*Official* Pakistan v Australia in UAE 2014

[flibbertyjibber]

yeah i don't think clarke's 100% either, he'll push on to the next ashes but i wouldn't be surprised to see him hang up the box after that

I think the same, may give up one day cricket straight after world cup to try and prolong his test career but the ashes could see your side lose 3 or 4 players straight after win or lose.

 

[Spark]

The only reason - and I mean the only reason - I could see Clarke staying on post Ashes is the lack of a clear successor, but hopefully Smith fixes that over the next ten Tests or so

 

[OverratedSanity]

These are the only two who know how to handle it so I hope we get a decent partnesrhip atleast. Could get ugly otherwise. How long has it been since a 400 run victory?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Is it worth Clarke skipping the India series to get his back sorted? Or is it ****ed enough that his only real option is quitting post-Ashes?

Judging from what Atherton has said over the years about his back it never really got much better and you just had to manage it as best you could but sometimes it was so bad you couldn't. It seems Clarke is in the same boat sadly.

 

[Howe_zat]

These are the only two who know how to handle it so I hope we get a decent partnesrhip atleast. Could get ugly otherwise. How long has it been since a 400 run victory?

Records | Test matches | Team records | Largest margin of victory (by runs) | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Spark]

Is it worth Clarke skipping the India series to get his back sorted? Or is it ****ed enough that his only real option is quitting post-Ashes?

I would honestly rather Clarke skipped the WC.

He won't do either, though.

 

[adub]

Sorry been away enjoying a weekend. (Radio Birdman rocked it last night)

Any interesting cricket whilst I was away?

 

[OverratedSanity]

if his back is getting drastically worse then smashing the indians could be his test farewell, followed by a world cup campaign.

though i guess he would really really want to go to england once more.

Yeah, possibly. Should make runs against us pretty easily tbh. Won't have these problems against spin in Australia. Can't see him playing beyond next year, though. If so, what a shame... to think he was basically Bradman a year and a half ago.

 

[ajdude]

Sorry been away enjoying a weekend. (Radio Birdman rocked it last night)

Any interesting cricket whilst I was away?

nah got rained out yesterday, ****ing victorian weather

 

[Spikey]

Sorry been away enjoying a weekend. (Radio Birdman rocked it last night)

Any interesting cricket whilst I was away?

this new odourless insect spray i bought is not odourless

 

[Burgey]

Is it worth Clarke skipping the India series to get his back sorted? Or is it ****ed enough that his only real option is quitting post-Ashes?

His condition is like Corrin - degenerate.

 

[uvelocity]

this new odourless insect spray i bought is not odourless

leave the stick insect alone its his home too

 

[dermo]

this new odourless insect spray i bought is not odourless

it never is spikey, it never is.

 

[Briony]

There's no way Clarke is even 50% fit, right? Can't see a player of his quality playing that badly even though he's out of form. Just embarassingly bad innings.

Why would he bowl then? Every time he doesn't make runs the back alibi seems to come out. He is either fit or he is not. If he plays he is fit is generally the rule. His back was meant to be playing up the last time the Indians came to our shores and we all know how much time he spent at the crease there.

 

[Spark]

Why would he bowl then? Every time he doesn't make runs the back alibi seems to come out. He is either fit or he is not. If he plays he is fit is generally the rule. His back was meant to be playing up the last time the Indians came to our shores and we all know how much time he spent at the crease there.

It's not something which stays completely constant throughout a match, you know...

(though why he did actually bowl I have absolutely no idea, beyond sheer desperation)

 

[uvelocity]

i cant ever remember seeing that before

 

[dermo]

you can 100% guarantee that if south africa were in this situation they would not be playing the same way we are

 

[Spikey]

leave the stick insect alone its his home too

had a new one the other day. will dig out the pictures later

 

[OverratedSanity]

Yeah, I'd back South Africa to deadbat their way to a draw from this situation. Been so incredible at that over the last 1-2 years.

 

[Spark]

Yeah, I'd back South Africa to deadbat their way to a draw from this situation. Been so incredible at that over the last 1-2 years.

Mm, this pitch has a bit more in it for the spinners than the pitches they did that on, though (which were singularly dead tracks). Plus, better spinners