Marsh will play the knock that keeps him in the side but doesnt win the game

Yes the BCCI produced dustbowls to thwart western nations. They had the spin quartet, they were hardly going to give them grassy seamers.

But they produce Gabba like bouncy pitches in India when Bangladesh tour to take the spinners largely out of it :P

I've told you the answer that I firmly believe in. You don't like it. But I have observed it massively with India and England. When England pull a guy out of county like Pope, its typically a disaster. But when they pull a guy from the Lions, like Foakes or Curran, it is far smoother sailing. India's squad of internationals is just - I believe - possibly unheralded. Aus in the late 1990's of course had a plethora of gifted cricketers, mostly batsmen - but the sheer size of these Indian test and limited overs squads, and the amount of replacements that they have for every single position - I believe is an international first. But I do not believe it is a fluke. It is based on A tours and a captain who wants horses for courses.

I firmly believe that the answer is Australia take the A programme more seriously and prioritize it over domestic and have constant winter A tours. That is what India and England do. It is what NZL has been doing of late (but NZL lacks the money to commit as much as it would like - the test team barely gets a winter tour). Looking at the Shield games for who scored a ton in the recent two rounds to make test selection, as Australia has been doing of late is no way to select. In the old days - it was average 50 for several seasons with 20 tons - then you may get a lookin if there was an injury... that was smarter selecting and selecting from Shield worked well then. It does not now.

Send A teams to England - see who swings it well, see who plays swing well. Send A teams to Safrica, ask for spicy decks, see who plays seam well, see who bowls it well. Host teams in your backyard on typical test Aus pitches - see who scores tons vs the visiting bowlers, see who gets wickets. Send A tours to India and Sri Lanka. England sends their A team India, Sri Lanka, UAE, WI - everywhere - the A team tours all winter every winter it seems. The Indian A team tours winter and summer. Their domestic comp is on now... their A team has been in NZ for a month now!

England and India have a massive advantage as they put so much of their vast resources into A programmes. Australia could readily find a corporate sponsor independent of the player's revenue share and put the resources into it. But it means more players out of shield, and more expenses in funding the winter tours. But I believe that the results will speak for themselves.

In NZL - we had a few domestic guys starring, after playing India A - some continued to star, some did not. This includes some recent and fringe internationals. It gives the selectors a much better indicator to go by...

Just look at what India did here: instead of having its test players play domestic in India - it sent Shaw (would be playing this test but injured), Vijay, Rahane, reserve keeper Patel, Vihari (lost test spot to Rohit) to play for Ind a A as a warm up and to guide selections. 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/19014/scorecard/1164220/new-zealand-a-vs-india-a-1st-unofficial-test-india-a-tour-of-nz-2018-19

Agree apart from poor replacements everywhere.

What sort of field would you have advocated instead, CS?

Good to hear.

Do they have less adverts?

And like I have said to you.. Australia supplies her international cricketers from Shield. Always has done. That will not change. The team that won 16 on the trot in early part of this century all came thru the junior system and finished in domestic cricket from where they were chosen to rep their country. We have to grasp the fact those teams contained some of Australia's all time greats. These types do not fall from trees. We just have to accept that we do not have any one of this ilk at present. Perhaps a little down the track. There are some exciting youngsters coming thru Pathway at present. 

All this boils down to is that the rest of the world is evolving past domestic cricket, and Australia is not evolving and wants to do things the way it always has done. That's great when its working. Is it working in your opinion Baggers? 

In England during the Industrial revolution, Luddites used to break into factories and break machines as they were opposed to modern technology. Later, with mass migration of people to the cities, there were grave concerns about horse manure levels would escalate and ruin the cities. But then came service industries and the motorcar... Significant changes over the way lives were traditionally lived.

Things evolve over time Baggers, the old way was not always the best way. Women are no longer property, men may no longer own slaves, and India now select from A teams (and IPL) over domestic cricket. Perhaps in the future, Australian domestic will reach the glut of stars it had earlier this century. But India, England (and the rest of the world where financially possible) are not waiting for their domestic scene to raise its standards and produce consistent top performers against quality opposition, so they have found a more efficient alternative...

I understand tradition. I understand significance of traditions. But new traditions form and old ones disappear. There were only 5 Boxing Day tests before 1980? And not one in 1989? Cricket used to be played in whites at day time including ODI. Then lights came on and coloured closthes were worn and the ball was white and not red.

If Australian cricket is not prepared to evolve - and change her ways and approach when the remainder of the Big 3 have - I think this century of cricket is going to be heading in a very different for Australia in terms of results to the last century. 

Sadly I reckon you have it spot on Paddles. Like I said earlier we are sending an A team to England same time as Ashes. We once had a reciprocal arrangement with BCCI on A team tours. Why no more.  No reason why CA does not schedule tours with SAfrica as we are both in same hemisphere. But you can lay bets these A boys have all cut their teeth in Shield cricket. 

laugh if we win from here

laugh if we win from here

What if its like Edgbaston 2005?

Never know. Cummins is no mug with the willow. In fact, sometimes he looks like a bonafide batsman. He said while he was injured that he had time to work on his batting. Time well spent if you ask me.

Timmy doing a good job again.

Never know. Cummins is no mug with the willow. In fact, sometimes he looks like a bonafide batsman. He said while he was injured that he had time to work on his batting. Time well spent if you ask me.

Timmy doing a good job again.

Think you misinterp'd me

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/14823/scorecard/215010/england-vs-australia-2nd-test-australia-tour-of-england-and-scotland-2005
Edgbaston 2005 was

9  Warne 42
10 Lee 43*
11 Kasprowicz 20

Aus lost by 2 runs :P

Did not misinterpret you.

The tail has got us closer than we envisaged. Excellent application by Cummins. Hang your heads batsmen.