**Official** 4th Test at Melbourne, 26-30 Dec 2024

[Spark]

Oh my god the stated rationale is that McSweeney is too slow and they want more intent

ffs

 

[IcarianStyles]

Jhye Richardson back too apparently. Love him to bits but how they have any confidence in his fitness, I have no idea.

Jhye Richardson should play at SCG.

Cummins, Jhye, Boland attack would be LETHAL.

 

[Spark]

In all honesty Jhye should go the Anderson/Southee route and learn how to field in the cordon because he basically can't field anywhere else.

 

[Test fan]

AUSTRALIA'S SQUAD FOR THE 4TH AND 5TH TEST VS INDIA:

Cummins (C), Abbott, Boland, Carey, Head, Inglis, Khawaja, Konstas, Labuschagne, Lyon, Marsh, Jhye, Smith, Starc and Webster.

 

[cascade]

Oh my god the stated rationale is that McSweeney is too slow and they want more intent

ffs

Then that just raises the question of why they selected him in the first place.

 

[Qlder]

Jhye Richardson after only 1 Shield match in over a year, in which he injured his shoulder doing a high five. The only good thing about this selection is Marsh can't possibly play if taking a risk on Richardson (Webster/Richardson a package deal)

 

[Spark]

Then that just raises the question of why they selected him in the first place.

Seriously - anyone who's watched him in the Shield knows he's a very classical player in that he starts slowly (sometimes very slowly) but opens up once well set.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Oh my god the stated rationale is that McSweeney is too slow and they want more intent

ffs

Lmao

Tbf, if Konstas makes a quick 50 odd itll be worth it I guess.

 

[Gnske]

Thanks for blunting the new ball dickhead now go back to Shield and never come back

Also good on the like-for-like replacement of fast bowlers 90% certain to acquire an injury

 

[GotSpin]

Jhye Richardson after only 1 Shield match in over a year, in which he injured his shoulder doing a high five. The only good thing about this selection is Marsh can't possibly play if taking a risk on Richardson (Webster/Richardson a package deal)

I know it’s dirty but I really want to see him play tests again

 

[Qlder]

I'm calling it. Sam Konstas will be added to the 4th Test squad

Called it yesterday. I should be a selector lol

 

[morgieb]

Oh my god the stated rationale is that McSweeney is too slow and they want more intent

ffs

What a ****ing joke. Can we sack Bailey immediately?

 

[Qlder]

Doggett also dropped as 6th pacer in the squad. Why was he ever there in the first place?

 

[the big bambino]

Well Boof was right about Bailey after all. Basically the whole justification for McSweeney's axing points and laughs at the reason they picked him in the first place. The very idea they pick a classical player out of position but failing to tell him they expected him to bazball Bumrah and Siraj on seaming wickets. Interesting to know the selectors placed no value on the crease occupancy that set up a couple of innings. Frankly the whole incident suggests Bailey should be dropped. Geez I'm sick of seeing his idiot grin.

 

[Shri]

Oh my god the stated rationale is that McSweeney is too slow and they want more intent

ffs

wtf his fc strike rate is like 40

why pick him in the first place

they knew what they were getting

 

[Shri]

happy about konstas being selected

his approach against bumrah might work beautifully or fail hilariously

knowing our luck this is going to be 3-1 thanks to konstas

 

[honestbharani]

The problem is that there's no real evidence he actually is. He's made two First Class hundreds and they were both in the same match. Moreover it was a drawn match on a road where McSweeney made an unbeaten hundred and a half century, and Carey made over 200 runs as well. Technical flaws have already been noticed as well.

I totally agree with "if you're good enough then you're old enough" but I don't really understand why people think he's good enough based on that evidence. If he was the same age or even younger but had put together a full awesome Shield season then go for it, but it seems like they're interested in him precisely because he hasn't proven himself to be meh yet, and that's not the way to go about selection at all.

Do you think they just want someone who can score faster given how all of your other top 4 are defensive batters?

 

[Spark]

Do you think they just want someone who can score faster given how all of your other top 4 are defensive batters?

That is straight up what they've claimed.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Given our main problem has been scoring at all, I am not sure why speed is coming into it. An innings constructed like our 1st innings in Brisbane is fine.

If Konstas comes in, I hope he scores a hundred, but I don't think he should be put in this position. What do they do if he fails in each innings? Crucify him and throw someone in who usually bats 9 but scored 40 off 20 balls once with solid looking defence?

 

[Daemon]

Lmao at seeing how valuable occupying the crease for the top order has been in this series for both sides so far and going hmmm maybe we need less of that