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

[Prince EWS]

O'Neil is not even in the squad which is the same for 4th and 5th test. Spare pace bowler options are Richardson and Abbott

Even Doggett was in the squad earlier in the series lol.

Stop trying to make O'Neill happen. It's not going to happen.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Expecting a debut if Boland/Cummins pull up sore for SCG. Jhye will come in for Starc automatically. Starc is simply unfit now.

O neill - he has 94 wickets in a promising start in FC, at only 19 AVE

Only 23 years old , tall at 6,4. moves the ball off the seam. He will definitely feature soon. We need wickets. Most of our bowlers are 34-35+ years old.

Fergus O'Neill Profile - Cricket Player Australia | Stats, Records, Video

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Possible XI for sydney

Konstas
Khawaja
Labuschange
Smith
Head
Carey
Webster (for the underperforming Marsh)
O Neill (for the tired Boland, hes 35 years of age)
Cummins
Jhye (for the injured Starc)
Lyon.

lol Boland doesn't need a rest. He's the freshest of all of them.

And does Fergus O'Neill really claim to be 6'4?

 

[Gnske]

I liked the 2017 pitch personally, I thought that was an all time great contribution by Melbourne once again to Cricket's worst moments.

If Bert Newton were alive and not burning in hell, he could make a 20 to 1 all time worst pitches just focusing on the MCG.

 

[stephen]

I'd rather see Bird brought back than debuting a youngster and picking an undercooked Jhye for the last test, especially if Cummins and Starc are the ones rested.

Goodness me that would be a terrible attack. Boland/ Richardson/ unproven youngster/ Lyon. Yuck. Much as I love Jhye, he's a huge risk at this point. To play him alongside an unproven bowler and Boland for a crucial match would be insane.

 

[Gnske]

I'd rather see Bird brought back than debuting a youngster and picking an undercooked Jhye for the last test, especially if Cummins and Starc are the ones rested.

Goodness me that would be a terrible attack. Boland/ Richardson/ unproven youngster/ Lyon. Yuck. Much as I love Jhye, he's a huge risk at this point. To play him alongside an unproven bowler and Boland for a crucial match would be insane.

I'd sooner see John Hastings play another test than see Bird serve as leakage ever again

 

[Gob]

Why are people reading halba posts?

 

[Window]

Yeah play will start at 10 instead of 1030, so the time lost today will be made up tomorrow. It’s looking pretty difficult for India to place any time pressure on Australia, except to bat but with Siraj on one end, that ain’t gonna happen.

 

[GotSpin]

I'd rather see Bird brought back than debuting a youngster and picking an undercooked Jhye for the last test, especially if Cummins and Starc are the ones rested.

Goodness me that would be a terrible attack. Boland/ Richardson/ unproven youngster/ Lyon. Yuck. Much as I love Jhye, he's a huge risk at this point. To play him alongside an unproven bowler and Boland for a crucial match would be insane.

Unless he’s injured Cummins isn’t sitting out

 

[silentstriker]

He's 21 years old for crying out loud... and he scored a 100 after you said this hahaha

Very happy that he did.

 

[silentstriker]

It depends on whether the wicket is deteriorating. If there is a declaration I wouldn’t be surprised if they back themselves to bowl India out inside a day, especially if it’s extended to make up for rain

So bat all day tomorrow?? Seems like overkill and doesn’t really gain them much? Obviously assuming it’s a ~100 run lead of course, if the lead is a lot smaller than that, then yes they would likely bat a little into the fifth day.

 

[GotSpin]

So bat all day tomorrow?? Seems like overkill and doesn’t really gain them much? Obviously assuming it’s a ~100 run lead of course, if the lead is a lot smaller than that, then yes they would likely bat a little into the fifth day.

Bowlers need a rest as well. They’ll have to bat for at least 75 overs I would think. Maybe more

 

[TimAngas]

Yeah this is not a lead that allows you to add intent and play differently and end up like Gabba second dig. They also have to make sure the lead is beyond India so assuming they don't let an annoying partnership develop in the morning, the batting should be normal for atleast a session and a half

Bowlers need a rest as well. They’ll have to bat for at least 75 overs I would think. Maybe more

Kind of disagree given the series situation and the venue of the next test, you don't want to put yourself in a position where you have to rely on weather/pitch conditions turning out right at the venue where they are most likely to foil you, to be able to regain the BGT. Not saying it needs to be crazy stuff, but as soon as (if) Khawaja/Labuschagne have seen off Bumrah's first spell they shouldn't muck around too much. Even if we stumble to 220 a.o. it might be a risk we need to take to win the series. The pitch is still docile so we should get to that.

SCG has yielded 6 draws out of the last 10 test matches which is kind of unprecedented in the modern era and regularly so in dead rubbers. Figures that India can do things (e.g. lengthen the tail) to eek one out if the trophy is on the line.

 

[Spikey]

A few years ago, I looked into the last time Australia dropped a batter mid-series following a victory, and the change wasn't to do with an injury, retirement, etc etc. Just a straight dropping. The best I could do was Nic Maddinson. And even that one is something of a fringe case, as he was dropped for a seam all-rounder in a test we played two spinners for.

So I might be blanking on a selection over the last couple of years, but I think that general pattern remains. If Aus goes on to win this game without too much drama, I don't see MMarsh being dropped. If Aus can't win until the last hour or something, maybe, maybe MMarsh will be dropped. And if it's draw, I can see MMarsh being dropped, as dropping batters after disappointing draws is allowed (see: McSweeney, Bancroft c2019, Rob Quiney c2012). But if Australia ends up winning this comfortably? Don't change a winning team

 

[Burgey]

So bat all day tomorrow?? Seems like overkill and doesn’t really gain them much? Obviously assuming it’s a ~100 run lead of course, if the lead is a lot smaller than that, then yes they would likely bat a little into the fifth day.

You don’t know when you’ll start batting though or how easy the pitch will be. I do t think you can be definite with how long you bat for. You have to play it by ear for a while before accelerating your last hour or two assuming you have wickets in hand

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

i was scrolling down the scorecard thinking there was going to be a big surprise

you're not optimistic are you

Look at South Africa's first innings, they were 140/6 at one point trailing by 254 runs, then debutant Duminy scores a big 100 batting with the tail ..it's kinda similar to what NKR has produced. Bumrah could do a Dale Steyn in Aussies second innings

 

[Gob]

Look at South Africa's first innings, they were 140/6 at one point trailing by 254 runs, then debutant Duminy scores a big 100 batting with the tail ..it's kinda similar to what NKR has produced. Bumrah could do a Dale Steyn in Aussies second innings

South Africa got a pretty decent lead then from memory

Australia should get a decent lead here although I fully expect the last pair to add 50

 

[govinda indian fan]

Would prefer draw. If we have to win would need atg spell from bumarh and tremendous batting from top order which i think is 0000.1 % chance of happening so 1all would be best result for us

 

[silentstriker]

Would prefer draw. If we have to win would need atg spell from bumarh and tremendous batting from top order which i think is 0000.1 % chance of happening so 1all would be best result for us

wanna give me those odds? I’ll bet $100 to win a hundred thousand.


Currently, both Australia and a draw are paying about the same (2.1). India are at 7. Australia are probably a good bet at those odds honestly.

 

[Sunil1z]

Need roughly 100000 people in 2 days to break all time record

 

[OverratedSanity]

Need roughly 100000 people in 2 days to break all time record View attachment 43770

Fairly sure the india v pak kolkata match in 1999 (the one with the Shoaib Sachin runout attendance) drew a packed house at 100k capacity on all days.