The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

[Flamethrower]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

Reckon the South African quicks will destroy Bancroft's career.

A straight swap with Joe Burns would be a much better option, or alternatively, open Uzzie, bat the skipper or Shaun Marsh at 3 with Handscomb at 4 or 5.

[Bornadog]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

5 of the 6 batsman have made scores of 50 plus and the 2 at the crease are obviously not out.

Is this another flat wicket, or England's bowlers not bowling well? Spinners have been hit all over the place.

[GVGjr]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

Is this another flat wicket, or England's bowlers not bowling well? Spinners have been hit all over the place.

Day 3 should be flat. Lets see how it looks tomorrow. Their spin bowlers haven't been good.

One over to go, S.Marsh on 97

[Twodogs]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

Burns has done most to merit Bancroft's spot and there is no more shield cricket for anyone to find form.

We certainly have a fixture that prevents any player outside the test team really put a case forward for selection.

Agreed. Burns is next cab off the ranks in terms of form and it's his turn again.

After an exceptionally slow start Mitch Marsh powered to a 50 off 64 deliveries with 6 x 4's and 2 x 6's

114 up at the moment.

Never seen anything like it. It took Mitch ages to get off the mark but then it was like somebody poked him with a stick or something and he went bezerk.

[GVGjr]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

Agreed. Burns is next cab off the ranks in terms of form and it's his turn again.

From memory you weren't sold on Burns as an opener and thought he had trouble against the new ball and had poor footwork

On top of that I seem to recall that he played deep in his crease much like Handscomb making him susceptible to LBW dismissals

I haven't seen enough of him of late but does anyone know if he has actually improved since he last played for Australia?

He's made 10K first class runs with an average of 38 and while in the past batsman with that type of average would be ignored it doesn't rule him out now and more likely it confirms he is close to selection.

I'm not sure why but I thought he was better suited to the middle order and that the selection of Handscomb pushed him well down the order.

[lemmon]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

I've always preferred Burns in the middle order - think he's an excellent player - but the cupboard is pretty bare at the top.

Renshaw hasn't made a run since being dropped and Burns is the form opener in the Shield, think he has to be picked.

Only other option would be shifting S Marsh up. Something I'd be pretty loathed to do with the way he's played some key roles in the middle order.

[lemmon]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

I've always preferred Burns in the middle order - think he's an excellent player - but the cupboard is pretty bare at the top.

Renshaw hasn't made a run since being dropped and Burns is the form opener in the Shield, think he has to be picked.

Only other option would be shifting S Marsh up. Something I'd be pretty loathed to do with the way he's played some key roles in the middle order.

[Flamethrower]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

That's your catch Tim Paine - have a look at how Quinton de Kock does it.

[Bornadog]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

Renshaw hasn't made a run since being dropped and Burns is the form opener in the Shield, think he has to be picked.

No Shield matches have been played for the last two months doesn't help.

[GVGjr]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

Is this another flat wicket, or England's bowlers not bowling well? Spinners have been hit all over the place.

There is a bit in it for the bowlers on day 4. Lyon has bowled particularly well.

[Twodogs]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

From memory you weren't sold on Burns as an opener and thought he had trouble against the new ball and had poor footwork

On top of that I seem to recall that he played deep in his crease much like Handscomb making him susceptible to LBW dismissals

I haven't seen enough of him of late but does anyone know if he has actually improved since he last played for Australia?

He's made 10K first class runs with an average of 38 and while in the past batsman with that type of average would be ignored it doesn't rule him out now and more likely it confirms he is close to selection.

I'm not sure why but I thought he was better suited to the middle order and that the selection of Handscomb pushed him well down the order.

My main objection was his lack of experience opening but he's gone back to Shield cricket and has good form as an opener at the next level down.

[lemmon]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

Root hospitalised with dehydration. May not bat first thing this morning.

[Bornadog]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

Man of the match, Pat Cummings, man of the series Smith

[Twodogs]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

Smith being the player of the series must have been a fairly easy call to make.

I have a mental image of Joe Root laying on a massage table, his face contorted with distress and pleading with them to fly Ben Stokes over for the One day series at least!

[GVGjr]

Re: The Ashes - 5th Test SCG, January 4th, 2018

4 nil result, England did not measure up as a quality opponent.

Our fielding was poor by our standards so there is still plenty of area's to improve.