The Ashes

Gee the batsmen get an easy ride.

Marsh was good in the first dig but useless in the second, yet the bowlers bowl them out for less than 240 both times, including Starc getting 8 for the game and not a look in.

 

If they make any change at all it’ll be Handscomb that goes, but I’d be surprised if they change a winning side now.

Having said that, the next Test is in Perth so they probably feel there aren’t enough Marsh’s in the current team for that one, so Handscomb may make way for another Marsh.

 

Frankly I’d be happy for them to keep the team unchanged, which is unusual for me to say.

If they really had to drop someone, they could replace Handscomb with Head or Maxwell at 6, and move S. Marsh to 5.
Both of those guys bring in another bowling option (which would be more useful in Melbourne and Sydney than Perth, hence why I wouldn’t be surprised if they consider M. Marsh for Perth).

 

I’d happily drop Khawaja. Anyone who is so useless against spin shouldn’t be there, especially in such an important slot.

The Waughs? Give me a break.
Mark was beautiful to watch and an amazing talent, but largely wasted due to laziness and an inability to put together a really long innings. Great commentator and funny guy though. Kind of bloke I’d like to have a beer with.

Steve, well, great human being, an ok if boring Captain, and he DID have the ability to do the tough things, but his figures are inflated by his failure to protect and bat properly with the tail in order to pump up his own average. Especially towards the end of his career.

On talent alone Mark should have averaged 60 and Steve 40.

 

Another cracking Test.

Gee good selection with M. Marsh. Not.

 

What are your thoughts?

Personally I’m a little disappointed today didn’t result in a draw.

 

I was listening on the radio on the way back from Brisbane.

Scouring between various radio stations on the ADF I was amused to find an AM station that had the Triple M commentary team (I think it was from Griffith)?

Anyway, obviously I’m happy we won. But I’m also disappointed that the series is over already (hence why I said I would have preferred a draw today). I think each Test has been a very good game of cricket and the results don’t really show that.

Kind of reminds me of the 2013 series in Pommyland (I went to the Durham Test).
Virtually every game could have had a different result.

 

Fixed

 

Don’t know about Pommy-bashing, but to be fair, who doesn’t like to scratch their ball from time to time?

Especially if it results in some reverse swing.

 

Don’t worry. Moretti will hold your (hand).

 

Well, that was the worst cricket wicket I’ve seen for a very long time.
What a joke of a pitch.
Frankly, ever since I was a kid the Melbourne pitch has been rubbish.
Low, slow, boring bollocks.

It really craps me off that the media try to excuse it by saying it’s a drop-in.
Errrr.. hello?
Most pitches in Australia are now drop-ins, including Adelaide which was hailed as the perfect Test cricket wicket only a couple of weeks ago.

To be honest, it’s been a very long time since the Boxing Day Test lived up to its hype.

 

Embarrassing for Australia, as we often like to criticise other country’s wickets.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mcg-pitch-rating-icc-poor-melbourne-cricket-australia-ashes-test-stripped-boxing-day-fine-warning/2018-01-02

As I’ve already said, I’m tired of people blaming drop-in pitches. That’s bollocks.

If I wanted to be a conspiracy theorist, I’d suggest curators are “encouraged” to produce pitches that will definitely go five days in order to maximise revenue.

Some manage to do it while still providing an entertaining game, and some don’t.