The Ashes

[Crush]

I think Khawaja is in very good knick and will be hungry after no cricket for so long. I can see him scoring a lot of runs.

 

[blacksafake]

I'm ok with picking Paine,especially ahead of Wade although Neville is a bit unlucky.
It's probably just me but i find it very hard to actually watch Renshaw bat,he reminds me of all the slow boring former pommy bats of days gone by.The fact that he is currently badly out of form certainly hasn't help his chances as well.Handscomb imo has been solid rather than brilliant but this series could define his future.I would have also gone with Maxwell ahead of Marsh.He was good in the recent sub continent tour & can score quickly as well as offer some bowling & brilliant fielding which so often changes momentum in games.
Khawaja for top scorer.
Hazlewood top wicket taker.
Marsh 1st player dropped or injured.

 

[JDHD]

How Marsh keeps getting a run is beyond me. It's just Shane Watson 2.0

 

[Dragsters]

I reckon Paine was a captain's call. Smith wants his experience next to him in the field, especially when it come to DRS calls rec. and Paine has a good head for cricket.

If he keeps well and scores a few with the bat I reckon he will be there long term.

Cartwright earned his call up.

Marsh, well, nuff sed...

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I don't think its Steve Smith begging for his inclusion. Only reason Marsh boys get more chances than anyone else is because of their dad is in the old boys club. Its relentless. Look at the averages of the other batsmen.
Warner- 47
Khawaja- 46
Smith- 60
Handscomb-57
S. Marsh- 36
Khawaja and Shaun have played same amount of tests yet Khawaja averages 10 more than him and Khawaja gets dropped the second he fails.
Shaun Marsh averages 36 as a specialist batsman. We can do better.

It's been an eternity since Geoff Marsh has had anything to do with the Australian set up.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Renshaw missing out on his home track is dreadfully unlucky. His ability to see off the new ball will be missed.

Paine is the best keeper/batsman in the land.

Technically, Shaun Marsh is a 1000 times better than all other alternatives. Unfortunately, injury (not talent) has stifled his career.

Handscomb's star will start to depreciate with this series. I just don't think he has the goods to be a Test batsman, unless the wicket offers no sideway movement.

In cricketing parlance, he is a fat track bully.

 

[Crush]

It's been an eternity since Geoff Marsh has had anything to do with the Australian set up.

I understand that. I don't think he directly makes selection calls but him being an ex player and part of the history of Australian cricket must help the Marsh Boys. How else do you explain them getting more chances than anyone else?
And your comment about S Marsh being technically better than other batsmen, his technique has got him an average of 36 after 23 tests. Hardly worth persisting with into his mid 30s on his 8th selection recall. Give someone else a crack already.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I understand that. I don't think he directly makes selection calls but him being an ex player and part of the history of Australian cricket must help the Marsh Boys. How else do you explain them getting more chances than anyone else?
And your comment about S Marsh being technically better than other batsmen, his technique has got him an average of 36 after 23 tests. Hardly worth persisting with into his mid 30s on his 8th selection recall. Give someone else a crack already.

I understand that. I don't think he directly makes selection calls but him being an ex player and part of the history of Australian cricket must help the Marsh Boys. How else do you explain them getting more chances than anyone else?
And your comment about S Marsh being technically better than other batsmen, his technique has got him an average of 36 after 23 tests. Hardly worth persisting with into his mid 30s on his 8th selection recall. Give someone else a crack already.

I understand that. I don't think he directly makes selection calls but him being an ex player and part of the history of Australian cricket must help the Marsh Boys. How else do you explain them getting more chances than anyone else?
And your comment about S Marsh being technically better than other batsmen, his technique has got him an average of 36 after 23 tests. Hardly worth persisting with into his mid 30s on his 8th selection recall. Give someone else a crack already.

I think you'll find the alleged 'great' Steve Waugh averaged far worse after a similar amount of Tests. In fact, it took him four-years to make a substantial score, so a precedent has already been set.

(Even though it was against the worst English bowling attack in its history, but that's another story altogether)

Look, this isn't the halcyon days of the early 2000s where a bloke such as Brad Hisge couldn't get a decent go. With Shaun Marsh, the talent is there, but it's the consistency that's lacking a bit.

As mentioned, injuries haven't helped, and I'd still prefer him as a specialist batsmen over someone such as Maxwell, who has the temperament of a limited overs player only.

If being son of ex player and part of Australian Cricket history is crucial to selection, then I guess Alaistair McDermott (son of Craig, and recent bowling coach) will be making debut soon?

I don't think so.

 

[Drag Queen]

I think you'll find the alleged 'great' Steve Waugh averaged far worse after a similar amount of Tests. In fact, it took him four-years to make a substantial score, so a precedent has already been set.

(Even though it was against the worst English bowling attack in its history, but that's another story altogether)

Look, this isn't the halcyon days of the early 2000s where a bloke such as Brad Hisge couldn't get a decent go. With Shaun Marsh, the talent is there, but it's the consistency that's lacking a bit.

As mentioned, injuries haven't helped, and I'd still prefer him as a specialist batsmen over someone such as Maxwell, who has the temperament of a limited overs player only.

If being son of ex player and part of Australian Cricket history is crucial to selection, then I guess Alaistair McDermott (son of Craig, and recent bowling coach) will be making debut soon?

I don't think so.[/QUO

 

[Drag Queen]

You're a dick. Take that as a compliment or an insult. Not bothered either way,,

 

[Crush]

I think you'll find the alleged 'great' Steve Waugh averaged far worse after a similar amount of Tests. In fact, it took him four-years to make a substantial score, so a precedent has already been set.

(Even though it was against the worst English bowling attack in its history, but that's another story altogether)

Look, this isn't the halcyon days of the early 2000s where a bloke such as Brad Hisge couldn't get a decent go. With Shaun Marsh, the talent is there, but it's the consistency that's lacking a bit.

As mentioned, injuries haven't helped, and I'd still prefer him as a specialist batsmen over someone such as Maxwell, who has the temperament of a limited overs player only.

If being son of ex player and part of Australian Cricket history is crucial to selection, then I guess Alaistair McDermott (son of Craig, and recent bowling coach) will be making debut soon?

I don't think so.

Steve Waugh would have been in his mid 20s at that stage with plenty of time to blossom. Shaun is in his mid 30s.
Khawaja has played exactly same amount of tests as Shaun yet averages 46 not 36, a far superior average.
Shaun is talented of course but inconsistent and has had his chances.
We should have given the number 6 spot to someone else in the hope of finding a consistent batsmen that could average 45.

 

[JDHD]

Steve Waugh would have been in his mid 20s at that stage with plenty of time to blossom. Shaun is in his mid 30s.
Khawaja has played exactly same amount of tests as Shaun yet averages 46 not 36, a far superior average.
Shaun is talented of course but inconsistent and has had his chances.
We should have given the number 6 spot to someone else in the hope of finding a consistent batsmen that could average 45.

Like, oh, I don't know, Glen Maxwell?

 

[Old Timer]

The Marsh boys are akin to Mitchell Pearce good at club level and can’t make the transition to the highest rep levels
In cricket there have been plenty of them scoring 109’s galore at Sheffield Shield and when they get to test level can’t reproduce that form despite many opportunities to do so.
Again the selectors are timid and don’t want to blood too many young players at one time
They tried it last year and have now got cold feet against the poms and go for the middle aged, injury ironed, tried before low average batsman who put together a couple of ok Shield scores.
Maxwell isn’t the answer because he is a professional limited overs player.
They pick Marsh in the vain hope he will be another Mike Hussey which is flawed thinking.
Renshsw should have opened with Bancroft at 6 or Bancroft open and Lehman at 6

 

[Dragsters]

That was a cracking delivery from Starc for the first wicket...

 

[blacksafake]

The thing with Marsh is he is either hot or cold.When he is cold it seems to last for a while, if he's dismissed cheaply in the first two tests lets hope the selectors don't persist with him.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Steve Waugh would have been in his mid 20s at that stage with plenty of time to blossom. Shaun is in his mid 30s.
Khawaja has played exactly same amount of tests as Shaun yet averages 46 not 36, a far superior average.
Shaun is talented of course but inconsistent and has had his chances.
We should have given the number 6 spot to someone else in the hope of finding a consistent batsmen that could average 45.

Citing age as a deterrent against selection is moot. Look at the careers of Chris Rogers, or going back further, Mike Hussey.

Although talented, Khawaja has had most (if not all) of his successes in Australia where he can simply play off the back foot at will. Getting him driving and it's pretty clear why he struggles abroad.

Name a handful of consistent first class Australian batsmen capable of averaging 45 in Test cricket,

The cupboard is threadbare.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

You're a dick. Take that as a compliment or an insult. Not bothered either way,,

Is that directed at me?

 

[Drag Queen]

Is that directed at me?

Not at all. Slip of the post button.

Is that directed at me?

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Not at all. Slip of the post button.

Not at all. Slip of the post button.

Thanks for the clarification, very kind of you.

 

[Crush]

All the press this morning about Englands tactics of sledging steve smith worked getting him out for 40.
Guess what England, you have Australia 4-209 after sending them into bat. Thats not a fantastic result and I would say given that they struggle to get our tail out that we are well in control of this test and on top.
When we win this test England will be looking at 5 nil....again.