**Official** 5th Test at Sydney, 3-7 Jan 2025

[Prince EWS]

How does he play in Shield? I'm guessing nothing like this.

Yeah he batted at a perfectly normal tempo. FC strike rate was 51 when he was picked.

 

[Daemon]

This is a very dangerous wicket. Call it off.

 

[Skipper Pup]

India without Bumrah are mid.

3-1 would be a very fair result

 

[GoodAreasShane]

How does he play in Shield? I'm guessing nothing like this.

Yeah certainly not like this. Watched the vast majority of his twin tons against South Australia, was punishing against anything too wide but outside of that was playing in a relatively orthodox manner.

Only played 9 Shield games in total it must be said

 

[Spikey]

This is a very dangerous wicket. Call it off.

perhaps play should be called off and we come back tomorrow

 

[Prince EWS]

This is a very dangerous wicket. Call it off.

Maybe give it a day and see if it's settled down a bit tomorrow?

 

[ajdude]

Honestly I almost tend to think he's being actively encouraged to go all out on the attack like that. Could be wrong, but a few comments I have seen seem to suggest that

Yeah, which certainly concerns me. That's the sort of thing which really could warp his career out of shape

gives me vibes of Aaron Hardie becoming an opening bowler who bats at 8 and no longer plays Shield cricket

 

[vicleggie]

An unbeaten knock from Usman today would help his falling average.

 

[Daemon]

I cannot understand how you reach this level with the level of cricketing iq and execution being displayed right now

 

[Starfighter]

gives me vibes of Aaron Hardie becoming an opening bowler who bats at 8 and no longer plays Shield cricket

A career that's being wasted IMO.

 

[Burgey]

Lmao Qantas

Reminds me of the bloke who said Octpus Stadium.

That was his multi

 

[ajdude]

A career that's being wasted IMO.

they’ll do it with Connolly too

 

[GoodAreasShane]

gives me vibes of Aaron Hardie becoming an opening bowler who bats at 8 and no longer plays Shield cricket

Yeah it seems no coincedence that Hardie seems to have plateaued somewhat now he is playing sfa Shield. Injuries haven't helped either, but he definitely hasn't taken the step forward with his batting especially

 

[stephen]

I don't think McDonald actually does anything other than run fielding drills.

He needs to do more given our catching and inability to hit the stumps.

 

[Prince EWS]

How long will it take until Extras overtakes Kontas?

 

[morgieb]

they’ll do it with Connolly too

Yeah when Australia play JAMODI's is pretty annoying as it means the fringe guys don't develop as well as they should.

 

[Burgey]

He's not a blaster is he in the shield?

Unless he is an arsehole in real life (doubt it seems a good kid) I doubt he'd be the type to go against instructions from management, so even if they asked him to bat like Pujara he would have tried .

His Shiled SR is about 45 iirc

 

[Starfighter]

they’ll do it with Connolly too

Now that you've mentioned it, you're right.

 

[Spikey]

gives me vibes of Aaron Hardie becoming an opening bowler who bats at 8 and no longer plays Shield cricket

perhaps a move interstate would help. NSW might be able to give him a look

 

[Starfighter]

He needs to do more given our catching and inability to hit the stumps.

Then what does he do?