**Official** Australia in Bangladesh

[GotSpin]

Will Warne even bat? Probably not, if he couldn't field either.

I can see Gilchrist doing some damage, potentially. Hopefully not until tomorrow, though.

Thats what makes my prediction all the more crazier, and more potentially rewarding.

Hmm i dunno about Gilly, i don't think he will like this pitch

 

[Nate]

Clarke to make a huge score.

 

[chaminda_00]

The pitch is obviously harder to bat on than it was yesterday morning. The Bangladesh batsmen struggled to score as well today, because the pitch is slower and the bounce is more erratic. Having said that, because it's a slow pitch it might be a good one for slower bowlers generally (not just spinners), so guys like Mortaza could get a lot of unpredictable bounce and be hard to get away, while the likes of Lee or bowlers who hit the pitch harder and try and get big bounce like Clark wouldn't be as good. Bangladesh's seamers certaily used the conditions fairly well, though the Rafique wicket wasn't much more than a bit of luck from the pitch playing up.

Australia in a bit of trouble here. Clarke needs to apply himself and give Hussey some support.

I agree with all that, but the think you have to keep in mind is that Mortaza can bowl at similar speeds to Clark, but i think Mortaza like Gillespie worked out pretty quick that you have to bowl a little slower to get anything out of the pitch. It should be pretty interesting how Clarke and co bat from now on.

 

[Adamc]

Haha, just got home and checked the scorecard, this is brilliant.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I agree with all that, but the think you have to keep in mind is that Mortaza can bowl at similar speeds to Clark, but i think Mortaza like Gillespie worked out pretty quick that you have to bowl a little slower to get anything out of the pitch. It should be pretty interesting how Clarke and co bat from now on.

I've seen Mortaza clocked, and there's no way he can bowl in the low 140s. I like Mortaza and he's a decent bowler, but he's not even McGrath pace, let alone Clark.

Anyway, I don't know if you necessarily have to bowl slower, but I think slower bowlers will definitely be harder to score off, and with the bounce being increasingly uneven slow scoring means that you're likely to get a freak delivery eventually and get out. Australia need to play positively and get forward, rather than just trying to survive.

 

[Nishant]

wat channel r u watching this on

 

[kwigibo]

Easy money, you put a big 1st innings on this team and they fold quicker than superman on laundry day. The lesser the opposition, the harder they choke.

 

[SJS]

Here is the Aussie side every three years since 1990. I have taken the 12 players that represented them the most in tests during the year.

1990..........1993..........1996..........1999..........2002..........2006

Taylor........Taylor.........Taylor........Langer......Langer.......Langer
Boon.........Boon..........Elliott........Slater.......Hayden......Hayden
Border.......Border........Ponting.....Ponting.....Ponting......Ponting
Jones........Slater.........Bevan.......Blewett......Martyn......Martyn
S.Waugh...SWaugh.....S.Waugh...S.Waugh...S.Waugh...Katich/Clarke
P.Taylor....M.Waugh....M.Waugh..M.Waugh...M.Waugh..Hussey

Marsh.......Healy.........Healy........Healy.........Gilchrist....Gilchrist

Hughes.....Hughes......McGrath....McGrath....McGrath....Stuart Clarke
Alderman..McDermott.Gillespie....Miller.........Gillespie....Gillespie
Rackeman Warne.......Warne.......Warne.......Warne.......Warne
Matthews..May..........McIntyre....MacGill......Bichel.......MacGill
Reid..........Reiffel.......Reiffel........Fleming......Lee..........Lee


Its an interesting evolution.

Even where the same player continues, his effectiveness changes over time.

One can draw one's own conclusions over how the side stands in comparison to its earlier Avataar.

For me the PLUS points of the side today are
1. Ponting at his very best
2. The advent of Hussey
3. The advent of Clarke.

The MINUSES are the decline/absence of the other stalwarts of the early years of this century.

To me the debits are greater but again its a matter of opinion

 

[SJS]

Rubbish.

Its easy to say that.

 

[Jono]

SJS, just to prevent confusion, the bowler is Stuart Clark, the batsman is Michael Clarke, with an 'e'.

 

[Ikki]

Thanks for the analysis SJS. Indeed, you have good points. I guess it can be down to opinion with which route you think the Aussies are going. Time will tell.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

There's no doubt that Australia aren't as good a side now as they were in say 2002. I don't think anyone would argue with you there. But that's a very different thing from saying that Australia's bowling attack is in disaster control because Bangladesh made a big score against them.

If anything, Australia's attack is in better shape now than it was 12-24 months ago. After the Ashes Australia's attack was in shambles. McGrath was injured and heading into a patch of poor form, Warne was carrying the attack, Gillespie and Kasprowicz seemed gone and Lee was still bowling poorly quite a lot of the time. Since then, Lee has gone from being a mediocre, up and down test bowler to the spearhead of the attack, Clark has begun his test career in fine style and Gillespie has returned to the team and is looking pretty good. That takes a lot of pressure off Lee and McGrath.

Consider how well Australia has done without McGrath in South Africa, compared to how Australia did without McGrath and Warne in 2003/04 against India. It's a big difference.

 

[irfan]

Does anyone think that Bangladesh's perfomance in this test is reminiscient of the film Lagaan

 

[SJS]

The era of Australian domination, if it is over, ended with the Ashes. Bangladesh making 420 odd is neither here nor there.
.

I never said that Aussie domination ended with Bangladesh's 450 runs. If you stop feeling so defensive about your team you will recall that I had written about an 'impending' Aussie decline since the bowling attack is not getting rejuvenated nearly 18 months ago. BEFORE THE ASHES.

But by using just one word you convince me that this discussion isnt going anywhere. I have said that its my opinion and whenever I say that I never even imply let alone say that others are talking rubbish.

Stop letting your frustration get the better of your good sense.

 

[Jono]

Lol Irfan.

 

[Ikki]

Does anyone think that Bangladesh's perfomance in this test is reminiscient of the film Lagaan

Hahahaha, I was thinking that. I love that film. I just wish Aishwarya Rai was in it. In fact I wish her in every film.

 

[nightprowler10]

That takes a lot of pressure off Lee and McGrath.

I'm assuming you meant Warne and McGrath.

 

[andyc]

Does anyone think that Bangladesh's perfomance in this test is reminiscient of the film Lagaan

You watched it on SBS last night, didn't you? I saw it was on, and watched some of it, but I got sick of the songs and watched Hotel Babylon instead.

 

[Jono]

Hotel Babylon was a disgrace. What a disappointment that was.

 

[SJS]

Yesterday they showed an interview with Warne (conducted before this test) in which he was asked a question regarding himself and Murali.

Warne dwelled long on the number of wickets Murali has taken against the minnows and named Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and emphasised that he himself had not played much against Zimbabwe and NO TESTS till date against Bangladesh and asked the reporter to draw his own conclusion.

Wonder why Ponting didnt allow him to prove a point today? Maybe he thought 118 in 20 overs was enough and dint want to rub it in.