**Official** 5th Test at Sydney, 3-7 Jan 2025

[Spark]

I feel like Lyon might nick off more than Boland here. Honestly have to think if there is a batsman at the other end, Aus should really promote Boland to 10. He seems more dependable than Lyon.

I'm surprised he hasn't been given nightwatchman duties when he's in the team - as @Prince EWS will tell you he has zero shots but can seriously gum up an end for a while

 

[Prince EWS]

I feel like Lyon might nick off more than Boland here. Honestly have to think if there is a batsman at the other end, Aus should really promote Boland to 10. He seems more dependable than Lyon.

He had a couple of mammoth nightwatchman innings for Victoria back in the day. Lyon's gonna make more runs but I'd be half tempted to even bat Boland ahead of Starc sometimes if there's a set batsman in, as long as the batsman trusts Boland and there's not a lot of time pressure in the match to consider.

 

[FBU]

9 runs and I can go to bed...

4 runs

 

[Spark]

That WinViz makes no sense to me

 

[smellcricketintheair]

And he never was even a good one. He was adequate at best when given a great team and backroom staff at Mumbai and that's stretching it given how many times they did not even make the playoffs under him despite always landing some sort of an all star team.

To an extent similar how Gambhir was solely credited for KKR in 2024, when they had Chandrakant Pandit running most of the show.

 

[CricketDreamer]

good partnership...

 

[cricman]

Boland player of the series no?

 

[Daemon]

Lyon is the opposite of Cummins, much better legside game. Seem to remember a few on drives, pulls and sweeps from him more than anything he’s played on the offside.

 

[Niall]

Boland player of the series no?

Depends on the outcome but if Australia win then yeah, maybe Smith if he has a big 4th innings?

Bumrah the only serious contender for India IMO.

 

[CricketDreamer]

What a match ..need 1 more wicket..india will get a narrow margin lead here

india got 4 runs lead lol

 

[Bahnz]

Great spirit from India to keep in the fight without Bumrah. If they can somehow cobble together 250 this could be even better than last week.

 

[cricman]

Can't see Australia chasing any above 220

 

[morgieb]

Pretty much as close to 50/50 as it gets. Next session determines the series, think Australia need to have India minimum 4 down.

 

[Prince EWS]

Lyon is the opposite of Cummins, much better legside game. Seem to remember a few on drives, pulls and sweeps from him more than anything he’s played on the offside.

Yeah the on drives always come to ball pitching on or outside off too. If it's straighter than that he tries to whip it through midwicket.

 

[Gnske]

Australian cricket is about to be killed by Yashasvhi "In my top 3 Indian batsmen ever according to Kerry O'Keeffe, better than Dravid actually" Jaiswal

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

These are two shite batting sides lol

 

[King Kane]

Scores close to level, it sets it up for a great second innings with both teams still in it, India need a lead of 200 at least if Bumrah can't bowl again.

 

[Bahnz]

These are two shite batting sides lol

Didn't you get the memo? Every side is a shite batting side now.

 

[Anthony Clayden]

These are two shite batting sides lol

Or two good bowling sides, or Australia needing only a draw, gave India a seeming wicket, in some places in the world the groundskeeper would be sacked

 

[King Kane]

These are two shite batting sides lol

Had a feeling it would be a low scoring test series, both teams bowling line ups are better than their batting line ups and the pitches haven't been roads