***Official Australia in India***

[mikeW]

According to MikeW, batting, apparently. When you're 1-0 down in the last Test of the series, it's always vitally important to pick a specialist #8 batsman, particularly when you haven't taken twenty wickets in any of the previous three Tests and said batsman averages 18.5 at Test level. Lee, Johnson and Krejza are all absolute rabbits of the highest order too so none of them could have coped with the rigors of batting #8 in a Test.

So you want to go in with 5 specialist batsmen? With Haddin and Watson not contributing a heap with the bat thus far. Pretty dangerous tactic, could leave us open to getting roled for under 200.

 

[duffer]

You think then Australia will win this?

I think they could, but given that it's the final Test we'll grind it out as much as possible. If it was a live Test I'd have made Australia slight favourites right now.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

So you want to go in with 5 specialist batsmen? With Haddin and Watson not contributing a heap with the bat thus far. Pretty dangerous tactic, could leave us open to getting roled for under 200.

We're going in with 5 specialist batsmen anyway, by that standard, given that Watson and Haddin have contributed more with the bat so far than White have. Especially Watson, he's had an alright series with the bat. Even top scored once.

There's no way we need White's batting, especially when we have to win to level the series.

 

[Jono]

Reckon Bhajji will love this deck and love the Aussie batsmen coming at him trying to force a win.

Yeah, he'd be licking his lips you'd think with the amount of turn Kresja got without even hitting rough patches. On top of that, there's been hints of uneven bounce on day one.

 

[pasag]

So you want to go in with 5 specialist batsmen? With Haddin and Watson not contributing a heap with the bat thus far. Pretty dangerous tactic, could leave us open to getting roled for under 200.

You're not serious are you?

 

[Hoggy31]

Can't help but feel Krejza won't be seen again after this game, may get a FC gig with Tassie later this season if lucky

 

[duffer]

Blewey is such a gun commentator. Shame h's in the studio and not over there in the box. Loving AB this tour as well. The MVP of the commentary box for me.

 

[Precambrian]

I think they could, but given that it's the final Test we'll grind it out as much as possible. If it was a live Test I'd have made Australia slight favourites right now.

Fair call, however seeing the amount of spin that Crazy is getting, I think even Sehwag will be unplayable by the time Australia bats.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Can't help but feel Krejza won't be seen again after this game, may get a FC gig with Tassie later this season if lucky

Nah, they've got Doherty!

 

[mikeW]

We're going in with 5 specialist batsmen anyway, by that standard, given that Watson and Haddin have contributed more with the bat so far than White have. Especially Watson, he's had an alright series with the bat. Even top scored once.

There's no way we need White's batting, especially when we have to win to level the series.

Both have averaged 32.... hardly setting the world on fire. TBH Watson should of been in consideration of being omitted as well.

 

[Precambrian]

Blewey is such a gun commentator. Shame h's in the studio and not over there in the box. Loving AB this tour as well. The MVP of the commentary box for me.

AWTA. AB is class, while SG is crap. The moment SG takes up the mic, I put the TV vol to mute. Can't stand him, esp when Tendulkar hits four, he will say "What a shot", 2 secs pause, "WHAT A SHOT".

 

[Athlai]

Public stoning TBH.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Both have averaged 32.... hardly setting the world on fire. TBH Watson should of been in consideration of being omitted as well.

 

[pup11]

Clark vs White is possibly the worst selection decision I have ever seen.

I honestly can't think of anything I've ever seen at international level so completely daft. I'm not usually someone who complains about selectors at all, I understand the pull of domestic and ODI form, as well as incumbency, but I can't see a single justification for including White with Krezja also in the team, or for dropping Clark for any reason other than an injury. Not for form, either strong on White's part or poor on Clarks, incumbency, team balance, anything.

Australia don't need White's batting, or a second spinner, and Clark's both going to keep it tighter and be more likely to take wickets. And even if Clark is injured, others like Siddle and Bollinger are much more deserving.

Really, stunningly stupid.

If any Aussie selector seriously think that White can even do a serviceable job as a spinner then they are a bit of joke, when it came down to choosing between Krejza and White than it was still understandable that they went with a more conservative choice in White in the earlier games, but there is no way with White batting at 8 and bowling the way he is he should be picked ahead of either Clark, Siddle or Bollinger especially considering its a must win game for Australia.

Even if they felt Clark wasn't good enough (which is pretty bizarre in itself) in that case also they should have swapped him with Bollinger or Siddle, i just get a feel the Aussies said ok India are doing well with an offie and leggie in their side, so we should also implement a similar ploy, but i guess they forgot that there is a huge gulf in the class of the Aussie spinners and the Indian spinners before making such an idiotic decision.

 

[mikeW]

He is grossly overrated on these boards based on output.

 

[pasag]

Mike

 

[Athlai]

Don't you burn heretics?

 

[duffer]

He is grossly overrated on these boards based on output.

I agree with this, but still think he offers more to the team than White.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Both have averaged 32.... hardly setting the world on fire. TBH Watson should of been in consideration of being omitted as well.

Haha, have you been drinking shampoo or something? Watson's not only batted pretty well, including top scoring once, he's also been one of Australia's best bowlers. If he got dropped it would be as stupid as White being retained, possibly even worse.

 

[pup11]

What does everyone feel about the fact that Australia premier fast bowler (Lee) bowled the least amount of overs among all the specialist bowlers.