The BaggyGreens Thread

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Australia A squad: Nathan McSweeney (c), Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Jordan Buckingham, Cooper Connolly, Ollie Davies, Marcus Harris, Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Michael Neser, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Mark Steketee, Beau Webster
 
Richie said:
Australia A squad: Nathan McSweeney (c), Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Jordan Buckingham, Cooper Connolly, Ollie Davies, Marcus Harris, Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Michael Neser, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Mark Steketee, Beau Webster
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Imo the playing XI should be:

Konstas
Bancroft
McSweeney
Davies
Connolly
Webster
Peirson
Neser
Murphy
Buckingham
Last pick is tough between O’Neill, Steketee and McAndrew
 
The fact Konstas has made the squad and in what looks like a three way bat off with Bancroft and Harris, tells me he is a chance to open with Ussie in the First Test. I chose McSweeney, Philippe and Buckingham, but not sure why Steketee keeps playing in these games as he hasn't and probably never will bowl for Australia. A good chance to choose a promising youngster missed.
 
Richie said:
Big surprises. Have my doubts either has the technique for this level.
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I thought Connolly has looked very good in the limited opportunities he’s had at first class level.

He’s averaging 54 in first class cricket.

Davies is averaging 51.68 although he’s a bit more of a Head kind of player with a looser technique.
 
doc8176 said:
Imo the playing XI should be:

Konstas
Bancroft
McSweeney
Davies
Connolly
Webster
Peirson
Neser
Murphy
Buckingham
Last pick is tough between O’Neill, Steketee and McAndrew
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I'd be swapping Philippe for Davies for reasons mentioned. Not seen much of Connolly in red ball but if you say he is going fine, then I'll back you. I think the selectors will choose O'Neill as he is more a specialist seamer than the other two. Pity they have not picked a left armer, but all the candidates are injured.
 
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The absence of Tasmanian opener Tim Ward who has played in almost all CA rep sides with success for past two years, proves that selectors regard shield runs vital for Test selection. Is now up to the Sydney born lefty to regain the form that not all that long ago had him in the Test picture.
 
Richie said:
The absence of Tasmanian opener Tim Ward who has played in almost all CA rep sides with success for past two years, proves that selectors regard shield runs vital for Test selection. Is now up to the Sydney born lefty to regain the form that not all that long ago had him in the Test picture.
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I like Ward, just couldn’t convert 20-30s into actual scores. Big shame.
 
doc8176 said:
just couldn’t convert 20-30s
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He did make a pair of 50s in his last CA match so you have downgraded him. Reckon his poor shield conversion has preyed on his mind and with the added scrutiny he lost total form.
 
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Richie said:
You have downgraded him. Couldnt convert 50/70s. Reckon that preyed on his mind and he lost total form struggling for even those 20/30s. Coverting has been his achilees heel since his early Sydney PC days.
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Oh ok, his poor recent form probably clouded my memory of him.
 
Josh Inglis has come into the conversation for the spare opening spot after starting the season on fire. He now has scored four shield tons on the trot , two end of last season and two to start this one. He is multi skilled cricketer, a reliable keeper and with the bat has with the ability to be aggressive and put the pressure back on the bowler or step back a gear and consolidate. A no brainer to take on the strong Indian attack if the selectors want a Warner like approach at top of the innings.
 
Richie said:
Josh Inglis has come into the conversation for the spare opening spot after starting the season on fire. He now has scored four shield tons on the trot , two end of last season and two to start this one. He is multi skilled cricket with the ability to be aggressive and put the pressure back on the bowler or step back a gear and consolidate. A no brainer to take on the strong Indian attack if the selectors want a Warner like approach.
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I am really not a fan of just taking any aggressive middle order batsman and making them open.

Aggressive does not equal David Warner. There is a lot more in Warners game than a high strike rate that made him a successful opener. I feel like doing this almost insulting to Warner.

I’m all for Inglis being in the team, he’s been exceptional but he is not David Warner.

We’ve done this same thing before taking an aggressive middle order batsman, previously Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade and making them open. Both failed miserably.

Although I will give Inglis the benefit of the doubt because he’s been in such good form.
 
doc8176 said:
I am really not a fan of just taking any aggressive middle order batsman and making them open.
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Needs must mate as the three candidates failed. I am not in favor of regurgitating past used and dropped openers either, specially when two are over 30 and the other has forgotten how to score runs. Other than taking a gamble on a child prodigy there is no one else putting up their hand. Seems the selectors have something against Sam Whiteman. A bolter tho may be Henry Hunt who was the only specialist bat to score a ton and only opener to score 50 plus when the other three could not manage above 30. Hunt is coming off a couple of lean years but if he can get back to his 21/22 form over the next four rounds, he is a big chance.
 
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I genuinely think we should try Konstas. It’s a tough gig so he shouldn’t be held too high, but if he doesn’t succeed and gets figured out by some on the best bowlers in the world at 19, he now has a hell of a lot of time to fix those now apparent issues.

And if it does work then hey we’ve just found our new opener.

Also from watching him he looks like our most technically sound option. Also seems to have a good head on him.
 
There’s a livestream on YouTube for the England v Pakistan game that just started and Duckett just got out LBW to an off break that’s turned and basically rolled less than 2 hour into day 1.
 
doc8176 said:
Duckett just got out LBW to an off break that’s turned and basically rolled less than 2 hour into day 1.
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Finally dawned on the Pakis that producing flat decks played into Poms hands, whereas producing a spinners track is the best way to win the series.
doc8176 said:
I genuinely think we should try Konstas. It’s a tough gig so he shouldn’t be held too high, but if he doesn’t succeed and gets figured out by some on the best bowlers in the world at 19, he now has a hell of a lot of time to fix those now apparent issues.

And if it does work then hey we’ve just found our new opener.

Also from watching him he looks like our most technically sound option. Also seems to have a good head on him.
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Spot on. Yes Sam has the most technically sound technique since Will Pucovski. Both play the ball late and are compact with their head over the ball on impact. A rarity among todays Test cricketer due to laziness creeping in as they play so much white ball.
 
Richie said:
Finally dawned on the Pakis that producing flat decks played into Poms hands, whereas producing a spinners track is the best way to win the series.

Spot on. Yes Sam has the most technically sound technique since Will Pucovski. Both play the ball late and are compact with their head over the ball on impact. A rarity among todays Test cricketer due to laziness creeping in as they play so much white ball.
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I hope he doesn't have the same issues as Pucovski, poor kid was in his prime and had to give it away because of constant concussions.
 
Guys a quiz question. What is the largest T20 winning score and the largest winning margin.
 
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