**Official** Australia in India Thread

[Jono]

Yes, you're right about Laxman and Tendulkar. It's the period that won the test match for India. The phrase "collapsing to the might of Michael Clarke" kinda makes me giggle a bit though, even if it was a harbinger for what was to come.

I probably should of said 'might'

 

[Sanz]

Whoa India won. I still cant believe we gave Clarke 6 wickets for 9 runs. When Tendulkar and Laxman were batting, It looked like a belter, At one point I even though that Pitch was becoming a flatter.

My only complain, we can't have a go at NZ fans for preparing the shityards in in NZ. Even though it was a fairly entertaining test cricket(thanks to our batsmen), the pitch was horrible and many times worse than the ones we saw in NZ. Warnie is unlucky, poor guy missed out again on a pitch where he could have a FEAST.

 

[Jnr.]

Warnie is unlucky, poor guy missed out again on a pitch where he could have a FEAST.

Warne was a bit silly for taking the thumb guard out of his gloves, though.

 

[Sanz]

And Australia were the better team. I would have felt bad for them if this series was to end 2-2. It also makes me feel better that despite Indian batsmen failing so badly we could have made the series 2-2. Really We are strong at home and other touring teams should watch out.

Once again Tendulkar, shows to the world how good he is. Attack My friend ATTACk is the best form of defence.

 

[Jono]

What are the chances though. He talks about how comfortable he is without the guard. He gets hurt, is out of the test. And the pitch turns out like this.

Very unluky.

 

[Sanz]

Warne was a bit silly for taking the thumb guard out of his gloves, though.

I know but I am not complaining. It would have been fun to watch him bowl. The guy could have turned the ball 180 degrees and would have ended up coming at him (instead of batsman) after pitching.

 

[Slow Love™]

Once again Tendulkar, shows to the world how good he is. Attack My friend ATTACk is the best form of defence.

If you're going to talk big about ATTACK, at least stick with the capital letters all the way through - don't pike out with the small k at the end, you choker.

 

[anzac]

My only complain, we can't have a go at NZ fans for preparing the shityards in in NZ. Even though it was a fairly entertaining test cricket(thanks to our batsmen), the pitch was horrible and many times worse than the ones we saw in NZ. .

ok I'll take the bait...............

As has been said b4 - NZL may have been looking to prepare seamer's wickets, but the official game plan for the domestic pitches was to also produce pace & bounce so as to encourage stroke play from the batsmen. This means they wanted to make them BETTER for batting on so as to improve the quality & technique!!!!

What they didn't count on was basically 3 seasons of prolonged wet weather starting at the time of the IND tour. I think there has been flooding in NZL for at least 2 of the last 3 years. From memory they had something like 3 weeks of rain leading into that series & I defy anyone to be able to save a pitch in those circumstances. I seem to recall that both the subsequent tours by PAK & RSA were also affected by weather - but perhaps not so dramatically.

which is still a bit different to preparing something like this pitch.......

 

[Jono]

There's no doubt the pitch was a disgrace. I don't think anyone will deny that. But what benefit did come from it was that a dead rubber which many dismissed as a nothing match (especially after the first day washed out) turned out to be a nail biter.

It made for heart stopping cricket, problem was, only for 2 days.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Variation in pitches from one venue to another are part of test cricket. I agree that this pitch was extremely hard to bat on, but that didn't diminish from the quality of the cricket in the same way that a flat pitch would in my mind.

Regardless, the rest of the pitches in the series were fine in my eyes, and certainly better than the things being prepared in Australia of late. Hopefully the pitches in the two home series this year will be up to the standard Australian pitches should be held to.

 

[anzac]

Don't get me wrong - I want to see more 'local conditions' in pitch variations as opposed to flat deck batting tracks...........

however as I said earlier 40 wickets in 2 Days does not make it a match or contest as the batsmen are never really 'in', despite the efforts of Martyn, Laxmann & Tendulkar in this 'Test'..............

 

[biased indian]

if it had not rained in chennai it could have been 2-2

 

[Scaly piscine]

[BAIT]I notice there has been no Indian fan outrage at the umpiring in this last match, after all the umpires cost India a defeat, the umpires must be removed from the elite panel immediately for their sickening bias.[/BAIT]

Seriously tho, the decisions have evened themselves out over the series and who'd have thought we'd see Aussie batsmen walking? I think 2-1 flattered India a bit, but then several scorelines flattered England in recent Ashes series. Also it made my vote for a 4-0/3-1 to Aus (I'd have taken 2-0/3-0) scoreline wrong which is what really counts...

Good to get off double Nelson too.

 

[Sanz]

One more thing which baffled me was Ponting's captaincy. I was not impressed with the way he handled his spin bowlers. He clearly had at least 3 decent spin options in Clark, Katich and Hauritz and I dont quiet understand what took him so long to bring Clark on.

After following this series, It seems to me that Giclchrist is a better captain than Ponting.

 

[anzac]

don't think Katich got the ball did he??????

certainly it would appear that the IND spin tactics were better than AUS - it may have been the benefit of bowling last, but the signs were there with a couple of consecutive balls Gillespie bowled to Sachin when he first came to the crease - the first was a flat off cutter at 135 kph that bit & turned from outside off & went over the stumps after Sachin shouldered arms, the follow up was a slow ball off cutter that kept it's line almost from the same spot on the pitch...........

but to be fair until Clarke's revelations I don't think anyone anticipated that firing it in flat & fast would be the right way to go for anyone other than Kumble..........

 

[Jono]

Don't get me wrong - I want to see more 'local conditions' in pitch variations as opposed to flat deck batting tracks...........

however as I said earlier 40 wickets in 2 Days does not make it a match or contest as the batsmen are never really 'in', despite the efforts of Martyn, Laxmann & Tendulkar in this 'Test'..............

Agreed. Personally I felt the Chennai pitch (and even the Nagpur one) was great for cricket. Almost near perfect.

The Bangalore pitch wasn't exactly one to be desired as the bounce died off much too early, and the Mumbai one is obvious. However what I do like, is that all 4 test matches had pretty varying conditions. Its just they varied a bit too much.

 

[tooextracool]

MOM - Murali Karthik

MOS - Damien Martyn

what a ridiculous selection for MOM.....i mean you'd think they'd be smart enough to pick someone who scored runs against the conditions rather than someone who benefitted considerably in them.
laxman for me.....

 

[tooextracool]

You have to say though this pitch was just pathetic.. And no one have a go at me for this because it only lasted in terms of overs about 2 days and 1 session..

oh get over it, id take this pitch over some of the pitches that have been prepared in australia of late.
and no i dont think it was an excelllent pitch either, but i certainly dont mind the odd occasion when the batsmen are tested and the bowlers have the advantage.

 

[tooextracool]

Surely an Aussie wouldn't walk with a match in the balance....

well it is dead rubber.....

 

[tooextracool]

Will Australia's curse of chasing low totals continue?

or rather their curse of losing dead rubber