**Official** Australia in India Thread

[shaka]

I have just read an article about McGrath, and he says that the ICC were too soft on Harbhajan Singh in the 1st test, what are your thoughts? (I thought this should be in this thread as opposed to creating a new thread)
the article is at:
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/041008/2/1gop.html

He says they were celebrating far too much, and if it were Australia, they would be fined or something. IMO i think Australia might be the one's who get off a bit lightly sometimes.

 

[SJS]

He says they were celebrating far too much, and if it were Australia, they would be fined or something. IMO i think Australia might be the one's who get off a bit lightly sometimes.

Yes they were celeberating a lot but that seems to have become the norm nowadays. This as well as appealing even when you know it is not valid, or sledging, or other such borderline behaviour has been 'accepted ,and 'approved' by fans worldover in the garb of 'justified aggression' , part of the 'mental aspect' of the game , 'pressure tactics' etc. We should have realised what we were doing when we condoned such behaviour almost twenty years ago.

Now its just reduced to each side finding the other's behaviour unbecoming while they themselves behave in the same manner when its their turn. The fans are equally partisan in judging these incidents. Everyone has contributed to this and should have realised that a 'little bit of licence' is not always a desirable thing since a 'little bit' is difficult to define and keeps getting 'a little bit' worse every time!

We have to decide whether it is sporting wickets, attacking cricket, result oriented matches, balance between bat and ball which will make for real excitement or are snarling bowlers, abusive close in fielders, finger wagging fast bowlers, screamimg-the-umpire's-head-off appealers the one's we want to provide us with our daily fix of 'sporting drama' ?

 

[Jono]

I don't agree with appealing if its clearly not out, but if Harbhajan is firing himself up and sledging that I commend him for that. Someone has to play the way the Aussies do, and if he gets under their skin then it'll work in his, and India's favour.

 

[SJS]

I don't agree with appealing if its clearly not out, but if Harbhajan is firing himself up and sledging that I commend him for that. Someone has to play the way the Aussies do, and if he gets under their skin then it'll work in his, and India's favour.

Fair enough. Then lets not crib about some players crossing the line, or getting away with it. Since there isnt any clear cut line to be drawn. Almost everything can be justified OR condemned depending on which side you support !!

 

[Mr Casson]

interesting point there, while warne has been poor in india, the wickets that he has taken are usually off the top order, as opposed to 'clean up the tail' macgill.

What's wrong with that exactly? Australia could have used a tail-cleaner in the first test.

 

[Mr Casson]

and any batsman would be worried if he continued to fail time and time again wouldnt he?whats your point?

I think the point is that his worry should be exacerbated by a real young-gun with a case for inclusion.

 

[maxpower]

why is lehman ready to make way for clarke, AUS team is hard to get into as is.

 

[Dydl]

It said in the paper that Lehmann was willing to make way for any young people or anyone better than him. If there is anyone better than him he would be willing to step aside for the strength of the Australian team.
He said that Clarke should play in every test match for Australia for the next 10-12 years.

He was thinking about the strength of the Australian team and not defending his position in the team.

 

[Dydl]

He also said that he would work his way back into the team by injury or retirement when he was dropped. He seemed confident enough that if dropped he would find his way back into the team whether or not it took a season or something. He wasn't really concerned.

 

[Mister Wright]

and any batsman would be worried if he continued to fail time and time again wouldnt he?whats your point?

My original point was that you had no point. But you kept on about it which isn't unusual.

 

[Mister Wright]

Hodge got the call up because they wanted a number 3 batsman, Symonds should have been in the squad somewhere, but i dont know where...

When was the last time Hodge batted at 3? And I don't think they were after a replacement number 3, Katich is there.

 

[Dydl]

Hodge might have batted no.3 a few times in domestic, Symonds had a fair chance in tests but he didn't perform, so he only plays in ODIs.

 

[Mister Wright]

Hodge might have batted no.3 a few times in domestic, Symonds had a fair chance in tests but he didn't perform, so he only plays in ODIs.

You call two tests a fair chance?

 

[Dydl]

They might have wanted someone (if possible) more like Ponting. Katich hasn't done spectacularly at no.3, but obviously has peformed well enough to keep his spot ahead of Hodge and Symonds.

 

[Dydl]

You call two tests a fair chance?

Not really, but they selectors had to have a reason to drop him and he didn't pick up enough runs to be considered for a 3rd.

 

[Mr Casson]

I am expecting something big from Lehmann in the second test - whether he has made a decision or not, expect him to play as if it is his last test. And he's too good to fail playing like that, let alone bomb-out in two straight tests.

 

[maxpower]

He also said that he would work his way back into the team by injury or retirement when he was dropped. He seemed confident enough that if dropped he would find his way back into the team whether or not it took a season or something. He wasn't really concerned.

at 34 how many comebacks can he produce ? hes not exactly steve waugh. he might wanna think about playing better while hes still on the team and keep his place.

 

[Mister Wright]

I'm not debating his exculsion from the 3rd test side in Sri Lanka but to be dropped from the touring squad was a bit harsh. I mean we've all seen how many opportunities Brett Lee has had and he keeps failing and getting picked.

 

[Dydl]

Yeh, but he seems more concerned about Australias future than his future.

 

[Dydl]

But Lee had proved himself as one of the worlds fastest bowlers. He also had an affect on batsmen. He was given more chances than Lee, but the selectors may have been feeling more generous when his place was questioned.