**Official** 1st Test @ Perth, 22nd-26th November

[Molehill]

Mitch Marsh is bloody Sobers against us though. Head is still good. The rest of them I agree on.

Amazing how MMarsh averaging 47 can make him seem like Sobers. Although it is 108 on home soil.

 

[Burgey]

Even more hilarious is that apparently before this game Day 1 at Optus had batters averaging around 64, and the average subsequently rapidly dropping to around 19 on Day 3.

You can pretty much reverse those averages for this match. No deck with this carry and grass on it will crack up by day three.

 

[Molehill]

No one really is because everyone knows both teams batting is miles worse than their bowling. I pretty much defy anyone whose name isn’t Bradman to go big today against that bowling on this pitch. It was tough work for everyone

I didn't see the Indian innings, but why was Cummins so much more expensive than the others? I'd normally expect Starc to go for more.

 

[Kirkut]

I didn't see the Indian innings, but why was Cummins so much more expensive than the others? I'd normally expect Starc to go for more.

Some flashy IPL shots contributed to that.

 

[morgieb]

I didn't see the Indian innings, but why was Cummins so much more expensive than the others? I'd normally expect Starc to go for more.

Missed the second session but there was some genuine loose stuff from Cummins at times and he looked kinda hittable. Starc was about as metromonic as he gets.

 

[CodeOfWisden]

The pitch was challenging, pacy and bouncy.

I can’t see any lineup posting over 250 against these bowling attacks on this pitch.

The likes of Sachin , Lara would have scored 40 here at best, 10-15 max for Ponting.

 

[Spikey]

Pat Cummins was comfortably the worst Aus bowler on display, dropped a catch he would normally take and blew multiple DRS calls. Is this a sign that captaincy is hurting him, and a warning for all teams considering making a fast bowler captain?

 

[Spikey]

Jasprit Bumrah bowled one of the great spells in cricket history, set impeccable fields and used DRS responsibly. Is this a sign that the historical negative attitudes towards fast bowler captains should be consigned to the dust bin of history?

 

[ImpatientLime]

I'd be more concerned if I was Australian.

Khawaja - must retire soon
McSweeney - Not an opener but jettisoned in because the alternatives are crap
Marnus - In a complete hole
Smith - Cooked
Head - May have back trouble soon from carrying this lot
Marsh - He averages less than Pope
Carey - Averages less than Pope and yet looks to be one of 2 guarantees in this line up

Not sure what the alternatives are going forward.

and despite all that they're still gonna 5-0 bmac and stokes

 

[IcarianStyles]

I'd be more concerned if I was Australian.

Khawaja - must retire soon
McSweeney - Not an opener but jettisoned in because the alternatives are crap
Marnus - In a complete hole
Smith - Cooked
Head - May have back trouble soon from carrying this lot
Marsh - He averages less than Pope
Carey - Averages less than Pope and yet looks to be one of 2 guarantees in this line up

Not sure what the alternatives are going forward.

After khawaja retires, Marnus should open the batting until Konstas piles up more runs at Shield

Khawaja mainly batted at 3 earlier in his career then became a opener in his late career and succeeded Maybe Marnus could benefit the same trajectory?

 

[GirthQuake]

The pitch was challenging, pacy and bouncy.

I can’t see any lineup posting over 250 against these bowling attacks on this pitch.

The likes of Sachin , Lara would have scored 40 here at best, 10-15 max for Ponting.

Oh you are back! Back telling us how much those batsmen would make in these conditions and that.

Of course, I still remember you for your famous prediction where Kohli was going to ramp his average up and above 50 after the home series against NZ.

 

[Burgey]

I didn't see the Indian innings, but why was Cummins so much more expensive than the others? I'd normally expect Starc to go for more.

Cummins has hardly bowled in the lead up to the series. Starc has bowled more and actually had really good rhythm all Shield season so far. About as good as I’ve ever seen him look with the red ball tbh. He’s mostly been very good in the format the past 18-24 months or so tbh

 

[ashley bach]

Oh you are back! Back telling us how much those batsmen would make in these conditions and that.

Of course, I still remember you for your famous prediction where Kohli was going to ramp his average up and above 50 after the home series against NZ.

#CODEOFDOOM

 

[Spark]

They show a shot of the ball at 26.5 overs and it still looked practically brand new. Certainly not your regular pitch (and there's more lacquer on the ball now, I believe).

They've also changed the design of the seam recently so it, you know, exists

 

[Molehill]

Cummins has hardly bowled in the lead up to the series. Starc has bowled more and actually had really good rhythm all Shield season so far. About as good as I’ve ever seen him look with the red ball tbh. He’s mostly been very good in the format the past 18-24 months or so tbh

Normally think of Starc bowling those unplayable wicket taking deliveries, but also going for a few too as he doesn't always control the swing.

So basically, once again, someone who's actually had a bit of match practice leading into the series is in the best form. You'd think that teams around the world (because it's hardly just an Aussie issue) might have noticed this by now....

 

[Spark]

I was personally more worried about the middle order failures than the top order, mostly because I really think that was an all timer of a spell from Bumrah. Smith may well be over the edge already but that ball probably would have gotten peak 17-19 Smith out too had he faced it first up.

Having said that the defensive techniques on show were a five alarm fire. I understand the merits of the open stance defensive technique but it really does leave you so vulnerable in conditions like these as you get squared up and stuck on the crease.

 

[CodeOfWisden]

Oh you are back! Back telling us how much those batsmen would make in these conditions and that.

Of course, I still remember you for your famous prediction where Kohli was going to ramp his average up and above 50 after the home series against NZ.

Also the only one who predicted India will give a tough competition to Australia.

Unlike all the people predicting 5-0.

Btw what triggered you Pontings 10 run or Sachins 40?

 

[Molehill]

I was personally more worried about the middle order failures than the top order, mostly because I really think that was an all timer of a spell from Bumrah. Smith may well be over the edge already but that ball probably would have gotten peak 17-19 Smith out too had he faced it first up.

It was a good ball, but the position he got himself into was horrific. He'd fallen so far over to the off side that it could've missed his pad and still taken out leg stump. It wasn't like he just missed a decent inswinger, he missed it by a mile.

 

[Spark]

It was a good ball, but the position he got himself into was horrific. He'd fallen so far over to the off side that it could've missed his pad and still taken out leg stump. It wasn't like he just missed a decent inswinger, he missed it by a mile.

Peak Smith probably gets into a much better position and plays a correct defensive shot down the line, covering for the movement, and misses it anyway. It's basically the last ball you want to face first up.

This is why I find it hard to judge the first three dismissals in a vacuum. Could they all have played them better, and are their dismissals indicative of a disturbing pattern (I think that's five LBWs in a row for Smith in all FC cricket and above)? Yes. Would it have really made a difference had they played them better? Probably not. If you get a ball that jags away a mile and then the next ball lands in ~the same spot, decks back in and pins you plumb in front (which is what happened to McSweeney), there isn't a lot you can realistically do about that other than hope for Marnus-tier luck. And then even if you survive that specific ball, there's no guarantee with the next one, and the one after that etc

 

[Test fan]

@Gob Yet another trailer from Australian batsman which showed that they are garbage .

Remembered this line ??