TOPIC:

The only problem I have with the suggestion of two divisions for Test cricket, gtrxuone, is that "second division" Test countries might suffer a massive drop-off in revenue - more so through a lack of TV coverage than attendances, which are already low for most Test series - and the development of the game in these nations would suffer.
These countries might then decide to put all their resources into T20 cricket and we might start to see the beginning of the end for Test cricket (other than for the "wealthy" Test-playing nations).   

Archie it sounds like an idea ,coming out of India.

Australia did what they had to do but Sri Lanka were pretty disappointing in this Test Series I have to say.
Looking forward to 2025/26 & beyond is it worth moving Labuschagne to open (replacing rising 39yo Khawaja) and move Green to 3 thus keeping Webster in the side as another all rounder coming in at 6 or 7.
Was surprised Smith persisted with handy part timer Head (0/33) for large parts of the 2nd innings before finally giving the all rounder Webster the ball who then proceeded to take 2/6 from 2.1 overs!?!?

no way the West Indies are an A Grade nation 
and that's coming from someone who deeply respects them & still bears scars from the past great giants
Bangladesh & maybe Afghanistan are more consistent at the moment
but this stinks of an ICC that just couldn't be bothered getting the game back up 
and is on the easy out

Cooper Connelly looked a bit out of his depth in his debut which is not surprising given he had only played 4 first class games prior to this. He will make his mark eventually but maybe the white ball game may be more suited to his current skill set

Pretty tough intro to test cricket batting on that pitch first up mikeh.....especially a Perth lad not used to that sort of pitch. Think the selectors stuffed up there.....especially as Smith preferred Head and Webster in the end. Can imagine that will be last international red ball match Connolly will be seen playing for a few years.....might be like Martyn, with less of the finger pointing.

Good series win for Aust, totally out playing and outpointing a very disappointing SL side. But I guess you can only beat what's put in front of you. Webster finding his feet, will be interesting to see what happens when Green comes back.

I see Konstas hit a 33 ball 3 today for NSW, showing the young fella obviously isn't as reckless as some folk think. Will Head continue to open the batting v SA,  enabling Green to bat 5, Carey 6 and Webster 7. I reckon Webster gave Aust some food for thought for the next India tour....at his height, bowling spin, could be a point of difference...only for a half decent leggie now to emerge.

 

Andrew McDonald as Australian Head Coach
11 test series
7 winning series, 3 drawn, 1 Lost
2023 World Test Championship, 2023 ODI World Cup
20 test wins v 7 losses

Justin Langer as Australian Head Coach
8 test series
4 winning series, 1 drawn, 3 lost
2021 T20 World Cup
15 test wins 7 losses

I'll leave this here for everyone to digest but clearly McDonald is not as clueless as some people on here think. 
 

I for one am no Langer fanboy and definitely not a Ronald fan but im pretty sure McDonald didnt had to pick up the pieces of an Australian team missing the best batsman in the world (Smith) and 2nd best batsman in the country (Warner) for the first 12 months with a Captain who had barely played a Test before being pushed up in to the role (Paine) after the sandpaper fiasco.
Also we didnt seem to miss a beat without the Captaincy of Cummins same rave on about in this current series either!
Champion bowler, but not a great tactician imho.

hardly any succession and forward thinking - some fringe players have seen alarming drops in form as a result of it
South Africa will seriously test this squad
and in all aspects
there will be some very old cricketers in the next ashes series I'm certain of it now unfortunately 
a proper test of McDonald's credentials hasn't come yet but it will 
 

JL served a purpose and his personality suited the situation after sandpapergate. Everything in life has an expiry date and JL had his in regards to the Aust test team. Ronald will have his, and whilst his methods or lack of them,  have had their detractors, as mikeh highlights, his reign has been a successful one.

It's been a reign with an aging side, a fast bowling skipper( not many of those) with minimal FC  captaincy experience  and without Smith and Warner in their primes.....especially that 2019 Smith, where he averaged 70 odd at test level.

Agree about lack of succession, but when your team are winning,, pretty hard to drop a winning formula.....but Head has thrived under Ronald, and of late,  4 debutants in a few months, perhaps suggest Ronald is embracing the succession route....who knows if it's too late, but he is.