Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

The perception of mental toughness and Australian players might need to re considered by a lot of Australian supporters after the way Smith has performed during these ashes.

After sandpaper gate and arguably the lowest point of Australian cricket, there was much made of how Smith and Warner each handled the situation. A few talked of how Warner was not affected by what had happened and had the strength to deal with the situation, whilst how weak Smith was when he cried in public after being exposed. The contrast between the 2 was as wide as their batting performances have been in this series.

True Australian captains like Chappel, Border, Waugh and Ponting would never expose themselves to such ridicule by crying in public. Players like Kim Hughes and Steve Smith have been considered weak players due to them expressing emotion not expected of someone who has the most important job in Australia.

Yet during this ashes series the mental toughness of both Warner and Smith has been shown. If anything Smith has become stronger, learning from his mistakes and using it as a way to push his game on to even greater heights. Booed at every game, and in every innings he has gone about his business in his own way, showing the resilience and strength of character many thought he did not have due to his reaction when caught cheating.

Whilst Warner has been shown to be suspect, unsure of himself and a little lost since his return to the test team. Perhaps because he has never had a means to express himself after what happened in SA.

I bring this up because at the time there were many(no one here) who openly mocked the very natural response of Smith. It was a sign of weakness many said and compared it to the situation that Hughes found himself in. Both were weak players.

Perhaps this will help to change to perceptions of what an Australian cricketer needs to be. Tough yes, but also show a more balanced human side. Presently they are captained by person who seems very genuine, their best bowler seems like a nice guy, and the best batsman of his generation showing that redemption is possible. Perhaps the people with the perceived mental strength are the ones that need the most help and understanding.

is this thread for all Australian cricket or just the national sides?

Durhamfootman wrote:is this thread for all Australian cricket or just the national sides?

All Australian cricket i guess?

Well................ while the ECB having been busy planning to marginalise the county season even further in pursuit of the latest get rich quick scheme, CA have been quietly tinkering with the formats of their men's and women's domestic seasons in the hope of improving and strengthening player development, audience satisfaction, and cricket's profile.

2 extra rounds of the One Day Cup, to be played at the iconic venues rather than the lesser grounds. Trying where possible to ensure that the scheduling involves the home side at these grounds and splitting the tournament up from one block to three blocks to allow the Australia players to feature more heavily for their state sides in the competition

2 extra rounds of the WNCL played in 4 blocks instead of 3 and moving the WBBL to a standalone competition in its own right rather than just an addendum to the BBL, to further cement their overwhelming international dominance

Still....... I'm sure the ECB have got it right and in time, when the ashes have returned to Blighty at the earliest opportunity and the world cup has been successfully defended by England, CA will realise what a stupid thing it is to try and prioritise the health of the game ahead of the money and will copy the ECB's approach in a desperate game of catch up


or perhaps not

Jack Wildermuth did his chances of selection for Austalia nor harm as he showed what he can do with ball and bat in the warm up game.

3-13 in 18 overs in the first innings and an unbeaten 111 on the final day.

Thats some miserly bowling, that.

The Professor wrote:Jack Wildermuth did his chances of selection for Austalia nor harm as he showed what he can do with ball and bat in the warm up game.

3-13 in 18 overs in the first innings and an unbeaten 111 on the final day.

That is an incredible return.

Unfortunately for Wildermuth, Green has got in the test team before him, and will probably be given a good run at it even if he doesn't do too well to start.

Eighteen months after playing his last professional cricket match, George Bailey has been appointed Cricket Australia’s Chair of the National Selection Panel.

I like George, but I don't like the sounds of this.

We know that Arthur doesn't like George. It will be interesting to hear his thoughts.

Jhye Richardson is looking very good in this year's Shield. If (and that's an 'if' as large as the Burj Khalifa) he remains injury free he may be a dark horse for Ashes inclusion....squad though.....unlikely to make the XI.

He would add some much needed depth to the bowling line which is needed in case one of the big 3 get injured.

Khawaja has 2 centuries in 3 Shield games this season. Looks like it might have been a easy batting pitch as Manus and Renshaw also scored runs.

Head has also started the season well though failed in his last innings when SA got bowled out for 124.

Will be interesting to see who bats at 5 and 6 in the first test

The Professor wrote:Jhye Richardson is looking very good in this year's Shield. If (and that's an 'if' as large as the Burj Khalifa) he remains injury free he may be a dark horse for Ashes inclusion....squad though.....unlikely to make the XI.

Always strikes me as a quality operator, better than his stats suggest.

Tim Paine stands down as captain just a couple of weeks before the First Test. A sexting scandal from 2017 surfacing apparently.

Bit out of the blue , this. Decision re new skipper now becomes more urgent - and the question of whether Paine still commands a spot in the XI just as a player too , I guess.

Not the lead-in Australia were looking for.

'be sure your sin will find you out' seems particularly true with the unsociable twaddle

and a lesson that so many people seem to be incapable of learning

hard to see how he keeps his place with Wade in the picture (is Wade in the picture?)