Can’t wait for Jimmy to overtake McGrath
what a crying shame that would be
The Ashes!
- Thread starter Ryan
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LOL - *busts out rain dance*
My wife will be happy - I'm not! But congratulations to you. I'll take my medicine and hopefully give some back in a couple of years. Fair play though Smith certainly stepped up! 🙂
Indeed. He and Kohli are the Ronaldo & Messi of this caper.
Indeed. Broad has always taken it well in my opinion. I remember him on the last (disastrous, obv) tour joining in the chorus of ‘Broad is a wanker’ from fine leg.
Say what you like about him, and yes, he dishes it out, but he always cops it back on the chin. In fact I think he relishes the heat to draw it away from the younger/inexperienced guys.
Mason Crane in for the G please, at the expense of Overton. I must qualify this by saying Overton is tied with Malan as my favourite player in this series so far, he has shown massive heart, bowled with a broken rib and claimed Smith as his first test wicket. He only gets dropped due to the injury.
Yes it’s questionable if Jimmy, Broad and Woakes will be enough of an attack, but Melbourne is supposed to be 21 degrees on Boxing Day which means it will have to be overcast
Yes it’s questionable if Jimmy, Broad and Woakes will be enough of an attack, but Melbourne is supposed to be 21 degrees on Boxing Day which means it will have to be overcast
Test cricket? Not really. Kohli is only just coming right at that level. And Smith is only just coming to terms with ODIs. They're definitely in the best form right now, but next year it wouldn't surprise me if Williamson or Root are at the top of the tree.
You really do a disservice for ABD & Amla ...
I think since 2010, Cook has more runs than Smith and Kohli too!
The Cook comparison is a bit misleading given Smith only made his debut in 2010 (and was subsequently dropped) and Kohli 2011.
ABDV is definitely a good call but he is limiting his test cricket these days. Amla is past his best but still a brilliant player, obviously.
Ronaldo is past his best too ... or at least it seems that way this year (I think Amla is well on his way down - wouldn't be surprised if he retires soon).
That being said, De Villiers is ace whichever format he plays ... but he'll retire in 2-3 years too 🙁
Ronaldo? What?
When I said Amla is past his best, I meant he's not performing to the level of the others. In the past 4 years, Smith is averaging 73 in test cricket, Williamson 64, Kohli 57 and Root 56. Amla? 46. Ronaldo may well be past his best but he's still performing at an incredible level. Amla no longer is.
AB is a freak. Wish he hadn't given up on test cricket.
Ryan mentioned 'Messi & Ronaldo' ... and as for incredible level, 4 goals in 11 la liga games this year ... He's had a really tough year for his standards.
He's not fully given up yet - but he's being picky. But there's some really talented lads ... De Kock as you know, and Makram ...
I didn't agree with the Ronaldo/Messi comparison at all.
Yes, SA continue to churn out excellent cricketers. They have a great school system there and lots (most) of them also have private coaching from an early age.
Yah - there's another Rabada like pace bowler coming in. He debuted at T20 already, but it's been quiet since (Ngidi).
Markram had the great debut against Bangladesh (Then again, most people would when they're not at home!) ...
The others that I'm looking forward to seeing them mature are the all rounder who debuted against Bangladesh too (Willem Mulder), the other all-rounder (Phehlukwayo - think he's 20/21) & Ntini's son (Thando), but he's a kid (17 years old, playing for u19s already).
Phehlukwayo looks ok. Nothing exceptional with bat or ball just yet. Big wraps on Mulder, though. Haven't seen him just yet.
The U19 WC is in Jan, in NZ. I always keep a keen eye on that as so many players seem to break through from that grade.
He's a great finisher in T20 but nothing in the bigger formats (yet!).
U19 WC was where I first saw De Kock and thought, "star" ... I think Rabada debuted then too.
I will try to watch that too ... Start a thread on it already mate! 🙂
Aussies always step up - they've performed at peak level almost across the board. Batters (both those expected to do well, Smith & Warner and those under pressure), Bowlers, fielding, tactics. You get the impression that England were under-prepared for this. Had limited idea what the bowling attack would be part from the usual Anderson & Broad opening. The tests in the run up to this also placed to much emphasis on rotating players and really lost a sense of team amongst the players.
Frustrating that majority of the big performers have under performed, but I would put that largely down to the Aussies having a well thought out plan that worked. Yes, there were stupid shots - but when there are 6 or 7 resulting in wickets each innings, you have to say that they are being forced into those.
It's a shame we won't see much interest in the next two games - i hope for England's sake is isn't a 5-0 but the Aussie mentality will be to stamp on their opponents head when he's down. And we're down.
Not sure I get the anger at Ryan - its different if it is someone who doesn't follow cricket and just the results. It's clear he's a fan of the sport and the team. And unfortunately called most of this spot on.
Frustrating that majority of the big performers have under performed, but I would put that largely down to the Aussies having a well thought out plan that worked. Yes, there were stupid shots - but when there are 6 or 7 resulting in wickets each innings, you have to say that they are being forced into those.
It's a shame we won't see much interest in the next two games - i hope for England's sake is isn't a 5-0 but the Aussie mentality will be to stamp on their opponents head when he's down. And we're down.
Not sure I get the anger at Ryan - its different if it is someone who doesn't follow cricket and just the results. It's clear he's a fan of the sport and the team. And unfortunately called most of this spot on.
Smith is ridiculous but that's not to say Cook and Root aren't top players.
That ball off Starc was awesome.
Has to be said though, and as a Pom in Oz I am very much an England fan, we're poor as fuck. I hope Cook isn't finished, his career deserves a decent ending.
End game though, mentioned on here before, this isn't a great Aussie team, they're functional with 2 or 3 standouts. England need a re-think.
That ball off Starc was awesome.
Has to be said though, and as a Pom in Oz I am very much an England fan, we're poor as fuck. I hope Cook isn't finished, his career deserves a decent ending.
End game though, mentioned on here before, this isn't a great Aussie team, they're functional with 2 or 3 standouts. England need a re-think.
Woakes looks harmless but shouldn't be underestimated. Like Jimmy, he is only effective when he is getting some swing or seam from the wicket. And unlike the Burnley Lara, he can bat!
Easier said than done. Where are these guys bowling 90mph in the County Championship that were not picking?
We have some at 19-22.. However they don't get picked for county cricket. 20-20 only. So are lost in to the system.
As someone said on the radio earlier in the week, you try being 19yrs old and bowling fast on an early season wicket at Durham - it'll sit up like a pudding begging to be obliterated. The captain will take you off, and put on the 32yr old who bowls good consistent line and length in the mid-70s. The teams want results, not draws, so dont prepare pitches that are in anyway conducive to developing high quality test bowlers.
The fact that Zimbabwe have actually posted four Test innings scores of less than 68 tells you all you need to know about what a mismatch this is.
Oh we smashed them by an inning - but the format is interested.
Cook is 244* and England have a 160+ run lead. Well played today.
He's now top 5 (I think) test run producer historically ... incredible really.
Some curious incidents in England's innings. Vince and Malan were both given out LBW. Neither batsman called for a review (on advice from Cook) but TV replays showed both had got some bat on the ball. Then Broad was caught in the deep by Khawaja. Khawaja dived forward to take the catch, the ball disappeared under his body and he then leaped up claiming a catch. It seemed pretty likely to most people (except Australians) that the ball must have made contact with the ground at some stage.
