Australia v India, 3rd Test, Melbourne, 26-30 December, 2018

With the same squad being taken to the MCG by Aus, shirley Puddle will replace Wank?

And what changes for India?

Given the poorish crowds for the 1st 2 Tests, it'll be interesting to see how many crazy Vomits turn up on Boxing Day.

Perth crowds weren't too bad were they?

<20,000 average for 1st 3 days and just a handful for the final 2.

highest crowd for a non Ashes Test ...apparently

embee wrote:highest crowd for a non Ashes Test ...apparently

Embee, the Test was played pretty much played at the same time it usually is flowing what used to be T1 in Brisbane. Is that right?

.by closing off the shadows top deck expect some locals may have been deterred from going especially on the first day. Have some sympathy for the locals.

In other news seems that M Marsh will play for the Perth Skidmarks in their first game against the Melbourne Renegers. Maybe cbnlg wants to give him a hit before Boxing Day. Either that or he is nowhere near the xi.

With Puddle almost guaranteed to come in to the top 7 for Wank, I'm hard pressed to think of a time when we had so little batting class waiting in the wings.

Even back in the embarrassing days of the start of WSC, Alan Border was waiting for his chance. Puddle is no AB.

This was the side we fielded the Test before AB made his debut...

Wood
Darling
Hughes
Yallop
Toohey
Cosier
Maclean
Yardley
Lawson
Dymock
Hurst

Ye Gods, what depressing memories.

Mere makes Cozier look a champ. I was at the G when Cozier scoffed his ton. It was the worst test ton I have seen until mtftb scored the all time worst maiden ton. Dropped five times, it remains without peer in shocking tons.

Ha!! Gary Cosier was one of my Dad's most loathed Aus cricketers (Twatson was his no. 1). He used to refer to Cosier as "the fat waddling duck".

A bit of a trawl of Statsguru gives me these two Aus sides that IMHO are in a battle for the worst ever sides (from a batting perspective) fielded by Aus in my memory.

2nd Test v Pakistan, Perth 1978/79

Darling
Hilditch
Border
Hughes
Moss
Whatmore
Wright
Yardley
Dymock
Hogg
Hurst

But my personal favourite all time worst Aus XI...

1st Test v India, Brisbane, 1977/78

Hibbert
Cosier
Ogilvie
Serjeant
Simpson
Toohey
Mann
Rixon
Clark
Thomson
Hurst

Remarkably, we actually won this Test by 16 runs, largely thanks to Thommo and Wayne Clark.

At least our bowling at the moment is strong.

Back to back tests might be a worry though.

skully wrote:
But my personal favourite all time worst Aus XI...

1st Test v India, Brisbane, 1977/78

Hibbert
Cosier
Ogilvie
Serjeant
Simpson
Toohey
Mann
Rixon
Clark
Thomson
Hurst

Remarkably, we actually won this Test by 16 runs, largely thanks to Thommo and Wayne Clark.

I am sure that the Tele did an article recently comparing the current batting tripe to that team. The WSC Top 6 team actually had a higher FC average than the current mob due to Simmo's 55 FC average.

That this team took a game in this series shows what rubbish the Bannies are.

And Skully your dad was spot on re Cozier. Lucky for him he did not witness M Marsh

JGK wrote:

skully wrote:  
But my personal favourite all time worst Aus XI...

1st Test v India, Brisbane, 1977/78

Hibbert
Cosier
Ogilvie
Serjeant
Simpson
Toohey
Mann
Rixon
Clark
Thomson
Hurst

Remarkably, we actually won this Test by 16 runs, largely thanks to Thommo and Wayne Clark.

I am sure that the Tele did an article recently comparing the current batting tripe to that team.  The WSC Top 6 team actually had a higher FC average than the current mob due to Simmo's 55 FC average.

I don't often read the rags (generally only if a cafe has one on offer). Wouldn't mind finding the article, but the Tele's paywall makes that unlikely.

horace wrote:That this team took a game in this series shows what rubbish the Bannies are.

And Skully your dad was spot on re Cozier. Lucky for him he did not witness M Marsh

Hehehe, indeed, h. I get my strident opinionated views on the shiteness (or greatness) of players from my dear departed Dad. I'm sure he'd share my views on Puddle.

skully wrote:

JGK wrote:

skully wrote:  
But my personal favourite all time worst Aus XI...

1st Test v India, Brisbane, 1977/78

Hibbert
Cosier
Ogilvie
Serjeant
Simpson
Toohey
Mann
Rixon
Clark
Thomson
Hurst

Remarkably, we actually won this Test by 16 runs, largely thanks to Thommo and Wayne Clark.

I am sure that the Tele did an article recently comparing the current batting tripe to that team.  The WSC Top 6 team actually had a higher FC average than the current mob due to Simmo's 55 FC average.

I don't often read the rags (generally only if a cafe has one on offer). Wouldn't mind finding the article, but the Tele's paywall makes that unlikely.

horace wrote:That this team took a game in this series shows what rubbish the Bannies are.

And Skully your dad was spot on re Cozier. Lucky for him he did not witness M Marsh

Hehehe, indeed, h. I get my strident opinionated views on the shiteness (or greatness) of players from my dear departed Dad. I'm sure he'd share my views on Puddle.

He always sounded an ace dad Skully. He would have shook his head at Cozier making a ton. To his credit Cozier seemed embarassed by his ton.

skully wrote:

JGK wrote:

skully wrote:  
But my personal favourite all time worst Aus XI...

1st Test v India, Brisbane, 1977/78

Hibbert
Cosier
Ogilvie
Serjeant
Simpson
Toohey
Mann
Rixon
Clark
Thomson
Hurst

Remarkably, we actually won this Test by 16 runs, largely thanks to Thommo and Wayne Clark.

I am sure that the Tele did an article recently comparing the current batting tripe to that team.  The WSC Top 6 team actually had a higher FC average than the current mob due to Simmo's 55 FC average.

I don't often read the rags (generally only if a cafe has one on offer). Wouldn't mind finding the article, but the Tele's paywall makes that unlikely.

horace wrote:That this team took a game in this series shows what rubbish the Bannies are.

And Skully your dad was spot on re Cozier. Lucky for him he did not witness M Marsh

Hehehe, indeed, h. I get my strident opinionated views on the shiteness (or greatness) of players from my dear departed Dad. I'm sure he'd share my views on Puddle.

If you want to get past a paywall try this link: https://outline.com/

Many thanks, Mr Dog. That's very cool.

horace wrote:

embee wrote:highest crowd for a non Ashes Test ...apparently

Embee, the Test was played pretty much played at the same time it usually is flowing what used to be T1 in Brisbane. Is that right?

.by closing off the shadows top deck expect some locals may have been deterred from going especially on the first day. Have some sympathy for the locals.

In other news seems that M Marsh will play for the Perth Skidmarks in their first game against the Melbourne Renegers. Maybe cbnlg wants to give him a hit before Boxing Day. Either that or he is nowhere near the xi.

The test was played at a similar time to normal (My brother's birthday is 15th Dec and the Test is usually around his birthday)

The Oz team is on the nose both in terms of behavior and performance

The "New" stadium wow factor is diminished after a big season of AFL with most people having the chance to experience it

CA's marketing of the event was underwhelming ...and the ticket prices probably meant that people saved their money for Scorchers games

embee wrote:

The test was played at a similar time to normal (My brother's birthday is 15th Dec and the Test is usually around his birthday)

Ha! So is my brother's. And so is Mo Matthews'.

embee wrote:

horace wrote:

embee wrote:highest crowd for a non Ashes Test ...apparently

Embee, the Test was played pretty much played at the same time it usually is flowing what used to be T1 in Brisbane. Is that right?

.by closing off the shadows top deck expect some locals may have been deterred from going especially on the first day. Have some sympathy for the locals.

In other news seems that M Marsh will play for the Perth Skidmarks in their first game against the Melbourne Renegers. Maybe cbnlg wants to give him a hit before Boxing Day. Either that or he is nowhere near the xi.

The test was played at a similar time to normal (My brother's birthday is 15th Dec and the Test is usually around his birthday)

The Oz team is on the nose both in terms of behavior and performance

The "New" stadium wow factor is diminished after a big season of AFL with most people having the chance to experience it

CA's marketing of the event was underwhelming ...and the ticket prices probably meant that people saved their money for Scorchers games  

Thanks Embee. Pity the stadium was not available for the Ashes last year. The heat seems an increasing factor. Maybe there is a case for the Perth Test to be a Day/nighter. If the Test continues to be held in the run up to Xmas, maybe this would help more people go, inc after work.

Meanwhile there are concerns about the G pitch. The curator experimented during the Shield games, inc different levels of grass and amount of rolling. The last match v the Warps ended in a tame draw with the pitch held to blame.

John Hastings who covered the match for the streaming service is really concerned about it. He is doing morning radio on SEN and has discussed it at length.

By the way, the Duke is great on radio; amusing and insightful. He along with Rogers and Cowan are welcome additions to media land. Shows there is a crop of new voices that are sensible and proves you don't have to be an ex Oz skipper to be on the radio or telly.

The other two matches held there had more sporting wickets. There was a result in one and only rain prevented a result in the other. Siddle was fairly optimistic the curator will get it right. The pitch is likely to be grassy but will not break up on days four and five.

Vague is campaigning for a fifth bowler, read MMarsh. It was notable that Marsh did not bother to bowl himself last night in the Skidmarks' loss.

If selected, Mere could only be expected to bowl four or five wicketless expensive overs. If a fifth bowler is required they would be better off playing Stoinis who takes wickets or even Wade as a batting all rounder.

Hopefully sense prevails and they select the same team.

Mitch Marsh certainly rocketing into favouritism for a berth in the eleven.

I can't believe I'm actually barracking for Puddle's selection in the XI.

Let's hope he shows some of last summer's form if chosen.

skully wrote:I can't believe I'm actually barracking for Puddle's selection in the XI.

Let's hope he shows some of last summer's form if chosen.

This could be the worst moment in Skully's forumming career, dating back to the ABC days.

horace wrote:

skully wrote:I can't believe I'm actually barracking for Puddle's selection in the XI.

Let's hope he shows some of last summer's form if chosen.

This could be the worst moment in Skully's forumming career, dating back to the ABC days.

He did call for Watto once upon a time.