***Official Australia in India***

[social]

On a raging turner, the difference in quality between, say, Harby and anyone Oz has to offer is less pronounced (see the last test of 2004 as evidence of this where Clarke took 6-9 and Oz only lost because of totally inept batting rather than good bowling)

That being the case, forget about picking a substandard spinning specialist just for that scenario because:

1. Clarke and others will be just as effective if that is the case; and

2. If the pitch doesnt turn, our spinning options are basically cannon fodder and a wasted selection

The selectors need to sacrifice their pride and get Symonds on a plane now

They should pick

Katich
Hayden
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Clark

but they wont and I'd be surpised if either Casson or Krezya didnt play

 

[Uppercut]

Don't think Watson should play in a specialist bowling role under any circumstances. Haddin and Lee are a sufficiently good number 7 and 8 to justify selecting the best bowler for that position.

 

[Johnners]

Honestly. Clapo should be the Australian media manager. Can spin the best out of the worst situation.

Where exactly did I say it was all rosy? There's no doubt that our bowling attack will come under pressure this tour without a decent spin option, and our 3rd seamer (whoever that may be) still relative noobs in the Test arena, and there's no doubt it will be a tough series to win. That being said, the tone of some of the posts on here would have been enough to suggest our attack was worse than Bangladesh's, and the team has buckleys of even winning a test, let alone the series. All this, despite the fact we have arguably the 2 best seamers in the world (2 of the top 4 at the very least) and a world class batting line-up.

EDIT: Most other teams would kill to have to make a decision about who to leave out of Johnson, Bollinger, Jaques, Katich & Watson.

 

[social]

Don't think Watson should play in a specialist bowling role under any circumstances. Haddin and Lee are a sufficiently good number 7 and 8 to justify selecting the best bowler for that position.

If you have Watson, Clarke, Symonds and Katich to complement 3 quality quicks in India, you dont need another bowler so why waste a pick

Have a look at the current match, 4 bowlers took 10-270 on an absolute road - President's x1 reached 455 because of a "specialist" who wasnt upto it and was therefore a wasted selection

Furthermore, our tail starts at 7 in this match

 

[Uppercut]

If you have Watson, Clarke, Symonds and Katich to complement 3 quality quicks in India, you dont need another bowler so why waste a pick

Katich is a non-runner, and- let's be honest- there's only two quality quicks. Apart from that, you have a point, but looking at the balance i'd say another seamer is a better option. I'd have Bracken personally.

 

[howardj]

Nah, Australian fans always overreact massively, and Clapo is right. Yeah, we have no spin options, stop the press...

What else is terrible about the current squad and warrants doom and gloom, exactly? The batting is world class, and we have two top quality quicks ATM, and Johnson who's been part of the team for the last 12 months, so nobody can exactly be shocked at his inclusion.

Yep, we have no spinners. We had a totally untried "maybe" legspinner who is now injured, and now we have a bunch of different totally untried spin options with poor FC records, or the option of going in with four quicks. That's exactly how it's been since the end of the last Ashes series, and probably how it will be for a while to come.

Aw, c'mon mate, people who are worried are so because they are casting ahead and using their judgement - not just relying on what has happened during the last 12 months - where we've played exclusively in Australia, or a soft tour of the Windies.

There are several reasons why Aussie supporters are worried about the next four weeks:

(a) Yes, we have got through the last 12 months without a top line spinner. However, nowhere is this weakness likely to be laid bare more than in India

(b) India in India is damn tough. One of our great sides (Waugh's mob in 2001) couldn't even get the job done let alone an attack (like our current one) where only one guy averages under 30 in Test cricket (although, yes, Lee has improved markedly of late)

(c) None of our bowlers have played a Test match in the subcontinent.

Such factors are why people are concerned about our prospects over the next four weeks.

 

[social]

Katich is a non-runner, and- let's be honest- there's only two quality quicks. Apart from that, you have a point, but looking at the balance i'd say another seamer is a better option. I'd have Bracken personally.

So would I but getting Symonds on the plane will be hard enough without risking a revolt if he replaces Watson

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Don't get me wrong, I understand why Australian fans think we might lose in India. There's a reasonable chance we will.

That's nothing new though, that's what I'm getting at. People freaking out and thinking that picking Krejza has cost us the series before it begins are being silly, and calling it "spin" to suggest that it's not all hopeless is also. Australia still has a great batting lineup and a good pace attack, simple as that. Yes, it will be a tough series but no, one or two debatable (and that's all they are) selection decisions aren't going to make or break anything. Australia are still the best team in the world, and there's no reason to panic, and there's plenty of positives to look at.

As Clapo implied, this team we have now is the team we've known we would have for some time now. It's the same team that's been successful over the last few seasons, minus Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath. Big losses certainly, but it doesn't diminish the value of our other seamers or our batsmen. It's only the spin department where we are hurting currently, and lets face it, how many teams in the world have a genuinely high class test spinner? Two?

 

[social]

Tbh, the other thing I'd do (not that there is any chance of it happening) is open with Watson and bat Katich down the order.

I have big fears for Watson facing spin first up but he is a very good player of quicks and,let's face it, the Indians are hardly the WI of the 80s

On the other hand, Katich is an excellent player of spin but dodgy against swing (not surprising given how much the guy moves around) and not a long term solution

Anyway, theyre my two cents and they'll be totally ignored by the selectors who wont change a thing until it's faaaaaaaaaaar too late

 

[social]

Don't get me wrong, I understand why Australian fans think we might lose in India. There's a reasonable chance we will.

That's nothing new though, that's what I'm getting at. People freaking out and thinking that picking Krejza has cost us the series before it begins are being silly, and calling it "spin" to suggest that it's not all hopeless is also. Australia still has a great batting lineup and a good pace attack, simple as that. Yes, it will be a tough series but no, one or two debatable (and that's all they are) selection decisions aren't going to make or break anything. Australia are still the best team in the world, and there's no reason to panic, and there's plenty of positives to look at.

As Clapo implied, this team we have now is the team we've known we would have for some time now. It's the same team that's been successful over the last few seasons, minus Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath. Big losses certainly, but it doesn't diminish the value of our other seamers or our batsmen. It's only the spin department where we are hurting currently, and lets face it, how many teams in the world have a genuinely high class test spinner? Two?

IMO, the Oz selectors have made the job harder for the team by mistakenly believing that:

a. the team must have a spinner (no matter how bad) to be competitive in India - that is not the case and the stats are there for all to see; and

b. we need a replacement for Warne (a relative failure in India btw) now.

Retain the core group (who are all world class), add one or two players suited to the conditions (e.g. Bracken who is surely the best slow wicket bowler in the country but not selected because he isnt deemed quick enough to be a test fast fowler) and pick the team on merit not personality or blind faith

 

[Woodster]

Tell me to keep my Pommie nose out if you like but here are a few thoughts I have on this upcoming series :

There seems great support on here to squeeze Watson into the team, wherever. Suggestions such as an opening bat, one of four specialist bowlers or in the number 6 position ? Perhaps my viewing of him has not been enough to have such a strong opinion on him, however, I don't think he's a good enough player to affect the balance of this side. He is not, imo, good enough to hold down a position solely on his batting, and the same applies to his bowling. Therefore, he is selected on the basis he is fairly decent at both, but not an integral selection.

I understand you Aussies being a little apprehensive for this series, a tour of India is pretty much as tough as it gets, but like Clapo suggested, it's not all bad when two (or more) of Jaques, Katich, Watson, Bollinger and Johnson are to sit the opener Test. The batting looks very strong, as always, and while there are still many discussions about the make-up of this Aussie bowling attack, with Clark and Lee being the main part of the strikeforce, it still bodes well. Johnson can also make an impact, although I have no idea about Krezja, only what I have read.

You Aussies are too use to a good thing, and while Warne and Mcgrath are nigh on impossible to replace, I expect Jaques, Symonds and Haddin, who have replaced other retirees, to go pretty well in future series. It may not be completely rosy for Australia at the minute, and there are tough times coming ahead, but I don't expect they'll lose too many games (till they come to England anyway!).

 

[Woodster]

Furthermore, stop me if I'm getting boring now, I don't believe the lack of Test cricket in Indian conditions within the squad will play a huge part. Sure it'll take some coming to terms with, but arriving two weeks prior to the opening Test should enough preparation for them to be aware of the type of pitches they'll be playing on. There are still some pretty experienced cricketers in this squad, and I'd be confident they'll overcome the conditions throughout the duration of the tour.

 

[Salamuddin]

Don't get me wrong, I understand why Australian fans think we might lose in India. There's a reasonable chance we will.

That's nothing new though, that's what I'm getting at. People freaking out and thinking that picking Krejza has cost us the series before it begins are being silly, and calling it "spin" to suggest that it's not all hopeless is also. Australia still has a great batting lineup and a good pace attack, simple as that. Yes, it will be a tough series but no, one or two debatable (and that's all they are) selection decisions aren't going to make or break anything. Australia are still the best team in the world, and there's no reason to panic, and there's plenty of positives to look at.

As Clapo implied, this team we have now is the team we've known we would have for some time now. It's the same team that's been successful over the last few seasons, minus Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath. Big losses certainly, but it doesn't diminish the value of our other seamers or our batsmen. It's only the spin department where we are hurting currently, and lets face it, how many teams in the world have a genuinely high class test spinner? Two?

I don't expect AUstralia to get rolled over ....they're not the world champions for nothing and even though they've lost a number of great players , they are still a very, very good team.
They will definitely lift for the tests ans as the Indian coach Gary Kirsten said, there is no point reading much into the tour game.

I anticipate a very hard fought series. There wasn't a lot between the sides when they played in Australia barring the first test where India probably shot themselves in the foot by preparing poorly.

India are still going to have to play bloody well to beat Australia IMO. I mean when was the last test you saw an Aussie team lose a 'live' test by a big margin.....probably the Kolkata test way back in 2001.

 

[Johnners]

Tell me to keep my Pommie nose out if you like but here are a few thoughts I have on this upcoming series :

There seems great support on here to squeeze Watson into the team, wherever. Suggestions such as an opening bat, one of four specialist bowlers or in the number 6 position ? Perhaps my viewing of him has not been enough to have such a strong opinion on him, however, I don't think he's a good enough player to affect the balance of this side. He is not, imo, good enough to hold down a position solely on his batting, and the same applies to his bowling. Therefore, he is selected on the basis he is fairly decent at both, but not an integral selection.

I understand you Aussies being a little apprehensive for this series, a tour of India is pretty much as tough as it gets, but like Clapo suggested, it's not all bad when two (or more) of Jaques, Katich, Watson, Bollinger and Johnson are to sit the opener Test. The batting looks very strong, as always, and while there are still many discussions about the make-up of this Aussie bowling attack, with Clark and Lee being the main part of the strikeforce, it still bodes well. Johnson can also make an impact, although I have no idea about Krezja, only what I have read.

You Aussies are too use to a good thing, and while Warne and Mcgrath are nigh on impossible to replace, I expect Jaques, Symonds and Haddin, who have replaced other retirees, to go pretty well in future series. It may not be completely rosy for Australia at the minute, and there are tough times coming ahead, but I don't expect they'll lose too many games (till they come to England anyway!).

Apart from the bit about Watson (you hater! ) I completely agree. Top post

 

[howardj]

My fear with our batting, which is still world's best, is that it will be blunted by spending long hours in the field and being forced to haul in 400+ deficits - as we saw in Australia 2003/2004 and England 2005. In that respect, this tour match may be a harbinger of things to come.

 

[howardj]

TAB Prices are up

Most Runs

SEHWAG Virender $5.00
HAYDEN Matthew $6.00
TENDULKAR Sachin $6.00
PONTING Ricky $6.00
CLARKE Michael $7.00
KATICH Simon $9.00
GAMBHIR Gautam $11.00
HUSSEY Michael $11.00
DRAVID Rahul $13.00
JAQUES Phil $13.00
LAXMAN VVS $17.00
GANGULY Sourav $21.00
PLAYERS NOT QUOTED $21.00
HADDIN Brad $51.00
BADRINATH Subramaniam $51.00
DHONI MS $67.00
WATSON Shane $67.00

Most Wickets

KUMBLE Anil $4.50
LEE Brett $5.00
SINGH Harbhajan $5.50
SHARMA Ishant $7.00
KHAN Zaheer $7.00
CLARK Stuart $8.00
KREJZA Jason $11.00
JOHNSON Mitchell $11.00
PLAYERS NOT QUOTED $13.00
SINGH RP $21.00
BOLLINGER Doug $21.00
PATEL Munaf $34.00
WATSON Shane $67.00
MISHRA Amit

 

[aussie]

My fear with our batting, which is still world's best, is that it will be blunted by spending long hours in the field and being forced to haul in 400+ deficits - as we saw in Australia 2003/2004 and England 2005. In that respect, this tour match may be a harbinger of things to come.

Very true, but ah well gotta back Ponting and the boys to do something special. Since for all the obvious issues Australia has with its bowling, India's ageing batting line-up still could capitulate in this series & Kumble based on how innocuously he bowled in SRI recently, could also prove that he has lost some of his effectiveness on home pitches.

Then we could have a situation where the Sharma's, Badrinaths. Yuvraj's, Mishra's, Chawla's maybe come in under pressure & flop initially.

So with such a scenario in mind, no ringing of the panic alarms for me just yet.

 

[NZTailender]

Would drop some money on Huss and Clark if the wallet allowed.

 

[GermanShepherd]

Good bit of bowling by Ojha to nail Haddin.

I'm more and more impressed by Ojha everytime I see him.

 

[Speersy]

Hussey running out of partners here. He is in his element in this situation, hope he can go on and get us close to the total.