3rd Test at the SCG, Sydney, 7 Jan - 11 Jan 2021

[morgieb]

It is an issue, I don't see Head or Wade getting runs in South Africa, but alternatives aren't clear. They'll still be wary of Renshaw, especially in a series where the ball will probably move consistently, Patterson is out of form and thanks to Harris and Pucovski Maddinson has barely had a hit.

Yeah and Maddinson looked ordinary for Australia A.

Could the selectors take a gamble on McDermott?

 

[TT Boy]

Wade to have his farewell test at the Gabba.

Is Renshaw an option after that as he's re-invented himself as a #5 averaging 92.00 this season for Qld

Looks great on the Big Bash highlights I've watched. Authoritative, doing a decent Haydos impression, and then gets out for 30.

 

[morgieb]

what's the 4th innings record in sydney?

Australia scored 288/2 in 05/06 with a big ton from Ricky Ponting.

 

[Gnske]

The only selection issue to me is how soon the selectors realise the natural heir to the wisdom and cricketing nous of Tim Paine is Jimmy Peirson and not Alex Carey.

 

[Starfighter]

Could the selectors take a gamble on McDermott?

Would you?

I suppose Usman and young Marsh could be options.

 

[morgieb]

Would you?

I suppose Usman and young Marsh could be options.

I wouldn't but then again there's one obvious option and I can't see Australia going for him.

 

[Spikey]

For context though, "this season" has been three games and he literally has just one score over 50, in an innings where two other blokes also scored tons.

I like Renshaw and I think he'll play international cricket again but picking a bloke who spent two seasons batting with a needle to the point of getting dropped because he dropped down the order and made one score would be pretty ridiculous.

watch out if he makes 3 scores though

 

[aussie tragic]

The only selection issue to me is how soon the selectors realise the natural heir to the wisdom and cricketing nous of Tim Paine is Jimmy Peirson and not Alex Carey.

Nah, Josh Inglis

 

[GoodAreasShane]

X domestic player who isn't in the team has had a couple decent games, therefore they are the saviour of Australian cricket

/ATlogic

 

[Spikey]

steven smith is a fan of the first innings century, 50-99 score in the 2nd innings: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...ore1;template=results;type=batting;view=match

done it 9 times, only twin tons one time

 

[morgieb]

watch out if he makes 3 scores though

I mean if after a full season he's averaging 60 in the middle order then it's fair enough to consider him as I think he's a talent, but now it's just silly to select him.

 

[Gnske]

Nah, Josh Inglis

How's his keeping anyway? I haven't seen enough of it to know whether I hate it or not.

 

[hendrix]

I don't like the rule change at all - players are selected for their wicket keeping every game just as they are for batting and bowling, so if you can't sub out a batsman you shouldn't be able to sub out your keeper either. It's quite different to just regular fielding IMO.

The rule change did anticipate total pisstakes whereby teams just don't select a keeper at all but decide their #7 batsman is injured and sub him off for a keeper and as such allowed for umpire discretion, but I reckon if Vihari had to keep instead of Saha we might have seen Pant keeping today instead, which is an interesting thing to think about. Pant was clearly injured so it's not just a tactical ploy but I think they may have taken advantage of it slightly, and even if not there's clearly room to do so in this way.

Agree. It's a specialist position. No one is selecting Martin Guptill over an opener who averages 5 runs more than him because of his fielding. But you'd definitely look at selecting a keeper with a 35 average vs a 40 average based on glovework.

And re: the injury - find me any keeper, hell, any player who doesn't have some type of minor soft tissue injury over 5 days of test cricket. You can find anything on an MRI.

I don't know what Pant's injury is but if he would keep instead of Vihari then that is pretty cynical IMO.

 

[Gnske]

X domestic player who isn't in the team has had a couple decent games, therefore they are the saviour of Australian cricket

/ATlogic

This, but unironically.

 

[Spikey]

i mean, you could just pick head over wade

 

[Prince EWS]

Would you?

I suppose Usman and young Marsh could be options.

It intuitively feels like South Africa would be a great place to play Usman but his record there in 5 Tests is pretty horrible. I suppose the strength of the bowling outweighed the fact that the conditions should suit him.

I'd just pick Head but I don't really see it paying dividends there.

 

[stephen]

He'll probably get out now but Smith has really looked imperious in this knock.

 

[morgieb]

i mean, you could just pick head over wade

I still don't like picking Head while that technical flaw still exists so glaringly without a chance of fixing it, but he might be our only option, alas.

 

[TimAngas]

Lol @ fox cricket suggesting Tyagi plays. Would be full Ashton Agar 2013 selection areas.

 

[Prince EWS]

I don't know what Pant's injury is but if he would keep instead of Vihari then that is pretty cynical IMO.

He got hit on the elbow batting. Was in visible discomfort before he got out.

He wouldn't have kept ahead of Vihari yesterday, but I think he might've today. Saha already going out there yesterday would've made it tempting to just ... keep doing that.