**Official** Australia in India Thread

[Mr Casson]

I wouldn't say Australia lost wickets steadily, they had partnerships of 67, 12, 7, 148, 80, 9, 14 (and 25*) - 2 clumps of 3 wickets there.

Exactly what I was going to say. Losing them steadily means there would be no big partnerships, no big hundreds, etc... I think I read that Australia lost two clumps of three wickets for less than 25 runs. So considering that they made 362 in the end, I wouldn't call it steady.

 

[tooextracool]

Warne stumped. Gillespie can put together a solid partnership as was shown last test, so hopefully he will demonstrate some support with Clarke.

gotta wonder why gillespie comes into bat after warne.....

 

[tooextracool]

I think if you go back and have a look at the posts you will find some that said Zaheer was a useless bowler.

and with that 2/77 he really has redeemed himself and got the critics of his back hasnt he? and that was despite having relatively helpful conditions to bowl in in the first session.

 

[tooextracool]

Pressure on Martyn?

Did he not get a great ton in the Second Test?

martyn can play spin?

 

[shaka]

I was meaning Martyn pressure is now off of him for now after his 2 successive centuries. Lehmann still under pressure, his torn hamstring wont do him any good for staying in the squad.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

gotta wonder why gillespie comes into bat after warne.....

Gillespie has a great defensive technique, but he's not much of a strokeplayer. Even though Warne hasn't shown it in a fair while, he can actually hit the ball quite well, and has several test 50s. He's a better choice for number 8 than Gillespie is, when he's playing well. The current set-up just means Australia bats even deeper, and if a genuine batsman is still at the crease with 7 down they can hope for a solid partnership.

I was meaning Martyn pressure is now off of him for now after his 2 successive centuries. Lehmann still under pressure, his torn hamstring wont do him any good for staying in the squad.

Yesterday's innings was Martyn's fourth century on the subcontinent this year, after he was written off over and over as a player who could only play the cut shot. I think his hundreds in Sri Lanka removed the pressure on his place, these simply cemented him for the remainder of his career at number 4.

 

[tooextracool]

Gillespie has a great defensive technique, but he's not much of a strokeplayer. Even though Warne hasn't shown it in a fair while, he can actually hit the ball quite well, and has several test 50s. He's a better choice for number 8 than Gillespie is, when he's playing well. The current set-up just means Australia bats even deeper, and if a genuine batsman is still at the crease with 7 down they can hope for a solid partnership.

yes warne hasnt shown it in a while, gillespie has, precisely why he should bat ahead of warne. one must remember that the situation yesterday with clarke at one end called for support rather than hitting the ball a long way.

 

[Mister Wright]

and with that 2/77 he really has redeemed himself and got the critics of his back hasnt he? and that was despite having relatively helpful conditions to bowl in in the first session.

Where did I say that he has redeemed himself? I was mentioning the fickle nature of the Indian supporters and their changing their mind, game by game on the ability of their players.

 

[Mister Wright]

Exactly what I was going to say. Losing them steadily means there would be no big partnerships, no big hundreds, etc... I think I read that Australia lost two clumps of three wickets for less than 25 runs. So considering that they made 362 in the end, I wouldn't call it steady.

One really big partnership and one other solid partnership does not hide the fact that wickets fell regularily throughout the day. Three in the first session, then four in the third session falls under my definition of steady wickets. Any other team that loses 7 wickets in a day would not get anywhere near 360 runs. Let's not forget there were plenty of chances missed by India (Patel) too.

 

[Mister Wright]

martyn can play spin?

I'll assume you don't have any coverage of the test series. If you do email me your address and I'll send you my glasses, you can borrow them for the rest of the series.

 

[cricketfan]

Lehmann is out for the series. Returning home for treatment. They may struggle in the remaining tests.

 

[Mr Casson]

One really big partnership and one other solid partnership does not hide the fact that wickets fell regularily throughout the day. Three in the first session, then four in the third session falls under my definition of steady wickets. Any other team that loses 7 wickets in a day would not get anywhere near 360 runs. Let's not forget there were plenty of chances missed by India (Patel) too.

Wickets did not fall regularly throughout the day. When there is a 148 run partnership followed by an 80 run or something partnership, wickets are not falling regularly. They simply fell in clumps.

 

[Sanz]

Who is they ? India or Australia. I dont think Australia will miss him that much in this series. I suspect that he is really that injured, It's just that Ponting has arrived in India and CA probably doesn't want to spend its money for one extra man.

 

[Mr Casson]

Who is they ? India or Australia. I dont think Australia will miss him that much in this series. I suspect that he is really that injured, It's just that Ponting has arrived in India and CA probably doesn't want to spend its money for one extra man.

Ponting has arrived, but he is no guarantee for the fourth test either is he?

That leads me to believe that if Ponting is still not fit (I assume with Lehmann out that Ponting will play even if not 100%), Katich will stay at 3, Clarke and Gilchrist will move up and we could be seeing Shane Watson making his debut at number 7 as an extra seamer as well. Now that's a match I'd like to see!

I know Hodge is there, but Watto is far better suited to number 7.

 

[age_master]

yeah id like to see watto play if ponting and lehmann dont, but do we really need 4 seamers in the team...

 

[cricketfan]

SANZ Papers are saying his test career is finished. Badly torn right hammy. Not a good way to end IMO.

 

[Mr Casson]

yeah id like to see watto play if ponting and lehmann dont, but do we really need 4 seamers in the team...

It can't hurt to use what we've got. Just consider his bowling as a bonus, because his batting stands on its own.

 

[JustTool]

Would be a very different story if Mr. Patel had not left as many byes and taken all the chances that came his way. I wonder how the Genius Ganguly will justify his place. Last time he took Parthiv's horrible performace over the last 5 to 6 Tests and called it 'one bad match'. Ganguly really needs a less stubborn and obstinate stance on Yuvraj, Parthiv and Murali, Kaartik (wk) etc..Perhaps someone should send him a bottle of common-sense. Hello Gavaskar, are you going to lie down and take it like Wright had to do with Ganguly's bs ?

 

[SJS]

How quickly things turn around...If he doesn't take a wicket for the rest of the match does he then get ridiculed again?

I think there is no doubt that he had been bowling pretty badly right from that fatefull first over in the world cup finals. This has continued in the tests.

His poor bowling has not affected India as much as it would have only because of the emergence of young Pathan, and the intermittent good spells by Nehra and fewer still by Agarkar.

Now , from the second test onwards, he is again bowling better and improving with every outing. Maybe he is reacting to the pressure realising he cant take his place for granted. (Isnt he in the B list for the contract). But whatever the reason, it is a fact that he is bowling better with a fire not seen lately.So whats wrong if those who saw him bowling badly said so then AND now that he is bowling better, are saying so too.

To keep criticising a player all the time or venerating him as the greatest (irrespective of performance) is not consistency , it is unadulterated bias and total lack of objectivity.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Stoked to see Marto notch up his second ton in 2 innings. The bloke cops alot of unwarranted flak, but he is a vital cog to the team.

Michael Clarke continues to impress also.

I think quite a few of the boys in the team cop quite a bit of unwarranted flak, it's kind of funny that it seems to be coming from guys who sit on their arses in front of the TV becoming 'experts' before usually wandering out to roll the arm over in 5ths and talk about how good they are with their beer swilling mates, or people who are upset all the favourites from their state aren't there.

Everyone seems to be an expert, but strangely enough.....none of us are getting picked for our respective international sides