Jamie Donley was reportedly considered for a spot on the tour, but picked up an injury a couple of days ago Not to be confused with last year's pre-season tour, where he missed out due to picking up an injury three days before the squad flew out
For those who don't know this West Australian venue, its called the WACA ( West Australian Cricket Association ground) listed is some legendary West Australian cricketers, some of you of a certain vintage will recognise many of those names. This ground is about 10 mins away from Optus oval the new home of WA cricket and all major sports.
Geoff Marsh, Graeme Wood, Justin Langer, John Invararity, Kim Hughes, Shepherd doesn't come immediately to mind, Tom Moody, Bruce Yardley, Graham Mackenzie and Brett Lee, can't quite make out number 11
Can’t read too much into anything of course but the bibs team is more or less what looks like the first choice XI if we exclude potential arrivals and current injuries to one or two. Wonder if that will be the starting XI for tomorrow?
Certainly makes it look like asymmetrical fullbacks will be a part of Ange's system What sticks out here though is there's a pretty clear difference in the teams, as the bibs have the flair midfield while the greys have the workrate midfield, and it will be interesting seeing the blend we get from the two
I’d have Tanganga over Dier and Sanchez any day to be fair. I think there’s a decent CB in there that’s been blighted by injuries and manager bias. Think Reguilon’s a good player too, despite a couple flaws. Never understood Conte’s decision last season. I’d say he’s currently our best LB, albeit very excited to see how Udogie adapts and progresses.
I wasn't really critiquing the two - just that those two wouldn't feature in Ange's first 11 Reguillon appears to have been binned already (I'd say too soon, but there must be reasons) and Tanganga is limited to a right side role so difficult to see him being a first choice there.
I saw the rumblings about Ange not being a fan of Reggie but it doesn’t look like that’s the case. Tanganga has the physical profile Ange would want but I’m not sure about him on the ball or his natural feel for a left sided role. It’ll be interesting to see tomorrow, though obviously there’ll be a lot of changes throughout the game.
Ndombele will have to field close to the wicket. Can’t see him in the outfield covering the boundary. Romero and Kane to open the bowling? Should get some bounce from that pitch
Of the players out there right now I think they would/ should to be fair. Out of Davies, Reguilon and Udogie for LB, I think Reguilon is the most natural option at present, though Udogie has by far the highest ceiling. Then of the CBs to partner Romero out of Dier, Sanchez, Rodon or Tanganga, I'd go with Tanganga, though it has to be said, the options are pretty abysmal and it's annoying Ange hasn't been given a new one to work with out there.
Are we going back to the Harvey White as a LB meta, or is this just due to various players coming back from knocks?