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**Official** 4th Test at Melbourne, 26-30 Dec 2024
- Thread starter Spark
- Start date
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
Just realized that at the last Test match played here, Boland took 6/7 or some ****.
That was 3 years ago on his test debut when he was a 'young' 32. He took a more normal 1-34 and 2-49 the last time he played at MCG 2 years ago (didn't play last year)
Got to be happy with Aus back up pacers
Boland - 11 tests, 40 wkts @ 20.42
Richardson - 3 tests, 11 wkts @ 22.09
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Warner was a middle order player in grade cricket too who was converted by NSW. Hadn't played a whole lot of Shield games doing that yet when picked for Australia either. Almost counts as semi-converted himself.
Spikey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
yeah usman was the opener in U19s and warner the middle order bat. warner opening happened a bit like how keepers end up opening in LO cricket, you know what I mean? They had a vacancy at top (probably cause greg mail or whoever the opener was at the time) didn't come across from the shield team and so they threw david warner up there in his ~5th~ OD game and he smashed a ton and he was an opener from that point
except for that one game in the 2013 ashes but dont get me started on that again
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Warner aside who was more converted from an ODI opener to a FC opener, they were all FC #3s before they became Test openers (Watson was a FC #3 and an ODI opener), which does makes suggestions of Inglis, Marsh or Webster pretty ahistorical.
I think the McSweeney pick was fine in the circumstances. I've always thought Marnus would make a fine opener too even though he hates it, but it'd still open up the question as to who bats three.
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The difference is the converted openers like Langer, Katich, Watson and Khawaja all had a significant amount of Tests behind them before switching to opener. To convert McSweeney and now possibly Inglis on debut is what I find ridiculous.
Btw, Warner only played his first 3 shield games in the middle order. All the rest were as opener so I don't consider him a converted opener (although he is obviously unique debuting for Aus T20 as an opener before playing Shield)
Btw, Warner only played his first 3 shield games in the middle order. All the rest were as opener so I don't consider him a converted opener (although he is obviously unique debuting for Aus T20 as an opener before playing Shield)
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Gnske
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
the McSweeney debacle proved a few things
1. None of the incumbents want to open
2. George Bailey is the devil and if you want to debut as a batsman you have to be willing to sell your self respect to him for an opening slot
3. All of the specialist openers are black marked anyway in the Shield to the point where selectors are willing to try any new flavour based on a single innings (been this way awhile yes but the Konstas thing was just next level reactivity)
I will say, as much as I hate to say it. I could see Renshaw's point re McSweeney's selection being a bit of a gut punch. Averaging 38-40 opening right now is actually pretty remarkable. But I sure as **** wouldn't want that job.
Point is, no one wants to open really and we hate our openers. In fact opening world wide sucks right now. If I were Konstas I would de-select myself, wait until Smith retires and come in as a 4.
1. None of the incumbents want to open
2. George Bailey is the devil and if you want to debut as a batsman you have to be willing to sell your self respect to him for an opening slot
3. All of the specialist openers are black marked anyway in the Shield to the point where selectors are willing to try any new flavour based on a single innings (been this way awhile yes but the Konstas thing was just next level reactivity)
I will say, as much as I hate to say it. I could see Renshaw's point re McSweeney's selection being a bit of a gut punch. Averaging 38-40 opening right now is actually pretty remarkable. But I sure as **** wouldn't want that job.
Point is, no one wants to open really and we hate our openers. In fact opening world wide sucks right now. If I were Konstas I would de-select myself, wait until Smith retires and come in as a 4.
Spikey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
but also this whole mess is giving 2019 Ashes and the Bancroft/Harris mess. They had their chance to pick who they thought the best opener was 3 tests ago. Nothing has changed since then, but because we had a disappointing performance in the 3rd test, and lost a test as well, we had to make a change. Just like how Bancroft had to go after the 2nd test in 2019 because we struggled in that test
it's incredible how no matter how different the selection panel is, it's always the same.
Gnske
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Redemption was at stake old boy, Bancroft needed it more than we needed a good opener.
Do you not remember there was robust rationale behind it? Also Burns getting de-selected for having to overcome chronic fatigue despite hitting a ton in his last test. Although I'm sure Anderson would have found that bat / pad gap like a beaver climbing into a dam.
I don't miss the Langer / Paine years. Truly a cringe time to follow the team.
the big bambino
Cricketer Of The Year
Thing is Bancroft then was such rubbish the selectors could say we made an error, have an alternative so make the change. That turned out bad too but it looks bad picking someone who couldn't hardly break his duck when there was another option in the squad.
It's just hard to see why McSweeney had to go. He played some good innings giving the players beneath a breather from the new ball. I thought that would've impressed the selectors enough.
It's just hard to see why McSweeney had to go. He played some good innings giving the players beneath a breather from the new ball. I thought that would've impressed the selectors enough.
CricketDreamer
Cricket Spectator
This time ?? any guess
ashley bach
Cricketer Of The Year
That was against England though, so counts for very little.
vicleggie
State Vice-Captain
Boland the minnow basher
Betterpolo
School Boy/Girl Captain
Ah right thanks.
So either a perpetual non-international or a potential Philander. Not really the Aussie model though.
ashley bach
Cricketer Of The Year
The thought of that must be horrible for them.