Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

The international summer gets under way in Australia in the coming weeks. The Kiwis are first up, with the opening Test taking place at the Gabba. The Aussies are holding a 2 day camp in preparation, with the 20 man squad as follows;

Steve Smith, David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Andrew Fekete, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Steve O'Keefe, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges.

The mail on Warner is that he might be in doubt, as his injury is still an issue. Cameron Bancroft would appear to be the favourite to open with Warner. Michael Clarke has publicly backed Shaun Marsh for the role.

Darren Lehmann has spoken about the lack of red ball cricket in the lead up to a home Test series. There could be more on that dependent on results this summer.

Corey Anderson has been ruled out of the NZ squad.

Is one of the test going to be a Day night test with a pink ball?

Adelaide they say. The commentators in UAE said the Aussies and Kiwis don't like it.

Promises to be a cracking series. Shame Anderson won't be available.

I am genuinely scared that Shaun Marsh will be opening the batting for us at the Gabba. Southee and Boult must be smiling...

Bancroft please, for heaven's sake!

us??? shanky you do know your not australian dont you??

Good start for NZ against PMXI, runs for Guppy and Latham.

cricketfan90 wrote:us??? shanky you do know your not australian dont you??

cricketfan90 wrote:us??? shanky you do know your not australian dont you??

Typically insightful and relevant, as always! A bit surprised by the lack of your trademark 'lol' at the start and end of your post.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Good start for NZ against PMXI, runs for Guppy and Latham.

Bancroft, Burns and Khawaja, all 3 vying for that opener's slot have failed miserably. Which means Shaun Marsh is probably a lock for the Gabba. Disaster.

I know I'm a bit ahead here but the third test shouldn't count.

PMXI 80-5. Remember the days when the Aussies would pepper their team with long retired players and win, to have a good laugh at the expense of the tourists. Unless that was just v England.

Runs for Carters and Voges bulked out the PMXI innings a bit. The game was played with the pink ball, for added interest. Or plum, or magenta, or whatever.

Bad day for NZ against CAXI, with only two wickets taken, and tons for Burns and Khawaja.

I'm pleased Khawaja got some good runs. I can see him being picked at 3 for the first test.

GarlicJam wrote:I'm pleased Khawaja got some good runs. I can see him being picked at 3 for the first test.

Yeah, I can too. I'm leaning towards Burns to open with Warner, but I can't help but think that the selectors will go with Bancroft.