**Official** 4th Test at Melbourne, 26-30 Dec 2024

[silentstriker]

There have been so many success stories of players in test cricket this year despite modest FC records ..

Think Santner , Carse , Bethell , Kumar Reddy , Bosch, Jamie Smith wasn't even keeping for Surrey before being keeper of England ..

Sam Konstas is 19 and playing for Australia after a handful of games , when has that ever happened with Australia..

This year has been the triumph of the Eye Test.

In other words, a failure of the first class competition

 

[Nintendo]

I said much earlier that the only ones in this side who have the "Pujara game" are Jaddu and Washy. They dont have as good a technique as Puji but they have the temperament to stay there if they are lucky enough to survive the early barrage.

As Shri said though, this is just the worst timing for a rain break for us. And we are still 150 behind. Just so so disappointing that even a great partnership can only bring your position from absolutely hopeless to just about hopeless.

Jadejas got that imran khan vibe about him where he's rarely going to make 100's but he's consistently able to grind out those annoying 40-80's.

 

[honestbharani]

What is the word on Starc?

 

[Gnske]

What is the word on Starc?

Weak gutted dog

 

[honestbharani]

Jadejas got that imran khan vibe about him where he's rarely going to make 100's but he's consistently able to grind out those annoying 40-80's.

And the reason they are annoying is because he "grinds" to those runs. He is never really free flowing but he can definitely bat time. And in this batting line up, that is bit of goldust. Same with Washy.

 

[silentstriker]

Can probably add Washy to that list too as I dont think he was picked for his bowling at all even in the NZ series.

Its ridiculous that our side will actually look better if we get Gill, Sarfraz and Jurel in for Rohit, Virat and Pant.

Jurel is also a better keeper, and perhaps a better batsman (don’t think Pant is fully back to where he was yet).

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

Can probably add Washy to that list too as I dont think he was picked for his bowling at all even in the NZ series.

Its ridiculous that our side will actually look better if we get Gill, Sarfraz and Jurel in for Rohit, Virat and Pant.

Dropping Pant is ridiculously extreme. He's not quite the same force but he's shown enough glimpses since coming back to be persisted with. I can't believe I'm even using "persisted" in context with Pant.

Unless you meant just play him as a pure bat.

 

[honestbharani]

Jurel is also a better keeper, and perhaps a better batsman (don’t think Pant is fully back to where he was yet).

Jaiswal
Rahul
Washy
Gill
Jurel (wk)
Sarfraz
Jaddu
NKR
Akashdeep
Bumrah (c)
Prasidh

I would love to see this line up at Sydney. Heck, even Pant in there for Jurel and its still good.

 

[ankitj]

How nicely dropping Gill has worked out for

 

[honestbharani]

Dropping Pant is ridiculously extreme. He's not quite the same force but he's shown enough glimpses since coming back to be persisted with. I can't believe I'm even using "persisted" in context with Pant.

Unless you meant just play him as a pure bat.

Nah he just seems overloaded at this point. I feel we should have rested him for at least one of the tests against NZ and maybe one of the tests here so far. You gotta understand what we are asking of his body after that kind of an accident.

 

[Niall]

Dropping Pant is ridiculously extreme. He's not quite the same force but he's shown enough glimpses since coming back to be persisted with. I can't believe I'm even using "persisted" in context with Pant.

Unless you meant just play him as a pure bat.

Stats wise , is this his first bad series in years?

 

[Sunil1z]

Reddy with five overs and a duck. Glad to see the six bowler strategy working out. Reddy has truly outperformed in this series and has done exceptionally well with the bat - so this is not a knock on him. He has come in under pressure situations and totally outperformed the top order and done everything asked of him and more - totally grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

But he is not an international quality bowler and he averages 23 in FC cricket with the bat. Like what the **** is the thought process that you think a guy averaging 23 in FC cricket will consistently outperform dudes averaging 50+? Because if you truly think that, get rid of the Ranji trophy and call it a day because it’s clearly completely useless as a competition.

@silentstriker
Hope you have apologised?

 

[OverratedSanity]

Pant has been disappointing but he's been getting starts pretty consistently which always helps in small ways. Just hasn't converted into 50+ knocks which blows but don't think hes been terrible. He's continuing his trend of getting 20+ pretty much all the time in Australia.

 

[Niall]

Probably been posted, but bloody hell Sunny was not happy with Pant. Harsha looked a bit scared as well.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1872832363211677887

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

Pant has been disappointing but he's been getting starts pretty consistently which always helps in small ways. Just hasn't converted into 50+ knocks which blows but don't think hes been terrible. He's continuing his trend of getting 20+ pretty much all the time in Australia.

Yeah and that's realistically about what we can expect from Jurel at this stage of his career, but what Pant promises on the days he comes off is priceless. By all means take the gloves away from him but he absolutely belongs in the side as a talisman and a game-changer.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Doesn't matter. This guy's bank account is stacked

 

[SkyBlue]

Regarding Pant, we'd be having a very different conversation if the top 4 wasn't so fragile

Ideally you want the top 4 to perform so that a no.5 or no.6 can come in and take the game away from the opposition. Thats his role. He's never going to play like Pujara. The problem is he's a one trick pony but he can also win games for you. Nearly did that against NZ but lacked much support.

Or maybe you can solve this problem by playing him at no.6 or 7 and promote Reddy up the order.

 

[silentstriker]

Oorrrrrr pick your best batsmen based on performance rather than seniority.

 

[SkyBlue]

Oorrrrrr pick your best batsmen based on performance rather than seniority.

Who would you drop Pant for? Ideally I'd have both Pant and Jurel playing together tbh

Not that sold on Sarfraz

 

[silentstriker]

Who would you drop Pant for? Ideally I'd have both Pant and Jurel playing together tbh

Not that sold on Sarfraz

I'd drop both Kohli and Rohit.