***2021 Australian Domestic off season thread***

[morgieb]

It's a weird one. I agree that Larkin in particular is someone that most Shield sides should be moving on from. He's had a pretty long career now and hasn't really been anything more than 'meh' at FC level (no matter how many runs he makes for 2nd XI sides). But Solway is different. He had a crap season yeah, that happens. He's still young-ish, has a proven track record in the lower grades, was really good in 2020 and is frankly much more likely to score runs than the alternatives. And while Hughes was ordinary last year he has been a quality bat at Shield level before that.

Add that the alternatives don't really do much even at 2nd XI/grade level and.....

 

[Spikey]

Hughes sucked the season before too, and then one match he randomly twin tonned up. In fact, the main reason to keep Solway around, imo, would be for him to apply pressure on Hughes.

 

[Burgey]

It's a weird one. I agree that Larkin in particular is someone that most Shield sides should be moving on from. He's had a pretty long career now and hasn't really been anything more than 'meh' at FC level (no matter how many runs he makes for 2nd XI sides). But Solway is different. He had a crap season yeah, that happens. He's still young-ish, has a proven track record in the lower grades, was really good in 2020 and is frankly much more likely to score runs than the alternatives. And while Hughes was ordinary last year he has been a quality bat at Shield level before that.

Add that the alternatives don't really do much even at 2nd XI/grade level and.....

If he was 21 they would persist with him

He’s basically this season’s Bert in terms of how he’s been treated, only he had more chances.

 

[Spikey]

main reason Solway and Larkin are unlucky is because the NSW set-up uses Greg Mail and Michael Klinger in key spots, so you think they'd have more time for barely shield standard players given their careers

(don't @ me about how unlucky Klinger was. like 15 shield seasons and he averaged over 40 in 5 of them. he was the nick larkin of his era, mostly **** but did love a big ton to save his season)

 

[Smudge80]

At the end I believe Larkin and Solway are better batsmen as things currently stand and more likely to score on a consistent basis. Without them NSW will be weaker next season. Sure on their day Edwards, Sangha, Gilkes, Davies and Hearne may deliver but that day only comes once a season. Larkin and Solway are capable of averaging 30-40 over the course of season in first cricket something which Edwards, sangha, Gilkes, Davies and Hearne have still to achieve. They may have promise but to date unlike Larkin and Solway they have failed to score on a consistent basis.

 

[Smudge80]

Buddy, the batting has been badly exposed for the last 2 seasons. Did you miss the game they got bowled out for 32? Did you miss Abbott and Henriques being their two best batsman? The only regret NSW should have is they listened to PEWS instead of me and didn't cut Larkin seasons ago.

Any team can have a bad innings. Larkin and Solway have scored on a consistent basis previously something which Edwards, Sangha, Gilkes, Davies and Hearne have never done. I don't think the five young batsmen are good enough to fill the void left by Larkin and Solway. The batting has been weakened by the release Larkin and Solway. They should have cut two seamers (Edwards and Tremain who didn't even play last season) instead.

 

[Smudge80]

Maybe they can cut Head and give his contract to Solway

That won't happen. Looking at the SA squad their bowling is the problem.

 

[social]

Billy Stanlake's Derbyshire spell cut short by back stress fracture

Australia seamer to return home after just one game for new club

www.espncricinfo.com

Not looking good at his age

 

[Starfighter]

Damn

 

[Spikey]

Marnus Labuschagne	lbw b Stevens	11	14	16	2	0	78.57
5.3 nips back off the seam from way outside off, Marnus is nailed on the pad, more or less in line with off stump, and up goes the finger! He does not like it one little bit, some words with the umpire as he wanders past... Stevens though ... what a day! 16/2

classic marnus

 

[Shady Slim]

i think that surely whatever one thinks about whether larkers larkin should've been given the boot years ago, be that as it may, i think it's sort of hard to justify doing it now for edwards, sangha, et al, because they aren't doing anything on a consistent basis

i'm getting some real shane watson vibes of hate directed at someone unjustly that's going to look especially bad because someone who does what they do is exactly what'll be needed in their absense, but none of the youths step up and do that. solway out while edwards and sangha stay is exceptionally egregious

 

[Smudge80]

i think that surely whatever one thinks about whether larkers larkin should've been given the boot years ago, be that as it may, i think it's sort of hard to justify doing it now for edwards, sangha, et al, because they aren't doing anything on a consistent basis

i'm getting some real shane watson vibes of hate directed at someone unjustly that's going to look especially bad because someone who does what they do is exactly what'll be needed in their absense, but none of the youths step up and do that. solway out while edwards and sangha stay is exceptionally egregious

I think the decision to release Larkin and Solway has left NSW short of batting depth and quality. I don't think Davies, Edwards, Gilkes, Hearne and Sangha are better than Larkin and Solway. You only release someone if and when there is someone better to replace them. In the absence of Warner and Smith for a Sheffield Shield game I would rather have Larkin and Solway coming in than Davies, Edwards, Gilkes, Hearne and Sangha.

Why do NSW need fifteen seamers? Surely thirteen even bearing in mind the four rookies and the fact that Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood are likely to be with Australia surely Abbot, Copeland, Conway, Hatcher, Sams and Dwarshuis is more than enough albeit I accept the last two are one-day specialists. M Edwards and Tremain didn't play at all last season.

 

[Spikey]

domestic teams operate both from the perspective of winning titles and producing national squad players. The only international team Nick Larkin had a chance of playing for was Ireland, and he was a liability for NSW in terms of winning games. Just because he's over 25 doesn't mean you have to pretend to like him. 43 matches, average of 29, age of 31, and guys, when you're a batter and your age is higher than your average, that's Not Good. NSW could be replacing Larkin with a set of metal retractable stumps and it'd be fine. When even PEWS has stopped trolling me about Larkin it's time to give it up.

 

[Smudge80]

domestic teams operate both from the perspective of winning titles and producing national squad players. The only international team Nick Larkin had a chance of playing for was Ireland, and he was a liability for NSW in terms of winning games. Just because he's over 25 doesn't mean you have to pretend to like him. 43 matches, average of 29, age of 31, and guys, when you're a batter and your age is higher than your average, that's Not Good. NSW could be replacing Larkin with a set of metal retractable stumps and it'd be fine. When even PEWS has stopped trolling me about Larkin it's time to give it up.

I don't see what replacing Larkin and Solway with five far inferior quality batsmen is going to achieve.

 

[Burgey]

I think he’s saying the punt is worthwhile wrt Larkin because he’s proven over the years to be really mediocre

 

[Smudge80]

I think he’s saying the punt is worthwhile wrt Larkin because he’s proven over the years to be really mediocre

Competition creates performance. Without these two there is no competition to force the younger batsmen to score more heavily to get selected in the first place. Without this they simply won't be up to it when called upon.

 

[stephen]

Competition creates performance. Without these two there is no competition to force the younger batsmen to score more heavily to get selected in the first place. Without this they simply won't be up to it when called upon.

I don't know if I agree with this. Serious psychological studies suggest that people tend to work better with certainty. If you are constantly fighting for your position, you aren't in the right headspace to make runs because you can be afraid to let your instincts take over.

 

[Spikey]

I don't see what replacing Larkin and Solway with five far inferior quality batsmen is going to achieve.

well you stop wasting games on guys who aren't going to help you win titles or push for australia selection.

 

[Shady Slim]

well you stop wasting games on guys who aren't going to help you win titles or push for australia selection.

by replacing them with guys who aren't going to help you win titles or push for australia selection?

 

[Spikey]

there's at least a chance of development. We were going nowhere with Larkin. Solway can be argued differently but anyone actually saying Larkin should have been kept is insane