I’d just love to see the best play the best. Possibly it wouldn’t rate, possibly for the right cause it would. But then does it need to rate through the roof to be a success? It could attract a large crowd.
Back to the game at hand- Australia should break it’s losing streak today, barring a Gilchrist-like performance from Q. deKock. Pakistan are really struggling over in NZ, so some morale-boosting wins over the silly-season should mean all is forgotten. Until they tour India, of course.
Well seems that won’t be happening. Still if Philander and Cook can put on a good partnership they could still have a competitive lead. I actually hope for a 200 run lead by SA. Should provide a good run chase. I like a good game.
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Great win for the Aussies! First test win against South Africa in Australia since January 2009!
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Successful yes but not for a playing reason. The whole reason for the match was to raise funds for a cause. The atmosphere at the ground that day/night (I attended) seemed a little flat because with so many stars in the one place it was hard to know to cheer or otherwise. The match as a spectacle itself petered out to the extent where they needed to promote Glenn McGrath to bat at 6 and have Steve Waugh fill in as a sub fielder for a few overs.
Fairfax reports that England has agreed to play a day/night Ashes Test in Australia late next year. It will mean bigger TV ratings not only in Australia but also in Britain, where the night session will be shown live from around 8am local time due to time difference, so people can watch some play over breakfast before going to work or school.
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It’s great they have agreed to it. Thought they might not have. I assume it will be in Adelaide again.
Interesting comments from Glenn Maxwell
I find it very odd he hasn’t be selected to play for Australia in a Test match. Matthew Wade obviously a better opportunity to get his form back but sacrificed Glenn Maxwell for it. Not exactly a great captain in my opinion.
I think the selectors have never got over Maxwell’s answer-ill thought out reverse sweeps- to the Indian spin juggernaut. He should be in the ODI side, though.
I don’t think Maxwell’s cavalier batting style is suited to Tests.
He is kind of like David Warner on steroids with the bat.
I think that is what many said about David Warner a few years back. I do think Glenn Maxwell would need to adjust his game style though if he were to make an attempt at test cricket.
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He has done that in recent innings in FC cricket. I’m backing him to be part of the squad going to India next year.
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Think it’s a little ironic given Wade will probably bat at 3 or 4 on Sunday and Maxwell at 6, 7 or 8 pending how many specialist batsmen Australia play.
Nah Wade bats down the order (typically at 7) when he plays for Australia. Maxwell can bat anywhere from 3-8 but usually in the middle order.
In tests he does but in the 50 over games he tends to come in sometimes even opening when Warner gets rested. He’ll bat ahead of George Bailey for sure and Bailey generally is number 5 in the order.
I think the last One Day game I watched was one of the world cup games. I just don’t have the interest in the One Day games anymore so I am not sure where Wade has batted so I will take your word for it.
EDIT: But I looked at the recent South Africa v Australia ODI matches in June and he did bat at number 7 with Maxwell batting at number 5.
I’ll be surprised if Wade bats ahead of Maxwell in tomorrow’s one dayer.
Wade use to open the batting with Warner in ODI’s in his debut year, 2012. They thought they could turn him into a Gilchrist but that really didn’t happen.
Yep, Wade’s no Gilly.
To be fair, Gilchrist was one of the triumvirate of freaks in the early 00s along with Warne and McGrath. Searching for another Gilchrist will always be an exercise in frustration- though Quentin de Kock comes close, as did Brendon McCullum.
Wade does a serviceable job with the bat in ODIs, and scores much more quickly than Pete Nevill. Nevill, though, is the better gloveman and shouldn’t remain a casualty of the nuclear solution to Hobart.
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