Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   Shifting gears (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifting-gears/)

-   -   The Cricket Thread (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifting-gears/8603-cricket-thread-1106.html)

Ashwin seems destined to be the greatest captain India never had. Just like Warne was the greatest captain Australia never had.

Then again, these jokers just made their best player sit out of the World Test final.

Sarfaraz may not be the panacea for our batting order, however some youngsters should have been included in the squad at least for the west indies tour. All this hype about Sarfaraz will only put a lot of pressure on him when he eventually gets a chance, I hope it does not bog him down.

The selection committee should give good consistent performers in domestic circuit / Ranji trophy a chance at the top level.

Give them a chance to fail, at the very least.
No one, including the player, will die wondering.

May or may not. We will never know unless we see him playing in test matches. The guy averages 80 in domestic. Can't be absolute shit with bat and can't be really unfit as making centuries and double centuries even in domestic takes some fitness and stamina. Jaiswal averages good too but he is getting chance to be in team cos of IPL. This IPL metric for Test selection is a really stupid concept. Sky playing test match for an instance makes no sense.

Point is, pick few guys who are making tons in domestic. Give them chances to see who sticks at this level or not. Maybe Sarfraz turns out to be another Mark RamPrakash or he may turn out to be another Steve Smith. Won't know unless he plays. West Indies series was a Golden opportunity to test this after the WTC embarrassment yet again. They learnt nothing.

But seniors need to pad up their scores and ramp up their averages no? :)

Ajit Agarkar appointed Chairman of Senior Men’s Selection Committee.



Source

CWC Qualifiers: Zimbabwe will not be featured in CWC later this year. They lost two crucial matches after dominating the initial stages. Scotland almost through unless Dutch can spring a surprise with huge win over them.

Edit : ok, it doesn’t look too improbable for Netherlands. They need to win by either 34 runs margin or chase it down by 43 overs gives them better rate than Scottish.

What an entertaining innings from Mitchell Marsh. SR of 100 ! and Australia have some semblance of having gotten back in the game.

And the Dutch did exactly what they needed to do. Chase it down in 43 overs and qualified for WC ahead of Scotland.
Edit : Never mind, now only realized it was tea.

Excellent knock by Marsh.
When was the last time an Indian player replaced an injured player mid series and came up with a 100? Just goes to show how good the Aussies are overall.

What an innings and comeback by Mitch. He is a brilliant talent and imo the best all rounder Australia has currently. Unfortunately career is always plagued by injuries.

Pitch wasn't unplayable. Ordinary cricket from Aussie batters. England has golden opportunity to get a good lead if they can play sensibly. Rain may affect 2 days so lesse.

Also what a comeback by Wood. Brilliant bowling. 34/5 is an outstanding effort. Maybe it's time to bid farewell to Anderson.

England just refuse to learn.

Wood did great to drag them back in yesterday after Marsh's heroics, and now they're six-down playing silly shots again, on a sunny day with near-perfect batting conditions! This could be over pretty quickly.

Third test of the Ashes series currently looks balanced and poised well for a good finish. Even Stevens for now, but Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh can take it away from England.

Stokes to England's rescue yet again, but how many times can he do it consistently? He seems to be nursing a niggle/injury as well, hope it's not bad.

Overall, Australia definitely are looking and playing like the better team.

If England loses this one, they will be down and out.

Now England have the edge and will hopefully win this test by getting the remaining 224 runs :thumbs up

Never underestimate the great tendency to self destruct by England. Root and Stokes will be key cos only they can curb the Bazball instincts if needed. I expect Aussies to come hard at them. As a neutral, England win will be more fun as it keeps series alive. On the other hand England losing Ashes after 2001 in England will be another kind of media fun :D