2026 - 2027 Summer of Cricket
- Thread starter Lefty
- Start date
His the best slipper i have ever seen
Lefty
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
After a disastrous start to Australia’s first innings, we have come back well to record a comprehensive victory over South Africa.
It’s been a great test for Renshaw, he will play a lot more tests.
South Africa will have Rabada for the second test and they will come back hard.
It’s been a great test for Renshaw, he will play a lot more tests.
South Africa will have Rabada for the second test and they will come back hard.
Traditionally the port elizebeth wicket is a slow and low type of wicket, this should help nullify Rabadas impact abit but at the same time it will make tougher work for our quicks. Id be looking to play boland so he can just hit the top of off at the fuller length required all day.
Sounds like a good plan, but will our selectors ever vary from the norm of picking the same blokes, win or lose, despite their ages and approaching retirements?
Speaking of which, I know 37 in each innings is a vast improvement, but Manus has a test average of 28 over the last three years and 27 over the last two...
Speaking of which, I know 37 in each innings is a vast improvement, but Manus has a test average of 28 over the last three years and 27 over the last two...
theyve won 14 of their last 17 tests and across that time the best players in the country have been in the side why shouldnt we be picking largely the same side? We shouldnt be weakening the side to give blokes experience ever. The old bowling lineup is the most succesful bowling quartet to ever represent Australia and is still the best in test cricket.
The selectors do make changes depending on the situation and form ie kuhnemann and handscomb in india, lyon not playing pink ball tests. Weatherald has been and gone, marnus was dropped on form and went on to hit 5 100s in 6 or 7 bats at state level, konstas got burned by being brought in to early etc.
everyone sees a group who is all 30+ (bar green) and thinks they are all going to hop off together, i dont see it playing out like that. I think smith is very close to pulling the pin, mayb after the Aus summer? And i think starc may call it after the away ashes and finally spend some time cashing in on the t20 circuit with his wife.
Cummins 33 , head 34 , carey 35 , hazelwood 35 all have multiple years ahead of them.
In the near future you probably have green go to 4 for smith , need a genuine opener because maddison isnt it and find 2 replacements for starc and boland, plenty of options long term who have there best bowling ahead of them
O'neil
Vidler
Beardman
Morris
All guys in early to mid 20s and you also have richardson at 30 who is already capped.
The future isnt as bad as it seems imo.
I'm suggesting they cycle some new blood through the team, not wholesale changes.
There was a clear drop-off when Warne, Langer and McGrath retired (with Martyn retiring a few weeks before).
This current team is one of the oldest, if not the oldest we've had, so it's interesting to suggest they won't all go out together whilst also listing multiple players who could go this summer or after the next Ashes, as Alyssa Healey suggested a few of them would likely do.
Also, I haven't suggested the future is bad, although there must be some concern about the top-order batting prospects, but we're struggling in the short form of the game currently because of this lack of planning for the future.
I think the Australian women have been far better at balancing a core of experienced stars whilst developing the next gen.
There was a clear drop-off when Warne, Langer and McGrath retired (with Martyn retiring a few weeks before).
This current team is one of the oldest, if not the oldest we've had, so it's interesting to suggest they won't all go out together whilst also listing multiple players who could go this summer or after the next Ashes, as Alyssa Healey suggested a few of them would likely do.
Also, I haven't suggested the future is bad, although there must be some concern about the top-order batting prospects, but we're struggling in the short form of the game currently because of this lack of planning for the future.
I think the Australian women have been far better at balancing a core of experienced stars whilst developing the next gen.
who are you taking out to cycle in these new players? its not going to be green or marnus they are earmarked to be the core of any transition period. we need a genuine opener now yes (head should be back at 5 and renshaw at the top in one of those spots).
We have the biggest 8 months you can put together in test cricket, SA away , india and england away and a WTC final if all goes to plan. Blooding players now who are not in the best 11 players is the equivelant of debuting new spine players a week before nrl finals so they can be better for the run round 1 of the following season, its just not going to happen in these big series unless we start losing.
We have the biggest 8 months you can put together in test cricket, SA away , india and england away and a WTC final if all goes to plan. Blooding players now who are not in the best 11 players is the equivelant of debuting new spine players a week before nrl finals so they can be better for the run round 1 of the following season, its just not going to happen in these big series unless we start losing.
.Frank McWilliams
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Hope they swap Renshaw and Head for next test, give Maddison another go, virtually the same 11.
Doesn’t sound like Green and Inglis will be ready.
Doesn’t sound like Green and Inglis will be ready.
Weatherall, yes, but Doggett and Richardson only got runs to cover injuries...it was back to business as usual as soon as the regulars were fit. There has been no managed approach to developing the squad.
Australia’s Current Test Bowlers
• Nathan Lyon 38
• Mitchell Starc 36
• Josh Hazlewood 35
• Pat Cummins 33
Even the backups on this tour are old
• Scott Boland 37
• Michael Neser 36
Rounding down, the average age of the team is 32; without Cooper Connolly, it's 33. At some point soon there's going to be a mass exodus from this team, and it's going to be a difficult transition for Cricket Australia. Unlike the women, who seem to be able to balance young talent with incumbency and stay at the top.
Australia’s Current Test Bowlers
• Nathan Lyon 38
• Mitchell Starc 36
• Josh Hazlewood 35
• Pat Cummins 33
Even the backups on this tour are old
• Scott Boland 37
• Michael Neser 36
Rounding down, the average age of the team is 32; without Cooper Connolly, it's 33. At some point soon there's going to be a mass exodus from this team, and it's going to be a difficult transition for Cricket Australia. Unlike the women, who seem to be able to balance young talent with incumbency and stay at the top.
46min mark interview with alex malcom from cricinfo , one of the best in the business when it comes to state and Australia cricket. Chat on the test, selection philosophy and the side into the future. Well worth a listen (i love the TGC guys but their style on the rest of the pod may not be for everyone
)I think your way to caught up on the ages. The test team is for the best 11 players in the country to win test matches, the shield competition and "A" tours are the testing grounds for guys to break into the squad.
The interview i posted above gives a great balanced view i believe.
It’s more the concern if 2, 3 and god forbid 4 retire at the same time or whereabouts so try to stem that possible disaster. You got about 7 that will stop within 2 maybe 3 years. Starc, Smith, Maddinson (lol), Boland, Neser, Hazelwood, Lyon. Plus every chance Carey and Cummins and co stop at 35 too.
I’d be blooding a Peake for example instead of Maddinson.
Time to ditch Neser, and find a young back up.
Just make obvious little choices to transition a bit better instead of picking a 35 year old is more what some of us are saying with the ‘concern’ of age.
I’d be blooding a Peake for example instead of Maddinson.
Time to ditch Neser, and find a young back up.
Just make obvious little choices to transition a bit better instead of picking a 35 year old is more what some of us are saying with the ‘concern’ of age.
No, I'm not. We have the oldest team we've ever had, and we've not effectively planned for them going... but they will; time catches up with all of us eventually.
Oh no doubt it will but at this stage the signs of age arent really there, the old pace attack were all hitting mid 140s at periods which is insane really, lyon at 38 has slowed up in the field yet continues to develop his game with the bat.
I guess my overall point on the whole thing is: you pick the best 11 for any test match regardless, the most important test match is the one your about to play. You let the pathways, A tours and shield seperate the men from the boys. Until we start losing i dont really see anyone coming in. The selectors to their credit though have made changes when required.
NZ went through a similar thing a few years ago, the bowling attack that won the World Test Championship in 2021 (Boult, Southee, Wagner & De Grandhomme) all hit retirement age at roughly the same time. It was a worrying time and I'll admit I was one calling for instant change, but we've probably come out the other side of it with an even better attack. I think you're right, you don't weaken a test team for the sake of development, and you have confidence in those pathways ... first class cricket, A tours, doing their job. Experience at those levels actually prepares the players really well for test cricket, so that when they come in they can perform, as well.