Aus Inv XI v England XI, Sydney, 13-16 November, 2013

Let's be irrational.
I'd go with Rankin.
Unexposed giant with a decent bouncer.
And you know just how much the whinging Clarke loves balls bouncing against his throat.

Re: the outfield. I didn't realise that. I'll bow to the groundsman superior knowledge of grass maintenance and accept he knows what he's doing. Is that what caught weak dog out or is the Gabba soil just naturally sandy?

Re: third seamer. Real problem here. Finn has been more of a wicket taking threat than the other two but I just don't trust him. I'd probably go with Rankin but I believe this sort of thing is known as 'Hobson's Choice'.

I'd go with Larwood.

PeterCS wrote:I'd go with Larwood.

Nah . . . unimpressive without his mentor Dougie Jardine.
Like Brearley with Willis . . .
May with Statham . . .

McCague without Gucci ...

Vinegar without salt.

No idea who's going to be the third England quick (or "quick") at this stage.

More worryingly, I'm not sure the selectors have any idea. I hope they don't basically draw lots and hope for the best.

Well done to the Poms on beating the 2nd Grade XI.  

Hmm. Seems I'm going to have to hop aboard the Rankin bandwagon.

Del Pringles thinks the third seamer's main role to shoulder the donkey work, therefore economy is essential. He thinks the pecking order is Tremlett, Rankin, about fifty miles of empty space, then Finn.

Interesting that Trembler was left out of this match.
Strikes me that the powers that select wanted a "last look" at either Finn and Rankin before the action starts in earnest . . . . and you feel now that Rankin ought to get the nod.

Nice win though despite the weak oppos . . . and good to see Carbs knock out another decent 50.
KP .... meh . .

Merlin wrote:Interesting that Trembler was left out of this match.
Strikes me that the powers that select wanted a "last look" at either Finn and Rankin before the action starts in earnest . . . . and you feel now that Rankin ought to get the nod.

Nice win though despite the weak oppos . . . and good to see Carbs knock out another decent 50.
KP .... meh . .

Got a feeling that Tremlett has been put on ice for the first test and Finn and Rankin would have needed to have taken 10 in the match to get ahead of him in the pecking order.

Let's be invitational.

Kev should have opened with Carbs, to give him a "proper" innings.

PeterCS wrote:Let's be invitational.

Kev should have opened with Carbs, to give him a "proper" innings.

What, Run Out without facing? Or Taking first strike and Run Out for 0 in first over having dabbed it behind square and Kev dashing to get on strike with the quick single, Yes No No NOO as the keeper lobs the ball up to the bowler's end, Kev safely in striker's crease as Carbs looks slightly put out?

Would have been fuuuun ....

Surely they've seen enough of Tremlett of late to know that for the last six months he's been bowling floaty 80mph half volleys? Do they really think he'll get back into Ashes cricket and suddenly start hurling them down at 88mph again?

Eyyup, Carbs is out already!

And two Yorkies at the crease.


(thought I might as well tack this on to a half-way relevant existing thread ...)

Bode gets a Root

Over 15.4: Mackin to Ballance, FOUR, short, cuts in the air to Hill in the gully who this time didn't pick it up, ducking out of the way...


****** Crab Vomit

Going well so far for the visitors.

Sense of security trap almost complete.

embee (or Woody, or JGK, or anyone) ...

That wagonwheel thingy they have on the CA live-ish score page. ....

http://livescores.cricket.com.au/wagonwheel.aspx?playerId=15226&inningId=1&seriesId=2929&matchId=1&type=batting&Guid=cec6d9512dc343b0b46623a78204618f

If it is drawn accurately to show a LHB like Ballance, which I suppose it is, why don't they make clear that the batsman is a southpaw on the score page itself?

http://livescores.cricket.com.au/summary_2929_1.html


Are you meant to go to a third page to check that?

Seems a bit arduous. But otherwise the wagonwheel could be a bit misleading.

Prior seems to be going for it, whereas Ballance is starting out by crabbing along.


Either two ways to try to claim a Test place, or else The Matt has been assured his place is not in danger, and he's doing a bit of demob happy batting.

Prior checks out cheaply again. Stokes appears through the revolving door.

Is Stokes batting at 5 an indication he is being considered to replace Trott?

and is Bairstow last in the ranking?

PeterCS wrote:embee (or Woody, or JGK, or anyone) ...

That wagonwheel thingy they have on the CA live-ish score page. ....

http://livescores.cricket.com.au/wagonwheel.aspx?playerId=15226&inningId=1&seriesId=2929&matchId=1&type=batting&Guid=cec6d9512dc343b0b46623a78204618f

If it is drawn accurately to show a LHB like Ballance, which I suppose it is, why don't they make clear that the batsman is a southpaw on the score page itself?

http://livescores.cricket.com.au/summary_2929_1.html


Are you meant to go to a third page to check that?

Seems a bit arduous. But otherwise the wagonwheel could be a bit misleading.

Pete

CA are generally farqued and their IT department are farqueder than their Physio department which is absolutely farqued so just be happy that any wagon wheel bears any actuality to any event even if in the converse convex concave reverse inverse or perverse