***Official Australia in India***

[Top_Cat]

Hmm that kinda goes without saying, but to what extent is the question...

Nothing through turn but, as with most pitches, it'll behave a bit funny bounce-wise. No grip in it, though; the ball just skims off. Be very surprised if anyone gets significant turn.

 

[Uppercut]

Nothing through turn but, as with most pitches, it'll behave a bit funny bounce-wise. No grip in it, though; the ball just skims off. Be very surprised if anyone gets significant turn.

Hmm, sounds as likely to favour seamers as it will spinners (was the case last week when India bowled). I fancy Mishra can turn the ball on more surfaces than Kumble though.

 

[alternative]

Haha, Ganguly. You're so selfish.

Wtf??

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Wtf??

Last over of the day with Ishant at the other end and he took a single first ball of the over.

 

[silentstriker]

Last over of the day with Ishant at the other end and he took a single first ball of the over.

Did it twice.

 

[four_or_six]

Haha... just reading this article, is very poorly put together.

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/374252.html

"Of the triumphant XI who guzzled champagne on the players' balcony in Nottingham [1997], only Ricky Ponting survives. Who else among the current lot might jag a spot on Tubby's team?"

Well, obviously rookies won't push out greats... but who's to say how good some of these players might end up?

"the Border-Taylor-Waugh era is over. Thrilling while it lasted, but gone. Kaput. And there will not, it turns out, we can finally assert with some certainty, be a Border-Taylor-Waugh-Ponting era. "

Seems a bit odd... Ponting's had a pretty good time of things so far! Which is four years of almost complete dominance.

Oh and...

"His cricket, all the while, had as much in common with Symonds as his haircut."

Really ridiculous analogy if you're trying to say Symonds is superior to Watson!

 

[silentstriker]

"When I got out in Bangalore a few guys made it a point to remind me about the record. I knew I had done a good job there and that was important. My focus today was just to watch the ball. The journey over the last 19 yrs has been fantastic. There are stones thrown at you and you turn it in to milestones. I was not that excited to be honest. The focus was to continue and not lose concentration. Me and Sourav focussed on batting out the day. I didn't really think of the record too many times. I try to keep the records out of my mind and my aim is mainly to contribute. It's nice that it's come at the right time, the Australians are a quality opposition. I planned to stay till the end but it didn't happen. I thought i didn't use my feet well but that's the beauty of the game. The ball changes and so does the game."

Good answer, focused on the game.

 

[TT Boy]

Last over of the day with Ishant at the other end and he took a single first ball of the over.

And what is wrong with that? Sharma is a nightwatchman and is there to take the majority of the balls. If Ganguly got out protecting Sharma then that would be ****ing stupid.

 

[Precambrian]

There are stones thrown at you and you turn it in to milestones

Awesome quote.

 

[Pratters]

Tendulkar's champion character always comes out in his interviews.

He was also asked whether he felt bad at getting out at 49 in the previous game by Shastri. Tendulkar replied that when he had come in, the team was in trouble with 2 wickets down and by the time he was out, they have ensured a safe passage for India more or less and so was fairly happy. Shows again the team man that he is. People have called him selfish, looking for milestones and what not. On the milestones bit, he said that his focus is on the game and if milestones are broken on the way, that's great. I love Tendulkar so much.

I am pretty disappointed that he has missed out on another 100. He has missed so many coming close in the past 1 and half or so years.. This is one record Ponting might take away from Tendulkar.

Any way, Tendulkar has done his team proud once again and that's the important thing. His partnership with Laxman was crucial in ensuring safety in the first test and this partnership with Ganguly has ensured that India remain in the game.

It is advantage Australia though the way I see it. This is a road of a pitch. However, a draw is not that likely as India have played at a fast pace. Australia can post a big first inning total (around 500) and press home the advantage.

 

[irfan]

Kudos to Australia, I think restricting India to 5/300 is a fantastic effort considering their threadbare attack. Johnson, Siddle and Lee really put in and snared some key scalps throughout the day, even if the batting left a lot to be desired.

From all reports, this pitch is as flat as Keira Knightley, and India needlessly lost extra couple of wickets to poor shots and lack of concentration - really should only be 3 down at most by the end of they day as this is a 500 pitch.

 

[alternative]

Did it twice.

The point of the nightwatchman is to bloody protect the already set batsmen, so i think its completely acceptable that he did that.

 

[masterblaster]

This is Dhoni's opportunity to score big in test cricket. He won't get a better pitch to do it on. If he can get out of his shell and start playing his strokes then he might have a chance.

 

[Cevno]

Dhoni,i expect to do well in this match.

 

[Precambrian]

Yeah, Dhoni's line of thinking has deteriorated to "Test cricket means dots". His 9 from 50 balls at Bengaluru was the nadir.

 

[ret]

Quote from Ponting;

"He's just happened to have a good game as well, which is pretty unusual for him."
The gloves are off. Ricky Ponting responds to Zaheer Khan's comment about the Australians being overly defensive in Bangalore

Haha, Ricky getting narky. He doesn't usually get personal in public and probably wouldn't have had he not scored a ton in the last Test......

Still reckon it's all pretty pointless and only serves to fire the other guy up but it's entertaining if nothing else.

Ponting doesn't realize that comment applies to him too so its ironic

 

[Uppercut]

Tendulkar's champion character always comes out in his interviews.

I am pretty disappointed that he has missed out on another 100. He has missed so many coming close in the past 1 and half or so years.. This is one record Ponting might take away from Tendulkar.

Any way, Tendulkar has done his team proud once again and that's the important thing. His partnership with Laxman was crucial in ensuring safety in the first test and this partnership with Ganguly has ensured that India remain in the game.

It is advantage Australia though the way I see it. This is a road of a pitch. However, a draw is not that likely as India have played at a fast pace. Australia can post a big first inning total (around 500) and press home the advantage.

Kudos to Australia, I think restricting India to 5/300 is a fantastic effort considering their threadbare attack. Johnson, Siddle and Lee really put in and snared some key scalps throughout the day, even if the batting left a lot to be desired.

From all reports, this pitch is as flat as Keira Knightley, and India needlessly lost extra couple of wickets to poor shots and lack of concentration - really should only be 3 down at most by the end of they day as this is a 500 pitch.

DWTAS, i still have India as favourites for the match. The last five wickets should go for at least 150 runs on this pitch, with no real rabbits and an average attack. 450 with Australia to bat last makes India the favourites in my book, but a draw still looks like as fair a shout as any.

 

[masterblaster]

I still reckon we're in with a chance to get to 450. Ganguly is looking pretty good out there and I'm expecting a good knock from Dhoni tomorrow. Harbhajan and Zaheer won't score every game but if they chip in with 20-25 odd runs each with Mishra chipping in as well we can easily post a good score on the board.

 

[ret]

But, when you average 36 over a three-year period and do very well in one series in Australia, it's the exception rather than the rule. When Oz last visited India he managed to average 17. His last ten (non-Bangladesh) series averages read: 37, 21, 20, 33, 38, 69, 70, 0, 15, 13. So while he still has it in him to make big scores, it doesn't happen often enough to justify his place in the side. Whether his legendary status can do so, though, remains to be seen.

As I said I will take Tendulkar's 80 odd at Mohali .... the reason he is in the team is because of the seniors, he is more likely to convert starts into big ones .... other if they are playing well will probably get 40s-50s

 

[Athlai]

India to collapse to 350-375 IMO.

New ball taken and Lee & Johnson to bowl some fire.