***Official*** India in Australia

[dansa]

I am not the selector

No. In test cricket nowadays (or ever for that matter), there is no such thing as a finisher and definately not one who bats at number 6. All of the top 6 need to be able to bat independent of the circumstances.

I am not the selector for India. If I were, it would be a different ball game.

 

[Jono]

I don't, I was just wondering.

Batting **** though, quite disappointed. I figured with 300 odd runs on the board he'd be able to score some runs.

 

[Beleg]

Lawry's analysis is spot on.

 

[Beleg]

I frickin' love Sachin Tendulkar.

 

[ozone]

I am not the selector for India. If I were, it would be a different ball game.

What the hell has you not being an India selector have to do with anything? Are you suggesting that if you were there would be a specialist 'finisher' at number 6?

 

[vic_orthdox]

Dhoni's dismissal a bit disappointing, feet nowhere. Good points made by Taylor and Slater about the bounce.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Yes!

 

[Jono]

Kumble's been doing that a bit too often, fending outside off stump when there is no need to.

He batted a lot better in England, and I reckon its the extra pace which is getting him.

 

[Pratters]

No one there to support Tendulkar when India needs it so much. Agh.

 

[silentstriker]

......

 

[JBH001]

I do stand by what I have said, for what it's worth. He might be a whizkid with the old ball etc. however his present bowling exhibits none of this elusive potential. And generally, Australian bowlers going back to McDermott have looked far more threatening even when they were down and out.

Frankly, I think Beleg has a point here (and I have watched Johnson over the whole summer vs Sri Lanka and vs India). I heard a lot about Johnson coming into this summer, there was a massive hoo-haa when he got his cap and during the presentation (good on him though for that) as well as supposed statements from Lillee that he was a "once in a generation" bowler or some such. On the evidence of four tests, Johnson has yet to show much of this sort of potential. Sure he is able to bowl quite quick (unexpectedly quick at times) and offers variety with his left arm angle. But he seems unable to consistently swing the new ball, especially back into the right hander; he also seems unable to consistently bowl a good spell where batsmen are set up and dismissed with some good and steady bowling, instead he bowls a lot of rubbish too far outside off or on the batsmens legs and is easily ignored or picked off. He does seem to have the ability to suddenly bowl a jaffa out of nowhere, but the basics of good consistent bowling (a la Clark and Lee) seem beyond him. I may be wrong (and tbf, he is still settling into the side and into test cricket) but it certainly looks to me like there is an argument for Johnson being over-rated.

 

[Jono]

If you could merge Pathan and Mitch Johnson into one bowler, I reckon he'd be a world beater.

 

[Beleg]

From a neutral prespective, this is great.

 

[Pratters]

Yeah, great cricket this. Fascinating stuff so far today.

 

[Jono]

Sachin that's just brilliant.

 

[Pratters]

Erm Harbhajan why the **** are you trying to hit every ball, particularly with Tendulkar at the other end.

 

[ozone]

Loving the way Harbahjan is batting, clearly sticking about for Sachin...

Haha, as I type he times one beautifully straight .

 

[Johnners]

That graphy thing showing where Lee's deliveries have landed is a testament to him. Not so very long ago they would've been spread around a lot more.

As for Johnsons bowling, IMO he needs to go back to 1st change. He bowls some unplayable deliveries, yet he's not making the batsmen play enough, and when they do, it's because it's a half volley.

 

[pasag]

Like someone said earlier in the thread, I'm pretty certain Australian commentators don't watch any other cricket aside from the games Australia play in. Like when you watch England games, the commentators often seem to know what is going on in other matches in the world, both currently and in recent times. Our guys have no idea (besides Chappell and Greig).

Anyway's as I've said, I was certainly wrong about pushing for Yuvraj's inclusion and I hope he is dropped for the next Test. Also, I'm not as convinced about Johnson as I previously was. I think he'll be gun as he gets older, but currently, I'm not sure he's the third best fast bowler in the country, although he certainly deserved his spot in the side pre-summer, imo.

 

[Evermind]

Quick fifties aren't good enough to keep him in the team. There are batsmen around who can do better than that.

Fully agreed, FFS. Dhoni + Yuvraj = WALKING WICKETS. The way they've played has been disgraceful. You close your eyes and throw your bat at the ball, and you'll still get more than what Dhoni's gotten in his 3 innings so far. WTF is up with these guys man.