***Official*** India in Australia 2011/12

[Neil Pickup]

Cowan will be the first Oxford University player to play a Test match in some time.

Possibly since Imran Khan?

EDIT: Nope, Jason Gallian. Close. Their Test careers couldn't have ended up much more different, could they?

 

[howardj]

The weather is set fair ,gentlemen

as fair as you'll ever get in Melbourne

 

[BeeGee]

Any word from the curator as to what type of pitch he's expecting?

 

[Burgey]

That's the trump card there I think. The odds are with you on the series average thing (his past 7 series'):

24, 24, 56, 16, 31, 17 and 33

That being said, I won't find it suprising at all if he manages a series average of around 45-50. There's only so many times you are going to have absolutely **** series' before you manage to dig out at least a decent amount of runs. Will be suprised though if he manages a series average of 60+.

He has made 50 in two of his past three tests, mind. His dig in the second test in SA helped set up the win.

 

[Burgey]

Any word from the curator as to what type of pitch he's expecting?

22 yards long, dropped in

 

[Top_Cat]

It's an MCG drop-in, suggesting it'll stodge. Cowan for a debut double.

 

[howardj]

Drop ins have improved quite a bit in recent times.

Don't have the natural properties of a wicket block though and, as such, tend not to naturally deteriorate as much as the game wears on.

 

[Woodster]

I like the selection of Ed Cowan, from what footage I've seen of him, he's a proper opening batsman that cashes in when he gets a start, has an excellent conversion rate, looks technically sound, is a good age and will understand his own game and role.

Perhaps just as important or even more so, is the excellent form he's currently in, he'll have confidence and a belief he can go out there and score runs, and I hope he does.

 

[Julian87]

Really Hope Christian plays.

 

[Noble One]

I'm a big fan of Ed Cowan. Looking at his Cricinfo profile doesn't do his ability any justice. Struggled for years at New South Wales to guarantee a spot in the 1st XI and was shuffled up and down the order in near every position.

His performance since shifting to Tasmania have been top class (with the exception of some suspect form last season). Averages 44.55 for Tasmania and 45.58 at Bellerive, and anyone who watched the second Test against New Zealand will get a picture of what batting has been like at Bellerive for the past few seasons.

 

[honestbharani]

I see this series as a no hoper for aussies and can see them gifting away indian their first test series win on aussie soil finally after 63 years

With Johnson,Cummins and Harris out of the series , the bowling is simply toothless and will be massacred by the Indian batsmen who are the best battling line up in the world

The Best chance for them is to prepare dead surfaces and hope Zahir and Ishant break down with their injuries and then try to bat out the 4 games for a draw

Even if they manage to survive india's weakened pace attack, they still have no chance as they are vulnerable to offspin and this man here

will continue harby's legacy, and will cut through like a hot knife through butter and Aussies would do well of they prepare surface that wont offer turn to his carrom balls and arm balls

In fact , I wouldnt be suprised if he ends up getting the bowler of the series or the man of the series award

I think that's enough jinx there for a 4-0 result to Australia..

 

[Burgey]

I see this series as a no hoper for aussies and can see them gifting away indian their first test series win on aussie soil finally after 63 years

With Johnson,Cummins and Harris out of the series , the bowling is simply toothless and will be massacred by the Indian batsmen who are the best battling line up in the world

The Best chance for them is to prepare dead surfaces and hope Zahir and Ishant break down with their injuries and then try to bat out the 4 games for a draw

Even if they manage to survive india's weakened pace attack, they still have no chance as they are vulnerable to offspin and this man here

will continue harby's legacy, and will cut through like a hot knife through butter and Aussies would do well of they prepare surface that wont offer turn to his carrom balls and arm balls

In fact , I wouldnt be suprised if he ends up getting the bowler of the series or the man of the series award

Hang around. Please

Not the first time he's toured here...

 

[howardj]

I'm a big fan of Ed Cowan. Looking at his Cricinfo profile doesn't do his ability any justice. Struggled for years at New South Wales to guarantee a spot in the 1st XI and was shuffled up and down the order in near every position.

His performance since shifting to Tasmania have been top class (with the exception of some suspect form last season). Averages 44.55 for Tasmania and 45.58 at Bellerive, and anyone who watched the second Test against New Zealand will get a picture of what batting has been like at Bellerive for the past few seasons.

Am prepared to reserve judgement, however I think the concern lays in the fact that he only averages low 40s in Shield cricket (and even the 44 that you cite is not that great) and is 29 years old. That suggests to some people that his recent run of form is more a hot streak than an indication of his general ability.

 

[Spikey]

the nice thing about cowan is he doesn't throw away starts. holla watson and ponting.

 

[Ruckus]

Well we don't really know that yet though. Watson seemingly didn't throw away starts in FC cricket, yet he has in tests.

 

[Spikey]

true but watson didn't open in fc cricket

 

[Jono]

Can all you blokes quoting Deathknight stfu

Had the troll on ignore months ago.

 

[Redbacks]

Australia have had serious mentality problems over the past few years though, epitomised by their constant batting collapses and frequent failure to clean up the tail.

Nathan Lyon has recently helped in that regard although he might be somewhat nullified by India being gun against spin.

For us to collapse usually the wicket has to be donig a bit. If the conditions are there I would back India to bowl us out for 150odd or less in one innings of that match which should set them up for a test win.

 

[Jono]

Our tail aren't gun against spin. I expect Lyon to get Ishant and Yadav out fairly regularly.

 

[Prince EWS]

Nathan Lyon has recently helped in that regard although he might be somewhat nullified by India being gun against spin.

I don't really think how good Tendulkar and Sehwag are against spin is going to have any real impact how well Sharma and Yadav play it though.