***Official Australia in India***

[weldone]

Hey I was right. I suppose it had to happen just once by chance. Australia are winning this Test, you heard it here first.

Are they? Sure?

 

[weldone]

Harbhajan was worse than disappointing. Unfortunately Indian fans are so much in love with the guy they just cant find faults with him.

Yup Harbhajan has been piss poor so far in this test (except the Ponting wicket, probably)...And I'm sure anyone with a bit of cricketing knowledge will admit that, whether they are Indian fans or not...

 

[Woodster]

Was personally amazed that Stuart Clark had been left out of the Test side. Was not surprised Krejza was given a go, but not at the expense of Clark. Cameron White offers very little at this level, and as discussed previously, Ponting clearly has very little faith in his ability to do a job. During day one, it appeared to me that Tendulkar and Laxman could have taken him to the cleaners whenever they wanted, but were more than happy to nudge him around, thus keeping him on.

Excellent effort by Jason Krejza, showed some bottle and liked the line he generally bowled with decent spin, bounce and control.

 

[howardj]

Kudos to Kat for upping his scoring rate last night. Whatever total Australia get today, they need to go about it aggressively. Time, as much as the Indians, is against us.

 

[Speersy]

Terrific batting by Katich, dissapointed in Hayden and Ponting, but that will just make them hungrier for the second innings.

Does anyone else think Australia is in a really good position? Only 252 behind, if we bat all day tomorrow get a lead of about 50, and declare with 10 overs left in the day. Put India under pressure, bowl them out near the end of day 4, and chase down 300 in the second innings, to keep the Border-Gavaskar trophy!

Really hope if white knows he can't last against the spin at this level, he just belts a quick 40 odd 20/20 style.

 

[Woodster]

Yes time is crucial, and with Katich and Hussey setting up a decent platform, it may enable the likes of Watson and Haddin to up the rate later in the innings. Big test for these two as people continue to compare how effective Symonds and Gilchrist may be in the same situation.

 

[howardj]

Terrific batting by Katich, dissapointed in Hayden and Ponting, but that will just make them hungrier for the second innings.

Does anyone else think Australia is in a really good position? Only 252 behind, if we bat all day tomorrow get a lead of about 50, and declare with 10 overs left in the day. Put India under pressure, bowl them out near the end of day 4, and chase down 300 in the second innings, to keep the Border-Gavaskar trophy!

Really hope if white knows he can't last against the spin at this level, he just belts a quick 40 odd 20/20 style.

Mate, yes we're in a good position. But we will not, under any circumstances, be declaring. Far easier to get our runs in this innings rather than chase runs for victory in the 4th innings.

 

[Woodster]

Does anyone else think Australia is in a really good position? Only 252 behind, if we bat all day tomorrow get a lead of about 50, and declare with 10 overs left in the day. Put India under pressure, bowl them out near the end of day 4, and chase down 300 in the second innings, to keep the Border-Gavaskar trophy!

Not sure about a really good position, but it could certainly have been a lot worse. Not sure Ponting would consider a declaration with a lead of only 50. Will be aiming to get as big a lead as possible and try to ensure they don't need to chase too many at all on day 5.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yeah, unless Australia are still batting in two days time, a declaration is totally out of the question. Why declare 50 in front, make India bat and then chase whatever they get, when you can simply keep batting, extend the lead and make them try and survive? India won't be throwing wickets away in an attempt to win the test if they trail on the first innings anyway, so keeping them in it isn't that relevant.

The ideal scenario for Australia won't be making a quick 500 and declaring, it'd be making 700, then trying to bowl India out. Both goals are, of course, way off right now anyway. First thing is to bat well today.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yup, from here, Aus will look to only bat once, declaration is absolutely out of the question. If they manage to bat all day today, they'll be in front on runs. They'll probably look to bat as much of day 4 as they can then let the Indians try to survive on what should be a pretty nasty deck.

 

[Nate]

Krejza to take at least seven here.

Said before the Test started.

Some kudos, please?

 

[howardj]

Said before the Test started.

Some kudos, please?

You da man.

 

[howardj]

Huge time in Watson's career today at least in the short term. His performance in the remainder of this Test will really shape our team for the forseeable future. If he succeeds, he possibly sidelines Symonds in the short term and probably ensures that we pick a specialist spinner early doors this Summer. By contrast, if he tanks with the bat and we fail to win the Series, then odds-on Symonds returns at six at his expense.

 

[pasag]

Wonder what Hussey's record looks like coming in early on a Test morning or if he's been not out overnight. Got the feeling it would make for interesting reading.

Any news on who is coming in next and why Watto was padded up? Virus?

 

[howardj]

Wonder what Hussey's record looks like coming in early on a Test morning or if he's been not out overnight. Got the feeling it would make for interesting reading.

Any news on who is coming in next and why Watto was padded up? Virus?

Yeah, I think Pup has been dogged with some sort of stomach bug.

 

[Nate]

You da man.

Yessssssssssss

Can't believe Bhorchich got more praise.

 

[Speersy]

Yeah, unless Australia are still batting in two days time, a declaration is totally out of the question. Why declare 50 in front, make India bat and then chase whatever they get, when you can simply keep batting, extend the lead and make them try and survive? India won't be throwing wickets away in an attempt to win the test if they trail on the first innings anyway, so keeping them in it isn't that relevant.

The ideal scenario for Australia won't be making a quick 500 and declaring, it'd be making 700, then trying to bowl India out. Both goals are, of course, way off right now anyway. First thing is to bat well today.

The thing is we need India to have a chance to win, we must risk collapsing on day 5 to give them this chance. Remember they only need to draw, to win the series, so if we don't give them a chance to set a target and have enough time to bowl us out they will just play for the draw. Kejza got most of his wickets when the batsmen were playing attacking shots, can't see him doing too much when all the batsmen put up shutters and just eat away at the overs remaining.

 

[Johnners]

Said before the Test started.

Some kudos, please?

lol'n so hard atm.

(y) noice call Pattat0

 

[inbox24]

Said before the Test started.

Some kudos, please?

You are a true hero of the people Nnanden.

 

[Hoggy31]

Not one 5-fer in his career to date, only one 4-fer and you're backing him to take a bag against India in India? Ballsy.

Yay