5th Test: Austalia vs England at SCG Jan 3-7 2011

[_snafu_]

It is absolutely one of the physically least demanding professional sports in Australia.

A 1st class cricketer can hang about into his 40s, for example. There isn't another sport in which you can earn good cash in Oz with that sort of longevity (except perhaps goalie in the A-league).

It is also the only sport I know of in which you can have fat people representing at the highest level. Blokes like Hughes, Boon, Lehmann etc were all legitimately overweight to the tune of 15+kg and yet were able to play the game at the highest level, taking several hundred wickets and thousands of runs between them.

It simply can't be that hard on the body for blokes of their size and fitness to be able to pull it off.

Thats not to say it isn't tough. I'm simply saying that having 2 days of rest between tests is enough

Danish has never played cricket at any competitive level.

 

[Danish]

Look at all the cricketers trying to paint cricket as a tough sport :lol:

Its a sport of immense skill, probably matched only by golf in terms of sheer practice and technique involved. It is not a sport of physical prowess, never has been, and likely never will be (until 20/20 takes over and brings in designated hitters who don't have to field)

 

[Hallatia]

Hussey should not be dropped, he should retire on his own terms while he still can, and this is a perfect opportunity to do so ant it may be good for the team too. I also think Ponting should stay just for the short term, but a slight move down the order, which he is prepared to make and may be good for him. Clarke needs to get his head out of his arse. I don't think Katich should get dropped, but years of studying the Australian test team lead me to conclude that he has probably played his last test - particularly after the selectors were not interested in playing him this test, although he was working hard to be fit for it. He may or may not have been properly fit in the end, but either way, the selectors were not interested, suggesting they are already ready to let him go.

 

[Twizzle]

we dont play another test match for 7 months, long time for Hussey and Punter to consider their options, and for Clarkey to sort himself out

 

[Evenflow]

I wouldn't read too much into Katich missing this test, he had/has a pretty bad achillies injury and they're not something you just get over in a week or two. They're painful as f**k and take time to heal.

I don't think Katich will be going anywhere, either of his own choice or the selctors choice. That might've been a different story if Hughes had made some runs in this series but with his continual failings i'd bet my left one they'd take a fit, solid and for the mostly reliable opener like him over a technically flawed, loose shot making enigma like Hughes. Maybe he'll be ready when Katich finally does retire in a couple of years but for now i still think Katich is the man for the job by far.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Look at all the cricketers trying to paint cricket as a tough sport :lol:

Its a sport of immense skill, probably matched only by golf in terms of sheer practice and technique involved. It is not a sport of physical prowess, never has been, and likely never will be (until 20/20 takes over and brings in designated hitters who don't have to field)

I just want to know, do you have the ability to bowl at least 135 kph? Have you done it in at least 3-4 day game? No? Well you have no idea what it is like then do you.

 

[gUt]

Can someone explain to me why we chose to bat first in those conditions?

 

[Panther_Daz]

Haddin gone chasing a wide one.

Caught behind bowled Anderson.

 

[Collingwood Storm]

Disgusting shot by Haddin... and that's the problem with playing Smith. Haddin is a good #7 and you can live with that sort of shot occasionally from a #7 but not a #6.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Haddin is overrated.

 

[Hallatia]

Haddin is a better number 6 than Smith. For the time being anyway.

 

[Collingwood Storm]

Haddin is a better number 6 than Smith. For the time being anyway.

No doubt... but there are still a lot better options out there as a pure #6 batsman.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Marcus North?

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Smith needs a good long innings in this test match.

It seems like everyone is talking about Khawaja v Ponting, but I could easily see Ponting dropping to six and bye bye Smith if he doesn't perform.

All depends on how Beer goes I suppose.

 

[Danish]

I just want to know, do you have the ability to bowl at least 135 kph? Have you done it in at least 3-4 day game? No? Well you have no idea what it is like then do you.

No idea how fast I can bowl, but I would put it comfortably below 135. Haven't played cricket at anything other than school level either.

My sports were league, inline hockey (like ice hockey but on skates), high jump and middle distance running (800-5000m).

Is playing a sport the only way one can possibly know and compare the physical demands of that sport? I don't think so. I've never competed in an Iron Man endurance race but I've no doubt its the toughest test the body can go through. I've never competed in cycling or lawn bowls but I'm quietly confident I know which one requires more physical prowess.

Cricket is a game of elite skill, finesse, tactics and concentration. The mental endurance is nothing short of extraordinary. Its strain on the body physically however is not in the same category as league, union or other contact sports, nor is it up there with the likes of non-contact sports like tennis. I judge this by the typical lifespan of a professional career in these sports, as well as the frequency and seriousness of injury. Many more league players do their ACL than fast bowlers, for example, so the forces put on the knees is likely more.

 

[Twizzle]

who said Haddin is a no 6 ?

 

[The_Joey_Show]

It is absolutely one of the physically least demanding professional sports in Australia.

A 1st class cricketer can hang about into his 40s, for example. There isn't another sport in which you can earn good cash in Oz with that sort of longevity (except perhaps goalie in the A-league).

It is also the only sport I know of in which you can have fat people representing at the highest level. Blokes like Hughes, Boon, Lehmann etc were all legitimately overweight to the tune of 15+kg and yet were able to play the game at the highest level, taking several hundred wickets and thousands of runs between them.

It simply can't be that hard on the body for blokes of their size and fitness to be able to pull it off.

Thats not to say it isn't tough. I'm simply saying that having 2 days of rest between tests is enough

Haha this is one of the most ridiculous comments I have ever read in my life.

By this definition, rugby union is not a tough sport, as Benn Alexander and Matt Dunning have both played for the Wallabies. Nor is rugby league a tough sport, as guys like George Rose, Adam Cuthbertson and Owen Craigie have all had extended FG careers.

BTW, David Boon had the second lowest body fat percentage of any player in his Australian team (behind only Dean Jones, who was a dead set whippet). 15+kgs overweight? Please. You sir have NFI.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Well I have played 3-4 day games and I am a fast bowler(been clocked once at around 130) so I do know what it is like and isn't easy that is for sure.

 

[Twizzle]

Disgusting shot by Haddin... and that's the problem with playing Smith. Haddin is a good #7 and you can live with that sort of shot occasionally from a #7 but not a #6.

yeh, OK Locky

so you're saying if you drop down the order by 1, you can play sh*t shots and its OK ?

 

[Twizzle]

Well I have played 3-4 day games and I am a fast bowler(been clocked once at around 130) so I do know what it is like and isn't easy that is for sure.

and after bowling 20 overs, then you have to go out and open the batting its pretty much an exhausting day,

or it is for me