TOPIC:

I said none of them could bat during the MacDonald's Cup. What concerns me more though, in some ways, lads and lassies, is that they are actually told that they are a good side. During the one-day series, the commentary team did an interview with Voges, the coach, where they referred repeatedly to WA's successes under Langer.

No wonder they get away so easily with non-performance in the Shield, when, even commentators from the east repeat the propoganda which has come out of the WACA for the past two decades; it is propoganda too, because what they say, as the title of this thread suggests, bears little or no relationship to what actually happens on the cricket field.

Good luck to the Victorians.

If an innings defeat at home doesnt shake them into reality then nothing will AR.
The Warriors have a glut of limited overs type cricketers none of whom seem to be capable of building an innings and batting for a long period like that young lad from Victoria demonstrated.
As well as this, their bowling group leaks runs at an alarming rate and no bowler appears capable of keeping the opposition batsmen pinned down. Simon Mackin who was bowling beautifully a season or two back has lost his line length and confidence. I know its only one game but they seem as far away as ever from challenging for a shield final.

mikeh: I could not have put it better myself, great post.

We have done nothing in the first class cricket scene since the late 90s when we last won the Sheffield Shield. We may have come Runners up only once or twice in those 20 years but we have not even finished on top in the SS to get a home Final at the WACA since 97/98!

BBL & JLT Cup titles are good for the popcorn brigade but those who are serious cricket followers consider the SS the pinnacle of domestic cricket and we have failed in this for 20 long hot years!!

Listening to Tim Paine bemoaning the lack of quality of Australian batting, I couldnt help thinking that you reap what you sow. The Sheffield Shield competition has for the last decade been reduced to a mere sideshow to the ever growing cash cow BBL which is now dominating the summer agenda. A first class batsman wanting to push their test claims over the mid summer period has to do so in club cricket as there are no Shield games between early December and late February. You don't blame guys for chasing the big money in 20/20 but that in turn impacts on their ability to build an innings as they need to play shots from the get go in that format. I know India has the IPL and they are a pretty good team but they also rely on Kohli a lot for big scores just as Australia were dependant on Smith prior to his suspension.

BH: your right it is 'pop corn cricket' you are right; all good posts men, but let us be honest, the lack of technique in first-class and test cricket is down to coaching and professionalism.

How come the following players can still bat?

Smith
Root
Kohli
Williamson
Cook
De Villiers
Usman

How come Finch was able to improve is temperement and technique almost over night ?

Interesting to hear JL mention that he was amazed Aust wide the lack of stick ability by batsmen to score big runs is a worry....pretty sure he was a shield coach for a few years...surely a perfect possie to address such issues......also JL seems to think runs are currency....no matter the format....surely Aust lack of staying power of the past few years thru constant collapses, suggests playing and scoring big runs in shield cricket should take priority over some meaningless ODI series before the India tests.......

Perfectly set up for Shaun Marsh on day 2. The opposition bowled out for a modest score. Half an hour at the end of the day to get his eye in and hit a few fours to get his confidence up. Now a matter of him getting going again in the first hour tommorrow on a flattening pitch under the sun with the ball becoming softer. An opportunity for Shaun to bat all day if he can and in the process resurrect his test career and also put the Warriors in the box seat to make up for their shocker against the Vics. Lets see if he can do it.
Well done to Cameron Green for his 6 -30 today . Another promising young bowler.who appears destined for higher honours.

So far so good for Marsh. 46 not out at lunch. WA lost 2 wickets in the morning session though so the game is evenly poised at the moment. Hopefully he can go on with this and score a big ton and put the Warriors in the ascendancy in the game.

Interesting to see ex WA boy Marcus Harris go big today for Victoria....didn't Langer publicly give Harris a serve for abandoning ship a few years back? If so, will that count against the fella...by that I mean Harris will have to score a few extra....good to see Marsh score a good 80.....so that is Finch and Marsh montys for the 1st test.