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

[ataraxia]

Smith scoring most of his runs in the 1st innings of the match is insane.

 

[Spark]

Smith scoring most of his runs in the 1st innings of the match is insane.

Ricky Ponting famously was like this and particularly the first innings of the series iirc

With Smith it's even more interesting though because there's an actual, physical reason for it

 

[Spark]

rohit is actually lobotomised taking jadeja off now

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Long levers at work

 

[Starfighter]

Yeah, I wouldn't be giving Starc anything in his half.

 

[Darwin Award]

Bumrah goes for his 4th six of the innings now.

 

[silentstriker]

I think I’m starting to dislike Rohit as a human rather than just a player.

 

[Prince EWS]

Obviously it's probably more complex than this but I can't see how Ashwin wouldn't have been a better option than what they've gone with here if Washington is going to be treated as a part-timer to fill in old ball overs rather than a legit option

Actually that seems like a great reason Ashwin wouldn't have been better for the role. If they wanted a frontline option then Ashwin is still better, but as someone to bat a bit and be used as a defensive afterthought Washy is the better call.

Plus he did retire. They might have selected him for this one if he didn't.

 

[TheJediBrah]

How tf have they gotten to 446 already lmao

 

[Qlder]

Fox sports saying 1st session yesterday was the most watched session ever due to Konstas

Maybe CA takes notice that Australian fans wants some younger players instead of all the old "undroppables" like Marsh

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Koala bear aggression from Bumrah

 

[Spark]

Actually that seems like a great reason Ashwin wouldn't have been better for the role. If they wanted a frontline option then Ashwin is still better, but as someone to bat a bit and be used as a defensive afterthought Washy is the better call.

Plus he did retire. They might have selected him for this one if he didn't.

Well I'm going off the rumours that he was told that he wasn't going to be considered for selection and that pushed him to retire, but yeah if he decided to retire regardless then it's all academic.

But I'm assuming that he would have been used properly simply because he's Ashwin

 

[Spark]

Fox sports saying 1st session yesterday was the most watched session ever due to Konstas

Maybe CA takes notice that Australian fans wants some younger players instead of all the old "undroppables" like Marsh

This would be 100% the absolute worst reason to select or not select someone

 

[Starfighter]

rohit is actually lobotomised taking jadeja off now

Aside from that I think Jadeja should have tried going over the wicket more to the left handers.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ricky Ponting famously was like this and particularly the first innings of the series iirc

With Smith it's even more interesting though because there's an actual, physical reason for it

I've always felt not sleeping for five days would have probably really affected his captaincy as well.

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

50th First-Class century for Smith too.

 

[Spark]

I've always felt not sleeping for five days would have probably really affected his captaincy as well.

From what Geoff Lemon and Greg Chappell have said he was completely mentally fried due to the burdens of captaincy with that hanging around by the end of the 2017-18 Ashes. Obviously we all know what happened next

 

[Spark]

Washington getting turn and bounce...

 

[subshakerz]

Smith has risen to the occasion in a way I had hoped Virat would have this series. I still think Virat has another ton in him though.

 

[silentstriker]

Australia should declare soon?