*Official* WTC FINAL Australia vs South Africa 2025

[Burgey]

Meanwhile apparently Glenn Maxwell has retired from ODIs

Focusing on his Test career?

 

[Burgey]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I wasn't trying to argue Marnus needs to stay no matter what, more that I would vastly prefer him over the alternatives in the squad. Neither someone who has played absolutely no professional games in England in Konstas nor someone who has but has batted almost exclusively at 5 or 6 over the last few years in Inglis are players I would have any faith in to do the job at all.



Mid 40s is an excellent average by the standards of Australian FC cricketers of the current era. Players who average 40+ are far from abundant here, it isn't even close to the mid 90s through to mid 00s golden era. Part of that is down to some livelier pitches, but more than anything there is simply just less batting talent in Australia around at the time of writing

Marnus' mid 40s average is largely due to his home Test average built upon those years on roads against (usually against sub par attacks). I'm guessing his shield average would still be sub 40, could be wrong though

But yes his overall record still holds up relatively well for sure. That's not the issue though, it's current form

Unfortunately some posters here don't actually watch cricket and judge purely on stats

Now you are just being wilfully dishonest here. Haven't seen those county games (that makes two of us) but I did watch a lot of him both for Australia against India and for Queensland in the Shield. While he didn't look at his best (which nobody is disputing) your repeated overstatement of the situation with absolutely zero evidence to back up your claims is simply objectively untrue by any tangible measure

But I guess making such broad sweeping statements and then burying your head in the sand when confronted with any evidence to the contrary is just your standard MO, hello there Travis Head, hello there Nathan Lyon

Stop it! Both of you.

 

[Prince EWS]

Focusing on his Test career?

I'm also thinking of retiring from ODIs to focus on my Test career.

 

[TheJediBrah]

But I guess making such broad sweeping statements and then burying your head in the sand when confronted with any evidence to the contrary is just your standard MO, hello there Travis Head, hello there Nathan Lyon

You forgot Starc

 

[Gob]

Eddie Cowan is cooking up a theory about this wtc being steve smith's final test

Interesting

 

[Molehill]

Eddie Cowan is cooking up a theory about this wtc being steve smith's final test

Interesting

Wouldn't finishing in a home Ashes series make more sense (not that I can see him doing that either unless his form falls off a cliff)?

 

[Gob]

Wouldn't finishing in a home Ashes series make more sense (not that I can see him doing that either unless his form falls off a cliff)?

Most certainly. Smith himself said that he is fully determined to play till the Ashes

Important thing to note here is that Eddie tends to spout a lot of rubbish

 

[SeamUp]

That would make most sense. Plus I imagine Khawaja would be the same.

Mud Island producing at Arundel. Delayed start for SA vs Zim

 

[Gob]

That would make most sense. Plus I imagine Khawaja would be the same.

Mud Island producing at Arundel. Delayed start for SA vs Zim

Well I hope he goes beyond that point if his form holds up. Likes of Ponting, Waugh, Border etc played well in to very late 30s but yeah anything before the Ashes later this year would be pretty dramatic

 

[govinda indian fan]

Wouldn't finishing in a home Ashes series make more sense (not that I can see him doing that either unless his form falls off a cliff)?

I can see khawaja and lyon retiring after ashes. Smith too but who knows he might driven by inspiration to win series in england and india so that he may play till 2027

 

[ashley bach]

Hard to see Marnus not playing no matter how bad he's been recently.

 

[Coronis]

Eddie Cowan is cooking up a theory about this wtc being steve smith's final test

Interesting

Needs to stop cooking

 

[social]

I can see khawaja and lyon retiring after ashes. Smith too but who knows he might driven by inspiration to win series in england and india so that he may play till 2027

Looks like Australia doesn’t play another test series until September ‘26 after the Ashes so wouldn’t be surprised if Hazelwood, Boland & maybe Starc are gone from red ball by then as well

 

[govinda indian fan]

Looks like Australia doesn’t play another test series until September ‘26 after the Ashes so wouldn’t be surprised if Hazelwood, Boland & maybe Starc are gone from red ball by then as well

That would be huge loss. Do aus have talent to replace starc and Hazelwood

 

[social]

That would be huge loss. Do aus have talent to replace starc and Hazelwood

Our problem is as much about availability as depth

We have some quality backup but most are made of tissue paper

 

[Burgey]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Boland plays on, he hardly has any miles on the clock. If Haze and/ or Starc go he would be chomping at the chance of an extended run

 

[govinda indian fan]

Our problem is as much about availability as depth

We have some quality backup but most are made of tissue paper

Fagus o neil seems quality and what happend jhye Richardson boy he looked handfull

 

[Molehill]

Looks like Australia doesn’t play another test series until September ‘26 after the Ashes so wouldn’t be surprised if Hazelwood, Boland & maybe Starc are gone from red ball by then as well

That Mass Retirement Events thread could be seeing some action soon....

 

[govinda indian fan]

That Mass Retirement Events thread could be seeing some action soon....

After ashes

 

[Nintendo]

Steve Smith turned 36 yesterday. He also has 36 test hundreds. What does that mean?

He will make 36 more this year.