Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
No they were 141 runs ahead overnight so couldn't win by more lol
Cricket
- Thread starter summerisle
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No they were 141 runs ahead overnight so couldn't win by more lol
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
Australian centuries by calendar year:
2001 23
2002 18
2003 25
2004 22
2005 21
2006 19
2007 6 (4 Tests)
2008 19
2009 15
2010 12
2011 8
2012 15
2013 13
2014 16
2015 21
2016 12
2017 15
2018 4
I think this illustrates the issues the Aussies have had in replacing Smith and Warner.
Every side would struggle but that is quite a stark drop off.
2001 23
2002 18
2003 25
2004 22
2005 21
2006 19
2007 6 (4 Tests)
2008 19
2009 15
2010 12
2011 8
2012 15
2013 13
2014 16
2015 21
2016 12
2017 15
2018 4
I think this illustrates the issues the Aussies have had in replacing Smith and Warner.
Every side would struggle but that is quite a stark drop off.
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
Review of the year
Aside from Australia who won't want to dwell on their annus horribilis, it's been a truly exceptional year for test cricket, one which has marked the renaissance of the format with excitement returning, bowlers on top and decisive results in 89.5% of matches, statistically the most result-oriented year in the history of cricket, a year to savour.
Variety in pitches is central to cricket's allure. After a decade and a half of CEO's pitches - ones designed to last the most television hours - home advantage has come back with a vengeance, and it's been advantage bowlers. The ball has turned more in the subcontinent, seamed more in England and South Africa, and even Adelaide is no more the batting paradise it used to be. The average number of runs scored per wicket in 2018 was 27.58, the lowest since 1959.
Unheralded New Zealand have statistically been the most successful winning all three series they've been involved in, including an historic win away in the UAE against Pakistan. Unfortunately the two home 'series' wins were both of the nature of two consecutive tests that somehow were deemed to constitute a series, a modern day blight that hasn't gone away and in my eyes tarnishes their achievement.
India had the most difficult away schedule with tours to South Africa (lost 2-1), England (lost 4-1) and Australia (winning 2-1), in virtually all they have been competitive often creating opportunities to win and do now possess a formidable array of seamers that have them right on the verge of a series victory in Australia for the very first time, what an achievement that would be.
England have had a hugely successful second half to the year following last winter's ashes debacle. The Stokes affair didnt help and simmered on in the background, but with him restored they won another decisive home series against India and might have surprised even themselves by careening to a 3-0 win in Sri Lanka.
South Africa have proved dominant at home, although only beating India by 2-1, they did take control against Australia once the sandpaper scandal broke and now have easily beaten a poor Pakistan side who seem to be suffering following consecutive series losses.
The year has seen the retirement of two of the games' iconic figures..
Sri Lanka's veteran spinner Rangana Herath who spent most of his career in the shadow of the legend Murali, only to finally flower and blossom when he had to fill the breach, a wily and clever practitioner who achieved remarkable results without ever being a huge turner of the ball.
Here are own Alastair Cook signed off the way he began, with a Test hundred against India, and having provided the perfect example of why batting isn't always what it appears to be. He retired as the most prolific England batsman in history, and among the most significant. His career was a triumph of will. He was also the most human of top athletes: his bat didn't sing, he knew it, and he spoke about being beset with self-doubt throughout his career.
Mental skills are as vital to batting as physical ones. The greatest in the game have had plenty of both, but because batting requires the utmost focus and stillness of mind ball after ball, hour after hour, and sometimes day after day, natural stroke-making can never adequately compensate for a lack of mental acuity. India's Chetashwar Pujara seems to be a young man who has been cut from the same cloth, those attributes of concentration, patience and leaving the ball well to accumulate while others fall will continue to have a place in test cricket and continue to be invaluable assets.
Aside from Australia who won't want to dwell on their annus horribilis, it's been a truly exceptional year for test cricket, one which has marked the renaissance of the format with excitement returning, bowlers on top and decisive results in 89.5% of matches, statistically the most result-oriented year in the history of cricket, a year to savour.
Variety in pitches is central to cricket's allure. After a decade and a half of CEO's pitches - ones designed to last the most television hours - home advantage has come back with a vengeance, and it's been advantage bowlers. The ball has turned more in the subcontinent, seamed more in England and South Africa, and even Adelaide is no more the batting paradise it used to be. The average number of runs scored per wicket in 2018 was 27.58, the lowest since 1959.
Unheralded New Zealand have statistically been the most successful winning all three series they've been involved in, including an historic win away in the UAE against Pakistan. Unfortunately the two home 'series' wins were both of the nature of two consecutive tests that somehow were deemed to constitute a series, a modern day blight that hasn't gone away and in my eyes tarnishes their achievement.
India had the most difficult away schedule with tours to South Africa (lost 2-1), England (lost 4-1) and Australia (winning 2-1), in virtually all they have been competitive often creating opportunities to win and do now possess a formidable array of seamers that have them right on the verge of a series victory in Australia for the very first time, what an achievement that would be.
England have had a hugely successful second half to the year following last winter's ashes debacle. The Stokes affair didnt help and simmered on in the background, but with him restored they won another decisive home series against India and might have surprised even themselves by careening to a 3-0 win in Sri Lanka.
South Africa have proved dominant at home, although only beating India by 2-1, they did take control against Australia once the sandpaper scandal broke and now have easily beaten a poor Pakistan side who seem to be suffering following consecutive series losses.
The year has seen the retirement of two of the games' iconic figures..
Sri Lanka's veteran spinner Rangana Herath who spent most of his career in the shadow of the legend Murali, only to finally flower and blossom when he had to fill the breach, a wily and clever practitioner who achieved remarkable results without ever being a huge turner of the ball.
Here are own Alastair Cook signed off the way he began, with a Test hundred against India, and having provided the perfect example of why batting isn't always what it appears to be. He retired as the most prolific England batsman in history, and among the most significant. His career was a triumph of will. He was also the most human of top athletes: his bat didn't sing, he knew it, and he spoke about being beset with self-doubt throughout his career.
Mental skills are as vital to batting as physical ones. The greatest in the game have had plenty of both, but because batting requires the utmost focus and stillness of mind ball after ball, hour after hour, and sometimes day after day, natural stroke-making can never adequately compensate for a lack of mental acuity. India's Chetashwar Pujara seems to be a young man who has been cut from the same cloth, those attributes of concentration, patience and leaving the ball well to accumulate while others fall will continue to have a place in test cricket and continue to be invaluable assets.
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
India bring back Umesh for Ishant who is carrying a strain and not considered fit enough for the final test. Kuldeep is also included and may be the second spinner with Ashwin's fitness still an issue despite both being named in the squad. KL Rahul returns for the unavailable Rohit Sharma.
Australia are anticipating the return of Steve Smith and David Warner to greatly strengthen their batting later in the year and as captain Tim Paine admits have picked accordingly with half an eye on the longer term and the Ashes, so very much a balancing act.
If there was ever a statement that clearly shows where Australia's real focus is, and will always be, this is it, no series comes near to the Ashes in importance for Australians.
"We want to try and settle guys who we think will play long-term in their positions looking forward into the next series and then into the Ashes, we want to settle guys in their positions so as little a disruption as we can have to that or the better in that sense, but at the same time we've got to find the best XI to win this Test as well, so it's a bit of a balancing act.....
......Obviously we want to pick the best XI that we think can win this Test. At the same time you're trying to look forward a little bit ...
..."There's always going to be a little bit of a balancing act - I know I've probably answered it in two different ways, and a lot of people who are critical of selection processes won't like that, but they're just the plain facts. That's what it is. We want to pick the best team. You always got to have a little bit of an eye to the future and what's coming up at the same time."
Having been distracted in Melbourne by the hubbub around Smith and Cameron Bancroft speaking at length about their roles in the Newlands scandal that also featured Warner as a central player, the Australians and their captain Tim Paine have now openly acknowledged the need for the senior pair to be reintegrated as quickly as possible. With that in mind, and also the struggles of Finch at the top, it appeared likely that Marcus Harris would be accompanied by Usman Khawaja at the top of the order, while Marnus Labuschagne and Peter Handscomb would be recalled.
Mitchell Marsh will be the other player to drop out of the XI, as Paine talked up Labuschange's wrist spin as the fifth bowling option on a Sydney pitch that, in addition to being the first traditional Test surface of the summer, will be expected to take increasing amounts of spin as the game goes on. Paine, who could not have imagined this time a year ago that he would be leading Australia's Test side, said that a need for stability this year while also keeping room for the suspended duo was at the forefront of his mind.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/ ... ture-needs
So once again the toss of a coin should be absolutely match determining for me...
If Australia win it they have a chance to win despite their obvious batting frailties, lose it and it's effectively all over as a contest and a huge celebratory one sided slaughter will likely be their fate.
Batting last at Sydney is not an option.
Australia are anticipating the return of Steve Smith and David Warner to greatly strengthen their batting later in the year and as captain Tim Paine admits have picked accordingly with half an eye on the longer term and the Ashes, so very much a balancing act.
If there was ever a statement that clearly shows where Australia's real focus is, and will always be, this is it, no series comes near to the Ashes in importance for Australians.
"We want to try and settle guys who we think will play long-term in their positions looking forward into the next series and then into the Ashes, we want to settle guys in their positions so as little a disruption as we can have to that or the better in that sense, but at the same time we've got to find the best XI to win this Test as well, so it's a bit of a balancing act.....
......Obviously we want to pick the best XI that we think can win this Test. At the same time you're trying to look forward a little bit ...
..."There's always going to be a little bit of a balancing act - I know I've probably answered it in two different ways, and a lot of people who are critical of selection processes won't like that, but they're just the plain facts. That's what it is. We want to pick the best team. You always got to have a little bit of an eye to the future and what's coming up at the same time."
Having been distracted in Melbourne by the hubbub around Smith and Cameron Bancroft speaking at length about their roles in the Newlands scandal that also featured Warner as a central player, the Australians and their captain Tim Paine have now openly acknowledged the need for the senior pair to be reintegrated as quickly as possible. With that in mind, and also the struggles of Finch at the top, it appeared likely that Marcus Harris would be accompanied by Usman Khawaja at the top of the order, while Marnus Labuschagne and Peter Handscomb would be recalled.
Mitchell Marsh will be the other player to drop out of the XI, as Paine talked up Labuschange's wrist spin as the fifth bowling option on a Sydney pitch that, in addition to being the first traditional Test surface of the summer, will be expected to take increasing amounts of spin as the game goes on. Paine, who could not have imagined this time a year ago that he would be leading Australia's Test side, said that a need for stability this year while also keeping room for the suspended duo was at the forefront of his mind.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/ ... ture-needs
So once again the toss of a coin should be absolutely match determining for me...
If Australia win it they have a chance to win despite their obvious batting frailties, lose it and it's effectively all over as a contest and a huge celebratory one sided slaughter will likely be their fate.
Batting last at Sydney is not an option.
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
India won the toss and win the series 3-1, a great and historic achievement
Australia will be looking forward to welcoming their stars back all the more after this toss. For them now its all about the ashes, even if they have Sri Lanka at home next, and there's little doubt David Warner and Steve Smith will be straight back in.
(Possibly Cameron Bancroft too by then)
Australia will be looking forward to welcoming their stars back all the more after this toss. For them now its all about the ashes, even if they have Sri Lanka at home next, and there's little doubt David Warner and Steve Smith will be straight back in.
(Possibly Cameron Bancroft too by then)
tsubaki
Player Valuation: £90m
Nothing would sum up the state of Australian cricket more than them rolling out the red carpet for Warner. I can sort of understand Smith getting back in (though never to be captain again, with no fuss made and not so soon), but Warner was at the heart of what went on, he planned it, had almost certainly spent years doing it himself and has loads of other marks on his card as it is.
That they have been abject without them should really have made those who run the game over there ask why that was, why there is (and hasn’t been for some time) not the quality coming through into the Test side there once was and trying to fix it rather than marking off time before the biggest cheat in the game can play for them again. Is there any reason they couldn’t do a West Indies and go on a big decline?
I shudder to think what the Ashes will be like if Warner turns up, I mean no one really likes them even at the best of times, but he (and they) will be genuinely hated.
That they have been abject without them should really have made those who run the game over there ask why that was, why there is (and hasn’t been for some time) not the quality coming through into the Test side there once was and trying to fix it rather than marking off time before the biggest cheat in the game can play for them again. Is there any reason they couldn’t do a West Indies and go on a big decline?
I shudder to think what the Ashes will be like if Warner turns up, I mean no one really likes them even at the best of times, but he (and they) will be genuinely hated.
The quality coming through into the state sides has dropped off alarmingly, a lot blame the rise of the big bash which is probably partially correct but there's more to it than that I suspect. As for answers I don't think anyone has any
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
Australia have usually put winning first, cricket is so much part of the national psyché that it's almost essential.
For me these players have served their sentence and should be allowed back, however distasteful that is, they've been caught out cheating and there's no doubt Warner was the main protagonist and have been heavily punished.
It wasn't drug taking and although this was an extreme example of ball tampering using unnatural means, it has gone on with boiled sweets or dirt before, it's not so heinous that a life ban was the only suitable punishment.
Warner is far from an angel and isn't liked one bit by an awful lot of people but moral character isn't the only arbiter of selection for Australia, the cupboard is alarmingly bare, the replacements mediocre at best, the batting line up just a collapse waiting to happen, Australia need to be competitive, they need to win, there was never any doubt in my mind that they would all be welcomed back.
Why the desperate shortage of any reserves of quality and why have they been so reduced to promoting mediocrity? This can partially be put down to the changing nature of priorities for young upcoming cricketers with the shorter game being so much more lucrative and the Big Bash far bigger than any equivalent over here. The lack of opportunity at the highest level is also a factor, both Smith and Warner have been the first names on the team sheet for a long time. It's a big step up from Shield cricket and some have just been too green and found wanting either in temperament or ability. There is no real answer though just a collection of possible ones. With Smith and Warner back the huge hole will be filled and they will be a strong side once again, these two are good enough to completely transform them.
It's true India has the IPL but they're virtually a one sport nation, cricket is almost life there, everyone plays and religiously follows it, their international cricketers are like Gods and the population vast.
For me these players have served their sentence and should be allowed back, however distasteful that is, they've been caught out cheating and there's no doubt Warner was the main protagonist and have been heavily punished.
It wasn't drug taking and although this was an extreme example of ball tampering using unnatural means, it has gone on with boiled sweets or dirt before, it's not so heinous that a life ban was the only suitable punishment.
Warner is far from an angel and isn't liked one bit by an awful lot of people but moral character isn't the only arbiter of selection for Australia, the cupboard is alarmingly bare, the replacements mediocre at best, the batting line up just a collapse waiting to happen, Australia need to be competitive, they need to win, there was never any doubt in my mind that they would all be welcomed back.
Why the desperate shortage of any reserves of quality and why have they been so reduced to promoting mediocrity? This can partially be put down to the changing nature of priorities for young upcoming cricketers with the shorter game being so much more lucrative and the Big Bash far bigger than any equivalent over here. The lack of opportunity at the highest level is also a factor, both Smith and Warner have been the first names on the team sheet for a long time. It's a big step up from Shield cricket and some have just been too green and found wanting either in temperament or ability. There is no real answer though just a collection of possible ones. With Smith and Warner back the huge hole will be filled and they will be a strong side once again, these two are good enough to completely transform them.
It's true India has the IPL but they're virtually a one sport nation, cricket is almost life there, everyone plays and religiously follows it, their international cricketers are like Gods and the population vast.
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Cricket in general is nowhere near as popular as it was when I was growing up in the 90's as well. I remember you had to get tickets for a one day match at the SCG months in advance or they'd sell out, now the ground is lucky to be half full.
rochdaleblue
Player Valuation: £50m
That’s the state of the game in general. It’s only in England where you see decent crowds for test matches and most ODIs sold out. Too much cricket, the introduction of the T20 format, who knows why crowds are down. But you are right cricket isn’t as popular as it was in most of the cricketing world.
This
Especially if he hits poor form.
When the Aussie bowlers failed the batters pulled them out of it and vice verse, now they're both bang average couldnt pull skins off a rice pudding*sniggers in richard dastardly manner
stannyr
Player Valuation: £1m
Nice one @Chris O'Connor. The average individual and team scores in test cricket are massively down, largely because of conditions but also because of the lack of First Class cricket and preparation?
I strongly believe that although there are more balls with your name on it these days, the quality of enduring first class batting is poor across the globe.
That said, you have to give props to Root and England for accepting that and trying to embrace it, albeit with sterner tests on the horizon.
I strongly believe that although there are more balls with your name on it these days, the quality of enduring first class batting is poor across the globe.
That said, you have to give props to Root and England for accepting that and trying to embrace it, albeit with sterner tests on the horizon.
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
Yes although tbf the Aussie bowlers are in a decent shape especially Pat Cummins who took 9 wickets in the last test and scored around 80 runs, Nathan Lyon won them a test match too.
I would almost exclusively say its the batting that is by a huge margin their weakest link and one which will be vastly improved following the reintroduction of their banned trio, especially Smith and Warner.
tsubaki
Player Valuation: £90m
I can't believe I am typing this, but you would think people would look at what the ECB have done (admittedly ignoring that "the hundred" nonsense) as an example of how to sustainably and profitably grow cricket in a country; ie: not try to out-IPL the IPL, ensure the county game is producing quality test players, ensure the Test side is ran properly, focus on the advantages that local conditions provide and ensure local people want to and can go and watch them.
They've extended the big bash season here too and I think the novelty has worn off somewhat as well so it's gonna be funny to watch the greedy gets self implode