*Official* Australia in India 2010

[kingpin]

After losing the toss,And being at 128/8 at one stage and winning it................You will not get this type of matches in INDIA often...... This pitch was result oriented.... Even tough it was underprepared.....

BTW I still dont like the Idea of having Ishant in the team.....

 

[Spark]

Oh yeah, but for this side to win in India would have been the start of our climb back to the top

Don't see why it can't be anyway.

I don't feel that we can climb up to the top until we get rid of our deadweight. Watson, Clarke, Haddin/Paine and the pacers have to become our core for the next five years.

Agree with Watson looking really flat. To be fair he batted his guts out, did you see how knackered he looked at the end of Day 1?

 

[GotSpin]

Don't see why it can't be anyway.

I don't feel that we can climb up to the top until we get rid of our deadweight. Watson, Clarke, Haddin/Paine and the pacers have to become our core for the next five years.

Agree with Watson looking really flat. To be fair he batted his guts out, did you see how knackered he looked at the end of Day 1?

Well it would have been a massive occasion to get up in the series.

Yeah its not a criticism of Watson, but I think Ponting was right in not bowling him much. Really hopeful that Hilfenhaus stays fit for a while because I really rate the line and length he bowls.

 

[biased indian]

Taking a step back though and looking at the perspective of just how new our side is...it was still a wonderful performance. S.Africa may have became strong, but then faltered and India are only going to get weaker once some of their champions retire...but our group is getting stronger and stronger. Beating India at home (an India which is ranked #1) would have been a big achievement.

interestingly the avg age of Indian and Australian players was almost same in the series..
Agreed though the 3 when ever they go will make us weak ..

 

[howardj]

Don't see why it can't be anyway.

I don't feel that we can climb up to the top until we get rid of our deadweight. Watson, Clarke, Haddin/Paine and the pacers have to become our core for the next five years.

Exactly. It just seems to me we are now tolerating, almost embracing and hugging to our bosom, mediocrity. Why have they tolerated North and to a lesser extent Hussey for so long? It used to be cut-throat at the selection table. I hate to keep banging on about it, but these batting collapses are costing us big-ticket series. Not even losing the Ashes belled the cat for the selectors! Just how many more series have to go down the toilet?

 

[GotSpin]

Exactly. It just seems to me we are now tolerating, almost embracing and hugging to our bosom, mediocrity. Why have they tolerated North and to a lesser extent Hussey for so long? It used to be cut-throat at the selection table. I hate to keep banging on about it, but these batting collapses are costing us big-ticket series. Not even losing the Ashes belled the cat for the selectors! Just how many more series have to go down the toilet?

So true. Just feels like the selectors want to keep these guys in the team to prove that they were right and not failures

 

[Spark]

Well it would have been a massive occasion to get up in the series.

Yeah its not a criticism of Watson, but I think Ponting was right in not bowling him much. Really hopeful that Hilfenhaus stays fit for a while because I really rate the line and length he bowls.

It would but they can take a lot out of it nonetheless (the pacers, that is, and Paine and Watto. The rest need to have a good long hard think about themselves, or just go away).

What Hilfenhaus really impressed me this test match was his bouncer. Always had good lines and accuracy, and always had good control of swing. But his bouncer this test was quite nasty, and that makes him just that much more dangerous. If he develops an inswinger then he could become a real handful.

 

[Contra]

Holy **** we won! Geez India are like experts at chasing 4th innings totals now. Some awesome 4th inning chases over the last 2 years we've had. Awesome game. Well played Australia. Can't wait for the next match =D

 

[vic_orthdox]

He's always had a good bouncer, seen him use it quite regularly in one day domestic cricket for Tasmania, where most quicks don't like to.

 

[GotSpin]

It would but they can take a lot out of it nonetheless (the pacers, that is, and Paine and Watto. The rest need to have a good long hard think about themselves, or just go away).

What Hilfenhaus really impressed me this test match was his bouncer. Always had good lines and accuracy, and always had good control of swing. But his bouncer this test was quite nasty, and that makes him just that much more dangerous. If he develops an inswinger then he could become a real handful.

He was definitely seaming it both ways at one point.

 

[Spark]

Exactly. It just seems to me we are now tolerating, almost embracing and hugging to our bosom, mediocrity. Why have they tolerated North and to a lesser extent Hussey for so long? It used to be cut-throat at the selection table. I hate to keep banging on about it, but these batting collapses are costing us big-ticket series. Not even losing the Ashes belled the cat for the selectors! Just how many more series have to go down the toilet?

Couldn't agree more tbh.

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Seam, yes, not swing so much though. He can do it, occasionally he gets it right but obviously he doesn't have the excellent control over it like he does the outswinger.

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I haven't seen him use the bouncer as effectively at test level as he did today and yesterday.

 

[howardj]

So true. Just feels like the selectors want to keep these guys in the team to prove that they were right and not failures

At the risk of this sounding like a agreement-fest, that's exactly right. The selectors it just seems are just digging their heels in - determined to prove that they made the right calls in the face of all the contrary evidence. When it should really be about improving the team, not the selectors' pride.

Maybe that's a bit harsh, but geez we need to get back to being ruthless or at least tough at the selection table.

 

[kingpin]

Well I can see Hussey doing well in coming matches.....But North looks like a good Batsman and have good technique against spin IMO(Not as great as Indians or clarke) but he may play next match as well......

 

[G.I.Joe]

Match couldn't have been very good for Hauritz's confidence. Being bowled as sparingly as he was on the 5th day on this pitch is spirit sapping stuff. Granted he didn't do his case any good early in the day, but surely he could have had a decent shot at Ishant? I don't think he was brought on at all after lunch?

 

[four_or_six]

How did Johnson bowl this innings? I have only seen the scorecard and I'm interested to know how he coped with the pressure situation.

 

[Manee]

Match couldn't have been very good for Hauritz's confidence. Being bowled as sparingly as he was on the 5th day on this pitch is spirit sapping stuff. Granted he didn't do his case any good early in the day, but surely he could have had a decent shot at Ishant? I don't think he was brought on at all after lunch?

I think it was the danger of Laxman taking 10-20 off one of his overs that persuaded Ponting not to bring Hauritz on.

 

[GotSpin]

How did Johnson bowl this innings? I have only seen the scorecard and I'm interested to know how he coped with the pressure situation.

Bowled pretty well I reckon. Couple usual Johnson wayward deliveries but was good otherwise.

 

[Spark]

Match couldn't have been very good for Hauritz's confidence. Being bowled as sparingly as he was on the 5th day on this pitch is spirit sapping stuff. Granted he didn't do his case any good early in the day, but surely he could have had a decent shot at Ishant? I don't think he was brought on at all after lunch?

He wasn't. With good reason, he was leaking one boundary ball almost every over. Still think Clarke should've been brought on, given that he has a proven record in exactly this type of situation, but oh well...

Johnson was actually excellent. Apart from a few loose wide ones which because of the situation were generally left alone, kept good tight off-stump lines and was unlucky not to have bounced Sharma out, was the one who really had a bouncer of sufficient viciousness (given Bollinger was injured) to trouble Sharma

 

[Ruckus]

Ultimate Aus team:

1. Hughes
2. Watson
3. Ponting
4. Clarke
5. Katich
6. Smith
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Hauritz
10. Hilfenhaus
11. Bollinger

OR if Smith proves his worth as a spin bowler,

1. Hughes
2. Watson
3. Ponting
4. Clarke
5. Katich
6. Khawaja
7. Haddin
8. Smith
9. Johnson
10. Hilfenhaus
11. Bollinger

OR the TRULY ultimate team:

1. North
2. North
3. North (C)
4. North
5. North
6. North
7. North
8. North
9. North
10. North
11. North

12th man Bollinger

 

[biased indian]

an interesting stat from the game

During that 81-run stand with laxman, Ishant played 71% of the total deliveries (92 out of 130).

Laxman always does this he never tries to protect the tail from strike