*Official* Australia in India - ODIs

[Shri]

Sehwag is once in 20-30 innings player. A bit like Afridi.

Gambhir did not play today didn't he? Also he is an unproven material as far as tight games are concerned. Perhaps "woeful" is a harsh word.

Sehwag got better last season. Is more consistent these days tbh. And as for Gambhir not playing any good knock in tight games, his 75 at the T20 WC 2007 comes to mind.

 

[Manee]

Sehwag is once in 20-30 innings player. A bit like Afridi.

Would completely disagree with that. Not only does Sehwag have a perfectly respectable average of 34.11, looking at this, it is clear that in recent times, he has often scored a brisk 15-40, if not a larger score.

Gambhir did not play today didn't he? Also he is an unproven material as far as tight games are concerned.

Gambhir averages over 40 and has a strike rate of over 90 in both 2008 (27 innings) and 2009 (17 innings) - more than enough to convince of his quality.

 

[Sir Alex]

Would completely disagree with that. Not only does Sehwag have a perfectly respectable average of 34.11, looking at this, it is clear that in recent times, he has often scored a brisk 15-40, if not a larger score.



Gambhir averages over 40 and has a strike rate of over 90 in both 2008 (27 innings) and 2009 (17 innings) - more than enough to convince of his quality.

How often does a brisk 30-40 help in the overall context of a game? I am not sure it happens too often, and the best proof of it was today. And his overall average is clearly this high because of a few good performances against weaker teams and non test playing nations. His brand of Kamikaze batting might be entertaining and fun to watch but I don't they are really impactful.

 

[Manee]

How often does a brisk 30-40 help in the overall context of a game? I am not sure it happens too often, and the best proof of it was today.

I think it is helpful against the new ball. If you have reached 50 after 7 or 8 overs, then you are sorted for run rate for a good deal of the innings. His knock was partially the reason that India, despite a slowdown in the middle overs, were still up with the run rate.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Once Gambhir is fit and back in, India should really consider sending Sehwag down the order in the middle overs, especially while chasing. Yuvraj and Dhoni can't be relied on every single time, and Raina and Kohli aren't experienced enough.

 

[Manee]

Once Gambhir is fit and back in, India should really consider sending Sehwag down the order in the middle overs, especially while chasing. Yuvraj and Dhoni can't be relied on every single time, and Raina and Kohli aren't experienced enough.

No, I disagree with that. Sehwag's impact (yes, I know he was originally a middle order batsman) will be lessened against the old ball. Once Gambhir is back, there will be no Kohli and Raina has done fine so far at the bottom of the middle order.

 

[Sir Alex]

I think it is helpful against the new ball. If you have reached 50 after 7 or 8 overs, then you are sorted for run rate for a good deal of the innings. His knock was partially the reason that India, despite a slowdown in the middle overs, were still up with the run rate.

Sehwag thrives on fielding restrictions, which is not a bad thing for an opener. But he does not exploit even half of it which is why his average is still just ok in ODIs. I think even at the cost of 3-4 points of SR if he can last 15-20 overs it will be of much more utility.

 

[Manee]

Sehwag thrives on fielding restrictions, which is not a bad thing for an opener. But he does not exploit even half of it which is why his average is still just ok in ODIs. I think even at the cost of 3-4 points of SR if he can last 15-20 overs it will be of much more utility.

What you are suggesting is improvement for Sehwag and that is what he has been doing in recent times as shown here by the year-by-year averages and strike rates. Very few can argue with his 2008 and 2009 performances.

 

[Jono]

Sehwag thrives on fielding restrictions, which is not a bad thing for an opener. But he does not exploit even half of it which is why his average is still just ok in ODIs. I think even at the cost of 3-4 points of SR if he can last 15-20 overs it will be of much more utility.

His average is still only 'ok' because after a good start to his career, he became lazy and stupid for many years (probably around 03-07). It resulted in him being dropped on countless occasions.

He has improved greatly, and should still open.

**** today showed how much the fielding restrictions allow him to play freely. He went to thump a rank half-volley, but was caught at mid-off. On another day that's 4.

He gave India a start which made them mega favourites. A mix between good Australian bowling and fielding, some unlucky dismissals, and a panic attack by inexperienced batsmen resulting in India losing.

I don't see how any of that is Sehwag's fault.

 

[Furball]

Once Gambhir is fit and back in, India should really consider sending Sehwag down the order in the middle overs, especially while chasing. Yuvraj and Dhoni can't be relied on every single time, and Raina and Kohli aren't experienced enough.

Yeah, because since coming back into the side, Sehwag has been hopeless.

**** me.

 

[Burgey]

Unless Mitch bats higher up the order there's no way his place in the side should be guaranteed. Been a passenger in the ODI side for a while now after such a promising start.

Nothing wrong at all with what you're saying mate, but he's a ****ing monty to keep playing when every other **** keeps getting injured!

Any word on Siddle? That would be a huge loss, not just this series but for the start of the summer.

Dougy (Y). You ****ing beauty!

 

[four_or_six]

I just watched the highlights and Voges was definitely out there fielding at the end for someone.

 

[Burgey]

I just watched the highlights and Voges was definitely out there fielding at the end for someone.

On the CA website, Ponting referred to Sids only bowling 5 overs, but made no mention of an injury - it seems when Watto was bowling well they just decided they didn't need to use him.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Good for the series that Australia won. 2-2 makes it a three game series from here... (what it should've been in the first place )

 

[howardj]

My God that's an ordinary Aussie middle to late order.

 

[Burgey]

My God that's an ordinary Aussie middle to late order.

Yep, just lacks the punch that's there when you have Hopes & Lee in the lower-middle order, doesn't it?

 

[inbox24]

Hopes is a very ordinary finisher, he's probably only better than Denesh Ramdin. Hussey and even Hodge are better even though they don't bat that low regularly.

 

[Johnners]

Clone Ponting & Hussey, and bat the clones at 6 & imo.

Watson
Haddin
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Ponting
Hussey
Johnson
Lee
Hauritz
Bracken

 

[andyc]

"It's surely a good win for us, coming up short with the bat, but bowling and fielding very well. Peter Siddle got only five overs in the game which means we thought things out really well. The series is level again, it has been up and down all the way through and no team has been able to grab the momentum."

Really?

 

[NUFAN]

Perhaps AndyC, the Australian management knew they needed a right arm quick and as it's a long summer didn't think he was capable of getting through 10 overs unless definitely required.