*Official* India in Australia Thread

[Tim]

It seems that these days, sides tend to struggle against the state & selection teams but when it comes to actually playing the test matches they can turn things around very quickly.

NZ had a couple of poor warm-up games in India but still managed to at least nail out a draw against India.

 

[Gaijin-san]

I wouldn't hold much hope for Rahul Dravid being the big hope for India's batting this tour. He's toured Australia once and as a result of that his record in Australia is appalling. Note his splendid duck today.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I wouldn't hold much hope for Rahul Dravid being the big hope for India's batting this tour. He's toured Australia once and as a result of that his record in Australia is appalling. Note his splendid duck today.

Still, Rahul Dravid is a better player than he was then. I would not be at all surprised if he averaged 50+ on this tour.

 

[Tim]

Well only an idiot would write off Rahul Dravid after only 1 innings in Australia.

 

[Mister Wright]

Well only an idiot would write off Rahul Dravid after only 1 innings in Australia.

So very true. But in saying that he has to be alot more positive. He did this very same thing on the last tour, he knew he had to take the pressure off Tendulkar and score alot of runs, so he looked to stay in and play big innings and he got bogged down and got out cheaply all too often. If he is to have a good tour he needs to be positive.

That's why I think India need to stick with Shewag, for all of the flaws in his technique and his blazen stroke play, if he gets off to a flyer in the first innings in Brisbane and gets India off to a good start it will lift the Indians. The top order for India is so important.

 

[Mister Wright]

A question for the Indian posters:

I know alot has been said about Zaheer Khan, both good and bad. I noticed a few things about his bowling in the recent TVS cup, when he played on a few of the bouncier pitches he troubled the Australians early often, he has great height and an action that suits the bouncier pitches. You guys would have obviously seen more of him, do you think the bouncier pitches in Australia will work in his favour?

He had a good World Cup in South Africa and to me doesn't seem to be a swing bowler, more of a 'bang it in' kind of a bowler, I think he will surprise a few people on this tour.

 

[Gaijin-san]

I wouldn't write Rahul Dravid off, he's a class act. Just saying he really didn't have a good time here last time.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

A question for the Indian posters:

I know alot has been said about Zaheer Khan, both good and bad. I noticed a few things about his bowling in the recent TVS cup, when he played on a few of the bouncier pitches he troubled the Australians early often, he has great height and an action that suits the bouncier pitches. You guys would have obviously seen more of him, do you think the bouncier pitches in Australia will work in his favour?

He had a good World Cup in South Africa and to me doesn't seem to be a swing bowler, more of a 'bang it in' kind of a bowler, I think he will surprise a few people on this tour.

I'm not an Indian poster but....

I think Zaheer Khan will be more effective in the Tests than he has been in recent ODI's. This is because there is more margin for error and (as mentioned above) the pitches are bouncier. With the strict wide calls and fielding restrictions out of the picture, he can experiment more with his bowling and will likely gain some greater measure of success.

 

[Gaijin-san]

Annnnnnnd Tendulkar is off!

From 8 to 29 in about 9 balls.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

It should be interesting to see how Cameron White goes.

 

[Mister Wright]

Tendlukar's 50

Ramesh 33 (104, 2x4)
Tendlukar 50 (66, 10x4)

India 3/117 (39.1)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Tendulkar hits White for a couple of boundaries to reach 50 off 65 balls.

Ramesh 33 not out

117/3 (39.2 overs)

 

[Tim]

And he's now blazed to 50...this is a good sign for India to see Tendulkar in such ominous form.

 

[V Reddy]

A question for the Indian posters:

I know alot has been said about Zaheer Khan, both good and bad. I noticed a few things about his bowling in the recent TVS cup, when he played on a few of the bouncier pitches he troubled the Australians early often, he has great height and an action that suits the bouncier pitches. You guys would have obviously seen more of him, do you think the bouncier pitches in Australia will work in his favour?

He had a good World Cup in South Africa and to me doesn't seem to be a swing bowler, more of a 'bang it in' kind of a bowler, I think he will surprise a few people on this tour.

I think the problem with him now is the inconsistency. The break of 4 months seems to have affected him. He used to get the ball to swing a little bit too which was good enough to get him LBW's . But now he has completely lost it. He also used to bowl near the 140 area but now it is down to 130 . He is not that tall so i don't think the bounce will help him that greatly.He had most of his success when he bowled in that uncomfortable area where the batsman doesn't know to come forward or go back and used to be consistent at it. Sure he will enjoy the bounce in the pitches but i don't think it will help him that greatly. But i love to be proved wrong by Zaheer.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Tim, Mr Wright and I posted on the same topic at the same time. Therefore I claim to the right to say 'Jinx'.

 

[Tim]

What do you mean Zaheer isn't that tall? When I saw him in Hamilton in Nando's he looked pretty tall to me!

I think he is a better ODI bowler than test bowler, he seems to be able to use the white ball better.

 

[V Reddy]

I think he is just around 6 feet and not in the 6'4, 6'5 area.

 

[Craig]

What do you mean Zaheer isn't that tall? When I saw him in Hamilton in Nando's he looked pretty tall to me!

I think he is a better ODI bowler than test bowler, he seems to be able to use the white ball better.

So I gather you arent very tall?

 

[Tim]

im probably just below 6 foot.

 

[V Reddy]

BTW, the Cricinfo scorecard is working for me now . Thx all for posting the scores