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

[Spark]

I know he's not had a great series but I really cannot understand how people even entertained the idea of dropping this guy. Objectively more insane than his batting.

Actually a good litmus test for whether people follow cricket or follow cricket narratives tbh

 

[King Kane]

Cummins ruining the Pant party, Reddy needs to step up here.

 

[trundler]

thank God it’s over

smile because it happened

 

[Kraken]

Starc off Scotty back on asap pls

 

[mr_mister]

Out with the team total on 124 but it was close to feeling like an ATG innings

 

[thierry henry]

Srsly though bring back 2000s highways and featherbeds if it incentivises safety-first batting. I thought I liked bowler-friendly pitches but I failed to envisage them encouraging flip a coin slogging contests.

 

[Gnske]

While I have to say that's a fine innings, my biggest thought on Rishabh is gee what a spaz

 

[honestbharani]

I know he's not had a great series but I really cannot understand how people even entertained the idea of dropping this guy. Objectively more insane than his batting.

To be fair, I have been talking about him resting for workload reasons post his injury for the best part of the last 3 tests. I still think he needed a break at some point this series.

Anything less than 250 and we are toast here.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I'm genuinely surprised Cummins had enough brains to go wide of the stumps

He's a pretty smart guy. Don't be fooled by his movie star looks.

 

[White Ball]

What type of total would India feel comfortable with and Australia nervous with? Really hard to say in this deck

 

[Son Of Coco]

Need India 8 down by stumps.

 

[honestbharani]

250. Anything less, its Australia's game.

 

[silentstriker]

Without Bumrah, I don’t even know what target would be defendable here.

 

[Kraken]

I’d be giving Gaz a roll here - either 2nd last or last over of the day

 

[King Kane]

Srsly though bring back 2000s highways and featherbeds if it incentivises safety-first batting. I thought I liked bowler-friendly pitches but I failed to envisage them encouraging flip a coin slogging contests.

You cannot be serious, test matches on highways where both teams rack up 500 plus totals that end in a draw are the worst to watch..

Give me a test like this with something in it for both bowlers and batsmen which swings both ways, even if it finishes in 3 days it's better to watch.

 

[subshakerz]

With Bumrah, 200 is pretty good. Without, 250.

 

[Redbacks]

I’d be surprised if 250 wasn’t enough. Nobody seems to get set on this wicket

 

[Window]

Bumrah’s back in the stadium but who knows how he’s faring.

 

[halba]

Starc 4 overs 0 for 36 has possibly cost the game

 

[Prince EWS]

To be fair, I have been talking about him resting for workload reasons post his injury for the best part of the last 3 tests. I still think he needed a break at some point this series.

Anything less than 250 and we are toast here.

You also thought he should keep ahead of Jurel in the first Test even though Jurel is a significantly better keeper. You didn't seem too worried about his workload throughout the series then.