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

[Spark]

I think what I haven't seen is that it wasn't (or didn't seem) overly pre-meditated ...he just saw it on a length and decided to play it. Insane. The guy is a freak

The speed at which he picks up length is borderline unparalleled. Even the way he defends, he doesn't seem like he's doing it comfortably at all but he seems to have so much time that his bat looks like a door.

 

[subshakerz]

Why wasn't Ashwin selected?

 

[Zinzan]

He doesn't usually do that tbh. He proabbly has as braod a knowledge of overseas cricketers as any commentator doing hte rounds anywhere, He researches them pretty assiduously. Particularly compared with his colleagues on Fox. I think, as Spark said, he genuinely believes JFM is a big talent. I don't think he's right, but I also don't think his views in this instance are caused by cheerleading.

Agree, Scull's normally spot-on with his player analysis, but very wrong on that occasion.

 

[the big bambino]

Is he ill?

fully sick.

 

[SteveNZ]

He doesn't usually do that tbh. He proabbly has as braod a knowledge of overseas cricketers as any commentator doing hte rounds anywhere, He researches them pretty assiduously. Particularly compared with his colleagues on Fox. I think, as Spark said, he genuinely believes JFM is a big talent. I don't think he's right, but I also don't think his views in this instance are caused by cheerleading.

OK, fair play. I actually thought the same in terms of his knowledge.

I just don't know where his belief lies. JFM is an out and out hack. Doesn't average anything in any format of the game. He'll make a 60 at some stage in the future, because we know they're going to back him until the death...and the hype associated with it will blow up every media outlet in Australia. It's a little bit laughable. I think I heard Mark Waugh say a while back that he is certain he'll be a Test star in the future, too.

 

[smellcricketintheair]

Why wasn't Ashwin selected?

Perth

 

[OverratedSanity]

Reddy has quietly looked ok. But conditions have undoubtedly eased up by the looks of things. Slightly fewer leaping off a length now.

 

[Zinzan]

I just don't know where his belief lies. JFM is an out and out hack. Doesn't average anything in any format of the game. He'll make a 60 at some stage in the future, because we know they're going to back him until the death...and the hype associated with it will blow up every media outlet in Australia. It's a little bit laughable. I think I heard Mark Waugh say a while back that he is certain he'll be a Test star in the future, too.

JFM looked more reckless and inconsistent than Finn Allen when they opened together in that recent American league tournament. Says it all really.

 

[Bahnz]

Not to put the kiss of death on him but Reddy looks pretty well organised with the bat.

 

[SteveNZ]

The speed at which he picks up length is borderline unparalleled. Even the way he defends, he doesn't seem like he's doing it comfortably at all but he seems to have so much time that his bat looks like a door.

I just think he bats so unencumbered, little fear, just thinks about where the ball is and about how he should hit it. So good to watch. As an opposition fan, as I was in the last series, you are excited because you know he could chip out any ball, but he can also absolutely bury you if he bats two sessions. Scared the **** out of us in the last series after they'd made 46 first up in the first Test.

 

[Burgey]

From the first time I saw Pant I thought his best asset, among many, was he's completely fearless in the way he plays. It's what makes him so good to watch, but I kind of expected that as he progressed he'd lose that like everyone does as the usual doubts set in when you have a bad run or you think about protecting your spot.

Then he had that accident, which was obviously terrible, and everyone wondered if he'd come back. But now he has, it's almost as though every game is a bonus for him so his mindset is still as fearless as before, and it's awesome. That sort of attitude is what old timers always said Keith Miller had after his experiences in the war - it's just a game and I'll have a crack no matter what. It's brilliant to watch.

 

[ankitj]

3 digit scores. Big win.

 

[Bahseph]

Ideally I want to see spice. I need someone to scream into a stump mike or for Pant to try and reverse hook Cummins for six while India are 50-4 etc.

Nah but seriously I'm looking forward to this. Really enjoyed the last few series between these two.

It wasn't a reverse hook but I'll take it.

 

[SteveNZ]

JFM looked more reckless and inconsistent than Finn Allen when they opened together in that recent American league tournament. Says it all really.

Ha holy ****, JFM and Finn Allen batted together? Thank god @thierry henry didn't see this, his chuntering and head shaking would've sent his noggin straight off his shoulders. And I think I puked in my mouth a bit thinking of it, too. Hope Danny Morrison commentated it for full wackedy do value

 

[honestbharani]

Still think Jaddu would have added more to this side than Padikkal. Not to shag off the youngster and I am sure DDP's time would come, but if Virat could have batted 3 or we pushed Washy up to 3, I dont think we would have lost anything.

Looks like we will be at least 100 short of par. And I say that having revised the par to 250. That's how bad our lot are this tour.

 

[SteveNZ]

Not to put the kiss of death on him but Reddy looks pretty well organised with the bat.

Yeah he looks really organised and confident. Averages 21 at FC level, that surprises me

 

[Burgey]

OK, fair play. I actually thought the same in terms of his knowledge.

I just don't know where his belief lies. JFM is an out and out hack. Doesn't average anything in any format of the game. He'll make a 60 at some stage in the future, because we know they're going to back him until the death...and the hype associated with it will blow up every media outlet in Australia. It's a little bit laughable. I think I heard Mark Waugh say a while back that he is certain he'll be a Test star in the future, too.

Oh yeah, McJerk is genuinely terrible by any internationl standard. Hasn't shown any sort of inclination he's up to making decent runs. By all reports he's completely full of himself too, which makes it worse that they've picked him

 

[quincywagstaff]

Comms getting excited over there being a record WA Test crowd with 27k in the ground.

Isn't that a tad disappointing? Can't even get stadium half full against India. Don't think even next year's Ashes will be close to full.

 

[ashley bach]

It's actually been a very slow and patient innings from Pant but he's picked his moments well.

 

[Spark]

Still think Jaddu would have added more to this side than Padikkal. Not to shag off the youngster and I am sure DDP's time would come, but if Virat could have batted 3 or we pushed Washy up to 3, I dont think we would have lost anything.

Looks like we will be at least 100 short of par. And I say that having revised the par to 250. That's how bad our lot are this tour.

I honestly feel par is well north of 300 at a minimum and this post lunch session has only reinforced that. This just looks a traditional bouncy Australian pitch which does a bit before lunch but by tea is more than good to bat on if you can handle the extra bounce.

No guarantee that Aus will get anywhere near that themselves ofc.