***Official Australia in India***

[Jono]

Obviously India will never declare if they can help it, until any hope of any result has passed, but I am wondering if India are bowled out - what would be a competitive score? A safe score?

I'd say anything less than 350 gives Australia a chance, less than 300 a real big chance. 400+ and it starts to look very bleak.

Depends when India are bowled out I guess. But you'd imagine with the rate they're scoring, if they're not bowled out today its game over.

 

[silentstriker]

Depends when India are bowled out I guess. But you'd imagine with the rate they're scoring, if they're not bowled out today its game over.

We've seen the Indian RR drop significantly in recent times as soon as Sehwag gets out. But yea, I'd say you are right.

 

[Bees]

If India speeds along to a mammoth total, giving themselves a chance to bowl Australia out for the second time is a decision that will benefit India long term and establish Dhoni and a sporting captain.

Good for Australians too... giving us the possibility of chasing it down.

 

[silentstriker]

Very good fifty. Love the fact that he seems to be scoring a bit more in the second innings. Good cricket, and a great shot to bring it up.

 

[krkode]

Really think 350 is do-able on this pitch? Granted, I have no idea what the pitch is like... but what about the whole 5th day dealio... 350 seems like a mighty-high ask.

Although I guess if anyone can do it, it's Australia.

 

[Jono]

Very good fifty. Love the fact that he seems to be scoring a bit more in the second innings. Good cricket, and a great shot to bring it up.

That was more between 2004-2006 when Sehwag was our best batsman, and Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman turned into grafters for no good reason (well Sachin because he couldn't play straight drives due to his injury, Ganguly and VVS because they were playing for their careers).

Unless you're talking about this series? Not sure of the differences.

 

[silentstriker]

Sehwag seems to have pulled something...

 

[silentstriker]

Really think 350 is do-able on this pitch? Granted, I have no idea what the pitch is like... but what about the whole 5th day dealio... 350 seems like a mighty-high ask.

Although I guess if anyone can do it, it's Australia.

Pitch is flat as a pancake. Any total is gettable on the pitch. It'd be the bowling and the time that would be the prime considerations.

 

[pasag]

If India speeds along to a mammoth total, giving themselves a chance to bowl Australia out for the second time is a decision that will benefit India long term and establish Dhoni and a sporting captain.

Good for Australians too... giving us the possibility of chasing it down.

They won't and nor should they.

 

[Bees]

Sehwag seems to have pulled something...

...fair few balls over his career.


Is he lookin' alright?

They won't and nor should they.

Mmm, too much at risk. Do you think there is a point though where the amount to chase becomes too high but there's enough time to bowl Australia out?

 

[Jono]

If India speeds along to a mammoth total, giving themselves a chance to bowl Australia out for the second time is a decision that will benefit India long term and establish Dhoni and a sporting captain.

Good for Australians too... giving us the possibility of chasing it down.

Australia are going to have to chase whatever their 4th innings total is. There really isn't any point of Dhoni declaring with a gettable run total. Time is a different matter of course, but Dhoni will not declare with anything less than 400 runs minimum. Nor should be to be honest.

 

[silentstriker]

Australia are going to have to chase whatever their 4th innings total is. There really isn't any point of Dhoni declaring with a gettable run total. Time is a different matter of course, but Dhoni will not declare with anything less than 400 runs minimum. Nor should be to be honest.

Yea, it wouldn't make sense for him to do so. I don't think there will really be a declaration at all, unless he is up by a massive amount and wants to take a crack at them with two sessions to spare on the off chance he can induce a collapse.

 

[duffer]

Vijay's footwork to Krejza is very assured. Love how he's not overcommiting forwards like Nicholas observed.

 

[silentstriker]

...fair few balls over his career.


Is he lookin' alright?

Yea, I think the ball just hit him on the thigh.

 

[pup11]

Where would a ****ing wicket come from, aagh this is so depressing....

 

[Raghav]

Can Aussies get a wicket atleast before tea?

I am getting frustrated to see such a poor team/under-achieved touring India....

 

[Bees]

If they bat till the end of the day and are about 500 up, why give declare and give it a crack on the last day? Don't think we can chase 500 on Day 5. Do think we could be bowled out on Day 5, though.

So much at stake, but I can't help feeling that a 2-0 series victory is far more likely than a 1-1 series draw - the risk being offset by that likelihood.

That said, if they want to reach 500 they're going to have to bat at an unlikely speed.

 

[krkode]

It'd be interesting to see if India can put Australia in for about 15 overs tonight... meaning they'd play for about 70 overs themselves and ideally score 300+ setting a target of about 400. That'd require a 4+ RPO chase from Aus but would give India 100 overs to bowl them out.

That's speaking very optimistically, though.

 

[duffer]

Guys, India isn't declaring. You can take that to the bank.

 

[krkode]

So Vijay has been playing pretty decently... and he's certainly no slouch in the field. What's the probability he will be the one getting Ganguly's spot? Or maybe Dravid's spot if he retires within the next 1-2 series and Badrinath to replace Ganguly as expected?