Australia v India Test Series 2024/25

[GVGjr]

The Smith opening experiment didn't work but based on available evidence Bancroft would most likely have performed no better. The main problem with Bancroft being brought in was that someone else had to miss out and that most likely would have been Cameron Green. I think not playing Green would have been a big mistake and he would never have made 174 v NZ. It's worth remembering at the time nobody really deserved to miss out.

I just think Bancroft (and Harris for that matter) aren't quite test level and given their ages I'm happy to move past them.

To suggest Smith asked to open to keep Bancroft out of the team sounds fanciful at best and unhinged conspiracy theory at worst.

Good points but there were some things I read in the papers suggesting that very opinon.

The selections are just weird, Head gets dropped because he apparently can't play spin and is now a likely opener for the Sri Lanka tour. Marnus has been dreadful but he's under no pressure
Green gets dropped when he can't bowl, Marsh is picked because he can bowl but when he can't really handle a 8 over day he still plays as a batsman.

[Bornadog]

Interesting that George Bailey called out strike rate at the top of the order and they felt we have to be more aggressive early. It's an... interesting point of view considering McSweeney and Marnus were lauded on day 1 of the Adelaide Test for getting through a tough spell that set up the innings for Trav Head.

Konstas is a good talent and he's clearly in great touch, but I really don't think this is the right way to manage a 19-year old. This isn't Phil Hughes who had a 6 or 7 first class centuries and a century in a Shield Final - Konstas is still in his infancy as a first class cricketer. Big call.

I agree, Konstas not ready for the big time. Opening role at the moment is a big concern for Australia. Ussi not performing doesn't help either

[jeemak]

Under McDonalds suspect leadership our selectors have continued to irritate me.
Last year when Bancroft was in form Smith basically demanded the opening spot and of course the selectors back that move and we know it didn't work,
This year with Bancroft unable to even buy a run Smith wants to be moved back to number 4. The selectors do that pivot.
I'd say Smith deliberately blocked Bancroft from a spot 12 months back and McDonald backed that all the way rather than deal with finding a genuine opener.

So we go into this series against a very good Indian pace bowling group led by possibly the best bowler in the world and hand the openers spot to McSweeney knowing full well he's more suited to batting at 3 or more likely 4.
Now rather than also dealing with the shocking form of Marnus and Khawaja A-Mac makes McSweeney the sole scapegoat. I get you have to back the players but this level of loyalty smells like a boys club.

We need a change of coach and we should be demanding our batsman perform.

I am always interested when you have a crack at McDonald for his leadership. All of the players seem really happy, they're world test and one day champions. They've lost in India and drew against the West Indies, but outside of that and given they've had structural issues in batting not helped by a lack of test calibre talent they've either won or drawn key series offshore.

The batting is a bit shaky, but it's on trend as far as I can tell with all other test nations.

So what drives you so mad about McDonald? Why do you think he wields power over selection?

[GVGjr]

I am always interested when you have a crack at McDonald for his leadership. All of the players seem really happy, they're world test and one day champions. They've lost in India and drew against the West Indies, but outside of that and given they've had structural issues in batting not helped by a lack of test calibre talent they've either won or drawn key series offshore.

The batting is a bit shaky, but it's on trend as far as I can tell with all other test nations.

So what drives you so mad about McDonald? Why do you think he wields power over selection?

I'm sure I've said this before.
Winning papers over a lot of cracks and our dominance is because of our bowling attack not because of our erratic batting. Langer was trying to set standards and the players under Cummins pushed back so CA made the change
Knowing that the players are running the show McDonald has become the players coach and while the results have been pretty good we haven't been prepared to drop players on form and that's under his watch.
He's not going to rock the boat unless the majority of the players are behind it. The groups is ageing so it's going to come to a head if we don't turn the form of Ussie, Marnus and Smith around.
Then there are the reasons he provided for Smith promotion as an opener which was pure spin and now his return to number 4.
The reason he provided when we dropped Green a while back because he couldn't bowl aren't being extended to Marsh now.
Marsh has previously been in excellent form but now he can't handle a decent bowling stint. We need a more disciplined batting approach and I doubt that Macca is going to ask anyone to start knuckling down.

[jeemak]

While setting standards Langer also produced shit results. Outside of winning the T20 World Cup in 2021, and getting a draw in the Ashes in England.

I appreciate what you're saying re Green and Marsh, mind. But these types of idiosyncrasies dominate cricket selection and it's strange to me it would be a focus now. Yeah, you've probably said it all before and thanks for saying it again. Just feel that with a pretty ordinary pool of batting talent which is something afflicting all nations right now due to T20 (funnily, bowlers have had to get a LOT better) putting whatever inconsistencies we face onto the coach who coaches a relatively successful team and a happy one is a bit off.

[lemmon]

Marsh has previously been in excellent form but now he can't handle a decent bowling stint. We need a more disciplined batting approach and I doubt that Macca is going to ask anyone to start knuckling down.

I'd say Trav Head is the only bat that's played cavalier cricket and we can all see how that's gone.

Marnus is striking at 33, Khawaja at 46, Smith at 46 and McSweeney at 33. They're not playing undisciplined cricket, they're just getting out.

[GVGjr]

I'd say Trav Head is the only bat that's played cavalier cricket and we can all see how that's gone.

Marnus is striking at 33, Khawaja at 46, Smith at 46 and McSweeney at 33. They're not playing undisciplined cricket, they're just getting out.

Look at how Marnus goes out so frequently in the last or first overs of a session or before or straight after a drinks break..it's uncanny. Then have a look if it's genuine good bowling that has brought him unstuck
Slower scorers can be erratic performers. Marnus isn't adapting to the game well from what I've seen frequently. Everyone can get out to a good delivery but he gets out to some very average ones.

[lemmon]

Look at how Marnus goes out so frequently in the last or first overs of a session or before or straight after a drinks break..it's uncanny. Then have a look if it's genuine good bowling that has brought him unstuck
Slower scorers can be erratic performers. Marnus isn't adapting to the game well from what I've seen frequently. Everyone can get out to a good delivery but he gets out to some very average ones.

I don't think you can pin that on the current coaching set-up though. Marnus' decision making as a bat has always been incredibly suspect and that's something I've called out on here when he was in the thick of his run making. There are few players in the world who are as likely to shell a nothing ball to cover as Marnus - and that's been with him right the way through Queensland and with Langer as coach.

It's harsh on a guy with 11 Test centuries but I'm firmly in the camp that this is a regression to the mean for Marnus. He was a massive outlier in terms of getting runs after giving up a chance and his runs have been heavily scored at home. He's a guy who on ability should be averaging closer to 45 than 55, which is totally fine when you consider the all-round package in terms of his fielding, experience in pressure situations and decent change leg-spin.

[GVGjr]

I don't think you can pin that on the current coaching set-up though. Marnus' decision making as a bat has always been incredibly suspect and that's something I've called out on here when he was in the thick of his run making. There are few players in the world who are as likely to shell a nothing ball to cover as Marnus - and that's been with him right the way through Queensland and with Langer as coach.

It's harsh on a guy with 11 Test centuries but I'm firmly in the camp that this is a regression to the mean for Marnus. He was a massive outlier in terms of getting runs after giving up a chance and his runs have been heavily scored at home. He's a guy who on ability should be averaging closer to 45 than 55, which is totally fine when you consider the all-round package in terms of his fielding, experience in pressure situations and decent change leg-spin.

I really rate him as a player, he's been terrific, but his appetite for runs isn't quite there at the moment.
I am very critical of the way he fails in the final overs of a session, after a drinks break or when a wicket to his batting partner has happened and it's nearly always with Marnus chasing runs or being somewhat erratic.
He hands momentum back to the opposition so regularly.
Why does an otherwise patient batsman do that again and again and not learn from it? I've also seen him lose his wicket to brilliant bowling and that's understandable.

If he can get back to his previous focus with the bat then his brilliant fielding, handy bowling will add so much to this team.

[Bulldog Joe]

I agree, Konstas not ready for the big time. Opening role at the moment is a big concern for Australia. Ussi not performing doesn't help either

I actually like the Konstas selection.

Australia have been way to conservative with selection of young players and I would say McSweeney just needs a spell as he would be lacking a fair bit of confidence. He should learn from the experience and be better prepared if he gets selected again inn the future.

Konstas basically has 2 tests to learn how it feels against the best bowler he could possibly face.
If he doesn't score runs we haven't lost anything compared to the rest of the series, but if he does have any modicum of success it will allow us to retire out Ussy more easily.

[GVGjr]

I'm exactly sure why but Jasprit Bumrah is my favourite Indian cricketer

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[whythelongface]

I'm exactly sure why but Jasprit Bumrah is my favourite Indian cricketer

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Cool. Tap into the Indian market and our membership will surge past the other teams.

Ameet obviously has connections.

[ledge]

Cool. Tap into the Indian market and our membership will surge past the other teams.

Ameet obviously has connections.

I would go him above Kohli nowadays for fan base at the moment .
I don’t think any opposition team hates him , has that likeable persona about him.
Seems to be the smiling assassin , I vaguely remember another 300 game smiling assassin a few years ago. Appropriately chosen.

[Grantysghost]

I'm exactly sure why but Jasprit Bumrah is my favourite Indian cricketer

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So smart considering our Indian friends in the community out west.

[Brody23]

While setting standards Langer also produced shit results. Outside of winning the T20 World Cup in 2021, and getting a draw in the Ashes in England.

I appreciate what you're saying re Green and Marsh, mind. But these types of idiosyncrasies dominate cricket selection and it's strange to me it would be a focus now. Yeah, you've probably said it all before and thanks for saying it again. Just feel that with a pretty ordinary pool of batting talent which is something afflicting all nations right now due to T20 (funnily, bowlers have had to get a LOT better) putting whatever inconsistencies we face onto the coach who coaches a relatively successful team and a happy one is a bit off.

This is a great point, I heard on the TV the other night that Tim David made 2 million last year playing across the globe in various T20 comps, the financial reward to dedicate your time to getting good in that space far outweighs working on your longer form skills.
I don’t think the schedule helps either, players like Maxwell haven’t had the chance to play much red ball cricket for a while now.