2nd Test at the MCG, Melbourne, 26 Dec - 30 Dec 2020

[GotSpin]

Jadeja thrives on this. He bowls wicket to wicket and attacking him only opens up wicket taking opportunities.

You don't even need to attack him. Just rock forward and knock some singles around

 

[Daemon]

What’s Sydney expected to play like? Low and slow?

 

[cnerd123]

I mean they didn't really try, other than Green and Cummins whacking a few through the line.

I really don't think they did at all. The pitch isn't ragging...he's basically drifting the ball in the same area. Use your feet and hit it straight. This insistence on playing back is very strange and woeful tactics

Yea I agree that they did not play him well, but I don't think the Aussie batsmen have the skillset to do what you are suggesting. And even if they did, Jadeja knows how to bowl around that. He's a proven Test bowler and in all conditions. The fundamental problem is that the Aussie bats are just not good enough to score comfortably against him, rather than the strategy employed. Jadeja is good and the Aus batting isn't.

Warner will probably come in next test and smash Jaddu now that I've said this.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Yeah Smith looked in peak form during the ODIs so I wasnt expecting this at all. Still think he'll figure things out soon enough but Ashwin has tied him down superbly so far.

The leg slip has made his bread and butter run-scoring option unsafe. What I've loved watching is how the seamers have complemented Ashwin by keeping him pinned back. No wide half-volleys, nothing to drive down the ground.

 

[Spark]

What’s Sydney expected to play like? Low and slow?

It's still not clear if it'll be there

 

[TimAngas]

When did Smith stop using his feet against spin? Seemed to be going back to it more in 2017, than when he came into the side and impressed in India in 2013, but now he's looking really caught on the crease.

Ashwin but especially Jadeja less likely to beat you in flight than some other spinners, so I hope he gets them moving again.

 

[cnerd123]

he did, but starting in the t20s he looked really, really rusty.

Yeah Smith looked in peak form during the ODIs so I wasnt expecting this at all. Still think he'll figure things out soon enough but Ashwin has tied him down superbly so far.

Smith mentioned how playing the IPL kinda messed with his head a bit, and how he refound his touch prior to the ODIs. It's possible that playing in the T20Is took batting mindset back to IPL mode, where his form was crap, and now he's struggling to regain the touch he briefly had.

All very armchair psychologisty but I think there's something there. He might be better off giving up T20Is moving forward, or maybe he needs more of a break between formats in order to find his touch.

 

[honestbharani]

Best role for Saini, if picked is as specialist bodyline bowler.

 

[Daemon]

Feels like it’s all mental with Smith. He gets a few early boundaries away and it’ll start to come back

 

[Senile Sentry]

Yea I agree that they did not play him well, but I don't think the Aussie batsmen have the skillset to do what you are suggesting. And even if they did, Jadeja knows how to bowl around that. He's a proven Test bowler and in all conditions. The fundamental problem is that the Aussie bats are just not good enough to score comfortably against him, rather than the strategy employed. Jadeja is good and the Aus batting isn't.

Warner will probably come in next test and smash Jaddu now that I've said this.

Yeah. We are talking about one of the best spinners in world cricket with over 209 test wickets and as if its so easy to knock singles against him. He is also among the most miserly as well.

Also begs belief he is as good as a specialist batsman since 2017 and can earn his sport just as much

What a good thing for India.

 

[cnerd123]

The leg slip has made his bread and butter run-scoring option unsafe. What I've loved watching is how the seamers have complemented Ashwin by keeping him pinned back. No wide half-volleys, nothing to drive down the ground.

funny thing is India are not the first team to try and target Smith on legstump/legslip/leg-gully. It's just that in the past he's kinda dismissed attacks who tried that, forcing them to change strategy.

It's definitely a mental issue with him, but also good from India to not give him width that he can just leave alone till he finds form. Constantly attacking the stumps is forcing him to play and opening up errors.

 

[TimAngas]

He hasn't actually hit a boundary yet this series.

 

[Senile Sentry]

The leg slip has made his bread and butter run-scoring option unsafe. What I've loved watching is how the seamers have complemented Ashwin by keeping him pinned back. No wide half-volleys, nothing to drive down the ground.

Smith can probably learn from Kallis and adopt an off stump stance (or even slightly outside off stance) vs the offie. But only concern is Ashwin is no Harbhajan and can bowl the straighter one much more efficiently.
The gauntlet has been thrown clearly.

 

[Daemon]

All this talk will look silly when he makes 224 (300) next game

 

[Arachnodouche]

So contemplating the opening dilemma, Agarwal obviously has to go, right? He looks all at sea currently and, not to belabor a point, but his technique isn't really setting him up to succeed against this bowling. Does it make sense to ask Pujara to open, considering he's been doing it all but in name anyway?

 

[Senile Sentry]

Smith mentioned how playing the IPL kinda messed with his head a bit, and how he refound his touch prior to the ODIs. It's possible that playing in the T20Is took batting mindset back to IPL mode, where his form was crap, and now he's struggling to regain the touch he briefly had.

All very armchair psychologisty but I think there's something there. He might be better off giving up T20Is moving forward, or maybe he needs more of a break between formats in order to find his touch.

Dude should give up playing t20s and maybe even ODIs. Never been good in either.

 

[Daemon]

So contemplating the opening dilemma, Agarwal obviously has to go, right? He looks all at sea currently and, not to belabor a point, but his technique isn't really setting him up to succeed against this bowling. Does it make sense to ask Pujara to open, considering he's been doing it all but in name anyway?

Vihari
Gill
Pujara
Rahane
Rohit/Rahul
Pant
Jaddu
Ash
Bumrah
Siraj
Yadav/Saini

 

[cnerd123]

So contemplating the opening dilemma, Agarwal obviously has to go, right? He looks all at sea currently and, not to belabor a point, but his technique isn't really setting him up to succeed against this bowling. Does it make sense to ask Pujara to open, considering he's been doing it all but in name anyway?

Rohit is ostensibly a Test Opening Batsman now. If he's going to get to bully hapless attacks at home, the he's got to do the hard yards and open here.

Wouldn't drop Agarwal or Vihari personally. Don't like changing a winning combination. Give them another game.

 

[Daemon]

Dude should give up playing t20s and maybe even ODIs. Never been good in either.

Lol he just cracked two 60 ball tons against us

I agree though I think he should retire from all formats

 

[anil1405]

So contemplating the opening dilemma, Agarwal obviously has to go, right? He looks all at sea currently and, not to belabor a point, but his technique isn't really setting him up to succeed against this bowling. Does it make sense to ask Pujara to open, considering he's been doing it all but in name anyway?

NO. Opening with Pujara or Vihari would be a bad move. Why change things when they are going good (barring that disastrous 36/9).