Australia V England , 4th Test, 25.12. 2025, 23:30

[Fleagle]

A couple of bizarre stats so far this series...

Crawley is the third in the table for most runs behind Head and Carey.

Carse is second for most wickets, behind Starc.

They’re not bizarre stats, they’re bald facts, but ones that don’t accord with our pre-series prejudices.

That doesn’t mean our prejudices are wrong. It certainly means at least that they didn’t hold this series, but that could be a fluke. We should at least question them and finesse them though.

 

[Parkside]

They’re not bizarre stats, they’re bald facts, but ones that don’t accord with our pre-series prejudices.

That doesn’t mean our prejudices are wrong. It certainly means at least that they didn’t hold this series, but that could be a fluke. We should at least question them and finesse them though.

A small sample size,i.e. 3 or 4 games, will produce bizarre stats. Hardly requires any finesse.It's patently obvious.
Nonetheless, Carse figures are encouraging.

 

[mackem1989]

still not been to sleep yet, flagging like fuck but totally worth it!!

 

[Doogie Hauser]

Very pleased to win. An England win is always great to see.

 

[Fleagle]

A small sample size,i.e. 3 or 4 games, will produce bizarre stats. Hardly requires any finesse.It's patently obvious.
Nonetheless, Carse figures are encouraging.

A small sample may produce statistical outliers. What it produces are still facts.

My argument is that we all went into this series arguing Crawley was crap and should be dropped. He has been the top scorer. That’s an undeniable fact. If we merely respond, I don’t care he’s crap and should be dropped, that’s the sort of arrogance we accuse the bazballers of when they won’t accept the current state of the pitch or whatever.

And to be fair he was ok. His average is still nothing special. He still gets out to daft shots. I’m still totally unconvinced. I’d still look elsewhere. But you have to put a bit of nuance on it. To not look like an arse who is in denial of the reality.

 

[hank evans]

A small sample may produce statistical outliers. What it produces are still facts.

My argument is that we all went into this series arguing Crawley was crap and should be dropped. He has been the top scorer. That’s an undeniable fact. If we merely respond, I don’t care he’s crap and should be dropped, that’s the sort of arrogance we accuse the bazballers of when they won’t accept the current state of the pitch or whatever.

And to be fair he was ok. His average is still nothing special. He still gets out to daft shots. I’m still totally unconvinced. I’d still look elsewhere. But you have to put a bit of nuance on it. To not look like an arse who is in denial of the reality.

At the minute- Duckett drops out before Crawley 2nd innings last week he gave himself a chance and did well. Duckett refuses to leave a ball and will come unstuck non stop against good attacks.

A small sample size,i.e. 3 or 4 games, will produce bizarre stats. Hardly requires any finesse.It's patently obvious.
Nonetheless, Carse figures are encouraging.

Carse is a strange one, consistently picking up wickets- which bazball/stokes are set up for over economy. But his economy is crap

 

[Parkside]

A small sample may produce statistical outliers. What it produces are still facts.

My argument is that we all went into this series arguing Crawley was crap and should be dropped. He has been the top scorer. That’s an undeniable fact. If we merely respond, I don’t care he’s crap and should be dropped, that’s the sort of arrogance we accuse the bazballers of when they won’t accept the current state of the pitch or whatever.

And to be fair he was ok. His average is still nothing special. He still gets out to daft shots. I’m still totally unconvinced. I’d still look elsewhere. But you have to

put a bit of nuance on it. To not look like an arse who is in denial of the reality

Really?
Posters have the right to hold views which are of course subjective. Is not that you accuse them of arrogance and invariably claim the right to correct their viewpoints the very example of arrogance?

 

[Fleagle]

Really?
Posters have the right to hold views which are of course subjective. Is not that you accuse them of arrogance and invariably claim the right to correct their viewpoints the very example of arrogance?

I didn’t mean it personally. Sorry if it came across that way. But it is kind of arrogant to claim facts don’t matter. So if you still think Crawley needs to be binned (and I do by the way) you need a bit of nuance to finesse the fact that he’s been England’s top scorer this series.

Edit - Obviously by “you need” I mean formally “one needs” but that sounds ridiculously old fashioned. If it’s necessary to make sure you don’t think I’m having a go at you personally though please read it in.

 

[Parkside]

I didn’t mean it personally. Sorry if it came across that way. But it is kind of arrogant to claim facts don’t matter. So if you still think Crawley needs to be binned (and I do by the way) you need a bit of nuance to finesse the fact that he’s been England’s top scorer this series.

No one is disputing facts or claiming that they don't matter. What I said was that statistics from a very small sample size aren't convincing evidence. An entirely different concept.

 

[Fleagle]

No one is disputing facts or claiming that they don't matter. What I said was that statistics from a very small sample size aren't convincing evidence. An entirely different concept.

Agreed. But still, if you want to drop the top scoring batter from this series on the basis that he is shit at batting, which I think both of us do, you have to do a bit more work than say the data is bizarre is my point.

 

[Parkside]

Agreed. But still, if you want to drop the top scoring batter from this series on the basis that he is shit at batting, which I think both of us do, you have to do a bit more work than say the data is bizarre is my point.

I've never advocated dropping him, again you're doing my thinking for me and as per usual, you're arguing from a false premise.

 

[hudson88]

still not been to sleep yet, flagging like fuck but totally worth it!!

I went to sleep when we won, woke up at 11 and been like a broken crisp all afternoon

 

[elder]

the MCG curator held a press conference earlier. fair play for showing up but he fucked up massively

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[mackem1989]

I went to sleep when we won, woke up at 11 and been like a broken crisp all afternoon

I’ve Just been playing golf during the night to honour the hero’s

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

the MCG curator held a press conference earlier. fair play for showing up but he fucked up massively

You must be logged on to see media items

He fucked up massively by producing a pitch that was conducive to good bowlers and not conducive to batsmen with poor techniques and limited patience.

In days gone by, that wicket doesn’t produce 36 wickets in 1.75 days play. Not a chance. It was a classic Trent Bridge pitch

 

[elder]

He fucked up massively by producing a pitch that was conducive to good bowlers and not conducive to batsmen with poor techniques and limited patience.

In days gone by, that wicket doesn’t produce 36 wickets in 1.75 days play. Not a chance. It was a classic Trent Bridge pitch

Saying he was worried about days 4 and 5 when it didn’t even get to day 3 is woeful

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

Saying he was worried about days 4 and 5 when it didn’t even get to day 3 is woeful

It’s a really hard job. We’re talking a mm of grass between what we saw and potentially a non contest.

The weather is baking today and tomorrow. I’ve sympathy for him. Day 1 and 2 used to be about hard work for batsmen (usually first innings) with the rewards coming later. There was no hard work from the batsman. Just consistent ill discipline.

We’re being cheated out of good test match cricket

 

[daveyblue45]

He fucked up massively by producing a pitch that was conducive to good bowlers and not conducive to batsmen with poor techniques and limited patience.

In days gone by, that wicket doesn’t produce 36 wickets in 1.75 days play. Not a chance. It was a classic Trent Bridge pitch

The mere fact that we're witnessing the ground curator addressing the media, pretty much sums the whole farce up for me! Cricket Australia and Ticketek have copped a massive financial hit!............. GOOD!!!!

 

[DieselBert]

The main difference to this Test to the last 3 is that we figured how to get Carey and Starc out cheaply. I dont think you can blame the pitch for Carey falling to the trap at gully in the first innings. The pitch was improving, we could have probably chased another 50+ in the 2nd innings.

It wasn't a great pitch but these aren't great cricketers. Other than Head, Carey, Starc, Archer and Stokes the standard across both teams have been really poor. If this is the future then Tedt Cricket is in trouble. The days when Mike Hussey and Ryan Harris had to wait till their 30s to get their Aussie debuts due to the strength in depth seem long gone

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

The main difference to this Test to the last 3 is that we figured how to get Carey and Starc out cheaply. I dont think you can blame the pitch for Carey falling to the trap at gully in the first innings. The pitch was improving, we could have probably chased another 50+ in the 2nd innings.

It wasn't a great pitch but these aren't great cricketers. Other than Head, Carey, Starc, Archer and Stokes the standard across both teams have been really poor. If this is the future then Tedt Cricket is in trouble. The days when Mike Hussey and Ryan Harris had to wait till their 30s to get their Aussie debuts due to the strength in depth seem long gone

Their batting line up is average and we knew that before we went there. That’s what makes our performances all the more frustrating. Especially when they’ve missed 3/4 of their best bowling attack for most of the series.

The mere fact that we're witnessing the ground curator addressing the media, pretty much sums the whole farce up for me! Cricket Australia and Ticketek have copped a massive financial hit!............. GOOD!!!!

A huge financial hit. As have the travelling supporters.

Mind, I don’t like how the curator has to go out and justify himself to the media when the likes of Carey, Khawaja, Green and others tossed their innings off without having to explain themselves publicly.