ODIs v. Pakistan, UAE

[Donny]

Cricket Network: "The eight-wicket win was eerily similar to Friday's at the same ground when they reeled in 281, with the opening two matches of the series marking two of the three highest run chases at the venue that has hosted more ODIs than any other."

[K]

...
5 in a row, K.

Or, as P4S would say, smirking into his lawyer's wig, 100% win record in the last 5 games. (To which we can respond that Finch averages over 250 in his last two games.)

From memory, the last time Oz won multiple ODIs in a row, it was against Pakistan, so these victories clearly come cheap.

[K]

Elsewhere: Bumrah injured. (But doesn't sound too bad, unlike Richardson's.)

[Donny]

That has what to do with Oz/Pak. ?

The WC doesn't start till May 30 - some 8 weeks away.

[K]

The UAE series matters only as WC preparation. Pakistan's captain said so (sort of)!
Sadly, 9 1/2 wks is probably not long enough for Jhye. They could carry him for the first week or so, if you can replace injured players at any time, even in the middle of the tournament. (That won't help if it's a 5-month injury.) If Cummins gets injured, the fast-bowling barrel is completely empty.

[Donny]

Whaaaa !! Surely you jest

Boland, Copeland and Mennie completed the SS rounds with averages under 20 r.p.w. Conway (19.66) bowled very well in the last few matches.

The next four (Bird, Steketee, Tremain & Neser) are all under 23.5

That's pretty damned good for the top 8 Shield bowlers. Then there's Patto (22.15), Abbott (21.47) and Worrall (18.25 but only played 4 matches) - any of whom would fit right in.

[Donny]

And, if you want to blame technique and wicket preparation for your perception of clueless batsmen, let me toss some numbers in.

Two batsmen topped the 1000 mark.

Two young batsmen had highest scores of 243 & 250.

35 other centuries were scored.

.. and 121 fifties.

[Pies4shaw]

...
5 in a row, K.

Or, as P4S would say, smirking into his lawyer's wig, 100% win record in the last 5 games. (To which we can respond that Finch averages over 250 in his last two games.)

From memory, the last time Oz won multiple ODIs in a row, it was against Pakistan, so these victories clearly come cheap.

Well, since I actually commented in the World Cup thread:

Meanwhile, Khawaja and Finch have put on a 200+ first-wicket stand to make light work of chasing down 285 against Pakistan. Finch made 153*, so with his back to back centuries, he's now a certain starter for the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Australia have now won 5 ODIs in a row. In every one of those 5 games, one or other of those 2 batsmen has made at least a 90.

How does one smirk into one's wig without suffocating?

[K]

Whaaaa !! Surely you jest

Boland, Copeland and Mennie completed the SS rounds... Conway (19.66) bowled ....
The next four (Bird, Steketee, Tremain & Neser) are all under 23.5
... Patto (22.15), Abbott (21.47) and Worrall (18.25 but only played 4 matches) ...

For the ODI WC?!
How well have they done in any ODIs? How many ODIs have they even played?

And, if you want to blame technique and wicket preparation for your perception of clueless batsmen, let me toss some numbers in.
Two batsmen topped the 1000 mark.
...

I'm becoming disoriented here. Were those comments supposed to be in the Sheffield Shield thread? I was thinking of ODIs...

[Donny]

No. In reply to your " If Cummins gets injured, the fast-bowling barrel is completely empty."

Other than the national team, how many 50 over matches have been played since the JLT domestic comp ? None.

[K]

But that's the problem. Shield form won't make them ready for the WC. Not even JLT form would. They are nowhere near what Jhye offers. (Kane isn't either.)

Shield batting is even less relevant. We are not scraping the barrel there, unlike in the bowling. It's just a matter of what the quality in the batting barrel is like.

[Donny]

Where do you suggest the selectors look ?

Not the BBL. Entirely different kettle.

[K]

Cummins, Zampa, ?, ?

[Donny]

By the way, Tremain, Neser, Worrall and Mennie have all had ODI experience for Oz.

[Donny]

Cummins, Zampa, ?, ?

Not sure of the question/s. Zampa's a specialist ODIer and Cummins gets a game in any format.