TOPIC:

A much better start by the Oz batters, openers are still brittle but Head and finally Smith and later Carey really got on top of the curry muncher bowlers. They have no clue how to bowl to Head who knows only one way to bat and thats full tilt. The munchers appealed for everything stupid and missed a couple of reviews which were dumb reviews. Now Starc and Haze have them on the ropes early before the inevitable Brisbane rain set in. The Bison's catch in the gully was amazing given the big fellas size, he moved like lightning.

Travis Head is a legend.
Smudge back in form along with Carey.
Starc and Hazlewood continue to bowl well.
Mitch Marsh doing well in the field.

Hazlewood injured again, He has played 16 of the last 34 tests for Australia, sorry but that's not good enough
 

premiership hangover wrote:

Hazlewood injured again, He has played 16 of the last 34 tests for Australia, sorry but that's not good enough

 

The coach and his fellow selectors knew he was underdone having missed the 2nd Test with a side strain and yet still picked him whilst a fully fit Boland carries the drinks.
Enough said!

BH surely the medical team cleared Hazlewood fit to play, and Ronald et al took their advice accordingly?.....pretty sure Voges gets told Paris, Behrendorf, Richo and Kelly are all fit to go, yet they keep breaking down....don't see you having a crack at  Voges et al when that happens.

Aust are 190 ahead, it's been a rain affected test....rather be 190 ahead then 190 behind.....yeah losing Hazlewood probably ended Aust chances, but the way India celebrated avoiding the follow on clearly shows where their mindset is.....

Hey Freeze, Mitch Santner sends his regards mate! 
If only the NZ coach & selectors picked him at Hagley & the Basin.

If only the NZ & Aus selectors had your 🏏 foresight and medico nous BH....looks like you missed your calling mate. But yeah kudos to "Mutch" for filling his boots v a team that was clearly on route to Heathrow, and playing in a decisive dead rubber, with nothing to gain WTC wise.

Geez I wish Mitch Marsh had of picked  footy over cricket...than he would be only a SFFC fan's problem, instead of being every Aust cricket fans farking problem.....

5 for 36 in our second inning are we chasing stupid runs or trying to lose the test match after being in control for the past 4 days

Aussies would be frustrated that they dominated 90% of that game but the weather prevailed in the end. I quite liked them having a go at setting a target today, even though the scoreboard looked ugly. They will look back to 2 moments yesterday that allowed India off the hook, that dolly that Steve Smith dropped first ball and then inexplicably bowling short stuff to India's numbers 10 and 11 when the follow on was at their mercy. Sure even if Smith had taken that catch and India had followed on, it might have still been a draw but it would have been a damn sight closer and more uncomfortable for the tourists today.

So some decisions beckon for the selectors ahead of Boxing Day. Boland replacing Hazlewood is the easy one but they need to think about the number of passengers they are carrying in the top and middle order. Head is averaging 81 this series, next best is Smith on 24 and he has only nudged up to that mark because of his century in this test. So Khawaja, Labuschagne and Marsh all look like walking wickets at the moment. Mc Sweeny hasn't really done much either but they have to give him a chance to settle. These guys all seem to be completely befuddled with Bumrah
Marsh is the real puzzling selection. His batting alone does not justify his selection, he was picked as an all rounder and if he is not able to bowl a 5 to 10 over spell he should be replaced by Webster or someone else. Starc and Cummins bowled heroically in this game but with back to back tests coming up, there needs to be someone there to share the load otherwise we risk more breakdowns of our fast guys.

Now we are hearing that Head has pulled up sore. How much deep shit are we in if he can't play in Melbourne? Who would replace him? If he is not fit maybe it provides an opportunity to expose Kontas. I saw this young man hitting a 50 in a big bash game last night and along with his red ball returns this summer has really pushed his name up the pecking order. He is a confident young man and I reckon he could handle the pressure. Kontas would open which would push McSweeney down to 5 which would give him more of an opportunity to show his ability.

On the Indian Side, quite a shock to hear that Ravi Ashwin has announced his retirement mid series. Don't know what provoked it as the last two tests are being played on pitches that certainly would have suited him

If our coach & selectors are serious they have to make a call on Khawaja, Labuschagne & Marsh.
Smith is another but probably reprieved himself with the first innings century but we cant continue to falter along with these underperforming 30+yo's any longer.
I always have an eye to the Ashes series and with the next just less than 12 months away the likes of Konstas & Connolly (Green should be back by then too) have to be exposed to Test Cricket now not next year!