There was some brain dead cricket today.
As highlighted above the Green, Khawaja, Weatherald, Carey, Labuschagne dismissals were soft as butter with an Ashes Test on the line whilst Smith taking singles off the first ball of a number of overs in a row stank of selfishness of someone wanting a nice red ink to protect their average!
And then not bowling Boland until nearly half the runs had been knocked off was staggering stuff.
If they had got that lead to 250 with some better shot selection I dont think the Poms would have chased that down but only 170 let them do their bazball tactics to knock off the majority of it!
If the news wasnât bad enough for CA.
With the Melbourne and Perth tests.
The long range 10 day forcast for Sydney ,shows.
Rain,rain and more rain
I have been a fan of Cam Green for a long time. Like many sports people he has potential, but he doesnât perform often enough. But, like Mitch Marsh early in his career he has been bounced about in the batting order.Up down, back up again.
I have thought all along that he seems to think he doesnât belong.
And his bowling, I have queried the way they used him for a long time. Bowling bouncers and short shit is not the way he became an all rounder. And then when he gets a chance to bowl, and picks up a wicket, he is immediately replaced. Even after one over where he has picked up a wicket.
I think Webster will take his spot. He will be treated differently to Green.
I was surprised that Smith waited so long to bowl Richardson today.
The bowlers toiled well today but not enough runs to defend.
Well done to the Poms.
Green has been batting far too high.
I agree he has been bounced around like a pinball.
He should have been batted at the highest at six.
His soft dismissals should not go rewarded.
Khawaja should not be selected again.
Seen enough of Weatheald.
Seven, Kayo/Fox, several radio networks would be spewing. Youâd think there would be contingencies written into their media rights deals. Massive $$$$ losses when you factor in catering/security job losses from the Perth and Melbourne tests.
Perhaps compensated somewhat that spectators, international and interstate ones in particular have to occupy themselves doing and spending their money on something else when theyâre not at the cricket.
Heâll play a few Tests,then become a National Selector,âŚâŚâŚ.like Wally Edwards. 
Awful lot of shift blaming on the pitch,when poor BattingYET AGAIN was the SOLE cause of the shorter Tests.
Ok,pretty good bowling too!
Wheres the cricket #@^*!,"
36 wickets fall in under 2 full days for less than 600 runs in total, following on from a 2 day Test in Perth, a short test in Brisbane and youâre pushing blokes out of the Test team after retaining the Ashes 3-0??
Clearly the wickets have been favouring the bowlers, too much in every respectable pundits view!
Based on what youâve said youâd like a 3rd of the Test side dropped for retaining the Ashes?!?
If you want to drop Green for a lack of runs with an Ashes average of 18.7 and high score of 45 and Shield season average of 32.5 and high score of 94, then how do you justify Websterâs inclusion?
This year in the Shield, Websterâs struggled to hit it off the square, averaging 9.5 from 4 innings with a top score of 13. Add in the 44 he got in the first class game v English Lions then Websterâs only averaging 16.4 this summer against weaker bowling attacks.
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At the SCG.
The waitâs just a bit longer for the travelling Barmy Army,with a few extra days in Victoria.
Some Veterans of 94/95 might wander down South for a bit of R ân R,possibly Phillip Island,where about 20 went prior to the MCG Test that Summer.
Enjoy the Beers,Lads!
How long do we keep Batting for Cam,if he continues to Fail to put scores on the Board?
I guess Cricket Australia(Including McDomald and Co),can answer that in justifying keeping him there,particularly regarding their management of his Body fitness,in terms of being able to Bowl more often than he does.
I guess it doesnât matter so much,if your opponent only last 30 - 50 Overs or worse.
But if an opponent is threatening to score 500,will his body hold up,if he is called upon to bowl 20 Overs or more,when the others canât break through?
Thatâs probably why Webster keeps coming into the equation for Test Selection.
Usmanâs been great,but at 39,itâs time for generational change.Doesnât really matter who,but it has to happen.
Hazelwoodâs not playing right now,but Iâm sorry,his body will no longer hold up in the longer forms of Cricket,be it Shield or Test Cricket.
Other veterans might still have a few years,but as good as Servants of Australian Cricket as they have been,they will have to move on sooner or later.
I think with Webster they will go on what he has done in the test he has played. Just my thoughts.
I think they have to give Weatherald a chance in Sydney. His 70 knock he looked good. He looks more an opener than others tried.
Disagree grassy. When a bowler sends down a 140kmh delivery which deviates 10cm after hitting the deck and becomes unplayable, thatâs down to the wicket and not the batter or bowler.
Maybe the best judge of that and comparing MCG Wickets is Greg Chappell in 1979/80 to 1981/82 and AB for the 89/90 Pitch,when Terry Alderman bowled Gunbarrell straight shooters,that st*ffed Pakistanâs chances about 135 Kâs an Hour.
Batsmen could somehow guard their Wicket Jealousy and the game still reached a 5th Day!
Funny that!
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And, how about Geoff Boycott telling us that the Aussie batsmen would have lasted playing on uncovered wickets back in is day.He is correct isnât he.
How far back is Geoff going?
Though this response is AI initiated, I think it would be correct.
The ICC (International Cricket Council) didnât start covering wickets; rather, wicket covering evolved gradually, with significant shifts happening around the 1960s when England saw its first Test match played on a fully covered pitch, moving away from uncovered pitches that dominated early cricket, with rules slowly allowing more protection over time, especially after the 1909 formation of the ICC and debates within the game.
Same needs to said about Lyon then too, a calf and now hammy surgery, is his body up to Test cricket?
Theres is going to be heaps of change to the Australian Test team in the next 3 years so how are CA planning for the future?
Websterâs current First class form is horrible and his Test average is only marginally better than Greens. Would Webster have provided anything more with the bat given how much the wickets have been doing, we wonât know but fair to say with the exception of Head and Carey nobodyâs really batted that well this series.
I reckon you have to back Green in at 26, like they did with Waugh and Watson, and let him settle into his role. Stop changing what position he bats every other game and asking him to bowl short all the time. Heâs a much better bowler on a fuller length hitting top of off and finding edges. Has to be better for his back long term too.
And CA have the luxury to backing a young player in in the short term when they have already retained the Ashes and for the long term it makes more sense than going back to the Dads army well constantly.
Generational change canât involve picking 32+ year olds over players in their mid 20s.
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Jack Edwards who is younger than Green I might add should be the next Test all rounder.
Would make sense to bring him in on his home deck too at the SCG.
As parochial West Aussies we would all love Green to be a quality Test cricketer but sadly he has been for the most part a disappointment especially in the last couple of years.
Too many soft dismissals with the bat (not too mention his technical issues) and his bowling is just not consistent enough.
Only 38 wickets in 36 Tests is more the part time bowler statistics rather than a general all rounder!
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@Beasley_Hutton Please have a read, or re-read of @Tiger_Tales last post. His assessment of Greens status is spot on.
I have also posted it a few times here. I agree he is under a load of pressure.
I agree with TT totally. A number of times this series he has been asked to bowl shit short stuff. He gets a wicket in his first or second over, then told, go field in the gully . You have got us the wicket we wanted. Have a spell. Let the big boys do the job now.
Crucified.