Front page in Perth 
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The Australian squad is far too old, this is one of the problems, so many key players over 30 and some like Lyon and Khawaja on the wrong side of that at 38 in months time, Smith at 35 and a serious risk of getting dropped
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India had thrashed Australia by 295 runs in the first test. The home side was bowled out for 238 in its second innings, with Travis Head the top scorer (89). Bumrah and Siraj both took three wickets.
Bumrah was named player of the match for his eight wickets.
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I wonder if this is the consequences of the most reason tv rights. Less engagement in the sport than ever and I wonder what grass roots cricket is achieving. More investment and engagement is needed. Currently they are losing a lot of these younger players to AFL.
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Like most things this failure is multi-factorial, though I apportion the lion’s share of the blame on T20 cricket and its deleterious effect on batting standards. What’s interesting is that in the Sheffield Shield, batters play in the more ‘traditional’ vain despite it being a four day contest. Run rates are generally around three runs an over in the Shield, compared to four or even five runs an over in modern day test cricket between the major players***. There is a pressure to entertain in international cricket as crowds- primed by the glut of T20- expect things to happen. A quick game is a good game.
***In the current West Indies v Bangladesh test match, run rates are again about three runs an over. Like the Sheffield Shield, this is very much an ‘off Broadway’ event despite being a test match.
The mighty heft of India cannot be ignored either. When you have a nation of a billion, you’re bound to find eleven who can play to a fairly high standard.
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For all the talk of what we’d do to replace David Warner - the discussion was incredibly silent on what we do with the likes of Khawaja, Smith and Mitch Marsh all of whom are really on the bubble of retiring or being dropped for form.
Its the same in the bowling stocks too, the recent Australia A side looks like they’ll eventually get a gig at the top level
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I should also add that most involved in the test were probably more concerned about how much they went for in the IPL auction last night than the outcome of the game. But that goes for India as well as Australia of course.
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I was a bit surprised Jaiswal didn’t get it for his 161… His first innings duck probably cost him that.
But without Australia getting bumrushed by Bumrah in the first innings, it may have been a different result. The decision is fair enough imo. Poor batting loses matches, good batting re-enforces a winning position but great bowling wins matches.
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CA yesterday released the official trailer of Phillip Hughes documentary, The Boy from Macksville.
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The family of Phillip Hughes released a long statement this morning, 10 years to the day since he died in a Sydney hospital.
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Tasmanian Beau Webster has been called into the Australian Test squad.
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Sri Lanka’s first innings only lasted 13.5 overs.
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If the Brisbane Heat beat the Renegades tomorrow, they will be holders of both the BBL and WBBL titles at the same time.
And if the Brisbane Lions can beat the Kangaroos in today’s AFLW decider, they will also be holders of both the AFL and AFLW trophies at the same time as well.
Sadly for QLD fans, their rugby league has let them down, with the Broncos failing to make the NRL finals and NSW winning Origin this year. Though their women’s team did win Origin.
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The Lions have already achieved the feat after winning the AFLW grand final last year.
They will, however, become the first team in AFL history to claim the men’s and women’s trophies in the same calendar year if they beat North Melbourne tonight.
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Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of next week’s day/night test against India due to a side strain. Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett have both been added to the Australian test squad.
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That will be a big loss, he was their best bowler in Perth.
Starc and Cummins will need to step up.
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