***Official Australia in India***

[duffer]

Gambhir's technique against the quicks is pretty ordinary at times but I really don't think there's anyone in world cricket currently I'd rather watch play spin bowling.

He was superb against Murali in the series just past but Mendis probably edged him in their contests. Played some cracking shots against him but Mendis always had something extra up his sleeve to get him out. But yeah, I'd back him easily against any other spinner going around.

 

[Top_Cat]

Having a look a Victoria squad this season, when White & Siddle go the best FC XI looks like it could be:

Rogers
Jewell
Hodge
Hussey
White
McDonald
Wade
Siddle
McGain
Harwood
Nannes

Its all up to him of course but with Siddle/Harwood/Nannes/McGain the main 4, don't see why White via work in the nets can't make himself in the coming season more of a 5th/6th change bowling option that McDonald, Hodge or Hussey TBH.

For Victoria, that would be fine as he's good enough to bat top-6. For the Test side, batting at number 8, he needs to be in the side as a bowling all-rounder. If he can't do that with Vic, why would anyone expect him to do it for Aus?

 

[Prince EWS]

Having a look a Victoria squad this season, when White & Siddle go the best FC XI looks like it could be:

Rogers
Jewell
Hodge
Hussey
White
McDonald
Wade
Siddle
McGain
Harwood
Nannes

Its all up to him of course but with Siddle/Harwood/Nannes/McGain the main 4, don't see why White via work in the nets can't make himself in the coming season more of a 5th/6th change bowling option that McDonald, Hodge or Hussey TBH.

Yeah, that's what he did last season. You really don't get enough bowling as the sixth bowler in domestic cricket to improve a significant amount though. I definitely noticed that he had improved his accuracy and consistency a bit last season and long may that continue I suppose, but he's still the sixth best bowler in that lineup and the pitches are not going to help him.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Does anyone here really think that there is a spinner in Australia who would've done better than White?

The problem hasn't been him, it's been the pacers.

 

[LJMJ]

Gavaskar's in a cranky mood today. First getting on the batsman's case for some aggressive batting, then accusing Watson of intentionally delaying the game and now that they show him in the commentary box...he's looking pretty pissed.

 

[duffer]

Gavaskar's in a cranky mood today. First getting on the batsman's case for some aggressive batting, then accusing Watson of intentionally delaying the game and now that they show him in the commentary box...he's looking pretty pissed.

Surprised it took him 9 days into the series to get on his rag.

 

[social]

Does anyone here really think that there is a spinner in Australia who would've done better than White?

The problem hasn't been him, it's been the pacers.

Absolutely correct

White has been ok

The pacemen, Johnson apart, have been pretty dire and they are supposed to be our strength

You can give credit to the Indian batsmen but when supposedly test class bowlers are lucky to consistently hit the same side of the pitch (let alone a good length), that's not good enough

 

[Top_Cat]

Does anyone here really think that there is a spinner in Australia who would've done better than White?

The problem hasn't been him, it's been the pacers.

You would've, tbh.

Okay seriously, I'm a strong advocate of picking your best bowlers first with types of bowlers coming secondary to that. So based on the spinning talent available, I'd have been happier with no specialist spinner at all.

 

[Prince EWS]

Does anyone here really think that there is a spinner in Australia who would've done better than White?

The problem hasn't been him, it's been the pacers.

It's not so much that he's bowled badly; it's that he's been given no faith. He hasn't been used as a frontline bowler and given he's batting eight and hasn't scored any runs, he shouldn't really be playing. It's not like he's going to come into his own in certain conditions either so you can't just carry him for that moment.

He's done what has been asked of him, but what is being asked of him is not a particularly useful role in Test cricket IMO.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Assuming this continues the way it has been going for the last three days, when was the last time Australia was beaten this convincingly in a test? Not trying to have a big doom and gloom whinge about the state of Australian cricket or anything, I'm just interested.

Looking back, Australia lost a test in Perth recently that was fairly comfortable but no smashing. They managed to come back and make both the losses in the 05 Ashes fairly close tests. Last loss before that was in the previous series in India, which was by 13 runs. Before that, the drawn home series against India, which was four wickets, then the West Indies record chase, three wickets. Both fairly close games. The 02/03 Ashes had a fairly comfortable loss in the 5th test, only possible competition I can see in the decade so far.

Back in the late 90s there's a pretty bad loss to Sri Lanka in the game where Waugh and Gillespie ran into each other in the 1-0 lost series, and just before that in the '98 India tour there's an innings defeat, which might be the last time Australia got totally hammered in a game of cricket across five days. Shows the magnitude of the Indian achievement here if they go on with it.

 

[NUFAN]

Does anyone here really think that there is a spinner in Australia who would've done better than White?

The problem hasn't been him, it's been the pacers.

Perhaps Beau Casson may have done marginally better, but if you pick a guy who isn't in the countries top 25 bowlers as your number 8 and I guess 4th bowler you are in trouble.

Does anyone know why Cam White isn't at First Slip?

Actually EDIT - When we decide to have slip fielders..

 

[Top_Cat]

It's not so much that he's bowled badly; it's that he's been given no faith. He hasn't been used as a frontline bowler and given he's batting eight and hasn't scored any runs, he shouldn't really be playing. It's not like he's going to come into his own in certain conditions either so you can't just carry him for that moment.

He's done what has been asked of him, but what is being asked of him is not a particularly useful role in Test cricket IMO.

AWTA. More specifically, his role within the current team is the confusing part. Is he the specialist spinner or there to shore up the batting? If he's the specialist spinner, why has he not gotten more overs? If there to shore up the batting, why batting below Haddin?

 

[NUFAN]

Assuming this continues the way it has been going for the last three days, when was the last time Australia was beaten this convincingly in a test? Not trying to have a big doom and gloom whinge about the state of Australian cricket or anything, I'm just interested.

Looking back, Australia lost a test in Perth recently that was fairly comfortable but no smashing. They managed to come back and make both the losses in the 05 Ashes fairly close tests. Last loss before that was in the previous series in India, which was by 13 runs. Before that, the drawn home series against India, which was four wickets, then the West Indies record chase, three wickets. Both fairly close games. The 02/03 Ashes had a fairly comfortable loss in the 5th test, only possible competition I can see in the decade so far.

Back in the late 90s there's a pretty bad loss to Sri Lanka in the game where Waugh and Gillespie ran into each other in the 1-0 lost series, and just before that in the '98 India tour there's an innings defeat, which might be the last time Australia got totally hammered in a game of cricket across five days. Shows the magnitude of the Indian achievement here if they go on with it.

Good post, obviously this game isn't over, but I think you are correct, 1998 in India was the last time. There are some similarities with the makeup of this team and that team. Just get the feeling in a few years time people will be wondering why Cam White and Peter Siddle played this game.

 

[sirdj]

hmm...........I think this is the best opening pair India have seen for a long time.

 

[social]

It's not so much that he's bowled badly; it's that he's been given no faith. He hasn't been used as a frontline bowler and given he's batting eight and hasn't scored any runs, he shouldn't really be playing. It's not like he's going to come into his own in certain conditions either so you can't just carry him for that moment.

He's done what has been asked of him, but what is being asked of him is not a particularly useful role in Test cricket IMO.

Have a look at his treatment this morning

Dropped catch followed by plenty of runs off one over followed by immediate removal from attack

Sorry, but that's just garbage

Before Warne came along, everyone knew that there was a trade off between runs and wickets where legspinners were concerned

If you want White to improve, he has to bowl and treating him poorly because he's more like most leg spinners spinners in history than Warne is really bad captaincy

 

[Burgey]

Surely your best bowlers bowl now. I know Lee's been poor this series, but either he and Siddle or he and Johnson should have opened the day imo.

Agree with Social's post above too, FTR.

 

[NUFAN]

hmm...........I think this is the best opening pair India have seen for a long time.

I'm going to say.. EVER!!

Expect someone to say Merchant and Gavaskar..

 

[Top_Cat]

Surely your best bowlers bowl now. I know Lee's been poor this series, but either he and Siddle or he and Johnson should have opened the day imo.

Agree with Social's post above too, FTR.

It's actually an incredibly daring, attacking move by Ponting disguised as admitting defeat. He's hoping to give the Indians so many runs they'll declare early and leave the Aussies enough time to score 600 on day 5 to win.

Hey, someone has to be an optimist around here......

 

[Prince EWS]

Have a look at his treatment this morning

Dropped catch followed by plenty of runs off one over followed by immediate removal from attack

Sorry, but that's just garbage

Before Warne came along, everyone knew that there was a trade off between runs and wickets where legspinners were concerned

Not sure if you're trying to disagree with my post or just add to it, but I agree with that. Ponting's treating him like a part-timer and, as I said, if that's going to happen, he shouldn't play.

If you have a look at even Paul Harris - he's often just carried through the first innings by South Africa as Kallis bowls most of his overs, but if the opposition rack up a big first innings score he gets through some really long spells to help keep the pacemen fresh and he bowls more overs than anyone in their second innings. Harris is more consistent and much more experienced than White but I don't think he has anything in his armory that makes him more threatening. He justifies his place in the team with his workload and the faith shown in him to spin South Africa home (even though he's failed to do so recently).

White's done a good job for what he's been asked but if Ponting is going to treat him like a part-timer (even in the second innings on the subcontinent!) and he isn't going to score any runs I see no reason to pick him. It's harsh but the role he's playing is a luxury no team can afford.

 

[sirdj]

I'd put my money on Sehwag butchering the bowling after/if he gets to a hundred