***Official*** India in Australia

[pup11]

Am I the only one that is excited by this loss? Granted, it's not logical for me to be but we're now a bowling team, not a batting one. It's been true for a while now, since the WI tour, followed by SA then England and now here in Australia. The golden era of batting is dead. Good riddance. Let's see some bowling.

The result is the same, but I like this situation better.

I hope you are joking here mate, how can you say India is bowling side (they still don't have a settled bowling line-up) of course their bowling seems to far more consistent as compared to their batting in recent times but its mainly thanks due to Kumble (and he ain't no spring chicken) and Zaheer, guys like are RP, Sree Santh, Pathan or Munaf are too inconsistent.
I have gotta agree that whenever Indian bowlers have had even slightly helpful conditions they have used those conditions very well and have delivered the goods but their batting line-up has failed miserably in those type of conditions ruining and undoing all the good work done by the Indian bowlers (this current test is a very good example of this), but on flat dead tracks (which are normal in modern day cricket nowadays) the Indian bowling has lacked the fire-power, the skill,patience or discipline to take 20 wickets and those are the sort of conditions in which the Indian batsmen make merry and beef-up their averages (recent Indo-Pak series is a good example of this).

 

[pup11]

we've seen some terrific left arm swing bowling in this test match


Wasim Akram would be proud ... i believe he was commentating

Apparently Akram didn't have very good things to say about Mitch in this game before his last spell today, he said that he is a very one-dimensional bowler who just takes the ball away from the right handers and seems to only hit the deck rather than even trying to pitch the ball up and trying to swing it especially when he is bowling with the new ball, and he said untill he doesn't learn to move the ball both ways and adds yorkers into his kit-bag he won't be very effective at this level.
But i hope Akram would have changed his views on Mitch after watching his last spell.

 

[silentstriker]

I hope you are joking here mate, how can you say India is bowling side (they still don't have a settled bowling line-up) of course their bowling seems to far more consistent as compared to their batting in recent times but its mainly thanks due to Kumble (and he ain't no spring chicken) and Zaheer, guys like are RP, Sree Santh, Pathan or Munaf are too inconsistent.

I didn't say they had a great bowling attack. But their bowling is now a bigger strength than their batting.

I have gotta agree that whenever Indian bowlers have had even slightly helpful conditions they have used those conditions very well and have delivered the goods but their batting line-up has failed miserably in those type of conditions ruining and undoing all the good work done by the Indian bowlers (this current test is a very good example of this)

That's my point....

, but on flat dead tracks (which are normal in modern day cricket nowadays) the Indian bowling has lacked the fire-power, the skill,patience or discipline to take 20 wickets and those are the sort of conditions in which the Indian batsmen make merry and beef-up their averages (recent Indo-Pak series is a good example of this).

Err, those tracks were beyond flat and most of our bowling attack was injured in that series. Most tracks these days are flat, but they do produce a result. The pitches in the IND-PAK series were not designed to produce a result.

 

[Evermind]

Am I the only one that is excited by this loss? Granted, it's not logical for me to be but we're now a bowling team, not a batting one. It's been true for a while now, since the WI tour, followed by SA then England and now here in Australia. The golden era of batting is dead. Good riddance. Let's see some bowling.

The result is the same, but I like this situation better.

Pretty solid nonsense here.

Hayden thrashed a century against the bowling, and it couldn't get 20 wickets. I don't see how a team that can't get 20 wickets be considered a "bowling side". Not a single seamer is truly world class - let's talk once at least one of them gets his average below 30.

The reason people have the silly idea that the Indian bowling "did well" in the first innings is because the pitch was pretty difficult to bat on. Of course Australia didn't score 500+ - it was just a pitch that didn't allow it. India's batting in both innings demonstrated that pretty well. Australia's first innings score was more indicative of the pitch allowances than of India's bowling (Kumble did seem to bowl pretty well, which helped). If even someone like Harbhajan can get a few wickets on the track (his average in Australia previously was 169 or something absurd like that) then that says a lot.

If you want to say India's bowling was better than its batting, then yes, you could say that, but that's sort of like saying Mussolini was a kinder man than Hitler. They're both **** at the moment, and it's gonna take a miracle to pull even a draw out of this series.

 

[Evermind]

Hogg gets Harbhajan out again this time with a good swift piece of fielding, and lol at Harbhajan's reaction and shake of the head as if he was gonna hit triple century or something.

Harbhajan always acts like that! Ahaha. Real class.

 

[silentstriker]

Pretty solid nonsense here.

Hayden thrashed a century against the bowling, and it couldn't get 20 wickets. I don't see how a team that can't get 20 wickets be considered a "bowling side". Not a single seamer is truly world class - let's talk once at least one of them gets his average below 30.

The reason people have the silly idea that the Indian bowling "did well" in the first innings is because the pitch was pretty difficult to bat on. Of course Australia didn't score 500+ - it was just a pitch that didn't allow it. India's batting in both innings demonstrated that pretty well. Australia's first innings score was more indicative of the pitch allowances than of India's bowling (Kumble did seem to bowl pretty well, which helped). If even someone like Harbhajan can get a few wickets on the track (his average in Australia previously was 169 or something absurd like that) then that says a lot.

If you want to say India's bowling was better than its batting, then yes, you could say that, but that's sort of like saying Mussolini was a kinder man than Hitler. They're both **** at the moment, and it's gonna take a miracle to pull even a draw out of this series.

India are not a crap side - except in comparison to Australia (which isn't really a comparison). They beat England in England, and and beat Pakistan at home. They won their first ever Test in SA, but lost the series away, but they would win at home. At worst they are the 3rd best side in the world - and I probably have then second. They took 17 wickets, but that's more than most of the others have managed in recent times.

You say 'even a draw' like it would be a minor achievement. When was the last time Australia had a drawn series in Australia? Oh, I remember: 2003 against India. They've been blowing everyone out since - I don't really care about getting blown out. It's accepted for everyone.

 

[neutralguy]

Australia played the game well and deserved the win. Congrats on their performance.
On the otherhand, iam still happy inspite of the loss.Kumble has now seen from this game what his best 7 batsman can do with shuffled batting order. This might give a chance for dravid to redeem himself.Here are some of the good things that might happen in the remaining matches for indian team.
1. For sure dravid is not going to open again in this tour (unless kumble is stupid enough to make this mistake again).
2. I think with the current poor form of dravid, the best position to play dravid might be after ganguly.This will ensure that he gets some runs which is very necessary for health of indian test cricket atleast in next 2 years.
Its not that we have not hidden players before. when ganguly ( against pakistan in pakistan) or tendulkar ( against australia in australia last tour) had poor form they were dropped down the order to make them regain some form and confidence. I think the same has to be done with dravid.
3. Sehwag is all set to open for sure in SCG. If at all he does well in SCG and perth, he might keep his place, otherwise, i would not be surprised to see dinesh karthik or even AKASH CHOPRA open for the last test match.
4. India needs atleast a right arm fast bowler to have a reasonable variety in the attack.Looks like its time to seriously give a match to ishant sharma or pankaj singh.They are not going to be as bad as harbhajan singh for sure.
5. Sydney should be the last match for harbhajan singh in this tour. IF his performance doesnt improve, its time for him seriously to go back to punjab ranji and play. With the sort of performance he is giving, india could have had ramesh pawar instead of him.They both were doing almost the same job. Infact powar's bowling is always better than harbhajan in tests in recent times.
6. And lastly yuvraj must be dropped for the remaining matches. I think if at all they want to give yuvraj an oppurtunity, they must do it against less threatening oppositions like newzealand, south africa or england at their home countries, before even considered for australian tour.Same applies for dhoni, if he has to get captaincy of test cricket in near future.Dhoni has to show that he can make 30-40 runs in a match against these opposition(s) at their home countries.
So in a way iam happy about the loss. This loss will help kumble to make the right decisions in the new year. Hope this new year will also mark the revival for out of form batsmen like dravid and sehwag and bring victories to team india.

 

[Evermind]

India are not a crap side - except in comparison to Australia (which isn't really a comparison). They beat England in England, and and beat Pakistan at home. They won their first ever Test in SA, but lost the series away, but they would win at home. At worst they are the 3rd best side in the world - and I probably have then second. They took 17 wickets, but that's more than most of the others have managed in recent times.

I do agree that they've improved over the years.

But what really irritates me is how it's always "almost won" and "nearly made an impact" with India. They could've very much drawn the series in SA, but they were so content to win one test they seemed like they didn't want to take too much away from SA, and ended up playing one of the most bizarre batting innings I've ever witnessed in the last test. It was a choke that would've made even SA proud. Against Pakistan, again, it should've been 2-0 very easily. I've never seen India really put up a fight. Monumental scrappings, maybe.

You say 'even a draw' like it would be a minor achievement. When was the last time Australia had a drawn series in Australia? Oh, I remember: 2003 against India. They've been blowing everyone out since - I don't really care about getting blown out. It's accepted for everyone.

By a "draw out of the series" I meant a drawn game. I certainly do not expect them to draw the series! That'd mean actually winning at least one game, and would be a massive achievement.

Hell, if India draw the series, I'll put "HARBHAJAN I LOVE YOU" in my sig and make his annoying face my avatar.

BTW, in 2003 Australia had a godawful bowling attack, and India managed to sneak in a win. In fact, if they hadn't been so complacent, and showed some balls, they might've actually won the series.

 

[silentstriker]

I do agree that they've improved over the years.

I've never seen India really put up a fight. Monumental scrappings, maybe.

Really?

 

[Evermind]

Superb performance by all the bowlers and two bowl the famed Indian batting line-up below 200 twice in a test would surely boost Australia's confidence for the rest of the series.

Yes, they most desperately need that!

 

[Evermind]

Really?

Yeah, I wonder how long we're gonna hear of that one game.

In the year 2655, in the time of the next ice age, there'll be one Indian and one Englishman sitting somewhere one a sheet of ice, the Englishman going "TWO - ONE...2 -1!!!!" and the Indian going "but...but...we showed them that time in 2001....yes we did...yes we did." Not any good at batting, bowling or fielding, but they sure have a great memory.

 

[silentstriker]

Yeah, I wonder how long we're gonna hear of that one game.

In the year 2655, in the time of the next ice age, there'll be one Indian and one Englishman sitting somewhere one a sheet of ice, the Englishman going "TWO - ONE...2 -1!!!!" and the Indian going "but...but...we showed them that time in 2001....yes we did...yes we did." Not any good at batting, bowling or fielding, but they sure have a great memory.

So can you please link where other teams have done similar things against Australia? Oh wait - they haven't except in 2005 Ashes.

 

[Evermind]

2. I think with the current poor form of dravid, the best position to play dravid might be after ganguly.This will ensure that he gets some runs which is very necessary for health of indian test cricket atleast in next 2 years.

Agreed - whatever it may be, he shouldn't be opening. He's not setting any momentum so far.

Also, it's nonsense that he shouldn't be blamed at all. You're given a postion - to bat as an opener. You try your best to score at it. If you don't even attempt to be positive, that's your fault. It was understandable in the first innings - fine, he was trying to grind it out, see out the new ball. But in the second innings, after realising that his attempt the first time round was an abysmal failure, it was inexcusable. Everyone should be doing their best with what they're given - seldom does any player find conditions 100% optimal to his temperament and form.

5. Sydney should be the last match for harbhajan singh in this tour. IF his performance doesnt improve, its time for him seriously to go back to punjab ranji and play. With the sort of performance he is giving, india could have had ramesh pawar instead of him.They both were doing almost the same job. Infact powar's bowling is always better than harbhajan in tests in recent times.

Harbhajan definitely needs to be dropped unless the pitches are very, very conducive to spin.

And no offence to Powar, but the last thing India need is a fat bits and pieces cricketer with a weak arm. Bring in someone else - Powar is of the same mold as the generation being phased out.

So in a way iam happy about the loss. This loss will help kumble to make the right decisions in the new year. Hope this new year will also mark the revival for out of form batsmen like dravid and sehwag and bring victories to team india.

Don't the Indian fans ever get sick of "taking positives from this game" and "good thing we found out what changes we need to make" and "at least our batsmen got some match practice" and "at least now our bowling is slightly better and no longer weaker than our batting"? Is there ever a time for "look, we just need to win this match, and that's that. No more excuses, losing is not an option". No one gets a medal for trying - it's time to get done with picking at the scraps and dig in.

 

[Manee]

Yeah, I wonder how long we're gonna hear of that one game.

In the year 2655, in the time of the next ice age, there'll be one Indian and one Englishman sitting somewhere one a sheet of ice, the Englishman going "TWO - ONE...2 -1!!!!" and the Indian going "but...but...we showed them that time in 2001....yes we did...yes we did." Not any good at batting, bowling or fielding, but they sure have a great memory.

I am not sure how you compare a memory of 6/7 years to a memory of 653/654 years.

 

[Matt79]

Apparently Akram didn't have very good things to say about Mitch in this game before his last spell today, he said that he is a very one-dimensional bowler who just takes the ball away from the right handers and seems to only hit the deck rather than even trying to pitch the ball up and trying to swing it especially when he is bowling with the new ball, and he said untill he doesn't learn to move the ball both ways and adds yorkers into his kit-bag he won't be very effective at this level.
But i hope Akram would have changed his views on Mitch after watching his last spell.

I'd agree with Akram in that assessment, except for his last spell. Not that my endorsement is anything that Wasim needs to talk about bowling...

 

[jeevan]

To hear Evermind go on and on in this thread, one would think that he personally had a huge hand in orchestrating this win, that Lee & Clark were coal miners who he shaped into a world class bowling attack. And humbled the mighty Indian batting line up, who for some reason had humbled him in the past.

 

[Matt79]

Pretty sure Ganguly, Tendulkar and Dravid set fire to his cat when he was a child.

 

[Laurrz]

Apparently Akram didn't have very good things to say about Mitch in this game before his last spell today, he said that he is a very one-dimensional bowler who just takes the ball away from the right handers and seems to only hit the deck rather than even trying to pitch the ball up and trying to swing it especially when he is bowling with the new ball, and he said untill he doesn't learn to move the ball both ways and adds yorkers into his kit-bag he won't be very effective at this level.
But i hope Akram would have changed his views on Mitch after watching his last spell.

i think what Akram has to know is that Midge is a different bowler to him and say, Zaheer

and that's what makes him unique and difficult to play.... he can bowl up to 148-149k... and generally averages 144k

 

[Matt79]

He also didn't get any swing and bowled a pretty average line for most of this test which made him look pretty unthreatening a lot of the time.

 

[Laurrz]

did anyone else notice how the ropes were pushed right back?.. i thought that was brilliant.. old school!

hope they continue it for the rest of the series... although SCG isnt as big as MCG and the outfield will be a lot more lush