*Official* Australia in India 2010

[Jayzamann]

Follows up with piss 2 foot outside off stump. Gnarly.

 

[Daemon]

Missed another straight one...

Kept low

 

[vcs]

5-for for Mitch then.

Been an absolutely mental spell. 5/64 looks great on this pitch and it is, but still...

Yeah, the guy's success is inexplicable at times.

Still, bowled a couple of good balls to get Dhoni and Harbhajan and had Tendulkar flashing through the slips a couple of times, I suppose.

 

[Spark]

His two LB's did keep a bit low to be fair. Not the smartest shots though, it must be said.

That's that. Clarke catches one!

And we're in the lead. FMD I did NOT expect that two hours ago.

 

[Jayzamann]

Here's hoping for a fit VVS for the second innings.

 

[NUFAN]

And to think NUFAN wanted him dropped for a half-fit Siddle.

No mate I never said Siddle for Johnson..

 

[Arjun]

This is not a Test standard bottom five. Four complete non-batsmen. Why can't they do something about it? It's messed up a good effort by the top five batsmen, and a matter of concern, often neglected. It's feeble, and they need to beef it up, not slot in a batsman as a quick fix.

 

[vcs]

Horrible session for us.

Is that stumps?

 

[Spark]

This is not a Test standard bottom five. Four complete non-batsmen. Why can't they do something about it? It's messed up a good effort by the top five batsmen, and a matter of concern, often neglected. It's feeble, and they need to beef it up, not slot in a batsman as a quick fix.

First time I've heard VVS Laxman called a non-batsman

 

[Teja.]

Game evenly poised. India's hopes rest heavily on Zaheer's performance in the third Innings.

 

[Matt79]

Mitch such a champ. Don't know or care how he does it, just that he does it. Mrs Johnson and his WAG - you cost us the 09 Ashes!

 

[BoyBrumby]

Lead for Oz. Wouldn't have called it with Sachin and Raina in, so fair play.

Still looks a draw to me, this makes all three results possible again. Collapse either way and it's game on.

 

[Jayzamann]

I can see Marcus North talking but all I hear is deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerp

 

[Matt79]

Hauritz!! Cleans up the tail!!

 

[Arjun]

First time I've heard VVS Laxman called a non-batsman

Laxman got a good one, struggled with a bad back, hence came in late and could do little, but there's no way you can call Ishant a recognised batsman. He can't score runs. Nor can any of the others. Maybe a little annoyance to the bowlers, only to annoy their own fans a little later by getting out for next to nothing.

 

[Flem274*]

Hauritz' figures look slightly less dire with two cheap tail wickets.

I know his head will probably be called for at the end of the series, but I think he's worth keeping. He's done pretty well before now.

 

[Top_Cat]

Pitch still looks really good so I reckon the Aussies will be able to set a chase but I think India would back themselves to save the match.

 

[Prince EWS]

No mate I never said Siddle for Johnson..

Yes you did tbh.

If we lose this the selectors will be forced to make some changes and the players I would be looking to remove are the 2 WA players, North and Johnson.

1 Hughes 2 Katich 3 Ponting 4 Clarke 5 Hussey 6 Watson 7 Haddin 8 Hauritz 9 Hilfenhaus 10 Siddle 11 Bollinger is the XI I would like to see at our best.

I think Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh are our next best batting options. Khawaja must be very close to making his debut in place of the ageing Mike Hussey. Shaun Marsh's record doesn't look that flash, but I like his technique, think he will eventually take over Ponting at 3.

Our next quick in line is Ryan Harris, who will be putting pressure on all 3 quicks and depending on conditions might even be a better option than the 3 I've named.

You posted that in the Pakistan series thread. And we did lose that match.

 

[Evermind]

Gonna be really interesting tomorrow. At what stage does Ponting declare?

My money's on

- a draw (50%)
- Australian win, after they get a quick 250+, declare, and put India in on the 5th day (35%)
- an Indian win, after a poor declaration from Ponting and a Sehwag blitz. (15%)

 

[vcs]

Lead for Oz. Wouldn't have called it with Sachin and Raina in, so fair play.

Still looks a draw to me, this makes all three results possible again. Collapse either way and it's game on.

Yeah, I'd think the same but Australia's slender lead + VVS's back makes them favourites, I guess.

Probably would have been better for us if we'd followed Australia's lead and stonewalled more during our innings.