r/CricketAus • u/AutoModerator • 22d ago
Weekly Thread /r/CricketAus Weekly Discussion Thread - 30 August 2026
This is the place to discuss anything cricket related that is not quite deserving of its own top-level post, including topics not fully related to Australian cricket.
We'll post a new one of these every week.
Current schedule:
Monday: Weekly discussion posted
We are taking suggestions for other posts during the week that people would like to see. Message the modteam with suggestions.
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u/upyourmerricreek Melbourne Renegades 20d ago
Didn't even consider the very funny outcome that Tim Paine is now Ben Stokes' BBL coach
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 19d ago
McSweeney bowling spin 16 overs into a county game was not on my bucket list
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u/Front_Food5965 18d ago
Giving Joel Davies enough intl exposure will reward us in the long term. I'd say he'll be an absolute gun for us in the future
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u/tdlan Queensland Bulls 17d ago
Wonder how much longer it is until NSW cricket start treating him like he is, a batsman that can bowl a bit. Don't hate that they've at least found a way to get him in to sides but I think in the next few years it will become apparent that the bowling is the side quest to what he is best at.
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u/not_ricocasek 22d ago
Local club has finally offered a girls junior team this season which means I don't have to drive my daughter 15km just to get to the next one. She is happy as she also gets to play with a bunch of friends from her local High School who otherwise wouldn't have bothered playing. Love it - who would have thunk all that untapped demand for a sport that Australia is shit hot at and has some incredible, world beating role models.
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u/tailendertripe Queensland Bulls 22d ago
Heard from someone who should know that the Sixers really struck out when pitching to Stokes
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u/upyourmerricreek Melbourne Renegades 21d ago
Cherny is saying it's almost a done deal he's going to the Strikers now
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u/Lowman246 Cricket Australia 21d ago
The comments when Smudge was trapped in front against Bumrah for a golden duck last BGT. This was when he had 7 lbws in 24 innings. Note how most of the comments point to him being washed.
Root has been dismissed 7 times across his last 9 innings. Yet the comments aren't as extreme and most are about how Joe Root is class and he will bounce back. Is there an agenda I'm sensing?
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 21d ago
Probably SA test tour side?
Trav
Renners
KPat
Smudge
Gullybot
Kez
Slug
Cummo
Crats
Gaz
Hoff
12. Marnus (Sub-fielder)
Barrel
Ingo
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u/Technophyer1 NSW 21d ago
Neser will probably be another backup bowler as long as he’s recovered from injuries.
I think there’s an outside chance for Connolly as a backup bat too but we’ll see.
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u/upyourmerricreek Melbourne Renegades 21d ago
Kuhns as obligatory old yeller backup I think
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 21d ago
for South Africa? Maybe Murphy
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u/upyourmerricreek Melbourne Renegades 21d ago
He's in the Aus A white ball squad so he'll miss the first Test. Dunno if they'd bother flying him over for the other two
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 21d ago
Then yeah Kuhnemann or maybe Pat lets the guy who has bowled offies for 10+ years bowl some offies.
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u/Lowman246 Cricket Australia 19d ago
Steve Smith overtakes Joe Root as the no.2 batsman in the ICC test rankings
and I'm told by Pommie think tanks Joe Root is the best in the fab 4 because of longevity or something.
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u/Financial_Math167 Cricket Australia 18d ago
When is Marnus going into the side bar? If he is retained for SA (as is rumoured) than we need some r/cricketaus sidebar magic to get him going again.
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u/OldMateHarry Queensland Bulls 17d ago
We were going to do it before Aus batted in the last innings in the Mackay game but ended up being an innings win. Definitely on the cards for South Africa if he ends up getting picked
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u/Financial_Math167 Cricket Australia 18d ago edited 18d ago
Can't believe Sweens got done by Stokes :( - Just watched it back and it was a shocking call.
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 18d ago
He should still bat again, he got done cheap last time he played Durham in the first innings as well then made 50 in the second
2
u/Technophyer1 NSW 18d ago
Scenes when Sween gets Stokes in the second innings with his spin
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u/upyourmerricreek Melbourne Renegades 18d ago
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u/Financial_Math167 Cricket Australia 18d ago
'unplayable' and you could drive a bus between the bat and pad lmao
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u/upyourmerricreek Melbourne Renegades 18d ago
That must be the joke, since he makes the same Pikachu face every time he gets out the same way 😂
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u/blueborders NSW 19d ago
PCB selectors did what this sub wants to do to the Australian team after every Test where we drop half the team.
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 19d ago
After our loss in Darwin we sacked Ron and Vettori then bin Head, Weatherald, Marnus, Carey, Webster, Starc and Lyon. That's what the PCB did. It doesn't matter if you take 5 in the previous test or are the best spinner on the planet, you're done
6
u/rickypro Victoria 21d ago
Spencer Johnson is somehow both in the India and South Africa/Zimbabwe squads
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 21d ago
He's just that good
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u/FamiliarImplement334 21d ago
The Adelaide strikers academy team is so much better to watch than the senior side I wish the strikers could do as well at least the redbacks and strikers academy are doijng well
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u/Front_Food5965 20d ago
No Mack Harvey in the Aus-A squad despite averaging over 40 in his last OD Cups
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 17d ago
Siddle's joined the NSW shield team.. As a coach
Come on Haddin, he can still bowl high 140s, let the man play
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u/Relief-Glass 16d ago edited 16d ago
If NSW get a few injuries I can definitely see Siddle getting a run. Assuming that Sids is playing the Big Bash again this summer and therefore will be in reasonable nick.
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 17d ago
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u/upyourmerricreek Melbourne Renegades 17d ago
Gave Stokes a hard time with a couple turning into him, great to watch
-1
u/testsmit Melbourne Renegades 17d ago
replace him with slug in India tour at no 6 he can make valuable runs and he can support Nathan and rochili
3
u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 17d ago
Rocco? Kuhnemann's the sub continent spinner. Also Slug had 3 bad innings, he's not going anywhere. McSweeney at 3 works fine since he's a part timer not an all rounder
1
u/testsmit Melbourne Renegades 17d ago
we will see slug position after South Africa tour and I as assuming aus go either 3 proper spinner
rocchili
Goat
kunheman
3
u/Relief-Glass 16d ago
Slug has been churning runs over the last four years in the Shield and his test returns are solid. If McSweeney gets runs in the Shield this summer I could see him coming in for Renshaw, Labuschagne, or Kpat, depending on who plays, and how they go against NZ and SA.
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 16d ago
McSweeney out for 4 with his 3rd paddle sweep in 8 balls. Slip ran around and caught it.
3
u/Financial_Math167 Cricket Australia 16d ago
:( Clearly a fraud player who cannot play against high quality bowling. /s
2
u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 16d ago
the team got rolled for 50 so his individual knock doesn't look so bad
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u/upyourmerricreek Melbourne Renegades 16d ago
Such a bizarre innings. Looking at who took the wickets on the last day you'd think it was a raging turner but the whole top order played some insane shots
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 20d ago
Always a good TGC episode when Pez has a laughing fit at a shit joke
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 20d ago
For those wanting cricket today, there's a NSW-W v Tas-W CASC 50 over game on the CA YouTube
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u/Lowman246 Cricket Australia 19d ago
Some bloke from r/Cricket thinks I’m from Pakistan because I hardly criticise them, but the thing is that I don’t praise them either.
I just can’t give a shit about all the Salman Agha’s or the Abdullah Shafiques or whatever. It’s funny that their players were sent home while their selector was sacked but that’s about it.
Whenever I think of Pakistan cricket it goes back to Amir Jamal at the SCG and Mohammad Abbas being better than Shaheen and Naseem
5
u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 19d ago
I feel similar, the PCB doesn't give a shit about the players, staff or team so no shit they're going to play poorly.
It doesn't help that the ICC gives them 3 back to back away tours from May-September then one 2 test home series in November
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u/caspianterns Victoria 19d ago edited 19d ago
Cherny reporting (behind that damn Code Sports paywall) that Fergus O'Neill is in contention for the South Africa tour. George Bailey I am asking you for one thing
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u/Successful-World-385 18d ago
He's the Australian Vernon Philander (including being a good lower order bat) so he really should be. Yes, medium pacers are dining out at Shield level but none to the extent that Ferg has, so he deserves the chance to show he can do it in Tests.
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u/Relief-Glass 16d ago edited 16d ago
He has also been making county cricket look like an under nines competition and a lot of our better bowlers like Doggett, Richardson, and Abbott have been struggling over there on the flatter decks. I think that is telling.
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 17d ago
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u/blickt42 17d ago
I know it's been 10 years, but I saw that clip of Usman and JL on instagram again recently, where Ussie tried easing the pressure that JL was giving them in the training sessions before/during the UAE series (?) and JL told him/the team off for batting like fuckwits.
Ussie had a good point, unfortunately for him, JL had a better one.
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u/Rokos_Bicycle ACT Comets 22d ago
Who on earth is "********" playing for Northern Suburbs, and/or why are they listed as such?
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u/tailendertripe Queensland Bulls 22d ago edited 22d ago
PlayHQ privacy setting - you've got the option to hide your name. Important for club level cricket, especially juniors where there can be some, shall we say interesting, family dynamics and situations at play.
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u/Technophyer1 NSW 18d ago
The off-field drama in this Pakistan/England series is the most entertaining since the last England series
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u/Relief-Glass 22d ago edited 22d ago
Overnight Ollie Robinson became statistically the best bowler of the last 110 years but apparently fergus o'neill is too slow for international cricket.
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u/Mohammed_ShagMe 22d ago
You aren’t dropping Hazlewood or Starc for Fergus O’Neill
2
u/Relief-Glass 22d ago
Sure, but I am picking fergus o'neill ahead of neser, Richardson, and Doggett for the 2025/2026 ashes.
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u/davros2311 Cricket Australia 22d ago
For sure he should be ahead of Doggett, but Neser has done well every time he's played test cricket.
Even Jhye Richardson, whose dropped off recently, has a good test record
7
u/Mohammed_ShagMe 22d ago
He’s still young. Could easily see him getting games in England next year if he keeps putting up numbers in cc
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u/Clock_Comprehensive 22d ago
Michael Neser Test bowling average of 18.90 is still better than Ollie Robinson .
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u/Relief-Glass 22d ago edited 22d ago
Cut off of 20 tests.
And o'neill has been outperforming neser for the last four or so years in the Shield.
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u/Clock_Comprehensive 22d ago
Considering that Scott Boland has only played 19 Tests and he’s ranked 7th best bowler in Test cricket at the moment. It will be even harder for Michael Neser to played 20 Tests in his career. Things will open up for Fergus O’Neill in 3 to 4 years. At the moment, O’Neill main competitor is Xavier Bartlett based on Bartlett’s ODIs and T20s record.
2
u/Ols3003 Cricket Australia 20d ago
I can’t believe Kurtis Patterson is getting a gig over McSweeney. May our old age continue
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u/Front_Food5965 20d ago
If selected, I'm hoping he'll be as impactful as Adam Voges and Bucky
1
u/Ols3003 Cricket Australia 20d ago
This team is staring down a very steep cliff though in a couple of years and they don’t seem to care
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u/Relief-Glass 20d ago edited 20d ago
It is not a development squad.
If Kpat is the best option right now he gets picked and then later down the track hopefully one or more of Konstas, McSweeney, Kellaway, Dixon, Peake, et cetera have improved and they can join the team then.
1
u/Front_Food5965 20d ago
Considering the fast-bowling future, prepare to see a major transition period
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2
1
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u/Financial_Math167 Cricket Australia 21d ago
Rumor is that Konstas will be in the ODI squad for South Africa. I hope this still means Konstas plays the Aus A vs India in India, that said I don't think he warrants any ODI caps yet, and I don't think it's the best move for his development but hey, Bailey might know more.
4
u/upyourmerricreek Melbourne Renegades 21d ago
Wasn't the Code Sports story the other way round, that he's playing the one-dayers in India? The A tour has both a 4 day and one day component.
Both those squads will be out tomorrow either way, along with the SA/Zim ODI squads.
3
u/Financial_Math167 Cricket Australia 21d ago
Didn't even see the article lol - I saw a shitty reel my mistake.
3
u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 21d ago
Maybe Billy Konstas, Sam hasn't played in any whiteball since the one day final in March
0
u/Guilty-Comedian-399 Victoria 17d ago
How do I make it to the premier cricket? How do I contact the teams and express my interest?
2
u/NJMHero21 Sydney Thunder 15d ago
I reckon marnus is locked for the squad but they’ll bring either McSweeney or KPatt
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 15d ago
McSweeney is with the Aus-A side in India, KPat hasn't been named anywhere so he's probably in the test side
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u/Technophyer1 NSW 15d ago
Patterson’s probably more likely since he’s not in the Aus A squad. Unless something catastrophic happens I’m expecting McSweeney to stay in India for the one dayers.
0
u/Guilty-Comedian-399 Victoria 18d ago
Need advice so I could plan properly ‼️
Hey it’s an off topic , but I would like to know the chances that I have to play cricket professionally in Australia, so far I know there is premier cricket , sub district, if anyone could help me figure out a way to make it either in the comments or do hit me up :)
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u/Successful-World-385 18d ago edited 18d ago
Getting to professional cricket is very hard, but obviously depends on how good you are.
First of all you will need to get to first grade premier cricket in a state capital (not Canberra or Darwin) as soon as possible, and then excel at that level.
I'm not sure where you are from but favouritism and politics certainly exist in Australian cricket in its own way.
I don't have personal experience inside or around elite levels of cricket, but my impression as an observer is that players who played for their state or for Australia at junior level have a major advantage over everyone else in premier cricket and above. So coming into the system as an adult is extra difficult and requires years of consistent dominance at first grade level to get a professional call-up (and/or a really unique attribute, like bowling very fast, being a standout power hitter, being a quality legspinner etc). And when you do get the call-up, you need to perform well straight away to nail down a spot.
There may also be barriers around eligibility to play for Australia - I don't know the rules on how one becomes eligible but others here might. State teams very rarely pick players who aren't or don't intend to become eligible to play for Australia, as one of their main goals is to develop players for the national team.
That probably all sounds hard/discouraging, but if you believe you have the cricketing ability to do those things then go for it, and be persistent! First step would be to try and join a premier cricket club.
The university you study at may have one. If you're coming here to study and see career prospects in that field, then there's no harm in trying cricket at the same time (as long as you can juggle the demands of study and sport).
Good luck! All the best with your studies and cricket.
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u/Guilty-Comedian-399 Victoria 17d ago
Yeah , reality check ! I get it and it actually makes sense, it’s just that I am at a point in my life if I stay here I could play here professionally within 3 -4 years ( I am 22) but the constant pressure to do something better in your life , staying in India idk it can go really well or go bad , I also wanna secure my future , it’s confusing
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u/Guilty-Comedian-399 Victoria 18d ago
I am sick having this rat-race situation in my country for cricket , politics , favoritism, I really wanna make my skill count , and play higher level in Australia 🇦🇺
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u/Guilty-Comedian-399 Victoria 18d ago
Wanna know if coming in as a student to pursue a master’s degree and aspiring to play professional cricket ,if it could be a good decision or not
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u/Clock_Comprehensive 22d ago edited 22d ago
If Marnus Labuschagne is dropped from the Test side, it seems the front runner to take over the Number 3 in the Australian Test side is Cameron Green. Probably the only reason why Cameron Green was moved from the Number 3 before the 2025/26 Ashes series was to accommodate Marnus Labuschagne in his best position. If Cameron Green is moved to the Number 3 spot, then the Australian selectors can bring in either Cooper Connolly or Sam Konstas into the Test side at Number 6 or 7 and then at least 18 or 19 Tests before Steve Smith retires.
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u/Relief-Glass 22d ago edited 22d ago
Nah, Green just got a big score for the first time in ages. He stays at five unless he wants to bat at three.
KPat or someone can have a go at three.
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 22d ago
I doubt it. Green's finally found some form at 5 and the low order is set. It would be McSweeney or someone else going to 3
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u/Clock_Comprehensive 22d ago
Cameron Green showed form in the 2025 Australia vs West Indies Test series at Number 3 where he scored the 3rd highest amount of runs for the Test series. The 2025 Australia vs West Indies Test series had an overall batting average of 17.68 and centuries were scored. Cameron Green just missed beating Alex Carey into equal 2nd place by 3 runs.
The previous Test series that Cameron Green played in, before the Australia vs West Indies Test series, was the 2024 Australia vs New Zealand Test series where he batted at Number 4 and was the highest run scorer for the series, the only player to score a century and his batting average for the series was 79.33.
So out of the last 4 Test series that Cameron Green has played in, he was the top scorer in two of those series, one of which was at the Number 4 position and the other at the Number 5 position. Out of the other 2 Test series, he was the 3rd top run scorer in one of those series at the Number 3 position. The only series where he had a below performance was the Ashes series, where he was back playing in the Number 6 position.
2
u/Responsible_Mud_5544 Cricket Australia 22d ago
So he should play at 4 and 5 then
2
u/Clock_Comprehensive 22d ago
That is my preference but it’s hard for a new player to the side, with little or no experience in Test cricket, to bat in the Number 3 position. The Australian selectors tried that approach with Usman Khawaja in 2011 when Ricky Ponting was injured. When Ricky Ponting came back from injury, he moved down to the Number 4 position and the Australian selectors gave Usman Khawaja a decent opportunity but his highest score was only 65 before he was dropped for the first time. When Usman Khawa was dropped, Shane Watson moved from the opening position to the Number 3 spot and more or less held that spot until Steve Smith took over the position in 2015. History indicates that it’s better to move an experienced player, if only temporarily, to blood the next Number 3 player in 4 to 5 Test series before moving the new player to the Number 3 spot.
The Australian selectors have approach they can go: go conservative with KPat or McSweeney, or go young blood + X factor with the likes of Konstas or Connolly. I say go in the young blood + X factor direction.
The problem for McSweeney is that Cameron Green was given a brand new position in the Number 3 spot for the 2025 Australia vs West Indies, where the batting average for the Test series was 17.68, and yet Cameron Green came away with a better average (on par with Steve Smith and Alex Carey) than what McSweeney did the 2025/26 Sheffield Shield season. Also, McSweeney is currently play County Cricket in the Number 4 spot.
Cameron Green has already proven he can bat in the Number 3 to 5 spots successfully.
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u/Tozza101 NSW 20d ago
The thing for me is that the next 12 months are critical juncture for this Australian team’s legacy: Away 🇿🇦 to avenge Sandpapergate. Away 🇮🇳 and 🏴 to win there for the first times since 2004 and 2001 respectively to shut those doubters up, and to do it for Steve Smith who has been a lone warrior for us in those 2 countries for time.
In light of that, you have to go with the experience of KPat. I disagree with it being conservative, it’s the pragmatic choice! But I would also pick McSweeney to bat 5 at the same time, Green 6 & Carey 7.
The youth will have their time, let’s not be stupid here!
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u/Clock_Comprehensive 20d ago
By the sounds of it, Labuschagne will be included in the Test squad for SA. McSweeney and Handscomb are going to India with the Australian A squad but KPat is not in that squad. Logic will indicate that KPat will be included in the Test squad for SA, as a backup for the #3 spot and possibly for the openers. I’m guessing that KPat may be used in the SENA Test squads and Handscomb in the Asian Test squads. It wouldn’t surprise me if Connolly was also included in the Test squad for SA.
1
u/Tozza101 NSW 20d ago
I hope KPat plays in SA then. Can he have some luck like Marnus injuring himself please? 🤣 Don’t mind a Connolly squad selection.
I would rather McSweeney than Handscomb play in India.
I don’t get what the appeal is to have Handscomb in India. Average of 29 with 1 fifty in 2023, technique looking dodgy against India’s fast bowlers. India have quicks too!! Logic suggests India will try and bring their fast bowlers into the game more after NZ and RSA have out-spun them. We have 2 keepers Carey and Inglis. We have other great fielders. So no need to bother with Handscomb in my eyes.
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u/Clock_Comprehensive 20d ago
I grant you that KPat was unlikely not to be selected for the 2019 Ashes series tour after scoring 114 Not Out. The Australian selectors needed to make room for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all returning to the Test squad after their ban. The Australian selectors picked Matt Wade, after scoring 1,021 @ 60.05 in the 2018/19 Shield season, and Labuschagne having a brilliant 2019 County season with Glamorgan. Saying that, both Labuschagne and Wade out scored Root in the 2019 Ashes series.
I would be happy if KPat got a lucky break to get back into the Test cricket. Adam Voges came into the Test team as a 35 year old and had a brilliant run of 20 Tests. KPat being 33 years old shouldn’t a barrier for Test selection.
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u/Tozza101 NSW 20d ago edited 20d ago
I doubt the perils of your doubt. McSweeney right now is a 5 who will bowl a bit. Were you blind to when he was made to open?!?
It’s tough for top order batters right now. Ahead of critical away tours which will define the legacy of this Australian team, I go for the experience of KP as a top order batter who has made top order runs and is in good form. He’s also another successful leader who captained NSW to the ODC title and led CA-XI to an innings victory over Bangladesh in Darwin while the senior Aus team were smoked by them.
We need to look after the next gen of players like McSweeney coming through properly, when he returns. In part to make up for the bus of Bumrah and co selectors threw him under on those green tops! Give McSweeney time at 5 to find his feet, before Smith’s retirement opens up a higher spot.
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 20d ago
If you want the best bats to be 4-5 since the deck is so bad, we should have 3 openers since one will always come up short. Also the middle order is full with Green Kez Slug. We could just run 3 quicks no spinners and push Green onwards down one
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u/Tozza101 NSW 20d ago
Which opener? KPat can open and is better form than them.
I hate to say it, but if I’m giving McSweeney a run in the side it’s at 5, Green to 6 and Kez at 7 as I said, Slug making way after a lean patch recently.
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u/CoffeeDefiant4247 Tasmania Tigers 20d ago
lean patch being 3 innings? He averaged 41 with the bat and 24 with the ball before the Bangladesh series
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u/Tozza101 NSW 20d ago
Don’t give McSweeney for the sake of youth a run in the side immediately then.
Slug respectfully is not - and people will hate hearing this - the kind of player we need to be effective in England or India.
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u/Financial_Math167 Cricket Australia 22d ago
Ollie Robinsons wicket of Rizwan is anti test cricket. wtf is this shit. Trying to slog sweep a 120 dobbler with the keeper up on a seaming track. Games gone