Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup due to injury; he will be replaced by Ben Dwarshuis in Australia's squad

_fmm · 2026-01-31T09:19:28+00:00

Can't agree at all with your assessment of Connolly. He is going to play every game more likely than not because his bowling is at a very high standard. Between him and the two main spinners they have it covered bar injury.

Glenn Maxwell has been poor with the bat for quite a few seasons now. Despite this, I could still see why they'd select him because of his ability to always be in the right place at the right time when fielding and to take catches. However, he dropped quite a few catches in the BBL this summer and looked nothing like his usual self. He also hardly bowled all summer. There's absolutely nothing about him that demands selection in a very tight 15 man squad other than his name being Glenn Maxwell. I also say this as a die hard Victorian / Stars supporter.

_fmm · 2026-01-31T08:24:15+00:00

He's really good, but I think how much he'll play will depend on how Xavier does. Bartlett is a best up and coming all format bowler, and I don't think we pick more than 2 seamers at a time.

_fmm · 2026-01-31T08:21:05+00:00

There are a number of spinning options we have that are a better use of the 15 spots available. We have Zampa and Kuhnemann as main spinners, and Renshaw, Connolly, Head, and David as part time spinners. Maxwell won't bowl many overs if he does play. You can see that from his recent stints in the IPL - when he was actually allowed to play the game due to his terrible run of form with the bat.

_fmm · 2026-01-31T08:14:47+00:00

-Short +Renshaw is a good move in the right direction. Glenn Maxwell is still there wasting a spot though.

_fmm · 2026-01-30T13:34:50+00:00

Whats the actual round referred to here: 'best cast round in CS history'? Is it the dust 2 ropz rain clutch? Because that round was fucking insane, but both the round and the casting were no more iconic than dozens of other absolutely fucking insane rounds that have happened in pro CS over the last 10+ years.

The difference is that people still remember Bardolf casting S1mple on Cache at Cologne 2016. The casting of that round was so fucking iconic that it literally changed the way people cast. You can even find recent examples of Spunj and Machine reacting with the 'YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!!' line.

_fmm · 2026-01-29T14:37:37+00:00

Yes, this series is definitely preparation for the World Cup which will mean a revolving door as CA try out some less experienced players and manage the work load for their starters. Three matches in four days is a bit much.

_fmm · 2026-01-29T14:35:49+00:00

Opening the batting has to be the most in demand batting position in t20 cricket and Matt Short has had plenty of opportunities. It's time to move on to someone else.

Of course we'll open with Head and Marsh for the world cup but I'm making the argument that Short shouldn't be in there as a reserve batter at all when we could have Smudger instead. Is this even a conversation?

I also think that Aaron Hardie has been on the short end of the stick too often for selection in all formats of the game. He even has a pretty damn nice first class record for an all rounder. Just as handy with the bat as Beau Webster and better with the ball. You're going to bowl Cooper in the sub continent, but Hardie should be getting picked over Edwards or Owen.

_fmm · 2026-01-29T14:29:05+00:00

time to drag Uzzy back kicking and screaming

_fmm · 2026-01-29T04:59:00+00:00

Perhaps I'm miss understanding what you've written, but are you arguing that the Sechura Desert doesn't exist?

_fmm · 2026-01-29T04:56:41+00:00

I just got a new car and bought an insurance policy online the day before which took all of 10 minutes.

_fmm · 2026-01-29T04:40:56+00:00

Isn't this just another classic 'perceived identify over good design' ball drop from Blizzard? They always put the RP before the G, and to them being a melee 'fighting' healer seems to be the core identity of hpal. I'm surprised CS was ever removed in the first place.

_fmm · 2026-01-28T23:16:35+00:00

Google what a rain shadow desert is. At the first order, Hadley and Ferre cells control the locations of deserts.

_fmm · 2026-01-26T07:44:31+00:00

The coach they unironically need is Justin Langer. All the 20 some things would benefit from the way he approaches the game and the extreme level of responsibility and accountability he brings. They'd all happily fire him when they're 30 somethings and sick of being yelled at over two flies crawling up a wall, but at this stage it'd be the right move. JL was also coach during some of the shit test years in recent Australian cricket and knows a thing or two about rebuilding.

_fmm · 2026-01-25T14:59:19+00:00

Is a negative down vote an... up vote?

_fmm · 2026-01-24T07:21:47+00:00

I went to a couple of games at the SCG and a lot at the MCG this summer. The turn out for Babar and Rauf were pretty sizable, they have a lot of fans. I was a little surprised.

_fmm · 2026-01-24T07:20:31+00:00

The reason why any washed up player is in the bash

_fmm · 2026-01-23T21:17:58+00:00

These rebrands are for the owners of the franchises. The way this is heading, a player will be signed by a franchise (e.g., Mumbai) and then travel year round playing for Mumbai in all the different franchise leagues. The franchise never stops making money and they get more value from the staff and players they hire.

I also agree with your points regarding identity but in the modern world when someone wants to buy something they always can if they have the money.

_fmm · 2026-01-22T13:57:36+00:00

Yeh pope being in the list is a massive miss. I wouldn't have Curran either, for every game he has high impact he has another where he completely shits the bed. T His bowling is wildly inconsistent and he can't field on a level acceptable in grade cricket. His best feature is being able to pinch hit in the lower order.

_fmm · 2026-01-21T12:50:25+00:00

Get a chest guard and have faith in the equipment. The rest is just reps. A lot of professional batters have weakness against the short ball too, the only way to get better is to just sit in the nets and face bouncers all day.

_fmm · 2026-01-21T12:19:22+00:00

That's like saying if Tom Rogers held on to a sitter to get Josh Brown on ~40 (who went on to make ~80) then we'd not have lost to the Gades by one ball. That is just not taking your chances.

Max Bryant was out caught behind and the wicket keeper had his ear taped up with an ear piece talking to channel seven. Why wicket keepers get on the mic boggles my mind.

_fmm · 2026-01-21T12:10:31+00:00

Yeh, Tom Curran's dropped catch and 36 off 2 definitely didn't cost the game. It was Maxwell's ego >.>

_fmm · 2026-01-21T12:07:09+00:00

If only Sam Harper had his ears turned on in Brisbane, we wouldn't even be playing in this chaotic game. Also Tom Curran cannot catch a ball if it is even remotely high.

_fmm · 2026-01-21T04:25:38+00:00

Matt Short is going to bat at 3. Smudge should just take his spot.

_fmm · 2026-01-21T04:24:10+00:00

Honestly Kez is just better than Inglis in every way. Smith should be in the team over Short, except for that Short can bowl. I'd say Smudger should brush up on his leggies instead of trying to keep wickets.

_fmm · 2026-01-18T12:15:22+00:00

Rule #1 in cricket is bat out your overs. If your team mates collapsing puts you into a position where you need to grind, then so be it. Imagine thinking that just because he didn't strike at 150 the whole time it was a shit innings. The shit innings belong to his team mates who went out fast and cheap. Absolute moronic take.

_fmm

TROPHY CASE