*Official* Australia in India 2023

[artvandalay]

For Australia to compete in this series 2 things had to happen.
1. The batting couldn't be totally reliant on Smith and Labushchagne
2. The 2nd spinner had to contribute

The big plus is obviously Murphy who has been outstanding and all things being equal he should continue to contribute throughout the series.

Which brings us to the batting - Smith and Labuschagne will continue to score runs but the key will be can the other batters score enough runs.

This test looks done and dusted but there are some positives for the Aussies - but unless other batsmen find a way to score more runs, it'll be 1 way traffic as India at home are an extremely strong side.

Feel also like they're lacking another bowling option. But then even when they batted the tail somehow looked long. Lol.

 

[Test fan]

india should make news go viral about spinning tracks but dish out normal surfaces and keep winning

Raawww agent bharat already in Australia press box to spread the news of rank Turner before the test match start .

 

[ankitj]

Gujjus stole the last session and the advantage.

 

[subshakerz]

Winning in India now is 90 percent scoreboard pressure.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So India to win easily probably by an innings and the answer is Jadeja.

On to the next test

 

[honestbharani]

Pathan and Pandya brothers.

Pujara and Jaddu

 

[kevinw]

Feel also like they're lacking another bowling option. But then even when they batted the tail somehow looked long. Lol.

Australia had little chance without Cameron Green being fit. They need another bowling option, even if that was Head. Even with his rep for playing spin is he worse than Renshaw?

 

[Nintendo]

Australia had little chance without Cameron Green being fit. They need another bowling option, even if that was Head. Even with his rep for playing spin is he worse than Renshaw?

Head averages what, 50 with the ball IN FC cricket. Let's not act like his bowling would have played a huge part here when Australia have already gone with two front line offies.

 

[honestbharani]

We should've played both and dropped someone else

Something I have said since the 2014 England tour.

 

[GotSpin]

Feel also like they're lacking another bowling option. But then even when they batted the tail somehow looked long. Lol.

The aussie tail is way too long. Cummins had nosebleeds at 8

 

[Socerer 01]

Something I have said since the 2014 England tour.

as much as Dhoni disliked pace, Kohli seems to have equally poor outlook on spin for some reason

 

[Daemon]

Head averages what, 50 with the ball IN FC cricket. Let's not act like his bowling would have played a huge part here when Australia have already gone with two front line offies.

Head was pretty effective against SL with the ball wasn’t he?

 

[the big bambino]

I don't know if i'm reading too much into minor details here, but does anyone else feel like this AUS team have a habit of losing the plot when opposition counter attack/a few things don't go there way. Headingley 2019, the pak game in AUS when yasir shah made that ton and we kept dropping him, basically every test from the rahane drops in the second test of the last border gavaskar trophy, the second test of the pak series in pak where swepson had those Umpire's calls turned down and we forgot how to field after, the second test vs sri lanka where we had early momentum and didn't review one of chandimal that was out then lost the plot, even the 4th test of the 2021 ashes where we let bairstow and stokes counter attack in the 2nd dig. 3 years, 2 captains and 2 coaches but it feels like this same thing keeps on happening.

I don't think its a minor problem at all and in fact goes back to 1981 at least at Headingley. Over the decades Australia reacts badly to pressure and especially when the momentum goes against us through either bad luck or much more often, the good play of an opponent. Tbf Headingley in 81 had examples of both(am).

 

[Burgey]

I don't think its a minor problem at all and in fact goes back to 1981 at least at Headingley. Over the decades Australia reacts badly to pressure and especially when the momentum goes against us through either bad luck or much more often, the good play of an opponent. Tbf Headingley in 81 had examples of both(am).

Sometimes the opposition plays well too. Rohit was great and the partnership in the last session was quality.

They had the two misses late but the bowling remained pretty good, albeit the spinners tired a bit late on. That’s credit to Sharma in particular and then the two not out blokes for cashing in.

Aus are a bowler short, especially when theyre playing two offies and two RFMs whose MO is basically the same (hit the deck on a length). Everyone knows Agar isn’t much chop but he really should have played here at seven and Carey at six with one of Renshaw or Handscomb missing out (given they were never dropping Warner like they should have).

 

[Nintendo]

Head was pretty effective against SL with the ball wasn’t he?

He took 3fer on a deck that was the spin equivalent of the gabba deck from the recent Sa tour, don't think you can read into that too much.

 

[Nintendo]

Sometimes the opposition plays well too. Rohit was great and the partnership in the last session was quality.

They had the two misses late but the bowling remained pretty good, albeit the spinners tired a bit late on. That’s credit to Sharma in particular and then the two not out blokes for cashing in.

Aus are a bowler short, especially when theyre playing two offies and two RFMs whose MO is basically the same (hit the deck on a length). Everyone knows Agar isn’t much chop but he really should have played here at seven and Carey at six with one of Renshaw or Handscomb missing out (given they were never dropping Warner like they should have).

Agar's not a test #7 though, and he barely landed it on the pitch vs SA after having multiple shield games earlier in the summer. Don't think his bowling would have made a significant difference here.

 

[Burgey]

Oh I know he isn’t but in terms of the squad they’ve picked I think he had to play, especially once they decided Murphy was going to dayboo. The trade off is being a batsman short, but playing six didn’t work too well anyway.

I really didn’t expect Green to do much with the bat this tour but him being injured has screwed the balance of the whole side. They really should have brought Hardie over with the squad as cover once Green got hurt. He’s been batting up the order in recent times for WA. Looks a good cricketer imho

Edit: the other option is they drop Lyon to play someone turning it the other way, which isn’t as ridic as it would have sounded pre-tour. But again, that’s not going to happen

 

[halba]

This match is long over now. Time to think about the 2nd test XI

1. Handscomb (promoted to opener - need a right hander to open)
2. Khawaja
3. Labushagne
4. Smith(c)
5. Head
6. Carey
7. Agar(in a specialist batter- can bowl a few overs)
8. Starc
9. Murphy
10. Lance Morris
11. Mitch Swepson(purely as a wicket taking option - current bowlers not taking wickets)

Atleast here, we have some batting up to around no.8. Also the bowlers are in good form and are a lot quicker than Boland and Cummins- Starc and Morris bowl 145kph at least and can atleast swing the ball.

Warner's career is over, and Boland wont ever bowl in india again. Cummins 'rested' due to short 3 day turn around. Lyon dropped, hes not effective anymore v IND batters and hasnt been for many years.

Renshaw is dropped. That was a WTF selection, head being dropped for 1st test

 

[halba]

Oh I know he isn’t but in terms of the squad they’ve picked I think he had to play, especially once they decided Murphy was going to dayboo. The trade off is being a batsman short, but playing six didn’t work too well anyway.

I really didn’t expect Green to do much with the bat this tour but him being injured has screwed the balance of the whole side. They really should have brought Hardie over with the squad as cover once Green got hurt. He’s been batting up the order in recent times for WA. Looks a good cricketer imho

they have totally stuffed up. They were aware of the indian squad for months and the depth in batting is well known. Jadeja, Ashwin and Axar have been world class all rounders for a long time. Axar is excellent in T20 for example. lack of depth in batting is hurting and they might as well play Agar as a specialist batter who can roll over his arm atleast left arm. You cant go head on with a team with their best batters deep in the tail, unless u have some depth yourself.

 

[the big bambino]

I'm not a fan of Agar at 7 but in this case it would've been the best option. Even more justifiable if they played Travis as well and both would've come in for Handscomb and Renshaw. I think this is a case where the opposition played too well for us. You can always expect a Rohit doing well and tbf we did well to get their batsmen out. The inability to get past Jadeja and Paxar (and the nightwatchman) is a replication of a consistent failure.