**Official** 4th Test at Melbourne, 26-30 Dec 2024

[Burgey]

This is now the 4th big series in Kohli’s career where he’s gone missing completely. I don’t think many greats have that sort of record.

England 2014, Aus 2017, NZ 2024 and now Aus 2024.

At least made a ton in Perth, albeit an early career AB Devilliers-level downhill skiing one.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Cricket isn't just about talent; it's about grit and resilience. Mentally weak players, no matter how technically good or prolific in domestic circuits, have no place in the team. Look at Cummins, Lyon, or any Australian player—they embody what India has lacked for decades. We saw it in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. Remember Zaheer Khan's wide first over in the 2003 World Cup final that set the tone with his visible fear and mental fragility. Mentally unfit cricketers who fail in crunch situations are the biggest bane of Indian cricket. That's why India doesn't win major tournaments.

The capitals are gone, but the bold font is still there.

You are making excremental improvements.

 

[halba]

Kohli is utterly useless. Doesn't look for singles but goes and does that instead.

atleast the guy in your avatar(jadeja) will arrive to save India again.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Yes, they've done exceptionally well over the past ten years, but I am talking about the long arc of Indian Test cricket history when it comes to matches outside Asia.

Ok so old news not the last 10 years where they have won everywhere and pretty much been the best away team got it

 

[honestbharani]

FFS...

 

[GotSpin]

It’s quite remarkable that kohli hasn’t been able to adjust his game outside off at all

 

[Burgey]

Or maybe they were up against Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath - and Zaheer Khan, Srinath (of 2003 vintage) and Ashish Nehra are not really in the same league? Sometimes it just comes down to talent.

It’s was punishingly hilarious seeing Zaheer gob off at Gilchrist and Hayden early in that game though, before going at about 9 rpo in his first spell

 

[halba]

Dont think Kohli is a great of the game, in Tests. Been found wanting especially in the past 4 years by all sorts of opposition bowling attacks. Average is 47, great is above 50 if your are batting in the middle order(#4 onwards). Hell be remembered as a good, but not ATG level Test batsman.

 

[Burgey]

It’s quite remarkable that kohli hasn’t been able to adjust his game outside off at all

Literally could just leave it alone. Not like an inswinger you need to play at.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

At least made a ton in Perth, albeit an early career AB Devilliers-level downhill skiing one.

AB is de bomb. Made a very uphill skiing 32 in Adelaide the game before that as I recall

 

[Johan]

It’s quite remarkable that kohli hasn’t been able to adjust his game outside off at all

He just can't, He didn't work on it in his prime, and now that he is old he isn't fast enough to react to the seam movement at the last moment and decide whether to block or leave.

 

[honestbharani]

Its hard to put into words just how bad that shot was from Virat. And same with Rohit. It looks like the plan was to buckle down for a draw. At least bat defensively till tea and see where we are at to go from there. But they had to go chasing and feeling for balls outside off.

All 3 of them did. Rohit can be excused as he probably thought he was in well enough to play a positive shot. Rahul has credit in the bank. But Virat played this shot when we were 33/2 and it was the last over before lunch. Why? Why would a player of that experience think it was on when he had been leaving so many balls till then and just surviving? Just hate this.

Congratulations to Australia though. Been the better side easily in the last 3 tests and a well deserved 2-1 lead in this series. If we carry the passengers for the next test, it will obviously be a 3-1 result and a very interesting RSA Vs Aus finals at Lords.

 

[SkyBlue]

I haven't heard of a single person who hasn't realized and admitted that India has been second best for most of the series. India has a very long history of being second best in away series and relying on exceptional performances from 1-2 people to keep them competitive.

India has the resources and potential to change that culture imo. We should not use the past as a benchmark. We are talking about by far the richest cricket board with a massive talent pool to boot. The standards should change.

But I'm talking more about the narrative of glorifying individual milestones and performances over results. I mean, Bumrah could well be finishing this tour with 35+ wickets and lose the series 3-1.

The main talking point of this series should be how big of a letdown the seniors have been. Australia were there for the taking but instead all we'll get to hear is the likes of Harsha, Karthik etc waxing lyricals about Bumrah and few other individual performances. Thats all well and good but **** me, this series could've been closer if we picked an eleven not based off reputation but form.

This is why India have all the stats and individual records while Australia keep collecting trophies.

 

[Burgey]

Dont think Kohli is a great of the game, in Tests. Been found wanting especially in the past 4 years by all sorts of opposition bowling attacks. Average is 47, great is above 50 if your are batting in the middle order(#4 onwards).

He’s obviously declined but to me he was a great player, particularly out here, which is the only place that counts as an away player.

 

[Spark]

Its hard to put into words just how bad that shot was from Virat. And same with Rohit. It looks like the plan was to buckle down for a draw. At least bat defensively till tea and see where we are at to go from there. But they had to go chasing and feeling for balls outside off.

All 3 of them did. Rohit can be excused as he probably thought he was in well enough to play a positive shot. Rahul has credit in the bank. But Virat played this shot when we were 33/2 and it was the last over before lunch. Why? Why would a player of that experience think it was on when he had been leaving so many balls till then and just surviving? Just hate this.

Congratulations to Australia though. Been the better side easily in the last 3 tests and a well deserved 2-1 lead in this series. If we carry the passengers for the next test, it will obviously be a 3-1 result and a very interesting RSA Vs Aus finals at Lords.

I think Rohit's ball was pretty straight - just an awfully executed shot/maybe held in the pitch a little.

Zero excuses for Virat though. Wtf was he thinking?

 

[Johan]

Literally could just leave it alone. Not like an inswinger you need to play at.

He just doesn't have that many scoring shots like Tendulkar did, he has to rely on drives.

 

[Burgey]

But Virat played this shot when we were 33/2 and it was the last over before lunch. Why? Why would a player of that experience think it was on when he had been leaving so many balls till then and just surviving?

It’s probably a combination of a few things, one of which is feeling for the ball when you’re light on runs. Lot of players do it, looking to get bat on ball, even subconsciously. Another factor was Starc had shaped two back at him really dangerously the previous over so he may have been in two minds looking for that ball again.

All happens in a split second

Speaking of Splits, my arsehole nephews devoured my supply of Australia’s best value iced treat when they stayed over Xmas, so I had no choice but to buy three boxes of Bulla Splits this morning to top up

 

[Johan]

@sayon basak 47.21

 

[sayon basak]

@sayon basak 47.21

I wouldn't want him to play another match.

 

[silentstriker]

Ok so old news not the last 10 years where they have won everywhere and pretty much been the best away team got it

I am not sure what your point is. The top order has sucked and we have all been saying it and support for Bumrah has been poor and we have all been saying that too. A whole bunch of us have been calling for major changes and retirements/droppings.

That doesn’t take away from players who have done well.