Topic: Australia vs Sri Lanka (Read 13042 times)

Mister Le Chiffre · « **on:** January 09, 2019, 08:47:02 AM »

Australia named their Test squad for the upcoming tests against the lowly Sri Lanka. Brothers grim Shaun and Mitchell are axed along with Handscombe.

Queenslanders Renshaw and Burns are back in favour whilst 20 year old Victorian Will Pucovski gets a maiden call up. Still no love for Maxwell.

Rather strangely no changes to the bowler where Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins are joined by Siddle. Definitely thought Starc and Siddle should've been omitted.

Tim Paine (c)(w/k), Josh Hazlewood, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle

Kulli · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2019, 08:55:46 AM »

Would say the selectors are finally beginning to see some sense.

Pucovski a bit of a strange call considering he's just back from time off for Mental issues? don't really know that much about it though.

also a little suprised to see Siddle back, guess they might want to rest the other quicks without blooding someone new.

goodarmcindy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2019, 10:01:50 AM »

Interesting to see Australia finally abandon the path they set upon after 2005 to find an Andrew Flintoff like all-rounder and actually just pick specialist batsmen and bowlers.

Obviously aside from their well trodden path of selecting leg spinners who can bat a bit/batsmen who can leg spin a bit.

SD · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2019, 11:49:58 AM »

They are always going to struggle to balance the side without a genuine all rounder and with a 34 year old wicket keeper with a single first class hundred to his name.

Kulli · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2019, 11:50:46 AM »

Makes it easier playing SL, 2 bowlers is probably enough at the moment, nevermind 5.

six and out · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2019, 01:02:33 PM »

I think Australia are hoping that Cummins batting becomes good enough to be classed as a genuine allrounder.

i thing i find interesting is what are the selections based upon?

Renshaw is averaging 19 in Shield cricket, doesn't even have 200 runs yet this season. Yes he is more of a Test type player to open the batting but 19 is hardly going back to Shield cricket and scoring runs.

Pucovski looks like a great talent but he has only played 8 1st class games and just had time off (as mentioned), so it will be very interesting to see how he goes. Have to say he is currently averaging over 100 in the Shield though!

Matthew Wade must be pissed though, he must have seriously rubbed someone up the wrong way not to get another go - as a batsman. Averaging over 63, with 5 x 50's and a 100. Better than Burns and miles better than Renshaw.

But it's only Sri Lanka isn't it, easy pickings at home.......... i am sure

csnew · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2019, 01:07:21 PM »

Can�t believe wade hasn�t been called up as a specialist batsman. Selectors are probably worried that playing 2 keepers would put pressure on Paine

cricketbadger · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2019, 06:03:53 PM »

Quote from: SD on January 09, 2019, 11:49:58 AM

They are always going to struggle to balance the side without a genuine all rounder and with a 34 year old wicket keeper with a single first class hundred to his name.

Balancing the side has nothing to do really with Paine's position or his lack of 1st class hundreds

Kulli · « **Reply #8 on:** January 09, 2019, 06:36:57 PM »

Quote from: cricketbadger on January 09, 2019, 06:03:53 PM

Balancing the side has nothing to do really with Paine's position or his lack of 1st class hundreds

It does though, if they had a bloke averaging 50 at number 6 they're less pressure to find a batting allrounder to bat in the top 6.

Manormanic · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2019, 07:22:32 PM »

I don't honestly see the obsession with them "balancing the side with an all rounder". They have Lyon, who bowls masses of overs, and a range of decent seamers. Its nice int hat situation if you have a part timer who can bowl five or six overs if you're in the field an age (Waugh, Lehmann etc) but they don't need anything more - I suspect it came in part through the injury prone nature of their seamers, but that could be fixed with a tad more rotation.

Manormanic · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2019, 07:23:59 PM »

From what I know of it, I'd try:

Burns
Harris
Khawaja
Renshaw/Pucovski till Smith
Maxwell
Wade
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Kulli · « **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2019, 07:30:51 PM »

Quote from: Manormanic on January 09, 2019, 07:22:32 PM

I don't honestly see the obsession with them "balancing the side with an all rounder". They have Lyon, who bowls masses of overs, and a range of decent seamers. Its nice int hat situation if you have a part timer who can bowl five or six overs if you're in the field an age (Waugh, Lehmann etc) but they don't need anything more - I suspect it came in part through the injury prone nature of their seamers, but that could be fixed with a tad more rotation.

I think you've nailed it there, they can't risk not having a fairly decent 5th bowler incase they go round the park for 500+ and bits start falling off Cummin and Starc.

That said england don�t really have any injury prone bowlers and have been obsessed with having an alrounder for decades, whether we have had any decent ones or not.

SD · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2019, 11:19:13 PM »

Quote from: cricketbadger on January 09, 2019, 06:03:53 PM

Balancing the side has nothing to do really with Paine's position or his lack of 1st class hundreds

Paine is a huge headache for the selectors. A specialist keeper is a luxury that a side with such a flimsy top 6 as Australia has cannot afford. There must be a side with a worse number 7 around somewhere but one doesn't instantly come to mind

Mister Le Chiffre · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2019, 11:31:01 PM »

Paine averages a shade under 35 so he's hardly a passenger. It's hardly his fault that S Marsh, M Marsh, Finch, Handscombe are inept at batting.

Look at the averages of all the wicket keepers in Test cricket they all average around 35-40 bracket. Only Pant's averaging around 50 but he's a young pup still.

LateBloomer · « **Reply #14 on:** January 10, 2019, 02:48:50 AM »

If Matthews was fit I'd give Sri Lanka a decent chance of at least taking the games deep. Mendis is quality, Chandimal is due some big runs and Karunaratne is better than any of the Aussie openers.

I feel their problem will be the seam bowlers they can put out. Lakmal did well in NZ but conditions wont be as helpful in Australia, while the other 2 have potential but are very raw and could leak runs. No better time to play Australia

Author Topic: Australia vs Sri Lanka (Read 13042 times)

Mister Le Chiffre

Australia vs Sri Lanka

Kulli

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goodarmcindy

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six and out

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csnew

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