Australia v West Indies, 2nd Test, Melbourne, 26-30 December 2015

So the Ooze for Monty? UK or Bog to open  with GCS.

So it's now the Xmas Day test?

Australia v West Indies, 2nd Test, Melbourne, 25-29 December 2015
by skully

On the ABC news: Quodge sitting out the first BBL game

The Ooze's chances hurt

"Batsman's Boxing Day Test hopes suffer setback following injury update

Usman Khawaja will have to wait to press his claims for a Boxing Day recall after he was ruled out of Sydney Thunder's opening KFC Big Bash League match on Thursday.

The Thunder medical staff, in conjunction with Cricket Australia, have instead identified the December 20 clash against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG as Khawaja's likely return to cricket following a hamstring injury that forced him to miss Australia last two Tests."

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Bad luck, cobber.

2 weeks is too long between Tests. It's summer, there should be cricket on the teev, FFS.

Sage. 

I can't believe I am going to say this but when does the BBL start?

JGK wrote:Sage. 

I can't believe I am going to say this but when does the BBL start?

Thursday

JGK wrote:Sage. 

I can't believe I am going to say this but when does the BBL start?

Aye, the very same thought crossed my mind this morning.

Must be a sick feeling to be an injured, or recently retired, Aussie batsman with the WI in town. I reckon even Watto would fancy his chances of getting a ton.

Lindsay no.2 wrote:Must be a sick feeling to be an injured, or recently retired, Aussie batsman with the WI in town. I reckon even Watto would fancy his chances of getting a ton.

Do you still get two referrals?

Why is it being made out as between Khawaja and Shaun Marsh for one batting spot at Melbourne, when Joe Burns is the one who has looked pretty ordinary, and both Khawaja and Marsh are capable of opening if needed?

None of them are openers. Burns career is being stuffed. He has been forced to open. S Marsh shd never be picked again while Uzzie is fat and lazy.
Bancroft shd open with Burns at first drop.

I think the other option - omitting Mitch Marsh to admit Khawaja - might need further consideration.

It's not as though we needed him to dismiss the Windies in T1; and he didn't make runs ...

lardbucket wrote:I think the other option - omitting Mitch Marsh to admit Khawaja - might need further consideration.

It's not as though we needed him to dismiss the Windies in T1; and he didn't make runs ...

With back to back tests they will want 5 bowlers.

Henry wrote:Why is it being made out as between Khawaja and Shaun Marsh for one batting spot at Melbourne, when Joe Burns is the one who has looked pretty ordinary, and both Khawaja and Marsh are capable of opening if needed?

why abandon the new opening partnership after 4 Tests?

Nath wrote:

Henry wrote:Why is it being made out as between Khawaja and Shaun Marsh for one batting spot at Melbourne, when Joe Burns is the one who has looked pretty ordinary, and both Khawaja and Marsh are capable of opening if needed?

why abandon the new opening partnership after 4 Tests?

Aye Nath, it's a tough call. I'm keen to build a long standing opening partnership, but Monty's technique worries me. On flat Aussie decks Bog could easily slip back into his former opening role. Even the Ooze could do that job.

Are you bonkers Skully?

Bog has neither technique nor temperament.

The Bruce Francis of his era, he should have been to spiv.

Embed- but he just made a great ton- Embee

Pburt,everyone knows he is a classic peaheart WASP

Bog is way technically sounder than Monty.

But has a pea heart.

Butting in on an Aus debate here - but as an outsider I'd love you to dump Burns and make Shaun Marsh opener. He is dogshit outside off and should be easy prey to Jimmy, Broad and any other half decent line and length merchant we have in our ranks.

Haven't seen too much of Burns but he did well against NZ didn't he? Maybe give him a bit of time to see if he can make it rather than dumping him already. I'd suggest that if you guys do what we have over here and have a revolving opening partner situation it will seriously weaken the team. We started down that road when we dumped Compton...and look where we are a few years later, back with the same guy, on tour and in serious contention (and having gone through a merry-go-round of below par wannabes).

You could pick a guy from grade cricket and he'd probably get at least 50 against this Windies team. The fact is, this series won't really tell Aus much, other than confirming they know how to cash in better than any other team when the opposition are poor and the pitch flat.

Lindsay no.2 wrote:Butting in on an Aus debate here - but as an outsider I'd love you to dump Burns and make Shaun Marsh opener. He is dogshit outside off and should be easy prey to Jimmy, Broad and any other half decent line and length merchant we have in our ranks.

shaun marsh has everything needed to make it big except whats between his ears, theres something missing up there
burns technique is dodgier but hes more together mentally. you really want marshs talent and burns application. youd have a reasonable opening batsman then

Aus must have been hoping that Langer and Hayden would move beyond the foreplay and actually mate, in order to produce a world class opening batsman.

sure as long as they kept it off the pitch