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4th Test: Australia v India at Gabba Jan 15-19, 2021

stryker

First Grade
Messages
5,277
The test rankings should deduct huge points from teams for not trying to win test matches. The fact that the draw is so rewarding for India here like it was in Sydney is a bit pathetic. They need to dangle carrots for fourth innings run chases, particularly if the equation is way less than four an over.

and yes, if the roles were reversed I’d be extremely disappointed if this is how Australia batted.
Australia cannot bat like this. If we had to survive 4 sessions to get the draw we would collapse 99.9999 times out of 100.
Batting for a draw is a huge test of concentration, self control, mental and physical toughness and discipline. It is Test Match Cricket.
 

undertaker

Coach
Messages
10,816
I guess being the only half decent spinner in Australia. I'd replace him if we had options

Swepson showed good form in the Sheffield Shield this summer, taking a 10-fer against NSW.

The only way I could see Sweppo getting picked to play a test match outside of the subcontinent is if the SCG starts producing rank turners (like it did during the '80s and '90s) that justify playing 2 specialist spinners batting at #8-11, or if Lyon has a serious shoulder/index finger/leg injury. Otherwise, the selectors' mentality in the meantime is to have Lyon + 3 fast bowlers batting at #8-11, and Labuschagne in the team as a part-time back-up spinner.

Taking the leg-spin bias out of myself, I'd love to see Sweppo get given a go at the highest level, but the longer the national selectors' under Trevor Hohns' tenure continue this mentality of one spinner + 3 fast bowlers (which was the reason a player of MacGill's talent only got to play 44 test matches), Sweppo's selection opportunities are going to be very slim if Lyon remains injury-free until at least the 2023 Ashes tour, by which stage Sweppo will be about 30 and another young spin bowler in their early-mid 20s may have emerged in Sheffield Shield by that stage over that 2 1/2 year period.
 
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Bazal

Post Whore
Messages
99,404
Might as well just bowl Gary thirty overs straight from one end. Tell him to prove he's the GOAT
 
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