***Official*** India in Australia

[Raghav]

Dravid to open:
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/253515.html

So the batting order seems like the same as in the washed out warm up game.
Jaffer,Dravid,Laxman,Tendulkar,Ganguly,Yuvraj,Dhoni

Also Ganguly's said that the bowling is stronger now than in 2003, not sure what he means.

Either he would have meant about his bowling or he would have thought his bowling would help India's bowling worries

 

[Raghav]

I find it impossible how some people are so confidently predicting a 3-0 or 4-0 win for Australia. Come on guys, Yes Australia are favourites but this Indian batting side is not going to collapse at the sight of the Australians.

You are the optimistic Indian fan who expects a good performance from them after their recent successes. To be honest, according to me, all the successes are nothing if they are unable to put up fight against aussies. They are playing on a different track and they need to apply themselves properly. They have just 50 overs of batting practice which I think is not sufficient. They have to really play well to not to go down by 3-0 or 4-0 . I predict 3-0 to aussies. I think Indians have done well if they lose by 2-0. 3-0 or 4-0 is on the cards! I am sorry mate... its true

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

One more thing we gotta take into account is that the Indian bowling is their weak-link and i think they might struggle to bowl Australia out even once leave alone twice in a test

It's probably the most likely subcontinental attack to take 20 wickets against Australia atm though. Anil Kumble is a key player. He's taken 29 wickets in 6 Tests in Australia, so there's certainly precedence.

 

[Salamuddin]

My India eleven for the MCG test

Dravid
Jaffer
Laxman
Tendy
Gangles
Yuvraj
DHoni
Kumble
Zaheer
Arpy Singh
Ishant

Anyone disagree with that ?

 

[SJS]

It's probably the most likely subcontinental attack to take 20 wickets against Australia atm though. Anil Kumble is a key player. He's taken 29 wickets in 6 Tests in Australia, so there's certainly precedence.

Those figures are correct and yet they surprised me when I read your post. One doesn't somehow remember Kumble bowling many match winning spells in Australia. So I went back to have a look. Here is what I found.

His 29 wickets (at nearly 5 a test it is fantastic) have come at 40.00 each. This means opposition would end up getting upward of 400 runs and that Kumble would have bowled long spells at one end.

His 3 five wicket hauls came in the last series at some cost except the last one at Sydney.

• 5 for 154 at Adelaide in the 2nd (India won by 4 wkts)
• 6 for 176 at MCG in the 3rd test(Aus won by 9 wkts)
• 8 for 141 at Sydney in the 4th (Match drawn)

Australia scored 556, 558 and 474 in those three innings.

It was Agarkar's amazing 6 for 41 in the second innings that won the Adelaide test for us. It is spells like that one from the much derided AA that India (or any side for that matter) needs to break this Aussie side. Otherwise, as happened in the second innings at Sydney, inspite of the 705 that India scored and Kumble's best bowling ever in Australia, they were 357 for 6 in the last innings if the test with Kumble close to another five wicket haul (4 for 138).

Kumble in Australia has been workman like and persistent for most of the time but not strikingly penetrative and for that India will need to look at the other end. Its here that the cup board looks bare. Some one - anyone - from Zaheer, RP and Harbhajan will need to do an Agarakar for us to get them out twice in the same test and that is looking not so likely.

But then, who thought Agarkar will get 6 for 41 !!

*goes back to prayer mat with fingers and toes crossed*

 

[Turbinator]

Can't wait till

I am so excited!

EDIT: 22 hours left.

 

[Jono]

Dravid to open:
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/253515.html

So the batting order seems like the same as in the washed out warm up game.
Jaffer,Dravid,Laxman,Tendulkar,Ganguly,Yuvraj,Dhoni

Also Ganguly's said that the bowling is stronger now than in 2003, not sure what he means.

He means the bowling line-up this year is better than in 2003, and its true.

Zaheer wasn't fit and was nowhere near the bowler he was today. Harbhajan injured himself after one test, and say what you want about his ****ty form and general crapness, the Indian bowling team is still better off with Harbhajan fit than not fit.

Pathan was on debut in 2003, and Nehra was poo. Pathan is now more experienced, and RP Singh craps on Nehra as a test bowler. Obviously AA had a decent series last time, but RP Singh is still the better bowler than him as well IMO.

Kumble then cancels out Kumble.

 

[Jono]

My India eleven for the MCG test

Dravid
Jaffer
Laxman
Tendy
Gangles
Yuvraj
DHoni
Kumble
Zaheer
Arpy Singh
Ishant

Anyone disagree with that ?

What I disagree with is the lameness of you saying 'Arpy Singh'

Would only play Harbhajan if the pitch looks like its really going to turn, otherwise I'd play that team as well. And this is coming from one of Dinesh Karthik's biggest fans.

 

[Jono]

• 6 for 176 at MCG in the 1st test (India won by 4 wkts)
• 5 for 154 at Adelaide in the 2nd (Aus won by 9 wkts)
• 8 for 141 at Sydney in the 4th (Match drawn)

Australia scored 558, 556 and 474 in those three innings.

Hate to nit-pick, but India won in Adelaide and lost in Melbourne.

 

[Turbinator]

Kumble then cancels out Kumble.

I think SS just had an orgasm, you introducing math into this.

 

[Turbinator]

Pick Irfan instead of Ishant. That 5-fer was a once in a blue moon thing, I can just picture him being hit all over the park. Irfan, on the other hand, has experience here in Australia and has a habit of picking up Ponting lately.

 

[SJS]

Hate to nit-pick, but India won in Adelaide and lost in Melbourne.

No. You are not nit-picking. My mistake. Thanks for pointing out.

Corrected.

 

[jeevan]

Pick Irfan instead of Ishant. That 5-fer was a once in a blue moon thing, I can just picture him being hit all over the park. Irfan, on the other hand, has experience here in Australia and has a habit of picking up Ponting lately.

Even in that 5-for , I thought Ishant bowled one far too many with a lot of width on the off side, atleast in the earlier spells.

Very unfortunately the rained out warm up didnt give us a chance to see Pankaj Singh vs Ishant vs Irfan. On the domestic circuit Pankaj seems the real deal, if reports of his line and length control at reasonable pace are true.

 

[jeevan]

He means the bowling line-up this year is better than in 2003, and its true.

Zaheer wasn't fit and was nowhere near the bowler he was today. Harbhajan injured himself after one test, and say what you want about his ****ty form and general crapness, the Indian bowling team is still better off with Harbhajan fit than not fit.

Pathan was on debut in 2003, and Nehra was poo. Pathan is now more experienced, and RP Singh craps on Nehra as a test bowler. Obviously AA had a decent series last time, but RP Singh is still the better bowler than him as well IMO.

Kumble then cancels out Kumble.

IMHO we are 1 bowler short of that being true (perhaps Sreesanth).

Kumble will do his job, 5 for 150 still allows bowling the opposition out.
Zaheer the way he is now does takes a couple of wickets most of the time.
RP is probably equivalent of Agarkar in 2003.

Not convinced that we have anything better than Nehra of 2003 (and perhaps I am recalling the Nehra of WC 2003). Pathan is more experienced, but along the way lost his inswinger which has not come back. If he finds swing, then Ganguly is correct.

 

[Laurrz]

Can't wait till


I am so excited!

EDIT: 22 hours left.

interesting ur from canada

a lot of indians there interested?

cant wait too.. nothing beats boxing day test

 

[social]

In 2003, Pathan was a far superior bowler to what he is today - bowled in the early 140s

He now bowls in the mid-120s and will be taken to the cleaners on a decent batting strip

 

[Dasa]

^You obviously haven't seen him bowl recently. In the ODI series against Australia he was bowling in the mid 130s with his regular bowling and only slowed it down to bowl cutters.

 

[fishyguy]

Really hoping Australia crush the Indians but I'm sure nothing will cut down on the hubris of the Indian fans.

 

[Turbinator]

interesting ur from canada

a lot of indians there interested?

cant wait too.. nothing beats boxing day test

Sadly, no. We easily have the biggest "cricket scene" out of all the North American cities, and yes you'll find a large percentage of Indians that are interested in cricket and esp. this series coming up, but you'll also find a lot of Indian/South Asian folks who don't give a **** about cricket let alone watching a 5 day game. Also, Toronto is a large city with many suburbs, depends which part you're talking about. There are parts of Toronto with a large South Asian population allowing many Indians to stay intact with their culture and those are generally the Indians that are more "cricket crazy". And then there are other areas (such as mine) with a low South Asian population in which Indians tend to immerse themselves in the more North American style of living where they easily lose connection with cricket and their team. Despite living in such an area, I am an exception, and trying my oh so best to popularize cricket here in North America (eventhough it's near impossible when A LOT don't even know what the heck it is), with efforts such as the ones mentioned in this post http://forum.cricketweb.net/showpost.php?p=1260345&postcount=77.

But yeah can't wait, too excited , 18.5 hours left! Go India! Go India!

 

[Laurrz]

Sadly, no. We easily have the biggest "cricket scene" out of all the North American cities, and yes you'll find a large percentage of Indians that are interested in cricket and esp. this series coming up, but you'll also find a lot of Indian/South Asian folks who don't give a **** about cricket let alone watching a 5 day game. Also, Toronto is a large city with many suburbs, depends which part you're talking about. There are parts of Toronto with a large South Asian population allowing many Indians to stay intact with their culture and those are generally the Indians that are more "cricket crazy". And then there are other areas (such as mine) with a low South Asian population in which Indians tend to immerse themselves in the more North American style of living where they easily lose connection with cricket and their team. Despite living in such an area, I am an exception, and trying my oh so best to popularize cricket here in North America (eventhough it's near impossible when A LOT don't even know what the heck it is), with efforts such as the ones mentioned in this post http://forum.cricketweb.net/showpost.php?p=1260345&postcount=77.

But yeah can't wait, too excited , 18.5 hours left! Go India! Go India!

Interesting
ive always liked to know what cricket is like in other countries interest wise and stuff.. i heard before that the US actually has the 2nd most viewers in cricket... (behind India i guess) because of Indian expats
I think its important for the parents of the indians to influence there kids on the game but some don't i suppose...

It's always encouraging to know some ppl are excited from all parts of the globe though! not just India and Australia