Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

[GVGjr]

Lets keep all discussions on Australian cricket on the one thread
Tests, ODI and T20

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

First game in the T-20 WC v Sth Africa on Saturday.....should be a cracker!

[jeemak]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Lets keep all discussions on Australian cricket on the one thread
Tests, ODI and T20

Well perhaps merge the Langer thread I started into here. I know it's going to be a big task given the overwhelming response to date, but I reckon you're up to it.

[azabob]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Has James Pattison retired or not? Shame injuries didn’t allow him to show his best more consistently.

[jeemak]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Has James Pattison retired or not? Shame injuries didn’t allow him to show his best more consistently.

Seems so:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-retirement-shock-pattinson-hangs-up-baggy-green-20211020-p591pc.html

[Bornadog]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

[GVGjr]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Hasn't the depth reduced in Australian cricket? Normally there is a number of players in contention for each spot and now I'd think Head and Green are locks and it's a choice between Khawaja and Harris for the openers spot.

I don't think Swepson is a genuine contender and Abbott and Steketee are more or less better defined as emergencies. I think Boland, Neser and Richardson are around the mark.

Is there anyone really on the radar?

[Axe Man]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Hasn't the depth reduced in Australian cricket? Normally there is a number of players in contention for each spot and now I'd think Head and Green are locks and it's a choice between Khawaja and Harris for the openers spot.

I don't think Swepson is a genuine contender and Abbott and Steketee are more or less better defined as emergencies.

Is there anyone really on the radar?

It's a shame Pattinson's body didn't allow him another crack as I would have liked to have seen him rotate through the side. I think last summer showed we can't just play the 3 main quicks test after test.

Maddinson has been making plenty of runs for Victoria and could also be considered at some stage if an opening presents itself. Hopefully we see Pucovski at some point in the series.

[SquirrelGrip]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Hasn't the depth reduced in Australian cricket? Normally there is a number of players in contention for each spot and now I'd think Head and Green are locks and it's a choice between Khawaja and Harris for the openers spot.

I don't think Swepson is a genuine contender and Abbott and Steketee are more or less better defined as emergencies.I think Boland, Neser and Richardson are around the mark.


Is there anyone really on the radar?

Jye Richardson and Michael Neser are typically next off the mark, ahead of Abbott & Steketee. I wonder if Dodders brings something different to the table.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Jye Richardson and Michael Neser are typically next off the mark, ahead of Abbott & Steketee. I wonder if Dodders brings something different to the table.

Yep, Neser is out injured at the moment and Richardson is being eased back into it but you're right they're normally around the mark.
Boland has been in good form.

The depth of Australian cricket does appear to have dried up.
Wicket keeping wise we probably have Carey, Inglis and of course Wade in the mix but our batting depth isn't there and I question the logic of having our 3 front line pace bowlers playing T20 cricket unless we think this prepares them for the test series.

[jeemak]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Hey GVGjr, is the depth of talent bad or is it the lack of exposure at the right time to put pressure on the mainstays and fringe players when seasons start in Australia the issue?

Additionally, has selection that's lacked integrity for a few decades now turned generations of players off aspiring to be long format players? Or has the perception of the Australian cricket team as being either bullies or douchebags since the late nineties resulted in people being turned off from pushing kids into aspiring to be top level players?

Or is it a simple matter of participation at grass roots being insufficient and not promoted by a governing body too focused on short term cash via T20 scheduling at the expense of the long format?

It's actually a really interesting topic of discussion.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Hey GVGjr, is the depth of talent bad or is it the lack of exposure at the right time to put pressure on the mainstays and fringe players when seasons start in Australia the issue?

Additionally, has selection that's lacked integrity for a few decades now turned generations of players off aspiring to be long format players? Or has the perception of the Australian cricket team as being either bullies or douchebags since the late nineties resulted in people being turned off from pushing kids into aspiring to be top level players?

Or is it a simple matter of participation at grass roots being insufficient and not promoted by a governing body too focused on short term cash via T20 scheduling at the expense of the long format?

It's actually a really interesting topic of discussion.

That is a very good question, but I don't see an easy answer.

We can agree that depth is poor, but there are probably a multitude of contributing factors.

Is the need for immediate gratification a deterrent to making the effort required for a long format.

Could it be the relative affluence of Australian Society.

What of competition from other sport?

[GVGjr]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Hey GVGjr, is the depth of talent bad or is it the lack of exposure at the right time to put pressure on the mainstays and fringe players when seasons start in Australia the issue?

Additionally, has selection that's lacked integrity for a few decades now turned generations of players off aspiring to be long format players? Or has the perception of the Australian cricket team as being either bullies or douchebags since the late nineties resulted in people being turned off from pushing kids into aspiring to be top level players?

Or is it a simple matter of participation at grass roots being insufficient and not promoted by a governing body too focused on short term cash via T20 scheduling at the expense of the long format?

It's actually a really interesting topic of discussion.

Part of the challenge I think is because of a poor set of priorities for CA when the best part of the cricket season is concentrating on Big Bash not the gateway to Test cricket in the Sheffield Shield.

Most of the states have maybe one or two cricketers from outside of the test team that potentially could get a call up

QLD has Khawaja, Neser and maybe Steketee, Swepson and Kuhnemann as test possibilities.
WA has Inglis and Richardson and at a pinch maybe Agar if the conditions were right.
TAS has Meredith and McDermott and SA has Carey and at a long shot in the very talented Hunt.
VIC with Pucovski out has Boland and Maddinson and I can't find anyone from NSW outside of Abbott that could be an option.

There isn't a lot to get excited about.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

The HUN has an article on Inglis vs Carey for the wicket keepers spot

Josh Inglis is firming to be the Ashes selection bolter with his chances of leapfrogging Test understudy Alex Carey as Tim Paine’s successor behind the stumps receiving a significant boost.

It is understood one selector feels the English-born wicketkeeper is ready to rock at the top and wants to back the 26-year-old given his enormous potential at Test level.

But Inglis would need to secure a second vote from the three-man panel to win a Baggy Green at the Gabba on December 8 in what would be a selection shock.

George Bailey (chairman), coach Justin Langer and Tony Dodemaide are the three selectors tasked with appointing Australia’s next gloveman.

They will consult new captain Patrick Cummins and vice-captain Steve Smith, as well as other senior players, before settling on a new No.7.

Significantly, in a recent podcast interview, Bailey gave a broad hint that Carey was still the man at the front of the queue.

Carey, 30, has been the loyal understudy for several years whereas Inglis is the highly-talented new kid on the block, setting the scene for a head versus heart selection decision.

Carey has the backing of wicketkeeping greats Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist, who expect him to wear the gloves against England next month.

Carey captained Australia to an ODI series win in West Indies this year and was selected as Paine’s back-up for a Test tour of South Africa which did not go ahead.

The loveable South Australian is regarded as the prince charming of Australian cricket, with his impeccable character and values prompting Langer to say Carey could marry one of his daughters.

But Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne are big supporters of Inglis, who was born in Leeds before moving to Australia at 14.

Ponting was furious Perth Scorchers batted the right-hander below their three overseas players in last summer’s Big Bash.

“If I had my Australian selector’s hat on I’d like to see this boy up the top of the order and batting there game after game,” Ponting said.

“I feel he’s someone that can potentially play for Australia in a few different formats and it just feels to me that he’s being starved of a season.”

Teammate Jason Behrendorff said Inglis: “Plays spin so well, he’s got amazing footwork and the areas he can hit the ball into against the spinners in particular is outstanding”.

Carey is averaging 21.8 in the Sheffield Shield this season although Redbacks coach Jason Gillespie said keeping had been first-class.

Inglis has played just one Shield game, making 28 and 13, before he jetted to the United Arab Emirates as part of Australia’s winning Twenty20 World Cup squad, although he did not play a match due to Matthew Wade’s heroics.

Former selector Mark Waugh rated Carey a $1.50 favourite to play at the Gabba with Inglis $3 and Queenslander Jimmy Peirson $5.

Peirson has the skilful ability to keep up to the stumps to fast bowlers although he was not selected in the Ashes or Australia A squads.

Australia has not unveiled a new wicketkeeper since Peter Nevill replaced Brad Haddin in a 2015 Ashes Test at Lord’s.
MIRROR IMAGE?

JOSH INGLIS (First-class career)

Games 45

Runs 2246

Highest score 153 not-out

Centuries 3, Half-centuries 12

Average 34

Catches 147, Stumpings 3

ALEX CAREY (First-class career)

Games 45

Runs 2466

Highest score 143

Centuries 5, Half-centuries 13

Average 34.7

Catches 160, Stumpings 4

Mother nature has further clouded the decision with Australia’s informal three-day inter-squad game, due to start on Wednesday, set to be scrapped.

Up to 50mm of rain is expected to fall in Brisbane on Tuesday and Wednesday and last week’s downpour cost the Aussies a training session on Wednesday and Thursday.

But they were able to complete two sessions on Friday and Saturday and centre-wicket practice could be best look selectors get at Inglis and Carey this week.

One of the glovemen will be drafted into Australia’s Ashes squad this week, replacing Paine, with the other set to keep wickets for Australia A against the England Lions in a December 9-12 game in Brisbane.

Externally it has long been presumed that Carey – a former Greater Western Sydney AFL captain – was next in line and almost an automatic pick.

But internally it is shaping as a lineball call that is causing some lively debate.

[Bornadog]

Re: Australian Summer of Cricket 2021/22

Chappell-Hadlee series off amid NZ quarantine issues

story here