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

[Burgey]

Why is it defensive?

Because if the wicket isn't really green, you're basically saying you can't bat well enough. You put runs on the board and bowl last. It's worked for 130 years for the most part.

 

[Burgey]

This bloody montage on Clarke is awful. "My pop says I'm better than Bradman". Fmd only one bloke in this test who that applies to.

 

[Top_Cat]

Jesus, this PR clip from Clarke is woeful. Just waiting for a shot closing in on his Dad crying at his first Test run.

EDIT: Oh man, I wasn't far off in the end!

 

[Ruckus]

Mate if the wicket isn't a raging green top why would you bowl first? Fmd, it's such a defensive move in those circumstances.

It looks a normal Melbourne pitch. If it plays like it, then batting is the right call.

As long as they don't drive expansively on it pre-lunch whe it's like Zaheer (tacky) they should be right.

I'm not watching yet, but from cricinfo it sounds like it is a green wicket. Together with the apparently overcast conditions (which according to the forecast) could be confined mainly to this morning, I would much prefer to have bowled first. Why not get at the Indian's when they are the most unsettled?

 

[Jacknife]

From a neutral perspective I'd have preferred India to bat.

 

[Uppercut]

Because if the wicket isn't really green, you're basically saying you can't bat well enough.

That's no more true than batting first is saying that you can't bowl well enough. It might well be a mistake to bowl rather than bat but it's not a defensive move, if anything it increases the chance of a positive result.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

So Haddin still in then. That's a walking wicket for sure.

 

[Burgey]

That's no more true than batting first is saying that you can't bowl well enough. It might well be a mistake to bowl rather than bat but it's not a defensive move, if anything it increases the chance of a positive result.

That's bull****.

 

[Cabinet96]

It's that Australian arrogance of, "We're going to bat first", no matter what the pitch is. Remember in Cape Town Clarke said he would've batted.

 

[Ruckus]

That's no more true than batting first is saying that you can't bowl well enough. It might well be a mistake to bowl rather than bat but it's not a defensive move, if anything it increases the chance of a positive result.

Yeah, I'm with you on this, I don't get the rationale tbh.

 

[Top_Cat]

Zaheer looks fit.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

May end up being a good toss to lose but I would imagine Michael Clarke knows far more about the Melbourne wicket than any of us do on here so we have to back his judgment.

Just a tough first session to get through until Zaheer breaks down.

 

[Burgey]

Pitch looks decidedly straw coloured frankly.

 

[Sylvester]

There is that lovely sun.

 

[Top_Cat]

Pitch looks decidedly straw coloured frankly.

Agree with that, not a lot in it for the bowlers. Only useful swing so far.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, I'm with you on this, I don't get the rationale tbh.

You're both right. The accepted wisdom of every test captain since 1877 has nothing on you guys.

Runs on the board sets up the game. You mean to tell me you'd look at this pitch and bowl first on it?

Fmd.

 

[Jacknife]

Not a bad start by Zaheer, pace is about right for him.

 

[Ruckus]

Pitch looks decidedly straw coloured frankly.

Yeah, just turned it on...doesn't look green at all, so I don't know what cricinfo was on about.

 

[Prince EWS]

You're both right. The accepted wisdom of every test captain since 1877 has nothing on you guys.

Runs on the board sets up the game. You mean to tell me you'd look at this pitch and bowl first on it?

Fmd.

Yeah AWTA strongly. Blokes here be mad.

 

[ajdude]

It's that Australian arrogance of, "We're going to bat first", no matter what the pitch is. Remember in Cape Town Clarke said he would've batted.

we did bat first in cape town.

Zaheer's hair is impressive, I'd want my 3 year old son to look like that