***Official*** India in Australia

[alternative]

Any Sydneysiders going along to the Test? Will be there Thursday.

Will definitely go there on Friday and Saturday.

 

[Laurrz]

think jaques will do well

home ground

he will be pertty nervous tho

 

[Son Of Coco]

International experience is entirely different to having played lots of Twenty20 cricket. The international experience that India were without when those four players (all over 32 I think) was absolutely immense, not to mention the skills that they also have. To win the Twenty20 World Cup without your four best and most experienced players is something special.

It doesn't mean they're experienced (or great) 20/20 players though. The younger guys have been brought up on the game to a certain extent.

 

[Pratters]

yep and lets hope that the "crap up" of indian cricket team continues and we see consistancy on it lol

wow my first post of 2008 and incidently against the well of indian cricket team lol

Given how poor the Pakistan team is right now, you have no option except to follow the Indian team. lol. Also, Afghanistan isn't even playing test cricket. lol.

See how stupid it sounds? That is exactly how your crap posts bashing India sound. Immature crow **** posts.

 

[brockley]

Aussies retain same team in 16th win bidSehwag in the scheme of things: KumbleTeam is behind Dravid: ZaheerGanguly likely to be fit for 2nd TestWarning from Lee: Worse to follow
Full Coverage »
Mumbai: Smarting from the humiliating defeat in the Melbourne Test, the woebegone Indian team is on the back foot even before the first ball has been bowled of the second Test.


India have named their 13-man squad for the Sydney Test, and reports have filtered in that Zaheer Khan is likely to miss out owing to an ankle injury.


The final decision on his fitness will be taken tomorrow before start of play.


Virendra Sehwag’s name is conspicuous by his absence.


After India's dismal batting performance against the host in the Melbourne Test, there had been speculations of Sehwag opening the innings in the 2nd Test.


The other players to have been left out are Dinesh Karthik and Pankaj Singh.


Zaheer’s injury implies that Irfan Pathan makes it to the 13-man squad.


The rest of the team remains unchanged.

 

[Raghav]

The primary cause for India's debacle in Melbourne was the poor sense of preparation before the Test match. Going into this series with just one three-day side game, which again was mostly washed out, left them with hardly any practice. I agree that the Indian team has a busy schedule through out the year and hence they should be in fine touch.But when playing the World champions and that too on their home soil, any visit ing team needs to spend sufficient time at the ground level for cricketing acclimatisation.

Anil in his recent article has heavily emphasised about mental toughness over skill. But it is also true that the sound mind conditioning originates from finetuning of one's skills. Proven capabilities like Rahul, Dhoni and Yuvraj needed that extra time for their game to fall in sync with the local conditions. It is time the Indian cricket board involved some of the experienced senior players while planning the international schedule.

Anil would have loved to have at least two 3-day practice matches before taking on the mighty hosts. It would have given the players a chance to verify their technique and also check their current form for Anil to pick the best eleven.

If the team management sees sound logic in Rahul Dravid opening the innings, he should be in his original slot at No 3. Even Dravid would want to go back to his core position from where he would be more confident to reinforce his good form again. Gauging the pulse of the team, Rahul will open the innings along side Wasim Jaffer in the Sydney Test match too.

Although the point I am going to make could lead to an eternal debate, how many and what options does the team have to find a new opening pair. Given the nature of the surface at the SCG, Sehwag and Rahul Dravid should be opening the innings. Sehwag was not only a great hit with the bat on the last tour but can be very handy with the ball, on a turner like SCG.

Sehwag assuming the role of an opener will also bring in the much needed impetus at the top order. At present Rahul needs an aggressive opening partner to complement his style of batting. In this plan, Wasim Jaffer will have to sit out.

But going by the principle of "horses for courses", Inclusion of Sehwag will give both belligerence at the beginning of the innings and also a variety in the bowling department. For all we know, the team management might stick to the same side waiting for things to happen. It's not a bad idea to make things happen too.

 

[pup11]

think jaques will do well

home ground

he will be pertty nervous tho

Yeah its his first big game at the SCG or has he played a test here before, anyways he still would be pretty nervous but there are three more New south welshmen (Clark, Clarke and Lee) who would be also looking forward to playing on their home ground and doing well.

 

[Nishant]

The primary cause for India's debacle in Melbourne was the poor sense of preparation before the Test match. Going into this series with just one three-day side game, which again was mostly washed out, left them with hardly any practice. I agree that the Indian team has a busy schedule through out the year and hence they should be in fine touch. But when playing the World champions and that too on their home soil, any visit ing team needs to spend sufficient time at the ground level for cricketing acclimatisation.

Anil in his recent article has heavily emphasised about mental toughness over skill. But it is also true that the sound mind conditioning originates from finetuning of one's skills. Proven capabilities like Rahul, Dhoni and Yuvraj needed that extra time for their game to fall in sync with the local conditions. It is time the Indian cricket board involved some of the experienced senior players while planning the international schedule.

Anil would have loved to have at least two 3-day practice matches before taking on the mighty hosts. It would have given the players a chance to verify their technique and also check their current form for Anil to pick the best eleven.

If the team management sees sound logic in Rahul Dravid opening the innings, he should be in his original slot at No 3. Even Dravid would want to go back to his core position from where he would be more confident to reinforce his good form again. Gauging the pulse of the team, Rahul will open the innings along side Wasim Jaffer in the Sydney Test match too.

Although the point I am going to make could lead to an eternal debate, how many and what options does the team have to find a new opening pair. Given the nature of the surface at the SCG, Sehwag and Rahul Dravid should be opening the innings. Sehwag was not only a great hit with the bat on the last tour but can be very handy with the ball, on a turner like SCG.

Sehwag assuming the role of an opener will also bring in the much needed impetus at the top order. At present Rahul needs an aggressive opening partner to complement his style of batting. In this plan, Wasim Jaffer will have to sit out.

But going by the principle of "horses for courses", inclusion of Sehwag will give both belligerence at the beginning of the innings and also a variety in the bowling department. For all we know, the team management might stick to the same side waiting for things to happen. It's not a bad idea to make things happen too.

You know what raghav...i completely agree with everything you have said there! The current composition of the batting line up is not going to help indias cause at all. Sehwag needs to be in the team to keep the runs ticking. Otherwise...we will be in the same situation as the last game. 20 runs of 16 overs and then a collapse caused by excess pressure. whether we should get rid of jaffer or yuvraj...well...i dont really know! But sehwag has to be in IMO!

 

[pup11]

Aussies retain same team in 16th win bidSehwag in the scheme of things: KumbleTeam is behind Dravid: ZaheerGanguly likely to be fit for 2nd TestWarning from Lee: Worse to follow
Full Coverage »
Mumbai: Smarting from the humiliating defeat in the Melbourne Test, the woebegone Indian team is on the back foot even before the first ball has been bowled of the second Test.


India have named their 13-man squad for the Sydney Test, and reports have filtered in that Zaheer Khan is likely to miss out owing to an ankle injury.


The final decision on his fitness will be taken tomorrow before start of play.


Virendra Sehwag’s name is conspicuous by his absence.


After India's dismal batting performance against the host in the Melbourne Test, there had been speculations of Sehwag opening the innings in the 2nd Test.


The other players to have been left out are Dinesh Karthik and Pankaj Singh.


Zaheer’s injury implies that Irfan Pathan makes it to the 13-man squad.


The rest of the team remains unchanged.

According to the reports of all the news channels here Sehwag's name is not even in the 13 man squad and in case Zaheer isn't able to pass his fitness test tomorrow then Sharma or Pathan might replace him, so that mean Dravid's gonna open again.
Seriously wtf is going on if the Indian team management doesn't think that Sehwag isn't good enough to be even in a 13 man squad then why have they brought him to Australia???
India would be mad to open again with Dravid (i don't care even if he hits a century tomorrow but still that's just not the slot for him to bat, so ffs let him bat at no.3) and if Zaheer doesn't play the Indian bowling will only get even more weaker.

 

[funnygirl]

Opening is a big worry .Sehwag right now is struggling to score against the domestic bowlers , i don't know why people are so confident that he will score against quality bowlers .

 

[Raghav]

Opening is a big worry .Sehwag right now is struggling to score against the domestic bowlers , i don't know why people are so confident that he will score against quality bowlers .

Ok Alright then! Did he come all along from Ind only to sit on the reserve benches and get in to lineup as replacement if a batsman is injured?

 

[neutralguy]

You know what raghav...i completely agree with everything you have said there! The current composition of the batting line up is not going to help indias cause at all. Sehwag needs to be in the team to keep the runs ticking. Otherwise...we will be in the same situation as the last game. 20 runs of 16 overs and then a collapse caused by excess pressure. whether we should get rid of jaffer or yuvraj...well...i dont really know! But sehwag has to be in IMO!

Its not that he has said anything in that.All those stuff were said by javagal srinath word by word in one of his columns for the cricket website.

 

[neutralguy]

The primary cause for India's debacle in Melbourne was the poor sense of preparation before the Test match. Going into this series with just one three-day side game, which again was mostly washed out, left them with hardly any practice. I agree that the Indian team has a busy schedule through out the year and hence they should be in fine touch.But when playing the World champions and that too on their home soil, any visit ing team needs to spend sufficient time at the ground level for cricketing acclimatisation.

Anil in his recent article has heavily emphasised about mental toughness over skill. But it is also true that the sound mind conditioning originates from finetuning of one's skills. Proven capabilities like Rahul, Dhoni and Yuvraj needed that extra time for their game to fall in sync with the local conditions. It is time the Indian cricket board involved some of the experienced senior players while planning the international schedule.

Anil would have loved to have at least two 3-day practice matches before taking on the mighty hosts. It would have given the players a chance to verify their technique and also check their current form for Anil to pick the best eleven.

If the team management sees sound logic in Rahul Dravid opening the innings, he should be in his original slot at No 3. Even Dravid would want to go back to his core position from where he would be more confident to reinforce his good form again. Gauging the pulse of the team, Rahul will open the innings along side Wasim Jaffer in the Sydney Test match too.

Although the point I am going to make could lead to an eternal debate, how many and what options does the team have to find a new opening pair. Given the nature of the surface at the SCG, Sehwag and Rahul Dravid should be opening the innings. Sehwag was not only a great hit with the bat on the last tour but can be very handy with the ball, on a turner like SCG.

Sehwag assuming the role of an opener will also bring in the much needed impetus at the top order. At present Rahul needs an aggressive opening partner to complement his style of batting. In this plan, Wasim Jaffer will have to sit out.

But going by the principle of "horses for courses", Inclusion of Sehwag will give both belligerence at the beginning of the innings and also a variety in the bowling department. For all we know, the team management might stick to the same side waiting for things to happen. It's not a bad idea to make things happen too.

Written by javagal srinath for cricketnext website.

 

[pasag]

Raghav, please provide a link and/or credit your source in the future.

 

[Raghav]

Written by javagal srinath for cricketnext website.

OMG, I thought I mention the source.I do everytime I do this. Sorry for that mate!

I got it from Express paper and not from cricketnext.com.

Source: www.newindpress.com

 

[Laurrz]

we're batting

terrific toss to win

 

[Jono]

Damn it, really needed to win that toss.

And Zaheer is out injured.

We're stuffed

 

[Laurrz]

Zaheer injured - big blow

Ishant Sharma comes in..... no Pathan

 

[pasag]

Very good toss to win (afraid of Indian batsmen biting back, tbh), Ponting to score a ton here. Averages something insane at this ground. Very excited about this Test.

 

[Oscillatingmind]

Won the toss , Ricky you sassy man