2018 Tour of South Africa

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

On a positive note the team that has a player who nearly murdered someone got beat 1 Nil in NZ.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Khawaja and both March brothers averaged in the low 20's for the series. They didn't stand up when it counted.

It's going to be a long 12 months unless we can find a couple of hardened cricketers who put some value on their wicket

[Twodogs]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Khawaja and both March brothers averaged in the low 20's for the series. They didn't stand up when it counted.

It's going to be a long 12 months unless we can find a couple of hardened cricketers who put some value on their wicket

I think we only have one test between now and the summer so it will still likely be a problem when we go into that.

[westdog54]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Did McGrath step on a ball during the warm up to the first test and tear his ankle ligaments? It's ironic that he puts so much strain on those exact ligaments absorbing most of the shock of his delivery stride thousands of times over his career but he steps on a ball and the joint falls apart.

TBH he could probably not bothered with the run up and just stood there and bowl just as effectively. McGrath was the type of player who just found a way.

2nd Test in 05. England won that test by two runs. In a twist of fate it was McGrath's replacement, Michael Kasprowicz, that was the last man to fall. Was one of the great test matches.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

2nd Test in 05. England won that test by two runs. In a twist of fate it was McGrath's replacement, Michael Kasprowicz, that was the last man to fall. Was one of the great test matches.

i

I watched the last day of the series in a pub in Nimbin. Can't say I had a real strong grasp on what was going on.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

All three players will not be challenging the severity of the punishments.

[ledge]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

All three players will not be challenging the severity of the punishments.

Of course not because if they did they would be going against the people who employ them and they would be shut out completely.

The smart thing is they didn't charge them with ball tampering they charged them with bringing the game into disrepute and none of us could argue against that.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Of course not because if they did they would be going against the people who employ them and they would be shut out completely.

The smart thing is they didn't charge them with ball tampering they charged them with bringing the game into disrepute and none of us could argue against that.

Workers appeal against their employers every day. Do you really think that in the full glare of publicity that CA would stop an employee's right to appeal or even punish them for taking up their rights?

[ledge]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Workers appeal against their employers every day. Do you really think that in the full glare of publicity that CA would stop an employee's right to appeal or even punish them for taking up their rights?

It's pretty easy not to pick a player in the Australian side , don't need an excuse, they have been leaving out players who deserve to be in the side for years.
They just don't pick you.

[Greystache]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

I heard an interesting theory being proposed. Steve Smith's Mum is originally English and he's eligible for a British passport. He could conceivably move to England, play county cricket, sit out a couple of extra years of international cricket voluntarily, qualify for England and return to Test cricket with them. He'd be 32ish when he's eligible.

It's not as far fetched as it might sound. We know England has no moral code, they'll play anyone from anywhere if they think it'll help them win a match. They've currently got a West Indian fast bowler sitting out of international cricket while he re-qualifies with them. Smith would also benefit mentally from having the national population and press supporting him rather than trying to tear him down. Even more bizarrely with a few well placed comments criticizing Australian culture when he played an Ashes series he'd actually have the non-cricket following Australian population on his side too, and by virtue of playing against Australia he'd have the Australian media supporting him also. He'd probably relish the remaining years he had in the game.

Talk is he's getting ready to saddle up in country cricket shortly, so there may be some substance to it. I think it's what I'd do if I were him.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

I heard an interesting theory being proposed. Steve Smith's Mum is originally English and he's eligible for a British passport. He could conceivably move to England, play county cricket, sit out a couple of extra years of international cricket voluntarily, qualify for England and return to Test cricket with them. He'd be 32ish when he's eligible.

It's not as far fetched as it might sound. We know England has no moral code, they'll play anyone from anywhere if they think it'll help them win a match. They've currently got a West Indian fast bowler sitting out of international cricket while he re-qualifies with them. Smith would also benefit mentally from having the national population and press supporting him rather than trying to tear him down. Even more bizarrely with a few well placed comments criticizing Australian culture when he played an Ashes series he'd actually have the non-cricket following Australian population on his side too, and by virtue of playing against Australia he'd have the Australian media supporting him also. He'd probably relish the remaining years he had in the game.

Talk is he's getting ready to saddle up in country cricket shortly, so there may be some substance to it. I think it's what I'd do if I were him.

He should at minimum play county cricket

[Twodogs]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

I heard an interesting theory being proposed. Steve Smith's Mum is originally English and he's eligible for a British passport. He could conceivably move to England, play county cricket, sit out a couple of extra years of international cricket voluntarily, qualify for England and return to Test cricket with them. He'd be 32ish when he's eligible.

It's not as far fetched as it might sound. We know England has no moral code, they'll play anyone from anywhere if they think it'll help them win a match. They've currently got a West Indian fast bowler sitting out of international cricket while he re-qualifies with them. Smith would also benefit mentally from having the national population and press supporting him rather than trying to tear him down. Even more bizarrely with a few well placed comments criticizing Australian culture when he played an Ashes series he'd actually have the non-cricket following Australian population on his side too, and by virtue of playing against Australia he'd have the Australian media supporting him also. He'd probably relish the remaining years he had in the game.

Talk is he's getting ready to saddle up in country cricket shortly, so there may be some substance to it. I think it's what I'd do if I were him.

I wouldn't blame him. The modern day Billy Murdoch.

[Topdog]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Lol the English press being on English players sides

[GVGjr]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

I see Michael Clarke has put his hand up to return to the Australian Cricket team if needed.
My guess is the CA will be interested.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

I see Michael Clarke has put his hand up to return to the Australian Cricket team if needed.
My guess is the CA will be interested.

Clarke was putting his hand up before Bancroft had finished scratching the ball. I dunno, he wants it just a bit too much for my liking, he's a bit too keen.

He sounds to me like someone who remembers all the good things about being the captain of Australia but has forgotten all the things that made him give it away in the first place. The last thing we need is a fantisicist leading Australia.