*Official* Australia in India 2010

[robelinda]

Agree with you chief, Hilfy is a champ. He's locked into this team as long as wants to be. It's especially good since everyone assumed he'd be James Anderson 2.0, good with swing, but crap on flat. It's very heartening for this Aussie fan on a disheartening day.

Absolute champ. Love his lines, and the way he bowls at the batsman, not much wide. Always looks threatening. Bloody insult for anyone to think of comparing him to James Anderson, Mr "bowls half volley and hopes to death it swings oh crap it didnt its four again". Hilfy keeps it tight, dare I say Alderman style, close to the stumps, even Adam Dale kept Sachin somewhat in check in that 98 test with that method. Get Dougie back and somehow unearth a half decent spinner and we are good to go.

Hauritz was always going to struggle to Sachin, lets all be honest. No way was any Indian batsman going to be troubled, a mauling was always just around the corner. The positive is that even Murali and Warne had little answer to Sachin in India, I still think Hauritz has enough in the bag to do a good job in Australian conditions, England, Sth Africa etc, but maybe not so great on the SC. What to do.....I like the idea of Smith in the top 7, plus North's offies, and a 4th seamer who doesnt have a huge runup, maybe Harris or Siddle, to keep the over rate in check. In my mind even a guy like McDonald wouldve done a better job than Hauritz in this test, he bowled some absolute trash. The way the selectors were thinking last year on the SA tour wasnt bad for me- spinner not good enough- DONT PLAY ONE!

 

[TumTum]

Hauritz was always going to struggle to Sachin, lets all be honest. No way was any Indian batsman going to be troubled, a mauling was always just around the corner. The positive is that even Murali and Warne had little answer to Sachin in India, I still think Hauritz has enough in the bag to do a good job in Australian conditions, England, Sth Africa etc, but maybe not so great on the SC. What to do.....I like the idea of Smith in the top 7, plus North's offies, and a 4th seamer who doesnt have a huge runup, maybe Harris or Siddle, to keep the over rate in check. In my mind even a guy like McDonald wouldve done a better job than Hauritz in this test, he bowled some absolute trash. The way the selectors were thinking last year on the SA tour wasnt bad for me- spinner not good enough- DONT PLAY ONE!

Hauritz was absolutely hopeless against SA (in Aus), even I could have gone and scored 100 easily against him (no joke). In fact North was seen as the better spin option, that is why he was picked for his debut Test (he got 6/30~ in tour match iirc).

 

[Woodster]

Just joining in the admiration for Hilfenhaus. Thought he bowled very well today and looked the only constant threat through the day. His lines were exceptional, his work rate is top drawer, he continued to run in and pound the ball in short of a length when the strategy dictated. He was the only quicker bowler that managed any semblance of reverse swing, and he was once again unlucky. His slower ball that deceived Vijay could easily have brought him a wicket on another day.

Hauritz I was very disappointed by. He didn't get much chance in the morning, but when he did come on he gave too many easy balls to negotiate. There is a very small margin for error on these pitches, the track is very slow, there's little turn for him, and bowling to Tendulkar is daunting enough. But even all that said he just offered too many half-volleys and too many deliveries where the batsmen could rock back and work him into the gaps.

But credit to Tendulkar and Vijay. SRT is a master of building an innings like that, and the ease that he worked the ball around when the boundaries dried up briefly, ensured the board kept ticking. A masterclass.

 

[Burgey]

Is it just me or does anyone else think that Murali Vijay's batting style is similar to VVS Laxman in some ways? Am watching highlights, he played one wristy flick on on side, and one cover drive leaning lazily without moving his feet - exactly how Laxman would do.

Yeah, there are similarities, and his height accentuates them. He batted very well tbf to him. Thought it was a classic supporting knock to Tendulkar's. Well done him.

Also want to echo the thoughts on Hilf. Superb yesterday, and has been all series. Becoming a really good Test bowler for us. Hope he never sees a coloured uniform again tbh.

 

[Top_Cat]

Gotta love a bloke like Vijay and I don't reckon this knock will get the plaudits it deserves. Super solid for a bloke who took the game up late, has enough shots around the wicket to get out of trouble and just looks so calm. Good professional Test match batsman who has a bit of style too.

 

[aussie]

Hauritz was always going to struggle to Sachin, lets all be honest. No way was any Indian batsman going to be troubled, a mauling was always just around the corner. The positive is that even Murali and Warne had little answer to Sachin in India, I still think Hauritz has enough in the bag to do a good job in Australian conditions, England, Sth Africa etc, but maybe not so great on the SC. What to do.....I like the idea of Smith in the top 7, plus North's offies, and a 4th seamer who doesnt have a huge runup, maybe Harris or Siddle, to keep the over rate in check. In my mind even a guy like McDonald wouldve done a better job than Hauritz in this test, he bowled some absolute trash. The way the selectors were thinking last year on the SA tour wasnt bad for me- spinner not good enough- DONT PLAY ONE!

Indeed. Been saying the bolded since the end of the tour to the West Indies in 2008.

But just a few other slight points. Hauritz current mauling in India really shouldn't be a surprise though sir Rob. You along with most of the planetcricket crew know i said it would happen since early this year. He didn't have to be a Warne or Murali in those conditions, but he certainly was expected to be become a serious wicket-taking threat when the ball began to turn. Other decent/average spinners not of a Warne/Murali quality in the recent past such as Greg Matthews, Krejza, Giles, Paul Adams, Boje, Udal, Croft, Kaneria, Harris, Bracewell, Wiseman have gone all over the SC & have done this key job for their respective sides. Geez even Gavin Robertson wasn't that bad in 1998.

ATS also we really can't even expect him to be effective outside of the SC. Given his recent failues in ENG, NZ for eg recently. Pitches around the world will still detoriorate on the 5th day & he will always struggle since his repetoire is very limited. Dont think McDonald would have made much of difference either, if Watson couldn't get his reverse-swing going much on those roads, much less McDonald who although crap is bowler who needs seaming conditions to have any sort of threat


I like the idea of Smith @ 7 one day as the spin-bowling all-rounder, but thats still a long way off. Preferably North shouldn't be there as most of world would agree. By AUS standards such an inconsistent batsman can't be in the top 6, given the amount of batting collapses that have been occuring over the last 2.5 years.

 

[stephen]

Sachiiiiiin, why are you so good Sachin?

 

[FBU]

Absolute champ. Love his lines, and the way he bowls at the batsman, not much wide. Always looks threatening. Bloody insult for anyone to think of comparing him to James Anderson, Mr "bowls half volley and hopes to death it swings oh crap it didnt its four again". Hilfy keeps it tight, dare I say Alderman style, close to the stumps, even Adam Dale kept Sachin somewhat in check in that 98 test with that method. Get Dougie back and somehow unearth a half decent spinner and we are good to go.

Hauritz was always going to struggle to Sachin, lets all be honest. No way was any Indian batsman going to be troubled, a mauling was always just around the corner. The positive is that even Murali and Warne had little answer to Sachin in India, I still think Hauritz has enough in the bag to do a good job in Australian conditions, England, Sth Africa etc, but maybe not so great on the SC. What to do.....I like the idea of Smith in the top 7, plus North's offies, and a 4th seamer who doesnt have a huge runup, maybe Harris or Siddle, to keep the over rate in check. In my mind even a guy like McDonald wouldve done a better job than Hauritz in this test, he bowled some absolute trash. The way the selectors were thinking last year on the SA tour wasnt bad for me- spinner not good enough- DONT PLAY ONE!

In India

Hilfenhaus so far 69.0 overs 5 wickets at 43.60 econ 3.13 s/r 82.8
Anderson 104.1 overs 10 wickets at 29.30 econ 2.81 s/r 62.5

 

[robelinda]

Yeah Watson has been awful, whats the deal there?? Looks like he's 60 years old bowling to his grandchildren on Sunday arvo after a big roast.

 

[GotSpin]

In India

Hilfenhaus so far 69.0 overs 5 wickets at 43.60 econ 3.13 s/r 82.8
Anderson 104.1 overs 10 wickets at 29.30 econ 2.81 s/r 62.5

Thanks for showing that statistics don't prove everything

 

[aussie]

In India

Hilfenhaus so far 69.0 overs 5 wickets at 43.60 econ 3.13 s/r 82.8
Anderson 104.1 overs 10 wickets at 29.30 econ 2.81 s/r 62.5

6 of those Anderson wicket in India, came on seamer friendly wicket in Mumbai 06, which is what he thrives in. The other two test he played on flat pitches in 2008 which where similar to what Hilfenhaus has encountered in two tests in IND currently - Jimmy look totally toothless.

 

[GotSpin]

Yeah Watson has been awful, whats the deal there?? Looks like he's 60 years old bowling to his grandchildren on Sunday arvo after a big roast.

Looks like his back has just stiffened up after batting or something

 

[Top_Cat]

Thanks for showing that statistics don't prove everything

Fair point but, to be honest, it does raise a another separate point. Once again, Hilf looks threatening without getting the rewards. Has been happening since his first Test when he had the Saffers in all sorts but wasn't able to break through with big wickets. Seems like he has trouble closing the deal.

 

[FBU]

Thanks for showing that statistics don't prove everything

I was looking at the economy.

James Anderson, Mr "bowls half volley and hopes to death it swings oh crap it didnt its four again".

 

[GotSpin]

Fair point but, to be honest, it does raise a another separate point. Once again, Hilf looks threatening without getting the rewards. Has been happening since his first Test when he had the Saffers in all sorts but wasn't able to break through with big wickets. Seems like he has trouble closing the deal.

Yeah I think Manee mentioned this earlier. Perhaps he needs to work on a really good yorker. A lot of the deliveries he bowls are just too good to nick

 

[robelinda]

I was looking at the economy.

James Anderson, Mr "bowls half volley and hopes to death it swings oh crap it didnt its four again".

I never specified I was talking about him bowling in India.

 

[Spark]

Fair point but, to be honest, it does raise a another separate point. Once again, Hilf looks threatening without getting the rewards. Has been happening since his first Test when he had the Saffers in all sorts but wasn't able to break through with big wickets. Seems like he has trouble closing the deal.

That's true, but it's undeniable that he seems to be unusually unlucky.

 

[TumTum]

Fair point but, to be honest, it does raise a another separate point. Once again, Hilf looks threatening without getting the rewards. Has been happening since his first Test when he had the Saffers in all sorts but wasn't able to break through with big wickets. Seems like he has trouble closing the deal.

If you actually watched the series, you would know that Hilfenhaus was **** house in SA. Amla and Kallis especially played him easily and he never caused any problem for their batsmen. I remember the image where they both kept driving a hopeless Hilfy through the covers. Terrible. In fact, many people could not believe that he was selected for the Ashes.

 

[Top_Cat]

That's true, but it's undeniable that he seems to be unusually unlucky.

Gillespie had the same problem. Lots of 'unlucky' bowlers just bowl a metre too short, the already big movement they get is exaggerated and the plonker at the other end can't lay wood on it. I guess a bowler's focus is mostly about getting lots of movement so stuff like just bowling full and straight gets forgotten. Sometimes, when you've softened up the other guy's abdomen and he's just standing there swaying with his guard down you just give him a little push.

 

[Top_Cat]

If you actually watched the series, you would know that Hilfenhaus was **** house in SA. Amla and Kallis especially played him easily and he never caused any problem for their batsmen. I remember the image where they both kept driving a hopeless Hilfy through the covers. Terrible. In fact, many people could not believe that he was selected for the Ashes.

I did watch it and thought he bowled okay, beat the bat often enough. Would hardly say he was played 'easily'.