Australia vs India anyone watching it?

[Ken Gargett]

On 11/26/2024 at 6:04 AM, JohnS said:

Now that the game is over, no-one is watching it! 😂 However, puns aside, it's too easy to look at this game and opine that the Australian team is in disarray and the Indian team is 'nigh-on' perfect. That assumption is incorrect. The Indian team is not without its concerns either. Besides, the next test could see a totally different scenario present itself.

Australia do need to address the Labuschagne issue. No Australian test cricketer can continue to represent the team and have so few scores above 50 over such a long period of time as he has. The only other example I can think that resembles his situation is the famous 1997 form of the Australian Cricket Captain (at the time), Mark Taylor. He scored a century in the third innings of the 1st test at Edgbaston and his career continued for another two years.

Aside from our lovable Marcus, we may need to soon discuss Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja...especially the latter. The media will focus on Smith's performance because that draws a bigger headline, but the 'golden rule' in the Australian team for a sign that it's time to consider retirement, other than a drop in form in batting is the concentration in the field. Poor 'Uzzie' had a real shocker in Perth and it indicates that his powers of concentration overall are waning. It's only natural and sure...it happens, but Australia need runs from the top 4 and it starts with the openers, otherwise the batters can't assert the momentum to build scores as they come in lower down the order.

john, might have to start calling you Nostradamus. but Marnus has gone head down and is looking better. smith finally got the monkey off the back with a great knock. Usi is the problem. love the bloke and he is a joy to watch when playing well but yet another player who is telling the selectors when he'll go. end of Ashes. i reckon that if the selectors were serious, they would be saying get runs in the fourth or you are not playing the fifth.

the other player, as popular as he is, that needs a very big score is marsh. done some great things but the bloke has a test average south of 30 and in his last 11, i think it is about 20. and no longer bowls much at all. that is the definition of carrying a player. 

john, your comments re fielding, agree. that drop by smith yesterday was a concern. then he takes an utter blinder. 

shame rain has ruined this test. it has been a cracking series. that last session in Adelaide with Marnus and mcsweeney doing whatever they could to hold on, not many runs sure, but it was absolutely riveting. why anyone would waste time with that t20 crap/slogfest when tests give you that!!!

really looking forward to the next two. losing hazlewood a blow but we have good pace stocks. 

[Ken Gargett]

two quick things about follow-ons.

westie, understand what you were saying but for me, this was more about that moment rather than any change in overall attitude. they would not be happy with the way they have played but that was a small win so celebrate it. 

john, one of the few things on which i disagree. you start pissing about with complicated formulae between rain and following on and it all gets needlessly complicated. rain stuffing cricket has been a staple of life for many decades (especially in Qld - how many Sheffield Shield wins did rain cost us?). it is part of the game. if you bring in a formula like yours, it means the goalposts move during the game. i would be opposed to that. 

but it is rare for a side to enforce it these days. a shame because i really think sides leave wins out there by not using it more. 

[westg]

Not a bad point from John but is it equally fare for both teams. India's tail saved them from the follow on. When Gautman jumped up from his chair, I just thought "wow, we don't need any motivation after that". Some good moments in the match and I agree if Mitch can't bowl I think he needs to go. 

[westg]

And what is it with our all rounders. Consistently getting injured. Mitch Marsh is running around as though he has a rock in his boot. And when he bats at the moment...no clue where his off stump is. Is the work load for an all rounder simply to much at test level. If the answer was to be yes. Fair enough. Boland will come in for Hazelwood, other than that I think the line-up will stay the same.

Steve Smith...I hope he dose not praise the top three again for being able to see off 50 balls. They are specialists...specialist positions. They should not be phased what or who the attack is. That said, they continue to acknowledge Jasprit for taking their scalps cheaply and with relative ease. He owns all three coming into the Boxing Day test. Imagine the thrill opening the batting on a Boxing Day test. It is a sell out ...day one. 100 000 plus people. Come on Usman, this is your space show us what you are made of one last time at the G! 

[Ken Gargett]

5 hours ago, westg said:

And what is it with our all rounders. Consistently getting injured. Mitch Marsh is running around as though he has a rock in his boot. And when he bats at the moment...no clue where his off stump is. Is the work load for an all rounder simply to much at test level. If the answer was to be yes. Fair enough. Boland will come in for Hazelwood, other than that I think the line-up will stay the same.

Steve Smith...I hope he dose not praise the top three again for being able to see off 50 balls. They are specialists...specialist positions. They should not be phased what or who the attack is. That said, they continue to acknowledge Jasprit for taking their scalps cheaply and with relative ease. He owns all three coming into the Boxing Day test. Imagine the thrill opening the batting on a Boxing Day test. It is a sell out ...day one. 100 000 plus people. Come on Usman, this is your space show us what you are made of one last time at the G! 

westie, i think you are right. only change will be boland. George bailey is truly spineless and with him as selector, it may be that the Ashes is not a wonderful life. 

i hope that if Usi, Marsh, Marnus (perhaps i'd give him more) fail then they go and kostas comes in. mcsweeney is very close to end of his chances, this time, but i'd move kostas to opener and mcsweeney down the list for the fifth, assuming we have failures. 

[JohnS]

Big News...Konstas in, McSweeney out for the 4th test!

McSweeney dropped, Konstas added to Test squad

Story by Tom Decent, Andrew Wu

Nathan McSweeney is set to be dropped from Australia’s squad for the Boxing Day Test, with NSW young gun Sam Konstas poised for a call-up.

Selectors will announce a squad for the fourth Test against India on Friday afternoon, but one name that won’t be on the list is that of McSweeney.

As revealed by this masthead on Thursday, McSweeney’s spot in Australia’s XI was being heavily debated by selectors following two single-digit scores during the drawn third Test at the Gabba.

Sources with knowledge of selections, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they do not have permission to discuss the situation publicly, have indicated that McSweeney won’t feature for Australia in the fourth Test. The 25-year-old has been informed of the decision.

Although there has been no formal announcement, Konstas, 19, could make his debut in front of more than 90,000 fans at the MCG after an impressive year with the bat.

This masthead can reveal that Konstas received a phone call early on Friday afternoon after Sydney Thunder training informing him of his selection in Australia’s squad.

Nathan McSweeney. © Getty Images

Konstas will play for the Thunder on Saturday against the Sydney Sixers before flying to Melbourne on Sunday to link up with the Australian team.

The NSW opener made twin hundreds in a Sheffield Shield match against South Australia earlier this year, followed by a century for the Prime Minister’s XI against India and another score of 88 against Western Australia at the SCG.

He then brought up a 50 off 20 balls on his Big Bash debut to strengthen his case.

Australia took a gamble by picking McSweeney, who is not a specialist opener, to bat at the top of the order against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. From three Tests, McSweeney has made 72 runs at 14.4.

Sam Konstas in action for NSW.© Getty Images

Selectors were adamant McSweeney’s game would hold up as an opening batsman but his axing shows a lack of faith.

Former Test opener Ed Cowan said before the series that statistics indicated McSweeney, traditionally a No.3 and No.4, struggled against the new ball.

“The data would suggest that at the moment in his career, he doesn’t have the technique nor the temperament to do it,” Cowan said on the ABC’s Grandstand Cricket Podcast. “You know what a selection, when the data doesn’t support your point of view, is? It’s a guess. Guesses sometimes pay off, but that’s called luck, and if they don’t, they actually dilute the players’ confidence [across the country] … as to what it takes to get selected.”

In response, head selector George Bailey said: “I’d like to think it’s a little more than a guess. We could all run our fingers down the list of leading run-scorers … but that’s not necessarily how cricket teams work. It’s how they fit together.

“The point was, in our minds, that it won’t be a major adjustment for him. Talking to Nathan, the way he prepares to go and play for South Australia, when he does bat at No.3, is it’s a very similar mindset and very similar way he’ll approach it. We think he’s got the game that will succeed at Test level.”

Josh Inglis has also been in the Australia’s squad as a spare batsman and could come into calculations for the MCG Test.

Scott Boland is expected to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood in the XI, while Queensland paceman Xavier Bartlett is being touted as a potential bolter in the squad.

Source: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/mcsweeney-set-to-be-dropped-from-test-squad-20241220-p5kzvy.html

[JohnS]

Konstas handed Boxing Day Test call-up as changes loom for Australia

The 19-year-old opener is now in the frame for a debut in Melbourne with Australia set to make changes to their struggling top order

Andrew McGlashan - 20-Dec-2024 

Nathan McSweeney has been dropped from Australia's squad for the final two Tests against India with 19-year-old opening batter Sam Konstas earning his first call as the home side shake up the top order amid their struggles against Jasprit Bumrah.

Pace bowler Jhye Richardson has also been recalled to a Test squad for the first time in three years to provide further cover following the injury to Josh Hazlewood although Scott Boland is expected to come into the XI at the MCG.

While Konstas been included on the back of a strong run of form since being overlooked at the start of the series, after he had been part of the Australia A matches against India A, it is not certain he will play on Boxing Day in Melbourne. Josh Inglis, who has been the spare batter during the series to date, is expected to remain in the squad and could be an option if the selectors want to get creative. Beau Webster is also retained in the 15-player group.

But as a specialist opener there is now a strong chance that Konstas will debut in front of a crowd of more than 90,000 at the MCG. If he does play, it would be just his 12th first-class match although he has been marked out as a future international player since his junior days.

"The squad provides options as to how we structure the XI for the final two Tests of the series," chair of selectors George Bailey said. "Sam gets a call up to the Test squad for the first time. His style of batting offers a point of difference and we look forward to watching his game develop further.

"We remain confident Nathan has the ability and temperament to succeed at Test level in the future. It was a difficult decision to leave him out. It has clearly been a challenge at the top of the order for batters throughout the series and we want to provide the option of a different line-up for the next two matches.

"In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Jhye provides further options in the fast bowling space. It has been pleasing to see his successful return throughout the early part of the domestic summer."

After starting the season with twin centuries against South Australia, becoming the youngest to do so in the Sheffield Shield since Ricky Ponting, which put himself firmly in Test discussions, Konstas has enjoyed a productive last three weeks which included a century against the Indians in Canberra, 88 in the Sheffield Shield against Western Australia and 27-ball 56 on BBL debut for Sydney Thunder.

He also made a composed 73 not out in the second innings against India A at the MCG in early November, shortly before McSweeney was announced as having won the selection race for the first Test.

McSweeney, who had never opened in professional cricket before this season, has made 72 runs at 14.40 in the first three Tests. He scored an important 39 in the first innings in Adelaide to help negotiate a challenging session against the pink ball under lights but his record against Bumrah is four dismissals for just 15 runs in 66 deliveries. In the second innings at the Gabba, where Australia attempted to set up a game, he laboured to 4 off 25 balls before edging a wide delivery from Akash Deep.

However, McSweeney has not been alone in his struggles with Usman Khawaja averaging 12.60 in the series and Marnus Labuschagne 16.40 despite a half-century in Adelaide.

After the Brisbane Test, captain Pat Cummins, who isn't on the selection panel, praised the role McSweeney had played but acknowledged the lack of output from the top order.

"I've been really impressed with the way he's gone about it," Cummins said. "Even today, someone starting out his career still being selfless enough to go out there and try to play shots rather than try and preserve and get a score. Really impressed with him, again probably hasn't scored the runs he would have liked, but he has played some important knocks that have set up a win in Adelaide and a really good result here.

Jhye Richardson is back in the Test set-up - Getty Images

"Obviously they [the top three] would be hoping to score more runs, we'd like them to score more runs, but I think they have made some important contributions that others have benefited from."

While the Konstas-McSweeney swap will take much of the attention, the recall for Richardson is also significant after his run of injuries. He has been limited to just three Test matches since debuting against Sri Lanka in January 2019, with the last being a pink-ball game in Adelaide in 2021 when he took his maiden Test five-wicket haul against England.

But Richardson has been bowling without interruption since his return in this year's IPL and his improved fitness saw him return to first-class cricket earlier than expected. He had match figures of 4 for 85 from 29 overs against South Australia in the Shield, albeit there was a brief injury scare when hurt his shoulder celebrating, following four One-Day Cup matches and a couple of second XI games for Western Australia.

Brendan Doggett, who was called in as cover when Hazlewood was first injured in Perth, does not make this squad but Sean Abbott is retained.

The call to drop McSweeney comes just a few days after former Australia coach Darren Lehmann said he believes Bailey is too close to the players and unable to make tough decisions, something Cummins strongly hit back at.

"I don't know how that [criticism] can be true," Cummins said. "There is so much more to picking a side than just looking at the internet. Going on with really strong philosophies, working with players.

"The most important thing is you do stay objective and I think the selection panel are amazing at that. They've made some really bold calls over the past couple of years in all formats. Probably bolder than I have seen other selectors make in previous years. They've never shied away from a tough decision. What George brings to the role is amazing and I think you would hear that from guys in the side, but also from state guys as well."

Australia squad for Melbourne and Sydney Tests vs India

Pat Cummins (capt), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/sam-konstas-handed-boxing-day-test-call-up-as-changes-loom-for-australia-1465973

[westg]

Bloody brilliant !  A 19 year old brimming with talent, bring him on. Put him in Beau Webster as well. I would actually continue with McSweeney and give Mitch and Marnus the bench. 

[JohnS]

I'd be inclined to agree, West. I mean Mitchell Marsh hasn't set the world on fire in any way whatsoever in this series.

[Ken Gargett]

18 hours ago, westg said:

Bloody brilliant !  A 19 year old brimming with talent, bring him on. Put him in Beau Webster as well. I would actually continue with McSweeney and give Mitch and Marnus the bench. 

westie, john, this is, for me, where bailey is too spineless and close to the established players. mcsweeney has struggled but did play one seriously important knock when he held on for that last session, test 2. but the kid has never opened at first class level. so gets thrown in there and then dumped when not an almost immediate success at an unfamiliar position despite facing one of the best fast bowlers of this or any other generation. thank the divinities bumrah is not a pom. for me, Marnus has started to show more so he gets another go. Usi is very lucky to still be there and lord help him if he fails at the MCG. i'd have brought in kostas, moved mcsweeney to six and dropped marsh, unless they know he is fully fit to bowl. he fails again and does not bowl, the first person to go should be bailey. at the very least, McSweeney should have stayed in the squad of fifteen and not been dumped. what does that do for his confidence. all very well saying he is a player for the future, but then you treat him like this? do we need Richardson, webster and abbott in the squad when we already have starc, cummins and boland, plus marsh, assuming he can bowl. makes no sense. boland obviously for hazlewood. but even inglis, why? they just seem not to think at times. 

the big question is who steps in for Usi if he fails again. Renshaw? not quite enough runs. they can't go back to harris or Bancroft. not sure. 

[westg]

On 12/21/2024 at 3:01 PM, Ken Gargett said:

westie, john, this is, for me, where bailey is too spineless and close to the established players. mcsweeney has struggled but did play one seriously important knock when he held on for that last session, test 2. but the kid has never opened at first class level. so gets thrown in there and then dumped when not an almost immediate success at an unfamiliar position despite facing one of the best fast bowlers of this or any other generation. thank the divinities bumrah is not a pom. for me, Marnus has started to show more so he gets another go. Usi is very lucky to still be there and lord help him if he fails at the MCG. i'd have brought in kostas, moved mcsweeney to six and dropped marsh, unless they know he is fully fit to bowl. he fails again and does not bowl, the first person to go should be bailey. at the very least, McSweeney should have stayed in the squad of fifteen and not been dumped. what does that do for his confidence. all very well saying he is a player for the future, but then you treat him like this? do we need Richardson, webster and abbott in the squad when we already have starc, cummins and boland, plus marsh, assuming he can bowl. makes no sense. boland obviously for hazlewood. but even inglis, why? they just seem not to think at times. 

the big question is who steps in for Usi if he fails again. Renshaw? not quite enough runs. they can't go back to harris or Bancroft. not sure. 

If Usman plays two more tests and then retires that is tragic for McSweeney. Despite never opening the batting at state level he was entrusted with the thankless task of taming Jasprit. The most challenging introduction to cricket at test level in the modern era I would of thought. Another failed opening experiment from Bailey and co. The rain salvaged a draw for India last week, a game which we were well and truly on top of. A little desperate from George atm. 

[westg]

Here we go. The Boxing Day Test. Usman has a new opening partner who is exactly half his age. One all and so much to play for. Ravi revs it up at the coin toss and the new boy gets to open on a good pitch and just like that bang he is into it. Bring on Jasprit. 💣

[westg]

Well I love this kid. Knocking the living christ out of the Indian attack. Showing absolutely no respect for the bowlers. Making it look easy. Virat...what a piece of shit walking straight at him and giving a little shoulder charge in between overs. All that did was flick a switch - bang bang and bang. What a thrill and what excitement to the start of the game. God help the spinners...box office stuff. That was the most runs any batsman has ever taken of a first up bowling spell from Jasprit Bumrah. Amazing on debut 👏 

[JohnS]

That was wonderful to see from Sam Konstas. Traditionally, the thinking is that batsmen seek to rotate strike via consistently looking for singles in order to prevent the bowlers from settling into a rhythm. Konstas affected the bowlers' rhythm today via his aggressive batting. Again, it was so good to see! 

He was a little before my time but I think the only other Australian batsman that looked to take on the bowling at such a young age was Doug Walters. One may also add Ricky Ponting, but he was 21 on debut and took a little time to settle into the team.

[westg]

34 minutes ago, JohnS said:

That was wonderful to see from Sam Konstas. Traditionally, the thinking is that batsmen seek to rotate strike via consistently looking for singles in order to prevent the bowlers from settling into a rhythm. Konstas affected the bowlers' rhythm today via his aggressive batting. Again, it was so good to see! 

He was a little before my time but I think the only other Australian batsman that looked to take on the bowling at such a young age was Doug Walters. One may also add Ricky Ponting, but he was 21 on debut and took a little time to settle into the team.

I remember watching Ponting make his debut at the WACA. I can remember sitting in the crowd and just watching him buzz around the ground.  

[Ken Gargett]

16 hours ago, JohnS said:

That was wonderful to see from Sam Konstas. Traditionally, the thinking is that batsmen seek to rotate strike via consistently looking for singles in order to prevent the bowlers from settling into a rhythm. Konstas affected the bowlers' rhythm today via his aggressive batting. Again, it was so good to see! 

He was a little before my time but I think the only other Australian batsman that looked to take on the bowling at such a young age was Doug Walters. One may also add Ricky Ponting, but he was 21 on debut and took a little time to settle into the team.

doug walters was my fave player, still is. daylight second. even caddied for him on a rest day in Brizzy once. extraordinary to watch once he got going. i was too young for his early years but my first real memory of a series was late 60s v the west indies (top WI side with sobers, Lloyd, hall, Kanhai, Charlie Griffith, Butcher, Nurse, Fredericks, gibbs and quite a few other superstars but we won the series 3-1 i think). they played Qld just before the first test and trimble got a squillion. john loxton played that game - always liked John. he was the guy who convinced the selectors to give me a crack years later at Uni. walters was injured for the first test and we lost it. chappell (ian) and Lawry (another fave of mine) got big runs first and second test. think we won the second. walters got 70? third test, he got a ton. fourth test he got another ton (and a fifty from memory). fifth test 240 odd in the first and another ton in the second (first time it had ever been done). not bad against bowlers like hall, Griffith, gibbs and sobers. ended up with something like 700 runs from 6 innings, no failures. things like that stick in a young bloke's memory. i was at the gabba a couple of years later when we played England and Walters got a ton in the first innings. and from memory, a handful of wickets for nothing. match was a draw. Lawry batted in the second dig for 60 or 80? at a strike rate of about 2. he just decided it would be a draw and batted all day on the fifth day. made boycott look like viv Richards. 

loved what konstas did yesterday but it is not the sort of cricket which is for the long term. if he can manage it, he could have a great career. he certainly thinks he will. life will knock off some of that cockiness.

as for kohli, shameful. love him as a batsman and his competitiveness. he has been one of my faves for years. but that was embarrassing. one of the most senior players in the world and he does that? i suspect he lost the respect of many.

even more shameful is the muppet who is the match referee. 20% of his match fee? that is the proverbial belting with a wet lettuce leaf. whoever the ref is, he should never be in that position again. cowardly decision. that should have been full match fee and a match ban, at the very least. but the ref is clearly scared that he won't get appointed again if he offends the Indians. in which case, he is not fit for the position in the first place. 

[westg]

I think that's all there is to it. Very low ball from the match ref. He clearly walked the width of a pitch to make contact with intent. The way he went about it afterwards was just weak. So embarrassing. He will walk out to bat today. Bay 13 crowd will be waiting for him...we all know what comes next from that lot. 🌴😎

[JohnS]

I completely agree that Konstas' method will need to develop long-term. I also agree with the sentiments on Virat Kohli. He's a great guy off the field but he hasn't been the same since that silly media issue a week ago or so and I wonder if that whole over-reaction is now going to affect India going forward.

Journalists will agitate however they can to get a story but in the heat of the battle of a Cricket Test, one has to maintain their emotions to perform in my view.