***Official Australia in India***

[duffer]

Horrible bowling.

Now now, they haven't given away any extra's yet.

 

[weldone]

They know they can't win by restricting, why are the Aussies not more aggressive?

Because they know they can't win in any way, perhaps. Ponting probably tossed a coin in the break to decide which way to lose...By attacking? Or, by defending?

Well, I'm joking mate, your point is correct.

 

[duffer]

India take care of the ball a lot better, the Aussie ball looks rough on both sides. Don't know how they expect to get much reverse from that.

 

[weldone]

Spare us cricket Gods...We wanted a test match, not a test mismatch...

 

[social]

They know they can't win by restricting, why are the Aussies not more aggressive?

Exactly what I was thinking

Ponting's only strategy seems to be to place people out on the boundary and hope that someone gives their wicket away

Without being too disrespectful, Gambhir is simply not a good enough player for the fields that have been set and you're better off getting Sehwag out than simply giving him runs

 

[weldone]

India take care of the ball a lot better, the Aussie ball looks rough on both sides. Don't know how they expect to get much reverse from that.

That's probably because they know that India will declare before the ball starts reversing in any case

 

[Uppercut]

Completely agree with the sentiments on Ponting's tactics. If Dravid's at the crease, maybe it's fair enough to keep it tight. He hasn't a hope in hell of restraining these two, especially Sehwag. If he wants the run-rate kept down he needs Sehwag out.

 

[duffer]

Ugh, Bowden and Dar for the next two matches.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Well this really wasn't worth getting out of bed for. Hope Australia roll over and die just as easily next summer.

 

[Manee]

Well this really wasn't worth getting out of bed for. Hope Australia roll over and die just as easily next summer.

I don't think you are paying India due credit for a fine performance so far in this match.

 

[SJS]

I never said he has to retire from tests. I said he has to retire from ODI's and it's true. He won't make the next WC and we have two successful openers without him as well as Jaques waiting.

Tests are different.

Sorry. I misunderstood.

 

[Jnr.]

They know they can't win by restricting, why are the Aussies not more aggressive?

Don't know how one can be aggressive if the bowlers are bowling dross, which they are. No sign of line and length.

 

[Precambrian]

Completely agree with the sentiments on Ponting's tactics. If Dravid's at the crease, maybe it's fair enough to keep it tight. He hasn't a hope in hell of restraining these two, especially Sehwag. If he wants the run-rate kept down he needs Sehwag out.

For what? India is scoring at well over 4 per over, as Ian Chappell said, Good batsmen always find boundaries irrespective of field setting. And Sehwag and Gambhir are doing exactly that, without risk.

Poor captaincy by Ponting.

 

[Uppercut]

I don't think you are paying India due credit for a fine performance so far in this match.

Australia really have been extremely ****, though. India would win against most teams if they play like this, but that doesn't change how **** Australia have been.

Also, is Kumble's career over? He can't possibly be recalled...

 

[duffer]

Can't remember one instance where Gambhir's forays down the track have gotten him a boundary this match. He'd be better served staying still and just working it away for the easy runs on offer.

 

[Bees]

India may have to get runs a little faster if they want to reach 500ish by lunch tomorrow?

 

[Craig]

Quite possibily one of the worst non-Australian performances I have seen by Australia for a very long time, if not ever?

 

[duffer]

I reckon we'll declare an hour before tea.

 

[Top_Cat]

I'm in good company.

Mike Selvey in The Guardian:

Further tales abound, though, most recently involving the Australian super-quick Brett Lee, who is developing what is known as "history". The Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was on the receiving end of something "accidental", an unfortunate coincidence as earlier Lee had received something similar from Razzaq. Then there was another which all but decapitated the New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum. Plenty of umbrage was taken but no action.

Selvey again:

unless he is attempting a complicated slower ball, an international bowler does not accidentally miss his length by a matter of 25 yards or more.

I'm wondering whether Selvey actually saw the ball. Was a nasty ball, especially at that pace, but that's over-stating it by some distance. Was at chest height at best.

Anyway, we've had this discussion before. I just find it difficult to believe a bloke could bowl beamers at 150km/h+ at will. Brett Lee, in the past, has been pretty damn careless with busting a gut trying to bowl as quick as he can (which isn't much better than bowling them deliberately) but I just don't think it's a coincidence that with his increased maturity, control and paring back of his speed, the beamers have disappeared.

 

[G.I.Joe]

This test might well have been played during Australia's tour of India in '98.