*Official* Road to the 2025-26 Ashes

[govinda indian fan]

I've never seen Peake bat and only know anything about him from what I've read on CW and I'm all in favour of his selection for the A side tour.

Is this A tour to prepare your youngstars for series win in india in 2027

 

[govinda indian fan]

I heard Green is going to drop down the order when he returns to bowling, which probably means no Beau Webster

Beau webstar is much better all rounder then green. He should be certainty in xi

 

[Molehill]

Beau webstar is much better all rounder then green. He should be certainty in xi

Not sure that many would agree with you there. Green is not a 3, but his ceiling is so much higher than Webster's.

 

[Shady Slim]

Not sure that many would agree with you there. Green is not a 3, but his ceiling is so much higher than Webster's.

that is not inconsistent with what govinda said

 

[the big bambino]

So therefore anything you have to say is completely and utterly irrelevant

Well if I'm not informed then its due to clowns on CW like you.

 

[Starfighter]

Honestly I just don't even see things in line with that at all, not disputing that Peake has promise but I am a far bigger fan of batsmem who have actually shown the ability to play numerous quality innings at either Shield or other FC cricket than those who have yet to do so. If at the end of the season he has absolutely gunned it at Shield level (something that Konstas apart from one game hasn't done) then I would reconsider, but not yet

Peake being seemingly so much in the conversation so early has more than a slight with of Greg Chappell youth uber alles about it, and that is something I can never get around

Sometimes it seems like you'd take the New Zealand approach of players not being ready until they're on the wrong side of 30.

Often those other batsmen to which you refer have also shown that there's going to be lengthy gaps between those quality innings and that they're unlikely to average more than about 40. For instance Ward's played 38 matches for only two tons, and averages 34. Such players can improve but I don't see us getting a 45+ bat out of that.

 

[the big bambino]

Just to simply state I don't believe in picking young players as if its scripture is not an actual opinion. It's just inflexibility pretending to be wisdom. We all know what Ward, for example is capable of. Weatherald and Sangha have been given their trial, though I'd like to have seen Sangha tour. A teams are exactly the format where selectors can trial young players. How can young players get experience when you don't give them the opportunity? The contradiction is obvious except to those who hold it. We should be thankful the selectors aren't so ossified in their thinking.

 

[ImpatientLime]

Any spinner would've got wickets on those doctored pitches in Pakistan, hardly the same as Australia where Leach has a poor record from his 3 Tests.

And your comments on Bethell are not really what happened. We all noted how he'd only faced 200 balls all Summer in all forms of cricket and was basically set up to fail, which unsurprisingly, he did. He does have a better technique than Pope, but whether you can select a bloke without a FC ton to bat at 3 for the Ashes is questionable.

in normal selection land, they'd be looking at rehan leapfrogging bethell now given rehan is batting 3 and hitting tons. something bethell could only dream of.

 

[Molehill]

in normal selection land, they'd be looking at rehan leapfrogging bethell now given rehan is batting 3 and hitting tons. something bethell could only dream of.

Hard to know what Bethell might achieve if he actually batted in the CC. Rehan is doing well, but I don't think he has the technique for a Test Match Number 3. Bethell on the other hand probably does, but boy could he do with some red ball experience to help him along.

 

[Chin Music]

Hard to know what Bethell might achieve if he actually batted in the CC. Rehan is doing well, but I don't think he has the technique for a Test Match Number 3. Bethell on the other hand probably does, but boy could he do with some red ball experience to help him along.

Michael Vaughan criticises England’s ‘diabolical’ decision to pick Jacob Bethell in fifth Test against India | The Independent

I don't make a habit of trying to agree with Michael Vaughan, but I find it very hard to dispute what he said here.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Sometimes it seems like you'd take the New Zealand approach of players not being ready until they're on the wrong side of 30.

Often those other batsmen to which you refer have also shown that there's going to be lengthy gaps between those quality innings and that they're unlikely to average more than about 40. For instance Ward's played 38 matches for only two tons, and averages 34. Such players can improve but I don't see us getting a 45+ bat out of that.

I don't honestly think there is a single uncapped batsman in the entire country who would be capable of averaging 45 or above in the medium term, especially if Test pitches here remain the way they have been over the last few seasons. I suppose just a difference in cricketing philosophy, when it comes to international (primarily Test) cricket I will always lean towards someone with runs on the board, both literally and metaphorically, over someone who hasn't

As for the New Zealand example, while there have been cases where the NZ selectors have been too conservative (recalling Nicholls a clear recent example) a fair few of the seasoned domestic performers have really delivered for them. Prefer it to the other end of the scale for sure

 

[Molehill]

Michael Vaughan criticises England’s ‘diabolical’ decision to pick Jacob Bethell in fifth Test against India | The Independent

I don't make a habit of trying to agree with Michael Vaughan, but I find it very hard to dispute what he said here.

The only problem with agreeing with Vaughan is that there's probably an article from 6 days previous when he outlines what a fantastic pick Bethel is!!

 

[Starfighter]

I suppose just a difference in cricketing philosophy, when it comes to international (primarily Test) cricket I will always lean towards someone with runs on the board, both literally and metaphorically, over someone who hasn't

While it's possible Sangha, for example, might go on a tear in the next couple of seasons, when it comes to recent Shield players, in many cases you're talking about selecting batsmen who have spent their career proving they haven't got what it takes to step up. It's a case of investing in a proven mediocrity or in someone with potential to be better than that.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

The only problem with agreeing with Vaughan is that there's probably an article from 6 days previous when he outlines what a fantastic pick Bethel is!!

The duality of man.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

While it's possible Sangha, for example, might go on a tear in the next couple of seasons, when it comes to recent Shield players, in many cases you're talking about selecting batsmen who have spent their career proving they haven't got what it takes to step up. It's a case of investing in a proven mediocrity or in someone with potential to be better than that.

For what it's worth I do see where you are coming from, I just believe that potential in a batting context requires a larger sample size to really be persuasive to me at least. As much as I do follow some age group cricket, both for U19 World Cups and South Australia in the junior national carnivals, it is a long way off domestic cricket in standard, so hence I value First Class cricket so highly

Is a bit different for bowlers, especially fast bowlers though. There is where promise (read: raw physical attributes) matter somewhat more

The only problem with agreeing with Vaughan is that there's probably an article from 6 days previous when he outlines what a fantastic pick Bethel is!!

Vaughan was pumping his tyres every chance he got when he was watching him in Renegades games last Big Bash. Complete weathervane, and a rancid hot take merchant of the absolute worst kind

 

[Shri]

Bashir is crap. You will only realize after ashes

given how aus play spin, probably not

 

[Gob]

given how aus play spin, probably not

In Australia?

 

[govinda indian fan]

In Australia?

He is trolling smith is elite player of spin. Head and carey good

 

[Molehill]

He is trolling smith is elite player of spin. Head and carey good

Can't remember the last time an English spinner returned from Australia with decent figures, even Swann was average in 2010.

Edit: I reckon the answer is Geoff Miller in 1978-79 (and before that potentially Wardle)!!

 

[the big bambino]

For what it's worth I do see where you are coming from, I just believe that potential in a batting context requires a larger sample size to really be persuasive to me at least.

Laughable. You are both arguing against yourself and proving the selectors right. The batsmen you would prefer have the sample size and it’s proven they don’t warrant selection. The selectors are therefore right to look past them and pick a player on promise by giving him the opportunity to get experience in a team format designed for exactly that purpose.