5th Test: Australia v India @ SCG Jan 3-7, 2025

[TheParraboy]

Got an exclusive pic of the Sydney wicket guys...

 

[Twizzle]

Webster in for MMarsh will make us a stronger team.

 

[JokerEel]

Webster in for MMarsh will make us a stronger team.

Yep the Bison has contributed nothing this summer.

 

[TheParraboy]

You dont change a winning team, plus my avatar stays...

 

[Twizzle]

You dont change a winning team, plus my avatar stays...

I can fix that for you

 

[Chins get the wins]

Punt Marsh for the next best bat. We don't need an all rounder with Head, Labs and Smith

 

[Bazal]

Could be 5 days of rain I wouldn't even care.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Meanwhile Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe has it where both teams forgot test matches have 2 innings per team. Crazy amount of runs scored on what surely must be a bitumen pavement for a pitch. 5th day and no one has had a second bat yet.

Zim - 3 centuries incl. a 150
Afg - 2 double centuries and 1 century.

 

[Fangs]

Special K
Khawaja
Labs
Smith
Head
Carey
Webster
Abbott
Cummins
Boland
Lyon

Webster is a no brainer.

We want fit bowlers. Starc was bowling injured at the MCG on a short turn around is not worth the risk. Haze unlikely for the same reason.

When a draw is in your favour then extra batting becomes a consideration. Both Abbott and Richardson are capable with the bat but I'll go with the home town hero Abbott.

They might bring someone else into the squad to break up the sameness in the bowling attack. But not sure about the left arm options available.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Watch the line: 'you don't change a winning team' get trotted out by Marsh's mates.

 

[TheParraboy]

I had a (wet) dream, Mitch Marsh scored a blazing double ton at the SCG...and took another great catch..

 

[Twizzle]

You dont change a winning team, plus my avatar stays...

Watch the line: 'you don't change a winning team' get trotted out by Marsh's mates.

lolol

 

[Twizzle]

Webster is a no brainer.

agree, plus he can bowl finger spin which might be handy at the SCG if it decides to turn again, although I suspect we don't prepare a pitch to suit the Inidian attack.

Starc said he was not too seriously injured and should be OK but I guess it will depend on the medical staff

Jye and Sabba don't fill me with confidence and Feathers seems to have dropped off the radar as he is not exactly cleaning up in Shield cricket this season

 

[Fangs]

agree, plus he can bowl finger spin which might be handy at the SCG if it decides to turn again, although I suspect we don't prepare a pitch to suit the Inidian attack.

Starc said he was not too seriously injured and should be OK but I guess it will depend on the medical staff

Jye and Sabba don't fill me with confidence and Feathers seems to have dropped off the radar as he is not exactly cleaning up in Shield cricket this season

Massive bonus if he can bowl spin. I'll take that over Labs half assed pace any day of the week.

I'm a believer in picking players on a home deck. Abbott has been around for a while and fits the job description IMO. 20 wickets isn't our main objective. It's big runs and absorbing time at the crease. The other thought might be picking a bowler would a great economy.

They'd want to be very confident in Starc's fitness to play him on a short turn around. And just in general considering the age of our squad. Potential to break down would be higher. Batting first would be a bonus.

 

[Chins get the wins]

Our batting isn't strong enough to carry an all-rounder. Keep it simple

 

[Fangs]

Our batting isn't strong enough to carry an all-rounder. Keep it simple

And our old attack carrying injury may well breakdown on a short turn around.

In the Pat Howard days (Or as I call it the glory days) we'd have 4 new bowlers in this test. That won't be happening but at a minimum changing out the all rounder who is contributing nothing is a good option. Webster can get through more work with the ball.

Inglis under an injury cloud. You'll need to find yourself another batsman if you want that.

 

[Twizzle]

Webster is a batting all rounder, so he's ideal if we want to beef up our middle order

 

[Twizzle]

all this chat about our no 6 just shows how much we are missing Green

 

[Fangs]

all this chat about our no 6 just shows how much we are missing Green

Yes but it also highlights that we need a back up.

If Green goes down in SL, the WI or in the Ashes in 2025 then they'll want another all rounder. Webster might be a bit older but he is the next best right now.

Or maybe Marsh will be again...never underestimate the Bison.