**Official** South Africa in Australia T20s/ODIs Tour 2025

[Daemon]

Yeah it’s ok to sometimes just admit the players are not good enough instead of being mad at selectors and tactics.

It does seem like there’s a bit of a long term batting crisis brewing in the 50 over and Test formats though. Once Smith goes it just looks real bad with no real ray of hope. Can’t say I’m not a little excited tbh.

 

[the big bambino]

Eh keep in mind Maxwell was pretty **** in ODIs for the last 2 years as well.

Anyway I don't think it's a talent issue, it's a game plan/tactics issue.

Mate he basically got us into the finals. The talent is a problem. No one around compares to the 3 recent retirees. While its unfair to expect replacements that good, there isn't anyone around who could justify taking their place on a permanent basis.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Mate he basically got us into the finals. The talent is a problem. No one around compares to the 3 recent retirees. While its unfair to expect replacements that good, there isn't anyone around who could justify taking their place on a permanent basis.

Bro clearly I'm talking about after the world cup. From the end of the 2023 WC to his retirement Maxwell averaged 11.87 in ODIs with a highest score of 32. I'm not saying he definitely wouldn't make the team stronger but losing him hasn't meant a sudden decline. He was already doing **** all and played the ODIs they lost last year to Pakistan in very similar circumstances

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah it’s ok to sometimes just admit the players are not good enough instead of being mad at selectors and tactics.

blaming selectors is generally cope. People thinking Renshaw and McSweeney will come in and dominate in ODIs are deluding themselves

Having said that they've got 2 batsmen who might as not be there. There's no reality where replacing Marnus and Hardie with any of probably a dozen options doesn't make the team stronger

 

[the big bambino]

Bro clearly I'm talking about after the world cup. From the end of the 2023 WC to his retirement Maxwell averaged 11.87 in ODIs with a highest score of 32. I'm not saying he definitely wouldn't make the team stronger but losing him hasn't meant a sudden decline. He was already doing **** all and played the ODIs they lost last year to Pakistan in very similar circumstances

I mean so what really? There was that champions trophy thing I think but no one was calling for him to go in matches no one he knew were being played.

 

[halba]

Yeah it’s ok to sometimes just admit the players are not good enough instead of being mad at selectors and tactics.

It does seem like there’s a bit of a long term batting crisis brewing in the 50 over and Test formats though. Once Smith goes it just looks real bad with no real ray of hope. Can’t say I’m not a little excited tbh.

Agree. This is the worst depth in Australian batting for the last 40-50 years.

 

[halba]

That WC win really looks like such an outlier, apart from that this ODI team has been pretty terrible for going on five years now.

Even the test side (the batting unit) on the decline as seen from the wtc and the windies series. No proper cricketers bat or bowl coming through the domestic system. Australia faces a lost decade as a lowly ranked team once the bowlers retire.

 

[Silver Silva]

blaming selectors is generally cope. People thinking Renshaw and McSweeney will come in and dominate in ODIs are deluding themselves

Having said that they've got 2 batsmen who might as not be there. There's no reality where replacing Marnus and Hardie with any of probably a dozen options doesn't make the team stronger

You aren't going to know who can take the odi team forward if the opportunity is not given

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Everyone probably looks back to the superstar ODI bats like Bevan, Ponting, Jones, Hussey, M Waugh etc. but they'd just love some solid ODI bats like Voges, George Bailey, Shaun Marsh, young Khawaja etc.

 

[TheJediBrah]

You aren't going to know who can take the odi team forward if the opportunity is not given

They barely play ODIs these days anyway. I don't think going forward it's going to practical to give new players extended ODI opportunities. There will be a bit of guess work involved but mostly based off T20 and Test cricket IMO. I don't particular trust judging based on domestic 50 over records

 

[Silver Silva]

They barely play ODIs these days anyway. I don't think going forward it's going to practical to give new players extended ODI opportunities. There will be a bit of guess work involved but mostly based off T20 and Test cricket IMO. I don't particular trust judging based on domestic 50 over records

A body of work is worth more than an opinion..imo

 

[Silver Silva]

Everyone probably looks back to the superstar ODI bats like Bevan, Ponting, Jones, Hussey, M Waugh etc. but they'd just love some solid ODI bats like Voges, George Bailey, Shaun Marsh, young Khawaja etc.

Yes that's a good point ..Faulkner , Bollinger , Hastings these guys did a great job ..they must be wishing they were playing in this era

 

[TheJediBrah]

Hastings?? Hastings only ever got a game because the bowling was so much weaker than it is now. Bollinger wouldn't get a game in a full strength side now either

 

[Spark]

Yes that's a good point ..Faulkner , Bollinger , Hastings these guys did a great job ..they must be wishing they were playing in this era

? Our bowling isn't the problem at all. You honestly picking Hastings and Bollinger over Josh Hazlewood?

 

[GRAB]

Maybe MMarsh and Head are better off in the middle order?

 

[honestbharani]

Yeah it’s ok to sometimes just admit the players are not good enough instead of being mad at selectors and tactics.

It does seem like there’s a bit of a long term batting crisis brewing in the 50 over and Test formats though. Once Smith goes it just looks real bad with no real ray of hope. Can’t say I’m not a little excited tbh.

Its Australia. Those ****ers will find a way to stay good and competitive.

 

[honestbharani]

solid ODI bats like Voges, George Bailey, Shaun Marsh, young Khawaja etc.

You used the "young" sobriquet for the wrong left hander there.

 

[Spark]

Maybe MMarsh and Head are better off in the middle order?

Head's been a very good opener for years. He's just in horrible nick at the moment, he's probably the least of the team's worries going forward.

 

[the big bambino]

Maybe MMarsh and Head are better off in the middle order?

Yes and qualified yes. I think I'd move Marsh to 3 and Travis opens in the sub con but I like the idea of having a player of his class at around 4 elsewhere. The bloke most likely to miss out if Travis is at 4 is Marnus. That leaves opportunities for new openers and maybe Short can at last nail one spot while the other could go to Renshaw - or Weatherald (who is currently having a crap run in the Top End T20 series).

 

[TheJediBrah]

Travis Head being "out of form" and failing a lot in all formats. The solution? Move him to open in Tests, and move him to the middle order in ODIs. Both have been suggested here recently. It's nonsensical. He's not going to be any better in the middle order, opening in white ball cricket suits his game perfectly, he just needs to do better.