**Official** Australia in India Thread

[Deja moo]

^ Why dont you answer the question yourself ?

 

[Arjun]

^ Why dont you answer the question yourself ?

A cricketing population of many millions, and still bankrupt of alternatives- Jimmy Amarnath is right about the Indian selectors. The likes of Bhandari, Salvi and Paul have been bowling well, and can't do worse tan a little man with a big bowling average- you can't win Test matches at 44 runs per wicket!

 

[Arjun]

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has made a good point- the Indians were just too defensive. It won't win matches, especially against a team that believes in scoring quickly.

 

[Jono]

Who cares about how many people India has? A lot of the Indian players have natural talent, but they're not utilising it because the domestic system isn't working to its capacity. Fact is, we need better fast bowlers (Pathan is a shining light, Balaji has a future as well) but when these two are out, we have Zaheer who at one stage was apparently our shining light, but slipped, and then we have Nehra and Agarkar who are so inconsistent its beyond ridiculous.

 

[Arjun]

Nehra hasn't been very inconsistent, just average. Agarkar has been a consistent disappointment and a liability. Balaji's technique is, to be honest, incorrect- you can't keep bowling that short, especially on bouncy pitches. The trio of Salvi, Bhandari and Paul are better bowlers in helpful conditions than this lot. But where are the tearaway quicks?

 

[Arjun]

This series will open a can of worms in Indian cricket...

 

[Deja moo]

^ No it wont....all that will happen is that Parthiv will make way for Karthik. Nothing else will change .

 

[Arjun]

As many as five changes, including the captain, strike bowler and wicketkeeper, have to be made.

 

[Deja moo]

That doesnt mean the changes will be made

 

[Jono]

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has made a good point- the Indians were just too defensive. It won't win matches, especially against a team that believes in scoring quickly.

Yes, I agree.

First off, there's no pressure on the fielders as no singles have been taken. Secondly, other than Sehwag's early spurt, there's been no attempt to get on top of the bowlers. Granted they've bowled brilliantly, but annoying the bowlers by getting singles and 2s, and then hitting the 4 when the opportunity is there is how they could have got on top of the Aussies.

 

[Jono]

Run rate less than 2 now

Edit: Dravid gone! McGrath's got him.

 

[mattyc]

About time Dravid fell. He was putting me to sleep.

 

[twctopcat]

Bet he's glad he's gone, tight ass mcgrath is bowling like a boring tosser again (brilliant tosser that is).

 

[Arjun]

That doesnt mean the changes will be made

They should be. Given a really bad performance for so long, and hitting a trough in a home series, something is really wrong. It's about time someone does a Tehelka and investigates the murky insides.

 

[Mr Casson]

But it's not replacing a number 7?

Sure it is.

The way I see it, after the shuffling has been done, it's the number 7 spot that is left vacant. Unless you want Hodge at 5, which is not where the Aussies tend to play inexperienced players. So I assume we'd see Clarke move to number 5 (yes I realize the hypocrisy of what I just said - but he deserves it lol). And I doubt we'd see Watto go ahead of Gilchrist.

So in a convoluted sort of way, what I'm basically saying is that I have no idea what I'm talking about. But at least I can admit it lol.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Good to see Warne finally bowling at his best against India.

 

[Jono]

56.4 McGrath to Kaif, (noball) no run, oh boy! no ball called for
overstepping, short delivery, pitched outside the off stump and
angling in, Kaif ducks, ball hits the bat and lobs up behind the
stumps, Warne takes a simple catch but Kaif stays
Kaif started to walk back to the pavilion, realized late what had
happened, in the end had to dive back to avoid being run out
actually the rule says that you can't be run out if you are not
looking for a run, Kaif was safe, there was no need to dive back
in

Haha quite an odd situation.

 

[Mr Casson]

He's just prone to some strange situations whilst running, isn't he?

 

[Mister Wright]

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.

It won't happen. Watson has been sent home to Australia. Hodge was called back after Lehmann was was injured as he was also sent home.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Where did you hear Watson was sent home? He was on the field yesterday when Lehmann tore his hamstring.