*Official* WTC FINAL Australia vs South Africa 2025

[Gob]

You want atg like smith to retire Early

I certainly don't but he might

I always thought he'd keep tests for the last in his retirement hierarchy as its the format he cherished the most but some recent interviews have given different vibes. Looks like he wants to make the 28 Olympics and retire playing t20s.

I would be less surprised if he quits after the Ashes now than I would have say a year ago

 

[GoodAreasShane]

if KPat continues on with his end of season shield form before the ashes - he's a big shout for the side imo. I like green, but I don't think we can carry both him and Webster in the same side (unless green bats at 4)

Do agree for the most part, KPat at his best definitely has the game for it, but his poor years before his resurgence last Shield season do make make me a little nervous. Should he start really well next season however then he should absolutely be well in the conversation how

Crazy to think how different our batting order will look next away Ashes. Hopefully we see e.g. Kellaway, Goodwin. in county cricket next season. Suspect there will be at least one guy out of Patterson, Handscomb, Harris etc. who ends up getting a decent run past the age of 35.

Highly doubt it with Handscomb especially, middle order batting is literally the one part of this Australian test team I am not too worried about going forward. Is a bit different for the top order, even though I do not rate Harris highly at all I wouldn't be stunned if he does play for Australia again

Those are proven failures though. I'd rather give one of the recent under 19 guys a run

This however is a vastly worse take, promoting very young and raw batsmen before they are ready is the single worst option bad for the team, and more importantly bad for the future of said bats. Absolutely reeks of Greg Chappell selection logic which I utterly despise

 

[TimAngas]

Highly doubt it with Handscomb especially, middle order batting is literally the one part of this Australian test team I am not too worried about going forward. Is a bit different for the top order, even though I do not rate Harris highly at all I wouldn't be stunned if he does play for Australia again

I don't see it as impossible Handscomb plays again. He was close enough to getting on the plane to Sri Lanka evidenced by the fact he was training with the Australian team at the end of the India series. While maybe the selectors see him as a subcontinent specialist, he could get back in that way, and also hasn't played a test outside of Asia since 2019 so could be deemed another look in given how prolific he has been in FC cricket since then.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

I don't see it as impossible Handscomb plays again. He was close enough to getting on the plane to Sri Lanka evidenced by the fact he was training with the Australian team at the end of the India series. While maybe the selectors see him as a subcontinent specialist, he could get back in that way, and also hasn't played a test outside of Asia since 2019 so could be deemed another look in given how prolific he has been in FC cricket since then.

Who would he replace though? All the vacancies in the short term future are in the top 3, and Handscomb with his technique really will never be a viable option up there.

Guess the most ardent of Victoria fans could argue he could bat at 4 after Smith finishes, but he is only around a year younger, so even there not a long term option if you think he would be up to it, which honestly I do not

 

[Burgey]

So this is essentially a battle of two entirely quality seam bowling attacks and the least bad batting line up right?

This has basically been the best template for test cricket since they started bowling over arm tbh. The less involvement of spinners the better

 

[StephenZA]

This has basically been the best template for test cricket since they started bowling over arm tbh. The less involvement of spinners the better

I quite enjoyed Keshav's involvement...

 

[govinda indian fan]

I certainly don't but he might

I always thought he'd keep tests for the last in his retirement hierarchy as its the format he cherished the most but some recent interviews have given different vibes. Looks like he wants to make the 28 Olympics and retire playing t20s.

I would be less surprised if he quits after the Ashes now than I would have say a year ago

Fine but smith once in interview said that he wants to win series in england and india. So he might play till 2027

 

[Burgey]

Wondering how much Australia would have made if Smith came in 3 balls earlier by batting 3 in that form, allowing Green to come in at the 19th over after Labuschagne got out?

I wonder how many more they would have made if Alex Carey hadn’t missed a ****ing reverse sweep off a full toss from a bloke who people on here curiously rate as a spinner when you’d like him to bowl at both ends you were batting.

Sparked the whole collapse after tea.

it shouldn’t matter though. Should have this wrapped up by stumps day three

 

[Burgey]

I quite enjoyed Keshav's involvement...

He is very very ordinary. I don’t understand how anyone with functioning eyesight can rate him tbh

 

[StephenZA]

He is very very ordinary. I don’t understand how anyone with functioning eyesight can rate him tbh

Oh he is very ordinary... as you say... its just nice to have because Aussie batsmen can't play left arm finger spin very well...

 

[govinda indian fan]

Temba is actually is pretty good batsmen but south Africa gotta be positive instead of going into a shell

 

[govinda indian fan]

Oh he is very ordinary... as you say... its just nice to have because Aussie batsmen can't play left arm finger spin very well...

Kesh is good but dont you think he has regressed since 2020

 

[Red]

Yes. Inglis would have been worse for sure

As it

 

[Molehill]

So this is essentially a battle of two entirely quality seam bowling attacks and the least bad batting line up right?

Describing Mulder and Ngidi as quality is perhaps being a little generous.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah even England fans on here were rubbing their hands in glee saying please pick Webster in the Ashes

I think he used up about a year of luck but good 70 in the end

England fans on here have been clutching at straws for over two decades

you’d be stupid to write a bloke off based on a scratchy start on that deck against Rabada ffs. The only bloke who look assured on it was Smitb, who barely played and missed all day. The 21 mortals on display have all struggled on it, but Webster is the only one so far who’s found a way to make a score.

And realistically, which Pommie bowler is going to trouble him on our decks rather than the pitch at Lord’s? Hes taken runs off Bumrah and Rabada so far. I’ll back him against Ponsonby-Smythe or whoever they put up as cannon fodder.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

And realistically, which Pommie bowler is going to trouble him on our decks rather than the pitch at Lord’s? Hes taken runs off Bumrah and Rabada so far. I’ll back him against Ponsonby-Smythe or whoever they put up as cannon fodder.

Carse is decent (although he's a Saffer rather than a Pom). Good pace, gets bounce, and runs in tirelessly.

 

[Red]

Re selection for Australia moving ahead, I’m with Gob on K Patterson getting an extended run. He’s a class batsman and I think he’d adapt to opening. I’ve been a fan for years.

I think Khawaja is done and I’d send Marnus back to the shield and tell him to just make runs if he wants to play tests. Simple.

K Patterson
S Konstas
S Smith
C Green/J Inglis
T Head
B Webster
A Carey

 

[Qlder]

^ K'Pat should have at least been in the squad for WTC and West Indies

 

[the big bambino]

I hope the changes in our batting order pay off in the 2nd innings but I would've just stuck with the normal batting order. We have Green and Marnus batting out of position with one just coming back from injury and the other out of form. I'd have played Konstas not Green. I just saw the lbw on Webster and yeah he was lucky alright. But he's played two tests on wicked pitches and delivered runs when needed. Hopefully the pitch will iron out for the back end of the game and we some runs and a match going into day 4 at least.

 

[Chin Music]

I can only comment on having watched him in the Surrey v Essex match in the county championship. He looked in pretty decent touch then and probably should have kicked on. He's made two fifties and a 40, which isn't a bad return from someone just drafted in to play a couple of matches.