*Official* Australia in India 2023

[Burgey]

Cummins looked really under done. Not sure he’s bowled a competitive ball for a month and it certainly showed. I think it’s the worst I’ve ever seen him bowl.

 

[Gob]

So you guys are telling me that he bowled like Rabada

cool

 

[Ashes81]

The lack of preparation for the away teams in test cricket is a real problem and this series typifies that.

How you can expect to be prepared for what is an extremely tough task away in India, without any warm up matches is beyond me.

One minute the Aussie batsmen are tonking the ball to all parts in the BBL, the next you're playing in India trying to keep Jadeja and Co out on a slightly tricky wicket in Nagpur.

I know it's the modern way but that doesn't make it right.

 

[Kraken]

If Lyon and Murphy bowled over the wicket and a little slower, I think they would yield much better results. Murphy bowled well though, I’m happy for him (even if he is from ****ing Victoria)

 

[Fuller Pilch]

The lack of preparation for the away teams in test cricket is a real problem and this series typifies that.

How you can expect to be prepared for what is an extremely tough task away in India, without any warm up matches is beyond me.

They get to play 4 tests. Lose the 1st one (but then you're acclimatised) then if you're any good try to win 2 out of the next 3. I have no sympathy.

It is a LOT harder for teams outside the big 3 who only get to play 2 tests.

Also Australia won the toss. If they'd scored 320 they'd be in control.

 

[Nintendo]

The lack of preparation for the away teams in test cricket is a real problem and this series typifies that.

How you can expect to be prepared for what is an extremely tough task away in India, without any warm up matches is beyond me.

One minute the Aussie batsmen are tonking the ball to all parts in the BBL, the next you're playing in India trying to keep Jadeja and Co out on a slightly tricky wicket in Nagpur.

I know it's the modern way but that doesn't make it right.

Last time AUS toured India served up a green top for the warmup according to smith, can see why they'de want to skip a warmup if the conditions don't match what they get on the pitch.

 

[GotSpin]

So you guys are telling me that he bowled like Rabada

cool

Nah he bowled way worse

 

[Son Of Coco]

Sure. Fine. Forget Nagpur. I’ll concede for the sake of argument that everything was treated equally etc and the pitch preparation for this game was perfect.

Let’s say you had a brand new stadium, and a pitch, and you had a visiting team with 6 left handed batsmen in their top eight, is it ok to specifically treat certain areas of the pitch where the ball may pitch against them differently compared to the areas for your own right handed side - and in the next series assuming now the batting is switched (eg you now have mostly LHBs and they have RHBs), to prepare the inverse?

In short, no it wouldn't.

It wouldn't be acceptable in the small local comp I played in here. Although, to be fair, the council prepares most of the wickets, so teams have little influence on what happens.

There may have been a method to it all though. I assume we won't know until the test is over.

 

[silentstriker]

What's a total for India that would realistically (barring any unexpected heroics) put the game out of reach of Australia? 325 or around there I reckon. I think 250 would be a very good score.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Problems with pitches for touring teams have long been an issue. Who can forget Saurav Ganguly's thoughts on the Hamilton deck 20 years ago:

"For the first time since 1934, a Test match has been completed with 36 wickets falling and not one fifty being scored. This could be one of the reasons why spectators don't turn up to watch Test cricket in New Zealand, and if such pitches are prepared in the future, not many will turn up to buy tickets for the game.

In total, five days were played in a two-Test series and none but the groundsmen deserved the silverware of the series. The comments and the attitude around the venues just gave the impression that more attention was paid to prove that Indian batting was good enough only on sub-continent pitches - but the track record reveals some other stories."

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Fished at one 2m outside off if I remember correctly

 

[Gob]

What's a total for India that would realistically (barring any unexpected heroics) put the game out of reach of Australia? 325 or around there I reckon. I think 250 would be a very good score.

Any lead of over 75 is enough

 

[Anil]

Any lead of over 75 is enough

not against a team with smith in it...

 

[Burgey]

In short, no it wouldn't.

It wouldn't be acceptable in the small local comp I played in here. Although, to be fair, the council prepares most of the wickets, so teams have little influence on what happens.

There may have been a method to it all though. I assume we won't know until the test is over.

Man I remember playing Guildford at their home deck in the 92/93 A grade final when we were sent in on a sticky. We were 7/27 but recovered to make 170 odd (may have made a few that day but that's another tale). Had them 1/2 over night.

Came back the next day and the curator had had heaters on the deck all night plus the outfield had not only been mowed but he'd rolled the ****er too. Deck was hard as a rock and they passed us 7 down. Their blokes were ringing us at 8 am on day 2 saying "Guess what we've done." FMD I hate them. I hate them to this day.

*****. Never forgave them for it. Scum of the earth.

 

[GotSpin]

Man I remember playing Guildford at their home deck in the 92/93 A grade final when we were sent in on a sticky. We were 7/27 but recovered to make 170 odd (may have made a few that day but that's another tale). Had them 1/2 over night.

Came back the next day and the curator had had heaters on the deck all night plus the outfield had not only been mowed but he'd rolled the ****er too. Deck was hard as a rock and they passed us 7 down. Their blokes were ringing us at 8 am on day 2 saying "Guess what we've done." FMD I hate them. I hate them to this day.

****s. Never forgave them for it. Scum of the earth.

Nah come on. Tell us what you made

 

[Burgey]

67. Probably the best knock I ever played tbh. I refused to wear a lid vs them as I already hated them and I copped one from the opening bowler which reared off a full length and hit me under the chin. Had blood pissing down my shirt but couldn't retire hurt because we were so far in the ****.

Still got the scar, and every time I see the **** he asks me how it's going. I'd belt him but he's 6'4" and used to be in the Tactical Response Group so he'd kill me.

 

[Spark]

I mean the irony with the pitch talk is that most of Australia's left-handers were so abject we never found out how they would play balls on that part of the pitch and the one batsman who did face more than a few deliveries had a method to neutralise that part of the pitch anyway.

 

[Burgey]

I mean the irony with the pitch talk is that most of Australia's left-handers were so abject we never found out how they would play balls on that part of the pitch and the one batsman who did face more than a few deliveries had a method to neutralise that part of the pitch anyway.

With all the talk about Warner and Head in the lead up, Khawaja has sort of gone under the radar but he's got a lot to prove in these conditions as well. He's a very good slow deck player but I'm not confident about him if it's ragging. Obviously got a lot of credit in the bank and deservedly so, but then again I would have thought Head did as well.

 

[Gob]

I still can't get over the shot Renshaw played. Only one ball but **** me that was horrible

Warner may not last the series. I mean what is the point of taking a bloke who at best would average 30 in India and England

 

[sphynx]

Any lead of over 75 is enough

Not sure about that.

Marnus and Smith looked good at stages and given the scoring rate will be batting on a relatively fresh pitch. I doubt they only get 1 run out of the openers again either.

If the lead is only 75, it means they could potentially be chasing 100-120 to win, batting last. This pitch will crumble.

It's a moot point, as I think India score 350-400, their batting lineup goes forever and they got the start they needed.

Australia's only chance at a competitive game here is 2-3 quick wickets in this first session.