Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

[Sedat]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

I guess the positive is we got another look at Bird, could very well have been the man to miss out but he has again looked the most impressive of the quicks. Might be cementing himself into a starting spot for India.

For mine Starc and Johnson should never play in the same team - they are completely interchangable. Both can be dangerous but both also bowl large helpings of dross and leak runs. Pick one of them as a strike bowler but having both in the team is a luxury that we will only ever get away with against poor opposition.

[lemmon]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

For mine Starc and Johnson should never play in the same team - they are completely interchangable. Both can be dangerous but both also bowl large helpings of dross and leak runs. Pick one of them as a strike bowler but having both in the team is a luxury that we will only ever get away with against poor opposition.

Absolutely agree with that, which would you prefer?

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

Pattinson, Siddle and Bird would be a quality, balanced pace attack.

Pattinson = star. Strike bowler who isn't feast or famine.
Siddle= gun workhorse (if that's not an oxymoron)
Bird= line and length

Cummins, Starc and Johnson (in that order to replace Pattinson if/when injured as 'strike bowler - irony of Cummins replacing injured bowler noted).

[dog town]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

Pattinson, Siddle and Bird would be a quality, balanced pace attack.

Pattinson = star. Strike bowler who isn't feast or famine.
Siddle= gun workhorse (if that's not an oxymoron)
Bird= line and length

Cummins, Starc and Johnson (in that order to replace Pattinson if/when injured as 'strike bowler - irony of Cummins replacing injured bowler noted).

Agree with all of that. Fully fit our bowling stocks are in great shape.

Starc is an interesting one. Doesnt really matter how he is bowling he almost always ends up with 3 or 4 at not a bad rate. He is expensive but finds a way to take wickets especially the tail.

Bird the stand out today for mine. Gave the batsmen very little to hit and when you are hitting those areas something will eventually happen. Thought that was Siddles worst day in 2 years and he still ended up with 2 for 46. Was a time a few years ago where he would look to be bowling brilliantly and get 2 for 100. Shows how crucial the length you bowl is.

[GVGjr]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

Absolutely agree with that, which would you prefer?

I'm leaning towards Starc but even though he is taking wickets he's still a mile off it for mine.

[GVGjr]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

Wade fluffed another one up to Lyon, serious problem coming into India

How was Wades keeping today?
I'm concerned that we think he can handle a move up the batting order especially while his keeping isn't 100% right.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

How was Wades keeping today?
I'm concerned that we think he can handle a move up the batting order especially while his keeping isn't 100% right.

Wade is really struggling with the gloves. I can tolerate not being a great keeper if your average is above 40. Wade's struggles with the gloves + moving to 6 would be putting a fair bit of pressure on his batting.

[lemmon]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

How was Wades keeping today?
I'm concerned that we think he can handle a move up the batting order especially while his keeping isn't 100% right.

Agree with Rocco in that it was really quite poor. There was one drop standing back to a quick that was laughable, hit him in the stomach, lucky hot spot didn't find an edge a few of the players thought was there. He claims its just a concentration issue but there are really some obvious technical issues, especially his movement up to the spinners, which we knew when he had coming out of the shield. I'd stick with him, he has a heap of talent and the good thing about keepers is that more than any other type of player you are pretty much assured improvement through experience and repetition. Prior is a great example

[lemmon]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

Another ridiculous run out, wouldn't be an Australian innings without one. For a bloke who apparently covets his spot, Cowan is stupidly lazy

[Twodogs]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

Another ridiculous run out, wouldn't be an Australian innings without one. For a bloke who apparently covets his spot, Cowan is stupidly lazy

Great piece of fielding though. Cowan was ball watching rather than reacting to his partner's call. It was a bit slack on his part.


Regarding Wade I've never been sold on his footwork when he is keeping wicket. He doesnt judge the flight of the ball in enough time to get his body behind it and often hass to snatch at the ball rather than glove it. He's got really hard hands for a 'keeper too.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

Cowan putting a lot of undue pressure on himself with that runout. He has an average of 34 and he misses out on facing a pop gun attack on a good wicket for batsmen.

Hughes and Warner looking comfortable together as well. Combination of little Shield cricket being played + Hussey retirement saves Cowan for at least the start of the Indian series though.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

That's four 50s in a row for Warner. Just seems destined to throw away his wicket before he reaches 100/really big score. Still, if he keeps on making regular 50s, he will have a pretty decent test career.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

That's four 50s in a row for Warner. Just seems destined to throw away his wicket before he reaches 100/really big score. Still, if he keeps on making regular 50s, he will have a pretty decent test career.

Yep. Threw away a ton again, but set the team up again. Much like Watson was doing as an opener.

[Sedat]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

Cowan putting a lot of undue pressure on himself with that runout. He has an average of 34 and he misses out on facing a pop gun attack on a good wicket for batsmen.

I was a scrappy left handed opener in park cricket for many years who edged most of his runs through the slips cordon (apart the nudge down to fine leg, which all lefties are genetically programmed to be able to play), so I love the Ed Cowan types more than most. However I just don't think he is going to cut the mustard long term at this level. Justin Langer and Allan Border are my favourite Australian players of all time and are comparable in style to Cowan, but they had more weapons than Ed and were far more ruthless in valuing their wicket (in Langer's case to stave off the heavy competition for places in the test team and for AB to carry the rest of his useless batsmen).

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Third Test- Aus V Sri Lanka, The SCG

I was a scrappy left handed opener in park cricket for many years who edged most of his runs through the slips cordon (apart the nudge down to fine leg, which all lefties are genetically programmed to be able to play), so I love the Ed Cowan types more than most. However I just don't think he is going to cut the mustard long term at this level. Justin Langer and Allan Border are my favourite Australian players of all time and are comparable in style to Cowan, but they had more weapons than Ed and were far more ruthless in valuing their wicket (in Langer's case to stave off the heavy competition for places in the test team and for AB to carry the rest of his useless batsmen).

I'm the same! Really love Cowan's type but as I've said before, he reeks of a mid 30s average test bat IMO. Hope I'm wrong.