West Indies v Australia, 3rd Test, Roseau, 23-27 April, 2012

I reckon two hours is too long for highlights of a day's test cricket. An hour would suffice.

And Fox's editing is terrible. They'll cut out a bulk of the action whilst letting it roll on during mundane periods of play. I've even seen them miss wickets falling in their highlights programs.

Looks like WEED will need to step up this test....or else.

Wade? Haddin? Aus are idiots. Chris Hartley is the best keeper, and not far off being the best keeper-batsman, in Australian cricket. Or give Peter Nevill a go. Haddin is surely finished.

And what the hell is wrong with Tim Paine? If it takes him a year to get over a broken finger, what chance does he have? Probably better off finding another profession.

clarke is such a dubber

So then, what are the chances of this being Ricky Ponting's last test match? At 37, can he really go six months with no cricket, (although I hear a County stint might be an option) and then come back against the likes of Steyn, Morne, and Philander in November?

And if someone like Forrest makes some big scores in the ODIs between now and then (and Aus are playing quite a few...5 match ODI series in England in June, followed by (I think?) another 5 match series in India in October...And crikey, isn't there a World T20 tournament in there somewhere as well?), there would be a push to elevate him to the test side, I would have thought.

Yeah, he scored good runs against India, but the more you see India play cricket these days, the more you start to wonder whether their bowling attack is actually just as bad, or maybe even worse, than what Bangladesh has to offer.

embee wrote:

In Nanny 2 ...tac's second basement made sex tape

**chuckle > snigger**

Henry wrote:So then, what are the chances of this being Ricky Ponting's last test match? At 37, can he really go six months with no cricket, (although I hear a County stint might be an option) and then come back against the likes of Steyn, Morne, and Philander in November?

If you are to believe Dickinfo, Trev, he's a cert for next summer.

"Michael Clarke, Australia's captain, has all but guaranteed Ricky Ponting his place in the team's next Test assignment, at home against South Africa in November. Ponting has looked in good touch in the Caribbean despite not making many runs and Clarke, who is also a selector, indicated Ponting's place would be safe for the first Test of the home summer, more than six months away."

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I really hope Drunky gets some this Test if he is to play next summer. I'd hate to see perhaps our greatest bat since DGB fade away in a hail of bouncers from Stain and the Ostrich on the back of a dodgy promise by Pup.

It's pretty silly of Clarke to make such a statement. Effectively he's saying "I don't care what any younger player does between now and November, my mate Ricky wont be dropped."

It's a bit Indian, really.

G.Wood wrote:

embee wrote:Inanity ...what Mick avoids

you'd think he would just move

Just need the southern unwashed to quit seeking their dreams.

Henry wrote:It's pretty silly of Clarke to make such a statement. Effectively he's saying "I don't care what any younger player does between now and November, my mate Ricky wont be dropped."

It's a bit Indian, really.

There's no Test or FC cricket for Australian players between now and November.

Unless they play County Cricket.

Correct. There's no Test or FC cricket for Australian players between now and November.

But there's the chance for POTENTIAL Australian test cricketers to knock on the door.

I was referring to Australian cricketers as any Aussie who plays first class cricket, not the eleven in the national side.

skully wrote:

Henry wrote:So then, what are the chances of this being Ricky Ponting's last test match? At 37, can he really go six months with no cricket, (although I hear a County stint might be an option) and then come back against the likes of Steyn, Morne, and Philander in November?

If you are to believe Dickinfo, Trev, he's a cert for next summer.

"Michael Clarke, Australia's captain, has all but guaranteed Ricky Ponting his place in the team's next Test assignment, at home against South Africa in November. Ponting has looked in good touch in the Caribbean despite not making many runs and Clarke, who is also a selector, indicated Ponting's place would be safe for the first Test of the home summer, more than six months away."

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I really hope Drunky gets some this Test if he is to play next summer. I'd hate to see perhaps our greatest bat since DGB fade away in a hail of bouncers from Stain and the Ostrich on the back of a dodgy promise by Pup.

Is that the same Clarke who was defending Punter's place in the ODI side right up until he was dropped? Just asking, like...

Cricketer's press conferences are like politician's press conferences these days-Unwavering support right up until the moment the knife is stuck in the back.

Henry wrote:But there's the chance for POTENTIAL Australian test cricketers to knock on the door.

I was referring to Australian cricketers as any Aussie who plays first class cricket, not the eleven in the national side.

Michael Di Venuto did OK the other day. As did Chris Rogers.

When was the last Aussie chosen to debut after having a good County season? It's a genuine question. I'd think the answer would be close to "None." Happy to be corrected. Even if the likes of Bog or Forrest played County and made a million, it would not suddenly shoot them into the Aus XI.

Paris scored mountains of County runs but had to have a stellar run in Shield before he finally got a go.

Hence there really is no chance of a bolter for next summer. Possibly explains Pups remarks. Possibly.

skully wrote:When was the last Aussie chosen to debut after having a good County season? It's a genuine question. I'd think the answer would be close to "None." Happy to be corrected. Even if the likes of Bog or Forrest played County and made a million, it would not suddenly shoot them into the Aus XI.

Hence there really is no chance of a bolter for next summer. Possibly explains Pups remarks. Possibly.

Mike Hussey was probably picked for Aus based on County performances. Averaged something like 70 in the CC, and 40 in the Shield.

I think my edit answers that, Trev.

Just checked the numbers. Paris debuted v WI in Nov 2005. His FC figures leading up to his debut were:

2003/04 - 920 @ 41.81
2004 - 442 @ 36.83
2004/05 - 851 @ 60.78
2005 - 1074 @ 76.71
Then he made 86 in his only Shield game prior to the 1st Test v WI in which he debuted.

So perhaps the County season was the icing on the cake as Trev suggests.

Matthew Hayden? Doing f*ck all until he wrecked it in CC.

I reckon the likes of Chris Rogers and Phil Jaques, as well.

A reasonable point but I think all of Hussey, Hayden, Rogers and Jaques had made plenty in Shield as well but couldn't crack the nation side because of the outrageous strength and success of the Aus side from 1995 to 2007.

At the moment there are too many fringe-dwellers that have been tried and jettisoned - Koaja and Marsh being the obvious ones. Even if they scored a heap in County, I doubt they'd get a call up. And I can't see anyone else on the horizon that might make a zillion in County and get a debut. I hope I'm wrong.

Latest forecast from Roseau - 10% chance of rain at midday.

skully wrote: Even if they scored a heap in County, I doubt they'd get a call up.

Nor do I. Mainly because they're shite.