A.R.S.E.

Wow.. "Smith has hit more 4s in this series than Warner has runs"

Another one from Cricinfo.
Leading run getters for Australia since Smith's Ban - smith is second. Top spot occupied by a man who was dropped for this game.
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=batting

Jiminee wrote:I'm really not convinced Warner hit that, the snicko noise seemed out of sync with the ball/bat.

I don't think Warner hit it either - the problem with the level of reliance on snicko is that it is possible for another source of noise to align with the movement of the ball past the bat. Snicko is just listening to any noise that comes form the stump-microphone, so there are no controls that restrict its input to bat noises only.

Having said all that... Warner should not have had his bat out there in the first place. He'd had a number of wild slashes at that point and it was only a matter of time before he caught an edge. The guy has completely lost his ability to read the bowler, the pitch, or the ball, and has lost all judgement as to what to hit, defend, leave, etc. I do not understand how he has retained his place given that in 9 innings he's had 3 ducks and averages 9.33 runs facing an average 18 balls per innings - those are number 11 figures. Here's Warner's chart of innings:
If it wasn't for that 61 at Headingley, Warner's last half-century would be March 2018 and his last century was December 2017 (the last Ashes series).

But, as much as ample criticism is owed to Warner (and the selectors who keep picking him) the rest of the batting squad also needs to be examined. If it wasn't for Smith we'd be facing a 5-0 whitewash! We're a one-man batting squad at the moment and if Smith doesn't score 150+ then we get a sub-250 score, which is just not good enough.

Here's the stats for Australia restricted to the Ashes series (noting it is missing the most recent data from the most recent test): http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=batting

This shows that where Smith has scored 751 runs for the series (plus the missing data from the innings just completed), Labuschagne is the next best but has only half what Smith has. Wade is less than 30% of Smith, and it gets worse as you go down the table. Similarly, only Smith is managing to stay at the crease for very long, with the rest of the team only averaging around 100 balls faced or less per innings (Smith is closer to 200 balls faced).

Australia's bowlers are busting themselves keeping England to low-ish scores, but the Australian batting squad is aweful (with one extraordinary exception).

Imagine if Anderson was fit Montey!

My question is, which one of Langer's daughters did Starc try and shag? Why has he only played 1 test, and yet they keep rolling out Siddle?

norbs wrote:Imagine if Anderson was fit Montey!

My question is, which one of Langer's daughters did Starc try and shag? Why has he only played 1 test, and yet they keep rolling out Siddle?

They seem obsessed with controlling the run rate and the wobbly seam, neither of which are Starc strong points. I actually think this Test was a thank you and a farewell deal for Siddle but just quietly.

Warner fails again. Surely, this has to be the end of Warner's test career?!?!

Openers capitulate yet again... Fucking Warner!!!!

I dare say, The Poms have this one.

I doubt that it will end Warner's career but it will earn him a stint in Sheffield Shield.

It's a shame we couldn't win the series but we had our chances. I think Tim Paine will have some regrets.

0/14 was our best start. Shit that’s dismal.

Steve Smith and the bowlers won us (retained really) The Ashes. Very lucky!

somebloke wrote:0/14 was our best start. Shit that’s dismal.

Steve Smith and the bowlers won us (retained really) The Ashes. Very lucky!

Considering where Aust cricket was 18 months ago, I think this is a massive result.

Australia had the best batter and bowler in the series. I thought the bowlers went ok. Apart from Smith, Wade and Labuschagne, the rest of the top order did fuck all.

Smith averaged more than Warner scored all series. In 3 less innings!

It's quite unbelievable that Stokes got Man of the Series..

WTF?

Are you serious he got man of the series over Smith?

Ahh my mistake,

They had two "Player of the Series", one for each team.. Stokes and Smith.

I'm glad they let Cummins play all tests. Bowling fit is best for a fast bowler if their body makes it through it.

The Sheffield Shield game between Victoria and South Australia was a farce at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. Flat pitch, Victoria 6 for 616 declared and South Australia 6 for 671. James Pattinson was bowling off spin at one point. Some of batters scores: Cooper 271 not out, Maddinson 224, Harris 116, Will Pucovski 123 and Carey 117.

They gave up at tea on day four.

A farce indeed. Not often do you get 616 and not get first innings points!

Was the curator an Italian Grandfather?

Funny thing was Pete Handscomb had a go at Travis Head for not declaring early and making a game of it.....

86,000 at the MCG for the girls was a pretty damn good effort. They did well

Great effort, they really outclassed the Indians.. What an awesome team!

The skill level is so much higher Pix. You can see the training is on par with the men's team now. Now they can be pro's their skills will only get better and the new girls will be better again. It's great!

Go Mikey

Dean Jones died of a heart attack an hour or so ago in India.

RIP