The Ashes: Sydney

[rich1uk]

as an England fan its like torture just watching Smith bat like he is never going to get out, so christ knows what it must be like for the players out there bowling to him

[rich1uk]

no success yet for Crane but he's creating chances

[mikesiva]

Khawaja 91 not out. Well done mate! I knew you could do it.

The spinners don't seem to be able to get his wicket.

From what I have seen adil Rashid looks like a more threatening legspinner than Crane.

[GarlicJam]

Mason was given only 5 overs spell. Why is it so that the specialist England spinner is bowling less overs than an out of form all rounder spinner. Joe has to get some thing right with captaincy.

Although Ali was bowling as we as he has all series. I should say better - he was troubling both batsmen.

[sussexpob]

Mason was given only 5 overs spell. Why is it so that the specialist England spinner is bowling less overs than an out of form all rounder spinner. Joe has to get some thing right with captaincy.

Maybe because England's specialist spinner has a worse first class average?

[sussexpob]

Fun facts: Barring 2016's washout v the West Indies, the winning team (or in the one draw, both teams) has scored 430+ in 8 of the last 10 first innings here (2013 was an exception, where Australia only scored 330 in the first innings and went on to win due to England having no stomach for the fight against Mitch1 any more, and 2010 v Pakistan, where Australia scored 127 in the first innings and went on to win. Australia were 257-8 in the second innings only 55 ahead, yet managed to score 381 all out thanks to a 120 run 9th wicket partnership between Hussey and Siddle, and then bowled Pakistan out for 139 in pursuit of 176. Later than year of course three of the Pakistan line-up were banned for spot fixing. If that 2010 game at the SCG wasn't dodgy I'll eat my hat).

That SCG test and was played on a green top wicket that did everything early on, both teams struggled, but the pitch flattened out in the second innings and became easier to bat on. Was a pretty good test match to watch to be honest, not even with hindsight did it feel Pakistan threw it away on purpose.

[meninblue]

Mason was given only 5 overs spell. Why is it so that the specialist England spinner is bowling less overs than an out of form all rounder spinner. Joe has to get some thing right with captaincy.

Maybe because England's specialist spinner has a worse first class average?

I wonder how come the best specialist bowler of any cricketing country will have a worst average than a non specialist spinner. Is it actually possible in any cricketing teams that we see. No. All countries non specialist spinners are bad than the teams specialist spinner.

If, in England's case that actually is vice versa then this has either to be a wrong selection or that the specialist spinners are not properly developed by various county captains as well as coaches / selectors, for whatsoever reason they may have.

[Gingerfinch]

I wasn't too impressed with the two overs I saw Crane bowl. Too short and straight. He did bowl well according to Swann and co, but they're not going to criticise.

[bigfluffylemon]

Crane looked ok ish on a flat pitch. He created a few chances. Given his age, I can see why England like the look of him, but one for the future rather than today.

[sussexpob]

Mason was given only 5 overs spell. Why is it so that the specialist England spinner is bowling less overs than an out of form all rounder spinner. Joe has to get some thing right with captaincy.

Maybe because England's specialist spinner has a worse first class average?

If, in England's case that actually is vice versa then this has either to be a wrong selection or that the specialist spinners are not properly developed by various county captains as well as coaches / selectors, for whatsoever reason they may have.

Ali has a better test wicket average, econ, sr, more experience, more overs and more wickets than crane has in first class.

So to call crane the superior specialist would be to rate the argument based on invisible criteria.

His selection defies sense, and it seems that it got to the fifth test before they begrudgingly threw him in, now his captain clearly seems to trust ali more.

Crane could be wonderful in the future, but his selection right now is moronic

[meninblue]

Mason was given only 5 overs spell. Why is it so that the specialist England spinner is bowling less overs than an out of form all rounder spinner. Joe has to get some thing right with captaincy.

Maybe because England's specialist spinner has a worse first class average?

If, in England's case that actually is vice versa then this has either to be a wrong selection or that the specialist spinners are not properly developed by various county captains as well as coaches / selectors, for whatsoever reason they may have.

Ali has a better test wicket average, econ, sr, more experience, more overs and more wickets than crane has in first class.

So to call crane the superior specialist would be to rate the argument based on invisible criteria.

His selection defies sense, and it seems that it got to the fifth test before they begrudgingly threw him in, now his captain clearly seems to trust ali more.

Crane could be wonderful in the future, but his selection right now is moronic

Even at the domestic level the average of specialist spinner (Mason) should be more than non specialist spinner (Moeen) given decent domestic county matches both have played, isn't it ?

Given that selectors have picked Mason, subjectively i conclude he is the one that they think he is the best. So who is the best specialist spinner then in domestic cricket statistically at this point of time available for selections.

[meninblue]

Crane looked ok ish on a flat pitch. He created a few chances. Given his age, I can see why England like the look of him, but one for the future rather than today.

Seems they are starting to develop him now in that case. Which imo is wrong. Most of the skill set development should happen before he is in international cricket. At this level when someone is selected, the selectors should be sure he is the best from domestic cricket. When they select it is fine if the idea is to give international experience to start with, but starting developing a cricketer after picking for important series for England shows how much succession planning or spin resources development was done when Swann and Monty were guarding the fort.

[sussexpob]

Jack leach. This record suggests he's miles better than anyone else....

But they didn't fancy him to India, and invented he was a chucked as soon as they got criticised for it

[Gingerfinch]

I'm pretty sure Warne's first class record wasn't anything special before he played test cricket. If the selectors think he's good enough then fair enough.

[meninblue]

I'm pretty sure Warne's first class record wasn't anything special before he played test cricket. If the selectors think he's good enough then fair enough.

But i doubt (haven't checked stats though) that Warnie had bad record than non specialist spinners during his time in their domestic tourneys.