The Cricket Thread

[Willba99]

Are you planning on playing this summer?

I'll probably play the second half of the season (after exams and schoolies)

[GalacticProcess]

I'll probably play the second half of the season (after exams and schoolies)

Nice! Do you bat or bowl?

[Rod]

I'm playing this season! We've already completed one month of pre-season. Feeling pretty good.

I've played cricket consistently for the last eleven years! Only took a small break during year twelve.

Keen to hear about everyone's batting position/bowling position? What they bowl? Righty or left? What's their best memory in their career so far? 

[GalacticProcess]

I'm playing this season! We've already completed one month of pre-season. Feeling pretty good.

I've played cricket consistently for the last eleven years! Only took a small break during year twelve.

Keen to hear about everyone's batting position/bowling position? What they bowl? Righty or left? What's their best memory in their career so far? 

Me tooooo! I began pre-season a couple of weeks before the end of the term 2 - so it's been ages! 11 years is a really long time! If you don't mind saying, what club do you play for?

I batted at 3 last season, in the juniors, and opened in seniors. Not too sure about this season though, because I'm changing teams for seniors. I opened the bowling in both juniors and seniors, but started bowling a little later for the last quarter of the season. How about yourself?

[GalacticProcess]

Is 281 enough?

[Joseph41]

That was a bloody good catch from Villani.

[GalacticProcess]

Is it acceptable to bowl in batting shoes?

[alchemy]

Is it acceptable to bowl in batting shoes?

I've done that many times, don't really see an issue being a spin bowler.

[GalacticProcess]

I've done that many times, don't really see an issue being a spin bowler.

What about pace bowling?

[Rod]

Is it acceptable to bowl in batting shoes?

Depends on what you play in - synthetic or turf? And also how your rhythm is when you bowl, are you quick or a medium pacer?

[Joseph41]

You wouldn't have these issues if you kept.

EDIT: This is fully in jest; keeping really ruined me haha.

[Willba99]

suuuuurely cameron bancroft is close to being selected

[Joseph41]

suuuuurely cameron bancroft is close to being selected

What would be your starting XI for The Ashes, Willba?

[Willba99]

What would be your starting XI for The Ashes, Willba?

Interesting. Either;

1. Renshaw
2. Warner
3. Khawaja
4. Smith
5. Handscomb
6. Cartwright
7. Bancroft
8. Starc
9. Cummins
10. Hazlewood
11. Lyon

I've named Cartwright over other options such as Maxwell and S Marsh as it allows a fourth quick bowling option in addition to Lyon's spin, and also as he scores respectable runs. But I'm not sure if Renshaw's in good enough form (even though I love him), so maybe I'd go with:

1. Bancroft
2. Warner
3. Khawaja
4. Smith
5. Handscomb
6. Cartwright
7. Maxwell/S Marsh/ who ever makes a few runs in the last round of Shield i.e. wildcard
8. Starc
9. Cummins
10. Hazlewood
11. Lyon

This team solves the wicketkeeper issue and lets Bancroft open (his preferred position). Also allows another all rounder to slot in at 7 or, alternatively, another specialist bat, like S Marsh or even a J Lehmann type (an up and comer) at 6 and Cartwright at 7.

Overall, I'd still go with the first team - although Bancroft (who in my opinion should definitely be playing, his runs are irresistible) prefers to open, the second team I named has a weaker middle order, and the first team offers more stability, which, in the first game of the Ashes, might be all that matters.

[Joseph41]

I'm not sure if that does fix the keeping issue, though. For mine, Nevill should definitely be playing.