***Official Australia in India***

[howardj]

Tipping a barnstormer from Ponting today.

 

[Sanz]

That's not what I'm talking about. I'm just saying that before the series started, most people would have expected India to have wrapped the series up by now.

Not really. Here is the predictions thread :-

http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39867

For Australia - Laurz , Duffer, Uppercut,FaaipDeOiad, pup11,Silentstriker,andyc, BoyBrumby,jakester1288,somerset,howardj, simon, Top_cat, honestbharani, Nufan, ikki,speersy, clapo, Jackpot,

That's definately more than half of the predictions made in the thread.

 

[Burgey]

Just noticed Bret Lee only bowled 10 of the 82 overs in India's second dig. Is it that stomach bug or Ponting that was responsible?

Both, he only bowled 12 in the first innings IIRC.

No doubt Ponting gave him the stomach bug

Apparently he was pretty crook leading into the game as well.

 

[Johnners]

That's not what I'm talking about. I'm just saying that before the series started, most people would have expected India to have wrapped the series up by now.

Not really, IIRC I tipped an Australian win. In hindsight though, a draw was probably the most likely outcome at the start of the series. I don't think many people would have thought the Australian bowling could have been as terrible as it has been. (I know some did say they thought Lee/Clark would struggle, but I doubt that many thought Lee in particular would have almost completely lost any sense of line & length)

 

[GotSpin]

Apparently he was pretty crook leading into the game as well.

Seems even more ludicrous to drop Clark then

 

[silentstriker]

as far as I see it, the team needs to take responsiblity for it too. Ponting can't force his bowlers to jog through their overs..

Problem isn't the runups. It's mostly Ponting having conferences every other ball and changing the fields.

 

[silentstriker]

What does it say about the Indian team that, at home, they haven't been able to completely put down a team with Cam White in the bowling line-up, over-rate trouble from lack of professionalism, a spinner with a FC bowling average higher than most batting averages and a captain who's drunk at the wheel? .

What does it say about Australia that they've generally been dominated by a team whose best batsman this century can't buy a run, the best bowler retired and was completely ineffective, the two swing bowlers bowling on pitches with no swing, and a spinner who wouldn't know flight if he was in an airplane?

But seriously, I've really enjoyed this series. I know that's it not been the case for many people, especially down under.

 

[Ikki]

What does it say about Australia that they've generally been dominated by a team whose best batsman this century can't buy a run, the best bowler retired and was completely ineffective, the two swing bowlers bowling on pitches with no swing, and a spinner who wouldn't know flight if he was in an airplane?

But seriously, I've really enjoyed this series. I know that's it not been the case for many people, especially down under.

Nah... I would just love it we if beat them this test and kept the trophy.

If we were to win, I wouldn't see it as lucky at all to be frank. We should have taken out the 1st, lost the 2nd and drew the 3rd. Win the 4th and it's all good with me.

 

[GotSpin]

But seriously, I've really enjoyed this series. I know that's it not been the case for many people, especially down under.

I was very excited for this series but have found it incredibly boring to be honest. There's been very little excitement and that hasn't been helped by the worst pitches, worst overrates and the worst crowds.

 

[Johnners]

TBF, the pitch for this current test hasn't been tooooooo bad, we haven't/won't see a team score over 450 in a single innings.

 

[GotSpin]

It's been mostly the case of batsmen getting themselves out really. It still hasn't provided for exciting cricket apart from the occasional session or hour of play tbh.

 

[honestbharani]

Unless it strikes the batsman flush in front there's too much guess work involved. Obviously the natural shape is going to be taking the ball away from the stumps, so if a batsman gets a good stride in he'd consider himself unlucky indeed.

While that may be true for an offie who turns the ball big, I believe for someone like Sehwag, bowling around the wicket will actually give him more chances of getting a batsman leg before than from over the wicket..

 

[IndGunner]

TBF, the pitch for this current test hasn't been tooooooo bad, we haven't/won't see a team score over 450 in a single innings.

India should have got 550+ first innings you know that dont you ? they just threw there wickets away.this is still a semi road on the 5th day buddy.

 

[honestbharani]

How exactly is it drivel ffs? He's written in his tour diary his recollections of what went on that day. Why even bring this **** up? I swear some people on this forum do nothing but actively seek out articles which they can possibly construe as some sort of negative against Ponting.

It is drivel because all he is doing is going by the word of his team mate there. I have made it clear in earlier threads on this topic that I do think he is a pretty honest bloke but this is a pretty serious accusation to make simply based on the word of your team mate... It was found by a judge that there is NO evidence to find Harbhajan guilty. I would expect at least some sort of an acceptance of that judgement from these guys but it is pretty tiring to read day after day after day that this has all been one big conspiracy from India and that they covered up Harbhajan's antics...... If you got proof, speak up.. Else, simply shut up and let the matter go.......

 

[Ikki]

Simply put though HB, the courts don't actually dictate if something did happen or not. They just determine if there is enough proof to charge someone with an offense.

 

[Raghav]

I agree with Clapo! The pitch is not too bad TBH. If Indians can handle the ball well, they can get swing & reverse swing and a good shape. If they fail to do, Australians still will have a chance to steal this match away from Indians. If they do so, Krejza will be the most happiest debutant ever...

 

[pup11]

Dare I say it, but I think the Aussies may have a good chance to pull this one off. Obviously, it's going to take some very, very good batting because India won't serve the match up on a plate to the Australian batsmen. In fact, I wonder if they'll continue their first innings tactics to be assured of a draw?

In my opinion, and possibly one that few of you will agree with, I think Australia should take up the counter-attack early and promote the likes of White and Haddin up the order.
Starting with the current, not out, openers, Hayden is obviously the more aggressive of the two and can be devastating when he's on form. However, he hasn't had the best series so whether or not he can make a big score close to a run a ball is doubtful to me right now.
Katich, as we saw in the first innings, can bat quickly and is in form. A lot will rely on these two to get them to about a hundred or more without losing their wicket.

Once one of (or both of) them go, I think White or Haddin should be promoted up the order.
Both can hit big and keep rotating the strike, as hitting 4 singles in an over would be one of the more effective ways to get the runs in this innings as opposed to always looking for boundaries.
If Australia can get a large amount of the score early on, in the first one and a half sessions or so, and then have a more sedate, controlled chase afterwards. That will be their best chance IMO rather than batting solidly and then trying to accelerate in the last session.
Follow those two with Clarke and Watson, who can score quickly in their own right, then Ponting and Hussey.
I'd have more confidence with those batsmen doing a Bevan style innings to get them home later in the game, than have them bat early and get most of the runs, then having to rely on White and Haddin to get the remainder of the runs.

IMO of course.

I can't see Australia doing all that, and tbh i don't think they even need to, as guys like Ponting, Hussey and Clarke are all good enough to shift their gears according to the situation of the game, but realistically speaking Australia has next to no chance of chasing this down, even if their chase gains slightest momentum Dhoni would pull the shutters down and play for a draw, i am pretty sure Australia would go for a win all the way, and if they don't then we would have to believe that is also one of Ponting's masterstrokes, but if they try to keep chipping away at the runs and taking risks in order to do so, they are very likely to lose their 10 wickets today without India even trying to bowl them out, so an Indian win or a draw are the most likely result, but anyways i think they should go for the runs they have virtually nothing to lose whether its 1-0 or 2-0 result it hardly matters at the end of the day.

 

[Burgey]

It is drivel because all he is doing is going by the word of his team mate there. I have made it clear in earlier threads on this topic that I do think he is a pretty honest bloke but this is a pretty serious accusation to make simply based on the word of your team mate... It was found by a judge that there is NO evidence to find Harbhajan guilty. I would expect at least some sort of an acceptance of that judgement from these guys but it is pretty tiring to read day after day after day that this has all been one big conspiracy from India and that they covered up Harbhajan's antics...... If you got proof, speak up.. Else, simply shut up and let the matter go.......

Yes it's a serious accusation to make, but if a captain is told by a member of his team that he's been racially abused, what is the captain to do other than tell the umpire? Baring in mind of course he can't know what has or hasn't been picked up by the stump mikes at the time.

 

[jeevan]

I was very excited for this series but have found it incredibly boring to be honest. There's been very little excitement and that hasn't been helped by the worst pitches, worst overrates and the worst crowds.

First test - one team had to battle hard to get a draw (both a memorable first innings tail-wag and the middle order in the second innings)
Second test: was a result
Third test: Was definitely a boring draw, but the only one
Fourth test: Trophy is in the balance on the last day of the last match.

All 3 results are possible (though Aussie win has high odds) and any of the outcomes will require a big effort from a few people on either side. (Even a draw, unless the Indian bowlers do a poor job, will be commendable for Australia).

Some passages of play have been slow, but the parts add up to a better whole.

 

[R_D]

imo, the thing more likely to de decided tomm is whether India wins this by 1-0 or 2-0

ok, i know that Australia have a sniff at leveling the series but let's face it that it's a tough task. they could manage 350 odd in their first inning batting in slightly easier conditions and below are the top 10 highest chases, which tell us that chasing anything over 350 is rare

- 418 by WI in 2003
- 406 by Ind in 1976
- 404 by Aus in 1948
- 369 by Aus in 1999
- 362 by Aus in 1978
- 352 by SL in 2006
- 348 by WI in 1969
- 344 by WI in 1984
- 342 by Aus in 1977
- 340 by SA in 2002

if OZ do it then it will be something special. something like Ukraine requiring to beat Italy in 2006 soccer world cup quarter finals. theatrically, it's possible but chances of that happening rare!!!!

read this quote in here somewhere " Best thing about history, it can be re-written"!
I wouldn't count Aus out but yeah india certainyl are slight favourites.