Australia v. Pakistan. 2 Tests.

[Donny]

21 November.

Australia v. Pakistan.

The Gabba, Brisbane.

----------------

29 November

Australia v. Pakistan.

Adelaide Oval. 2:00 PM Local Time.

[Donny]

Team for the first Test will be announced tomorrow.

[Donny]

Warm-up match: Pakistan v. Cricket Australia XI, November 15-16, WACA.

[Donny]

Said to be the squad (not official yet):

David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Cameron Bancroft, Tim Paine (capt), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Michael Neser

Truly appalling that Bancroft and (especially) Burns are included. I can't see the point of Burns being in the squad, just to be 12th. man, meaning he'll open with Warner and Bancroft will miss out - along with Neser & Pattinson.

[Donny]

Surely, Khawaja had better credentials, esp. as an opener.

[Donny]

Pakistan 7/386 v. CA XI.

Shafiq 101*, Bhatti 56*, Pope 5/100.

[K]

"Steven Smith fronted his Australian team-mates to apologise for drawing a dissent charge and fine in the Sheffield Shield as the captain Tim Paine reminded all members of the squad that they need to maintain standards of behaviour "regardless of who we're playing for", as they ramped up preparations for the Pakistan Test series."

(cricinfo)

[K]

I can't wait to see if the Oz batting line-up can cope with a 16-year-old.

But if there's a batting collapse, we should request medical proof of age, not for eligibility purposes but for pride purposes.

[K]

Youngest Test debutants against Australia

Harbhajan Singh 17y 265d, India v Australia, Bengaluru, March 25, 1998
Intikhab Alam 17y 341d, Pakistan v Australia, Karachi, December 4, 1959
AG Milkha Singh 18y 13d, India v Australia, Chennai, January 13, 1960
Majid Khan 18y 26d, Pakistan v Australia, Karachi, October 24, 1964

Youngest Test debutants in Australia

Ian Craig 17y 239d, Australia v South Africa, Melbourne, February 6, 1953
Tom Garrett 18y 232d, Australia v England, Melbourne, March 15, 1877
Mohammad Ilyas 18y 260d, Pakistan v Australia, Melbourne, December 4, 1964
Saleem Elahi 18y 353d, Pakistan v Australia, Brisbane, November 9, 1995

(Fairfax)

[Pies4shaw]

Surely, Khawaja had better credentials, esp. as an opener.

He carried his bat through a 50-over game yesterday and guided Queensland to victory, with wickets tumbling all around (in both innings). I'm not confident that any of the alternative openers (Warner aside) is capable of batting anywhere near that long against a competent attack.

[K]

Obviously there are no good openers on the entire continent.

If Smith is so good, they should just play him as an opener. Make him take one for the team instead of hiding down the order.

[Pies4shaw]

Maybe they should. If he carried his bat 5 times consecutively, perhaps you’d stop pretending he isn’t the best-performed batsman of the last 70 years.

[K]

Grade 1 flat-track bully.

At least the openers may have to face 5 overs of swing before the ball is dead like the pitch.

[Pies4shaw]

I rest my case.

[KenH]

Me and 4 mates are heading to Adelaide for the 2nd test. Will be there for the whole test staying in a 4bdm house, should have an awesome time.