***Official Australia in India***

[Top_Cat]

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.

Gap between the bowling attacks of the sides has only been brought closer by the pitches, though. As I've said, on slightly more sporting decks, India would be well ahead.

 

[Johnners]

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.

It's still a road, but there's enough evidence to suggest it's clearly not as bad as the first 3 pitches, which was my point.

 

[honestbharani]

I gotta say HB, that really is stunningly irrelevant. I have no idea why cricinfo even wrote an article about something that happened ages ago and has no relevance at all to current events, but it's certainly not Ponting's fault. He wrote something in his tour diary about what happened and someone dug it up later. It's not as though he called a press conference to talk about it.

yeah.. I can see that he didn't bring it up now, and I am not really blaming him for bringing it up now or anything, but I am just amazed that after all the judicial procedures, hearings and everything, he still hasn't seem to have gotten around to face the facts... The fact is that even he doesn't know what Harbhajan said and in that case, it is better to accept a judge's verdict and move on, instead of bringing it up in every other book and acting as though some offence has been committed against them........

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

The real issue for australia isn't the total, it's the time. I'm fairly confident Australia would win if they had another session to chase this target, but 350+ in a single day when the ball will be reversing and India can shut up shop at any time is nearly impossible.

 

[Precambrian]

The real issue for australia isn't the total, it's the time. I'm fairly confident Australia would win if they had another session to chase this target, but 350+ in a single day when the ball will be reversing and India can shut up shop at any time is nearly impossible.

Exactly, India has always the option of slowing things down and bowling negative lines to thwart the Aussie challenge. Also I don't expect to see more than 85 overs bowled today, if not less.

 

[Top_Cat]

Heading for a draw for mine. As Faaip said, not enough time to score the runs and unless the Indian attack really stands up and bowls well, it's still a pretty flat pitch....

 

[inbox24]

I have an interesting dilemma.

What if we bat well today and look like getting the total. Then Dhoni has the option of slowing down the over rate so that we don't have enough overs. Obviously it would lead to him being suspended for the next couple of tests (at most). Would he do it?

Keeping in mind that if he does slow it down it will be a draw and if he doesn't we will win.

 

[pasag]

I have an interesting dilemma.

What if we bat well today and look like getting the total. Then Dhoni has the option of slowing down the over rate so that we don't have enough overs. Obviously it would lead to him being suspended for the next couple of tests (at most). Would he do it?

Keeping in mind that if he does slow it down it will be a draw and if he doesn't we will win.

Think you only get suspended on second offence or something like that. Ganguly was only suspended because it happened for the second time in the series. Not sure about Collingwood though.

 

[Burgey]

Bloody hell - what a start, throwing wood. When does the power play end?

 

[silentstriker]

I have an interesting dilemma.

What if we bat well today and look like getting the total. Then Dhoni has the option of slowing down the over rate so that we don't have enough overs. Obviously it would lead to him being suspended for the next couple of tests (at most). Would he do it?

Keeping in mind that if he does slow it down it will be a draw and if he doesn't we will win.

He'd cop a fine and yes he'd do it. As I've been banging on, run penalties would be the only way he wouldn't.

Though I'd think that the Aussies wouldn't take the light in that case, light stays good for a while here I think. I think you'll see 90 overs bowled today.

 

[Johnners]

Sign of intent anyone?

 

[silentstriker]

Sign of intent anyone?

They've no choice. 1-0 same as 2-0.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yeah, be silly if they didn't go for the runs. A draw = pointless.

 

[Jono]

The real issue for australia isn't the total, it's the time. I'm fairly confident Australia would win if they had another session to chase this target, but 350+ in a single day when the ball will be reversing and India can shut up shop at any time is nearly impossible.

Chasing 380 in a 4th innings with a reversing ball is hardly easy, the time just adds on to that IMO.

380 in 4 sessions would have been pretty damn tough anyway, surprised you'd think they'd get it. It'd break many records.

 

[Johnners]

They've no choice. 1-0 same as 2-0.

Was more commenting on them throwing the wood, question mark probs didn't make that clear.

 

[silentstriker]

This would be the second highest run chase in Australian history, the highest since 1948.

 

[Johnners]

Lol'n at Haydos. If he stays in for at least a session ABC blokes are going to have no voices.

 

[HMas]

This would be the second highest run chase in Australian histroy, the highest since 1948.

 

[pup11]

They've no choice. 1-0 same as 2-0.

AWTA, won't mind Australia even going down in this game if they go down fighting, they have to go for these runs no matter what.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Jeez Haydos. Some ordinary shots.