keeping on, credit to him, he's the only bat who has done his job this summer.

So, bar leadership and batting we're in good shape.

I'd never give the captaincy to a bowler, it's the captains curse, you either over or under bowl yourself and it plays on your mind, let Cummins just do his job, so yeah, we are stuck with Paine for a bit longer.

In your final line I think you missed out bowling, we are all clouded by the Adelaide 2nd dig, we're not that good.

India won by 8 wickets in Melbourne, despite being 1/0 then 3/64 they took the first innings with relative ease.

They held on for 131 overs in Sydney where batting on day 5 is usually a war zone, our bowling was pathetic and without tactic.

In the first dig in Brisbane we allowed some nobodies to pile on 150 runs for the last 4 wickets soaking up 45.1 overs, and they had to endure the new ball.

Nothing wrong with our bowling at all LM. Cummins number one in the world, Hazlewood is a star, Starc provides a different option & compliments the attack nicely. Lyon has been slightly off this series but he's still rock solid performer. Chuck in Patto, Ness & Richardson & the depth is there.

India haven't made over 350 for the series on what have been pretty good pitches. I know you take any chance to throw negative shade on the Aus cricketing team but come on we would take this attack any decade if it was offered up.

[Booney]

In your final line I think you missed out bowling, we are all clouded by the Adelaide 2nd dig, we're not that good.

India won by 8 wickets in Melbourne, despite being 1/0 then 3/64 they took the first innings with relative ease.

They held on for 131 overs in Sydney where batting on day 5 is usually a war zone, our bowling was pathetic and without tactic.

In the first dig in Brisbane we allowed some nobodies to pile on 150 runs for the last 4 wickets soaking up 45.1 overs, and they had to endure the new ball.

Disagree, our bowling is world class, but our plans ( read leadership ) are rubbish and give the Indians some credit, they have played beautifully, particularly against Lyon but that's no surprise given Washington and Ashwin have been their net bowling offies.

Our bowlers are bowling to the plans the coach devises and the captain implements. Our plans are crap.

Hopefully that is the issue as I think the Indians bowl with patience and intent, they work on areas relentlessly to draw a false shot with a slight variation in one of their deliveries.

We just bowl short crap constantly.

Their plans to Smith, in particular, have been exceptional.

[Lightning McQueen]

Nothing wrong with our bowling at all LM. Cummins number one in the world, Hazlewood is a star, Starc provides a different option & compliments the attack nicely. Lyon has been slightly off this series but he's still rock solid performer. Chuck in Patto, Ness & Richardson & the depth is there.

India haven't made over 350 for the series on what have been pretty good pitches. I know you take any chance to throw negative shade on the Aus cricketing team but come on we would take this attack any decade if it was offered up.

Well why aren't we able to clean up a 2nd rate Indian line up? Lyon and Starc have been ordinary, Cummins is deservedly the world #1 and Hazlewood toils hard, Starc just thinks being left armed, tall and fast is enough to do the trick.

I don't doubt the bowling depth, Patto would be opening in any other national team, I'd have him in front of Starc atm.

And yes, I'm not overly impressed with the attitude our national team presents at the moment, I'd sooner a bunch of battlers over a bunch of arrogant sooks, we have a very unlikable side IMO, I'm usually a big advocate of whoever represents our team.

[whufc]

Nothing wrong with our bowling at all LM. Cummins number one in the world, Hazlewood is a star, Starc provides a different option & compliments the attack nicely. Lyon has been slightly off this series but he's still rock solid performer. Chuck in Patto, Ness & Richardson & the depth is there.

India haven't made over 350 for the series on what have been pretty good pitches. I know you take any chance to throw negative shade on the Aus cricketing team but come on we would take this attack any decade if it was offered up.

Well why aren't we able to clean up a 2nd rate Indian line up? Lyon and Starc have been ordinary, Cummins is deservedly the world #1 and Hazlewood toils hard, Starc just thinks being left armed, tall and fast is enough to do the trick.

I don't doubt the bowling depth, Patto would be opening in any other national team, I'd have him in front of Starc atm.

And yes, I'm not overly impressed with the attitude our national team presents at the moment, I'd sooner a bunch of battlers over a bunch of arrogant sooks, we have a very unlikable side IMO, I'm usually a big advocate of whoever represents our team.

Agree Starc is the issue. If you were allowed subs in cricket you would start Starc and if his first over didn't hoop in you would sub him out.

Lyon is fine but India are still the best at playing spin in the world. Against the Indians we need him tying up one end so the pacemen can do the job from the other and then use Lyon to clean up the tail having a swing.

[RB]

Starc just thinks being left armed, tall and fast is enough to do the trick.

Bingo. His time is almost up.

Now watch him take 10 today.

[Corona Man]

Starc just thinks being left armed, tall and fast is enough to do the trick.

Bingo. His time is almost up.

Now watch him take 10 today.

Can I have what your on?
No chance.

[Rik E Boy]

This series really has highlighted weaknesses in the current Australian national team.

Leadership - Well documented on here how I feel about Langer, he was the right man for the job to bring Australia out of the mire post Sandpapergate, his pride, moisture inducing pride, in the baggy green was what was needed to bring some respect back to the Australian side. He did that, along with Tim Paine, they once again demanded we respect our opponents. That had eroded under Smith and Lehmann. Now though, as demonstrated in Sydney and Melbourne, we don't know how to show some mongrel when we have too. We've gone too far the "other" way. Warner, clearly on best behaviour barely says much and if he does it's a much more tempered approach than before and the likes of Labuschagne and Paine have had to push themselves into that role, the aggressor, and it doesn't suit, or work for, either of them.

We've debated on here who the next long term captain of Australia is and the best we can come up with is Cummins in the short term, perhaps Head if he can get back in and cement his spot and Carey who isn't even in the side! Given Smith won't be given it and who the f*ck would want to listen to Labuschagne as skipper the cupboard is bare bar a 37 year old keeper and a bowler. Good times ahead.

Batting depth - No Smith, no 'Straya. With Warner hobbled this summer we looked to Smith to build us totals and when he failed we had nobody to turn to. Burns was thrown to the wolves, Wade went from 5 to open and back to 5, we would never have debuted a young opener against the best attack in the world if we didn't have to then it was back to the future with Harris at the top of the order. Bar the shining light of Green the summer has been a disaster when it comes to finding blokes who can build scores. Labuschagne keeps keeping on, credit to him, he's the only bat who has done his job this summer.

So, bar leadership and batting we're in good shape.

Disagree about the potential in our batting.

With Smith, Labuschagne and Warner we have 3 world class batters. Yes Warner was injured but long term he should be fine and in general has been injury free.

Green looks the goods and could be the perfect defensive foil to Smith, Warner and Laba. Should be batting at 5 imo.

Paine has averaged over 50 and funnily enough it would be his batting that guarantees his spot. His batting average is the second best of all time Australian keepers behind the one and only Gilchrist.

Pucovski showed some promise in his one test but doesn't appear overly reliable when it comes to injuries.

Paine averaging 50? Maybe this season but the last time I checked his career average is around 33. Had a reasonable season with the bat but his keeping has dropped right off. Our batting is an absolute shambles because we are playing depth players who are past a prime they never had in our top six. Against nuffys that's fine but we are always going to struggle if Smith fails against decent opposition. The elephant in the room is our domestic season. The Shield has been relegated to the poor cousin and made to fit around the lucurative BBL. Seeing as CA is about two things, Money and Image, it doesn't seem to matter that our Test team is so consistently mediocre. The Shield needs to be just prior to and concurrent with the current test series. The BBL will always bring in the coin whenever it is played so we need to think about as a cricketing nation what we are trying to achieve in Test and Shield cricket. The very fact you are suggesting a promising but raw Green to bat at five suggests there is a shitload wrong with our batting. If it was in good shape not one person would suggest he be moved from something that is obviously working for him and the team.

Boon is spot on about the leadership. I rate Paine our worst captain since Yallop, or perhaps Hughes if you want to be more generous. The coach is a fanboi who gives his pals too many undeserved opportunities while others are shunned. How many players have improved in the Paine era? I think you can only genuinely say Marnus. That is coaching. Wade still gets out the same way, Burns still got out the same way, Khawaja kept getting out the same way, Head kept getting out the same way. It's ridiculous. I thought it might have been down to Hick but we got rid of him and still no improvement in any of those players. At the Executive level of Cricket Australia there is also a poor corporate culture with many organisational sins. I know I have said this many times but read Geoff Lemon's 'Steve Smith's Men - The Fall of Australian Cricket' for more details. A bunch of self-serving plonkers from the top on down who are currently doing a massive disservice to the game.

Despite all of the above, thanks to our fantastic bowling attack and the efforts of Smudge and Marnus, we are probably still the number three ranked side in the world. That's ok, but for me it's two spots too low.

regards,

REB

[whufc]

This series really has highlighted weaknesses in the current Australian national team.

Leadership - Well documented on here how I feel about Langer, he was the right man for the job to bring Australia out of the mire post Sandpapergate, his pride, moisture inducing pride, in the baggy green was what was needed to bring some respect back to the Australian side. He did that, along with Tim Paine, they once again demanded we respect our opponents. That had eroded under Smith and Lehmann. Now though, as demonstrated in Sydney and Melbourne, we don't know how to show some mongrel when we have too. We've gone too far the "other" way. Warner, clearly on best behaviour barely says much and if he does it's a much more tempered approach than before and the likes of Labuschagne and Paine have had to push themselves into that role, the aggressor, and it doesn't suit, or work for, either of them.

We've debated on here who the next long term captain of Australia is and the best we can come up with is Cummins in the short term, perhaps Head if he can get back in and cement his spot and Carey who isn't even in the side! Given Smith won't be given it and who the f*ck would want to listen to Labuschagne as skipper the cupboard is bare bar a 37 year old keeper and a bowler. Good times ahead.

Batting depth - No Smith, no 'Straya. With Warner hobbled this summer we looked to Smith to build us totals and when he failed we had nobody to turn to. Burns was thrown to the wolves, Wade went from 5 to open and back to 5, we would never have debuted a young opener against the best attack in the world if we didn't have to then it was back to the future with Harris at the top of the order. Bar the shining light of Green the summer has been a disaster when it comes to finding blokes who can build scores. Labuschagne keeps keeping on, credit to him, he's the only bat who has done his job this summer.

So, bar leadership and batting we're in good shape.

Disagree about the potential in our batting.

With Smith, Labuschagne and Warner we have 3 world class batters. Yes Warner was injured but long term he should be fine and in general has been injury free.

Green looks the goods and could be the perfect defensive foil to Smith, Warner and Laba. Should be batting at 5 imo.

Paine has averaged over 50 and funnily enough it would be his batting that guarantees his spot. His batting average is the second best of all time Australian keepers behind the one and only Gilchrist.

Pucovski showed some promise in his one test but doesn't appear overly reliable when it comes to injuries.

Paine averaging 50? Maybe this season but the last time I checked his career average is around 33. Had a reasonable season with the bat but his keeping has dropped right off. Our batting is an absolute shambles because we are playing depth players who are past a prime they never had in our top six. Against nuffys that's fine but we are always going to struggle if Smith fails against decent opposition. The elephant in the room is our domestic season. The Shield has been relegated to the poor cousin and made to fit around the lucurative BBL. Seeing as CA is about two things, Money and Image, it doesn't seem to matter that our Test team is so consistently mediocre. The Shield needs to be just prior to and concurrent with the current test series. The BBL will always bring in the coin whenever it is played so we need to think about as a cricketing nation what we are trying to achieve in Test and Shield cricket. The very fact you are suggesting a promising but raw Green to bat at five suggests there is a shitload wrong with our batting. If it was in good shape not one person would suggest he be moved from something that is obviously working for him and the team.

Boon is spot on about the leadership. I rate Paine our worst captain since Yallop, or perhaps Hughes if you want to be more generous. The coach is a fanboi who gives his pals too many undeserved opportunities while others are shunned. How many players have improved in the Paine era? I think you can only genuinely say Marnus. That is coaching. Wade still gets out the same way, Burns still got out the same way, Khawaja kept getting out the same way, Head kept getting out the same way. It's ridiculous. I thought it might have been down to Hick but we got rid of him and still no improvement in any of those players. At the Executive level of Cricket Australia there is also a poor corporate culture with many organisational sins. I know I have said this many times but read Geoff Lemon's 'Steve Smith's Men - The Fall of Australian Cricket' for more details. A bunch of self-serving plonkers from the top on down who are currently doing a massive disservice to the game.

Despite all of the above, thanks to our fantastic bowling attack and the efforts of Smudge and Marnus, we are probably still the number three ranked side in the world. That's ok, but for me it's two spots too low.

regards,

REB

ABC Radio mentioned yesterday Paines career average of 33 would makes him the second best keeper batsmen in Australia's history, higher than Haddin, Healy and co.

I think we can all agree about the shield, that change needs to happen immediately.

[Rik E Boy]

Nothing wrong with our bowling at all LM. Cummins number one in the world, Hazlewood is a star, Starc provides a different option & compliments the attack nicely. Lyon has been slightly off this series but he's still rock solid performer. Chuck in Patto, Ness & Richardson & the depth is there.

India haven't made over 350 for the series on what have been pretty good pitches. I know you take any chance to throw negative shade on the Aus cricketing team but come on we would take this attack any decade if it was offered up.

Well why aren't we able to clean up a 2nd rate Indian line up? Lyon and Starc have been ordinary, Cummins is deservedly the world #1 and Hazlewood toils hard, Starc just thinks being left armed, tall and fast is enough to do the trick.

I don't doubt the bowling depth, Patto would be opening in any other national team, I'd have him in front of Starc atm.

And yes, I'm not overly impressed with the attitude our national team presents at the moment, I'd sooner a bunch of battlers over a bunch of arrogant sooks, we have a very unlikable side IMO, I'm usually a big advocate of whoever represents our team.

One of the worst things to happen to our bowlers this summer was cleaning up India for 36 in Adelaide. I remain convinced that from that day on the patience of our experienced bowlers has just dried up. As soon as it starts to get tough out comes the short pitched bowling. As soon as the ball starts to get old out comes the short pitched bowling. We didn't bowl India out in Sydney because man, that pitch just died in the arse. Our blokes busted their balls for no reward. That match was lost when we dropped those vital catches. You could see the heads dropped they are only human out there despite their imposing record.

Last Sunday was an absolute joke. Paine's field placements were ridiculous, the plan was not evident to this viewer or any sitting in nearby seats. India have been praised for coming back but every time a depth player comes into the side it's another player we haven't made any plans for and even worse, they can actually play. For all of their injuries they have talent coming in that are fresh as daisies. We should have rested Starc for this test and brought in Neser to debut at home. Poor fielding, poor tactics and good old fatigue are why we are struggling to bowl India out.

regards,

REB