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00:00:01
GSPN Daily Cricket - Ep1 - (WTC Preview)
4 Plays14 days ago
Rohit and Bran Preview the World Test Championship!
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Cricket Enthusiasm
00:00:10
B-Critical
A very good morning and a very happy birthday to Rohit and a good morning to all around the world. Late evening in the Northern Hemisphere. The day has come.
00:00:21
B-Critical
World Test Championship Final, or almost if you're in the UK, half an hour away.
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:00:26
B-Critical
But tonight in Australia. um Yeah, what a day to have your birthday, mate. Day after Roy. Speaking of Roy, his big mate, Mandy Hayden, just got inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, along with five other eminent players of our time.
00:00:46
B-Critical
And um he was actually a little bit earlier than a lot of the others that have been inducted at the same time. So a lot of
World Test Championship Anticipation
00:00:55
B-Critical
people would argue that it's a bit of a late one.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:00:57
B-Critical
And um yeah, what we'll cover mainly today is the World Test Championship final as well. How are you feeling?
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, good. and Thanks for the wishes, Brandon. I'm pretty late. i got You snuck in at 20 minutes to go, but yeah, no, wonderful time to have my birthday. reminds me bit of Christmas, actually, where the whole day, it's not about Christmas, it's about the next day.
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was a Boxing Day test, and I kind of feel it's the same over here. um
00:01:23
B-Critical
Or Boxing Day Eve, as we call it, Christmas in Australia.
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly. So I feel like um my birthday is definitely the World Test Championship, WTCE, which is um yeah very exciting. um You know, strangely enough, Bran, compared to the 2019 World Cup,
00:01:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
um i um relative to what my expectations are, i actually feel a bit more buzz about this game. I think perhaps it's the fact that people are sick and tired of the IPL and the 100 sale and all this T20, which is great, but I think that, you know, it comes to the stage where we've had like six bowls of tim both are cereal and we just want to have some real food.
00:02:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, yeah, so i' I think there is a bit of excitement and I think being a one-off test and two historically um dominant out ah Southern Hemisphere teams playing against the Duke ball, it should be a spectacle. I mean, it's the first, i mean, wouldn't have thought I'd see Australia play Africa in a test in England in my lifetime. So,
00:02:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very happy to be here.
00:02:24
B-Critical
With the Jigs ball, yeah, that combination is definitely a first. And um yeah, you talked about the 2019 World Cup and the buzz around it. Is that you personally or is that just a general feeling on the ground in London?
Australia Team Lineup Speculations
00:02:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I get up for everything, so it's not me. I mean, obviously, I'm talking more about relative to what my expectations were, that that it wouldn't be mentioned at all.
00:02:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
People wouldn't talk it. just feel that there's a little bit of excitement. but And I think maybe not if it's not excitement, it's a bit of the unknown. People just don't know what to expect, but they know it'll be good.
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, to see players like Robada and Jansen go up up against like Lyce of Smith, and head, um yeah, its it's mouthwatering. And then you have the same with the likes Stubbs and Markham up against the Aussie, Quicken.
00:03:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Both teams have announced their lineups the day before the game, which is great for the administrators and broadcasters and fans as well. um And I think that from Australia's lineup, it with pretty so um was to be honest.
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
but based It was a lineup that all the pundits were expecting, like Riggie Ponting, where they the two main um questions were around the opener and who's going to be the third seamer. And I personally think sanity prevailed with Lavishane and Hazelwood, the tried and tested um yeah team members trying and tested soldiers of this great Australian team I mean I mean i know i mean keen to get your thoughts are you you are you leading the same way yeah
00:03:57
B-Critical
Yeah, well, you mentioned that it was good of them to get the teams out because, I mean, it definitely saved us a lot of time. We would have spent half of this episode speculating, I guess. Now we can just give our thoughts on it.
00:04:09
B-Critical
um Look, I make no secret of the fact, New South Wales boy, I'm a big Sam Constance fan. um But, yeah, look, at on a very practical level as well. um Look, Cummins explained it really well.
00:04:21
B-Critical
I thought it would make sense to pick him, but given the fact um that,
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:04:27
B-Critical
they didn't pick him in Sri Lanka. It was kind of very telling. Now that he's coming up, and I mean, they make Sri Lanka out like it was India. At the end of the day, Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka isn't the same as India in India.
00:04:41
B-Critical
um So they talked about conditions, but it was a very weak side over there and it was an opportunity for Constance to come in, potentially score 100. but you know, he didn't play there. So does it really make sense now to put him in? If this is being treated as a final, then it doesn't make a lot of sense to put him in.
00:04:59
B-Critical
But then Cummins was very careful the way he worded that when he an announced the team, he was very careful to say that because this is the equivalent of a final, they are picking the team just for one game with no future
Bowling Strategy and Player Debates
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
but I just... But, Brent, I find that a bit, you know, i mean, i i find that just...
00:05:14
B-Critical
the without the West Indies tour in mind.
00:05:17
B-Critical
so
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, like just empty words, really. Like, if you're saying that you, on one hand, yeah ah Australians say that every test is important, right?
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we don't you don't really have, like, project players. And I don't, unless you're replacing someone like Khawaja because of his age, I don't see Constance getting in, I mean, Constance getting in unless Lavishane failed.
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, would do you see it the same way?
00:05:48
B-Critical
Well, if Labashain now, in retrospect, that he's being picked, if he does well, well, he stays. He's in the side. There's no two ways about that.
00:05:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a bit like JL.
00:05:58
B-Critical
um
00:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think JL was a civil age when he got promoted to an opener as well back in 2000.
00:05:59
B-Critical
But then in...
00:06:03
B-Critical
Yeah, that's true. But it's also, what, this is his... ah Well, he's been at three for a while. He's done well at three in England. it's It's a really, it's a tough one. But if he does poorly, ah I think they will say he's had enough chances. There's also that other whole argument that he has been part of the team that's got Australia to the final.
00:06:27
B-Critical
So should he be in the final? I mean, I think...
00:06:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But this isn't a tournament. like that's in In that situation, you have a squad of 15. So, like I mean, at the end of the day, Australia is here to win silverware, right?
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And this is what they... Just like the way they picked Manus in the World Cup final, I just think it makes sense that um there's no reason, I don't think, to drop Manus at this stage. It'll be, I think, a big statement. i think it was' an It wouldn't be wouldn to make the other players feel good, I feel, if Manus has dropped at this stage because he has made a lot of contributions,
00:07:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the recent past where batting conditions have largely been quite tricky. And yeah Travis Head as well until last summer. Travis Head a very poor summer when the West Indies and Pakistan toured 2024-25.
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
i just And he had a very poor couple of years before that. So um I think it's great. And then the other one was Hazelwood versus Boland. being i know you said you claimed to be a bit of a blue bagger at the top of the call, but I know youre you were very keen on Boland's inclusion.
00:07:34
B-Critical
Yeah, look, they oh there's no, let's not i hide the fact I'm a soft spot for Scotty Boland.
00:07:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I
00:07:41
B-Critical
Always have. Was very excited since he debuted. And look, he's absolutely done nothing wrong. But he's just come in the era of the greatest, um one of the greatest attacks, probably the greatest all-round attack Australia's ever had.
00:07:55
B-Critical
I'm not saying, you know, Cummins is as good as McGrath. a lot of people do, though. But that overall attack, that overall
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know. Common needs to play exactly as well as he's had his whole career. um to Again, ah and to be the same as
00:08:12
B-Critical
fair not Fair enough, fair enough. I mean, there was that stat, I guess, where about three years ago, Cummins' highest ever ICC rating is higher than McGrath's has ever been.
00:08:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, but like, I mean...
00:08:26
B-Critical
And it hit that peak three years ago. But look, I agree with you. I still put Ray McGrath a bit higher. I mean, they're both perfect bowlers.
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not. look I think
00:08:31
B-Critical
But my point is, I guess my greater point is this. Cummins, Hazelwood and Stark is probably overall greater than McGrath, Gillespie and Lee. right.
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
but then what But what we're talking about then, if you're talking about the least standard deviation between the four four bowlers, which means that the least variance in terms of the skill set between the four bowlers, then yes, like I think all four of them are probably better than Lee and Gillespie.
00:08:42
B-Critical
Sure.
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But whether they're better than McGrath and Warren, I mean i think it's hard to say at this stage because it's
00:09:07
B-Critical
sure I was just looking at the pace quartet. Obviously, when you throw McGrath, one warning in there, it's warning and McGrath look almost makes for the best attack of all time.
00:09:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll have the two-speed economy. We'll have the two-speed economy.
00:09:17
B-Critical
Yeah.
00:09:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
You have Warner McGrath, the mining boom.
00:09:19
B-Critical
Mate, you're getting a bit technical here with standard deviations and two-speed economies for me.
00:09:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, no. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I will say, I mean, that would be harsh on Gillespie and Lee. But, you know, but anyway, we're getting...
00:09:29
B-Critical
Oh, look, they were great bowlers in their own right, but getting sidetracked.
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah.
00:09:33
B-Critical
But, um yeah, look, definitely think that Scott Boland, it's almost like,
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did
00:09:38
B-Critical
He's almost like the Joel Garner, the fourth bowler that can't make the side, but he's great. Do you know what i mean?
00:09:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
you say about Boland?
00:09:45
B-Critical
Yeah, so Bowling, look, he's just come in the great one of the great eras of Australian fast bowling.
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
like It's the Stewie McGill effect.
00:09:51
B-Critical
And look, you've got yay many guys with all over 250 wickets, all averaging. What can you do? 100%.
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the Stewie McGill effect.
00:10:01
B-Critical
Yep.
00:10:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, we've had, you know, Damien Martin, the sideline batsman, you know, middle order with Ponting, Langer, the Wall brothers.
00:10:03
B-Critical
yeah
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So this is, I mean, it's not new. I find any, I i think anyone who advocates for Bolin's inclusion, in my opinion, it quote it shouldn't have it can't be at Hazelwood's expense.
00:10:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
right? You could argue that he's better than Stark, but he's a different sort of bowler to Stark. And he's batting also, you know, a lot worse. So I think um the only like-for-like player is Hazelwood. And I'm sorry, on the back of being the best, arguably one of the best bowlers in IPL, who's just won a trophy. I just think, I mean,
00:10:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah You know, if Marnus was a vibes check, well, Hazelwood is an on-paper and a vibes check. And I just think it's very sad for Scott Bolton. But the way i look at it, he played the last WS Championship, I think, quite luckily ahead of Hazelwood.
00:10:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I just think it's – I think the other great thing is it gives Hazelwood the opportunity to join his teammates, you know, Warner Smith, um at Cummins and Stark as the only cricketer to win all three format um' trophies.
00:11:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that'll be a cool achievement.
00:11:16
B-Critical
Look, it's great for his legacy. um Bowling can be considered lucky to have played last time, even though his form was immaculate. He can be considered unlucky based on being the best bowler in the World Test Championship last time. But I still agree with you.
00:11:33
B-Critical
Taking all things into account, even without the IPL, I don't think that IPL, it doesn't take anything away, but I don't think it really adds. I guess it shows he's still in form. But Australia's...
00:11:45
B-Critical
best three bowlers, best combination is playing. ah Boland is better than Stark, possibly, ah but yeah, a left armour, a swing bowler at Lord's.
00:11:57
B-Critical
Imagine Stark bowling down the hill at Lord's, like, come on, like, we're not leaving him out. Obviously, we're not leaving the captain out, and he's arguably the best, so I think we're we're in agreement here, like, with the bowlers.
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah but well well we are but admittedly offline offline last week you were pushing for bowlands inclusion over hazelwood now but it was like that's purely ah that's purely a personal preference but not in terms of but if you were a chief selector
00:12:13
B-Critical
I would love Boland to be there.
00:12:19
B-Critical
Emotional. And I think that's what the sentiment is. I think people who want Bolin in there, it's, he's a hard yakker, grinding.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's a good guy.
00:12:28
B-Critical
He's a lovable guy. I'm not saying Hazelwood's not.
00:12:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
not
00:12:31
B-Critical
Hazelwood maybe is a, we don't get much of an insight into his personality.
00:12:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's Hazel God.
00:12:35
B-Critical
But um yeah, at the end of the day.
00:12:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hazel God. He's Hazel God over there in Bangalore. So, um yeah, no, that's
00:12:41
B-Critical
There you go. But um look, it'll just add to his year. I just hope, obviously, after... i think if if their bodies are in good nick and they all pull through, fantastic. um It's a testing side. At the end of the day, man, if someone picks up a niggle, Boland replaces one of the quicks in the West Indies.
00:12:59
B-Critical
Well, he can pick up a bag or two over there against their shoddy batting line-up.
00:13:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, if he makes a team.
00:13:03
B-Critical
So...
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, this is a team that kept Jimmy Pattinson out. So I feel like um there's no shame to be 12th man is in this Australian team.
00:13:12
B-Critical
Oh, definitely not. I don't think he feels that.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:14
B-Critical
I think he feels that every test he has is lucky. He said he was he didn't think he'd play last summer. He thought he was pretty much done.
00:13:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
Batting Strategy and Lineup Adaptability
00:13:21
B-Critical
So, um yeah, he's one of those guys who's shone at the right or wrong time. Look, i don't would he be averaging freaking 20 odd if he didn't if played when he was 25?
00:13:33
B-Critical
Maybe not. say But it would he have had more tests?
00:13:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:35
B-Critical
Possibly. so um
00:13:37
B-Critical
Look, definitely...
00:13:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think it's so Australia picked the right team.
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
say We both agree, I feel. And what are your thoughts on Labish, Amy? Are you happy with this team?
00:13:45
B-Critical
Oh, I think Australia's picked the right bowling attack. um I'm not, um I think Flavishain was lucky to play in Sri Lanka as well as the World Cup's Championship final.
00:13:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what about the MCG test? yeah But what about the MCG test?
00:14:00
B-Critical
judy what do you What about it? So you're saying
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, he got 270 when Boomerang was tearing through the team. It was because of him and Cummins' partnership that Boomerang broke down probably in Sydney, right?
00:14:12
B-Critical
Oh, okay, I thought you meant should he have been selected for the MCG test. Okay, yeah he did play well in the MCG test.
00:14:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, he got 270. No, no, no, he not just well, he was mass winning at the end.
00:14:22
B-Critical
It was match saving, match winning in the end because we won the game.
00:14:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that was just...
00:14:26
B-Critical
um Yeah, look, he he grinded. um
00:14:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, from memory, Australia had a lead of like 100 oh when he came in and then him and Cummins.
00:14:36
B-Critical
no he's he's there's no there's no taking away. his His innings in Melbourne was crucial. Right. And, but then yeah we don't, look we look collectively, right. We don't look at one test that was four tests ago for the, for the final.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But I'm saying even, and no matter, even if you, I'm saying that the way you, the way that you pick like a ah young buck like Sam Constance for a dead rubber,
00:15:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or if there's no other of i mean obvious options. I think similarly, Lavishain has not done enough to be dropped, in my opinion. And um yeah, but I think.
00:15:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, to select this thing the same way. Now, um just to go through the team then, so we have Usman Khawaja Lavishain opening. So we have the Queensland um partnership there.
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
One thing I noticed about this team is that it represents all six states of Australia. So we have Cameron Green from WA at three, Steve Smith at four, ah Head um at five.
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then you have Bo Webster from Tasmania at six, the slug from Slug. um Then we have Alex Carey, the keeper, again from South Australia.
00:15:43
B-Critical
Well, Quadra opening we have at queen Queensland officially now.
00:15:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what said. Yeah, we have... That's I mean.
00:15:48
B-Critical
I think you skipped.
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah.
00:15:49
B-Critical
sorry. I thought you skipped that one. Okay. Okay.
00:15:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
no, no. So, think we've got the bowling attack, as we discussed, with the awesome foursome Lions, Dark Hazelwood, Cummins. So, um yeah, no, I think the Australian team, I mean, look, they're favourites.
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think everyone says they're favourites. It just depends on how big. I'm hearing um some punit um'm an African pundits saying 70-30. The best I heard is forty sixty But, yeah, I do feel that Australia should be strong favourites. But being a one-off test, having Robata in your line-up and a couple of gun batsmen like Tristan Stubb, Bavuma and Markram,
00:16:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
it like It just takes one session for, it just takes a couple of sessions, right, for the game to change. and Yeah, but and it's an opportunity for some young players to make a name for themselves.
00:16:39
B-Critical
Well, Boomer could have the...
00:16:44
B-Critical
ah Sorry, Rabada can have the Boomer effect, right? Like at the end of the day, he can make Australia's batting look fragile. And I mean, you mentioned the MCG test as well, where Manus scored that 70 in that second inning. No one else really got over 45 from memory.
00:17:02
B-Critical
um So um at the end of the day, all it takes is one. it could be a low scoring game. I'm predicting a low low scoring game. When it was the last time Australia played on swinging wickets against a bowling attack like that?
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:16
B-Critical
So both ways, whereas, and on the other hand, South Africa, I think it's only Rickleton averaging over 40. Do you know what I mean? So I don't think that it's going to be with Australia's bowling attack and South Africa's quicks as well.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:17:30
B-Critical
I don't think it's going to be a high scoring test. um So it, It's anyone's, the odds are, Australia are strong favorites.
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:17:37
B-Critical
It's about, I think $1.40 last time I checked. I don't think, I think that's a bit, too that's a bit too low. um I do think it's, um yeah, South Africa have a chance for sure.
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no I think so. I think so. And look, um got the other question to ask just with wild alreadyity team before we focus on the South African team is that I had a question about ah batting positions has once again raised its ugly head um where cameron greens where rather than opening with Cameron Green and batting Lavishain at three, they decided to go this way. Now, both Smith and Cameron Green this week have a come out and said that, I mean, Steve Smith categorically said that whether he's opening on number four, it's very little difference for him, preparation-wise.
00:18:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Cameron Green as well said that pretty much all professional, he made a good point in saying know all professional cricket batsmen um in junior grade play in the top four and it's only, only become five and six when they go to state level, where try and fit in wherever they fit best. And, um,
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I actually really like this. I think that all cricket teams should play. I mean, all-rounder aside, ah think your top five batsmen should play. And if you're if you play at the international level, right, i have there's no reason why you can't open, in my opinion.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it seems like the it seems very superstitious. And more than practical. And I just find it really... Are you saying that a lot of these players, if they made a World XI, they wouldn't bat at six?
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they would. So for me, I'm i'm happy Australia's relationship.
00:19:20
B-Critical
Look, I think the rhetoric for a long part of our lives, 4, 5 and 6, there's not much in it. right um But I think that openers in Australia have for a long time been classified as a specialist position.
00:19:35
B-Critical
Like when Kwaidja came back into the Australian side, contrary to that, he came in seamlessly as an opener after batting at 4 for Queensland in the lead up.
00:19:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
but he But he's batted as an opener for Australia and he's done he done he did well even before when he was a makeshift opener. You're thinking Adelaide, 16-5.
00:19:52
B-Critical
And he, exactly, and he was that 92 versus South Africa, yeah, exactly. So he's coming, he's done it seamlessly even, yeah, even when he was playing in the Australian side at three.
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Justin Langer. Langer never opened.
00:20:03
B-Critical
And I guess Ponting went from six to three as well, didn't he, essentially?
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
He batted at three his whole life.
00:20:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But he always batted at three, I think. I think Ponting was someone always batted at three at state level um beforehand.
00:20:13
B-Critical
Oh, for sure, for sure, he just fitted in.
00:20:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:15
B-Critical
So yeah, that that adds to your, ah you know, your theory about fitting in for sure, but...
00:20:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Point. Yeah,
00:20:21
B-Critical
I think, yeah, it's a hard one because i what I don't like...
00:20:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's superstition. come it's It's like, in my opinion, it's like where you sit in the dressing room, in the locker room, right? Like 100%, dude, that place looks better with, you know, um Billy over there. He sat there for five years.
00:20:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But really, he could swap. And it might be a bit weird at first, but in a couple of weeks, you'll get used to it. that's I mean, you know, that's what I think. But anyways, go ahead.
00:20:46
B-Critical
Well, like Quadra made a good point in the media when he talked to Wenz. before it was officially announced, but when we started to get the feeling and he's like, if you're batting at three, if the opener gets our first ball, you're essentially opening anyway.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:00
B-Critical
So there's coming from three to open ah isn't huge. Manus has come in early plenty of times, including couple of times in England. um So i don't think that's,
00:21:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
played Jopra Archer on, like, the spiciest deck on his debut at Lord. I mean, yeah, he's definitely able to do this.
00:21:22
B-Critical
Well, in form, he's definitely able to do it.
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:25
B-Critical
A lot of people, like Michael Clarke mentioned on his podcast, that he thought that um it's kind of like...
00:21:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But no one's played cricket for six months. No one's played test cricket for six months. Like, what form are we going? Are we going on his county form?
00:21:36
B-Critical
Sure. But he made a point saying that the fact that he's opening, it's kind of an indication that it's his last chance for him.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:44
B-Critical
Like, he's essentially been sacked from three, and it's like fitted in.
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's true.
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:49
B-Critical
um So, yeah, let's see. And how much how much of a chance does he get as well? Does he get one test open? Or does he get the Windy Series as well? And what does that mean for the Ashes? Does that mean that Constance doesn't get any cricket before the
Future of Australian Cricket: Retirements and Reflections
00:22:04
B-Critical
Ashes?
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, why is Constance, it was seen as a lock for the Ashes? I find his rhetoric crazy.
00:22:08
B-Critical
He's not. That's the thing. He's not. But what I'm saying is, what I'm saying is, if he doesn't play before, he almost doesn't play then.
00:22:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why is he even... Like, my point is...
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Cameron Bancroft, but Cameron Bancroft debuted in 2017 Ashes.
00:22:16
B-Critical
Does that make sense?
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's the big deal? Everyone's talking about it. Like, you need some season campaign.
00:22:22
B-Critical
That's true.
00:22:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, this is just garbage. This is, like like, why are we talking about the Ashes now, I feel, when there's four tests coming up? We don't even know who might retire between now and then. We don't even know.
00:22:34
B-Critical
Now, that's a good point.
00:22:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
but I just find, like, all this sort of talk sometimes, a bit on a nose, but...
00:22:40
B-Critical
Well, on that note of retiring, um so I think, um, was quite just given us given a strong indication that he's not retiring anytime as soon.
00:22:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope he doesn't.
00:22:49
B-Critical
And, um,
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I really hope he doesn't. I hope he stays till the 27 Ashes, really. I hope his whole team stays till the 27 Ashes. And I heard Cummins...
00:22:57
B-Critical
Well, that's ah that's generally been, I mean, obviously there's the famous, you know, Ashes where Hayden, 06, where Hayden, McGrath and Warner retired the same time.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:09
B-Critical
um So Ashes is like kind of the circle, cycle, I should say, that Australian and English people ah players often operate on. kind of like World Cups in one day is for other teams, like, um you know, similar to our Sharma and Kohli, sorry, not Ishan, Rohit Sharma and Kohli both retired after the T20 World Cup that India won.
00:23:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh...
00:23:34
B-Critical
um So, yeah, look, it's, ah I don't think anyone will retire before that, yeah, for sure. But, yeah, we'll wait and see and, yeah,
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
You just don't know. I didn't think Koli and Rohit would have retired um when they did. We should do another podcast on that, actually. ah But, yeah, I mean, that's... Yeah, you just don't know. But I feel that this... I just think Sam Constance gets too much... Like, I feel... ah This is, again, nothing against Sam Constance. I love him as a player and what he did at the MCG. But I definitely don't think he's done enough to... um to warrant speculation as to why he's not in the team.
00:24:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, he should be dominating Shields. It should be a situation like Kawhi...
00:24:20
B-Critical
He didn't, he didn't, everyone's excited about him. Everyone's excited about him and everyone's people are a bit frustrated at Martin. It's like, but we we have high standards for our cricketers and, you know, when they're not doing, delivering, um then, you know, we call for action.
00:24:37
B-Critical
So I think there's a bit a bit of that plays into it. Am I saying that Consta should definitely a lock? Absolutely not. did Do I think Australia missed an opportunity by not letting him play in Sri Lanka?
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:46
B-Critical
Possibly. Yes, Manas had a good game in Melbourne. Match saving for sure. um But match winning even because that was the end outcome. But what about the test after that? What about the three, d four, five tests before that?
00:25:00
B-Critical
Do you know what I mean? So it's a, you know, we demand consistency as well. Not that, Constance has got that at international level, but he hasn't even been given the opportunity to either.
00:25:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:10
B-Critical
So, yeah, look, I'd like to have seen him in Sri Lanka, but given the fact that he wasn't picked there, I don't mind as much now that they've stuck with this team for the final.
00:25:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sure. Now, and just ah do a quick recap on Australia's part before we go to South Africa. I mean, Australia, I think, has by far been the best team this cycle. ah Factoring in the quality of opposition they've had to play as well. I mean, they had an away Ashes in 2013 as well as a five-test Porto Gavisca trophy at home. But look, these cycles are designed for Australia and England to um play each other at least once in a cycle and same in India. And I think...
00:25:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that always makes it a bit skewed. And I think... um But Australia, really, they lost a shock game against the West Indies.
00:25:56
B-Critical
Thank you.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
They lost a shock game at Perth, which was bit against the grain, in what people expected. But I i feel that... um and And then again, in England, 2023, feel that they...
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um apart from one of the games in Manchester where they comfortably lost, a bit like Perth, I think the Oval game and the Brisbane game were could have gone either way. So I feel overall they had a pretty good World Test
South Africa's Test Championship Journey
00:26:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Championship. Now, that hasn't been the case for South Africa, and it's been the source of a lot of a lot of chat really chatter around the cricketing world, where, in my opinion, South Africa have done wonderfully well to get to the second ranking.
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But um and there's a lot of sour grapes from especially English and Indian fans who I thought, you know, especially India, dropped the ball and not getting hit.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whereas England really... um You use the excuse of playing a lot of games, but then I'm using the Australian example who play a similar amount games. The other thing I will say about the South African run, i think they won eight or seven in a row um to get here.
00:27:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
This reminds me very much of Michael Vaughan's English team back in 2004 when Steve Harmison...
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And got ah um got seven for the West Indies. And they won 3-0 there when Brian Lara um you know prevented the whitewash with his 400. And then they whitewashed New Zealand and the West Indies at home. So they won 10 out of 11 games.
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they were the second-ranked team in 2004. Now, everyone back back then in Australia, because England were, you know back in the ninety s and the early two thousand they were on the wrong side of results all the time against Australia. People were like, how on earth could the POM be number two?
00:27:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then they went on to beat South Africa at home. And then they won the Ashes in 2005. So I think that there's no other team who credibly deserves to be in this final.
00:28:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's the bottom line. And um one of the benefits. Yeah. So, I mean, what are your thoughts on that?
00:28:08
B-Critical
Well, look, in boxing, there's a saying, you can only fight who they put in front of you. And I think that applies here. Like what was South Africa meant to do? um There's this tournament, ah there's this future tours program or whatever they call it these days, where it's really designed for Australia, England, and India to play each other within the cycle, at least once every two years.
00:28:34
B-Critical
um So given that, look, Australia obviously did well. There's no questioning their position there, especially beating India in a series at home, which everyone thought would be, you know, much more competitive.
00:28:45
B-Critical
South Africa also, they drew, started off by drawing with India at home. I mean, they have never lost to India at home.
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:54
B-Critical
um So you could say that was almost expected, but this was probably the weakest, one of the weakest sides playing.
00:28:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean... Yeah.
00:29:00
B-Critical
Well, this was probably one of the strongest Indian sides to tour.
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
You
00:29:04
B-Critical
South Africa and one of the weakest South Africa sides, especially their batting um back then. And then, so they drew that and then they had the giveaway series.
00:29:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
went to West Indies?
00:29:17
B-Critical
Now before that, during the South Africa T20, they sent a third string side to New Zealand.
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why are you New Zealand? That's right. Yeah.
00:29:25
B-Critical
So they actually got off on a really bad foot. They lost three out of their for first first four tests of this cycle. Okay, so even after that, it was almost a write-off at the time.
00:29:38
B-Critical
Like, you know, test nuffies like us were very upset. They'd never lost a Series 2 New Zealand ever, home or away.
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:45
B-Critical
And this was basically a giveaway um where, you know, people play.
00:29:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:49
B-Critical
I think there was a couple of guys there that was, there were a couple of guys.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Roboto was pissed off. I remember Roboto.
00:29:53
B-Critical
Oh, yeah, he was pissed off. But they this was their market. This was their opportunity for, like we talk about the financial inequality in cricket. Well, SAT20 was their opportunity too.
00:30:05
B-Critical
equalise it. um West Indies, they won comfortably um and same in Bangladesh. Again, weak opposition, but they did what they were supposed to do.
00:30:16
B-Critical
ah Keep in mind, Australia lost the test to the West Indies at home.
00:30:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:21
B-Critical
So yeah we can't actually we can't exactly write West Indies off either, especially when away, you know, South Africa will beat West Indies in the West Indies.
00:30:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
00:30:31
B-Critical
Australia have also in the past lost... two series, ah sorry, one series and even a test in another series to Bangladesh in Bangladesh.
00:30:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. but the one yeah
00:30:40
B-Critical
South Africa beat South Africa. Just one test.
00:30:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, one test.
00:30:43
B-Critical
My apologies.
00:30:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
England and Australia didn't win in Bangladesh the last time they played.
00:30:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:30:52
B-Critical
Yep. Correct. Well, let's, let's, let's, let's pull, let's go on Australia specifically. That's where the benchmark is Australia.
00:30:58
B-Critical
When like made the final,
00:30:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But England's ranked number two.
00:31:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But England's ranked number two. South Africa's ranked number three. So I'm saying that in the top two teams haven't been in Bangladesh at home.
00:31:09
B-Critical
Is England ranked two in the test rankings right now, are they?
00:31:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that was a change. Yeah, so I mean, I think they refreshed the rankings.
00:31:13
B-Critical
Oh, wow.
00:31:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's basically... There's a rolling... It's like a rolling criteria, right? So it's based on like last year's performances and I don't think they've reached a Pakistan tour yet. But yeah.
00:31:25
B-Critical
fair not Fair enough, fair enough.
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:26
B-Critical
So basically, yeah, after the West Indies, they played, Sri Lanka in South Africa and they did what they were supposed to do there as well. They beat them 2-0.
00:31:40
B-Critical
Keep in mind, Sri Lanka have won a series in South Africa before, so it wasn't like an absolute gimme.
00:31:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:31:45
B-Critical
And then, as expected, they also beat Pakistan and not just...
00:31:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
paper but but that was a no they did but but no but they were eye washed on paper but they won the second game or the first test by two wicket where Rupata was batting like Brian Lara I think right so like dave and yeah like they
00:31:51
B-Critical
Like, they whitewashed them. They whitewashed them, so they...
00:32:04
B-Critical
That happens though, right? That happens from time to time.
00:32:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But i like but i'm saying that I'm saying that they won that test knowing that the World Test Championship was a carrot that was dangled in front of them. And I think the I saw on the with Wisdom podcast that apparently Shukri Conrad, the opinionated coach of all formats now for South Africa, um he gave them a bit of a talking to in a dressing room using the C word.
00:32:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
um cho And now we're down like a lead balloon.
00:32:33
B-Critical
Oh, okay. The worst word in South African literature.
00:32:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And now we're down like a lead balloon, but, um you know, South Africa won that. So I think it's almost, it's very similar to the 2004 Michael Vaughan team, his Booboova team, where they, like you said, they've beaten everyone in front of them.
00:32:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And their economic... their their economic dis disadvantage compared to um compared to other compared to the other players.
00:33:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. go Yeah. So i mean, yeah. Yeah.
00:33:11
B-Critical
Yeah, exactly. And which is which is awesome that they made it because given at the end of the day, this this whole setup is designed for Australia, England, India, um you know, to really flourish.
00:33:22
B-Critical
And World Test Championship has been a bit of an equaliser in that regard because we saw New Zealand come through the first time winning a two.
00:33:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I agree.
00:33:31
B-Critical
ah the the The way the tournament is, is that but if you play two Test series, you benefit. um So, I mean, if Australia and England and India want to qualify, well,
00:33:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you benefit because going it's more, because you get points per series, not per test match. So the less tests you have, you get more points per test.
00:33:44
B-Critical
Exactly.
00:33:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so that is an advantage and a disadvantage because it means each test is more important, right? So one bad session,
00:33:51
B-Critical
yeah means exactly.
00:33:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's not as simple as that. I actually am very, um i get very angry at people who criticize the World Test Championship because it it's they've made something out of a very difficult situation where this is not a tournament, it's a notional tournament. And this game ensures that other teams who aren't so financially viable have something to play for. And so I
Final Predictions and Strategic Insights
00:34:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
think it's great. But just looking at the South African team, Brian, whether it is,
00:34:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
um What are your thoughts on the team? I mean, I think the team looks great. If you go, you've got Rickleton and Markram at the top, right? yeah have We have Wian Malda, the all-rounder at three.
00:34:30
B-Critical
Yeah, I think Rickleton has a massive future ahead of him.
00:34:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:36
B-Critical
Yeah, he's he looks great. He reminds me a bit of Quinton de Quoc, except I think he can be better. um So yeah, yeah yeah just his some of his back foot shots, um he looks very much like, ah to me at least, he reminds me of Quinton.
00:34:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah. That's big praise, man.
00:34:53
B-Critical
Um, but, um, yeah, look, their fast bowling attack, um, is a split by Rabada, the greatest strike rate of all time for bowlers with what 300 plus wickets.
00:35:05
B-Critical
Uh, sorry, 250, 250 plus wickets.
00:35:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or 200 plus weekends. 200 plus weekends.
00:35:09
B-Critical
Oh, is that the start 200? Okay.
00:35:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I don't know if Boomer overtaken him, but yeah, it definitely was.
00:35:10
B-Critical
so
00:35:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I think, yeah, it's either Boomer or it's him. don't know what Boomer is.
00:35:18
B-Critical
So, yeah, look, I think that, um, I, I mean, look, they've, besides some unfortunate early retirements um that wouldn't, aren't in the picture anyway.
00:35:28
B-Critical
I mean, Klaassen, who's in the test set up anyway, hasn't been for a while, which is a shame.
00:35:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:35:34
B-Critical
He had a great first class record and he could have been, but just wasn't for circumstances.
00:35:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, Carson on one hand, look, it's a different, I mean, we can get into that in a moment, but I'm really annoyed about um Nokia not playing here. And I think it's a bit like Shukri Conrad, the new coach. My understanding from what I'm reading is that a little bit more than, um who's the new New Zealand coach? Who was coached? Rob Walters.
00:36:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Walters, right? Yeah. and the current The former South African coach, he was ah from my understanding, he was quite flexible. um when When it comes to the South African landscape, a bit like the West Indies and New Zealand, um a lot of players opt for like these hybrid contracts where they can but opt to play some crucial games but then um freelance for the rest of the year.
00:36:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think Walters was able to have some sort of agreement, but Shukri Conrad is a bit firmer about South Africa first, which is and which is on one hand understandable, but probably not the most pragmatic if it means that you are losing players like Klassen and Nokia for events like this, which if it's anything like the 1995 World Cup, rugby World Cup, this could definitely, I would not say it'll have the same impact, but it could it could really reinvigorate South African cricket. So I really wish that South Africa put their best foot forward.
00:36:58
B-Critical
Yeah, look, let's wait and see, mate. It's ah less than, oh, about 10 hours away now.
00:37:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:37:04
B-Critical
ah Yeah, what's your, look, my final tip, I think Australia win. um I think that I want to just go with Hazelwood and say he becomes man of the match.
00:37:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so.
00:37:16
B-Critical
If it's a bowler, if it's a batsman,
00:37:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope he gets his first tenfer. There's my prediction.
00:37:21
B-Critical
If it's a batsman, I'd probably give it to, I think Kwajah might have a good showing at a decent, well, he was the best of the batsmen in the last Ashes Tour, started this tournament well. um I think he'll, people in the past have questioned his ability against top fast bowling attacks and they say that he came good only, it was a, you know, Boomer had his number for sure um and then Sri Lanka were a weak attack. So I think he has something to prove.
00:37:49
B-Critical
ah Final prediction, Rohit.
00:37:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so we'll go through, but before I get into predictions, I want to finish off the rest the line-up. So we have Markram and um Rickleton. Markram's known quantity who, on his day, is one of the best players in the world.
00:38:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then, Leon Mulder's an exciting one because he brings that all-round option. um And he got 100 recently in Bangladesh, which is one of demands is inclusion.
00:38:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the team. Um, but Vuma, he's in the form of his life at number four. Uh, I thought about it five, but where he had most of his success, but he's moving up to four. I expect him to, um, uh, yeah, be his regular nugget himself. I think he's become, and I think he's become quite dependable.
00:38:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, and yeah, so then we have the rest of the barring lineup where we have, um, where Patristan stubs at five. Right.
00:38:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um,
00:38:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
At six, we have Carl Verena.
00:38:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And um we with the bowlers, there's Ngedi, Rabada, Maharaj. And number six.
00:39:02
B-Critical
is Janssen, isn't it?
00:39:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's Jansen, Maharaj, Ngedi, and Rabada, the four bowlers.
00:39:12
B-Critical
Yeah, and look, Janssen as well, I think he could it could be really effective with his bowling in English conditions as well.
00:39:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. i So, yeah i mean, my prediction for this game, um i yeah as it be think Australia is going to win comfortably.
00:39:36
B-Critical
Yeah, I think it'll be done in four days as well. But, mate, let's just wait and see. We'll give updates throughout the um throughout the game as well. We'll touch on other areas such as the Hall of Fame. We'll do a deep dive into that as well um probably in two days' time. But, um mate, catch you at the game. Enjoy. Wish I was there.
00:39:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, look forward to it. I'll give you an update from the game tomorrow. Take care.