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I guess Shaun is scoring enough runs at the moment that he doesn't count as a quota pick.
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2017-18 Ashes Discussion Thread
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I guess Shaun is scoring enough runs at the moment that he doesn't count as a quota pick.
Abdullah719
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"My thought process around DRS has changed a little bit" : Steve Smith
Australia captain Steve Smith says the recent revamp of the Decision Review System has changed the way he uses his challenges on the field.
As of October 1 this year, teams no longer have their allocation of referrals refreshed every 80 overs and instead have just two incorrect calls for the duration of the batting team’s innings. However, should an lbw referral be a line-ball decision that results in an 'Umpire’s Call', the referring team does not lose a review should the decision go against them.
Smith was visibly frustrated on day four when he burned both of his referrals in the space of three balls and left his side without the option of using the DRS for the remainder of the match.
The Australian skipper consults the bowler, wicketkeeper and the point fielder – often veteran Nathan Lyon – before ultimately making the final call on whether to review a decision.
But he conceded the tweak to the rule has left him second guessing himself when it comes to using the DRS.
"Your thinking changes a little bit now that with the Umpire's Call and whether you keep it or if it's missing you lose it," Smith said.
"It’s a tough one. I certainly think my thought process around it has changed a little bit.
"Sometimes there’s more hope and if it's just touching the stumps, we’re alright.
"It's an interesting one that I can in particular continue to work on and get as consistent as I can."
Having set England a record 354 runs to win, Australia had the tourists 3-108 in the 42nd over when Pat Cummins cut skipper Joe Root in half with a searing inswinger.
After Australia's appeal for a catch behind was turned down by New Zealand umpire Chris Gaffaney, Smith opted for a review, but third umpire Marais Erasmus found no evidence of an inside edge.
Two balls later, Smith signalled for a review again when paceman Josh Hazlewood pinned left-hander Dawid Malan from around the wicket but was ruled not out by Pakistan’s Aleem Dar. Ball tracking technology revealed the ball would have sailed over middle stump and Australia’s second and final review was gone.
Fortunately for Smith, his high-octane bowling attack ran through England’s misfiring batting order the following day to wrap up a 120-run second Test win as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match Magellan Ashes.
Seven of the 17 DRS referrals in the match were overturned by the third umpire, but England captain Joe Root sympathised with the on-field after play.
"It's a very difficult job, I think it is," Root said.
"There were a number of decisions overturned, it was strange, a few where we were out in the middle in the field and we thought that it's just regulation ... out. And similarly, when I was batting, I thought the only thing saving me when I left that one was it was pitching outside leg. And I saw it on the screen pitch in line, but to see it go over was a bit of a surprise.
"So I think that it's easy to criticise the umpires and it's easy to make excuses, but it's a very difficult job and just like players you have good and bad days.
"There is always going to be those questions asked about DRS; is the technology in the right place? Could it be better?
"We are where we are with it and we have to get on with it because it's there for this series and if we moan and use it as an excuse then it's not going to help us.
"We have just got to try and eliminate the chance of it going against us."
https://www.cricket.com.au/news/ste...m-joe-root-australia-england-ashes/2017-12-06
Australia captain Steve Smith says the recent revamp of the Decision Review System has changed the way he uses his challenges on the field.
As of October 1 this year, teams no longer have their allocation of referrals refreshed every 80 overs and instead have just two incorrect calls for the duration of the batting team’s innings. However, should an lbw referral be a line-ball decision that results in an 'Umpire’s Call', the referring team does not lose a review should the decision go against them.
Smith was visibly frustrated on day four when he burned both of his referrals in the space of three balls and left his side without the option of using the DRS for the remainder of the match.
The Australian skipper consults the bowler, wicketkeeper and the point fielder – often veteran Nathan Lyon – before ultimately making the final call on whether to review a decision.
But he conceded the tweak to the rule has left him second guessing himself when it comes to using the DRS.
"Your thinking changes a little bit now that with the Umpire's Call and whether you keep it or if it's missing you lose it," Smith said.
"It’s a tough one. I certainly think my thought process around it has changed a little bit.
"Sometimes there’s more hope and if it's just touching the stumps, we’re alright.
"It's an interesting one that I can in particular continue to work on and get as consistent as I can."
Having set England a record 354 runs to win, Australia had the tourists 3-108 in the 42nd over when Pat Cummins cut skipper Joe Root in half with a searing inswinger.
After Australia's appeal for a catch behind was turned down by New Zealand umpire Chris Gaffaney, Smith opted for a review, but third umpire Marais Erasmus found no evidence of an inside edge.
Two balls later, Smith signalled for a review again when paceman Josh Hazlewood pinned left-hander Dawid Malan from around the wicket but was ruled not out by Pakistan’s Aleem Dar. Ball tracking technology revealed the ball would have sailed over middle stump and Australia’s second and final review was gone.
Fortunately for Smith, his high-octane bowling attack ran through England’s misfiring batting order the following day to wrap up a 120-run second Test win as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match Magellan Ashes.
Seven of the 17 DRS referrals in the match were overturned by the third umpire, but England captain Joe Root sympathised with the on-field after play.
"It's a very difficult job, I think it is," Root said.
"There were a number of decisions overturned, it was strange, a few where we were out in the middle in the field and we thought that it's just regulation ... out. And similarly, when I was batting, I thought the only thing saving me when I left that one was it was pitching outside leg. And I saw it on the screen pitch in line, but to see it go over was a bit of a surprise.
"So I think that it's easy to criticise the umpires and it's easy to make excuses, but it's a very difficult job and just like players you have good and bad days.
"There is always going to be those questions asked about DRS; is the technology in the right place? Could it be better?
"We are where we are with it and we have to get on with it because it's there for this series and if we moan and use it as an excuse then it's not going to help us.
"We have just got to try and eliminate the chance of it going against us."
https://www.cricket.com.au/news/ste...m-joe-root-australia-england-ashes/2017-12-06
He's like Makaya Ntini- proof the quota system works!
The Ashes 2017: Mitchell Marsh ready to make most of another Test chance if given shot in Perth
WITH older brother Shaun providing the perfect example, all-rounder Mitch Marsh is ready to make his mark at Test level if called into the Australian team for the third Ashes clash in Perth.
The oft-maligned Marsh has been mostly underwhelming with bat and ball in 21 Tests dating back to 2014.
The 26-year-old was forced home midway through the tour of India earlier this year to undergo shoulder surgery, but is now back bowling off his long run-up.
A recent Sheffield Shield knock of 141 batting at No.4 for WA clearly impressed the Australian selectors, who included him in the 13-man Test squad in place of swing bowler Chadd Sayers.
Australia is expected to name an unchanged side for the third Test, although Marsh is an option to replace Peter Handscomb, especially if the selectors decide they need a fourth pace bowling option at the WACA.
“I’m feeling really confident in my game at the moment so it’s a great feeling,” Marsh said.
“As an all-rounder in the Australian team with our attack I’m obviously not going to be bowling 30 to 40 overs a game.
“But I’ve worked hard over the last eight months to get my body into a position where I’m now playing again as an all-rounder so that’s really exciting.”
Marsh admitted he had lost confidence with the bat in his most recent stint in the Test side.
“But that’s all part of playing Test match cricket, playing cricket at the highest level,” he said.
“You go through troughs and right now I’m feeling really confident in my game.”
In the past, Marsh acknowledged he had spent too much time worrying about how he was perceived by critics and how other contenders for his spot in the lineup were performing.
Seeing his older brother rise above similar issues to make a match-winning century in the second Test against England had been a major boost.
“When you’re playing cricket for Australia there are a lot of distractions outside the inner sanctum but (Shaun) is just really concentrating right now and it’s great to see,” said Marsh.
“Last year I wasn’t performing at my best and in the game of cricket you can get pretty down on yourself.
“I’ve come to realise that the game of cricket is just a game. I’m here to play and I’m here to do my best for the team.
“As long as I prepare well and do everything I can I know now that I’ll be able to do a job for Australia.’
http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricke...h/news-story/af39c3204ba4740d702338c4d088c540
WITH older brother Shaun providing the perfect example, all-rounder Mitch Marsh is ready to make his mark at Test level if called into the Australian team for the third Ashes clash in Perth.
The oft-maligned Marsh has been mostly underwhelming with bat and ball in 21 Tests dating back to 2014.
The 26-year-old was forced home midway through the tour of India earlier this year to undergo shoulder surgery, but is now back bowling off his long run-up.
A recent Sheffield Shield knock of 141 batting at No.4 for WA clearly impressed the Australian selectors, who included him in the 13-man Test squad in place of swing bowler Chadd Sayers.
Australia is expected to name an unchanged side for the third Test, although Marsh is an option to replace Peter Handscomb, especially if the selectors decide they need a fourth pace bowling option at the WACA.
“I’m feeling really confident in my game at the moment so it’s a great feeling,” Marsh said.
“As an all-rounder in the Australian team with our attack I’m obviously not going to be bowling 30 to 40 overs a game.
“But I’ve worked hard over the last eight months to get my body into a position where I’m now playing again as an all-rounder so that’s really exciting.”
Marsh admitted he had lost confidence with the bat in his most recent stint in the Test side.
“But that’s all part of playing Test match cricket, playing cricket at the highest level,” he said.
“You go through troughs and right now I’m feeling really confident in my game.”
In the past, Marsh acknowledged he had spent too much time worrying about how he was perceived by critics and how other contenders for his spot in the lineup were performing.
Seeing his older brother rise above similar issues to make a match-winning century in the second Test against England had been a major boost.
“When you’re playing cricket for Australia there are a lot of distractions outside the inner sanctum but (Shaun) is just really concentrating right now and it’s great to see,” said Marsh.
“Last year I wasn’t performing at my best and in the game of cricket you can get pretty down on yourself.
“I’ve come to realise that the game of cricket is just a game. I’m here to play and I’m here to do my best for the team.
“As long as I prepare well and do everything I can I know now that I’ll be able to do a job for Australia.’
http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricke...h/news-story/af39c3204ba4740d702338c4d088c540
Abdullah719
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Moeen Ali named England captain for warm-up game in Perth
England XI will play a two-day warm up game against Cricket Australia XI in Perth this weekend. England’s off-spinner, Moeen Ali will lead the England XI side which would be played at Richardson Park in Perth.
Moeen Ali missed on the warm-up matches before Ashes dues to side strain. England believe that Ali will gain his rhythm and confidence in the two day warm –up game. Coach Trevor Bayliss, and the captain, Joe Root, suggested he will retain his place for the Perth Test.
Ali is the only player from the Adelaide Test to play in the England XI side which also includes the bench players (Gary Ballance, Ben Foakes, Mason Crane, Jake Ball and Tom Curran). Six players of the England Lions squad (Ben Duckett, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood) will also play the warm-up match. Ben Foakes will be the wicket-keeper for England XI.
England squad: Moeen Ali (c), Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes (wk), Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Mark Wood.
http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/moeen-ali-named-england-captain-for-warm-up-game-in-perth-666991
England XI will play a two-day warm up game against Cricket Australia XI in Perth this weekend. England’s off-spinner, Moeen Ali will lead the England XI side which would be played at Richardson Park in Perth.
Moeen Ali missed on the warm-up matches before Ashes dues to side strain. England believe that Ali will gain his rhythm and confidence in the two day warm –up game. Coach Trevor Bayliss, and the captain, Joe Root, suggested he will retain his place for the Perth Test.
Ali is the only player from the Adelaide Test to play in the England XI side which also includes the bench players (Gary Ballance, Ben Foakes, Mason Crane, Jake Ball and Tom Curran). Six players of the England Lions squad (Ben Duckett, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood) will also play the warm-up match. Ben Foakes will be the wicket-keeper for England XI.
England squad: Moeen Ali (c), Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes (wk), Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Mark Wood.
http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/moeen-ali-named-england-captain-for-warm-up-game-in-perth-666991
Simon O’Donnell questions Australia’s obsession with finding an all rounder
FORMER Australian allrounder Simon O’Donnell says we’re obsessed with having an allrounder in the Test team and he can’t understand why.
Mitch Marsh’s call up for the third Ashes Test has caused predictable debate, with the Western Australian yet to fire on the Test stage.
O’Donnell told SEN Breakfast that Australia is wasting time trying to find an elusive allrounder.
“What’s our obsession with the allrounder?” O’Donnell said.
“Name me the last allrounder who was a successful all-rounder for Australia? I’m going back to Gary Gilmour.”
O’Donell said Steve Waugh might have been a contender before back issues, while Shane Watson did not bowl enough at Test level to earn the title.
“He may have been a capable of being that genuine all-rounder, but his body didn’t give him the opportunity,” said O’Donnell.
“…I don’t think we’ve had a genuine all-rounder at Test level since God was a boy.”
O’Donnell was asked if Pat Cummins might develop into the role. Similar claims were made for Brett Lee and Mitch Johnson during their careers.
“I’ve never seen a more complete Test cricketer (than Cummins) this early in their career,” O’Donnell said.
“But still I only think he’s going to get to a No.8.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...r/news-story/dc4201538fb825af061adf1c7e248151
FORMER Australian allrounder Simon O’Donnell says we’re obsessed with having an allrounder in the Test team and he can’t understand why.
Mitch Marsh’s call up for the third Ashes Test has caused predictable debate, with the Western Australian yet to fire on the Test stage.
O’Donnell told SEN Breakfast that Australia is wasting time trying to find an elusive allrounder.
“What’s our obsession with the allrounder?” O’Donnell said.
“Name me the last allrounder who was a successful all-rounder for Australia? I’m going back to Gary Gilmour.”
O’Donell said Steve Waugh might have been a contender before back issues, while Shane Watson did not bowl enough at Test level to earn the title.
“He may have been a capable of being that genuine all-rounder, but his body didn’t give him the opportunity,” said O’Donnell.
“…I don’t think we’ve had a genuine all-rounder at Test level since God was a boy.”
O’Donnell was asked if Pat Cummins might develop into the role. Similar claims were made for Brett Lee and Mitch Johnson during their careers.
“I’ve never seen a more complete Test cricketer (than Cummins) this early in their career,” O’Donnell said.
“But still I only think he’s going to get to a No.8.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...r/news-story/dc4201538fb825af061adf1c7e248151
Seems like Mitch Marsh's selection is not going well with some sections of the Australian former players and fans. The concern is valid though. Marsh hasn't been bowling enough to play as an all-rounder and his batting is not good enough to replace one of the top 6 players.
Abdullah719
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Cummins is probably a better batsman than Mitch Marsh at the moment.
Convict
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He isn't
UN talkz
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Miles ahead of Marsh in batting.. and Marsh's bowling is Rubbish, Smith is more handy bowler than him
kingusama92
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To be fair, Marsh did well with the ball against England (Ashes 2015).
He averaged 18.62 and took 8 wickets.
He averaged 18.62 and took 8 wickets.
Convict
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Nope. Marsh is objectively a better batsman than Cummins.
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Kevin Pietersen brands Alastair Cook 'not very interested' in Ashes and thinks England batsmen look 'scared' of Aussie bowlers ahead of third Test
Kevin Pietersen threw another hand grenade into England’s third Test preparation by claiming Alastair Cook is ‘not very interested’ in these Ashes ahead of his 150th Test and that England’s batsmen look ‘scared’ of Australia.
The incendiary accusations came on another torrid day for the tourists when they were plunged into further crisis by another alcohol-related incident and then saw their second string struggle against a modest Cricket Australia XI.
Then the man England sacked at the end of their last Ashes debacle in Australia twisted the knife into the former captain he fell out with so badly at a potentially pivotal time in the post-leadership spell of his career.
‘Cook is all over the place,’ said Pietersen, who is here commentating for Channel Nine and BT.
‘I don’t know if he can turn things around. It just looks like Cook is not very interested. Just the way he’s got out, the manner of his dismissals and also the way he’s walked off the field once he’s got out.
‘That’s the sign of a bloke who goes ‘you know what, maybe my time is up? But he’s also quite resilient so can he turn it around? He’s a wonderful player, has been for a hell of a long time and this is his 150th Test so you never know.
‘That fire burns in your belly for a number of years and then eventually it starts to go out. I had spotted it before the series and there’s certainly no signs at the moment to prove there’s any fire in Cook’s belly.
Pietersen was equally scathing about an England batting line-up that has under-achieved in the first two Tests while Australia have had two century makers in Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh.
‘These Australian bowlers are not bowling at a speed the England batsmen haven’t faced before,’ said Pietersen.
‘So to me it looks like the England batters are making out in their heads that this is some of the fastest and scariest bowling they’ve ever faced and they just look nervous when they go out to bat.
‘It’s frustrating as a commentator because I want to see someone try to get on top of the Australian bowlers. That’s what I did in my career.
'You need to show them you’re not scared and you’re not worried but there’s no-one in that England side at the moment that doesn’t look scared. That’s my issue.’
The big question now is whether England are heading for a repeat of the two whitewashes Pietersen played in with England here in 2006-07 and 2013-14 before they decided they would move on without him four years ago.
‘I don’t think the gap between the teams is big enough for a wheels-off scenario,’ said Pietersen.
‘I don’t think it will be a 5-0 drubbing and England should realistically get one game off Australia but who knows?
‘We fell apart four years ago. There was just a strained relationship in our dressing room from the coach downwards. That played a big, big role in what happened. But I think Trevor Bayliss seems very relaxed and chilled and so does Joe Root at the start of his captaincy.
‘I have heard rumours that a couple of people didn’t want to bowl first in Adelaide and if Root has made that decision and they’ve lost then certain factions can happen in dressing rooms when that happens.
'We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. I think Perth will be a fascinating Test – to see whether the wheels are going to come off or not.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cr...etersen-savages-Alastair-Cook-ahead-Test.html
Kevin Pietersen threw another hand grenade into England’s third Test preparation by claiming Alastair Cook is ‘not very interested’ in these Ashes ahead of his 150th Test and that England’s batsmen look ‘scared’ of Australia.
The incendiary accusations came on another torrid day for the tourists when they were plunged into further crisis by another alcohol-related incident and then saw their second string struggle against a modest Cricket Australia XI.
Then the man England sacked at the end of their last Ashes debacle in Australia twisted the knife into the former captain he fell out with so badly at a potentially pivotal time in the post-leadership spell of his career.
‘Cook is all over the place,’ said Pietersen, who is here commentating for Channel Nine and BT.
‘I don’t know if he can turn things around. It just looks like Cook is not very interested. Just the way he’s got out, the manner of his dismissals and also the way he’s walked off the field once he’s got out.
‘That’s the sign of a bloke who goes ‘you know what, maybe my time is up? But he’s also quite resilient so can he turn it around? He’s a wonderful player, has been for a hell of a long time and this is his 150th Test so you never know.
‘That fire burns in your belly for a number of years and then eventually it starts to go out. I had spotted it before the series and there’s certainly no signs at the moment to prove there’s any fire in Cook’s belly.
Pietersen was equally scathing about an England batting line-up that has under-achieved in the first two Tests while Australia have had two century makers in Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh.
‘These Australian bowlers are not bowling at a speed the England batsmen haven’t faced before,’ said Pietersen.
‘So to me it looks like the England batters are making out in their heads that this is some of the fastest and scariest bowling they’ve ever faced and they just look nervous when they go out to bat.
‘It’s frustrating as a commentator because I want to see someone try to get on top of the Australian bowlers. That’s what I did in my career.
'You need to show them you’re not scared and you’re not worried but there’s no-one in that England side at the moment that doesn’t look scared. That’s my issue.’
The big question now is whether England are heading for a repeat of the two whitewashes Pietersen played in with England here in 2006-07 and 2013-14 before they decided they would move on without him four years ago.
‘I don’t think the gap between the teams is big enough for a wheels-off scenario,’ said Pietersen.
‘I don’t think it will be a 5-0 drubbing and England should realistically get one game off Australia but who knows?
‘We fell apart four years ago. There was just a strained relationship in our dressing room from the coach downwards. That played a big, big role in what happened. But I think Trevor Bayliss seems very relaxed and chilled and so does Joe Root at the start of his captaincy.
‘I have heard rumours that a couple of people didn’t want to bowl first in Adelaide and if Root has made that decision and they’ve lost then certain factions can happen in dressing rooms when that happens.
'We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. I think Perth will be a fascinating Test – to see whether the wheels are going to come off or not.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cr...etersen-savages-Alastair-Cook-ahead-Test.html
Tour Match, England tour of Australia and New Zealand at Perth, Dec 9-10 2017
Lunch Day 2
England: 314/9d KK Jennings 80 TK Curran* 77
M wright 19/2
Cricket Australia XI: 151/4 * (50 overs) CD Hinchliffe 35* M Wright* 36
MA Wood 10-25-2 and TK Curran 9-28-2
Lunch Day 2
England: 314/9d KK Jennings 80 TK Curran* 77
M wright 19/2
Cricket Australia XI: 151/4 * (50 overs) CD Hinchliffe 35* M Wright* 36
MA Wood 10-25-2 and TK Curran 9-28-2
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Couple of wickets for Wood might mean he gets a run at Perth. They re pretty keen for an injection of some pace/variety.
Overton was decent in Adelaide so he deserves to stay- Woakes or Ali for the chop? Neither has contributed anything meaningful in either batting or bowling so far & that doesn't look like it's about to change for them. Moeen not good enough to be frontline spinner & Woakes doesn't do anything that Broad & Anderson don't already to & they do it better.
Overton was decent in Adelaide so he deserves to stay- Woakes or Ali for the chop? Neither has contributed anything meaningful in either batting or bowling so far & that doesn't look like it's about to change for them. Moeen not good enough to be frontline spinner & Woakes doesn't do anything that Broad & Anderson don't already to & they do it better.
Bilal7
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Moeen will not be dropped unless his injury is still an issue and rightly so. Wood has been mediocre and I'll still have Woakes over him.
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I'd drop Woakes. Nothing if conditions aren't conductive for swing.
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KP being extremely naughty in that article and I think we can now confidently declare that his temporary English loyalties, often shaky, have officially been traded in for good.
Some telling sub-plots playing out in the tour game here. So - for the Perth Test they are clearly going to exit Vince, possibly forever, and will be using either Jennings (scored 80 yesterday) or Ballance (scored 45* today). My preference would be Jennings because he has the height to get on top of the Perth bounce and because, as a Yorkshire fan, I am acutely aware that Ballance is a HTB and not even a good one at that.
If England go with Ballance then he will be batting at three for sure (after he got dropped in the 2015 Ashes for doing this exact thing very badly - great......), but if they choose Jennings it will be a more open-ended scenario as they can utilise either Jennings or Cook at first drop. Both men have had extreme struggles against the new ball over the last 12 months, so either would be a suitable choice to have a break from opening. Cook actually has a strong statistical record in Test cricket as a first drop - perhaps it is time for him to go this way again.
England are also keenly pushing for an excuse to draft Wood into the side, and surely that would be at the expense of Woakes - Overton had a decent debut and deserves to keep his spot, Anderson is a world-class bowler, Broad although middling in his performance levels at the moment has made himself powerful enough in the dressing room to be undroppable, and Ali has too much credit in the bank from previous seasons to be discarded just yet - the fact he is captaining the tour side means that his place for Perth is assured.
Some telling sub-plots playing out in the tour game here. So - for the Perth Test they are clearly going to exit Vince, possibly forever, and will be using either Jennings (scored 80 yesterday) or Ballance (scored 45* today). My preference would be Jennings because he has the height to get on top of the Perth bounce and because, as a Yorkshire fan, I am acutely aware that Ballance is a HTB and not even a good one at that.
If England go with Ballance then he will be batting at three for sure (after he got dropped in the 2015 Ashes for doing this exact thing very badly - great......), but if they choose Jennings it will be a more open-ended scenario as they can utilise either Jennings or Cook at first drop. Both men have had extreme struggles against the new ball over the last 12 months, so either would be a suitable choice to have a break from opening. Cook actually has a strong statistical record in Test cricket as a first drop - perhaps it is time for him to go this way again.
England are also keenly pushing for an excuse to draft Wood into the side, and surely that would be at the expense of Woakes - Overton had a decent debut and deserves to keep his spot, Anderson is a world-class bowler, Broad although middling in his performance levels at the moment has made himself powerful enough in the dressing room to be undroppable, and Ali has too much credit in the bank from previous seasons to be discarded just yet - the fact he is captaining the tour side means that his place for Perth is assured.
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STUART Broad’s title as number one Ashes villain is set to intensify during the Boxing Day Test.
A Facebook event has been created where participants have committed to booing the fast bowler on his first delivery during the upcoming Test.
A similar page was formed this time last year in support of Nathan Lyon where members of the group were asked to scream “Nice Garry” for the spinner’s third delivery at the MCG against Pakistan on Boxing Day.
Much to the delight of the capacity crowd, Lyon lulled Sami Aslam into a false shot and the opening batsman could only edge the ball to Steve Smith at first slip.
Although the creator of this year’s event, Tim Susovich, hopes Stuart Broad won’t have Lyon’s perfect timing, he is expecting the crowd buys into the concept.
“I started the group about two weeks ago not so much because I hate the bloke,” Susovich told foxsports.com.au.
“You know what Ashes series are like. They are competitive and I thought getting the event together and giving him some stick when the game hits would be good.
“Everyone likes to see Broady get booed. Nothing against him though. It’s all a bit of competition I guess.”
Broad has been painted as enemy No.1 since he refused to walk despite edging a catch to first slip in the opening Test of the 2013 Ashes at Trent Bridge, and endured a torrid time with the crowds during the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash in Australia.
But prior to this series starting he urged Australian fans to again give him villain status, insisting the booing spurs him on.
“It’s actually a really exciting prospect because not often do you walk out on a sports field ... to a really hostile environment,” Broad said last month.
“You walk out and go ‘whoa, I’m alive here, this is what it’s all about’.
“It’s part of the reason why the Ashes is so special.
“The Aussies come over to our grounds like Edgbaston and Trent Bridge and get some stick and we have got to build ourselves up to get some stick at the Gabba.
“But if you can’t deal with that, should you be playing top level sport?”
As of Monday morning more than 2000 people had already joined Susovich’s event and he’s hoping further coverage will only increase its exposure.
“Obviously there was a Facebook page last year with Nathan Lyon bowling his third ball,” he said.
“Every Aussie bloke wants to see something like that happen. I thought I’d get a little Facebook page happening about his first delivery. Hopefully it all pans out well.
“That target is just how many seats the MCG holds. 100,000 would be nice.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...k/news-story/5b7b97ac4f376b4007c0650a69bbd5ba
A Facebook event has been created where participants have committed to booing the fast bowler on his first delivery during the upcoming Test.
A similar page was formed this time last year in support of Nathan Lyon where members of the group were asked to scream “Nice Garry” for the spinner’s third delivery at the MCG against Pakistan on Boxing Day.
Much to the delight of the capacity crowd, Lyon lulled Sami Aslam into a false shot and the opening batsman could only edge the ball to Steve Smith at first slip.
Although the creator of this year’s event, Tim Susovich, hopes Stuart Broad won’t have Lyon’s perfect timing, he is expecting the crowd buys into the concept.
“I started the group about two weeks ago not so much because I hate the bloke,” Susovich told foxsports.com.au.
“You know what Ashes series are like. They are competitive and I thought getting the event together and giving him some stick when the game hits would be good.
“Everyone likes to see Broady get booed. Nothing against him though. It’s all a bit of competition I guess.”
Broad has been painted as enemy No.1 since he refused to walk despite edging a catch to first slip in the opening Test of the 2013 Ashes at Trent Bridge, and endured a torrid time with the crowds during the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash in Australia.
But prior to this series starting he urged Australian fans to again give him villain status, insisting the booing spurs him on.
“It’s actually a really exciting prospect because not often do you walk out on a sports field ... to a really hostile environment,” Broad said last month.
“You walk out and go ‘whoa, I’m alive here, this is what it’s all about’.
“It’s part of the reason why the Ashes is so special.
“The Aussies come over to our grounds like Edgbaston and Trent Bridge and get some stick and we have got to build ourselves up to get some stick at the Gabba.
“But if you can’t deal with that, should you be playing top level sport?”
As of Monday morning more than 2000 people had already joined Susovich’s event and he’s hoping further coverage will only increase its exposure.
“Obviously there was a Facebook page last year with Nathan Lyon bowling his third ball,” he said.
“Every Aussie bloke wants to see something like that happen. I thought I’d get a little Facebook page happening about his first delivery. Hopefully it all pans out well.
“That target is just how many seats the MCG holds. 100,000 would be nice.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...k/news-story/5b7b97ac4f376b4007c0650a69bbd5ba
Abdullah719
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Sangakkara: England whinge about sledging – but they’re being beaten by skill
I’ve been following the Ashes very closely and I thought the Adelaide Test was fantastic. The cricket, especially the bowling, has been of very high quality. Although England probably have a more complete side, the Australians have managed to pull things in their favour because when it counts they’ve executed their skills better.
It’s been great watching, but I’ve been put off by the whole drama around it. The build-up to it, the whole sledging aspect, the petulant back-and-forth between players and supporters, building the rivalry up so much that it gets called ‘war’ – that did not interest me at all. It took away from the spectacle, and made it almost comical by the end of it. To me it feels staged. There’s a lot of PR woven into it, a lot of spin – with players behaving as if this verbal rivalry is what is expected of them. It doesn’t seem spontaneous.
Once both sides have committed themselves – saying there will be targeted sledging and attempted mental disintegration – at least stop whingeing about it. Stop portraying and projecting a false, holier-than-thou team image to the public. Both sides have publicly committed to it and they should just get on with it. Viewers will make up their own minds as to how they accept this on-field war of words, according to their own personal sensitivities.
There has been a lot of talk about sledging, but overall, I don’t think it’s as big as it used to be. Steve Waugh used to call it one of his top weapons. But there are good and bad ways to respond to it. In 1975/76, when the West Indies players went to Australia and Lillee and Thomson and the Australian crowd went so hard at them, their first thought was, ‘This is not cricket! This is not how it’s supposed to be!’ But they responded not by going back at them verbally, but by building up a fast bowling quartet that could silence Australia’s batting.
They concentrated on getting the fastest bowlers, the most accomplished of them, for the Windies, and having that steel behind them, and that confidence that their skill was more than enough to stand up not just to the player’s competency, but also any verbal assaults that came. And very soon the verbals dropped to a minimum when the Australians realised that it was not getting through, and really it was about skill.
The real contest is always about skill on the field, and the Australians in this series, in the toughest of situations – and they have been under pressure in both games – have shown better skills than the English. Whether it was the last day at Adelaide, Steve Smith’s hundred at Brisbane, the bowling of Nathan Lyon or the way Pat Cummins batted with Smith, all of it shows that cricket will finally be decided by your skills on the field. It’s about time England focused more on skill than rhetoric.
The key difference between the two sides has been Lyon, being able to tie them down and bowl long spells from one end. He bowls with great pace, has great shape on the ball, and he uses the angles of over- and round-the-wicket very well. He’s very sure of himself, there’s no doubt in his mind about his ability, and his captain backs him to the hilt.
They must be more aggressive against him. They must try to shorten his spells by being proactive. It’s about rotating strike, looking for singles and using your sweeps. Of course, Lyon in Australia gets a lot more bounce, so with sweeping, you have to be on the ball at all times. I’d be looking to take on the mid-on and mid-off fielders, pushing them back. I’d also be looking to open up the off-side more. Sometimes when Lyon bowls around the wicket he just wants you to hit one area, and he keeps hitting a line on the stumps to ensure that you are going only one way. But England’s right-handers should be looking to hit through cover. Change your guard if you have to, to open up that off-side. But whatever works, do it in practice, come prepared and have no fear in the execution of it.
While Lyon was the difference, the ability of the Australian bowlers to bowl consistently faster and generate more bounce than their English counterparts must be appreciated. The Kookaburra ball and the Australian pitches offer less swing and seam movement to the English bowlers. Broad with his height seems to be the best equipped to deal with this pressure, and that could be another reason to rue a very big missed opportunity in Adelaide.
England aren’t yet out of it. But they need to regroup and change their approach, especially against Lyon, to ensure that they have a specific strategy.
https://www.wisden.com/stories/opinion/sangakkara-sledging-ashes-column
I’ve been following the Ashes very closely and I thought the Adelaide Test was fantastic. The cricket, especially the bowling, has been of very high quality. Although England probably have a more complete side, the Australians have managed to pull things in their favour because when it counts they’ve executed their skills better.
It’s been great watching, but I’ve been put off by the whole drama around it. The build-up to it, the whole sledging aspect, the petulant back-and-forth between players and supporters, building the rivalry up so much that it gets called ‘war’ – that did not interest me at all. It took away from the spectacle, and made it almost comical by the end of it. To me it feels staged. There’s a lot of PR woven into it, a lot of spin – with players behaving as if this verbal rivalry is what is expected of them. It doesn’t seem spontaneous.
Once both sides have committed themselves – saying there will be targeted sledging and attempted mental disintegration – at least stop whingeing about it. Stop portraying and projecting a false, holier-than-thou team image to the public. Both sides have publicly committed to it and they should just get on with it. Viewers will make up their own minds as to how they accept this on-field war of words, according to their own personal sensitivities.
There has been a lot of talk about sledging, but overall, I don’t think it’s as big as it used to be. Steve Waugh used to call it one of his top weapons. But there are good and bad ways to respond to it. In 1975/76, when the West Indies players went to Australia and Lillee and Thomson and the Australian crowd went so hard at them, their first thought was, ‘This is not cricket! This is not how it’s supposed to be!’ But they responded not by going back at them verbally, but by building up a fast bowling quartet that could silence Australia’s batting.
They concentrated on getting the fastest bowlers, the most accomplished of them, for the Windies, and having that steel behind them, and that confidence that their skill was more than enough to stand up not just to the player’s competency, but also any verbal assaults that came. And very soon the verbals dropped to a minimum when the Australians realised that it was not getting through, and really it was about skill.
The real contest is always about skill on the field, and the Australians in this series, in the toughest of situations – and they have been under pressure in both games – have shown better skills than the English. Whether it was the last day at Adelaide, Steve Smith’s hundred at Brisbane, the bowling of Nathan Lyon or the way Pat Cummins batted with Smith, all of it shows that cricket will finally be decided by your skills on the field. It’s about time England focused more on skill than rhetoric.
The key difference between the two sides has been Lyon, being able to tie them down and bowl long spells from one end. He bowls with great pace, has great shape on the ball, and he uses the angles of over- and round-the-wicket very well. He’s very sure of himself, there’s no doubt in his mind about his ability, and his captain backs him to the hilt.
They must be more aggressive against him. They must try to shorten his spells by being proactive. It’s about rotating strike, looking for singles and using your sweeps. Of course, Lyon in Australia gets a lot more bounce, so with sweeping, you have to be on the ball at all times. I’d be looking to take on the mid-on and mid-off fielders, pushing them back. I’d also be looking to open up the off-side more. Sometimes when Lyon bowls around the wicket he just wants you to hit one area, and he keeps hitting a line on the stumps to ensure that you are going only one way. But England’s right-handers should be looking to hit through cover. Change your guard if you have to, to open up that off-side. But whatever works, do it in practice, come prepared and have no fear in the execution of it.
While Lyon was the difference, the ability of the Australian bowlers to bowl consistently faster and generate more bounce than their English counterparts must be appreciated. The Kookaburra ball and the Australian pitches offer less swing and seam movement to the English bowlers. Broad with his height seems to be the best equipped to deal with this pressure, and that could be another reason to rue a very big missed opportunity in Adelaide.
England aren’t yet out of it. But they need to regroup and change their approach, especially against Lyon, to ensure that they have a specific strategy.
https://www.wisden.com/stories/opinion/sangakkara-sledging-ashes-column
Would be surprised if we see a different team for the Perth test.
shaz619
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England fans always are so racist to KP, if he wasn't a saffer maybe things would have been better for him.
James
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I know you like to have fun in your posts but accusing people so flippantly of racism is pretty outrageous, I would suggest you either climb down from that comment or back it up with hard evidence.
Robert
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shaz619
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You guys are always questioning his loyalty etc I sense a hostility towards his origins from English fans, he has been mistreated, scapegoated and abused constantly when he never deserved it. If he wasn't a saffer maybe we wouldn't see stupid and biased posts like "declare that his temporary English loyalties, often shaky, have officially been traded in for good." Sickens me, same people are now defending the England director who was appointed based on being a snake.
James
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I have generally been a big supporter of KP but some of his recent remarks have been very poor.
shaz619
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He has been treated unfairly, they deprived him and his family's future earning in addition to playing at the Test level so he ought to be a bit angry and things are said. So from that POV his remarks are justified and directed at the ECB and Snakrauss rather then our beloved country of England, if anything they are the ones who committed treason by getting rid of KP and sacrificing future England wins.
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Robert
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We have had many excellent Saffers - Lamb, Robin Smith, Trott - all 100% team men. That statement is neither stupid nor biased - it expresses exasperation with a player who was architect of his own downfall.
The tragedy of KP is that he just wanted to be loved, but he didn’t know how to get it. In the end he ran out of allies, and England lost the last quarter of a truly outstanding career.
shaz619
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It would have been better if Vaughan was immortal and remained in his prime forever, that way KP would have ended his career on a more satisfying note and England would also have benefited.
Robert
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Vaughan was the skipper who got the best out of him. I wonder what his approach was?
ManFan
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From a quote on KP's Oval 05' innings:
Vaughan: " He asked me how I wanted him to play? I said ATTACK."
Hasan123
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He was 35 and had a dodgy knee and achillies. He just failed in Australia, he was on the way down. He had 1 century in his last 11 tests. People talk as if KP was in his peak when England got rid of him, he was far from his best. Also he's hardly set t20 league alight, has a couple of good performances and than goes missing for the rest of the tournament.
The way it was done was harsh but KP was coming to the end of his England career and how ended it, he should take some blame as well.
Hasan123
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England should definitely make some changes in the team and in the batting order. If they go with the same team, 5-0 is almost certain.
ManFan
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The guy was the highest run-scorer in that Ashes and was sacked. He than scores 355* just two shy of the Surrey record but was deemed not good enough. Surely he was better than the trash that was picked as his replacements. It would be like expelling the best student at a university during his 4th year because some people don't like him. Not good enough.
Hasan123
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He averages 29 as the top scorer hardly a brilliant series.
He was on the way down. Scoring in 1 game doesn't entitle him to selection. ECB said he needed to perform consistently in county cricket and he could have been selected (unlikely due to how his career ended) but at least if performed for the rest of the season ECB wouldn't have had a case. But KP wanted to play t20 leagues.
ManFan
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It was a way for the ECB & Strauss to play both sides. If KP performed, than they would have said he's a menace to the locker room ( which how sophisticated it is, is on full display at the moment ) and if he doesn't perform, than he's simply not good enough. Thing was England began to win after the 2013 Ashes and even with a 1-1-0 loss against SL, it was overlooked because of prime Broad+Anderson and the emergence of Root. The sovereign reality is KP was dropped due to non-cricket related reasons. ECB wanted a clean slate, so with Prior, Trott, Swann OUT, KP was the last of the old guard. He was made scapegoat despite being the highest run-gettter. Doesn't matter if he averaged 29 or 92, the decision concerning him was made before the last Test match.
Hasan123
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What proof is there the decision was made before the last test?
An average of 29 is hardly growth taking and doesn't demand selection for the next series . He was on the way down . I think he would have retired soon after the ashes had he not been dropped anyway.
Well England did give him a lot of chances , something must have happened in Australia that we don't know about for England to drop there highest scoring batsmen in a 5-0 defeat.
ManFan
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The fact that ENG were 4-0 and Swann had retired, Prior and Trott done and dusted with, rang bells loud and clear for the ECB that a change was required. Lets look at the 5th Test. Only Stokes and Broad put up decent performances with both bat and ball. Everyone else failed. Cook, Ballance, Bairstow, and Bell were still in the squad for the next series despite being equally poor. The highest score in that series for ENG was Stokes 100 and the rest were 87 by Root, 72 by Bell, 72 by Cook, 71 by Pietersen. So 1 run makes the difference between retaining a player? Come on! The fact of the matter is KP lost his support when his old mates were out of the team and ECB seized an opportunity to discard him as well.
Hasan123
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So there's not actual proof it was his last test?
No 1 run doesn't make the difference. My point is he was clearly on the decline and had a dodgy knee and achillies. So there was some cricketing reason behind but off the field stuff also played a major part as well.
ManFan
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It was his LAST Test. Granted it was nothing to write home about but his teammates scores show that the runs weren’t the problem.
shaz619
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KP has always been an impact player and if players were picked based on their peak's alone then Root would be getting dropped after his purple patch. In that moment his career did not deserve to be terminated and even in that famous ashes series where they turned him into a scapegoat he was their leading run scorer despite not even being at his peak, those can be short lived but class is permanent and he's someone any team would love to have in their XI. T20's are not a good measuring stick, on the back drop of a potential return in 2015 he hit his career best FC score a triple hundred; his fitness issues have been a concern but that's where a player's work load is managed and under the guidance of the experts at the academy of Loughborough he'd have access to the best resources to prolong his career. Dale Steyn is past his peak to and is having fitness issues but SA have not dumped him. Yeah everyone has to be accountable in someway but they failed him big time and cricket fans especially.
Swann and Prior old mates with KP? Think you've got the wrong end of the stick.
Hasan123
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I know it was his last test, but you said the decision was made before the game it would be his last test but you have provided no proof!
Hasan123
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Most of that England team was replaced by the time the best ashes took place so he wasn't a scapegoat .
He averages 29 in that series and was hardly setting the world alight before that series anyway. He had dodgy fitness and he was causing issues in the dressing room. The manner in which it was done was harsh but there was some logic in the decision. He's not a victim he makes out to be.
Well if he wanted to play for England so badly he would have at least played out that first class season. Can't select him after 1 innings of 355.
ManFan
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I can’t read the minds of the ECB. Only infer based on what happened. And dropping the highest run scorer and keeping those who scored less than him and debuted before him ( Bell ) reeks of locker room politics.
Hasan123
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Bell performed in the England summer against Australia so they couldn't drop him after 1 bad series. Whilst KP had 1 century in 11 tests. So even if you take away the off the field controversy, dropping him on his form at the time wasn't the worst decision in the world.
Also Carrabery was dropped after the series, Trott and Prior hardly played for England after that series. So he wasn't the only player punished for the poor performance.
shaz619
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They made him a scapegoat though, it's rubbish but he was still the leading run scorer, it's only bought up because he was made the scapegoat when there were even bigger failures then him. They told him he was not in their plan amidst his return to the FC cricket while looking in good touch, if all hope is lost then may as well make money elsewhere while you can because you can't return to international cricket. A lot of players have fitness issues in their 30s but they don't get dropped for good, he wasn't a liability to the point of being completely handicapped and under the guidance of a world class set up you can regain your fitness, these guys day jobs are that of a pro-sportsman after all. The dressing room issues are heavily exaggerated to justify giving him the boot
shaz619
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Trott and Prior weren't punished they left off their own accord
Lefthanded
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The whole KP loyalty attitude and 'we need English players playing for England', 'why are we playing foreign cricketers', is simultaneously racist and xenophobic.
The fact that racist attitude can be directed towards a white skinned foreigner should tell us something about how it would and does treat non-white people
KP is obviously not coming back, but he could still score more runs than the top 3 combined.
Robert
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Nonsense. Everyone loves Nasser and Moeen. Everyone loved Cowans and DeFreitas. I have never heard such attitudes uttered by an England fan. England have been the most multicultural of all national teams, since Ranji a century ago.
Hasan123
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Oh yh I just remembered. But I think Prior was on the verge of being dropped before he was taken out due to injury.
Abdullah719
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Cricket: Australia lean towards Mitchell Marsh for third Ashes test
PERTH (Reuters) - Australia are leaning towards bringing in bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for the third Ashes test against England but will not name their team until the toss on Thursday morning, skipper Steve Smith said on Wednesday.
The hosts, 2-0 up in the five-match series, could reclaim the coveted urn in Perth and Smith said Marsh would be included, probably for Peter Handscomb, if the WACA track was not quick enough.
“We’re going to have another look at the wicket in the morning and decide if we need that extra bowling option,” Smith told a news conference.
”The stats suggest over the last couple of years the bowlers have had a pretty heavy workload on this wicket, so we’re probably leaning that way at the moment.
“It’s probably not as hard as I’d have liked it to be a day out but 24 hours can change a lot and in the morning hopefully it’s a bit harder and faster.”
Marsh, who had shoulder reconstruction earlier this year, would provide medium paced backup to frontline quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
Handscomb scored centuries against Pakistan in Brisbane and Sydney last season but has managed knocks of only 14, 36 and 12 in his three innings against England this year.
Smith, though, said any changes to the line-up that won the first two tests would be purely to protect the pacemen.
“If we do go down that route then it’s purely because we think we need an extra bowler on this wicket, nothing to do with anyone’s batting,” Smith added.
“If we do go down the route of Pete missing out, it’s unlucky. We still see a very bright future (for him) indeed. If he is to miss out, there’s no reason he won’t be back in the team soon.”
Smith said he hoped the wicket would be much different from the drawn 2015 test against New Zealand when 1,672 runs were scored over five days.
“It was so evenly paced, really slow, once you got in it was almost impossible to get out,” Smith recalled, adding that the groundsman had been working to get more pace into it.
“I think he’s got more grass on it than he previously has to try and get that pace on the wicket.”
Marsh has worked hard on his batting and would expect to slot in at number six in the order below brother Shaun, who would move up to replace Handscomb.
“I think he’s tightened up his defence quite a little bit,” Smith said of the younger Marsh’s batting.
“In defence, he has softened his hands up a bit. He still putting away the bad ball, he hits the ball probably as hard as anyone I’ve seen. He’s a strong lad.”
https://in.reuters.com/article/cric...marsh-for-third-ashes-test-idINKBN1E70BH?il=0
PERTH (Reuters) - Australia are leaning towards bringing in bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for the third Ashes test against England but will not name their team until the toss on Thursday morning, skipper Steve Smith said on Wednesday.
The hosts, 2-0 up in the five-match series, could reclaim the coveted urn in Perth and Smith said Marsh would be included, probably for Peter Handscomb, if the WACA track was not quick enough.
“We’re going to have another look at the wicket in the morning and decide if we need that extra bowling option,” Smith told a news conference.
”The stats suggest over the last couple of years the bowlers have had a pretty heavy workload on this wicket, so we’re probably leaning that way at the moment.
“It’s probably not as hard as I’d have liked it to be a day out but 24 hours can change a lot and in the morning hopefully it’s a bit harder and faster.”
Marsh, who had shoulder reconstruction earlier this year, would provide medium paced backup to frontline quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
Handscomb scored centuries against Pakistan in Brisbane and Sydney last season but has managed knocks of only 14, 36 and 12 in his three innings against England this year.
Smith, though, said any changes to the line-up that won the first two tests would be purely to protect the pacemen.
“If we do go down that route then it’s purely because we think we need an extra bowler on this wicket, nothing to do with anyone’s batting,” Smith added.
“If we do go down the route of Pete missing out, it’s unlucky. We still see a very bright future (for him) indeed. If he is to miss out, there’s no reason he won’t be back in the team soon.”
Smith said he hoped the wicket would be much different from the drawn 2015 test against New Zealand when 1,672 runs were scored over five days.
“It was so evenly paced, really slow, once you got in it was almost impossible to get out,” Smith recalled, adding that the groundsman had been working to get more pace into it.
“I think he’s got more grass on it than he previously has to try and get that pace on the wicket.”
Marsh has worked hard on his batting and would expect to slot in at number six in the order below brother Shaun, who would move up to replace Handscomb.
“I think he’s tightened up his defence quite a little bit,” Smith said of the younger Marsh’s batting.
“In defence, he has softened his hands up a bit. He still putting away the bad ball, he hits the ball probably as hard as anyone I’ve seen. He’s a strong lad.”
https://in.reuters.com/article/cric...marsh-for-third-ashes-test-idINKBN1E70BH?il=0
Robert
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Prior was forced to retire because his knee failed.
Robert
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You don’t say?
I think KP was living on borrowed time with Flower, who did not want him back in the side after Textgate. The plan was to quietly drop him when he had a bad series, before his attitude started to infect new players coming in.
Unfortunately for Flower, all the top seven had a bad series at once, so it looked like KP had been scapegoated when he was dropped.
Cook had begged for KP’s return after Textgate, but then KP upset him too.
I don’t know who could manage the bloke. Maybe a hardcase like Alec Stewart could have done, as [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] suggests.
Trott, Swann, Monty and Prior all finished at around the same time and England have never recovered.
James
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Vaughan managed KP quite well. Nobody else has been able to do it.
Lefthanded
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I wasn't talking about cricketers.
Varun
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I know it's only one side of the story, but I encourage you to read KP's book. Flower doesn't come out of it smelling of roses: he was too intense, rigid, and didn't have many takers from others among the squad either.
He carried a grudge against KP since the Moore days when KP wanted both of them sacked.
CricFan2012
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I've actually had someone in my life like KP and it was pretty obvious that the persons attitude was affecting everyone around me so the person was let go.
So I can understand the reasoning
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England has named an unchanged XI going into the third Ashes Test, which gets underway at the WACA Ground in Perth on Thursday (December 14).
While the side remains the same to the one that lost the second Test at the Adelaide Oval by 120 runs, the batting order has been tweaked slightly.
Jonny Bairstow, the wicketkeeper-batsman, was promoted to No. 6 in place of Moeen Ali, the all-rounder, who moves down to No. 7.
Bairstow has had a few decent outings in the first two Tests scoring 21, 36, 42 and 9 while batting at No. 7 but has been left stranded with the tail more often than not.
The move will also break the succession of left-handed batsmen in England's middle order, who have generally had a hard time against Nathan Lyon.
The offspinner has had the wood over Moeen in particular, dismissing him in each of the four innings of the first two Tests.
Craig Overton, who was handed a debut in the second Test, has retained his place after his match haul of 4 for 116 in the last game, which also included the prized scalp of Steven Smith, the Australian skipper, in the first innings.
It is a do-or-die situation for the Joe Root-led English side, trailing the five-match series 2-0 after heavy defeats in the opening two games.
Squad: Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/538245
While the side remains the same to the one that lost the second Test at the Adelaide Oval by 120 runs, the batting order has been tweaked slightly.
Jonny Bairstow, the wicketkeeper-batsman, was promoted to No. 6 in place of Moeen Ali, the all-rounder, who moves down to No. 7.
Bairstow has had a few decent outings in the first two Tests scoring 21, 36, 42 and 9 while batting at No. 7 but has been left stranded with the tail more often than not.
The move will also break the succession of left-handed batsmen in England's middle order, who have generally had a hard time against Nathan Lyon.
The offspinner has had the wood over Moeen in particular, dismissing him in each of the four innings of the first two Tests.
Craig Overton, who was handed a debut in the second Test, has retained his place after his match haul of 4 for 116 in the last game, which also included the prized scalp of Steven Smith, the Australian skipper, in the first innings.
It is a do-or-die situation for the Joe Root-led English side, trailing the five-match series 2-0 after heavy defeats in the opening two games.
Squad: Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/538245
Lefthanded
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It's hard to criticise the XI when the other guys in the squad or in the lions are even more mediocre than the three newer batsmen, a toothless Stuart Broad and a trundler who bowls a bouncer [Overton, not Anderson].
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Joe Root admitted England have been outclassed by Australia as they surrendered the Ashes before Christmas following a comprehensive innings-and-41-run defeat in Perth.
England needed to bat for most, if not all, of the final day to keep the series alive but Josh Hazlewood hastened their demise with five for 48 as the tourists lurched from an overnight 132 for four to 218 all out.
Australia therefore take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and England captain Root has demanded a response from his side when they head to Melbourne on Boxing Day.
Ashes 2017-18: Australia crush England in third Test at Waca to wrap up series
Over-by-over report: Australia took the six wickets they needed in just one session to wrap up a series victory with two Tests to spare.
He said on BT Sport 1: “It’s very difficult to take. Fair play to Australia, they’ve outplayed us in all three games and we’ve got to be better. We’ve got to make sure we go to Melbourne and prepare well and put in really good performances there.”
Root was unwilling to draw too much attention to the controversy earlier in the day, when overnight rain had somehow seeped under the covers and onto the pitch.
England coach Trevor Bayliss voiced his concerns to broadcasters, during morning deliberations, that conditions had been rendered too “difficult ... maybe even a little dangerous”.
But Root said: “When we got here this morning it definitely wasn’t fit to play, it obviously dried up as the sun and wind got to it and they obviously worked very hard to get it right. I think by the end there it was probably fit to play.”
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/18/joe-root-ashes-australia-outclassed-england
England needed to bat for most, if not all, of the final day to keep the series alive but Josh Hazlewood hastened their demise with five for 48 as the tourists lurched from an overnight 132 for four to 218 all out.
Australia therefore take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and England captain Root has demanded a response from his side when they head to Melbourne on Boxing Day.
Ashes 2017-18: Australia crush England in third Test at Waca to wrap up series
Over-by-over report: Australia took the six wickets they needed in just one session to wrap up a series victory with two Tests to spare.
He said on BT Sport 1: “It’s very difficult to take. Fair play to Australia, they’ve outplayed us in all three games and we’ve got to be better. We’ve got to make sure we go to Melbourne and prepare well and put in really good performances there.”
Root was unwilling to draw too much attention to the controversy earlier in the day, when overnight rain had somehow seeped under the covers and onto the pitch.
England coach Trevor Bayliss voiced his concerns to broadcasters, during morning deliberations, that conditions had been rendered too “difficult ... maybe even a little dangerous”.
But Root said: “When we got here this morning it definitely wasn’t fit to play, it obviously dried up as the sun and wind got to it and they obviously worked very hard to get it right. I think by the end there it was probably fit to play.”
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/18/joe-root-ashes-australia-outclassed-england
hadi123
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Australia have retained an unchanged 13-man squad for the Boxing Day Test against England to be played in Melbourne from 26th December.
The news follows despite seamer Mitchell Starc is nursing a sore heel that he sustained during the third Test in Perth. Despite, the injury, the 27-year-old continued to bowl on the fifth and final day which saw the home claim an innings victory and with it the Ashes series following wins in Brisbane and Adelaide as well.
A statement released by Cricket Australia confirmed that Starc's injury will be assessed in the coming days and Jackson Bird will remain with the Test squad instead of being released for his Big Bash League franchise Sydney Sixers.
"Not too bad, a bit sore," told head coach Darren Lehmann to WWOS ahead of the final day's play.
"We’ll just have to wait for the end of the game and assess him.
"I thought he bowled unbelievable well last night, got the ball reversing to get that wicket of Vince, so we’ll see how he goes."
If Starc fails to clear the fitness test, Bird is likely to be drafted in as a straight replacement as Australia aim to maintain pressure on the England side that had already lost hold of the Urn.
Australia squad for fourth Test:
Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird
http://www.cricketworld.com/australia-name-unchanged-squad-for-melbourne-test/49434.htm
The news follows despite seamer Mitchell Starc is nursing a sore heel that he sustained during the third Test in Perth. Despite, the injury, the 27-year-old continued to bowl on the fifth and final day which saw the home claim an innings victory and with it the Ashes series following wins in Brisbane and Adelaide as well.
A statement released by Cricket Australia confirmed that Starc's injury will be assessed in the coming days and Jackson Bird will remain with the Test squad instead of being released for his Big Bash League franchise Sydney Sixers.
"Not too bad, a bit sore," told head coach Darren Lehmann to WWOS ahead of the final day's play.
"We’ll just have to wait for the end of the game and assess him.
"I thought he bowled unbelievable well last night, got the ball reversing to get that wicket of Vince, so we’ll see how he goes."
If Starc fails to clear the fitness test, Bird is likely to be drafted in as a straight replacement as Australia aim to maintain pressure on the England side that had already lost hold of the Urn.
Australia squad for fourth Test:
Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird
http://www.cricketworld.com/australia-name-unchanged-squad-for-melbourne-test/49434.htm
Robert
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I agree with you about Flower, who was brilliant for a while, taking England to test #1, but whose methods eventually exhausted the team mentally and physically.
Kroll
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Lost the Ashes before Christmas with two more tests still to play, that must be really demoralizing.
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Former England captain Alastair Cook has not had a very good Ashes so far, having scored just 83 runs at 13.83 in this series while Stuart Broad returned with career-worst figures in Perth. James Anderson has looked good in patches but England have failed to come together as a unit against Australia and it only went downhill in the third Test match as the visitors lost by an innings and 41 runs. Australia have taken an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and England captain Joe Root said the gap between the sides was not as stark as the scoreline suggested. But talking about his under-performing senior players after his team meekly handed back the Ashes to Australia in Perth, Root defended his players.
Root said the English had to be careful not to make hasty decisions based on this series.
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen said one of the opening bowlers needed to be dropped, in an apparent reference to Broad, who failed to make any impact in Perth.
Pietersen's former English team-mate Ian Bell also suggested it was time for former skipper Alastair Cook to retire.
However Root backed the pair, along with Moeen Ali and Jimmy Anderson, to continue to be important players for England.
"I'd like to think so," Root said when asked if Cook, Broad and Anderson would still be in the team in 12 months.
"They've got huge amounts of experience and they do offer a lot to the group and their performances over a long period of time speak for themselves.
England coach Trevor Bayliss had hinted that pressure may have to got to some of the senior players in the Ashes, but Root dismissed the suggestion.
"They've been in situations where things haven't gone for them before and that's why they've played so many games.
"No reason they can't do that again.
"It's important we don't panic and make hasty decisions after three games."
Root leapt to the defence of his predecessor as national captain, saying he didn't think Cook was ready to retire.
"He's done it so many times before and he's a very stubborn guy who likes proving people wrong," he said.
"The amount of extra work he's putting in behind the scenes tells me he's desperate to keep going."
Root conceded his own form had been down and felt he might have been putting too much pressure on himself to perform.
"Things feel like they just haven't ran for me out in the middle," he said.
"I feel pretty good in the way I have prepared and sometimes you just have to keep battling through those tough periods."
He also refused to say the absence of star all-rounder Ben Stokes, unavailable for the Ashes after an alleged fight outside a Bristol pub, had played a big part in England's demise.
"I'm not going to make excuses," he said.
"We knew that he wasn't going to be on the tour from the start.
"I was very confident that this group of players could come out here and win."
https://sports.ndtv.com/the-ashes-2...ook-and-stuart-broad-after-ashes-loss-1789336
Root said the English had to be careful not to make hasty decisions based on this series.
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen said one of the opening bowlers needed to be dropped, in an apparent reference to Broad, who failed to make any impact in Perth.
Pietersen's former English team-mate Ian Bell also suggested it was time for former skipper Alastair Cook to retire.
However Root backed the pair, along with Moeen Ali and Jimmy Anderson, to continue to be important players for England.
"I'd like to think so," Root said when asked if Cook, Broad and Anderson would still be in the team in 12 months.
"They've got huge amounts of experience and they do offer a lot to the group and their performances over a long period of time speak for themselves.
England coach Trevor Bayliss had hinted that pressure may have to got to some of the senior players in the Ashes, but Root dismissed the suggestion.
"They've been in situations where things haven't gone for them before and that's why they've played so many games.
"No reason they can't do that again.
"It's important we don't panic and make hasty decisions after three games."
Root leapt to the defence of his predecessor as national captain, saying he didn't think Cook was ready to retire.
"He's done it so many times before and he's a very stubborn guy who likes proving people wrong," he said.
"The amount of extra work he's putting in behind the scenes tells me he's desperate to keep going."
Root conceded his own form had been down and felt he might have been putting too much pressure on himself to perform.
"Things feel like they just haven't ran for me out in the middle," he said.
"I feel pretty good in the way I have prepared and sometimes you just have to keep battling through those tough periods."
He also refused to say the absence of star all-rounder Ben Stokes, unavailable for the Ashes after an alleged fight outside a Bristol pub, had played a big part in England's demise.
"I'm not going to make excuses," he said.
"We knew that he wasn't going to be on the tour from the start.
"I was very confident that this group of players could come out here and win."
https://sports.ndtv.com/the-ashes-2...ook-and-stuart-broad-after-ashes-loss-1789336
Moeen Ali ‘cannot’ play next Ashes match, says former England captain Michael Vaughan
Moeen scored just 22 runs in the match and took one wicket from 33 overs as Australia clinched the Ashes with an innings-and-41-run victory in Perth.The all-rounder has endured a difficult tour, first struggling with a side strain and then suffering a finger injury that impeded his performances in the first two Tests.‘I don’t see how Moeen Ali plays in Melbourne,’ Vaughan, speaking to BT Sport, said.
‘You’re not going to put him in your top six, he’s not bowling with any kind of motion. Mason Crane is in the squad. ‘If you’ve selected someone to be the second spinner and your main one has got three wickets in three matches, I’m sorry but you’ve got to make the change. ‘If Moeen is going to be the batsman that bowls a little bit, he’s got to bat a bit better than we’ve seen… so for me, Moeen can’t play in Melbourne.’ Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain, also believes England need to make changes to avoid another whitewash Down Under.
‘I think they need to make quite a few changes if they want to win a Test,’ he said. ‘They need to find someone who’s going to have a big more impact with the ball, whether that’s [Jake] Ball or [Mark] Wood. ‘If they keep going like this they know what they’ll get. They need to make some changes with the ball, maybe a spinner.’ The third Ashes Test in Perth was a tough occasion for James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Anderson claimed late wickets to finish with figures of 4-116 as Australia racked up over 650 but Broad was wicketless from his 35 overs.
‘They’ve played competitive cricket without being in front of the game, they’ve got some real issues,’ Ponting added. ‘Broad and Anderson are an issue, they just didn’t have any impact on the series. When Joe Root needed to turn to a fast bowler to make a breakthrough it just wasn’t there – Steve Smith had that in abundance.’
http://metro.co.uk/2017/12/18/moeen...rmer-england-captain-michael-vaughan-7167666/
Moeen scored just 22 runs in the match and took one wicket from 33 overs as Australia clinched the Ashes with an innings-and-41-run victory in Perth.The all-rounder has endured a difficult tour, first struggling with a side strain and then suffering a finger injury that impeded his performances in the first two Tests.‘I don’t see how Moeen Ali plays in Melbourne,’ Vaughan, speaking to BT Sport, said.
‘You’re not going to put him in your top six, he’s not bowling with any kind of motion. Mason Crane is in the squad. ‘If you’ve selected someone to be the second spinner and your main one has got three wickets in three matches, I’m sorry but you’ve got to make the change. ‘If Moeen is going to be the batsman that bowls a little bit, he’s got to bat a bit better than we’ve seen… so for me, Moeen can’t play in Melbourne.’ Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain, also believes England need to make changes to avoid another whitewash Down Under.
‘I think they need to make quite a few changes if they want to win a Test,’ he said. ‘They need to find someone who’s going to have a big more impact with the ball, whether that’s [Jake] Ball or [Mark] Wood. ‘If they keep going like this they know what they’ll get. They need to make some changes with the ball, maybe a spinner.’ The third Ashes Test in Perth was a tough occasion for James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Anderson claimed late wickets to finish with figures of 4-116 as Australia racked up over 650 but Broad was wicketless from his 35 overs.
‘They’ve played competitive cricket without being in front of the game, they’ve got some real issues,’ Ponting added. ‘Broad and Anderson are an issue, they just didn’t have any impact on the series. When Joe Root needed to turn to a fast bowler to make a breakthrough it just wasn’t there – Steve Smith had that in abundance.’
http://metro.co.uk/2017/12/18/moeen...rmer-england-captain-michael-vaughan-7167666/
UN talkz
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England seamer Craig Overton admits injury could deny him the chance to play in the Boxing Day Ashes Test against Australia at Melbourne.
The 23-year-old Somerset bowler made his Test debut in the second match of the series at Adelaide where he was hit in the ribs by a Pat Cummins bouncer.
He exacerbated the injury in Perth and told BBC Sport: "We're going to assess it over the next couple of days.
"Melbourne might be a push but it's still an option to play at the minute."
England have been comprehensively beaten in the first three matches and there are fears they could suffer a third 5-0 whitewash in the last four Ashes series down under.
"It's looming in the background but we're still pretty confident that we've competed in this series and we're not far off winning games, they've just performed better for longer periods," Overton said.
"We're still fighting to get that result and show everybody what we can do out here.
"It's tough, obviously they're a good side in their home conditions and their bowlers are suited to playing out here with the pace they've got. We need to find a little bit more in our side and score a few more runs and take a few more wickets."
Craig Overton has taken six wickets in his first two Ashes matches
The 6ft 5in bowler made an unbeaten 41 at number nine on his debut and has claimed six wickets in his two matches to date, ousting Australia skipper Steve Smith for his maiden scalp.
"I'm starting to grow into the side and it's disappointing with my rib but I still feel I've got the confidence that I can perform at this level," he said.
"As a kid growing up I always wanted to be a batter that bowls, obviously my bowling is quite a way ahead of my bowling at the minute but I'm still doing a lot of work and trying to score those lower order runs which are crucial.
"I'd like to bat six or seven but at the minute eight or nine is probably my position."
England have struggled to take wickets throughout the series, with James Anderson their only bowler in double figures, while the Australian pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins - who can all bowl at 90mph - have taken 45 between them.
"Over here you probably need to be a little bit quicker but I still feel like I can bowl quick, there are certain balls in this game where I have got to 140/141kph (87mph) so that's quick enough in these conditions, it's just being able to sustain that and that's the one thing I am trying to work on," Overton added.
"Back home with the long summer you're holding that back a little bit and in key spells you try and go up a bit but here you need to be at that level all the time."
Overton also hoped he could play alongside twin brother Jamie, who is regaining full fitness after back trouble, in the England side.
"That was the dream for us growing up as kids, he's had a few injuries in the last two seasons but is back bowling off a full run-up now so hopefully one day we'll be back playing together," he added.
"He's an out-and-out quick bowler, he's got a bit more pace than me and it's frightening when we face him in the nets because as brothers he normally peppers me a little bit which is probably why I play the short stuff out here OK. Hopefully he'll be in the side sooner rather than later."
http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/42399498
The 23-year-old Somerset bowler made his Test debut in the second match of the series at Adelaide where he was hit in the ribs by a Pat Cummins bouncer.
He exacerbated the injury in Perth and told BBC Sport: "We're going to assess it over the next couple of days.
"Melbourne might be a push but it's still an option to play at the minute."
England have been comprehensively beaten in the first three matches and there are fears they could suffer a third 5-0 whitewash in the last four Ashes series down under.
"It's looming in the background but we're still pretty confident that we've competed in this series and we're not far off winning games, they've just performed better for longer periods," Overton said.
"We're still fighting to get that result and show everybody what we can do out here.
"It's tough, obviously they're a good side in their home conditions and their bowlers are suited to playing out here with the pace they've got. We need to find a little bit more in our side and score a few more runs and take a few more wickets."
Craig Overton has taken six wickets in his first two Ashes matches
The 6ft 5in bowler made an unbeaten 41 at number nine on his debut and has claimed six wickets in his two matches to date, ousting Australia skipper Steve Smith for his maiden scalp.
"I'm starting to grow into the side and it's disappointing with my rib but I still feel I've got the confidence that I can perform at this level," he said.
"As a kid growing up I always wanted to be a batter that bowls, obviously my bowling is quite a way ahead of my bowling at the minute but I'm still doing a lot of work and trying to score those lower order runs which are crucial.
"I'd like to bat six or seven but at the minute eight or nine is probably my position."
England have struggled to take wickets throughout the series, with James Anderson their only bowler in double figures, while the Australian pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins - who can all bowl at 90mph - have taken 45 between them.
"Over here you probably need to be a little bit quicker but I still feel like I can bowl quick, there are certain balls in this game where I have got to 140/141kph (87mph) so that's quick enough in these conditions, it's just being able to sustain that and that's the one thing I am trying to work on," Overton added.
"Back home with the long summer you're holding that back a little bit and in key spells you try and go up a bit but here you need to be at that level all the time."
Overton also hoped he could play alongside twin brother Jamie, who is regaining full fitness after back trouble, in the England side.
"That was the dream for us growing up as kids, he's had a few injuries in the last two seasons but is back bowling off a full run-up now so hopefully one day we'll be back playing together," he added.
"He's an out-and-out quick bowler, he's got a bit more pace than me and it's frightening when we face him in the nets because as brothers he normally peppers me a little bit which is probably why I play the short stuff out here OK. Hopefully he'll be in the side sooner rather than later."
http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/42399498
- Joined
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- 217,942
AUSTRALIAN selectors have been urged to put long-term goals ahead of Mitchell Starc’s own Boxing Day ambitions and leave him out of the MCG Test unless he is 100 per cent fit.
A bruised heel has the big quick in doubt for what would be only his second Boxing Day Test despite scans clearing Starc of any major damage.
Australia is pushing for a 5-0 whitewash and Starc, the leading wicket taker in the Ashes with 19 scalps, is desperate to take the field.
But Test great Shane Warne has said with the urn already secured, Starc should have a rest unless he was able to bowl at full capacity with a big summer of short-form cricket still to be played and a tour of South Africa in March to come.
“I always want to see the best possible Australian team take the field. And I don’t like the idea of players being rested,” Warne told the Herald Sun.
“But if Mitch Starc is not 100 per cent right then I wouldn’t consider him for Boxing Day, even though I’m sure he is doing everything he can to play.”
Starc spent Tuesday night’s Ashes celebrations in the WACA change rooms with his foot in a bucket of ice, didn’t have a drink, and then left Perth on crutches in a bid to take all pressure off his bruised heel.
He was still on crutches as he went for scans on Wednesday but declared that he wanted to play.
“If it’s up to me, I’m playing but I think there’s a few other people in that conversation first,” Starc said.
“I’ll get there on Friday over the next few days, and see how it pulls up go again.”
Starc is expected to join the Aussie squad in Melbourne along with Jackson Bird who Warne endorsed as his replacement.
But history suggests selectors should be cautious.
Fellow speedster Pat Cummins played out his debut Test in South Africa in 2011 with a bruised heel, which turned in to bone stress injury.
Cummins didn’t get back in to the Test team until April this year in India, when he replaced Starc, who left the tour early with a foot injury.
Starc also had foot issues in the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane where he constantly looked uncomfortable with his landing area.
After the Perth win Smith said the rest of the summer, and then the tour to South Africa in March, had to be considered when deciding whether Starc would play in Melbourne.
“That’s something we have to sum up. We’ve wrapped the series up here,” Smith said.
“We’d love to win 5-0 and have the big three (Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood) going all the time.
“But we’ve also got an important tour to South Africa after this series, which we’d love to have him available for.
“There’s a few things for us to sum up. We’ll see how he pulls up over the next couple of days. I’m sure that will determine which way we’ll go.”
http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricke...y/news-story/8a5ce16ca8e9071eb82c17993876ad67
A bruised heel has the big quick in doubt for what would be only his second Boxing Day Test despite scans clearing Starc of any major damage.
Australia is pushing for a 5-0 whitewash and Starc, the leading wicket taker in the Ashes with 19 scalps, is desperate to take the field.
But Test great Shane Warne has said with the urn already secured, Starc should have a rest unless he was able to bowl at full capacity with a big summer of short-form cricket still to be played and a tour of South Africa in March to come.
“I always want to see the best possible Australian team take the field. And I don’t like the idea of players being rested,” Warne told the Herald Sun.
“But if Mitch Starc is not 100 per cent right then I wouldn’t consider him for Boxing Day, even though I’m sure he is doing everything he can to play.”
Starc spent Tuesday night’s Ashes celebrations in the WACA change rooms with his foot in a bucket of ice, didn’t have a drink, and then left Perth on crutches in a bid to take all pressure off his bruised heel.
He was still on crutches as he went for scans on Wednesday but declared that he wanted to play.
“If it’s up to me, I’m playing but I think there’s a few other people in that conversation first,” Starc said.
“I’ll get there on Friday over the next few days, and see how it pulls up go again.”
Starc is expected to join the Aussie squad in Melbourne along with Jackson Bird who Warne endorsed as his replacement.
But history suggests selectors should be cautious.
Fellow speedster Pat Cummins played out his debut Test in South Africa in 2011 with a bruised heel, which turned in to bone stress injury.
Cummins didn’t get back in to the Test team until April this year in India, when he replaced Starc, who left the tour early with a foot injury.
Starc also had foot issues in the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane where he constantly looked uncomfortable with his landing area.
After the Perth win Smith said the rest of the summer, and then the tour to South Africa in March, had to be considered when deciding whether Starc would play in Melbourne.
“That’s something we have to sum up. We’ve wrapped the series up here,” Smith said.
“We’d love to win 5-0 and have the big three (Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood) going all the time.
“But we’ve also got an important tour to South Africa after this series, which we’d love to have him available for.
“There’s a few things for us to sum up. We’ll see how he pulls up over the next couple of days. I’m sure that will determine which way we’ll go.”
http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricke...y/news-story/8a5ce16ca8e9071eb82c17993876ad67
hadi123
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If they have won the series I would rest him without a doubt. No point risking someone like Starc just for a whitewash, winning the Ashes is the main priority and that's already been done.
Convict
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Rest him from the one dayers/T20
Kroll
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This Ashes has basically become a non event
Lefthanded
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Not true. KP's meeting with Strauss after his domestic double hundred was to decide whether he'd play for England again.
Strauss told him it was never going to happen, but there could be a role as a batting specialist for the ODI team. KP rejected it.
Hasan123
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Is there any proof of this conversation other than KPs word?
shaz619
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It was reported by mainstream media the KP/Strauss meeting (plenty of sources online) during KP's FC run where he was looking good, prior to that the chairman had been open to his return as well. Anyway they met and it was only for Strauss to let KP know that his career was over, don't remember him being offered the role of batting coach though
Robert
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Crane will play on Boxing Day, in for Overton.
0-4 to Australia.
0-4 to Australia.
Abdullah719
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Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine may miss Boxing Day Test
Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine is a doubt for the Boxing Day Test against England because of personal reasons.
Paine has not travelled to Melbourne with the rest of Steve Smith's squad ahead of the fourth Ashes Test.
A Cricket Australia statement explained a further update on his plans will be issued in due course.
The 33-year-old was a surprise selection for this winter's Ashes, ahead of Peter Nevill and Matthew Wade, when he was recalled for this winter's Ashes.
But he has been a success in front and behind the stumps as Australia have opened up an unassailable 3-0 lead to win back the urn before Christmas.
A CA statement read: "Tim Paine has not travelled with the squad to Melbourne due to personal reasons. An update on his travel plans will be provided in due course."
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/ne...cketkeeper-tim-paine-may-miss-boxing-day-test
Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine is a doubt for the Boxing Day Test against England because of personal reasons.
Paine has not travelled to Melbourne with the rest of Steve Smith's squad ahead of the fourth Ashes Test.
A Cricket Australia statement explained a further update on his plans will be issued in due course.
The 33-year-old was a surprise selection for this winter's Ashes, ahead of Peter Nevill and Matthew Wade, when he was recalled for this winter's Ashes.
But he has been a success in front and behind the stumps as Australia have opened up an unassailable 3-0 lead to win back the urn before Christmas.
A CA statement read: "Tim Paine has not travelled with the squad to Melbourne due to personal reasons. An update on his travel plans will be provided in due course."
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/ne...cketkeeper-tim-paine-may-miss-boxing-day-test
hadi123
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You can only bowl a maximum of 10 and 4 overs in those formats respectively. In Tests there is no limit to how many overs you can bowl so is more likely to lead to an injury. No point going for the whitewash while risking injury to someone like Starc when the priority (Ashes win) has been achieved. I still think they can win without him anyway based on how England have played.
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Mitchell Starc's participation in the Boxing Day Ashes Test appears in doubt after his pace partner Pat Cummins described the left-armer as only "50/50" to be fit in time.
Cummins reported Starc - who is the leading wicket-taker in the series - has been on crutches to protect his injured heel.
Jackson Bird could replace Starc at the MCG, while Australia may also be without wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who is yet to link up with his team-mates in Melbourne after his father-in-law fell seriously ill in Tasmania.
He's doing everything he can to get right.
"He's been on crutches the last few days to try to take some weight off the heel. He's absolutely itching to get out there and play, but we've got to make sure he's right."
Australia must factor in Starc's availability for a four-Test tour of South Africa in March with their ambition to dish out a 5-0 whitewash to England.
"I think that's certainly part of the thinking of the selectors, the captain and everyone around him," said Cummins.
"I know for him he just wants to play every game, but it's a funny kind of injury. It's not super common, but if it's not treated well it can drag on for a long time."
Cummins also refuted claims that Australia's use of short-pitched bowing to England's tailenders has been excessive.
"Not at all - for us plan A is always 'how can we get the batsmen out', and at the moment for a few of their guys we think that's our best chance of getting them out for the least amount of runs.
"Until that changes, our plans are pretty solid.
"I think they're all pretty competent. [Stuart] Broad's got a Test hundred, and [James] Anderson's got an 80-odd.
"Starcy, [Josh] Hazlewood, Birdy and I knew we were going to cop it as well - so we spend lots of time in the nets working on it and talking to other players about how to best defend it.
"Once you get out on the field, the gloves are off and there's no alliances," Cummins added. "I don't think that's ever-changing - we're all too competitive for that.
"It's one of the thrills of bowling fast, trying to unsettle the batsman when the pitch might not have sideways movement or swing. I think it's part of cricket and I hope it will always stay part of cricket."
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/ne...xing-day-ashes-test-with-england-in-melbourne
Cummins reported Starc - who is the leading wicket-taker in the series - has been on crutches to protect his injured heel.
Jackson Bird could replace Starc at the MCG, while Australia may also be without wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who is yet to link up with his team-mates in Melbourne after his father-in-law fell seriously ill in Tasmania.
He's doing everything he can to get right.
"He's been on crutches the last few days to try to take some weight off the heel. He's absolutely itching to get out there and play, but we've got to make sure he's right."
Australia must factor in Starc's availability for a four-Test tour of South Africa in March with their ambition to dish out a 5-0 whitewash to England.
"I think that's certainly part of the thinking of the selectors, the captain and everyone around him," said Cummins.
"I know for him he just wants to play every game, but it's a funny kind of injury. It's not super common, but if it's not treated well it can drag on for a long time."
Cummins also refuted claims that Australia's use of short-pitched bowing to England's tailenders has been excessive.
"Not at all - for us plan A is always 'how can we get the batsmen out', and at the moment for a few of their guys we think that's our best chance of getting them out for the least amount of runs.
"Until that changes, our plans are pretty solid.
"I think they're all pretty competent. [Stuart] Broad's got a Test hundred, and [James] Anderson's got an 80-odd.
"Starcy, [Josh] Hazlewood, Birdy and I knew we were going to cop it as well - so we spend lots of time in the nets working on it and talking to other players about how to best defend it.
"Once you get out on the field, the gloves are off and there's no alliances," Cummins added. "I don't think that's ever-changing - we're all too competitive for that.
"It's one of the thrills of bowling fast, trying to unsettle the batsman when the pitch might not have sideways movement or swing. I think it's part of cricket and I hope it will always stay part of cricket."
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/ne...xing-day-ashes-test-with-england-in-melbourne
Abdullah719
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Starc ruled out of the Boxing Day Test.
Bird will replace him.
Bird will replace him.
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