*Official* VB Series - Australia, India & Zimbabwe

[Slow Love™]

Dont forget India beat Australia in the TVS Cup and in the test series

Don't forget England beat Australia in the last two Ashes series, too...

A bit deceptive without a context, eh? :rolleyes:

They're doing really well, and deserve a lot of credit when most journalists and cricket experts gave them no chance before this tour. But I think they've got a fair amount to prove before we consider them as good as Australia (and they might yet be - if they keep improving at the rate they are, it's certainly not out of the realms of possibility).

 

[Slow Love™]

Great win by India. The reason why Australians are in kind of decline is because you're squad is full daddy's. Get some youngsters, we've had Pathan, Balaji, Rohan all do well against you.

I think we (mainly because of the media) get too obsessed with the idea of player's ages. If someone isn't playing well, that's the problem, NOT how old they are. Early to mid-30's should be no problem, and many players actually peak around this age.

There was nothing wrong with how old these guys were when they were kicking butt in the world cup undefeated, and then only losing one game in the TVS Cup. These events were very recent. One of the reasons Australia is number one is because they have a settled squad of very talented, experienced players.

When we have an exodus of these players (and given the media's obsession with age, this will probably be more forced than as a result of retirement), that's when Australia will drop and the other teams will come up. That's how it always works. You can only be so hard on a group of players that have dominated the game to such a level.

We could use some new bowlers right now, because we've got a number of bowlers injured, banned and just out of form, but age isn't really as primary a concern as ability and form. I'd love to have a couple of daddies like Warne and McGrath back, personally. And even Lehmann in the batting lineup.

 

[Salamuddin]

Don't forget Lehmann. This is the kind of match where he could well have been the differance.

Yeah and don't forget the absence of Zaheer Khan (ranked in the top 10 ODi bowlers in the world) and Mohammad Kaif (one of the best in fielders in the world) either. This was the kind of match where they could well have made a difference.

 

[Salamuddin]

Hayden's shove of Pathan was very unsportsmanlike given that Irfan was out of Hayden's way when that shove occurred.

Nice to see that Irfan had the last laugh though !

 

[masterblaster]

Yeah and don't forget the absence of Zaheer Khan (ranked in the top 10 ODi bowlers in the world) and Mohammad Kaif (one of the best in fielders in the world) either. This was the kind of match where they could well have made a difference.

Totally agree with you there James.

Its so good and satisfying to see a guy like Lakshmipathy Balaji get his deserved success. Here's a guy with a HUGE heart and huge amounts of dedication.

He just keeps on running in and bowling, and bowling and bowling even if he's been taken to the cleaners.

For him to get 4 wickets against the best side in the world will do him a lot of good. He's a genuinely nice bloke as well, and its great he's getting the success he deserves.

Hats off to Sourav Ganguly as well for not having faith in him and persisting with him. A lesser man would've crumbled and opted for Bhandari, but he stuck it out with Balaji and its paying dividends.

 

[Salamuddin]

It will be interesting to see if Brad Hogg plays against India.

Australia seem to be pursuing the idea of playing only 3 specialist bowlers against India -- but 4 against Zimbabwe.
Wonder if that will change.

 

[Mingster]

It will be interesting to see if Brad Hogg plays against India.

Australia seem to be pursuing the idea of playing only 3 specialist bowlers against India -- but 4 against Zimbabwe.
Wonder if that will change.

No. Actually Australia played 4 specialist bowlers last night. Gillespie, Williams, Lee and Harvey.

 

[Salamuddin]

Harvery is considered an allrounder, not a specialist bowler.

 

[marc71178]

Sounds very much like England's record against India.. and what happens when we try to claim we're on a par..

Erm, our record against India is a heck of a lot better than India's is against Australia.

 

[marc71178]

Harvery is considered an allrounder, not a specialist bowler.

In County / State Cricket maybe, but by no means in Internationals.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Nonetheless, it's what he's selected as.

 

[Mingster]

Harvery is considered an allrounder, not a specialist bowler.

But his bowling would get into the side alone.

His batting has never impressed me in ODIs, sure at County level he has scored centuries but he has never stayed in long enough at ODI level.

 

[Mister Wright]

But his bowling would get into the side alone.

His batting has never impressed me in ODIs, sure at County level he has scored centuries but he has never stayed in long enough at ODI level.

Harvey should be dropped. This misconception that he bowls well at the death is a joke!

 

[Mister Wright]

Hayden Rested, and Lee Saved!

 

[jagaways]

india prove themselves by a great win without the dashing sehwag and in form agarkar. superb stuff from sachin even after injuring himself, and laxman and dravid also brilliant. then pathan and balaji did well to finish off the job. can't beleive lee is being kept in the squad after that performance. he's really got no accuracy and nothing but pace..and even his pace isn't all that great...even williams was bowling at his pace often.

 

[Choora]

Balaji did really well especially in the second spell for a man who is considered by some to be one of the worst international bowlers :saint: .

Yes Balaji was just brilliant, all along i had full faith in him, glad to see Naidu proving the citics wrong.

Unfortunately i'm not getting time to spend time on net, but i'm truely enjoying the Indian tour of Aus.


Pakistanis are warned.. They are next in line and will be annihilated by Ganguly men

 

[Salamuddin]

Yes Balaji was just brilliant, all along i had full faith in him, glad to see Naidu proving the citics wrong.

Unfortunately i'm not getting time to spend time on net, but i'm truely enjoying the Indian tour of Aus.


Pakistanis are warned.. They are next in line and will be annihilated by Ganguly men

Show some humility Choora please. India have indeed made strides on their Australian trip but they deserve their ICC test ranking of 5 as they still need improvements in a number of areas.

Pakistan are a better side than India ATm (and traditionally too) -- because they have managed to win series away from home, unlike India.
They are a very good team and it won't be easy for India when they tour there.

However, India have every reason to be optimistic about the future given the talent in their squad. Even the bowling although does have immense potential if everyone is fit.

Re: Balaji, yes I must admit he did bowl well at the GABBA but he needs to do it more frequently.
It was bit harsh for iamdavid to call him one of the worst bowlers ever -- if he is that, that doesn't speak very highly of Marto then does it, getting out to him ?

 

[Salamuddin]

Shouldn't Brett Lee be dropped ?

The guy is short on confidence and form...wouldn't it make more sense for him to go back to Pura cup cricket and work on his shortcomings ?

 

[mavric41]

Shouldn't Brett Lee be dropped ?

The guy is short on confidence and form...wouldn't it make more sense for him to go back to Pura cup cricket and work on his shortcomings ?

If he was from any other state than from NSW he would have been.

 

[Pratters]

Show some humility Choora please. India have indeed made strides on their Australian trip but they deserve their ICC test ranking of 5 as they still need improvements in a number of areas.

Pakistan are a better side than India ATm (and traditionally too) -- because they have managed to win series away from home, unlike India.
They are a very good team and it won't be easy for India when they tour there.

However, India have every reason to be optimistic about the future given the talent in their squad. Even the bowling although does have immense potential if everyone is fit.

As an Indian fan, he can hope to have Pakistan crushed or any other country they play against. There is nothing to show humility or not in that regard.

Pakistan is an improving side and I dont go by your logic that they are a better side ATM moment coz they beat New Zealand in New Zealand while India couldnt beat the Aussies. Pakistan were being dominated in the test series and it was one spell from Akhtar which did it for them. India on the other hand, were good almost all through the series.

Currently there is no disputing that Australia is still no 1 and South Africa no 2. But there are serious doubts who number 3 is after the kiwis lost to Pakistan. The fact is, India, New Zealand are looking good but its about who can step it up in the future. Pakistan too is vastly improving and rebuilding. I wouldnt be mistaken if I say most teams are vastly improving barring Windies and maybe England in the top 8 teams..