Baggers, I’ve been impressed with Shami. Lovely, smooth action and good control at 135 - 141 kph.

 a demon express bowler.  What he was extracting out of dead pitches in Asia was amazing last year. At the time he was the most lethal fast bowler in the world. 
Will we ever see him back to that Mike, DC, grazor? I fear not.

These two are moving us into a position of strength now. 

yeah give him around 6 months and he'll be back to his best

Agree but isn't that the selectors responsibility to ensure that they are not getting these necessary games for improvement in form at an Australian level. The problem is that selectors don't want to make a choice. If they chose Tremain and he performed well, how can you drop him to bring Cummins back. Some players seem to be "pets" of CA and selectors. I cannot believe that with the wicket taking performances of Tremain in the last 4 years, that when a position has come available through injury , they have gone Bird and Siddle, some may say good yet not excellent performers. Is this protection of Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins who CA pay nearly 2 million dollars each a year too, and if Tremain does perform who CA doesn't have a contract on, doesn't it suggest a waste of money. 

JascyJim

If you are reading this mate, I reckon Paine is currently a candidate for best international gloveman in Ted cricket, even though the South African, and three English keepers, Foakes, Bairstow and Butler, are all very good with the bat.

Moreover, Paine is proving to be an excellent leader too.

He would’ve captained Tasmania a lot more, if the best captain in the country, George Bailey, wasn’t available.

 Brew I was not being insulting to Shami. He does have a good, economic action. My point was with this deck his pop gun speed(135av.) makes him look like an express bowler. 

I don’t think so Baggers.

I think Cummins is on the downward slide.

How many runs and how much time has this Khawaja / Paine partnership been worth?

new ball up soon but we have 6 in hand and a big lead

Would like to see 100 off the next session even if it means getting bowled out

I still rate him in our top two. Bowls Starc hands down while even Hazey has had some downward trends. Pat on the other hand always seems to be firing on all cylinders.

233 lead at lunch. Excellent session boys.

I was just saying to Paddles on another thread Watling from New Zealand is the most under rated keeper in test cricket currently. Averages 38 with the bat and has just entered the top 20 keepers of all time. 10 more wickets and he overtakes Parore as the No 1 keeper for NZ.

QdK has been failing with the bat of late. Pant is a crap gloveman. Paine is going more than fine - under the radar somewhat. Sarfaraz is more than useful.

But Foakes is the one that could goto new levels. By all accounts he is the slickest behind the stumps - and just scored huge runs in Asian dustbowls.

I still have a soft spot for Brendon Taylor - but he isn't keeping for ZImbo's right now...

Disagree Baggers Cummins should be doing time at shield level, just like Pattinson. Cummins for his career has been given the easy road. Out for 2 years and first game back playing for Australia. C'Mon Pattinson has a superior record and they want him to play at shield level for 1 year then selected him, he blew the opposition apart then got injured again. If he doesn't come back, selectors fault not Cummins. IMO Cummins is a potential great but injury and his treatment by selectors is going to be his undoing, sort of like the wild thing Shaun Tait. We need Cummins, and players like Pattinson and Behrendorff to be great and be competitive but they are mis-managed at shield level and never get over injury and we will never see the best in action.

A quiet achiever. An additional Saffer playing for another country if not mistaken.

He's one of our NZ raised Saffirs, not one of our import Saffirs...

NZC has a ton of both types...

There is some really exciting import Saffir talent on timers in NZ domestic...

If I have read the situation of Pattinson correctly..he alone is to blame for his current predicament. He said at the time of his umpteenth injury that he was no longer moderating his action as the docs had advised him. How long after that did he get his last and to date final back injury. CA has run out of patience with him for a early return like Cummins was given. They are keeping Patto in cotton wool by giving him a solid shield season to prove he is now injury free.  Even if Cummins does not retain his express pace I still rate him over Pattinson as the better bowler. 

...and your Black Caps are walloping the Lankans at the moment too Paddles.

Cricinfo says India need wickets with the second new ball or there is no way back for them in this match. 

It is living up to the total mismatch it promised to be... 

If Aus take a few tests off India - NZ could goto #1 this summer...

"Early return" what??? FIRST TIME INJURED Pattinson had to do time at shield level for a year! END OF STORY. Cummins out for 2 years straight back into the Australian side. For 2 years Cummins was Paid a contract for nearly a million dollars, he never lost his contract Pattinson did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(is that clear enough) If that doesn't shout bias I don't know what does. NOW BAGGERS YOU'RE STARTING TO TURN ME AGAINST CUMMINS. Unfortunately I can't use much against him YET!!!!!!!!!!

Really Paddles India won the first test? Best is No 2

That is precisely what I was saying earlier I think to Brew.  Tim has been dismissed by a ball that jumped like a viper from nowhere. Shami is not express not even close.  This deck will start playing more tricks now. 

Cummins played some ODi games, though... He played ODI in 2015 in England, think he played some in 2016 as well...

Pattinson remodelled action was not effective for wicket taking nor pace. So he reverted...

I prefer peak Pattinson - always have - always will... he offers far more when fit and firing. He has a lovely outswing, great in seam...

But will he ever regain fitness and full speed?

Because he kept ignoring doctors orders to stick with the modified action.

If a bloke is paid big bucks he must be seen to deserve it. You look for bias and controversy in everything Mike. Sure you have never been a journo. Just for once post a simple post. Like the rest of us do.  Paddles likes in depth stuff. Post to him please..

Are you trying to placate me Paddles. Such a New Zealand thing to do.

Wow Paine gone!

I thought Usman looked shakier. It might have been because as a lefty the bowlers bowl into more of his footmarks.

Could say same about Cummins. He had so much going for him before this string of stress injuries. The way he dismantled a strong Saffer batting lineup with ferocious pace, and swing. He was a demon. He too sadly will never be the same either. If Patto and Cummo were fit as they were before injuries they would be first two picked in my Aussie side.

Nah - on the previous forum - Katto and I had a massive debate about it - I called Cummins a poor man's Pattinson :P

It went on for a long time... I have never changed in my opinion. Pattinson is a terrific bowler, when fit...

Pat Cummins was in the Aus 2015 World Cup squad as well...