***Official*** 3rd Test at the WACA

[Prince EWS]

I'm pretty happy for Marsh. I wouldn't have picked him here but I didn't think it was quite as absurd a selection as a few others on CW, and I think he could really build on this.

I used to harp on it a lot but when he first got picked for WA as a teenager they batted him in the top order thinking he was a wonderkind who'd make lots of runs immediately, but it took him quite a while to really settle in to that level of cricket with the bat. At one point he was opening the bowling but batting eight... but once it clicked for him he seemed really comfortable really quickly. His overall FC batting record is still pretty dire due to this period, but it was finally on the way up before he got shoved into Test cricket. To me his Test career has sort of followed a similar path -- the selectors expected runs and they didn't come, but he bowled seriously well (certainly better than expected) at times to hold onto his place for longer than he probably should've had it, and now he's had a potential breakthrough moment. Hopefully he pushes on from this moment in the same way he looked like he was doing for WA before he was fast-tracked out of their setup.

 

[Gnske]

Australian cricket is over

 

[Starfighter]

Justin Langer is going to be even more insufferable than usual. He's got the head coach position nailed down when/if Lehmann goes.

 

[hazsa19]

So glad I didn't get up for this. Getting a bit of deja vu to that India series last year. Posting 400 and still getting hammered.

What has happened to our bowlers? Seem to offer nothing overseas.

 

[Starfighter]

Yay, Malan's on to bowl. Novelty.

 

[Top_Cat]

Bowling Malan is taking the piss.

 

[mintykip]

More than anything it shows how the Aus and Eng sides are so much built around their home conditions, which makes sense. If these same 2 teams were playing on cloudy green seamers at Trent Bridge or somewhere then England would be wiping the floor with the Aussies. Starc and Cummins and co. would be ordinary with the dukes ball on a green wicket whereas Broad, Anderson, Woakes would be deadly.

But the gap between the two attacks in Aussie conditions is far greater than it would be in English conditions.

This was kinda to be expected though, all bowling low 130's on a flat deck.

 

[wpdavid]

More than anything it shows how the Aus and Eng sides are so much built around their home conditions, which makes sense. If these same 2 teams were playing on cloudy green seamers at Trent Bridge or somewhere then England would be wiping the floor with the Aussies. Starc and Cummins and co. would be ordinary with the dukes ball on a green wicket whereas Broad, Anderson, Woakes would be deadly.

Not that I expect Broad to be playing next time Aus are in England, judging by how he's gone in 2017.
Anderson may be another matter, although you'd think that anno domini should kick in at some point soon.

 

[Spark]

Smith looks completely cooked out there

 

[Groundking]

So glad I didn't get up for this. Getting a bit of deja vu to that India series last year. Posting 400 and still getting hammered.

What has happened to our bowlers? Seem to offer nothing overseas.

Its really quite simple, Broads declining massively, when it's not doing a lot 35 year old Anderson is just a bit pedestrian, Woakes, whilst having potential is still finding his feet in test cricket, Moeen is not really that good but has spells where you think he's cracked it and Overton is a debutant.

Did people really expect us to do well with the ball on flat pitches?

 

[Spikey]

Smith looks completely cooked out there

i much preferred it when clarke was cooked and would just play big drives without moving his feet.

 

[Starfighter]

I must say, Malan's getting them down better than Smith did. Although Smith isn't exactly putting him under pressure atm, he's just sort of drifting.

 

[Second Spitter]

Hey KP, if you want entertainment go watch some clowns.

 

[Starfighter]

Lovely ton from Broad. Fully deserved

 

[Spark]

This is singular garbage bowling

 

[morgieb]

After Anderson and Malan are keeping things tightish, Broad's giving up free runs.

 

[Prince EWS]

I must say, Malan's getting them down better than Smith did. Although Smith isn't exactly putting him under pressure atm, he's just sort of drifting.

Malan's always been much more accurate than Smith as a bowler. He just doesn't do enough with them once they land to make it worth it in the way Smith's mixed bag of mostly pies and occasional threatening balls is.

 

[3703]

Hey KP, if you want entertainment go watch some clowns.

He is.

 

[morgieb]

Can someone fly to Perth and strangle KP for me?

Thank you.

 

[Starfighter]

Last match we're getting him I think. Been three too many though.