**Official** 4th Test at Melbourne, 26-30 Dec 2024

[Daemon]

Bringing Rana is in crazy talk. There’s something to work with but he’s just not ready for test match cricket. We have to stick with the same side since dropping Rohit is not an option.

 

[honestbharani]

Bringing Rana is in crazy talk. There’s something to work with but he’s just not ready for test match cricket. We have to stick with the same side since dropping Rohit is not an option.

I meant only if Siraj is not fully fit. And I think there is a lot to work with, not just something. Honestly, all he lacks is consistency and its because of how little FC cricket he has played. I really think he will be really good in a year or so and even right now, if Siraj is not 100% I will definitely be playing him. The only worry is GG goes over the top and pushes him to the moon before he is ready.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Rana shouldn't be given a game unless we have no choice. Terrible bowler.

 

[CodeOfWisden]

Prasidh to replace Siraj. Sundar in for Gill is also a possibility.

 

[Spark]

Rana would be an awful fit for the MCG from what I've seen. Mukesh did well there in the A game so he'd make a lot more sense to me, bowlers like him have dominated on that pitch in the last few years.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Gill's shot in the 3rd test was insta-droppable. That it comes after 3 years of mediocre output is almost irrelevant.

 

[Daemon]

Gill's shot in the 3rd test was insta-droppable. That it comes after 3 years of mediocre output is almost irrelevant.

do you mean shot selection or execution? i thought the shot was on tbh. can’t be letting those go through all the time unless you’re pujara.

 

[Spark]

do you mean shot selection or execution? i thought the shot was on tbh. can’t be letting those go through all the time unless you’re pujara.

Both IMO. Wrong ball to play that kind of shot to, wrong area of the ground to hit it into (far too straight), and poorly executed to boot (hands went out way ahead of the feet). When Rahul played those shots he waited until the ball was really, really full, and he deliberately tried to play it a lot squarer to try and compensate for the movement.

 

[CodeOfWisden]

Rana would be an awful fit for the MCG from what I've seen. Mukesh did well there in the A game so he'd make a lot more sense to me, bowlers like him have dominated on that pitch in the last few years.

Mukesh isn't a hit the deck bowler, he operates in low 130s to mid 130s, I haven't seen many bowlers like him succeed in Australia.

He is also very ugly, you will have to switch off the TV when he bowls.

 

[CodeOfWisden]

A

Mukesh isn't a hit the deck bowler, he operates in low 130s to mid 130s, I haven't seen many bowlers like him succeed in Australia.

He is also very ugly, you will have to switch off the TV when he bowls.

Also its not that he obtains a lot of lateral movement with that, he is more of a seam bowler.

 

[OverratedSanity]

do you mean shot selection or execution? i thought the shot was on tbh. can’t be letting those go through all the time unless you’re pujara.

Kinda both. 1 down inside 2 overs it's fine to let those tempting wide ones go. And with someone who barely ****ing moves his feet it's no surprise he was in no position to play one that was angled a bit wider.

 

[Spark]

Mukesh isn't a hit the deck bowler, he operates in low 130s to mid 130s, I haven't seen many bowlers like him succeed in Australia.

He is also very ugly, you will have to switch off the TV when he bowls.

The MCG is not a hit-the-deck sort of pitch. Skiddy bowlers who hit an upright seam and wobble the ball around both ways thrive on the current iteration of that pitch.

 

[Daemon]

Mukesh isn't a hit the deck bowler, he operates in low 130s to mid 130s, I haven't seen many bowlers like him succeed in Australia.

He is also very ugly, you will have to switch off the TV when he bowls.

The thing is we don’t need him to take stacks and run through the order. Just keep things tight and let the attack do its job as a pack. When one guy starts going at 4s and 5s you just can’t bowl to a plan anymore and have to keep bringing Bumrah back.

 

[OverratedSanity]

When Rahul played those shots he waited until the ball was really, really full, and he deliberately tried to play it a lot squarer to try and compensate for the movement.

Kohli has this same obsession with playing in the V/ through the covers. Playing square of the wicket being a dangerous option against outswing is a weird myth that still persists for some people.

 

[Spark]

Kinda both. 1 down inside 2 overs it's fine to let those tempting wide ones go. And with someone who barely ****ing moves his feet it's no surprise he was in no position to play one that was angled a bit wider.

Worth noting that Rahul got pretty lucky playing those shots too - lots of slicing through and over the cordon/behind point - even though he played them a lot better than Gill did.

 

[Daemon]

Both IMO. Wrong ball to play that kind of shot to, wrong area of the ground to hit it into (far too straight), and poorly executed to boot (hands went out way ahead of the feet). When Rahul played those shots he waited until the ball was really, really full, and he deliberately tried to play it a lot squarer to try and compensate for the movement.

Kinda both. 1 down inside 2 overs it's fine to let those tempting wide ones go. And with someone who barely ****ing moves his feet it's no surprise he was in no position to play one that was angled a bit wider.

I probably need to go back and see the replay again then. Thought it looked like an overpitched freebie.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Kohli's shot definitely worse though. Was funny watching the Australians' reaction to how predictable it was. They almost seemed bored and apologetic.

 

[Daemon]

Kohli's shot definitely worse though. Was funny watching the Australians' reaction to how predictable it was. They almost seemed bored and apologetic.

Commentators no doubt went “big wicket of Virat Kohli, we all know how dangerous he can be”

 

[GotSpin]

I hope Rana plays. Might be decent in a few years but he's a pressure release right now

 

[Prince EWS]

I honestly think Sundar over Rohit is the best change we can do. Maybe Rana for Siraj if Siraj is still carrying that niggle.

Six bowlers is dumb. Unless you think Sundar is a better batsman than Rohit now, which is stretch, it shouldn't happen.