The Cricket Thread. - Page 506

**DB83** · December 16th, 2017, 10:00 AM

^^ Don't know the answer to that but Bayliss has got his wish in this test.

He wanted his players scoring centuries and so far has got 6. Except that is 2 with the bat and 4 with the ball

**Roger Allott** · December 16th, 2017, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorboater

Watching the end of the C9 coverage with Pietersen on. I have a query. Was Graham Thorpe dropped for Pietersen for the 05 Ashes?

Yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorboater

I always thought it was for Bell.

No. Bell had been in the team since 2004 - three tests against WI and the Bangles at a batting average of 297 - before the 2005 Ashes brought that down to a more normal 42.54 - which is coincidentally almost identical to the average he ended on when his test career ended 10 years later.

Bell replaced Thorpe when he made his debut against WI in the 4th test of the 2004 series, but Thorpe wasn't dropped on form (he'd made a century in the 3rd test) - he simply had some sort of finger injury. Thorpe was preferred for the tests over the following winter in South Africa.

.

**Motorboater** · December 16th, 2017, 11:00 AM

It's unfortunate for Thorpe. Unlike a lot of the England players from the 90s, he deserved to play in a winning Ashes series the most. No question he'd have made a bigger contribution than Bell.

**DB83** · December 16th, 2017, 07:07 PM

Funniest thing was Farbrace's comments after today's play.

Was he watching the same game ?

I guess that Smith's biggest dilemma now is when to declare unless, that is, England's bowlers get an early visit from Father Christmas.

What he does not need is to be chasing even a modest total in the final few hours. Memory goes back, of course in good ol' blighty, when, unless I am mistaken ,Pakistan were just chasing 80 odd and they crawled over the line with a couple of wickets to spare.

**bp666** · December 16th, 2017, 07:31 PM

Well, what a day of cricket. It started out with Smith and Marsh batting, and ended up 6 hours later with Smith and Marsh batting.

Shaun will be disappointed it wasn't him and he missed out. Handscomb must have been looking at that pitch forlornly as well.

I understand why people don't rate Mitch Marsh - he's had lots of chances at the highest level and not made anything of them so far. And now he's made a big century and it will be because the pitch is an absolute road. Let's remember Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja and S. Marsh played on the same track and didn't make as much of it as Mitch. And apart from Malan and Bairstow with a nod to Stoneman, neither did the other English batsmen.

I'm hoping this match can be a watershed for Mitch Marsh like Andrew Symonds had in the past. Symonds had undoubted talent but had underwhelmed at the highest level until his breakthrough ODI century against Pakistan in 2003. Then a switch was flipped and Symonds became a key member of the Australian team. Marsh too has talent but looked lost at Test level, especially with his batting. If he can score consistently enough to retain his place in the Test team on merit and also ramp his bowling back up, then he can be a real bonus.

Buttsie was right - England's 400 score was false hope on this pitch, and they will need to bat much better across the 11 batsmen in their 2nd innings to not lose this Test. And they will be exhausted after a long time in the field. Without seam and swing, their bowlers become toothless, and the velocity difference with the Aus seamers a critical flaw.

What else is there to say about Steve Smith - what a genius!

Good to note we haven't (yet) heard a word about sledging or bullying in this Test.

**DB83** · December 16th, 2017, 07:59 PM

My final thought for today.

Guess that England are pretty sick of the name 'Mitch'

**Motorboater** · December 17th, 2017, 08:39 AM

Even England would be applauding what Starc gave to Vince though. What an absolute humdinger!

**Roger Allott** · December 17th, 2017, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorboater

Even England would be applauding what Starc gave to Vince though. What an absolute humdinger!

It was a totally unplayable delivery. The only ball I've seen bowled that was similar was Warne's infamous one to Gatting, but Starc did it at 90 mph!!!

For those in the UK, BT have it as a general usage clip at http://sport.bt.com/what-a-ball-star...91364237345386

.

**DB83** · December 17th, 2017, 09:26 AM

Well England did have a better day today. Somewhat took the declaration out of Smith's hands.

130 odd for 4 with Malan and Bairstow at the crease. Surely that is groundhog day ?

But could some very un-Oz weather be their ultimate saviour here ?

**rupertramjet** · December 17th, 2017, 12:44 PM

Starcs delivery was outstanding, but was the gesturing and aggressive face as Starc left the field really necessary? Or am I just a sad old git?

December 16th, 2017, 10:00 AM	#5051
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,019 Times in 1,458 Posts	^^ Don't know the answer to that but Bayliss has got his wish in this test. He wanted his players scoring centuries and so far has got 6. Except that is 2 with the bat and 4 with the ball

December 16th, 2017, 11:00 AM	#5053
Motorboater Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,325 Thanks: 41,500 Thanked 38,255 Times in 4,299 Posts	It's unfortunate for Thorpe. Unlike a lot of the England players from the 90s, he deserved to play in a winning Ashes series the most. No question he'd have made a bigger contribution than Bell.

December 16th, 2017, 07:07 PM	#5054
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,019 Times in 1,458 Posts	Funniest thing was Farbrace's comments after today's play. Was he watching the same game ? I guess that Smith's biggest dilemma now is when to declare unless, that is, England's bowlers get an early visit from Father Christmas. What he does not need is to be chasing even a modest total in the final few hours. Memory goes back, of course in good ol' blighty, when, unless I am mistaken ,Pakistan were just chasing 80 odd and they crawled over the line with a couple of wickets to spare.

December 16th, 2017, 07:31 PM	#5055
bp666 Vintage Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,074 Thanks: 77,568 Thanked 14,186 Times in 1,075 Posts	Well, what a day of cricket. It started out with Smith and Marsh batting, and ended up 6 hours later with Smith and Marsh batting. Shaun will be disappointed it wasn't him and he missed out. Handscomb must have been looking at that pitch forlornly as well. I understand why people don't rate Mitch Marsh - he's had lots of chances at the highest level and not made anything of them so far. And now he's made a big century and it will be because the pitch is an absolute road. Let's remember Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja and S. Marsh played on the same track and didn't make as much of it as Mitch. And apart from Malan and Bairstow with a nod to Stoneman, neither did the other English batsmen. I'm hoping this match can be a watershed for Mitch Marsh like Andrew Symonds had in the past. Symonds had undoubted talent but had underwhelmed at the highest level until his breakthrough ODI century against Pakistan in 2003. Then a switch was flipped and Symonds became a key member of the Australian team. Marsh too has talent but looked lost at Test level, especially with his batting. If he can score consistently enough to retain his place in the Test team on merit and also ramp his bowling back up, then he can be a real bonus. Buttsie was right - England's 400 score was false hope on this pitch, and they will need to bat much better across the 11 batsmen in their 2nd innings to not lose this Test. And they will be exhausted after a long time in the field. Without seam and swing, their bowlers become toothless, and the velocity difference with the Aus seamers a critical flaw. What else is there to say about Steve Smith - what a genius! Good to note we haven't (yet) heard a word about sledging or bullying in this Test.

December 16th, 2017, 07:59 PM	#5056
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,019 Times in 1,458 Posts	My final thought for today. Guess that England are pretty sick of the name 'Mitch'

December 17th, 2017, 08:39 AM	#5057
Motorboater Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,325 Thanks: 41,500 Thanked 38,255 Times in 4,299 Posts	Even England would be applauding what Starc gave to Vince though. What an absolute humdinger!

December 17th, 2017, 09:26 AM	#5059
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,019 Times in 1,458 Posts	Well England did have a better day today. Somewhat took the declaration out of Smith's hands. 130 odd for 4 with Malan and Bairstow at the crease. Surely that is groundhog day ? But could some very un-Oz weather be their ultimate saviour here ?

December 17th, 2017, 12:44 PM	#5060
rupertramjet R.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cloud cuckoo land Posts: 4,300 Thanks: 26,852 Thanked 54,117 Times in 4,288 Posts	Starcs delivery was outstanding, but was the gesturing and aggressive face as Starc left the field really necessary? Or am I just a sad old git?