Your gutsy calls for 2020

[honestbharani]

Why are you calling it the same bowling attack when Patto wasn't playing, Starc has changed his action with good success and Cummins while very good, is now the world number 1 bowler.

Actually, it is, which is why it is important to rely on judgement to either temper or augment things with observation where possible. Our batting was I'd say somehwat better during the Ashes than against India, but I thought we often lost direction at points too when bowling, although that wasn't necessarily the same attack. I'd wait to see how we perform against stronger sides before making a call, but it is possible to make improvement in a short amount of time.

Of course, there is improvement and there is improvement. One cannot turn Peter Siddle into Pat Cummins overnight—or ever—, but one can actually think about where one is placing the ball and that constantly bowling into a batsman's legs can leak runs, and a disciplined performance can make quite an apparent improvement. I remember watching a highlights video of the 96/97 WI visit here, and the commentator (whoever it was) noted that the WI looked much more energetic and disciplined in the 3rd test than the 2nd (which had a shambolic and entertaining performance from what I saw), and they won that too. Similarly, in the current Aus-NZ series, we've been good in 1st inns, and then we come out in the 2nd without any focus or sense of application, and the difference is quite obvious.

Starc is bowling much better now. And doing it with a degree of consistency which was never there in his bowling prior to this season.

I am not denying they have improved. I just happen to think that more than whatever improvements they have had, as a bowling side, is the fact that their batsmen are helping them out so much more than they were same time last year. To me, it is the biggest differentiator. And while Starc is much more consistent across spells this season, I think he has bowled much tougher spells for batsmen to face even last year a couple of times. And when it comes down to series winning performances, even one or two spells across different matches can make a bigger difference than consistent bowling across spells.

To reiterate, I am not denying improvements can happen over even a short period of time but it is my observation that it is the batting improvement that is helping out their bowling side much more than any technical changes they have done. And I believe it is a very important factor that is often overlooked when talking about bowling attacks. It is just so so much more tough to carry the weight as a strike bowler in a poor batting side than it is with a great batting side.

 

[Burgey]

Agree with Hb here. Awful thought but he’s done the broken clock and is right here.

There’s no doubt imo that having Warner and smith back combined with Labushagne’s arrival has made life so much easier for the bowlers imo. You can bowl as well as you like, but if you have spuds like Marcus Harris setting totals of 180-250 instead of 350-500 like the current mob, it makes a massive difference.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Simon Harmer and/or Kyle Abbott announce their intention to qualify for England.

I thought both of them had already stated their intention for it.

I'm pretty sure Harmer already has. I read something about him trying to get his visa backdated or something like that.

Maybe not quite such a ballsy shout after all then.

I’d love to play for England. I think I’ve shown I have the potential, ability and work ethic to play international cricket again.

I’ve certainly proved it to myself because you do wonder if you are good enough. I feel I am now, but how can I proclaim to be the best off-spinner in the world when I’m not competing on the international stage? Perhaps one day in the future that could change.

Doesn't sound like a lack of self-confidence will hold the boy back.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Agree with Hb here. Awful thought but he’s done the broken clock and is right here.

There’s no doubt imo that having Warner and smith back combined with Labushagne’s arrival has made life so much easier for the bowlers imo. You can bowl as well as you like, but if you have spuds like Marcus Harris setting totals of 180-250 instead of 350-500 like the current mob, it makes a massive difference.

While it's no doubt true that the improved batting has helped the bowlers out recently I don't feel this applies to this particular situation since we're comparing the current Australian side to the one that played India earlier in the year. In that series, Australia were always on the back foot because India were batting first and putting up big scores. It actually worked the other way around to what you're saying , it was the batsmen that suffered in that series because the bowlers weren't restricting India at all in the first innings. The scoreboard pressure on Australia's lineup was immense in the last 2 tests. If australia had actually batted first and been shot out for 200 and lost, I'd have agreed with you, but that didn't happen.

 

[stephen]

Nah the problem was that they were roads and India's batsmen were very good. But then we had a couple of useless Victorians opening and causing massive collapses which weren't arrested by Smith. Then the exhausted bowlers were out again for another day and a half. That MCG track was woeful and really broke the bowlers in the first innings.

Full credit to Pujara as well who showed that he was a better version of Dravid than Dravid in Australia.

 

[NotMcKenzie]

I'm not disputing that having a quality batting side will help bowlers, but effects run both ways. India batted first in the three tests they won, and so it was up to the Australian bowlers to try strike the first blow, which might thereby take pressure off the batsmen. They restricted India well enough in the first test, not so well in the last two.

People weight different things differently, but my belief is that you get out what you put in to a certain extent, and this is at least as influential, particularly in Tests where you have long to try assert one's influence or turn things around. In Aus vs NZ, Wagner and Blundell (in Melb 2nd Inns) have been able to get quite a bit out in spite of their team's overall weakness. Of course, if your best simply can't come up to the standard required for those circumstances (e.g. Warner in England, many people in India, or Indians outside the SC), you won't perform, and people may perform tirelessly without reward (or poor reward, called doing a Doug Wright), but it shows up over a series.

As an example, the big reason I found Watson frustrating is that whether we were doing poorly or brilliantly, he never seemed to me to have the application to consistantly perform at a level comensurate with his ability.

 

[honestbharani]

But if India batting first is what made such a difference then how can you say Australia improved with any great certainty when they have been batting first all this time too, except for 1 test.

 

[NUFAN]

Of course McGrath is going to be more bullish about the Test attack now compared to last year, because they are getting teams out easier. Plus they are obviously more experienced now compared to what they were a year ago and have more test wickets/established.

So no, I don't find it funny that he is saying it now.

 

[marc71178]

I am not denying they have improved.

Yes, context indeed is key but not in the way you are stating it. I don't think anyone suddenly became better bowlers or coaches but what has surely helped is the fact that your batsmen bat better and allow time for your bowlers and allow them to attack. Obviously batting first in all 3 tests against NZ is a big help too. Like I said, the context is definitely lacking in McGrath's statement but I was pointing out how much the better batting is helping the same bowling line up look so much better.

Make your mind up

 

[honestbharani]

Make your mind up

Mild improvements and "much" better bowlers, if it pleases the overlord of useless quips in CW....

 

[NotMcKenzie]

But if India batting first is what made such a difference then how can you say Australia improved with any great certainty when they have been batting first all this time too, except for 1 test.

I did not say batting first made such a difference, I am saying that the reason for a comparatively poorer bowling performance cannot be put (at least entirely) on a weaker batting side.

In those tests, they bowled without being up against trying to retrict India to a small lead due to batting failures: the batsmen had not batted yet, so one could not be so demoralised by a poor batting performance, especially in Melbourne where we had won the previous test (although the heavy roller would have been much more productively used on the MCG groundstaff than the MCG pitch).

My observations from watching Australia's bowlers were that they were generally not putting so much thinking into their bowling. I first thought our bowling looked listless and unenthusiastic in Perth, and that was the test we won: it was at least lacking in apparent planning. It was as if they were saying to themselves, "I'm a 145 km/h, 6'5", supremely talented fast bowler on Australian pitches against India. If I bowl enough at them, and aggressively too, my sheer speed and bounce and manliness will be enough to get them." I mentioned this in the tour thread at the end of the tour. In the last two tests particularly, we let India get away from us, while India were prepared to bowl negatively and dry up our scoring.

Although we are playing much weaker opponents, I think we are currently doing better at sticking to plans and lines and not bowling loose deliveries, and the need for thinking persistance versus unthinking persistance, especially when it comes to bowling short.

I've based this not off comparison of win/loss or of who was batting first or anything, but my impressions of play in each of the tests.

Obviously, we'll see if McGrath is speaking too soon or not when India come here again.

 

[honestbharani]

I think we can see it sooner than that because I think the real test of your bowling attack will be bowling away from home. Most good attacks work out the best way to take wickets in home conditions. It takes a truly great one to keep doing it overseas.

I obviously do not see the improvements being the cause of them suddenly being able to dominate games, at least not as much as their improved batting side, but we will just agree to disagree I guess. Either way, we will find out in due course.

 

[vcs]

Agreed that they are doing a great job of sticking to plans and giving absolutely nothing away. You could see that in the Ashes as well, English batsmen had to work incredibly hard for their runs in every single match.

 

[stephen]

I honestly don't think this Aus attack will Have trouble talking wickets away from home. Cummins has been excellent everywhere since he got recalled in India. Starc has the ability to take wickets anywhere. Hazlewood and Pattinson are a little less proven away but outside India and the UAE I don't think the bowlers will have too much trouble overseas. India's their biggest challenge.

 

[JBMAC]

Steve Smith will not Captain Australia after Paine. Pat Cummins will. Joe Burns and Travis Head have played their Last Test Matches. there is something for you chew on.

 

[Daemon]

Big call on Head

Burns will most likely stat as well imo

 

[GoodAreasShane]

If Head is discarded now then he will go down as one of the most unlucky cricketer of recent Australian history, overtaking his longtime Redbacks teammate and good friend Callum Ferguson.

Also I see almost nothing to suggest Cummins is a captain in the waiting

 

[NUFAN]

- Shaun Marsh retires from International Cricket only for the general public to say 'I thought he had already retired'

- During the first round of the T20 World Cup, someone will make a poor oh man/Oman joke.

- Markram will change his name to markraM.

- England will win the T20 World Cup

- Will Young will score 132 on Test debut

- An umpire will call an international cricketer for chucking during a game.

- The third ever tied Test will happen

- A cricketer (not Siddle) will come out of international retirement and perform.

- Lahiru Kumara will get a hattrick

- The womens world cup final will be played in front of 80,000 and the pay gap (at least in Australia will narrow) announced after Australias World Cup win/successful hosting of the tournament.

Chris Green was the overseas player in many tournaments. Yessss 1/10 confirmed and I did hear Markram is almost there too. My year

 

[MrPrez]

Imagine an SA team where a non-out-of-form Maharaj and Simon Harmer are competing for the spinner spot.

Imagine.

 

[Jezroy]

NZ to go on a great run in test cricket, winning the following

Ind - 1-0
Ban - 2-0
WI - 2-0
Pak - 2-0

Wouldn’t be enough to qualify for the Test Championship final though...