*Official* Australia in India 2010

[Spark]

Asif bowled a beautiful spell post lunch was unlucky not to get an edge then Yusuf had his typical captaincy moment and employed a strategy that backfired, what about Ponting bowling Watson and North with the field set back with opponent needing 30 to win?

True. Where'd Amir go, though? He just vanished for the entire session when they had started on top, they finished it on the ropes.

Anyway not this thread.

 

[social]

Asif bowled a beautiful spell post lunch was unlucky not to get an edge then Yusuf had his typical captaincy moment and employed a strategy that backfired, what about Ponting bowling Watson and North with the field set back with opponent needing 30 to win?

Touche

 

[Ruckus]

I think the match is pretty evenly poised at the moment. Maybe India is slightly at an advantage...

 

[kingkallis]

If North crosses 30 then I am sure he will score a big ton!

Its time to get him...

 

[Spark]

Think not bowling Zaheer to North a bit more is a miss. Much more comfortable against spin than pace. He's looking much better though. And past 20 now, dangerous.

 

[Xuhaib]

hoping for a Ponting ton hope he keeps pressure on Sachin otherwise the race is getting quite one sided.

 

[Noble One]

I'd be willing to forgive North and the Australian selectors if North scores 100 and Australia win this Test. Such a crucial partnership this one, Australia will collapse if one of these two get out now.

 

[social]

I think the match is pretty evenly poised at the moment. Maybe India is slightly at an advantage...

Shows how times have changed when most people fully expect one of the greatest batsmen in history (and a guy with more than 30 hundreds to his name) to have a brain explosion at any time and his partner to succumb meekly

 

[aussie tragic]

If North crosses 30 then I am sure he will score a big ton!

Its time to get him...

Actually, the 10 times North has reached > 20, he averages 107

and that means the other 20 innings he avearges 6.85

 

[Spark]

I'd be willing to forgive North and the Australian selectors if North scores 100 and Australia win this Test. Such a crucial partnership this one, Australia will collapse if one of these two get out now.

Won't forgive North unless he scores 2 50+ scores within the first two tests of the Ashes.

Actually, not true. I have no beef with North personally, it's the selectors who are in my sights.

 

[Johnners]

hoping for a Ponting ton hope he keeps pressure on Sachin otherwise the race is getting quite one sided.

Given their relative similarity in age, and Sachin's return to form co-inciding with Pontings slump over the past 2 years, the "race" is over imho unless Sachin retires shortly and Ponting has 1 or 2 more cracking years.

 

[social]

Think not bowling Zaheer to North a bit more is a miss. Much more comfortable against spin than pace. He's looking much better though. And past 20 now, dangerous.

IMO, he belts pace when he's going but is always susceptible against spin because he goes so hard at the ball

Reckon Sreesanth is the worst guy that they could bowl against him atm - he'll pitch it up and if North gets a few drives in, he'll be away

 

[Ruckus]

How do you think this tactic would work on good batting pitches like in India?

You always aim to pair an attacking batsman with a defensive batsmen, with the former really going for it at a strike rate around 80, and the latter just blocking balls and rotating strike with singles.

So in this current Aus team you would have Watson going for it with Katich blocking. Then if Watson falls, Ponting becomes the new 'attacker', and if Katich falls, Ponting becomes the new 'defender'. Then if Watson and Ponting are in and Watson falls, Ponting becomes the attacker, and Clarke the defender etc. And you continue this process through the entire top/middle order, as batsmen get out.

 

[Spark]

IMO, he belts pace when he's going but is always susceptible against spin because he goes so hard at the ball

Reckon Sreesanth is the worst guy that they could bowl against him atm - he'll pitch it up and if North gets a few drives in, he'll be away

When he's going, obviously yes, but we don't need to worry about when he gets going. At the start, though, his balance is so terrible around off stump against pace, and he has a very good sweep so I'd employ the pacers.

 

[social]

Won't forgive North unless he scores 2 50+ scores within the first two tests of the Ashes.

Actually, not true. I have no beef with North personally, it's the selectors who are in my sights.

This

If a manager continually appoinst the wrong subordinate to do a job, he should take responsibility for the latter's mistakes

 

[Spark]

This

If a manager continually appoinst the wrong subordinate to do a job, he should take responsibility for the latter's mistakes

Indeed. North does seem like a fairly nice bloke, which obviously contributes to Ponting's reticence to saying a word against him.

 

[morgieb]

North on 21 here...it's like a century for him

 

[Spark]

North on 21 here...it's like a century for him

Has a 50% chance of getting a century now IIRC

 

[Manee]

C'mon India, one more wicket please.

 

[Xuhaib]

if only Aus had a good spinner I would have put them on top.