***Official Australia in India***

[Raghav]

Day 4

This is no doubt Zak's test: 5 wkts and top score in the first inning .... absolutely phenomenal performance!!! .... Ishant has been gun too, so far it's these two who have been taking on the Australians so its more like Zak and Ishant vs Australia

Australia 193/5, which is 263 with the lead .... it will be interesting to see what they do from now on, i.e. declare and put India first thing in the morning and thus take a shot at picking up the danger-man Sehwag or pile some more runs and thus give less time to India to bat and thus more opportunity to draw the game

If Australia declare and put India in straight way tomorrow and if Sehwag fires then it will be an interesting game, esp if the tail can fight it out and handle the last day's pressure well .... come on, India

A lot depends on the last day pitch. There were some instances where the ball kept low for spinners. If Brett Lee can get those speedy inswingers and if the bounce of the pitch varies, it will be tough to bat for Indians against lee & Mitchell.

 

[Redbacks]

Seemed like there was an incredible lift in team spirit when Kumble was off the field and Dhoni took over. Just a buzz that sort of went away when Kumble came back on. Could be coincidence though.

the knives our out

 

[ret]

A lot depends on the last day pitch. There were some instances where the ball kept low for spinners. If Brett Lee can get those speedy inswingers and if the bounce of the pitch varies, it will be tough to bat for Indians against lee & Mitchell.

it's all about "IFs" .... so let see which IFs happen tomm

list of some of the Ifs

- If Sehwag fires and the tail fights
- If Lee and Johnson can get those speedy in-swingers in
- and so on

To me it's amazing that India still has a chance in this game despite having a poor captain, poor spinners and junk middle-order, along with poor fielding .... if Ind could get better options for some of these positions for the remaining games then I guess Ind would probably dominate

 

[silentstriker]

I don't hold out hope for a minute that India will be able to bat out 70 overs or whatever they get.

 

[Manee]

Brett Lee's body seems to be starting to get the better of him, it is subtle, but the 'snap' seems to be gone - it all seems very formulaic - Watson esque. He seems to, dare I say it, have Watson syndrome, in which quick, accurate deliveries are harmless. However, this is not to say that it is finished (such an idea is absurd), just a mere impressiveness that it took until the 2007/8 and this season for any sort of aging to be seen in the bowling of the 31 year old, relatively short quickie - and the guy can still crank it up to 150kph as in the IPL. Lee is a physical specimen, no doubt. I'd have to say that at the age of 16, I cannot replicate many parts of his action on their own, such as the stump high, at least 2m long jump, or the tremendously high front leg.

Just re-reading that, I'm not sure what that has to do with anything, but just my thoughts.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'm continually impressed by Alice Cooper's love child (Sharma). Loved what I saw of him in Australia, and seems to be still bowling very well.

Ha, he's a young Howard Stern for me:

Anyway, compelling test so far. Hate to say it, but probably better than anything we served up this summer.

 

[Pratters]

Anyway, Australia will bat out tonight and the first hour or so tomorrow. That should get the lead to 300 or so, even without any major acceleration, assuming we don't get bowled out.

That should take an Indian win out of the picture and leave 5 hours or so of survival.

Yeah that is where it stands now. Either an Aussie win or a draw. The draw is the most probable result the way I see it. Dravid will be the most crucial player for India. If he can dig in and survive, India can hope for the best ie a draw.

 

[duffer]

Seemed like there was an incredible lift in team spirit when Kumble was off the field and Dhoni took over. Just a buzz that sort of went away when Kumble came back on. Could be coincidence though.

Definitely, said the same thing myself. Kumble coming back on was like a slow release of pressure on the Aussies. I love Anil but Dhoni is a lot more sound tactically and also seems to get his players up for a challenge. Just hope he sorts his batting out because his keeping and leadership are both top notch.

 

[GIMH]

Ha, he's a young Howard Stern for me:

Anyway, compelling test so far. Hate to say it, but probably better than anything we served up this summer.

Dunno, the OT Test V NZ was enthralling, for different reasons mind.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Dunno, the OT Test V NZ was enthralling, for different reasons mind.

It was, yeah, but it was the closeness of the scores and our recovery to win that made it so rather than the quality of the cricket for me. Think Oz/India edges it there.

 

[Manee]

Australia Vs India is a good standard of cricket, but I think it needs a Tendulkar or Laxman masterclass and efficient dismissal of the tail by both teams for it to be a truly high standard.

 

[GIMH]

OH if you're going solely on quality of cricket rather than quality of viewing then without doubt. We weren't muchcop all summer really, the only session that could match an Aus-Ind encounter from our summer was when Flintoff and Kallis went at it that Thursday afternoon at Egdbaston. We are a while away from the top three sides, and the quality of cricket on display in England shows you this, sadly

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

How good has Watto been with the ball. Top stuff.

 

[Nate]

Brett Lee's body seems to be starting to get the better of him, it is subtle, but the 'snap' seems to be gone - it all seems very formulaic - Watson esque. He seems to, dare I say it, have Watson syndrome, in which quick, accurate deliveries are harmless. However, this is not to say that it is finished (such an idea is absurd), just a mere impressiveness that it took until the 2007/8 and this season for any sort of aging to be seen in the bowling of the 31 year old, relatively short quickie - and the guy can still crank it up to 150kph as in the IPL. Lee is a physical specimen, no doubt. I'd have to say that at the age of 16, I cannot replicate many parts of his action on their own, such as the stump high, at least 2m long jump, or the tremendously high front leg.

Just re-reading that, I'm not sure what that has to do with anything, but just my thoughts.

Haha, have you been watching Lee lately?

It's his first time bowling in Tests in India after a big break in the schedule as well. He's just underbowled. Give him more than an innings.

 

[Jono]

He just misses his wife. Give him a break

 

[Manee]

Haha, have you been watching Lee lately?

Yes, I have. Take into account that there is no real 'point' to my post because Lee is bowling very well and may continue to bowl well for a long time - in fact, I rate his chances of demolishing India in the second innings. In fact the 'slow down' in his action may help his accuracy and possibly pace in some cases as it allows him to get his whole body behind the ball.

PS: I expect people's replies to the post to be typical of CW in replying to the supposed intent rather than the content.

 

[social]

Yes, I have. Take into account that there is no real 'point' to my post because Lee is bowling very well and may continue to bowl well for a long time - in fact, I rate his chances of demolishing India in the second innings. In fact the 'slow down' in his action may help his accuracy and possibly pace in some cases as it allows him to get his whole body behind the ball.

PS: I expect people's replies to the post to be typical of CW in replying to the supposed intent rather than the content.

IMO, the apparent "slow down" in his action is more a case of being in better control of what he is doing than anything

Put it this way, people who are good at something make it look easy - Lee is now technically very good and doesnt have to throw himself into his work as much to get it down there

 

[Uppercut]

Haha, have you been watching Lee lately?

It's his first time bowling in Tests in India after a big break in the schedule as well. He's just underbowled. Give him more than an innings.

And the other side of the comment is, has he been watching Watson lately? Those quick, accurate deliveries weren't harmless...

 

[Manee]

IMO, the apparent "slow down" in his action is more a case of being in better control of what he is doing than anything

Put it this way, people who are good at something make it look easy - Lee is now technically very good and doesnt have to throw himself into his work as much to get it down there

Could very well be. I think it has been a consequene of his aging and some injuries which has worked in his favour, but I could be wrong. I'd like to end it there, if I may, since there is no way to justify my views which are pretty pointless, tbh. Just thought I'd get some thoughts in, haven't been able to post for a while.

 

[SJS]

This is cricket !!

Great game and no little credit for that goes to the less than perfect pitch.

We should welcome the prospect of our champion batsmen (irrespective of which country we are from) finding conditions difficult and extending their skill sets to their absolute limit to encounter them. This is what we should learn to enjoy. The struggle of champion cricketers and their valiant endeavours in that struggle. I find no pleasure in the slaughter of the lambs (read bowlers) in conditions where any Tom Dick and Yuvi can turn into the 'butcher on the rampage".