***Official Australia in India***

[NUFAN]

Got to take in account overrates as well, they are already bad enough with nearly 40 overs of spin. All i'm trying to do is give reasons why the selections may have occurred and take the positives out of it.

It's the worst reason to pick a player though in all honesty.

I don't think Ponting is the blame for the slow overs, I just think the players take ages between overs, we need to show some urgency and run to your fielding position after each over, it's not as though we were switching constantly between LH and RH as we did in the other tests with Gambhir in.

It would be nice if we had a bowler similar to Ntini who gets back to the top of his mark so quickly. I know it would get tiring, but playing an extra 30 minutes and bowling less overs aren't good for the body or the teams chances of winning.

 

[Jono]

Yup so far he has looked more capable of the 2 at test level without producing a whole lot more. If that makes sense? TBH i agree purely on bowling White would be nowhere near selection. He wouldn't of even been called up if not for his batting.

Yep, there's no doubt that Watson as a test player is all about potential and what people think he's capable of doing (with both bat and ball), rather than what he's actually done so far.

But to be fair to him, its not based on nothing (or very little) like it was a few years ago. Its based on first class, ODI (and now probably Twenty20/IPL) performances.

 

[mikeW]

Yep, there's no doubt that Watson as a test player is all about potential and what people think he's capable of doing (with both bat and ball), rather than what he's actually done so far.

But to be fair to him, its not based on nothing (or very little) like it was a few years ago. Its based on first class, ODI (and now probably Twenty20/IPL) performances.

That's fair enough but there are plenty of cricketers worldwide who have looked like superstars at Domestic level but struggle in the top flight.

 

[mikeW]

Just out of curiousity if Australia wins the test will people give the selectors due credit?

 

[NUFAN]

Just out of curiousity if Australia wins the test will people give the selectors due credit?

No. I'll give the players who produce the goods due credit though.

 

[weldone]

Just out of curiousity if Australia wins the test will people give the selectors due credit?

Ya, at least I shall (provided Australian selectors are going to take the blame if they don't win)...If Australia wins then I shall be the one who will admit that the Aussie selectors have completely outsmarted lesser mortals (including me)...But sadly, they won't...I'm not saying that they would have won if Clark was in place of White, but at least they had a better chance of winning then. But now, they can't; they absolutely can't. Wanna take a bet? I know you won't.

 

[social]

Just out of curiousity if Australia wins the test will people give the selectors due credit?

IMO, the selections today were nothing more than a "Hail Mary" with little or no logic behind them and are unlikely to be repeated anywhere/anytime soon so a victory would have to be considered a complete fluke

Furthermore, a victory here would only gloss over the enormous mistakes that the management and selectors have made and, if anything, might do the game in Oz a disservice

 

[howardj]

Sack Mervyn.

 

[silentstriker]

come on man, someone has gotta hold the fort while SS is away..

Indeed.. I blame this performance totally on him...

Sorry, watched the whole thing at a cousin's house - no internet. I take the blame.

Batting horifically.

Talk about arrogance India.

And watching Dravid's dismissal was one of the saddest things I've ever seen.

I really wanted to deny this for as long as possible, but Dravid is now finished.

So, Clark was seriously dropped? I mean... seriously?

Seriously...?

Wow.

Worst selection ever. Seriously, what the hell?

This is the flattest wicket of the series so far, so if Dada chucks his wicket away the Aussies would have a more than decent day...

I think it's close between this and Delhi.

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.

I'd have to say I disagree. I am not sure if this track will deteriorate at all, unfortunately. 311/5 isn't a bad score for the Australians. The morning session to be crucial - India could very well be shuttled out for less than 400, and Australia will score a massive 550 in reply. Their tail is ridiculously long - even Mitch Johnson scores some runs, and he is their #11! There is no way we are dismissing them cheaply.

 

[Precambrian]

Sorry, watched the whole thing at a cousin's house - no internet. I take the blame.



I really wanted to deny this for as long as possible, but Dravid is now finished.



Worst selection ever. Seriously, what the hell?



I think it's close between this and Delhi.



I'd have to say I disagree. I am not sure if this track will deteriorate at all, unfortunately. 311/5 isn't a bad score for the Australians. The morning session to be crucial - India could very well be shuttled out for less than 400, and Australia will score a massive 550 in reply. Their tail is ridiculously long - even Mitch Johnson scores some runs, and he is their #11! There is no way we are dismissing them cheaply.

Thank you SS, better late than never, we missed you (and your jinxes).

 

[NUFAN]

Sack Mervyn.

I was pissed off when they shot to him reading the paper when Watson was bowling.

 

[pup11]

Sorry, watched the whole thing at a cousin's house - no internet. I take the blame.



I really wanted to deny this for as long as possible, but Dravid is now finished.



Worst selection ever. Seriously, what the hell?



I think it's close between this and Delhi.



I'd have to say I disagree. I am not sure if this track will deteriorate at all, unfortunately. 311/5 isn't a bad score for the Australians. The morning session to be crucial - India could very well be shuttled out for less than 400, and Australia will score a massive 550 in reply. Their tail is ridiculously long - even Mitch Johnson scores some runs, and he is their #11! There is no way we are dismissing them cheaply.

Jeez, SS show some mercy mate..........

 

[weldone]

and Australia will score a massive 550 in reply.

The comic relief that this thread gets from your predictions is nowhere near as good as what Paresh Rawal does for Bollywood...If you said 750 in place of 550 you could have been close...I still have hope on you, carry on...Who knows you might reach that height by the end of the series...four more days left in the series, so you have plenty of time to improve...All you need to do is be a bit more pessimistic...

 

[Johnners]

Despite the intial carnage, the day hasn't turned to be THAT bad for Australia really. Was quietly ****ing myself after the first hour, but thanks to Dravids poor form, and Sehwags laziness/arrogance it allowed Aust to get back in the game. I remain somewhat optimistic that if Johnson and Watson (have almost given up on Lee this tour) can prize out a wicket or 2 in the first hour (it is the new ball) India can be restricted to < 450.

 

[Uppercut]

The comic relief that this thread gets from your predictions is nowhere near as good as what Paresh Rawal does for Bollywood...If you said 750 in place of 550 you could have been close...I still have hope on you, carry on...Who knows you might reach that height by the end of the series...four more days left in the series, so you have plenty of time to improve...All you need to do is be a bit more pessimistic...

They're not predictions, they're tactical jinxes.

 

[Jono]

Sorry, watched the whole thing at a cousin's house - no internet. I take the blame.



I really wanted to deny this for as long as possible, but Dravid is now finished.



Worst selection ever. Seriously, what the hell?



I think it's close between this and Delhi.



I'd have to say I disagree. I am not sure if this track will deteriorate at all, unfortunately. 311/5 isn't a bad score for the Australians. The morning session to be crucial - India could very well be shuttled out for less than 400, and Australia will score a massive 550 in reply. Their tail is ridiculously long - even Mitch Johnson scores some runs, and he is their #11! There is no way we are dismissing them cheaply.

I'm rarely ever sure if you're being genuine with your pessimism or exaggerating it, but with with regards to the pitch, I think Kresja got a lot of out it. Its dead for pacers, absolutely useless, but I truly felt the whole day that "If Kresja can get this much turn, then Harbhajan will feel like he's in heaven".

No Harbhajan is no champion, but one must remember he has so much more variety than Kresja, who at the end of the day still picked up 3 wickets with two dropped catches. Top-spinners, doosras and extra bounce will all prove helpful on this pitch if Harbhajan bowls well.

 

[NUFAN]

Should have a Krejza spelling thread IMO.

I've seen Kreska, Krejka any others?

 

[ret]

day 1

India 311/5 .... Sachin hits a ton .... the match is evenly balanced and there is a lot of cricket to be played. For India, they have 311 on board with 5 wickets still remaining so hopefully they will add a few to the total .... with two good spinners in their side, along with the two best pace bowlers in the series, India should feel comfortable of bowling well

Krejza's 3 wickets shows why I have been recommending him since the start of the series. as an Indian fan, I would have liked OZ going in with White only as their spinner or a 4 pace attack [suicide]

And I still don't understand what Dravid is doing in the 11. hope he redeems himself in the 2nd innings. right now, he is writing articles better than batting and am wondering if these are signs for him to make a career change

 

[Precambrian]

Should have a Krejza spelling thread IMO.

I've seen Kreska, Krejka any others?

I've stopped referring him to by his original name, stuck with "Crazy".

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Should have a Krejza spelling thread IMO.

I've seen Kreska, Krejka any others?

Should have a nickname comp.

Shotgun "The Crayfish".