Australia v. Pakistan. Tests.

[Donny]

"The match referee who put the MCG on notice for an unacceptable pitch four years ago will have the final say on whether a "dead" Rawalpindi deck that has produced just 11 wickets in four days will receive a similar sanction.

Steve Smith lamented the lifeless surface produced for the highly-anticipated Benaud-Qadir series opener which is on track to finish as one of the least bowler-friendly Test matches this century."

CA

[Donny]

The ongoing match's current average of 84.09 runs per wicket is the highest recorded since the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Test in Galle in 2013 (84.89).

The fewest wickets to fall in a Test not significantly affected by rain (minimum 330 overs bowled for the match) this century is 17.

It's 14, so far.

[Donny]

Ho hum.

Cummins should just bowl Head, Labu, Smith and even Warner, till this farce is called off.

[Pies4shaw]

^ I turned it off a few minutes ago because they were bowling Labu and Head. I think Australia should give serious consideration to leaving the place at the end of the Test and not returning for another 20 years. This is possibly the worst game of cricket I have ever seen.

[Donny]

"Australia are leaning towards fielding a specialist wrist-spinner in a Test for the first time in 13 years, with Mitchell Swepson's looming debut in Pakistan shaping as a timely tribute to Shane Warne's legacy.

Swepson's patience and domestic dominance looks set to be rewarded this week should, as expected, a spin-friendly pitch greet them in Karachi for Saturday's second Test of the Benaud-Qadir series."

CA.

[Donny]

"Pat Cummins insisted a second spinner alongside Nathan Lyon would likely have made little difference in their drawn first Test in Rawalpindi, where their attack managed only four wickets in 239 overs on a placid pitch expected to come under the ICC's microscope.

Ashton Agar is the Aussies' other spin option and has the advantage of four Tests' experience, but the uncapped Swepson has established himself as the country's leading red-ball spinner at domestic level.

The 28-year-old bowled Queensland to the Sheffield Shield title last year with 32 wickets in just five games and has been a constant presence in Test squads over the past two years."

CA.

I'd love to see Sweppo get a run. Although Agar would feel hard done by, they both spin into the lefties and away from the righties. However Swepson really rips his leggies and has way better first class numbers.

Agar: 107 matches. 154 wickets @ 41.28 runs per wicket.

Swepson: Also 154 wickets but from only 51 games. Better average, too - 34.55

[piedys]

[piedys]

Would just like to make the observation on fast bowler selection, for this pointless tour:
WHY would you risk Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood on such ROAD wickets, when all it's going to do is give them soft tissue injuries and back related issues?
SURELY you would send Trent Copeland over, for a last hurrah, and select Neser if fit for some test level exposure in trying conditions?
Also have Boland, the Richardsons etc, all of whom can do the same job, and produce the same results on such compromised pitches?
Thus we might not be fielding our ideal 1st XI, but who cares in this dump?

[Skids]

Let's just say, Gina pays me about the same amount every week

I don't like to, in anyway, encourage others to get into punting. It can be a beast if you let it get out of control.
I must say, since quitting alcohol just over 2 years ago, my profits from punting have increased quite substantially. A heap of work goes into my betting and it's much less clouded these days

[Skids]

Market for the next test.

Oz -$2.80
Pak- $2.40
Draw- $3.50

We've played 8 tests at the ground for 5 draws and 3 losses.

44 tests at the venue, Pakistan have won 22, 18 have been drawn, with just 4 wins for the visiting side.
It will be fine with temps in the mid 30's for the duration.

[piedys]

[Skids]

Hey mate, would be at least that long! Hoping to get back over this year.

Health wise, geez, I was feeling a million bucks up until November. Increased my swimming and was doing 30+k's a month (got a lovely 25m pool at work), bouncing out of bed every morning and yeah, feeling sensational.
Then I had my first injection, the second in December and just had the 3rd last week... no jab, no job... no choice.
Now, I'm constantly tired, struggle to get 10k/month out in the pool and in general, feel pretty average.... maybe i'm just getting old

On top of that, this last 2 weeks has been full on. Crown on a tooth, melanoma cut off the back and the joys of a colonoscopy.... thanks for asking

How about you old mate, how's things going over there?

[Skids]

Will wait to see the line ups before placing a wager on this.
Oz has to play 2 spinners on this pitch, surely?!?

I can understand Pakistan being the favourite and that's the way I'm leaning (slightly) at the minute.
I think a result in this one is highly likely.

[Donny]

[Skids]

Starc for me.

I just got back from the casino, where I jagged a very nice collect (check out the 1st four in race 6 at Pinjarra ). Paid for a lovely dinner and our drinks (Kelly loves that my drinks these days are a bottle of San Pelligrino and a mocktail) and dropped a few pineapples on the draw.
I also had a small token bet on the Windies to roll the poms while we were in the sportsbar.