Australia v Pakistan, 1st Test, Brisbane, 21-25 November, 2019

Real good except I don't bet on Pakistan games outside the UAE.  If those odds hold or even halve, might just trust them for once.  Gabba track hasn't exactly been a batsman's paradise this year.

Excellent odds. Exposure to cbnlg causes batsmen to lose all form. Expect Smith to fail this summer.

[quote="JGK"]I can't understand the obsession with Puke.    He's seriously inconsistent.

The first test will again be Smith + Marnus + bowlers v Opposition.[/quote]

Seconded. He had two failures in his last shield game against  Tas. When was the last time he made a 'score'?

A ton today could seal a 1st Test spot for Bog.

The forum pessimist seems intent on getting him in the team.

He threw his wicket away on 43 to a long hop from SOK.

skully wrote:OK, time to have a stab at the likely XI for Aus for T1 of the summer.

I reckon the NSP will go with:

Warner
Harris
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Wade
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood

Only possible changes might be Bog for Head, and maywbe A.Nother for Harris.

With puck out I think they'll put kwacka in at 3 and swap Travis' spot for Labbers.  Let's face it whoever bats at three is going to be a de facto opener.

I reckon they’ll go with Bancroft over Harris.

Based on learned discussion above:

Possible Aus 1st Test XI:

Warner
Bancroft
Khawaja
Smith
Labuschagne
Wade
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood

We really need a technically sound opener to pop out of the woodwork.

Burns - slips catch provider
Harris - useless leftie
Bancroft - technically deficient cheating Wozzie
Renshaw - gawn
Khawaja - FTB who can't play spin or the moving ball

Maybe time to pick a Spiv.

On another matter, I see Puke has stepped away again for mental health issues.

14 man T1 squad announced:

Warner
Bancroft
Burns
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Wade
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood
Neser
Pattinson

One of the top 7 in that list needs to be culled (could be any one of Burns, Bancroft, or Head); and two of the bowlers (could be any two of Starc, Hazlewood, Neser, and Pattinson; realistically Neser and A.N.Other).

Pucovski apparently disqualified himself on mental health grounds.

Well playing three openers in the top three makes sense, so Neser, Head another bowler to fight it out for oranges?

Only spot to be decided is 2nd opener spot, possibly by net bat off.

Neser & Patto will not play. Head will bat at 5.

I'm with you on that, ie I'd leave Head out.

Personally I'd also omit Pattinson and Hazlewood for this match - Neser has the local knowledge. I like his all-round contribution too. However, I suspect the selectors will go with Hazlewood.

skully wrote:Only spot to be decided is 2nd opener spot, possibly by net bat off.

Neser & Patto will not play. Head will bat at 5.

Head must be getting close to his last chance for a while.

Monty must be counting his lucky stars the Aus A match is obviously meaningless to the selectors.

Blackadder wrote:Monty must be counting his lucky stars the Aus A match is obviously meaningless to the selectors.

ALL statistics are meaningless to selectors

Big Dog wrote:

Blackadder wrote:Monty must be counting his lucky stars the Aus A match is obviously meaningless to the selectors.

ALL statistics are meaningless to selectors

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

taipan wrote:

Big Dog wrote:

Blackadder wrote:Monty must be counting his lucky stars the Aus A match is obviously meaningless to the selectors.

ALL statistics are meaningless to selectors

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

Our selectors pick sides on hunches, gut feelings & favoritism.

JGK wrote:

skully wrote:Only spot to be decided is 2nd opener spot, possibly by net bat off.

Neser & Patto will not play. Head will bat at 5.

Head must be getting close to his last chance for a while.

Langer likes him though.

So Labbers is thrown in as de facto opener?  He should be batting down the order after Smith.

Apparently Burns is a lock and Bancroft is the designated concussion sub.  Just writing that sounds wrong.

Big Dog wrote:

taipan wrote:

Big Dog wrote:

Blackadder wrote:Monty must be counting his lucky stars the Aus A match is obviously meaningless to the selectors.

ALL statistics are meaningless to selectors

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

Our selectors pick sides on hunches, gut feelings & favoritism.

Amen.

Nath wrote:

JGK wrote:

skully wrote:Only spot to be decided is 2nd opener spot, possibly by net bat off.

Neser & Patto will not play. Head will bat at 5.

Head must be getting close to his last chance for a while.

Langer likes him though.

Left handed yoga master?