Australian International Summer 2023/24

[Booney]

That.

I don't enjoy watching Smith bat, not one bit. Labuschagne is more pleasant on the eye at the crease but his antics get under my skin too.

[Lightning McQueen]

That.

I don't enjoy watching Smith bat, not one bit. Labuschagne is more pleasant on the eye at the crease but his antics get under my skin too.

I’m not much of a Warner fan as a person but I’ll give him credit for his on-field antics over the past couple of years, I think he’s channeled his personality to display the good things he has to offer. I reckon he’d be good to get on the gas with, you’d no doubt have to tell him to wind his neck in a bit but I reckon he’d be genuinely funny

[The Dark Knight]

https://youtu.be/haq7Abi4ZKc?si=8TjKDRtjM8ineJK8

[whufc]

Is Australia one of the only countries that happily ‘turns’ blokes into openers. Over the Australia have had a ton of blokes who weren’t always openers plays the role:

Khawaja
Watson
Finch
Katich
Langer
Blewett

That’s just off the top of my head.

[am Bays]

Is Australia one of the only countries that happily ‘turns’ blokes into openers. Over the Australia have had a ton of blokes who weren’t always openers plays the role:

Khawaja
Watson
Finch
Katich
Langer
Blewett

That’s just off the top of my head.

Pretty sure Blewett started as an opener, opened for Australia A in 94-95 WSC and then to select him they put him at #6. Sort of sticking fat with the model of pick your best six batsmen.

Langer whilst not an opener for WA was a top order (1st drop batsmen) pretty much before he got selected and then batted 1st drop for Aust for the 1st half of his career.

I think the Australian trend is not so much turn blokes into openers but bat them low initially (Blewett 6, G Chappell 7, Ponting 6, Smith 7-8) and then push them up as they get used to test cricket.

[locky801]

Is Australia one of the only countries that happily ‘turns’ blokes into openers. Over the Australia have had a ton of blokes who weren’t always openers plays the role:

Khawaja
Watson
Finch
Katich
Langer
Blewett

That’s just off the top of my head.

Pretty sure Blewett started as an opener, opened for Australia A in 94-95 WSC and then to select him they put him at #6. Sort of sticking fat with the model of pick your best six batsmen.

spot on AM Blewett started as an opener

Langer whilst not an opener for WA was a top order (1st drop batsmen) pretty much before he got selected and then batted 1st drop for Aust for the 1st half of his career.

I think the Australian trend is not so much turn blokes into openers but bat them low initially (Blewett 6, G Chappell 7, Ponting 6, Smith 7-8) and then push them up as they get used to test cricket.

[FlyingHigh]

Is Australia one of the only countries that happily ‘turns’ blokes into openers. Over the Australia have had a ton of blokes who weren’t always openers plays the role:

Khawaja
Watson
Finch
Katich
Langer
Blewett

That’s just off the top of my head.

Pretty sure Blewett started as an opener, opened for Australia A in 94-95 WSC and then to select him they put him at #6. Sort of sticking fat with the model of pick your best six batsmen.

Langer whilst not an opener for WA was a top order (1st drop batsmen) pretty much before he got selected and then batted 1st drop for Aust for the 1st half of his career.

I think the Australian trend is not so much turn blokes into openers but bat them low initially (Blewett 6, G Chappell 7, Ponting 6, Smith 7-8) and then push them up as they get used to test cricket.

Blewett and Langer both started off as openers in the Shield in 1991/92.
Blewett opened in the game we made 500+ to beat Queensland

[Booney]

Is Australia one of the only countries that happily ‘turns’ blokes into openers. Over the Australia have had a ton of blokes who weren’t always openers plays the role:

Khawaja
Watson
Finch
Katich
Langer
Blewett

That’s just off the top of my head.

Khawaja - Moved to opener in 2018 aged 32
Watson - Moved to opener in 2009 aged 28
Finch - Played 5 Tests in 2018 as an opener aged 32
Katich - Moved to opener in 2008 aged 33
Langer - Moved to opened in 2001 aged 31
Blewett - Played 22 of his 79 innings as opener moving their aged 28 in 1999

Smith is 34 years 228 days.

[mighty_tiger_79]

The test starting tomorrow caught me by surprise.

[Armchair expert]

The test starting tomorrow caught me by surprise.

Will it make it to the weekend?

[Booney]

The test starting tomorrow caught me by surprise.

Will it make it to the weekend?

Toss* will be crucial. If we win the toss we'll send them in and skittle them, bat for 4 sessions then skittle them again.

If they win the toss* they might put us in to at least make the first innings last a full day.

If it does get to day 4 I'll be surprised.

[whufc]

Is Australia one of the only countries that happily ‘turns’ blokes into openers. Over the Australia have had a ton of blokes who weren’t always openers plays the role:

Khawaja
Watson
Finch
Katich
Langer
Blewett

That’s just off the top of my head.

Khawaja - Moved to opener in 2018 aged 32
Watson - Moved to opener in 2009 aged 28
Finch - Played 5 Tests in 2018 as an opener aged 32
Katich - Moved to opener in 2008 aged 33
Langer - Moved to opened in 2001 aged 31
Blewett - Played 22 of his 79 innings as opener moving their aged 28 in 1999

Smith is 34 years 228 days.

So what you are saying is Australia have a successful history of 're-inventing' batsmen in their 30's by opening them at test level.

34 is the new 30 given all the sports science, technology etc etc.

Look at Khawaja his career best from has been at ages 35 and 36.

[whufc]

Is Australia one of the only countries that happily ‘turns’ blokes into openers. Over the Australia have had a ton of blokes who weren’t always openers plays the role:

Khawaja
Watson
Finch
Katich
Langer
Blewett

That’s just off the top of my head.

Khawaja - Moved to opener in 2018 aged 32
Watson - Moved to opener in 2009 aged 28
Finch - Played 5 Tests in 2018 as an opener aged 32
Katich - Moved to opener in 2008 aged 33
Langer - Moved to opened in 2001 aged 31
Blewett - Played 22 of his 79 innings as opener moving their aged 28 in 1999

Smith is 34 years 228 days.

So what you are saying is Australia have a successful history of 're-inventing' batsmen in their 30's by opening them at test level.

34 is the new 30 given all the sports science, technology etc etc.

Look at Khawaja his career best from has been at ages 35 and 36.

In all seriousness though i think we will need to start to rethink the general conscious around professionals sports people and hitting that '30 age bracket'. We are starting to see it in the AFL with a few blokes still being more than serviceable at 33-36.

[Trader]

I'm taking the over 8.5 sessions.

I think Smith will want to prove himself at opener, he'll bat a full day himself.

I can't see us bowling first if we win the toss.
I think we bat, bat long, roll them, then bat again just to give our bowlers a rest.

[whufc]

I'm taking the over 8.5 sessions.

I think Smith will want to prove himself at opener, he'll bat a full day himself.

I can't see us bowling first if we win the toss.
I think we bat, bat long, roll them, then bat again just to give our bowlers a rest.

A perfect test for cricket Australia would be;

Day 1- Australia win the toss bat all day
Day 2- Australia bat until just before dark
Day 3- West indies bowled out before lunch. Australia bat rest of day.
Day 4- Australia bat / declare before lunch bowl Windies out by the end of the night.

[mighty_tiger_79]

I'm taking the over 8.5 sessions.

I think Smith will want to prove himself at opener, he'll bat a full day himself.

I can't see us bowling first if we win the toss.
I think we bat, bat long, roll them, then bat again just to give our bowlers a rest.

A perfect test for cricket Australia would be;

Day 1- Australia win the toss bat all day
Day 2- Australia bat until just before dark
Day 3- West indies bowled out before lunch. Australia bat rest of day.
Day 4- Australia bat / declare before lunch bowl Windies out by the end of the night.

Surely cricket Australia want this to get to day 5?

[Brodlach]

I'm taking the over 8.5 sessions.

I think Smith will want to prove himself at opener, he'll bat a full day himself.

I can't see us bowling first if we win the toss.
I think we bat, bat long, roll them, then bat again just to give our bowlers a rest.

A perfect test for cricket Australia would be;

Day 1- Australia win the toss bat all day
Day 2- Australia bat until just before dark
Day 3- West indies bowled out before lunch. Australia bat rest of day.
Day 4- Australia bat / declare before lunch bowl Windies out by the end of the night.

Surely cricket Australia want this to get to day 5?

You mean like the Pakistan Tests?

[Corona Man]

I'm taking the over 8.5 sessions.

I think Smith will want to prove himself at opener, he'll bat a full day himself.

I can't see us bowling first if we win the toss.
I think we bat, bat long, roll them, then bat again just to give our bowlers a rest.

A perfect test for cricket Australia would be;

Day 1- Australia win the toss bat all day
Day 2- Australia bat until just before dark
Day 3- West indies bowled out before lunch. Australia bat rest of day.
Day 4- Australia bat / declare before lunch bowl Windies out by the end of the night.

Surely cricket Australia want this to get to day 5?

If it rains for 2 days, it gets to day 5.

[whufc]

I'm taking the over 8.5 sessions.

I think Smith will want to prove himself at opener, he'll bat a full day himself.

I can't see us bowling first if we win the toss.
I think we bat, bat long, roll them, then bat again just to give our bowlers a rest.

A perfect test for cricket Australia would be;

Day 1- Australia win the toss bat all day
Day 2- Australia bat until just before dark
Day 3- West indies bowled out before lunch. Australia bat rest of day.
Day 4- Australia bat / declare before lunch bowl Windies out by the end of the night.

Surely cricket Australia want this to get to day 5?

TBH I think there will be a few nervous people around test cricket that hope this series goes for 5 days in total.

Honestly would not be shocked to see the West Indies not score over 120 in any of their 4 innings this series.

[locky801]

I'm so confident I've just booked work appointments for Saturday