TOPIC:

Anch: here is a suggestion: use Duke balls in Australia to get more movement; Kookaburras in England to lessen the movement which our batsmen struggle with all the time.

The pursuit of money could actually undermine the sport in the longer run. People are dreamming if they think that a test match against India or South Africa will fill Burswood for even one day. Ashes different matter.

anchorman wrote: Places like the MCG, SCG, Gabba,Adelaide oval are having to have the drop in pitches due to football.Football pays for the grounds more than cricket.Cricket is a mere drop in the ocean compared to what AFL brings in.
They will have to find different ways to make the pitches better.I am not expert on the matter f pitches, but it seems to me that the pitches dry out too quickly due to the depth of the concrete casings. Couldn't the casing be made deeper!!! Only a suggestion.

Pretty sure only MCG & Adelaide Oval currently use drop ins maybe Bellerive & Manuka as well the Gabba and SCG don't think use them.

Can't see how Kawhaja can be dropped Anchor....scored a shed load of runs in Aust over the last 2 -3 seasons at home....surely on SA wickets would be a monty for selection with similar pitches etc... Bancroft needs to turn a start into a score soon...pretty sure the likes of Philandet, Morkel and Rabada will make life just as hard for him as Anderson et al are doing right now...

for Sydney can't see how Mitch Marsh can be dropped....FINALLY the guy scores a big one and then shows another side to his batting by putting his head down and batting tough... dropping him won't help his development surely?....I would drop his brother to play Agar....not that Shaun should be dropped but I would hate to see Mitch get dropped for a horses for courses policy....esp since the mid set he is in now....

Cummins to be rested giving Bird another chance and bring back Starc only if fit....pity Pattinson is crocked.....perfect game to rotate the fast boys TBH if they were all fit.

The Victorian's would be spitting chips if the MCG was banned from holding test matches due a sub standard pitch...whilst a tradition of Aust cricket be definitely funny to see the Vic uproar if it did happen

I'd drop Bird to make way for Agar. Hazlewood, Cummins and Marsh along with the two spinners would be appropriate for Sydney....plus Agar adds a bit of depth in the batting compared to Bird.

mikeh wrote: So some questions to ponder for the Australian selectors
1. Do they give Usman Khwaja another go at 3 or do they shuffle the batting order and bring Handscomb back in? This would probably mean that S. Marsh would be moved to 3.
2. Will Agar be in the eleven and where will he bat?
3. Will Bird get another chance on a more conducive wicket?
4. Does Pat Cummins need a rest? He looked a bit sore in Melbourne
5. Will Mitch Marsh play in Sydney or will they go with 5 specialist bowlers and bat Agar at 7?
6. Is Starc worth risking in a dead rubber even if he is fit?
A lot will depend on the pitch of course, particularly the composition of the bowling attack. If the wicket is the usual Sydney one, I would bring in Agar for Bird and Starc (if fit) for Cummins and go with the same batting line up. Bancroft and Khwaja need runs in this test though to keep ahead of other challengers.
For England, Mooen Ali really is not benefiting by continuing to play while his confidence is so low. Better to bring in someone like Crane who the Aussies are relatively unfamilar with.
England have a great chance to snatch a consolation victory in this game as the pitch generally will suit their style of bowling.

They'll take two spinners in for Sydney so you'd think Bird & a batsman are under the gun because Starc will be returning - in all honesty it may well be Khawaja because Marsh can bowl a bit the other Marsh could easily slot in at 3.

I just watched Chris Lynn put on another reminder of just how good he really is - this is the guy Australia must get into the test line-up as soon as possible , he's the cleanest hitter I've seen since Gilchrist & is fearless , he is a potential superstar in the long game

Chris Lynn a must for the test side. Turn it up the guys a mile away from being a test batsman. Absolutely no chance for now and extremely doubtful for the future as well.

Hits a long ball but that’s about it. T20 yes Test no

Chris Lynn has just been selected in the ODI squad for the upcoming series - next step Test cricket

Bizarre choice to play Lynn in the ODI,s he has to throw with his opposite arm because as he himself has said is not 100% fit from a shoulder recon, where are they going to hide him for 50 overs , and besides his innings the other night where he was dropped on nought what has he done this season, I suppose you can't knock the selectors though they've been spot on with their selections so far., Maxwell stiff?

Most of Australia said the same when David Warner started out - made near 6000 test runs since & is Vice-Captain

Chris Lynn actually has a technique