**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka Jan - Feb 2025

[TheJediBrah]

Are you proposing this for series outside Asia? I don't see this at all. I don't think Webster's good enough to be third seamer and I doubt Green will ever bowl bulk overs. I don't think you can add two half bowlers to substitute for an actual one. They'll just drop Webster unless he puts up some exceptional performances.

As I said, it would depend on the quality of 4th bowler that would be getting picked. If Cummins, Hazlewood and Boland are all available (and assuming a specialist spinner is warranted, which it usually is) then I wouldn't be leaving one of them out for an all-rounder whose bowling is going to be significantly worse.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I could see a world where on a greentop they drop Lyon and bat down to 8 by picking Webster + Green. Don't think they'd do it on a normal wicket though.

This too. It's a big call to go into a Test match without Lyon but if it's a wicket like the last Sydney one even a spinner of Lyon's experience and quality is a wasted position. And you're not going to need 4 specialist quicks + all rounders to bowl sides out on a wicket like that. An all rounder at 8 might provide more with the bat than you lose by leaving out your spinner or 4th quick

Yeah I remember they did this with Symonds+Watson a couple of times at home with no spinner.

AUS vs NZ Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Brisbane, November 20 - 23, 2008

Get cricket scorecard of 1st Test, AUS vs NZ, New Zealand tour of Australia 2008/09 at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane dated November 20 - 23, 2008.

www.espncricinfo.com

Good example. Though they probably wouldn't have done this if they had Warne or MacGill available (both had retired, MacGill only just IIRC) or Lyon. This would have been when their option for a spinner was something like Hauritz or Dan Cullen

 

[Qlder]

I can see this #batdeep happening this tour (as selectors seem to rate Connolly's spinners)

1. Khawaja
2. Head
3. Labuschagne
4. Smith
5. McSweeney
6. Connolly
7. Webster
8. Carey
9. Starc
10. Murphy
11. Lyon

 

[Qlder]

So Smith pitched for Connolly to be included in squad. "I was quite big on someone like Cooper coming in to be able to spin the ball away," Smith said (cricinfo)

Do you think he knows Connolly has never taken a FC wkt?

 

[social]

The main thing about his bowling is that it doesn’t even look to have much potential

Genuinely looks like a batsman having a bowl

 

[Gob]

The main thing about his bowling is that it doesn’t even look to have much potential

Genuinely looks like a batsman having a bowl

No wonder Smith likes him then. Must have reminded his younger self

 

[halba]

Konstas and Boland dropped for the 1st test. Konstas did not impress after the 1st innings fluke in MCG and hes poor against spin. Boland is horrendous on subcontinent pitches- why is he touring??

Brutal prediction about Sam Konstas and Scott Boland after triumph in India series

It comes as a brutal call after they helped Australia take down India. Read more here.

au.news.yahoo.com

This is the possible XI for the 1st test. Debut for Connolly as hes a good player of spin and adds a part time option. Id definitely have Kuhnemann in there- he got bagful in one test in India, and is in great form. This side gives an option to have left arm spin from both ends or two right arm from both ends and Travis heads offies depending on what type of spin works best on the pitch. Reverse swing- Starc and Webster will be required.

1. Khawaja
2. Head
3. Labuschagne
4. Smith.
5. Connolly ( all rounder - left arm spin)
6. Webster
7. Carey
8. Starc
9. Murphy
10. Lyon
11. Kuhnemann

This will be the XI for atleast the 1st test.

Itll be tough to back Konstas for the ashes, given his flukey T20 style of batting is not up to test standard.

 

[halba]

I can see this #batdeep happening this tour (as selectors seem to rate Connolly's spinners)

1. Khawaja
2. Head
3. Labuschagne
4. Smith
5. McSweeney
6. Connolly
7. Webster
8. Carey
9. Starc
10. Murphy
11. Lyon

Must play Kuhnemann. Connolly doesnt have an FC wicket, Kuhnemann was one of the leading FC wicket takers this season. However, id remove McSweeney, he is average at test level IMO and have Connolly to try instead.