**Official** 5th Test at Sydney, 3-7 Jan 2025

[Son Of Coco]

McSweeney's only 25 and I don't think he's been cast aside forever.

Beyond that there's Ollie Davies but he's having quite a poor season so far after being moved into the top 4, which is a bad sign. Jayden Goodwin (son of Murray) is only in his only 20s and he's having a good start to the season but when I'm mentioning someone who averages low 30s the cupboard is pretty bare.

I watched Cooper Connolly bat last night in the Twenty20, and he looked decent. Stays incredibly still before delivery and seemed to time it pretty well. Not sure how he is going in shield though.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I get longevity as an important factor but this is just silly surely

Bumrahs definitely closer to being the best ever than merely being as good as kapil.

 

[Spark]

I watched Cooper Connolly bat last night in the Twenty20, and he looked decent. Stays incredibly still before delivery and seemed to time it pretty well. Not sure how he is going in shield though.

Averages about 55 but bats well down the order and his top score is 90-odd

 

[Son Of Coco]

That’s such a massive wicket right on lunch

The ABC Radio commentators jinxed him massively. Mentioned the 10k and next ball he was out.

 

[morgieb]

Pretty wild session. Smith falling just before lunch really hurts as it looked like he was about to make a game breaking innings.

Still looks good for bowling but it at least doesn't seem to be getting harder.

How India handle the third innings (and what kind of lead they can build here) will matter. Anything over 200 should be safe, but if it's around 150 I think it's the sort of innings where an aggressive 30-40 can really make things tough. India really don't want to get shot out for 80 or something.

Good work from Slug, this looks a really crucial innings.

 

[Prince EWS]

Averages about 55 but bats well down the order and his top score is 90-odd

Yeah he's only played four games, hard to say much about him at all as a Shield cricketer yet.

 

[silentstriker]

On the ABC the other day, they were still debating if he’s India’s best bowler ever, if he’s done enough to surpass Kapil. The answer was no, because he doesn’t have enough wickets. So in some people’s eyes, he’s still not close to even being India’s best bowler.

Which morons were on ABC saying this?

 

[morgieb]

Averages about 55 but bats well down the order and his top score is 90-odd

Basically no sample size either. I think if given a proper shot to develop he could become pretty good, but am worried that he'll never have the chance and Australia will get too tempted to use him as a bowling all-rounder. Still, out of those with actual professional experience I'd have him second to Konstas as far as "most promising young Australian bats" go.

 

[Nintendo]

i'd keep my eye on the ball, and get in behind it, make sure i keep my bat and pad close. when i get my eye in, start scoring a bit more fluently before hitting a pair of consecutive sixes off siraj to throw him off. by then the shine should have worn off the ball and i'd look to manipulate the field, ones in to twos, head down call loud. wham bam the team score is 200. pretty simple all things considered.

You forgot about the short ball. You gotta get inside the line and use the pace or your gonna be in huge trouble

 

[honestbharani]

Why has it taken until the 5th test for blow ins to show up

Nah.. stephen and salty started posting from the 3rd test tbf.

 

[Niall]

From an Aussie POV, assuming they were to win the WTC v Saffers (they will be heavily favored with the bookies) and retain the Ashes, which of the "oldies" would be tempted to bow out and focus on the shorter stuff?

I think all the guys who are ODI regulars will want to play the next 50 overs world cup btw.

 

[honestbharani]

I think its funny some idiots popped up just to have a go at Indian players reacting to some idiocy from the kid. I think they reacted perfectly coz he got involved where there was no reason to. Konstas had India right where he wanted coz they definitely were rattled by what he did at the MCG and at the end of the day, that 100 run opening session may well have been the difference between a win and a loss or a draw there for them.

But based on everything Russell Arnold and Shane Watson have had to say about him, (and they seem to have seen him and known him far better than any of other idiots carrying on about this here, or on Fox Sports or twitter), he is defnitely acting out of character and that means he can easily take it overboard and that is what happened yesterday in the last couple of balls.

It was an even session, the last one. I thought we were losing it till Krishna bowled a good one there to Smith. Well deserved given how many times Smith has been beaten in the last 3 tests. Just feel sorry for Akashdeep who would bowl far worse to get fifers than he did this series.

 

[morgieb]

From an Aussie POV, assuming they were to win the WTC v Saffers (they will be heavily favored with the bookies) and retain the Ashes, which of the "oldies" would be tempted to bow out and focus on the shorter stuff?

I'd say 2025/26 could well be it for Khawaja, Smith, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon. Maybe even Boland.

 

[honestbharani]

Beau Webster seems to have something that is probably lacking from most of the other players from both sides this series. A very calm guy, simple plans, good execution, does the basics right. Cant believe they made this guy sit out for Marsh. He seems a proper Cam Green replacement in all possible ways.

 

[ankitj]

Not really, especially after the Kohli barge last week. He has them rattled. He is 19 and they are losing the plot.

Kohli was a dick in the last match, we all agreed. In this game, Konstas was looking to poke Bumrah and got poked back. That's it. What even is "losing the plot" here? Did they start bowling poorly to him?

 

[Niall]

I'd say 2025/26 could well be it for Khawaja, Smith, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon. Maybe even Boland.

Khawaja probably doesn't make the Ashes unless he scores in SL.

Boland and Lyon don't have the distraction of limited overs cricket and the money it brings, so maybe they will try to hang on.

Lyon will have made excellent money, so easier for him to walk away compared to Scottie I would guess.

 

[Shri]

Why has it taken until the 5th test for blow ins to show up

don't bully konstas he's only 19

 

[Son Of Coco]

Clear the deficit with these two please.

Thank you

 

[morgieb]

Beau Webster seems to have something that is probably lacking from most of the other players from both sides this series. A very calm guy, simple plans, good execution, does the basics right. Cant believe they made this guy sit out for Marsh. He seems a proper Cam Green replacement in all possible ways.

Neither can any of us, at least after Adelaide/Brisbane.

 

[Burgey]

I get longevity as an important factor but this is just silly surely

Yeah look anyone who thinks Kapil > Bumrah has their head stuck in the eye of their own Tockley