Ollie Pope (who is keeping) and Jamie Overton (Adelaide Strikers) versus Ben Duckett and Tom Curran (Melbourne Stars) this morning
Was it the plan for Pope to keep in the Big Bash, as after Jamie Smith took the England gloves from his Surrey teammate Foakes, there could be a future Surrey battle for the England gloves between Smith and Pope.
The Strikers have Harry Nielsen (son of Tim who, like Harry, kept for South Australia), who played in the first game but doesn't have the pedigree of Pope with the bat and Alex Carey who will, no doubt, take the gloves when he returns from Test duty. I see Pope as a stop gap rather than someone who will get the England gig permanently though we won't truly know how good he is until such time as he gets to keep, standing up, on turning tracks.
Bethell is making his Big Bash debut in a matter of minutes and Pope and Duckett will be playing for their respective teams. So much for our boys being fatigued from the NZ tour and desperate to get home!
"Guys, we've been watching how you've been batting in the 3rd Test, and you need to calm it down. Those funky shots are ok in Test cricket, but this is T20, the proper stuff, where you need to knuckle down a bit."
Pope has just got out, caught behind, trying to ramp Peter Siddle.
No Stokes and Root back in the ODI setup I guess is the big news. Saqib in both squads but not on the Central Contracts list is interesting, I really rate him if he can manage to stay fit.
So it's basically the same squad apart from Rehan replacing Root for the T20s.
Jamie Overton batted very well in the Big Bash today and is back bowling too. Not sure that I would have envisaged a couple of years ago, especially given the amount that was paid for him in the IPL at that time, Sam Curran not making either squad but that is a reflection of where he is at. Not unexpectedly, though, Jacks has been left out and others to have played recently and not be included are Cox, Mousley and Topley. The latter has really struggled with injuries as has Stokes of course.
It will be interesting to see who we leave out for the Champions Trophy team but the fact that we are only taking two front line spinners almost lends selection to the inclusion of Bethell, even if Root is in the side too, which could mean no place for Smith and/or Duckett (depending on whether Buttler opens or not). I think that the side will probably look something like this:
Interesting that Keaton Jennings is playing in the Big Bash when he's never got anywhere near the England white ball sides, and is considered to be too "steady" to be a Bazball opener for England.
A very interesting pick from Australia for the next Test against India - they've dropped Nathan McSweeney and brought in the much talked about 19 year old, Sam Konstas.
As I saw someone else say, crazy to see your top order is a mess and decide the solution is to drop someone who has played 3 tests for a 19 year old rather than let McSweeney settle into test cricket.
Not disagreeing with that (my son has seen McSweeney at first hand having played against him in Australia and can't believe it) but George Bailey has more or less said that they made a mistake in picking McSweeney in the first place. At the other end of the scale, you give an opener 150 innings and until he reaches 30 only to conclude that he was never good enough in the first place. Konstas, by all accounts, is the real deal and recently hit 107 off 97 against the Indians in a warm up game for the Test series. He also hit 56 off 27 balls on his debut for the Thunder the other night.
When Konstas tried and failed to ramp Bumrah twice, I must admit I thought WTF. He then ramped two 4s and a 6, has smashed the Indian bowlers all round the park. Konstas took 34 off Bumrrah, the most any batsman has ever scored off his opening spell. He's now on 50* off 52 with the score on 71-0 (13.1) and has the Indians riled to the extent that Kohli has deliberately barged into him with Konstas giving as good as he gets.
A very interesting pick from Australia for the next Test against India - they've dropped Nathan McSweeney and brought in the much talked about 19 year old, Sam Konstas.
As I saw someone else say, crazy to see your top order is a mess and decide the solution is to drop someone who has played 3 tests for a 19 year old rather than let McSweeney settle into test cricket.
Not disagreeing with that (my son has seen McSweeney at first hand having played against him in Australia and can't believe it) but George Bailey has more or less said that they made a mistake in picking McSweeney in the first place. At the other end of the scale, you give an opener 150 innings and until he reaches 30 only to conclude that he was never good enough in the first place. Konstas, by all accounts, is the real deal and recently hit 107 off 97 against the Indians in a warm up game for the Test series. He also hit 56 off 27 balls on his debut for the Thunder the other night.
Sure but what they've done is thrown McSweeney under the bus and massively increased the pressure on Konstas. I think whichever of them had played the first test should've been given the series. It's India we're talking about, making your test debut against Bumrah is something that should never have happened. Really this all comes down to the stupid Smith experiment last year.
Ultimately, as an England fan I'm happy to see their top order in disarray but I feel sorry for both McSweeney and Konstas on a human level
Konstas out LBW to Jadeja for 60 (65).
I have seen two interviews with McSweeney who is a great lad and he remains very positive that he will get another chance albeit in his preferred batting position which was confirmed by George Bailey when giving delivering the news. Marnus Labuschagne also took the time to phone him and tell him that "it isn't where you start but where you finish". Matthew Hayden was dropped after half a dozen games and didn't get recalled for another three years and he went on to average over 50 in Test cricket.
Bailey said that the Aussies were looking to go in a "different direction" and Konstas' role is clearly to replicate what Warner used to do in taking the game to the opposition and the pressure off Khawaja. Konstas did not look fazed at all (in the same as Bethell doesn't) and whilst one score of 60 proves nothing (albeit that McSweeney made just 72 for five times out and Crawley scored just 52 in his six innings in the NZ series), I certainly wouldn't say that he looks out of his depth. Time will tell but the one thing that is for sure is that they will give Konstas a longer run at it than McSweeney.
Just seen the Kohli incident. Hopefully the ICC actually have the balls to throw the book at him. Ridiculous behaviour.
Kohli had no reason to take that line when walking apart from trying to intimidate and get inside Konstas' head. But I agree, apart from a possible wrap on the wrists and a match fine, I doubt that the BCCI, sorry I mean, the ICC will do anything.
Talking about the ICC, once again India have stamped their feet and dictated where they are prepared to play in the Champions Trophy. As a result, all ICC tournaments hosted in India or Pakistan and involving those countries will be played at neutral venues until at least 2027. India haven't hosted Pakistan since 2008.
Just seen the Kohli incident. Hopefully the ICC actually have the balls to throw the book at him. Ridiculous behaviour.
Kohli had no reason to take that line when walking apart from trying to intimidate and get inside Konstas' head. But I agree, apart from a possible wrap on the wrists and a match fine, I doubt that the BCCI, sorry I mean, the ICC will do anything.
Talking about the ICC, once again India have stamped their feet and dictated where they are prepared to play in the Champions Trophy. As a result, all ICC tournaments hosted in India or Pakistan and involving those countries will be played at neutral venues until at least 2027. India haven't hosted Pakistan since 2008.
Even the final will be moved to UAE if India get there
Just seen the Kohli incident. Hopefully the ICC actually have the balls to throw the book at him. Ridiculous behaviour.
Kohli had no reason to take that line when walking apart from trying to intimidate and get inside Konstas' head. But I agree, apart from a possible wrap on the wrists and a match fine, I doubt that the BCCI, sorry I mean, the ICC will do anything.
Talking about the ICC, once again India have stamped their feet and dictated where they are prepared to play in the Champions Trophy. As a result, all ICC tournaments hosted in India or Pakistan and involving those countries will be played at neutral venues until at least 2027. India haven't hosted Pakistan since 2008.
Kohli fined 20% of his match fee and one demerit point. What would Kostas have received if things were reversed?
Just seen the Kohli incident. Hopefully the ICC actually have the balls to throw the book at him. Ridiculous behaviour.
Kohli had no reason to take that line when walking apart from trying to intimidate and get inside Konstas' head. But I agree, apart from a possible wrap on the wrists and a match fine, I doubt that the BCCI, sorry I mean, the ICC will do anything.
Talking about the ICC, once again India have stamped their feet and dictated where they are prepared to play in the Champions Trophy. As a result, all ICC tournaments hosted in India or Pakistan and involving those countries will be played at neutral venues until at least 2027. India haven't hosted Pakistan since 2008.
Kohli fined 20% of his match fee and one demerit point. What would Kostas have received if things were reversed?
Probably at least 60% of his match fee and triple the demerit points. Unbelievable how much stuff Indian players get away with. Someone needs to crack down harder on the likes of Kohli and Siraj who think they can get away with anything.
Going after the youngster on debut is coward behaviour from Kohli, he wouldn't do it to Mitch Marsh.
Just seen the Kohli incident. Hopefully the ICC actually have the balls to throw the book at him. Ridiculous behaviour.
Kohli had no reason to take that line when walking apart from trying to intimidate and get inside Konstas' head. But I agree, apart from a possible wrap on the wrists and a match fine, I doubt that the BCCI, sorry I mean, the ICC will do anything.
Talking about the ICC, once again India have stamped their feet and dictated where they are prepared to play in the Champions Trophy. As a result, all ICC tournaments hosted in India or Pakistan and involving those countries will be played at neutral venues until at least 2027. India haven't hosted Pakistan since 2008.
Kohli fined 20% of his match fee and one demerit point. What would Kostas have received if things were reversed?
I don't think the I in ICC stands for International
What was the Kohli incident?
The only surprise is India haven't get to play their matches in India
India try to grind out a draw from the start of the final day, and end up being bowled out for 155.
Their target of 340 in 92 overs is definitely one which England would have gone for. Not easy out there, but putting pressure on the bowlers might have been more effective than allowing them to bowl without pressure all day.
Comments
Jamie Overton batted very well in the Big Bash today and is back bowling too. Not sure that I would have envisaged a couple of years ago, especially given the amount that was paid for him in the IPL at that time, Sam Curran not making either squad but that is a reflection of where he is at. Not unexpectedly, though, Jacks has been left out and others to have played recently and not be included are Cox, Mousley and Topley. The latter has really struggled with injuries as has Stokes of course.
It will be interesting to see who we leave out for the Champions Trophy team but the fact that we are only taking two front line spinners almost lends selection to the inclusion of Bethell, even if Root is in the side too, which could mean no place for Smith and/or Duckett (depending on whether Buttler opens or not). I think that the side will probably look something like this:
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
I have seen two interviews with McSweeney who is a great lad and he remains very positive that he will get another chance albeit in his preferred batting position which was confirmed by George Bailey when giving delivering the news. Marnus Labuschagne also took the time to phone him and tell him that "it isn't where you start but where you finish". Matthew Hayden was dropped after half a dozen games and didn't get recalled for another three years and he went on to average over 50 in Test cricket.
Bailey said that the Aussies were looking to go in a "different direction" and Konstas' role is clearly to replicate what Warner used to do in taking the game to the opposition and the pressure off Khawaja. Konstas did not look fazed at all (in the same as Bethell doesn't) and whilst one score of 60 proves nothing (albeit that McSweeney made just 72 for five times out and Crawley scored just 52 in his six innings in the NZ series), I certainly wouldn't say that he looks out of his depth. Time will tell but the one thing that is for sure is that they will give Konstas a longer run at it than McSweeney.
Talking about the ICC, once again India have stamped their feet and dictated where they are prepared to play in the Champions Trophy. As a result, all ICC tournaments hosted in India or Pakistan and involving those countries will be played at neutral venues until at least 2027. India haven't hosted Pakistan since 2008.
Probably at least 60% of his match fee and triple the demerit points. Unbelievable how much stuff Indian players get away with. Someone needs to crack down harder on the likes of Kohli and Siraj who think they can get away with anything.
Going after the youngster on debut is coward behaviour from Kohli, he wouldn't do it to Mitch Marsh.
What was the Kohli incident?
The only surprise is India haven't get to play their matches in India
Their target of 340 in 92 overs is definitely one which England would have gone for. Not easy out there, but putting pressure on the bowlers might have been more effective than allowing them to bowl without pressure all day.