Cricket

[Rosy]

I found it quite strange how the Barmy Army pretty much had all of the Bay 13 area reserved. It was good to see the cops joining in the spirit of it all with them, turning a blind eye to standing on seats, waves, blow up toys etc. They are usually over zealous with the usual Bay 13 crowd. On the 3rd day of the test, at least, the game was ticketed. Our family tickets should have come with oxygen masks despite many empty seats closer to the action. Even with an over to go for the day the guards were checking tickets to prevent access to those without tickets. It seemed a bit silly to me and it makes the Boxing Day test experience that bit less enjoyable. I used to like getting their early and joining the rush to get the seats we wanted.

Does anyone know if that ticketed business is a new policy that will be in effect for the one dayers? If so might give them a miss.

 

[Willo]

I can't get into the 20/20 either. But then, I am a test cricket follower and nothing else. Limited overs games have bored me to tears for a long time.

+1

 

[IanG]

I found it quite strange how the Barmy Army pretty much had all of the Bay 13 area reserved. It was good to see the cops joining in the spirit of it all with them, turning a blind eye to standing on seats, waves, blow up toys etc. They are usually over zealous with the usual Bay 13 crowd.

Tickets went on sale in England before Australia if you can believe it. Just ridiculous.

 

[Leysy Days]

Good toss to win this for Aus, as it always is to bat first in Sydney.

Unlike Melbourne where the case was opposite Aus will now have the best of the conditions. Whether they are good enough to take advantage is now the question.

Batting for the first hour without loss will give Khawaja a good fist of making a score on debut.

 

[marella jube]

Had a rant at WA resurrecting Mick Lewis but overall prefer T20 to take on a ‘beach cricket’ feel & be confined to older guys who’ve retired from 1st class cricket . The younger blokes would then be forced to be schooled more in the longer forms of the game if they want to ‘make it’ , rather than take the ‘easy way’ like a S Tait . Better for their development & that of the game. …Doubt it’d would hanve much appeal on the subcontinent though until Tendulkar & co. pull up stumps …

 

[spook]

I watched the last five overs of Victoria's innings. White and Hussey swinging at everything like a gate in a gale. Slow, wide, half-track bowling proving effective. Horrible, ugly cricket. You could not extrapolate a single thing from that to real cricket.

Hughes looking much better today.

 

[Streak]

Good toss to win this for Aus, as it always is to bat first in Sydney.

Unlike Melbourne where the case was opposite Aus will now have the best of the conditions. Whether they are good enough to take advantage is now the question.

Batting for the first hour without loss will give Khawaja a good fist of making a score on debut.

Finally looks like our batsmen have worked out how to pick the right ball to play and which to leave alone. Shame it has only taken 5 tests.

 

[Streak]

Hughes looking much better today.

Yes, although he looks a little unsure against Swann. Handling him though.

 

[mld]

I was just about to praise the openers for taking it slowly and not losing a wicket before lunch. ffs Huges.

 

[Leysy Days]

Hughes still has far too much weight on his back foot that doesnt transfer forward. It will regularly result in dismissals like the one today.

With his technique the sub-continent will be an even bigger challenge for him. If he gets that far.

 

[Streak]

Personally I think people will need to get used to seeing Hughes in the side for a while.

His technique problems are not insurmountable, but will take a fair bit of work. Poor dismissal today after doing the hard work early, but he will learn from it.

Can't wait now to see Kwaj bat.

 

[spook]

Personally I think people will need to get used to seeing Hughes in the side for a while.

His technique problems are not insurmountable, but will take a fair bit of work. Poor dismissal today after doing the hard work early, but he will learn from it.

Agree, they will persevere with him. His technique needs work - that back foot just does not move - but he has the talent.

Good session by Australia. Finally the patience required in Test cricket when the ball is moving about.

 

[Leysy Days]

Personally I think people will need to get used to seeing Hughes in the side for a while.

His technique problems are not insurmountable, but will take a fair bit of work. Poor dismissal today after doing the hard work early, but he will learn from it.

Can't wait now to see Kwaj bat.

Khawaja is the ype of guy we need to push forward.

He has the fundmentals to succeed. Hughes doesnt INO.

Why bring guys forward that still need a "fair bit of work" as you say, when we have guys that dont need all that basic work.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Khawaja is the ype of guy we need to push forward.

He has the fundmentals to succeed. Hughes doesnt INO.

Why bring guys forward that still need a "fair bit of work" as you say, when we have guys that dont need all that basic work.

Khawaja looks good.

 

[IanG]

Personally I think people will need to get used to seeing Hughes in the side for a while.

His technique problems are not insurmountable, but will take a fair bit of work. Poor dismissal today after doing the hard work early, but he will learn from it.

I agree with Leysy why have guys in the test team needing work. Given he has fundamental problems with his technique why hasn't he worked them out at first class level already. His dismissal today was similar to Melbourne, he worked hard for a while (longer today than in Melbourne) but then loses concentration and goes out to an extremely poor shot.

Khawaja looks pretty good though, incredibly soft hands, I can't remember an Australian player with such soft hands.

 

[MOTiger]

totally forgot the 5th test started today. :-[

 

[mb64]

Khawaja looks good.

Sure does,probably should have been picked ahead of North in 1st test

 

[evo]

Showpony Clarke throws hiswicket away again.

Khawaja 4 captain!

 

[mb64]

Showpony Clarke throws hiswicket away again.

Khawaja 4 captain!

Clarke will surely only ever be skipper for 1 test.

 

[spook]

I agree with Leysy why have guys in the test team needing work. Given he has fundamental problems with his technique why hasn't he worked them out at first class level already.

Because he hasn't been found out at first-class level, he's too good. He's not be the first player to have flaws revealed only at the very top level. Test cricket is not the ideal place to work on weaknesses, and I'd have Marsh in the side instead, but that's not the way they've gone. I would like to have seen him given the chance to work out his game at the lower level but now that they've picked him again doing that would be deemed dropping him for a second time. Between now and August he needs to work on that back foot and those outside-off jabs. I think the selectors have wasted the chance to blood a talented bloke like Marsh, while giving Hughes the time to work on his game at Shield level.

Sure does,probably should have been picked ahead of North in 1st test...

... against Pakistan in England in July.

Clarke will surely only ever be skipper for 1 test.

Many more than that I'm tipping.