Pope has been dropped from South Australian Sheffield Shield team

That is surprising, he looked the goods, but he is still young, and unless the selectors are fully convinced, needs to earn his spot.

Our top 4 bowlers are very good and not the problem. We do need to work on developing the next generation, and adequate backup.
Depth looks skinny, but not as skinny as our batting.

It is no surprise to me that as the Sheffield Shied has dropped down the priority queue, our ability to produce test cricketers has suffered. 
What is surprising is the extent to which the cupboard currently appears bare.

Putting it in context India would not be happy with their batting, and some of their bowling and fielding. They didn't play that well, but still manged to win, only a spirited effort fro our tail with the bat made it even close. Starc lost rhythm at one stage, but otherwise our blowing was good.

Some of the top 6 batsmen should be capable of more than they showed, but to be honest, I'm only sure that 1-2 are test class players. That can change, it is up to them to change it.

Of course I’m a better option Dman..

I guess that means you can bat, bowl or field... :)

Nope..... great handling the Drinks Cart


Dman’s favourite is VB longnecks

I’m normally hooking the lads up with Sambucca shots

The bowlers are fine. No need to find more wicket takers.

It's the batting - and top 6 in particular.

The real problem going forward is no whether we improve (I have no doubt we'll be better in Perth), but we improve more than India will.

It's like Bulldogs between 2017 and 2018.
We all knew we would improve, but it counts for nothing if everyone improves more than you.

From wwos

NRL PUSH FOR TRANSFER WINDOW
The NRL is pushing to rush in a transfer window as early as next year to bring an end to the out-of-control player trading circus that has upset fans throughout the game.

Who's upset???... The media are the ones who drive the non existent hullabaloo over transfers.... No one really cares... Even marki hasn't walked away... And as I've said, for every person who is allegedly upset there is another that is stoked...

In my opinion the only thing that needs to change is attitude.

Losing Lehmann for Langer is part of the problem in my opinion. Langer, I feel, is trying to get the players to play a traditional strategy of "slowly but surely" - but it ain't working.

Lehmans strategy was to back yourself.

When you have our 3 prong pace attack + Goat and in Oz, you know you can get the 20 wickets. Unless rain washes out 2 days, there will be a result. So there is no point slowing yourself down and occupying the crease. If you are out there, you should be scoring runs.

If we our players scored at a decent rate of 3.5 or 4 per over, in the time they batted, we would have scored another 100-150 runs and won comfortably.

Wouldn't be like the NRLol to rush something through... 
Get proactive Todd&co and you won't have to rush... How inclined will the rlpa be to rush something through, their members are sitting pretty as it stands....
The below also typical of the NRLol kneejerk reaction to negative press from those who profit most from non existent drama and misery...
#todd&comustgo...
#dismantlethearlc...
#thinkofthechildren...

Its not as simple as just upping the run rate... It was tough going on that pitch for both sides, with the ball 'not coming on'... There is no guarantee if we up the rate we bat as long... The other side of the coin says if we had maintained that run rate and batted out the day, we win with 10-12 overs spare... Plus many if them have stepped up to test cricket and can't just simply bat like they did in shield against lesser attacks...
I'm not sure they're so much under instruction to bat  slow, as terrified of being dropped too quickly like all players in the last 5 years with the exception of the Marshs...

If I hear one more idiot executive from the BBL say no-one cares about the coin toss to justify this bat flip crap I'll # em...
Its not even a proper bat... Which I guess is OK cos its not proper cricket...
The other line is, its hard for kids to toss a coin... Or kids don't have a coin...

I do like the verb #...
Better retract that comment or I'll # ya...
I've just been # by a snowflake...
They touched you where??? # 'em...

NRLol... While your busy copying ideas from other sports (trade window, super weekend) have a look at what the AFL is doing with 'the bump'... Making it clear the bump is OK but if there is contact with the head the player 'bumper' will wear it...
#bringbacktheshoulder...

I see this as the problem, players are not confident, and are not playing their natural game.

So initially they score too slowly because they are tentative, then the pressure gets to them, and they get out to a rash shot.

The tail are more relaxed as they can simply play their natural game, as no one expects them to make runs.

All players even some of the best go though these kind of phases, what is different in our cases is it isn't a 1-2 batsmen it is all of the top 6.
When Smith was there he was largely immune, so at least 1 out of 6 was regularly making runs, and that took some pressure off the other 5. 

What to do? Well give these guys every chance for starters.

I had some doubts about Nathan Lyon for many years, but he has really proven me wrong, and surprised me.
That has come of the back of regular test matches, getting experience, and being confident about his place in the side.

Agree...

I never had a doubt the goat had it in him... I think Michael Clarke didn't help his progression through a similar lack of trust and forcing him to bowl a negative leg stump line the majority o the time...

D Walker pleads not guilty, his fiance wants to retract police statement...

She walked into the door...how could she be so mistaken

Agree.

I don't rate Clarke as a captain a or as a leader, good batsman though.

Lehman and Langer different styles, but both good coaches.

Not possible for us to know what really happened in this case, but 9 times out of 10 when a lady does that it is the wrong call, and there seems to be medical evidence of some injuries. The police may still press charges, I hope they do, serious allegations deserve a court hearing.

Concussion I'm guessing... Similar effects can be felt after 'falling down the stairs'...

Rugby league and Union might look like similar games, but they are poles apart when it comes to how the media reports on various issues....

For example.... commentators in Union rarely (if ever) criticise officials during the course of play when blatant errors are made. They hardly even mention it. 
In league, it is mentioned on the spot, criticised on the spot, lambasted for the next few days or weeks. 

Also, when players misbehave, it barely gets a mention. In league, players are hung out to dry before they even get charged.

Same thing goes for the game itself..... Union media never (or hardly) criticise their rubbish game, while league media sticks the boot in anytime they can.

Its no wonder TG asked NRL360 and other media outlets to "Talk the Game up". He was actually right in that regard, but for every talk up, there are 5 bad things brought up by the media.

Its why the game sells far better than Union. It is resilient. 
There aren't many sports that can cop the amount of bad publicity but still thrive with so much competition around.

You said the F word....
Im telling Mum.

Yep. I agree. Smart ruling by the AFL.
Watching Slater bump Feki over the sidelines was rugby league at its finest. 
Watching SBW or even Chris Sandow smash players with a good shoulder was also great stuff. 
Some people actually pay money to go see that stuff.

yeah, his GF said he is allowed at least 4hrs of Fortnite gametime every night, even if it encroaches into dinner time.....

Any bunch of Australian selectors who can't find a place for Renshaw or  Maxwell for that matter and stick with them rather than some of the top 6 they have now...well...what can we realisticly expect of the team.

Under the circumstances, it was unbelievable they got within 31 runs :)

Should've known better than watch some of the news... Alleged murderer in melb used a "home made light saber".. Yep like a light saber is an actual thing of which you can make one at home...
#thenewslies...

How's this for a game day banner when we play the Knights....

"You guys can have our Phlegm"

I wouldn't start a company and try and sell shares in it

This is what happens when you read villis posts...

tough crowd......