*Official* Australia in India 2023

[honestbharani]

I think he could have or would have skipped BBL but the board wanted the major players to play, I guess. Which is also understandable but I guess it results in a rather packed schedule for these guys.

 

[Spark]

He frankly is making all the usual "I want to retire" noises in terms of no longer being able to keep up with the intensity of international cricket except he and his family really have an axe to grind with his many critics in the cricketing media and want to prove them wrong. Fair enough, most of them deserve it, but you have to be actually good enough to follow through and he almost certainly isn't any more.

 

[Nintendo]

He frankly is making all the usual "I want to retire" noises in terms of no longer being able to keep up with the intensity of international cricket except he and his family really have an axe to grind with his many critics in the cricketing media and want to prove them wrong. Fair enough, most of them deserve it, but you have to be actually good enough to follow through and he almost certainly isn't any more.

Consistent good enough amymore*. Warners had moments where he's looked like his best self (double vs SA, odi's vs eng, UAE T20 WC, t20's leading up to the last WC). Just hasn't been able to be at his best consistently.

 

[Shri]

warner acting out against the powers that be like a 25 year old when he's 35

 

[Victor Ian]

This is terrible. Harris is probably oiling his bat.

 

[Ashes81]

I was looking forward to this series until I read this thread - blimey neither camp seems very confident ?

India is such a tough place to tour for non SC sides. 4 tests will stretch the Aussies resilience to the limit, it's so mentally demanding and the play will be pretty attritional.

Having said that I think it'll be a close series - but at home, I think India will just nick it unless the back up Aussie spinners can give Lyon some proper support.

 

[Howe_zat]

Someone add the fixtures to the OP yeah?

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Yeah I can't realistically see Warner making a consistent impact over there, one or two good innings is probably the best than can really be hoped for. With that being said though I wouldn't leave him out as I don't believe at all any proposed alternative is actually an improvement


Green being most likely out, or at least unable to bowl is far more of a pressing concern. Completely throws the whole team balance out, only four specialist bowling options with one of them being a potentially ropey spinner inspires absolutely no confidence at all. Five bowlers not really an option either without leaving the batting even more thin than it looks already

 

[Spark]

I was looking forward to this series until I read this thread - blimey neither camp seems very confident ?

India is such a tough place to tour for non SC sides. 4 tests will stretch the Aussies resilience to the limit, it's so mentally demanding and the play will be pretty attritional.

Having said that I think it'll be a close series - but at home, I think India will just nick it unless the back up Aussie spinners can give Lyon some proper support.

It took one of the strongest teams ever fielded at their zenith, minus one or two players who were easily replaced anyway, to take one series off India in India in the last 40 years. It took the second greatest batsman ever produced in this country batting out of his mind to get even vaguely close since then.

The bar for Australia to clear is astronomically high. Anything above "mildly competitive" is already a very strong start, even notwithstanding that on paper this is as weak an Indian team as there's been in quite some time.

 

[Nintendo]

It took one of the strongest teams ever fielded at their zenith, minus one or two players who were easily replaced anyway, to take one series off India in India in the last 40 years. It took the second greatest batsman ever produced in this country batting out of his mind to get even vaguely close since then.

The bar for Australia to clear is astronomically high. Anything above "mildly competitive" is already a very strong start, even notwithstanding that on paper this is as weak an Indian team as there's been in quite some time.

Yeah it took one of the best knocks of smudge's career and O'keefe taking 12fer to even take a test off India last time. Beating a side that can field a side that has a guy who could bat #6 in SC conditions at 8, a guy averaging 50+ in tests with the bat over the past few years at 7 and a guy with a FC batting average of mid 30's at 9 while also picking their best bowling lineup is hard work, especially given that they have a 5 man attack with no obvious weak links on top of that. Their engine room even without pant completely mitigates the lack of a consistent second opener or #3/#4 who have consistently scored runs.

 

[Daemon]

We dropped a test to England recently (needed a Root special but still, it’s England ffs).. it’ll be tough sure but all those past series from >10 years ago are a fair bit less relevant now.

 

[Nintendo]

We dropped a test to England recently (needed a Root special but still, it’s England ffs).. it’ll be tough sure but all those past series from >10 years ago are a fair bit less relevant now.

Needed root to make a double and stokes to have a great all-round game, plus India didn't have Jadeja and Axar tbf. Kinda like aus's Pune win. Takes ALOT to beat India at home. There's a reason they've been so dominant there recently.

 

[CricAddict]

Yes, Jadeja-Axar-Ash at 7-9 will provide a lot of comfort for India. Siraj-Shami are in decent form too.

But the top order batting is the main worry, especially without Pant and Iyer in the middle.

Kohli-Iyer-Bharat at 4-6 looks quite tentative. Really need Kohli to do well this series while Pujara will be as usual the support guy to others. Rohit-Rahul at the top both will be playing tests after a long time too due to the injuries.

 

[Nintendo]

Lot of talk about handscomb coming back if green is only fit to play as a specialist bat in India 1st test. Anyone else feel like Renshaw would be a better pick than handscomb? Averaged more than handscomb last time we toured India vs Ashwin + Jadeja than handscomb despite opening and seems far more solid vs pace.

 

[Victor Ian]

Just avoiding all the handscomb puns makes Renshaw a better pick.

 

[Shri]

its cute to see aussies getting excited about injuries in the indian camp after the last series ?

 

[centurymaker]

Kohli might have a good series. You never know.

 

[Gob]

Lot of talk about handscomb coming back if green is only fit to play as a specialist bat in India 1st test. Anyone else feel like Renshaw would be a better pick than handscomb? Averaged more than handscomb last time we toured India vs Ashwin + Jadeja than handscomb despite opening and seems far more solid vs pace.

Limit the number of lefties I assume. Maybe

 

[Niall]

Yes, Jadeja-Axar-Ash at 7-9 will provide a lot of comfort for India. Siraj-Shami are in decent form too.

But the top order batting is the main worry, especially without Pant and Iyer in the middle.

Kohli-Iyer-Bharat at 4-6 looks quite tentative. Really need Kohli to do well this series while Pujara will be as usual the support guy to others. Rohit-Rahul at the top both will be playing tests after a long time too due to the injuries.

Iyer wasn't a concern before the series as he has looked really good in Asian conditions.

However I think he is out for the 1st few tests so they are likely to punt on Yadav which is a big concern. Smashing it in the t20 is all well and good but this is his first test series against a really top attack so its a big ask for him.

So yeah this without Iyer and Pant, the "oldies" really need to step up this series and if they fail I want them gone.

India have options so need to keep persisting with older players not up to it.

 

[CricAddict]

The series starts in a week. Can we sticky this thread please?