CowanSo what would be a second string Aussie side now? Wondering if I'd back us over them in these conditions.
I think India are a bowler short, I would describe the Indian attack (in Australian conditions) as 3 1/2 bowlers, that is just not enough for test match in Australia . With the current attack, they will bowl well for a day and then fall in a heap.
For 3 pacemen / 1 spinner to work you need 4 good bowlers, with good stamina (e.g. McGrath & Warne).
If they added an extra bowler, they would start to be a bit more like Pakistan - Bowlers with better averages but prone to batting collapses.
If India does not add the extra bowler, the fast bowlers will get over worked and get injured
You nearly won the first test because Australia declared twice and gave India a chance. They took 12 wickets in that match. I know it's adekaide and all, but still. There's no way india deserved to get close at all.This is the first time I have seen some positives from India in test cricket in the last 3-4 years. We could have won the first test had we not tried to win it in the next 45 minutes when we had two hours to win it. Kohli is a shining light. After the match fixing fiasco, Indian cricket has mostly gone up. However, last 3-4 years, it has has coming shattering down for various reasons. We are improving now and I expect India to be a far better test team in 12 months time.
You didn't watch the SA and NZ tours? This same promise was seen there as well. All our young batsmen were pretty terrific against some top class bowling, and got us into winning positions multiple times. Each time, apart from the Lord's fluke, our bowlers throw it away. I see the positives, but feel like not much has changed since SA/NZ. It's time imo, to start expecting results now.This is the first time I have seen some positives from India in test cricket in the last 3-4 years. We could have won the first test had we not tried to win it in the next 45 minutes when we had two hours to win it. Kohli is a shining light. After the match fixing fiasco, Indian cricket has mostly gone up. However, last 3-4 years, it has has coming shattering down for various reasons. We are improving now and I expect India to be a far better test team in 12 months time.
erm, we were all sort of replying mostly to Jono who said that this team has done better than the ones in the 90s and 2011. No need to feel offended that we didn't refer to any series from the good old days.I think some who have posted here are very limited in their scope. India has been touring here for longer than the last 3 years and those posters can't come to grips with anything beyond that point. I mentioned earlier the 91/92 series where India was beaten 4-0 with one test DRAWN. They can not do even that with their current team( well not yet anyway).What about comparing say the Indian side of 1977/78 to this crop of players. Five tests were played in that series I recall and we got out of jail against a side including Gavaskar, Vishy, Mankad, Prasanna and Bedi to name a few We won the series 3-2 but the whoppings we got were big. So once again I ask Why has India burnt out
That's the spirit, bring back Ajit Agarkar!The bowling attack isn't good enough at the moment. It would help create some scoreboard pressure though if Rahane didn't decide to bat like he only had 50 balls left to face in the game once he got to a ton.
The Adelaide win in 2003/04 should be the blueprint for the Indian victories overseas, and especially yesterday. Australia shouldn't have been batting till 2:30pm today.
Nz was terrible imo in the sense that Dhoni kept that defensive field and that was the worst he had in his captaincy. Even Gavaskar criticised him on air. Monga wrote a scathing article on Dhoni's poor captaincy over last few years showing instances of the same.You didn't watch the SA and NZ tours? This same promise was seen there as well. All our young batsmen were pretty terrific against some top class bowling, and got us into winning positions multiple times. Each time, apart from the Lord's fluke, our bowlers throw it away. I see the positives, but feel like not much has changed since SA/NZ. It's time imo, to start expecting results now.
And @topic, I don't know if we've ever sent such a young side to Australia, and getting beaten 4-0 is not much of a surprise at all. Australia themselves are a flawed batting lineup and with slightly better bowling, we'd have won atleast a test by now. This isn't humiliating like 2011 or 1999, just really disappointing because the potential is pretty obvious.
Burnt out? Has it not occurred to anyone that it might simply be a case of them not being very good?
Kohli is a gun. Had a terrible tour of England but the bloke is the real deal. What's more, I'd rather walk from here to Melbourne to watch him play for an over than walk across the road to watch other blokes bat.Nz was terrible imo in the sense that Dhoni kept that defensive field and that was the worst he had in his captaincy. Even Gavaskar criticised him on air. Monga wrote a scathing article on Dhoni's poor captaincy over last few years showing instances of the same.
The key promise for me has been Kohli's development. I believe he can take India forward. It was just dark days last few years despite some flashes here and there.
Remember when some said Root was better. Good times.Kohli is a gun. Had a terrible tour of England but the bloke is the real deal. What's more, I'd rather walk from here to Melbourne to watch him play for an over than walk across the road to watch other blokes bat.
Most of the Indian players are in their mid to late 20s. That is the prime of the career for a test player. You can't use age as an excuse.Just in case some people don't realise it, India have two players aged 30+. One of them is Murali Vijay, who is 30. The other is MS Dhoni, who ****s up the team more than helps it.
It is a ridiculously young team who in the last 18 months have been competitive but simply **** in the key moments when playing away from home. Hopefully they'll learn and improve, but its far better being an Indian fan now than from after the World Cup til 2013.
I daresay some still do, ridiculous as it is.Remember when some said Root was better. Good times.
???Most of the Indian players are in their mid to late 20s. That is the prime of the career for a test player. You can't use age as an excuse.
I might wait another series or two before making a final judgement. I am old enough to remember Chris Broad.Kohli is a gun. Had a terrible tour of England but the bloke is the real deal. What's more, I'd rather walk from here to Melbourne to watch him play for an over than walk across the road to watch other blokes bat.
Kohli's attitude is ****ing amazing. He is like a burning hot steel bar. People talk about fighting and giving it all you have to try to win. Kohli just unleashes to win. There is actually a lot to learn from his attitude.Kohli is a gun. Had a terrible tour of England but the bloke is the real deal. What's more, I'd rather walk from here to Melbourne to watch him play for an over than walk across the road to watch other blokes bat.