*Official* First Test at The Gabba

[Black_Warrior]

If MJ were to play the whole series, he'll win us one test and lose us four.

That pretty much sums up his whole career.

Ouch that's a tad harsh!!

 

[Tangles]

Absence of Dougeh a mistake imo.

Played a bad match at Adelaide and was dropped. So he was treated just the same as MJ.

 

[Red]

Ouch that's a tad harsh!!

Three then because one might be rained out.

 

[Maximas]

ffs, just realised I'll be at schoolies with a bunch of people who don't like cricket for the entirety of this test match, pretty sure we'll have wifi though, so I'm gonna be counting on you ****s

Problem solved, schoolies has been moved back a week and I'll be watching the ashes opener unimpeded by alcohol fueled shenanigans

 

[dermo]

Problem solved, schoolies has been moved back a week and I'll be watching England crawl to 1/517 the ashes opener unimpeded by monopoly

efa

 

[Son Of Coco]

oh **** a green wicket. we've never seen one of those before.

aussies so good at talking a load of ****

You certainly didn't see one in the home summer.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Ouch that's a tad harsh!!

Not at all. It's spot on the money. Unless 'new' Mitch Mark XXIV is better than the last 23 incarnations we've seen,

 

[theegyptian]

You certainly didn't see one in the home summer.

Good comeback. Shame it took you 3 weeks to think it up.

 

[Langeveldt]

A green top to suit Australia? I'm sure Anderson and co will be terrified at bowling at the likes of Khawaja and Hughes on a green pitch..

 

[Maximas]

Yeah, and Swann will be crying tears of joy when he sees a pitch like that...

 

[3703]

If MJ were to play the whole series, he'll win us one test and lose us four.

That pretty much sums up his whole career.

Is bowling unlike he has really ever. Changed run up, approach and action. 150+ consistently. Never done that in his career. I think you're right, but partly curious to see what his test cricket looks like now. Particularly with Dermo preparing the boys again this summer.

 

[benchmark00]

Is bowling unlike he has really ever. Changed run up, approach and action. 150+ consistently. Never done that in his career. I think you're right, but partly curious to see what his test cricket looks like now. Particularly with Dermo preparing the boys again this summer.

Nah he really isn't.

I'm writing a piece on this exact topic p so I won't go into it right now, but don't be seduced.

 

[Spikey]

I'm not sure how you can claim that. Like, you're basing it on no FC form. MJ being a kick arse ODI bowler is not new. The anti-MJ rage that took over following the SA series in 2011 led to some people forgetting he is great in ODers, but he is, and now he's reminded those dummies, and now he's "bowling unlike he has really ever."

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm not sure how you can claim that. Like, you're basing it on no FC form. MJ being a kick arse ODI bowler is not new. The anti-MJ rage that took over following the SA series in 2011 led to some people forgetting he is great in ODers, but he is, and now he's reminded those dummies, and now he's "bowling unlike he has really ever."

Yeah it's like the Perth thing.

They dropped him from the Test side and kept him in the ODI side because he's a good ODI bowler and not a particularly good Test bowler. Him performing in ODIs is precisely what the selectors should've expected when they made that decision so nothing has changed and there's no reason to rush him back in the Test side because of it.

It certainly is good to see him not worry about swinging the ball and just focus on his strengths - fast, hostile bowling with a bit of weird natural under-cutting slide away from the right handers - but as we've seen before there's no guarantee it'll cross over.

Plus... never forget. Even if he was the best bowler in the world, he shouldn't be playing against England with that sort of admission.

 

[dermo]

Is bowling unlike he has really ever. Changed run up, approach and action. 150+ consistently. Never done that in his career. I think you're right, but partly curious to see what his test cricket looks like now. Particularly with Dermo preparing the boys again this summer.

just got back from a session at the cronulla sand dunes ftr

 

[dermo]

and Mitch hasnt even been bowling that well in india, his first two spells in the last game were ****ing awful. he's had one good game where took 4 wickets but the rest of the series hes hardly been banging down the door for test selection

dougeh taking 6fa however...

 

[benchmark00]

Should be an interesting match in Brisbaluru.

 

[morgieb]

I don't know where I stand on Mitch.

Looking at the alternatives:

* Pattinson, Bird, Cummins, Starc - all injured. All would also be ahead of Johnson afaic.
* Hastings - no. Trundler.
* Faulkner - not as a specialist bowler. It would say a lot if he got regular Test time.
* Coulter-Nile - his limited international form doesn't inspire confidence. He may prove me wrong, but at this stage I think I'd prefer MJ.
* McKay - ODI specialist. No thanks.
* Hazlewood - too raw? Though it didn't stop Cummins I guess.
* Sayers - if he averages around 20 he has to be good, but he's still very unproven IMO.
* Hilfenhaus - hard to say. If his action is still low I doubt he'd do much though I suppose he won't get hammered on an off-day unlike Mitch. If it's 2012 again then pick him.

That's the ones that have played Test cricket recently or were named in that "fast 8". Few are conclusively better than MJ, so I don't think it's a farce that he looks like being recalled unlike 75% of the Australians on the forum. Still wouldn't pick him mind you.

There are others I would consider (Bollinger, Copeland, Butterworth, etc.) but I don't think the selectors will.

 

[Tangles]

1 ton and the papers are going on about Doolan again. On the plus side his runs are SS runs unlike Bailey. I'm liking what Lynn did this match vs the Poms. Saw him at North Sydney and he strikes a clean ball. Would Lynn have the temperament to bat 6 and bat with the tail? Or is he more of a 4?

4 Lynn
5 Clarke
6 People's champ

If all the automatic selections ahead of MJ are crocked then as much as I hate it the selectors will pick him. I can't see them giving someone a debut.

 

[benchmark00]

Doolan is better than Lynn.