*Official* Australia in India 2010

[howardj]

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

Mate, I like the first team. At this point, Smith is more of a batsman than bowler. However, I think his bowling has great 'upside' as they say in AFL.

 

[Spark]

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

Khawaja is a more likely pick than Smith for the specialist #6 tbh. I think Hauritz's spot is under serious threat though, given his performance today. Otherwise, good, strong team.

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

Disgrace Dougeh to associate him with such a travesty IMO

 

[GotSpin]

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.

If North plays in the ashes I'll tear my hair out and look like SS.

Even though we had some great batting talent in the past few years, could you imagine any of our middle order being allowed to not pass 20 in 19 of their 26 innings.

 

[G.I.Joe]

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

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

Can't see the point of picking a spinner if you're not going to bowl him at the #10 on a 5th day pitch, tbh. Just run with 4 quicks + Watson then, IMO.

 

[Woodster]

What a fantastic, gripping Test match. VVS played an outstanding innings, but didn't think it was going to be enough. So much drama towards the end, and some fantastic performances throughout the game and it has been a very welcome boost to Test cricket.

Hauritz must lose his place for the second Test if Ponting has little faith in throwing him the ball on day five. He will have disappointed himself with how he bowled, too much loose stuff, and part-timer North was bowling when the pressure was on and the main spinner should be throwing them down.

Of course if Bollinger isn't fit for the second Test, Smith may come into the equation as a replacement for him.

 

[Spark]

If North plays in the ashes I'll tear my hair out and look like SS.

Even though we had some great batting talent in the past few years, could you imagine any of our middle order being allowed to not pass 20 in 19 of their 26 innings.

The last batsman in the test side to have such an extended run of bad form was Hussey, except Hussey had his extraordinary record and average to bank.

Before that the last one I can think of was Clarke version 1, except he wasn't failing as much as North was, more throwing away starts almost uniformly. So in that sense he had less reason to be dropped than North does now, but dropped he was and that has to be one of the best things to have happened in Australian cricket in the last 5 years WRT to the next 5.

Can't see the point of picking a spinner if you're not going to bowl him at the #10 on a 5th day pitch, tbh. Just run with 4 quicks + Watson then, IMO.

The benefit of hindsight. Everyone can agree with the decision not to have him bowling post-lunch today though.

 

[Ruckus]

Disgrace Dougeh to associate him with such a travesty IMO

North was captain, so he made the choice. Blame North the bastard

Btw, who thinks North will be retained for the second test?

 

[howardj]

If North plays in the ashes I'll tear my hair out and look like SS.

Even though we had some great batting talent in the past few years, could you imagine any of our middle order being allowed to not pass 20 in 19 of their 26 innings.

Or pass 25 in just three of their last 17 innings.

I know that's being selective, but gee whiz it's not like the cupboard is bare in terms of replacements. It's not the 1980's when guys like Graeme Wood, Fat Cat Richie, Dirk Wellham etc played many Tests with an average languishing in the 30s because of the dearth of talent.

 

[Woodster]

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

That is quite a percentage. At the start of this partnership India were some way from winning, and so it wasn't logical for him to start protecting the lesser batsmen from so far out. They needed every run they could get. When things got much closer towards the end, he did protect Sharma (against Johnson's pace) and obviously did his best to keep Ojha off strike, and rightly so. Got the balance just about right, although thought he may live to rue the decision to give Sharma five balls against Hilf when he was shielding him from Johnson.

 

[Spark]

North was captain, so he made the choice. Blame North the bastard

Btw, who thinks North will be retained for the second test?

I think he will IMO.

 

[GotSpin]

I'm still not convinced at Hughes coming in to open though. From all reports he hasn't fixed any of his technical problems.

 

[howardj]

Anyway, enough of talking about Australia. Well done India, it's good to see you back playing Test cricket passionately against a great modern day rival.

 

[Spark]

I'm still convinced at Hughes coming in to open though. From all reports he hasn't fixed any of his technical problems.

Nor am I, but for this particular tour it's not really a concern.

---

Don't think there's anything more to say on the test match. Epic test, thilling, unforgettable, VVS WAG, Ponting lol, Hauritz lol, Sharma showing ticker, BCCI idiots, bad decisions etc. etc. etc.

 

[four_or_six]

Though I'd compare his career to Katich when he got dropped. Pretty similar stats really, though I don't recall the detail with Katich.

Can't imagine they will drop North for the next match, though. You either drop a batsman before or after a two-match series, not in the middle, surely?

 

[Spark]

Though I'd compare his career to Katich when he got dropped. Pretty similar stats really, though I don't recall the detail with Katich.

Can't imagine they will drop North for the next match, though. You either drop a batsman before or after a two-match series, not in the middle, surely?

That's exactly it, plus the fact that Khawaja isn't on this tour makes me think they'll lean towards retention (i.e. failure)

 

[bagapath]

Anyway, enough of talking about Australia. Well done India, it's good to see you back playing Test cricket passionately against a great modern day rival.

thanks. but am slightly bored of beating the same set of boys again and again. in the last 7 tests we have beaten this team four times and the other three games were drawn. really don't want australia to become what india was to them before "the" calcutta test. one sided battles are boring to watch. thankfully this was a cracker of a game. but for the rivalry to stay alive, a good turnaround is needed. and to be fair, ponting needs a shot in the arm to keep on going until pup is ready to take over.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Thoughts on Indian XI for next test? Straight swap of Pujara for Laxman if the latter won't play. What about the bowlers? I don't think Ishant is going to be dropped, unless injury related.

 

[Ruckus]

Though I'd compare his career to Katich when he got dropped. Pretty similar stats really, though I don't recall the detail with Katich.

Can't imagine they will drop North for the next match, though. You either drop a batsman before or after a two-match series, not in the middle, surely?

The thing is with Katich though is he has an awesome FC average of 55 or something, where as Norths is 40. There is no hope for North now, or ever.

 

[duffer]

You have no idea how happy i am. Laxman not getting enough love around the world.

 

[Teja.]

****! What a game! Bunked school and was at a friend's house watching it. Literally teared up at 122/8, got up to get water then, and Ishant hit a four off Hilfeh, ****s made me stand for about three hours because they thought I'll jinx it. Worth it though, what a game! Day I'll remember for the rest of my life.

Also, Laxman is a Hyderabadi.