***Official*** Australia in Bangladesh 2017

[stephen]

I think the bigger problem was the extremely flat wickets they prepared at home in 2014 and 2015. It hastened the departure of Johnson, Harris, probably played some part in Siddle's decline as well. It did help boosting the averages of Burns, Voges, Khawaja etc. but only the latter is still around. Saying that, it's not like they've missed the quicks all that much. There's always a good production line of fast bowlers in Australia.

Actually our weakest fast bowling depth probably coincided with the peak Warne-McGrath era and made the 2003 India series a lot closer than it otherwise appeared. We always had some decent bowlers in reserve at the time but McGrath's injury really left a gaping hole in our side. Right now is the opposite, we have the depth but can't seem to keep any of them on the paddock.

 

[cricman]

if Australia play 1 front line pacer in the 2nd Test. Tamim will convert one of those 70's into 150+

 

[TheJediBrah]

Bird really deserves to play. He's way too good to be sitting out as much as he has been.

 

[stephen]

You really do have to feel for Bird. His career could not have come at a worse time. There are legitimately 4 potential ATG fast bowlers ahead of him. In another era he'd be playing every test. I mean if this was the 80s he'd be second or third name on the team sheet.

 

[stephen]

If Australia lose another test in Bangladesh and then get swept at home by England, we could rank as low as 9 by the end of our summer.

Realistically though we'll end up 3rd or 4th depending on the Ashes, one above or below the Poms.

 

[TheJediBrah]

If Australia lose another test in Bangladesh and then get swept at home by England, we could rank as low as 9 by the end of our summer.

Realistically though we'll end up 3rd or 4th depending on the Ashes, one above or below the Poms.

Given that we've gotten our Asia series' all out of the way within the last year I wouldn't be surprised if we got up to 1 or 2 pretty smoothly over the next few years.

Then we'll drop right back down next time we have to go to the SC

 

[cnerd123]

If Australia lose another test in Bangladesh and then get swept at home by England, we could rank as low as 9 by the end of our summer.

I can't think of anything else on this planet that could make me happier

 

[stephen]

I can't think of anything else on this planet that could make me happier

For that to happen:

Ban need to beat Aus 2-0
WI need to 2-1 England.
Ban need to 2-0 SA in SA.
Aus need to lose 0-5 to Eng in Aus.
The WI need to beat NZ and draw one playing in NZ.

Would take a miracle of epic proportions.

Interestingly for NZ, if Australia win the Ashes 3-2 and they win their two games against the WI, they leap into 3rd place (assuming that Eng and Aus win the rest of the tests in their current series). Have they ever been ranked 3rd before?

 

[Burgey]

NZ cricket generally does its best work when not actually playing.

Where was NZ ranked mid-80s when they had Hadlee, Wright, Crowe etc? They'd have been around third or fourth then I'd reckon, though there were nowhere near as many home and away series being played.

 

[pdsubraa]

Well done Bangladesh! Proved Yourself!

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Funny how its pouring down today. Dont think any play would have been possible today.

 

[quincywagstaff]

NZ cricket generally does its best work when not actually playing.

Where was NZ ranked mid-80s when they had Hadlee, Wright, Crowe etc? They'd have been around third or fourth then I'd reckon, though there were nowhere near as many home and away series being played.

Would've had to have been at least 3rd after the 1986/87 home Windies series, perhaps even 2nd ahead of Pakistan.

A real pity those historical Test team rankings seem to have disappeared, were great fun to look through.

 

[Howe_zat]

Pretty sure chasingthedon has done some historical rankings on the front page

 

[GotSpin]

This is probably the first time in my life where I don't look at the Australian team and think "Yeah they are the best in the world/there or thereabouts". I look at them right now and think that for the first time since I've been alive there are other teams that just simply look stronger.

It could be partly because they've played a **** ton in Asia over the last year or so, but of the players they're selecting just look so ordinary.



Cummins could do a similar job to Chris Woakes from England (with the bat, he's a much better bowler).

IMO the glaring issue is the keeping. Outside of the SC our batting is good enough and the bowling is superb.

Also think its time for a change of coaches following the Ashes. Our record away is just pathetic

 

[91Jmay]

This is probably the first time in my life where I don't look at the Australian team and think "Yeah they are the best in the world/there or thereabouts". I look at them right now and think that for the first time since I've been alive there are other teams that just simply look stronger.

It could be partly because they've played a **** ton in Asia over the last year or so, but of the players they're selecting just look so ordinary.



Cummins could do a similar job to Chris Woakes from England (with the bat, he's a much better bowler).

Cummins is a far far better bowler but he isn't near Woakes as a bat. 5k first class runs, 9 hundreds, average of 37. I rate Cummins with the bat highly but he isn't Woakes.

 

[harsh.ag]

SoK coming in for the injured Hazlewood. No Nevill though.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Cummins is a far far better bowler but he isn't near Woakes as a bat. 5k first class runs, 9 hundreds, average of 37. I rate Cummins with the bat highly but he isn't Woakes.

I'm clearly talking about potential. Cummins has hardly played a First-class game in his career.

 

[91Jmay]

I'm clearly talking about potential. Cummins has hardly played a First-class game in his career.

Yeah and his technique is nowhere near Woakes. He is very talented striker of the ball but is a number 8, Woakes can easily bat 7.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Yup, Cummins can be similar to Johnson (although a more proper bat in style than a bludgeoner). There's a big difference between that and a Woakes. The one who could be more like Woakes is Pattinson, but even he won't be as consistent as Woakes.

Woakes pretty similar to Bresnan - if his bowling fell off a cliff, he could end up playing as a pure bat in County Cricket. Maybe Pattinson later in his career could do that, don't think Cummins could.

 

[Hennybogan]

"Border, however, conceded Handscomb was more of a "stop-gap" than a long-term option, and offered Peter Nevill, Tim Paine and Cameron Bancroft as potential long-term solutions."

Bancroft is a decent bat as well with regard to spin, obviously a massive hole in the side with Wade as the keeper. Selectors have rocks in their heads picking him, aside from that I think Lehmann has to go as well.