Can I add a complaint about the soft, flat-seamed Kookaburra balls to this too (something I'm convinced is deliberate)? Swing bowling is also much better than the attritional stuff that due to the balls and pitches made the Ashes such a snoozefest. I'm convinced pitches haven't been this bad, and Australian cricket so dull, since the early sixties.
Considering that Aus and SA both got cleaned out in SL it's hard to pick between them.
"If Australia pick" being the key words. Hasn't been working out too well recently.
Nah, not just one series. SA have been cleaned up by competent spinners everywhere. Ashwin made QdK look even worse than he actually is in the series earlier this year and Moeen in England too. Australia have atleast a handful who have done all right, if not actually great against spin.
why do you hate fun?
yeah, i guess i'm just basing this on the fact that SA's "great generation" of bats - smith, kallis, amla, abdv - had much better records in the subcontinent than many of our great batsmen.
They'd be stupid to not bring him back. Whatever toxicity he'd bring would be worth it for the runs. The best teams often have some of the best players hating each other's guts but putting up with them for the sake of the team's results.
He’s coming back for sure. Was getting sympathy after Bancroft and Smith unloaded on him. Even Paine is talking about welcoming both of them back
What's it looking like? Mostly interested it in how much turn would be there.
Think you being a bit harsh on Faf and QDK here.... Faf has scored runs subcontinent in low team totals. QDK has shown competence against spin, it is his recent form that has been horrific. Markram is an opening bat who hopefully improves. If you talking terrible SA, de Bruyn, Duminy, van Zyl etc were the ones that looked truly out of depth.
Sorry, after India's fantastic bowling, I will not allow an Indian paceman in the team who bowls 130 and with arms like Gandhi. We have moved forward as a people.
We don't use that word in Australia, it's a disgrace
It's got a good cover of grass though I wouldn't be surprised if it's mown once more (though probably not scalped like the past couple of years) but the footmarks are much barer and there's plenty of brown showing behind the green. I think it'll move for the quicks but I'll be staggered if it doesn't also turn a good amount when it dries. Should be a better pitch than Melbourne though.
My backyard is a better pitch than Melbourne. Less seating capacity though.
