2023 Tour of India

[Bornadog]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Nicely played, good win.

Now to win the last test and at least draw the series

[lemmon]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Positive intent and sensible batting has worked well.


FWIW BAD I wouldn't be confident with keeping Travis Head at the top of the order in England but it might depend on if we are going to stick with Warner or take a chance on a couple of other players.

Completely agree on Head. He's shown the same weaknesses against the ball moving laterally as he has playing spin. I think Head at the top works here because he gets to face a higher percentage of pace, a harder ball and the decks are less dusted - it helps to shield his weaknesses to a degree.

Putting him up the order in the UK does the opposite - he gets green decks, hard swinging balls and fast bowlers at their freshest - exposing what he's not good at.

I imagine we'll maintain the horses for courses approach with our reserve batters and look at Marcus Harris coming into the squad for the Ashes, most likely in for Handscomb. Harris has more County experience than all other bats and Handscomb's County record is rubbish. Think they'll keep Renshaw around as the middle order reserve.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Completely agree on Head. He's shown the same weaknesses against the ball moving laterally as he has playing spin. I think Head at the top works here because he gets to face a higher percentage of pace, a harder ball and the decks are less dusted - it helps to shield his weaknesses to a degree.

Putting him up the order in the UK does the opposite - he gets green decks, hard swinging balls and fast bowlers at their freshest - exposing what he's not good at.

I imagine we'll maintain the horses for courses approach with our reserve batters and look at Marcus Harris coming into the squad for the Ashes, most likely in for Handscomb. Harris has more County experience than all other bats and Handscomb's County record is rubbish. Think they'll keep Renshaw around as the middle order reserve.

Would Bancroft and or Hunt be in the mix?

[Bornadog]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Would Bancroft and or Hunt be in the mix?

We have the Ashes on the line and it is too late to be tinkering with openers that have not played test for so long.

[lemmon]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Would Bancroft and or Hunt be in the mix?

I think we can rule a line through Hunt. He hasn't made a Shield ton this year and is only averaging 27. He's a gritty fella but I don't think he's Test quality.

I think they're going to have a tough call between Bancroft and Harris. Harris was carted around the country as 12th man, went back to the Shield and made a century and really hasn't done much wrong.

Bancroft is the leading Shield run-scorer, is a much better version of what we saw in his last stint and gives you a lot more in the field. Bancroft really feels like one of those guys that could have a renaissance in the second half of their career and put up huge numbers. He was pretty limited in his early Test career - he has a better array of shots this time around.

I'd be picking Bancroft - I just think he's the better player, but gee it's hard on Harris.

[Mantis]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

We have the Ashes on the line and it is too late to be tinkering with openers that have not played test for so long.

What's the alternative then? Besides Harris who has never really taken his chance.

Head isn't an opener and Warner is cooked.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

I think we can rule a line through Hunt. He hasn't made a Shield ton this year and is only averaging 27. He's a gritty fella but I don't think he's Test quality.

I think they're going to have a tough call between Bancroft and Harris. Harris was carted around the country as 12th man, went back to the Shield and made a century and really hasn't done much wrong.

Bancroft is the leading Shield run-scorer, is a much better version of what we saw in his last stint and gives you a lot more in the field. Bancroft really feels like one of those guys that could have a renaissance in the second half of their career and put up huge numbers. He was pretty limited in his early Test career - he has a better array of shots this time around.

I'd be picking Bancroft - I just think he's the better player, but gee it's hard on Harris.

I think you're bang on here lemmon. Poor timing for Hunt to have a lapse in form but Bancroft would have to be a lock for a touring spot based on his current season.

[lemmon]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Worth pointing out that this is the first time India has lost a home test after winning the toss since 2012. Since then, in games they've won the toss, they've won 19 Tests and drawn 3.

[jeemak]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Will be interested in hearing the media narrative these next few days about whether Justin Langer's still great, McDonald's still bad or whether that's changed a little because India didn't bat well in the first innings.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

What's the alternative then? Besides Harris who has never really taken his chance.

Head isn't an opener and Warner is cooked.

Would not take Warner at all.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Will be interested in hearing the media narrative these next few days about whether Justin Langer's still great, McDonald's still bad or whether that's changed a little because India didn't bat well in the first innings.

Not too worried about Langer but I'm concerned about if McDonald wants to challenge players or be the rah rah spokesman.
I've still got a line through him.

[jeemak]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Not too worried about Langer but I'm concerned about if McDonald wants to challenge players or be the rah rah spokesman.
I've still got a line through him.

Regarding Langer, it wasn't directed at you or anyone else here, rather, commentariat and the cricket wankers who can't put allegiances behind them and move on - forgetting that Langer presided over a 1-2 loss at home against India's second string side (albeit still blessed with quality).

As a player McDonald was a battler as far as test cricketers go, and I never got the feeling a lot of Australia's established past and present players accepted him as a test player. I get the feeling again he's seen as an imposter and usurper by the same established past and present players (not specifically, but as a collective) and they can't put that aside with it really coming through with how they comment and the influence they have over cricket media.

McDonald isn't a great media performer, but how many cricket coaches are? They don't have the same hyper-scrutiny coaches from other sports have in assistant roles nor the focus generally because cricket is a team game full of individuals who take that focus so once they get the top job and the focus that comes with it things can be clunky. When you get a transition from a guy like Langer who speaks drivel (elite honesty) and yells at everyone in the team, and put in a guy who preaches player-led improvement and support how do you think the media and past players are going to react? It's not what they're used to.

Cricket needs to move with the times, it eventually will, and people like McDonald will be the early sacrifices of change. The new generation of players don't like to be coached in the same way other generations did. They literally don't respond to it. They want to be challenged privately, and pumped up publicly which is what McDonald at least in the latter instance is trying to do.

I guess I'll wait for the next series on TV to find out whether the former is happening.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Either have I.

One thing, Warner should retire. I like Head as an opener. How do you think he would go in England with the pitches over there?

He will struggle. Anderson is still very potent on seaming wickets and believe me they will make them green and seaming. To be fair Usi will strugge too.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

As a player McDonald was a battler as far as test cricketers go, and I never got the feeling a lot of Australia's established past and present players accepted him as a test player. I get the feeling again he's seen as an imposter and usurper by the same established past and present players (not specifically, but as a collective) and they can't put that aside with it really coming through with how they comment and the influence they have over cricket media.

McDonald isn't a great media performer, but how many cricket coaches are? They don't have the same hyper-scrutiny coaches from other sports have in assistant roles nor the focus generally because cricket is a team game full of individuals who take that focus so once they get the top job and the focus that comes with it things can be clunky. When you get a transition from a guy like Langer who speaks drivel (elite honesty) and yells at everyone in the team, and put in a guy who preaches player-led improvement and support how do you think the media and past players are going to react? It's not what they're used to.

Cricket needs to move with the times, it eventually will, and people like McDonald will be the early sacrifices of change. The new generation of players don't like to be coached in the same way other generations did. They literally don't respond to it. They want to be challenged privately, and pumped up publicly which is what McDonald at least in the latter instance is trying to do.

I guess I'll wait for the next series on TV to find out whether the former is happening.

I originally thought McDonald was a solid selection to replace Langer because he had been in and around the players for so long and talked quite well.
Since he has taken over I don't think he has it in him to challenge the players to do what is needed and is more of a coach who encourages and supports them which sounds nice but in reality at the elite level it requires a lot more.
We won the game because India played very poorly and Lyon was brilliant and I wonder if some of the injuries to players helped us get a better team onto the ground. Warner had a huge question mark against him when the squad was selected and did little on tour to prove anyone wrong but he was never under threat to lost his spot.
We've stuffed the initial selection of the squad and miscalculated the extent of the injuries to Green and Starc. We've had players ignore the team plans with their batting and we are still poor at when to use or our DRS options.
As nice as a bloke McDonald is I think there is a huge question mark if he is the right person to be leading this team.

[jeemak]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

India are preparing two strips it seems....

Pitch battle: India roll out two strips ahead of Modi’s Ahmedabad pageant

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/pitch-battle-india-roll-out-two-strips-ahead-of-modi-s-ahmedabad-pageant-20230307-p5cq44.html

Ahmedabad: Australia have been confronted with two pitches in different stages of preparation two days out from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pageant that also happens to be the fourth Test against India.


What funny business will we see next from those crazy cats?