The batting has been about the same once you exclude Smith, IMO.Australia have the better bowling but England have the better batting (Without Smith obviously). The thing is if England had have batted even somewhat normally in the first innings at Leeds the game wouldn't have even been close. As it was even getting dismissed for 67 didn't stop victory.
Play Pattinson. He's miles ahead of Marsh with the ball and not that far behind with the bat, unless it's a road. And if it is a road we won't need Marsh's batting.Just play Marsh if there's a workload concern.
Has Patto even gotten a fifty though? I don't care what they average at Test level, there's no way Patto's any better than a #8 at Test level.Patto average 26 with bat and 26 with ball
Marsh average 25 with bat and 43 with ball
Hmmmmm tough one
Worst take yetPatto, Cummins and Starc together can form a solid batsman. Take our Lyon and play Marsh and Hazlewood too. Head, Smith and Labuschagne can bowl the spin overs.
You know Lyon has bowled like 30 odd overs a day on average and, even when he hasn't taken wickets, has gone at no more than threes max, don't you?Patto, Cummins and Starc together can form a solid batsman. Take our Lyon and play Marsh and Hazlewood too. Head, Smith and Labuschagne can bowl the spin overs.
just a tad.I love Patto as a cricketer way more than life itself, but I do think his batting is slightly overrated by some here.
I agree with this. In the case of Steve Smith he’s so head and shoulders above the rest that it gives the opposition captain an excuse.Never get this talk about batting/bowling between teams being the same if you remove the one key player. Why would you remove the key player? He wears the team colors too doesn't he? He's a product of the same system too. Feels a bit like patting yourself on the back...if only..
Yes, he is good but if he is there only to do a holding job, Labuschagne can do that as well. The pitches or conditions are not conducive for him to take wickets, Australia is one up and just needs a draw. So, why not play Mitch Marsh instead of him and #batdeep.You know Lyon has bowled like 30 odd overs a day on average and, even when he hasn't taken wickets, has gone at no more than threes max, don't you?