***Official Australia in India***

[weldone]

That bit there is debatable. Effective? Yes. Good? It's certainly not good FOR the game afaic. One of my few poor memories of the 06/07 Ashes was Warne bowling outside leg-stump to KP, it's not the sort of thing we want to see when Test Cricket is facing it's toughest battle yet trying to attract people to game.

If against the batting line-up of arguably world's best team you can get 8 wickets for 150 odd runs employing a tactic, then I call that an aggressive tactic...

 

[krkode]

If against the batting line-up of arguably world's best team you can get 8 wickets for 150 odd runs employing a tactic, then I call that an aggressive tactic...

... that very same team which no more than the previous evening was scoring at almost 4 an over. That's quite a 180 turn in a short amount of time - which, in and of itself, is impressive.

 

[weldone]

That is totally uncharacteristic from Australia. India went into a shell in South Africa a couple years back, and it cost them. They can't do the same again this time. Basically, if they can score around 3 an over and bat out tomorrow, the series is theirs, so that's what they should look to do. But they've got to keep the run rate up - Krejza was a handful for the lower order in the first innings, and might be again, so the top order has to score runs.

I can't believe it was Australia who went 166/8 in 84 overs. Completely insane. Both good work by India and bad strategy from Australia though.

hmmm...good post...no new predictions? Australia to win by how many wickets? And on day 5 or day 4 itself?

 

[weldone]

Shastri was talking out of his ass, tbh...


The stuff he said about limiting innings in test cricket to a 100 overs as some way to rejuvenate test cricket were nothing but drivel.......



If you start limiting overs, it won't be TEST cricket, FFS........ Just hope I dont have to live to see the day when a test match can be won on runs and by not taking 20 wickets... I know it happens in very rare cases now but limiting overs, FFS......

Did Shastri blabber this nonsense today? ...Oh God! I didn't expect this from him, neither did I expect Chappell to say what he did today...

 

[weldone]

appears as if i read the day somewhat yday

India is 86 runs ahead. the dilemma for them would be to go for a win or play for the series. the decision they take would be determined by how things shape up tomm but a Sehwag special would not only make that decision easier but also demoralize the Australians

and it's nice to see wickets being shared by the main Indian bowlers rather than one bowler picking up bulk of them

You've been so much spot on with your predictions this series that ret has almost become an antonym of Silentstriker for me ... Yes, a Sehwag special will be great. Even a Sachin special, a Dhoni special or for that matter even a Ganguly special in his last test will be welcome...I get a feeling that Dhoni might send Ganguly at number 3 tomorrow...

 

[silentstriker]

You've been so much spot on with your predictions this series that ret has almost become an antonym of Silentstriker for me ... Yes, a Sehwag special will be great. Even a Sachin special, a Dhoni special or for that matter even a Ganguly special in his last test will be welcome...I get a feeling that Dhoni might send Ganguly at number 3 tomorrow...

Considering the nature of my predictions, I am always hoping that I am wrong. But it's more fun that way for me. Every victory is a beautiful thing that comes out of nowhere, while every loss is expected.

 

[Cevno]

This is lifted from another forum.

I am posting it just for fun ,not to offend any one,specially aussie fans.

Credits to raja-

Yes, they are looking for fresh blood now.
Bhajji has been "ticked" off now.

I can imagine Punter in the dressing room in a team meeting :

Sehwag
CHECK

Tendulkar
OOOOOOOO.....don't even start, mate

Dravid
No need to...

Ganguly
No need to...

Johnson : Boss, what about that guy, Gambhir ? He sure has become a pain in the rear-end.

Punter : Yep, got to get him out of the way. Who wants to take this job ?

Hayden (always ready) : I'll do it.

Punter : Mmmm...not too sure, Haydos. I appreciate you can..you're brilliant...you did a great job with the Weed...but the Indians are on to you already. We need a new face.
Cam, you want to do it ?

White (a bit hesitant) : Hmmm...I am with Bangalore in the IPL, skip.

Punter : I know...my sympathies.

White : Not too sure I'll get the dosh if I rub these guys the wrong way. If you don't mind, I'd like to sit this one out.

Punter : Sure, no probs mate. Somebody else will take it on.

Watson : I'll do it. I have no probs. Warney will take care of me in IPL. I was the best player last time in the IPL anyway (beams).

Punter : Good for you, Watto. So it is Gambhir for you. And maybe Kato can be your backup. We have to make sure Gambhir is out.

Laxman
OOOOOO....that's a tough one...we keep trying but he's difficult.

Johnson : I'll give it another try, skip.

Punter : Ok, see what you can do.

Bhajji
Punter : I miss Symmo...and believe me, there's no guy I would personally like to see more in the docks than Bhajji...but I think we cannot afford more trouble now...we are behind...let's get Gambhir...and if we're lucky, Laxman too....

 

[G.I.Joe]

White (a bit hesitant) : Hmmm...I am with Bangalore in the IPL, skip.

Punter : I know...my sympathies.

 

[inbox24]

Hehe it seems someone asked Mr katich why Australia were so defensive in their batting today... he didnt respond well lol. poor guy.

http://blogs.cricinfo.com/thebuzz/archives/2008/11/the_most_stupid_question_ive_e.php

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/current/story/377451.html

I really have to disagree here. How can you say Australia was defensive, when India was the team bowling 2 feet outside off stump? Personally, I have no problem with you guys using the tactic because nowhere in the rule book does it say that you can't and it certainly worked.

But if you do use it, don't turn around and call the other team defensive, because that's just hypocrisy.

 

[Cevno]

I really have to disagree here. How can you say Australia was defensive, when India was the team bowling 2 feet outside off stump? Personally, I have no problem with you guys using the tactic because nowhere in the rule book does it say that you can't and it certainly worked.

But if you do use it, don't turn around and call the other team defensive, because that's just hypocrisy.

Still even with those tactics 166 cannot be scored in a whole day without being defensive.

And not too forget the fact that only when the two pacers were on were such filed settings used.

 

[krkode]

I really have to disagree here. How can you say Australia was defensive, when India was the team bowling 2 feet outside off stump? Personally, I have no problem with you guys using the tactic because nowhere in the rule book does it say that you can't and it certainly worked.

But if you do use it, don't turn around and call the other team defensive, because that's just hypocrisy.

I don't think anyone here called Aus defensive? Just the idiot reporter and it looks like he got what he deserved...

 

[weldone]

I really have to disagree here. How can you say Australia was defensive, when India was the team bowling 2 feet outside off stump? Personally, I have no problem with you guys using the tactic because nowhere in the rule book does it say that you can't and it certainly worked.

But if you do use it, don't turn around and call the other team defensive, because that's just hypocrisy.

Ya you must be right...More so because a batting line-up doesn't lose 8 wickets for 150 odd runs without playing aggressively...Australia must have played aggressively, yup. I agree with you, I seriously do.

 

[tooextracool]

heh Flintoff calling india the best team in the world atm heh.. funny guy.

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/indveng/content/current/story/377475.html

IIRC they did that last time as well when they called India the best ODI outfit in the world and proceeded to get walloped in the odi series that happened thereafter.

 

[krkode]

Ya you must be right...More so because a batting line-up doesn't lose 8 wickets for 150 odd runs without playing aggressively...Australia must have played aggressively, yup. I agree with you, I seriously do.

The point he is making is Australia had no choice but to play the way they did because India did not give them a choice.

Fact of the matter is, there were two decent batsmen out there and they got completely shut down by India's tactics and ultimately made mistakes that led to them getting out. Honestly, I think if they had tried this on Hayden or Ponting, they would've figured out a way to break free. But as it stood, the Aussies who did face this 8-1 field had almost no choice.

 

[weldone]

The point he is making is Australia had no choice but to play the way they did because India did not give them a choice.

Fact of the matter is, there were two decent batsmen out there and they got completely shut down by India's tactics and ultimately made mistakes that led to them getting out. Honestly, I think if they had tried this on Hayden or Ponting, they would've figured out a way to break free. But as it stood, the Aussies who did face this 8-1 field had almost no choice.

I got his point before you pointed that out...And I agreed, didn't you see?...So I didn't get the point of your post.

On a more serious note, my friend you didn't get the point of my post...I was trying to tease him...Come on dude, get some sense of humour, cricket chat should not always be dull and serious because cricket itself isn't always so...

 

[krkode]

I got his point before you pointed that out...And I agreed, didn't you see?...So I didn't get the point of your post.

On a more serious note, my friend you didn't get the point of my post...I was trying to tease him...Come on dude, get some sense of humour, cricket chat should not always be dull and serious because cricket itself isn't always so...

My bad... hard to pick up sarcasm in text.

 

[Nate]

Punter : Mmmm...not too sure, Haydos. I appreciate you can..you're brilliant...you did a great job with the Weed...but the Indians are on to you already. We need a new face.
Cam, you want to do it ?

White (a bit hesitant) : Hmmm...I am with Bangalore in the IPL, skip.

Punter : I know...my sympathies.

White : Not too sure I'll get the dosh if I rub these guys the wrong way. If you don't mind, I'd like to sit this one out.

Punter : Sure, no probs mate. Somebody else will take it on.

Watson : I'll do it. I have no probs. Warney will take care of me in IPL. I was the best player last time in the IPL anyway (beams).

Punter : Good for you, Watto.

:LAUGH:

 

[Manee]

Brett Lee's body seems to be starting to get the better of him, it is subtle, but the 'snap' seems to be gone - it all seems very formulaic - Watson esque. He seems to, dare I say it, have Watson syndrome, in which quick, accurate deliveries are harmless. However, this is not to say that it is finished (such an idea is absurd), just a mere impressiveness that it took until the 2007/8 and this season for any sort of aging to be seen in the bowling of the 31 year old, relatively short quickie - and the guy can still crank it up to 150kph as in the IPL. Lee is a physical specimen, no doubt. I'd have to say that at the age of 16, I cannot replicate many parts of his action on their own, such as the stump high, at least 2m long jump, or the tremendously high front leg.

Just re-reading that, I'm not sure what that has to do with anything, but just my thoughts.

Haha, have you been watching Lee lately?

It's his first time bowling in Tests in India after a big break in the schedule as well. He's just underbowled. Give him more than an innings.

IMO, the apparent "slow down" in his action is more a case of being in better control of what he is doing than anything

Put it this way, people who are good at something make it look easy - Lee is now technically very good and doesnt have to throw himself into his work as much to get it down there

Hmmm, interesting to look back and see that Lee has not picked it up after 'more than an innings' although stomach bug and poor luck can still be theoretically attributed.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/current/story/377383.html



More drivel from Ponting......




I understand the guy is not someone who will tell lies on purpose but he has to realize that all he has going for him is the word of Michael Clarke, the guy who claims one bounce catches......

I gotta say HB, that really is stunningly irrelevant. I have no idea why cricinfo even wrote an article about something that happened ages ago and has no relevance at all to current events, but it's certainly not Ponting's fault. He wrote something in his tour diary about what happened and someone dug it up later. It's not as though he called a press conference to talk about it.

 

[Johnners]

If against the batting line-up of arguably world's best team you can get 8 wickets for 150 odd runs employing a tactic, then I call that an aggressive tactic...

Wasn't talking about yesterday at all, but commenting on the leg stump line from Giles, which SS described as good cricket.