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*Official* Australia Tour of West Indies 2025

Bahseph

Bahseph

International Debutant
I see calls for a Bazball approach for West Indies and I really don’t think that’s going to work. The new gen of T20 hitters aren’t seasoned FC players like Gayle, or even Bravo and Samuels were. These are guys who simply don’t have the technique to last and they will probably still average mid twenties but do it faster. There is a reason why Kraigg Braithwaite played a 100 Tests. He fell off at the end but for a long time he was the one guy who could get stuck in and bat time. It’s entirely the wrong mentality to bring Hope and Chase back. I liken Hope to someone like Rassie Van der Dussen in SA. He is a good LO batter but his technical limitations just can’t be masked in Tests. That’s why he averaged 30 there. I also want to know why someone like da Silva was dropped? As a keeper he seemed okay and you could see that he has the ability to actually be a decent Test batter.
 
Beamer

Beamer

International Captain
quincywagstaff said:
While I didn't think they'd get them out this low, today's event underscore my point. Just playing conventionally in 1st innings batting probably would've seen them win by an innings.
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I think that overdoes it tbh, in this match our bowlers were just as good as Australia and would have bowled them out anyway.

But I do agree they didn't need to play so aggressively.
 
the big bambino

the big bambino

Cricketer Of The Year
Beamer responded to a question about the pitch and his answer basically foreshadowed this disaster. A fc team was bowled out for, what was it, 44? And now this. I agree with comments the WI need to produce batting pitches. So do we coincidentally. These guys don't know how to bat and will never learn on mine fields. I don't agree it will harm the WI bowlers either. Good bowlers develop on good pitches.

I don't know why some nations are producing such crap pitches. Maybe they think tests need constant action to compete with white ball games and the best way of providing that is wickets. Yet the contrast with what we're getting in England atm is telling. That series has had 3 great games with the last test the best one yet - runs in the first two innings then a real scrap for both teams in their 2nd innings. I hope Australia gets back to producing true pitches because we have a test match tradition that can be marketed against white ball pyrotechnics. I think the WI should too. I mean if no one's watching fc cricket in the islands you might as well use the the opportunity to develop some batsmen.

I'm relieved we got away with a sweep, especially after losing to the WI at home. Maybe Green has himself at spot at 3 for the time being, though i'm still not convinced he belongs there. It could be our batting is settled from 3 down to 7 with Marnus in reserve. That leaves our openers as a problem. McSweeney was unfairly dropped but look at this way - he missed out facing some more of Bumrah and now this. I sympathise with Konstas' predicament but he's lucky in a way as there isn't anyone else challenging him except McSweeney. I'd stick with him if the alternative was anyone of the dismal 3.
 
SkyBlue

SkyBlue

State Vice-Captain
A very good case can be made for Starc being the 2nd best Australian pacer of all time

400 test wickets. Top 3 for most wickets in ICC ODI WC with by far the best average among the top 3. GOAT bowler of pink ball. Just based on sheer impact, he has to be right up there.
 
the big bambino

the big bambino

Cricketer Of The Year
social said:
With the benefit of hindsight, it was obvious that something was off in the Gabba test against the Kiwis even though he took wickets

While McGrath had the ball leaping around off a length at lower speed, Gillespie just looked flat

Fine margins at that level
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The thing with Gillespie is that he looked tired around that time. Congrats to the guy for a successful test career but I don't think his body could take the strain of bowling fast like so many others who had longer careers. The cumulative injuries just overtook him I guess.
 
Molehill

Molehill

International Coach
social said:
Some genius: “Let’s give these guys a pink ball for a game on a good bowling pitch against our poor batting lineup because then they’ll leave Lyon out”

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1944933155179520170
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Actually, it's a slight cheat, but you get by the most by combining Anderson, Broad and Root. They played 90 Tests together and totalled 729 wickets.

Anderson 353
Broad 340
Root 36
 
TheJediBrah

TheJediBrah

Request Your Custom Title Now!
the big bambino said:
I sympathise with Konstas' predicament but he's lucky in a way as there isn't anyone else challenging him except McSweeney. I'd stick with him if the alternative was anyone of the dismal 3.
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Brah ain't no way Konstas can keep his place. He'll be kicked to the back of the line for a year or 2 at least after this. It wasn't just his scores it was how he looked (****ing awful). McSweeney even failing looked a proper bat at least
 
quincywagstaff

quincywagstaff

International Debutant
the big bambino said:
The thing with Gillespie is that he looked tired around that time. Congrats to the guy for a successful test career but I don't think his body could take the strain of bowling fast like so many others who had longer careers. The cumulative injuries just overtook him I guess.
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Haven't checked the stars in a while, but when Gillespie played a full home Test summer he usually ran out of gas by the final Test, which led to his record at the SCG being very ordinary.
 
Chin Music

Chin Music

State Captain
quincywagstaff said:
Haven't checked the stars in a while, but when Gillespie played a full home Test summer he usually ran out of gas by the final Test, which led to his record at the SCG being very ordinary.
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I remember that Gillespie looked utterly awesome in the 2001 Ashes, bowling more consistently quick than Lee in the first 3 tests, but he tailed off towards the end of that series. In fact he averaged 34.31 that series but only took 2 wickets in the last 2 tests suggesting he ran out of gas back then too.

So it makes sense with what you say. In my opinion peak Gillespie was a brilliant bowler but obviously his injuries hindered him more as time went on.
 
quincywagstaff

quincywagstaff

International Debutant
Beamer said:
I think that overdoes it tbh, in this match our bowlers were just as good as Australia and would have bowled them out anyway.

But I do agree they didn't need to play so aggressively.
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tbf to the West Indies overall they provided a pretty good contest, much better than Sri Lanka did against Oz earlier this year.

All of the Tests followed the same pattern; after 2 days it was a fairly even Test with the West Indies in with a chance of victory. But self-belief and skill saw them let themselves down from that point onwards.
 
the big bambino

the big bambino

Cricketer Of The Year
TheJediBrah said:
Brah ain't no way Konstas can keep his place. He'll be kicked to the back of the line for a year or 2 at least after this. It wasn't just his scores it was how he looked (****ing awful). McSweeney even failing looked a proper bat at least
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That all makes sense except there's no one to replace him; except McSweeney or Harris, whom I think is the best of the dismal 3. Konstas has to make a run of scores but so does his competition. There just isn't a satisfactory answer atm. At least our middle order is looking more settled despite the mayhem in the West Indies.
 
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