**Official** Australia in India Thread

The series begins on October 4 I believe, so let's discuss.

Australia will almost certaintly go in with three quicks and Warne, but for India, I believe they should go in with two quicks and two spinners, that being Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. There isn't enough room/balance to play two quicks and three spinners, and I doubt Murali Karthik would have a chance in playing as Ganguly doesn't rate him, and the Australians did target him when he played in Sydney.

Craig said:

The series begins on October 4 I believe, so let's discuss.

Australia will almost certaintly go in with three quicks and Warne, but for India, I believe they should go in with two quicks and two spinners, that being Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. There isn't enough room/balance to play two quicks and three spinners, and I doubt Murali Karthik would have a chance in playing as Ganguly doesn't rate him, and the Australians did target him when he played in Sydney.

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Karthik may not play but Bahutule, the Mumbai leg spinner could.

So you don't see Kumble or Harbhajan as certainties?

Craig said:

So you don't see Kumble or Harbhajan as certainties?

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No I think those two are going to be the front line spinners -- but if one of them gets injured or if India decide to play 3 spinners (which is not totally out of the realms of possibility) sometime in the series, Bahutule may well get a look in.

Personally I think Pathan, Kumble and Harbhajan will take up 3 spots for the first test. The real question is who gets the last spot ?
Its probably a toss up between Zaheer and AA.

I would go for AA over Zaheer IMO.

The first test is in Bangalore , the pitch most suited to fast bowlers in India... Dont know if that will persuade ganguly to field just one specialist spinner ?

i hope the indians have one of these two options available:
1. completely fit (physically and matchfit) zaheer
2. couple of new bowlers who show plenty of application and discipline in the practice matches

if they revert back to AA, balaji or nehra they can kiss the series goodbye

If they're looking for a 3rd spinner then it would have to be a batsman who bowls really (unless Ganguly takes the New Ball!)

Dinesh Mongia?

Deja moo said:

The first test is in Bangalore , the pitch most suited to fast bowlers in India... Dont know if that will persuade ganguly to field just one specialist spinner ?

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finding the second one is hard enough, where would they find the third one. wasnt kumble the most effective bowler on the melbourne pitch anyway, banglore pitch cant be worse than that.

marc71178 said:

(unless Ganguly takes the New Ball!)

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It wouldn't surprise me if that happened, although it's unlikely.

marc71178 said:

If they're looking for a 3rd spinner then it would have to be a batsman who bowls really (unless Ganguly takes the New Ball!)

Dinesh Mongia?

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sehwag ??

Deja moo said:

The first test is in Bangalore , the pitch most suited to fast bowlers in India...

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Is it ?? I thought it was Mohali.

Spetsnatz said:

Is it ?? I thought it was Mohali.

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close call between the two

An ideal bowling attack would be Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh or Anil Kumble.

But Zaheer as stated in the other post is not mentally fit nor is he physically fit to tackle the mighty Australian's yet.

Ashish Nehra has made strides recently and is getting towards full fitness and some basic level of consistency.

I think the first test attack would comprise of: Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan, Kumble, Nehra

Balaji might not come under consideration due to his poor performance in England, but he has a big heart and the team management seems quite impressed by him.

But then again Ajit Agarkar might find his way back into the side. He has a good bowling record against Australia in ODI's and in Tests taking 6/41 in the Adelaide test and then 6/42 in the Melbourne ODI.

So I think they'll go with Pathan, Harbhajan, Kumble, Nehra
but it could very well be Pathan, Agarkar, Harbhajan, Kumble, I don't think they should play Zaheer against Australia at this stage, it will do him more harm than good.

With Sehwag and (if fit) Tendulkar in the team I can't believe India would opt for three specialist spinners. In the first Test they may well play just one, with Irfan, Balaji and Nehra providing the pace options.

Australia meanwhile have selected a strange brew of spinners to aid Shane Warne, but comments by Ponting et al. seem to suggest they are primarily there as net bowlers. Should the need arise, MacGill will be called up. So not much chance of seeing Hauritz and White actually play, I'd say. I'm more curious to see if there's a place for Lee in the starting line-up. Going by the figures, it would be insane to leave out Kasprowicz, and going by reputation, Gillespie and McGrath should have a secure place.

Craig said:

The series begins on October 4 I believe, so let's discuss.

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Why does everything happen on my birthday? (actually it doesn't - first Test is the 6th, warm-up is on the 30th according to cricinfo)

It'll be, along with SA v England, the most competitive and best cricket series this winter - it's interesting that Test selectors have gone along with much of the media hype and picked Michael Clarke and Shane Watson - the latter, I suppose, as a sort of Flintoff-esque player so they can pick a not so solid batsman when Gilchrist retires as a wicketkeeper. But surely there must be more impressive batsmen in the Australian system than Michael Clarke?

marc71178 said:

If they're looking for a 3rd spinner then it would have to be a batsman who bowls really (unless Ganguly takes the New Ball!)

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Not that this is unheard of in Bangalore Tests.
Idiots picked one seamer last time on one of the most seam-friendly wickets you'll ever see.

Dinesh Mongia?

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God I hope not!

Samuel_Vimes said:

It'll be, along with SA v England, the most competitive and best cricket series this winter - it's interesting that Test selectors have gone along with much of the media hype and picked Michael Clarke and Shane Watson - the latter, I suppose, as a sort of Flintoff-esque player so they can pick a not so solid batsman when Gilchrist retires as a wicketkeeper. But surely there must be more impressive batsmen in the Australian system than Michael Clarke?

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Yes, plenty, just not any as young.
Cox (unless he retires), Hussey, Maher, Love, Hodge, and a few besides. All in their late 20s, though, IIRR.

Spetsnatz said:

Karthik may not play but Bahutule, the Mumbai leg spinner could.

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I'd fear for the safety of anyone in the crowd not keeping their wits about them if Bahutule played.

Steulen said:

So not much chance of seeing Hauritz and White actually play, I'd say.

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Good job, otherwise the safety of dozy crowd members may also be in jeopardy.