2nd Test at the MCG, Melbourne, 26 Dec - 30 Dec 2020

[Teja.]

Ashwin again the pick of the bowlers, got crucial breakthroughs including Smith and took 3 for barely any runs.

 

[Shady Slim]

Ashwin again the pick of the bowlers, got crucial breakthroughs including Smith and took 3 for barely any runs.

the supernerd has genuinely upped his game here, and given it’s his third tour you’d hope that he’d have learned the tricks for how to bowl on aussie soil

still love to watch him run in the field though what a dweeb lmao

 

[aussie tragic]

Aussie batting a concern yet again

1. Labuschagne - 101 runs @ 33.66
2. Paine - 86 runs @ 86.00
3. Wade - 71 runs @ 23.66
4. Burns - 59 runs @ 29.50
5. Head - 45 runs @ 22.50
6. Lyon - 30 runs @ 15.00
7. Green - 23 runs @ 11.50
8. Starc - 22 runs @ 11.00
9. Hazlewood - 12 runs @ 12.00
10. Cummins - 9 runs @ 4.50
11. Smith - 2 runs @ 1.00

 

[h_hurricane]

Aussie batting a concern yet again

1. Labuschagne - 101 runs @ 33.66
2. Paine - 86 runs @ 86.00
3. Wade - 71 runs @ 23.66
4. Burns - 59 runs @ 29.50
5. Head - 45 runs @ 22.50
6. Lyon - 30 runs @ 15.00
7. Green - 23 runs @ 11.50
8. Starc - 22 runs @ 11.00
9. Hazlewood - 12 runs @ 12.00
10. Cummins - 9 runs @ 4.50
11. Smith - 2 runs @ 1.00

Would you like to see Indian batting numbers ?

 

[stephen]

I do feel they weren’t anywhere near proactive enough with trying to disrupt the bowlers today, especially Ashwin. At a minimum you have to be working those singles better than they were.

Yes, a thousands times yes.

 

[Spark]

See, this is where I feel a bit of nuance is lost in the discussion. Ashwin had no idea how to bowl in Australia in 2011, sure. But in 2015, he was bowling fine. He was let down by the fast bowlers doing **** all which meant he had to be both the wicket taker and the containing bowler. He often started off with long on and deep midwicket in place for guys like Smith and Clarke (in that one test). He has clearly found ways to be a bigger threat as a bowler every time since that tour and the emergence of a really good attack around him has helped too.

So while it is theoretically true that they needed to get more singles and be more proactive, that is like saying India should have just tried to hit a few more boundaries in the second innings in Adelaide. Theoretically yes, it makes sense but its harder to pull off practically. Ash had a mid on and a mid wicket and only had 1 or 2 in the square in the deep. You most likely had to play a rather risky stroke to even pull off a single.

And obviously while it was not you, I find it funny how when Lyon is gifted wickets by batsmen, it is because he set them up but when same happens for Ashwin, its the batsmen's fault, according to a couple of the Aussie posters here.

Don’t get me wrong, India were basically faultless with the ball today. But if anything that reinforces the need for the batsmen to be somewhat proactive and be more tactically aware within the context of their batting plans. The bowling is what it is, you need to work out ways to score against it regardless. That was actually one thing Labuschagne and Head did well while they were batting, just getting singles here and there off decent balls by pushing them into gaps at cover and midwicket (which were there all day), it’s then no coincidence that batting looked easier and easier for them until Bumrah basically bounced Head out.

Ironically, in terms of “who has the more problems that they need to work on”, I feel a performance like today — on the back of Day 2 Adelaide — actually means the Aus setup has more things they need to ponder wrt their approach to batting than India post 36ao. I really think they need to reconsider their approach here, it feels like it’s been a top-down directive to be really watchful and circumspect. Of course, Smith scoring two runs in as many completed innings doesn’t help.

 

[stephen]

Australia's batting group really needs to have a serious look at what went wrong today.

It's as though every few years we get a coach which tightens everything up, instills some discipline and gets players to grind (Langer, Arthur) but then players need a Lehmann type to come along and tell them to relax and play some cricket instead of being afraid of getting out. Right now we're at peak disciplined grind and it's not working because players have forgotten how to score runs in between the good balls.

And all players who get dismissed glancing down leg need to do 200 push ups before being slapped with a wet fish for ten minutes.

 

[stephen]

Don’t get me wrong, India were basically faultless with the ball today. But if anything that reinforces the need for the batsmen to be somewhat proactive and be more tactically aware within the context of their batting plans. The bowling is what it is, you need to work out ways to score against it regardless. That was actually one thing Labuschagne and Head did well while they were batting, just getting singles here and there off decent balls by pushing them into gaps at cover and midwicket (which were there all day), it’s then no coincidence that batting looked easier and easier for them until Bumrah basically bounced Head out.

Ironically, in terms of “who has the more problems that they need to work on”, I feel a performance like today — on the back of Day 2 Adelaide — actually means the Aus setup has more things they need to ponder wrt their approach to batting than India post 36ao. I really think they need to reconsider their approach here, it feels like it’s been a top-down directive to be really watchful and circumspect. Of course, Smith scoring two runs in as many completed innings doesn’t help.

Absolutely and the only reason Australia's batting group didn't get rapped over the knuckles after the last test was the 36ao.

 

[Burgey]

This is also at least partly a product of the blokes at 1, 2, 5 and 6 all feeling like they’re playing for their spots.

And saying that is taking nothing away from India with the ball, who have basically given away nothing all series for the most part.

 

[Salamuddin]

Wade's shot was the pits. He'd be such a good guy to have at 5/6 to change the tempo of the innings but he's just not an opener. Just get a proper one in, whether that be Harris or Maddinson or whoever

Wade's a better 6 than opener sure but the truth is he is still only a soso player. australia are simply just treading water with him until someone better comes along.

 

[Spark]

This is also at least partly a product of the blokes at 1, 2, 5 and 6 all feeling like they’re playing for their spots.

And saying that is taking nothing away from India with the ball, who have basically given away nothing all series for the most part.

Yeah that’s true too. And the absence of Warner is less a hole and more like an abyss in the context of this discussion.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah that’s true too. And the absence of Warner is less a hole and more like an abyss in the context of this discussion.

Well yeah. Who gets dropped once he’s back also solves the problem of the other three blokes thinking they’re playing for their spots, let alone what he brings at home.

look, again it’s important to not detract from how well India has bowled because they have brilliantly exploited these weaknesses and this mindset, and tbh dealing wit that pressure on your place is also part of playing at the top level

 

[stephen]

Wade's a better 6 than opener sure but the truth is he is still only a soso player. australia are simply just treading water with him until someone better comes along.

Which is why Green is being given a run.

 

[Manee]

Would you like to see Indian batting numbers ?

By sheer coincidence, the Indian numbers actually combine to create a virus which will take down the internet, so it is best not to post them.

 

[halba]

aussies next great hope cam green has been a total fizzler. Cant see him holding his spot in the team with these miserly and struggling scores. Not a test no.6.

india's next pace bowling hope siraj looks good. Shubman gill looks excellent relative to the weak prithvi. Technically sound batsman all around. overall it looks like a comfortable indian win for test no.2 and rightly so. australia's batting is just so ordinary.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Low-key I'd like to see Moises in this series. Think he'd go well

 

[Manee]

aussies next great hope cam green has been a total fizzler. Cant see him holding his spot in the team with these miserly and struggling scores. Not a test no.6.

india's next pace bowling hope siraj looks good. Shubman gill looks excellent relative to the weak prithvi. Technically sound batsman all around. overall it looks like a comfortable indian win for test no.2 and rightly so. australia's batting is just so ordinary.

Comfortable Indian win - no way! No way with this batting line up and Australia's bowling line up.

 

[Burgey]

Shubman gill was dropped on nought but still looked good relative to the other weak child prodigy, prithvi.

Pretty much my thoughts on him too

 

[gabbadan]

We shall know tomorrow how bad our batting is.
Smith's dismissal today was brainless.
He needs counselling.

 

[Gnske]

I do feel they weren’t anywhere near proactive enough with trying to disrupt the bowlers today, especially Ashwin. At a minimum you have to be working those singles better than they were.

Paine's near run-out is evidence that singles were too risky to take out there today.