Cricket

Would it make much difference since it’s always rains during the Sydney test :wink:

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Only Australia seems that interested in day night tests now.

They’ve hosted 13 - the rest of the world has only combined for 10 and no-one but Australia or NZ has hosted one in two and a half years. The concept might work locally, but the ICC needs to look at whether it’s something that should continue to be prohibited.

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I’d have thought India dollar wise would be happy with the outcome - a Perth test and a day-night test in other states brings the game into a better time zone for Indian viewers.

You don’t really have that in any other region so not surprised it’s localised to this corner of the world.

I’ll die on the hill that all tests should be played with a pink ball though - to avoid ever having to go off for bad light at venues that have floodlights.

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I suspect the only reason why India agreed to this one was because the TV coverage back into India would be in a more palatable timeslot locally eg. 3pm to 10pm AEDST = 9.30am to 4.30pm IST, as opposed to a day Test from 10.30am to 5.30pm AEDST = 5am to 12pm IST.

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They play them so how are they prohibited?

sorry - reworded my post and left that one in there. ‘Allowed’.

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England has claimed the three-match test series against New Zealand, beating the hosts by 323 runs in the second test in Wellington. It is England’s first series victory in NZ since 2008.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360514936/black-caps-lose-second-test-against-england-323-runs-inside-three-days

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Tricky selection coming up in Brisbane for Australia, Boland has bowled well during this Test and has troubled the Indian top order so it would be a tad unfair to drop him for Hazlewood if the latter’s back fit. However, Hazlewood was arguably Australia’s best bowler in Perth. Decisions, decisions, but these are the ones the selectors don’t mind, I guess. Personally, I’d keep the same attack and plan to rotate for the Boxing Day Test.

On another note, I’d also select Konstas who has scored more runs for NSW this week.

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Australia easily won the second test against India in Adelaide by ten wickets, on the first session of day 3. India failed to pass the 200 mark in both innings, while Australia put on 337 in the first innings, on the back of Travis Head’s 140 and he was named player of the match.

Today’s attendance was 33,184, bringing the three-day total to 135,012, according to ESPNCricinfo’s Andrew McGlashan.

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For Smith I assume and put Nathan at 4?

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My guess for the 3rd Test AUS line up is that Hazlewood (if fit) comes back in for Boland, and the rest of the side remains unchanged.

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Well, yes I’d do that for the laughs alone.

McSweeney batting 4 is a laugh? Either way Smith needs to go, he’s a liability at this point and a walking wicket.

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No, but dropping Smith would undoubtedly create some hilarious outrage from certain corners of Australian cricket, not least himself. I totally agree that Smith has been a liability over the past year or so.

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I think Smith is likely to be given until the end of this series to find some form and still prove he has what it takes.

But yes, generational change is needed in the AUS squad, with Khawaja and Lyon both 37, and they, along with Smith will be amongst those that are moved on, particularly if AUS lose this series. There are a number of players between 33-37 that also only have a few years left as well (Marsh, Carey, Cummins, Starc, Boland).

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I think they’ll carry him through to the end of the Ashes unfortunately.

McSweeney is a start (and of course Green would probably be there if not for injury), but we’ll see a bowler retire by the end of next summer so they need to pick someone and blood them (if Richardson can’t get his body to work for him).

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The suggestion seemed to be before the test that Hazelwood would be out until Boxing Day. The other option that could be considered is to rotate out Starc if Hazelwood was fit as you suggest.

It would be good to get him in there, but I don’t think it necessarily needs to be at the expense of McSweeney - both Konstas and McSweeney are likely going to be long-term top-order batters in the side, let’s get them both in there. There needs to be a serious discussion about the medium-term future of the likes of Khawaja, Smith, and Marnus, we need to start preparing for a new lineup.

I’d be dropping Smith now and seriously thinking about giving Marnus some time away from the game

Green seems to be the best option to replace Marsh.

I’ve thought for some time that Sean Abbott deserved a go, but his age is going to work against him. I like the look of Nathan McAndrew for the quicks and Beau Webster for a spin option

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It would be silly to make any changes to the team after a comprehensive win.

Smith will be fine, he just needs to work into some form. Dropping him now will just cause more instability.

Konstas can wait until Khawaja retires.

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We’ve got to stop carrying players who are at (or close to) the end of their careers as some kind of elongated farewell tour - if their form is crap then they need to go and Smith is edging his way quickly to this position. Our batting has looked incredibly fragile for some time, if you’re in the top 3rd of the batting order you need to deliver fairly consistently.

Carrying Warner was setting a terrible precedent that we’re going to regret (and a terrible move for someone who should have had his career ended after Cape Town)

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I think that’s what’s wrong with cricket Australia. They don’t give the baggy green to the young players that truly deserve it. Get them in to play elite cricket and make their mark at a young age. No need to keep a player who can barely make it off 0.

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