To paraphrase one former Australian skipper quoting another:
" If you win the toss, then nine times you bat first, and on the tenth occasion you think about it but still bat."
This has was for a long-time the prevailing wisdom; It took 82 years of Test cricket to match the 9 times this has occurred in the past 5 years, with a stretch from 1909 to 1951 where it didn't happen once.
All up, Australia has won the toss and elected to bowl first 93 times, 10.5% of all of their 887 Tests played. The situation this decade has seen 6 wins, 2 losses (+ this Test).
At time of writing (0/140ish), this is the 5th time Australia has conceded a 100 run opening partnership after choosing to bat- the first since the infamous Edgbaston Test in 2005, and is currently the second highest opening partnership conceded in the first innings (the record being 171 in 1970 against the Poms)
Interestingly, Australia's win ratio being sent in to bat (2.192 W/L) is slightly better than when they elect to bowl (2.125)
This is also the 43rd time the Aussies have conceded a hundred run partnership in the first innings of a Test match (and the 74th in the oppositions first team innings, across 1st and 2nd innings of the match)
This is grim.
Edit: stumps day 1- forgot how good Starc is. What a bizarre scorecard
I understand there was a ballot for the centenary test, but are the first 3 days really sold out? I find it hard to believe they are getting 90,000 3 days in a row outside of school holidays. Any word on further ticket releases besides day 4?
Boland has been our best fast bowler on every metric since his debut. Also Head may actually be more of an all rounder than Green, and Labuschagne should never be thrown the ball again.
It is probably the most low profile ICC tournament but I think Australia being such a successful cricket nation at least once. I would also like the chance to go to a champions trophy game as someone who lives in Australia.
So why hasn’t it ever happened. Is the ICC not giving it to Australia or is it Cricket Australia refusing it?
This is the place to discuss anything cricket related that is not quite deserving of its own top-level post, including topics not fully related to Australian cricket.
Greg Lawson tees off at the selectors for their bizarre Maddison selection and keeping the slaughtered lamb in at first drop.
I can't believe there's a debate over Boland/Lyon. Drop Maddison and play the 5 professional bowlers. Go back to what it used to be in the 90s & 2000s before the all rounder obsession functionally destroyed the batting/bowling lineup.