Zampa caught at fine leg and WA win by 36 runs!

Matt Kelly 8 wickets for the match.

I haven't seen you posting much in the Test threads, TB.

Don't you follow Test cricket?

I hope you are not one of those parochial West Aussies when I lived in WA who lose interest in the national team, when there are no Sandgropers playing! 

It was a bit of a nailbiter in the end thanks to the veteran Callum Ferguson. I have to question the road like deck. To get 8 wickets the way Kelly did on it .. was quite and effort. I rate him. Pity Australian bowling is so strong at the moment as blokes like Kelly, Tremain, Neser and one or two others will remain on the periphery of the Test side.

The big issue is how these bowlers perform overseas?

I've just discovered one of my exercise physiologists is the TCA curator's partner. I sent a message to produce wickets more conducive to spin! The response was any decent cricketer can get something out of the wicket!

Very few spinners in Australia have, whilst  many pace bowlers have had success at Bellerive. Often visiting teams and Tasmania play four specialist pace bowlers.

Not at all. I watched a fair bit of the test and will have that on in preference to domestic games. I will however try to get to the waca for as many games as I can. I try to be the voice for WA as I realize most of you are from the East. Don’t tend to comment as much on the tests as I feel less qualified. I read your posts with interest. This weekend I have also been a little time poor as I got my ribs busted by a dog body slamming me at the beach!

Haha Tas is a bit like that isn’t it, small world. I thought Bellerive was known for a bit of turn in the mid to late 90s?

Yes absolutely, the only way they are going to get a sniff is if they can also bat, like Cameron Green. Australia needs more all rounders. Shame Agar hasn’t matched his batting with decent bowling of late. Nice to see Carey also get a ton because he wouldn’t be feeling too good after dropped catches, the run out and losing the match under his captaincy. 

DC I have to agree with you re the lack of true spinning decks in state cricket. Mitchell Swepson has been scathing of CA over this very subject. He says what chance do he and other spinners have impressing selectors for overseas tour spots when they are constantly faced with pace friendly pitches at home.

Blues lose toss v Bulls batting. 

Tigers also Redbacks batting..ditto Vics v WA.

Not only do the Blues and Bulls players have to put up with warming temps they also face thick smoke haze from the many fires ringing Sydney at the moment. Firies are saying several blazes may merge into a mega fire that will certainly pose a huge threat to outer Sydney homes.

Our thoughts go to everyone in NSW, Baggers.

Thanks Bobbie. I had to scrape so much ash,embers and burnt leaves from my pool last two days. These fires are getting closer and temps are hitting 40 early in week.:w00t:

Have you heard about the debacle with the MCG match. Poor preparation by its curator has seen it abandoned for causing a danger to batsmen. This is bloody farcical and the Viccos must hang their heads in shame.

Bobbie take a look at Agar's average.. hi @40s. He has been very good holding the innings together and batting well with the tail in the matches I have seen. I rate him ready to play Test cricket again..finally.

This weekend I have also been a little time poor as I got my ribs busted by a dog body slamming me at the beach!

Tell me more.

bumping.
DC was that you and Pete I saw in the Members stand.. Pete was wearing a Santa hat.
PS: Those pics?                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Disappointing last hour by Tassie bowlers. Making their tail look like batsmen. That lead is building. Polish em off now.

DC Meredith has to do better if he wants to play Tests. He wastes his pace too often. Bowl at the stumps man!

Definitely us! Pete was wearing his Santa hat.

Plus more of us there too. Funny you can see us on TV!

It has been attritional, with Weatherald batting very well for his century. 

SA bowled on a greener wicket, but the Tas bowling to the tail should have been better. Interesting Swepson has been despairing about the paucity of spinning wickets, but I agree with him.

Tasmania went into this game with five specialist pace bowlers. It is terrible for spinners' development. SA also has no specialist spinner either.   

Too loose at times.

Good luck with those awful fires, mate.

It was the first time in two games that the camera actually centred on the Members Stand DC. It was only for a minute.. a miracle I saw it to be honest. Tell Pete he looked very becoming.. is he playing Santa this year.;)

Redbacks definitely had the better of the bowling conditions. It'd help if Silk won a toss for a change on one of these greentops. Mac Wright bowls wristies.. perhaps he may get a trundle in next two days.

I have Weatherald over Harris or Bancroft to open our batting shud either of the incumbents fail against the Kiwis. pm re pics.

Yes, Agar's batting has been wonderful. However I think he's only taken maybe 3 wickets for the whole shield season? With Holland out of the picture with finger surgery, he's no doubt in the selector's minds however, for Sydney. Swepson and O'Keefe also in the running according to cricket.com.au and some of the podcasts. 
I saw the footage from MCG - shocking! Surely they have experienced curators there of all places. However we all make mistakes I suppose, they were clearly aware that the pitch needed livening up and they were attempting to do so before the test. It's just unfortunate when the errors are very public and result in physical harm to others. I especially winced when I saw the blow to Stoinis in the ribs! I was minding my own business building a sandcastle with my son when a rottweiler / boxer came out of nowhere and sent me rolling along the sand. Very undignified. I had just regained my composure when a second dog came and weed on our castle. My son said it was the best outing ever!
I do hope that conditions ease soon in NSW, it sounds like the fires are having a massive impact on everyone, even those not directly in the firing line.

DC when did Bellerive get the big upgrade? It seems to have changed a lot since I used to sit in members in the mid '90s.

Where is Agar supposed to gets wickets? None of the states,even the SCG, prepare spinning decks. He has been good in the short stuff tho.. specially T20 if not mistaken. I have no doubt that if a turner is made for the SCG New Year Test that Agar.. if chosen will do a good job with the ball. If not I'd hope a wristie like Swepson got the mod.

So that wayward pooch sent you A over T.. no not very dignified. Best outing ever.. kids.

The fires are playing havoc with my pool. Just when you get it looking good for the summer all this fire debris comes along and murks the water.

It's a good point. Without supporting our spinners, it will become a dying art form and then there will be even less incentive to produce decent pitches, and then when we travel to the subcontinent - wham, what a surprise, we can't play. 
Hmmn, sounds like you may have to rock up to one of those pop-up pools that are becoming popular at cricket grounds...!

There is no understanding CA logic. Firstly they panic when we constantly return from the sub/cont empty handed.. in fact humiliated.. by building Indian like decks at the Academy. These no doubt have helped our spin play over the past coupla years when we play over in Asia.. In addition CA begin holding annual Spin Camps at the Academy. This is all a big positive. Do they produce pitches to suit our best State bowlers ..no. That is a big negative. Agar and Mitchell.. specially have been scathing over the lack of spinning decks at state level. How are they expected to get match practice for when we travel to the sub/cont? As you say spinning will become a lost art in this country unless CA changes things. All pitches need to revert to the ideal cricket type. Good for batting and pace first 3/4 days and then turning.