CRICKET General Cricket Discussion - 2023/24

[Sproj]

That is all the domestic cricket the test hopefuls will play before the series.

1. Khawaja
2. TBD
3. Labuschagne
4. Smith
5. Head
6. Marsh/TBD
7. Carey
8. Cummins
9. Starc
10. Lyon
11. Hazlewood

12. Boland
13. TBD

Options:

Marcus Harris:
4 Innings - 237 runs @ 59.25 - HS 142 - 1 100's - 1 50's

Junction Oval specialist. At 32 his 607 runs @ 25.29 with 3 50's 0 100's at test level is enough to just say no. He has played some big series so I think thats probably his final push for the test arena. Needs to top score comfortably in the A series to be the pick for mine.

Cameron Bancroft:
4 innings - 10 runs @ 2.5

I think he is probably out. If the previous 2 seasons wasn't enough to get him his spot he is going to need some daddy hundreds in the 2 A games to get the spot now.

Sam Konstas:
4 innings - 302 runs @ 75.50 - HS 152 - 2 100's - 0 50's

He has the runs on the board if he can put up convincing numbers again in the A series he is within a shot. I think its probably to early but at the end of the day we are in need of an opener beyond the Green injury and I don't think we can do any worse than Harris and Bancroft. the 2 100's were sublimely impressive. The low score against vic was worrying but he bounced back with a hard fought 40 in trying times for NSW before a silly shot to get out. I think personally with how average Labuschagne and Smith have been you are throwing the poor kid to the wolves. I don't see a world where he is good enough for India's attack.

Josh Inglis:
4 innings - 1 no - 297 runs @ 99 - 85 SR - HS 122 - 2 100’s - 0 50’s

Tremendous start. Sadly for Inglis, Carey has matched it so he won’t be the keeper. I think if Konstas and McSweeney fail and he has a good one day series there’s every chance he gets the opener spot. I think he is a really classy batsman and we are struggling for openers. I am of the opinion that openers should be specialist or experienced but at the end of the day if they need an opener it’s probably more appropriate to keep marsh and head where they are and get Inglis who is the most proven batsman on an international stage albeit in white ball cricket but just as in form as the rest in red ball cricket the nod. I think he only gets the nod at opener if all else fails in the A series and I think he is likely to be the squad batter/keeper if he is not in the side just be cause he covers two birds with one stone.

Nathan McSweeney:
4 innings - 1 no - 291 runs @ 97 - 1 100’s 2 50’s

I think he has the most potential of the lot of them, I think he is the most technically sound, limited weaknesses. In the best form. He has faced the most balls comfortably with 637. He just smacked a hundred again today on white ball cricket. Team of the year in both shield and marsh one day last year. Young. I think he is the most well rounded option in terms of I think he is the classiest, most ready, most likely to succeed instantly and you get the most out of blooding him beyond this series in both red and one day set ups. My only shortfall for Nathan is he shouldn’t be an opener. To talented in a position we lack far to much talent in to throw him to the wolves at opener. I don’t think that’s a position you want him to be stuck batting because you have nobody else either. I think Marnus and Marsh are unlikely to open the batting and there his only entrances. I think if he is the most successful in the A series they don’t have a choice but to throw him in though. He is my pick I just can’t see a realistic path into this set up where he is batting in an ideal position so I think I would rather him miss out than risk his confidence.

Beau Webster:
3 innings - 151 runs @ 50.33 - HS 113 - 1 100’s and 0 50’s - 3 wickets @ 52.00

Had a terrific season last year but at 30 and in the position Australia does not lack options and talent I just don’t think he is good enough to put India and England to the sword at all let alone enough to warrant selection over marsh or other options who will prove to be me more valuable in the future. I like Beau I do but at the end of the day there are younger more valuable options for the teams future that have outperformed with the bat this season albeit in 1 extra innings each. On top of that Beau is just not a good enough bowler to force his way into this side through any of the possible avenues. Had he done what he had done for 2 or 3 seasons potentially we sit here and have a different discussion but it was 1 at the age of 30. Doesn’t help the AB medalist is in his spot either.

My power rankings
1. McSweeney
2. Konstas
3. Inglis
4. Harris
5. Webster
6. Bancroft

Most Realistic power rankings:
1. Konstas
2. Harris
3. McSweeney
4. Inglis
5. Bancroft
6. Webster

McSweeney also offers another decent part-time spin option as well.

 

[Fitzy]

McSweeney also offers another decent part-time spin option as well.

Yeah but I think with Head and Labuschagne that’s probably not going to be the deciding factor. Albeit I think his part-time spin is a class above the other 2’s.

 

[Sproj]

No Shami in the India test squad.

 

[Fitzy]

No Shami in the India test squad.

Harris and Bancrofts stocks decline massively now. 3 horse race you’d have to think now.

 

[Browny]

NZ with a good lead and the pitch is near unplayable

 

[Fernando]

Huge turn around from Pakistan after the 1st test pounding

 

[Bull Shark]

England AND India rolled..

 

[Fernando]

Australia's T20I squad vs Pakistan: Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

 

[Sproj]

No test guys so does that mean Hardie and Inglis aren’t in test contention?

 

[Fitzy]

No test guys so does that mean Hardie and Inglis aren’t in test contention?

I'd say Hardie was never in contention and recent comments from George Bailey have ruled Inglis out of the openers race.

Probably down to two now between Konstas and McSweeney.

 

[Sproj]

India A batting - 1/4 after 3 overs.

Buckingham got the wicket down the leg side, worst dismissal you can get as a batsman.

O'Neill the other bowler - bowling superbly.

1. Konstas
2. Harris
3. Bancroft
4. McSweeney (c)
5. Webster
6. Connolly
7. Philippe (wk)
8. O'Neill
9. Murphy
10. Doggett
11. Buckingham

So no Inglis or Davies game 1. Looks like the top 4 are in an opener bat off.

 

[Sproj]

NSW 3/19, Davies only got 1, he hasn't had a great start to the season.

Straker 2/15

 

[Fitzy]

SA vs Vic the game of the round looking at the players selected. Sangha not making the SA side with McSweeney and Head not there pretty much sums up his career fall. I assumed he was injured to some extent but reading an article the other day it seems that’s not the case.

 

[Sproj]

I'm surprised Dixon isn't debuting, I wonder why Victoria are holding him back. Unless of course he is injured.