2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

[lemmon]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

I don't think the captain of any National team has the say that Cummins currently has but given the way we have performed perhaps it's a reasonable position.
It used to be that on overseas tours the captain was added to the selection committee but even George Bailey admitted that the Smith move to the top of the order was a Ronnie, Pat and my decision.

That was an interesting comment from Bailey considering Pat Cummins said immediately after the Test that he'd prefer Smith at 4 because of how bankable he and Marnus had been in those spots: "first instinct isn't probably to disrupt that".

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/pat-cummins-doesn-t-want-to-push-steven-smith-to-replace-david-warner-as-opener-1415816

I got the vibe the decision was a Bailey and McDonald one, with Cummins included in Bailey's comment to present it as consensus.

[lemmon]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

Just came across Cam Green's numbers when batting 4 for WA:

15 matches
25 innings
1,413 runs
64.22 average
4 centuries
6 fifties
251 highest score

[FrediKanoute]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

The question is who do we prefer in the test side - Harris, Bamcroft, Renshaw vs Cam Green?

I think the consensus is that none of Harris, Bamcroft or Renshaw have what it takes to replace Warner as an opener and Cam Green as an all rounder is better/equal as a batsman to these guys so we may as well play with the batting order a little and bring Green in. As hard as it is on Bamcroft in particular I think its the right to try. If it doesn't work then oh well we can revert.

[Axe Man]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

[ledge]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

So my mates son in law is playing his last game for the renegades, he has been there from the start.
Wanted to get into commentary and seems to be doing a good job , he has a young daughter and moved out Geelong way about a year or two ago. Not far from home being a Colac boy ( his wife grew up in St Albans )
I believe he might play a couple of smaller tournaments but not sure.
Got some stories about the amount of flights they do and I have no idea how they can possibly train.
45 flights in a month.
Living in and out of hotels.
To be honest they sacrifice a lot for the money. Been doing it since he was around 18. That’s a long time on the road.
He is a modest person with a good head on his shoulders .
I can see him doing well in commentary.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

It's 20 years ago that David Hookes passed away

I've mention this before but I think this is worth watching

https://twitter.com/i/status/1748171044412895508

[Bornadog]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

[lemmon]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

I always enjoy watching the Under 19 World Cup because it's tended to be a good gauge of talent over the years - it's pretty rare for an Australian international to not have been involved in the Aussie youth setup.

It's only the group stage, but the Aussies are undefeated and had a good win over England last night - there's some good talent worth talking about too.

On the batting side, I think Harry Dixon is the best talent - he's a left-handed opening bat from Victoria. He likens himself to David Warner as a three-format player, but in style I think he's more Phil Jacques. He's a very nice 360-degree player, beautiful open face through the off-side and plays well on the back foot. I also think he plays spin well, and he uses the sweep to relieve pressure well. I think he'll play all forms for Australia.

I also really like captain Hugh Weibgen - he's batting 3 for the side and is from Queensland. I don't think he's technically as strong as Dixon, he likes to hang back and sweat on short stuff and his foot movement coming forward is more 'weight transfer' than anything, but he does get runs when the side needs them. I think he'll play some decent domestic cricket and may push higher.

The other is Sam Konstas who has made his first class debut for NSW and is an opening bat by trade. Every few years there's a hugely hyped NSW talent who makes oodles of grade runs but doesn't seem to translate to first class cricket. Think Jason Sangha, Ollie Davis and Jake Doran. Harsh on my end but I think that may be Konstas and I don't really see 'it' - for example Kerry O'Keefe called him the most exciting opening prospect he's seen in 20 years. I personally think he's a natural 4 or 5 rather than opener and there are some holes in his game. He gets quite 'handsy' outside off-stump and is very liable to go chasing, I'm not sure his defensive technique is quite where you'd like it either.

He is an elegant stroke-maker and has the array of shots, so I think Konstas has a high ceiling, but there are some holes to be plugged and he's struggled so far in the tournament.

Bowlers are harder to pick because there's so much physical development needed to break through into the top rung, but there are some interesting guys to talk about. Callum Vidler is a fiery red-headed quick from Queensland who leads the attack. There's a lot to like, he's super aggressive, gets lovely away swing and always seems to be attacking batsman or stumps - think Jhye Richardson. The down-side is he's short (probably one of the shorter guys in the squad), so he really needs to be quick enough to compensate. He's a good watch though.

There's also Tom Straker who is more of a traditional tall, line and length seamer. There's a lot of Jason Gillsepie in the flowing locks and high front arm, but it's more of a Josh Hazelwood style. I think he's one we'll definitely see around the domestic set-up in the next few years.

Plenty of tournament to come and Australia are up there with the favourites.

[lemmon]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

Australia managed to crawl into the final overnight with a battling performance against Pakistan.

Straker took 6 with the ball and restricted Pakistan to 180 and Australia were cruising with a patient 50 from Dixon at the top looking like it had Australia over the line. Talented Pakistani quick Raza triggered a collapse and it took a nervy, 17 run last wicket stand to get Australia to the target.

Shout out to Peake - a 17-year old from Geelong who made an important 49 coming in at number 6. He's one of the youngest guys and is over there as an injury replacement, but he's a talent. I believe he's made good Premier Cricket runs this year as well.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

I watched a bit of it. Exciting game.

[lemmon]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

I watched a bit of it. Exciting game.

Anyone catch your eye, G?

I thought Raza was the best player on show

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

Anyone catch your eye, G?

I thought Raza was the best player on show

Pakistan looked very good. I like your shout-out on Peake, I saw all of his innings.
His grandmother calls in on SEN and gives an update. I think she said she'd only had one hours sleep.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023/24 - Australia Summer of Cricket

The Australian U19's side outclassed India last night with a very solid and even batting performance
Dixon, Weibgen, Singh and Peake all with good scores. Easy win in the end.