*Official* Australia in India 2010

[Top_Cat]

tbh, I've got no problem with anyone saying Zaheer's a better bowler overall (let alone more skilled) than Hilf and Bolly and at worst, with Johnson, its debatable. One of the few Indian pace bowlers in the last 20 years to take consistent away wickets in quite varied conditions against tough oppo.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Thing is, I have more faith in Tendulkar scoring a century today than in the rest of the batsmen making up the remaining 70 odd. Obv considering Laxman's bad back.

 

[Jono]

haha yeh i changed it to 'exude'. I don't know what I was thinking with 'reek'

But while we are on the topic of language, 'take a chill pill' - seriously? Probably the lamest expression ever invented.

And yes it is biased, because stats and everything else suggest Khan isn't more skilled than the Aus bowlers.

Being skilled does not mean better. So stats are pretty irrelevant.

Edit: I was saying it wasn't biased, don't care if you use the term reek, excude, screams, stinks. Say what you like. I'm disputing the 'bias' suggestion.

 

[Jono]

Pessimistic fans

Nah, last night I had it around 70-30 or so, but now I'm convinced Australia have got it won.

Just put a bit more money on Australia. Reckon it's over.

 

[Teja.]

tbh, I've got no problem with anyone saying Zaheer's a better bowler overall (let alone more skilled) than Hilf and Bolly and at worst, with Johnson, its debatable. One of the few Indian pace bowlers in the last 20 years to take away wickets in quite varied conditions against tough oppo.

Johnson has him good and proper overall, IMO. Zaheer was an overrated bowler with the occasional burst of awesomeness till this year. But atm, Zaheer has a very good case,

Zaheer in 2010,

30 wickets in 5 games @ 21.6 in all tests

15 wickets in 3 games @ 23.6 when B'desh is excluded.

 

[kingpin]

Thing is, I have more faith in Tendulkar scoring a century today than in the rest of the batsmen making up the remaining 70 odd. Obv considering Laxman's bad back.

AWTA.... Dhoni and Laxman shud save the match for us..... and media is showing Laxman is fit and ready to play............

 

[isaacnewton1]

He's a better exponent of the most damaging skill in these conditions though, namely reverse swing.

Yeh probably, but I didn't interpret what he said as being so specific - he didn't mention anything about reverse swing.

So either he is just being biased, or ambiguous. Either way it isn't particularly good writing.

 

[Jono]

AWTA.... Dhoni and Laxman shud save the match for us..... and media is showing Laxman is fit and ready to play............

Nah we're done mate.

 

[kingpin]

Zaheer obv.......He didnt have Hilfy or Bollinger as bowling partners....

 

[isaacnewton1]

Johnson has him good and proper overall, IMO. Zaheer was an overrated bowler with the occasional burst of awesomeness till this year. But atm, Zaheer has a very good case,

Zaheer in 2010,

30 wickets in 5 games @ 21.6 in all tests

15 wickets in 3 games @ 23.6 when B'desh is excluded.

Yeh exactly. At the moment he is on a bit of a purple patch. If you take his career on the whole, I'm sorry but it hasn't been outstanding.

If they want to compare bowlers at their peak, why not compare Khan as he is now, to Johnson how he was, for example, in South Africa.

 

[Teja.]

Nah, With Laxman, It looks to be a case of "If I haaave to play, I'll play" rather than "Bring it on bee-yatch!"

The game is over. Played, Australia.

 

[Teja.]

Yeh exactly. At the moment he is on a bit of a purple patch. If you take his career on the whole, I'm sorry but it hasn't been outstanding.

If they want to compare bowlers at their peak, why not compare Khan as he is now, to Johnson how he was, for example, in South Africa.

They are comparing how they are atm, Not Johnson and Zaheer as overall bowlers. So their comparison is pretty relevant, in this context. Bit like how Clarke>Ponting atm, though Ponting>>Clarke, overall.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Nah, With Laxman, It looks to be a case of "If I haaave to play, I'll play" rather than "Bring it on bee-yatch!"

The game is over. Played, Australia.

AWTA. Lock thread, imo.

 

[kingpin]

nah we're done mate.

#$%^&&w

 

[Top_Cat]

I can accept that Johnson's peaks have been perhaps a bit higher but geez, his troughs sure are deep.....Has Zaheer ever been as rubbish anywhere as Johnson was in England? Some of the worst bowling by a Test standard quick I've seen, let alone the purported leader of the attack.

Love Johnners overall but don't think it's clear-cut even over the course of their careers.

 

[Spark]

Haha, the war of the pessimistic fans. You're either right or pleasantly surprised.

 

[Teja.]

Haha, the war of the pessimistic fans. You're either right or pleasantly surprised.

Think it's more a case of the Australian fans used to pulling magical wins out of nowhere for the past decade and not being able to appreciate how tragic a situation, 55-4 is, tbh.

 

[isaacnewton1]

I can accept that Johnson's peaks have been perhaps a bit higher but geez, his troughs sure are deep.....Has Zaheer ever been as rubbish anywhere as Johnson was in England? Some of the worst bowling by a Test standard quick I've seen, let alone the purported leader of the attack.

Love Johnners overall but don't think it's clear-cut even over the course of their careers.

Well what makes it hard to compare stats, is that Khan has had to play most of his matches in India, which are obviously not the best for fast bowlers. However, that being said just from observation, I think Johnson is the better bowler overall. With Bollinger and Hilfenhaus, it is too early to tell how they will fair in the long run, but at this stage I would still choose both of them over Khan if I was to pick a team (chooses would differ depending on conditions obviously, but I mean in general).

 

[pasag]

Nah, last night I had it around 70-30 or so, but now I'm convinced Australia have got it won.

Just put a bit more money on Australia. Reckon it's over.

It's a defence mechanism though.

You have one of the greatest batsmen ever in the form of his life in the crease, as well as two good batsmen still to come and two bowlers that go for the tonk pretty successfully. At the same time 160 runs is still a fair bit, so as I said, even stevens.

 

[Top_Cat]

Anyway, as for the match currently going on, all I'll say is that I'd be a smidge nervous about the result should Sachin get past lunch. No matter who he's with, they're going to play their guts out for him.

It's why I've never been a fan of just containing the good player and only worrying about knocking over the rest. While he's out there, the chances are high he's going to inspire others to play above themselves. Knock him over and you take the wind out of India's sails. Plus, it's easier to take one wicket then 5 slightly dejected ones than putting everything into trying to take 6 guys who'll reckon they're always in with a chance as long as the gun is out there too.

That'd be my tactics anyway; go hard at Sachin.