T4; Sydney

First topic message reminder :

well there is hope now and life back in test cricket.
We drew T3 because of one act of postiivity on D5 of T1....by Kohli wanting to and nearly chasing down.
and that is what delayed Smith's declaration yesterday.

and Shastri said I don't care whether we go down 2-0 or 3-0........we will try to win....as defiant as one can get to Dhoni's ways......in the BCCI culture of gagged mouths.

India may ( and should) play 2 spinners.....throw Patel in, now that he has arrived and both spinners can bat a bit.

added cushion can come in the form of batsman WK Naman Ojha

so Patel for Rahul
Ojha for Dhoni
and if Bhuvi is fit then he is in for someone like shami

Australia were 38/1 at tea.

Brilliant cameo from Burns who was striking at 169 for his 66.

Australia are 251/6 with a lead of 348 runs. They scored 213 runs in just less than a session.

Rain has stolen the last over so that will be it for the day.

yet again our bowling and fielding letting the side down big time. Umesh effectively unbowlable, Bhuvneshwar expensive and Shami not making much of a difference. Ashwin yet again doing well, but let down by the fielding.

msp,
Some very poor fielding and missed chances from both sides. Add to that a couple of dodgy umpiring decisions. Frustrating for both captains.

Quite a few records have fallen. Another one: In this series there have been 23 instances where a bowler has conceded more than 100 runs.

With the series already in the bag, think Smith will declare overnight.
Yet again, a massive ask for the Indian batsmen to survive on the final day, on a track that has finally found a bit of life for the spinner. Nathan Lyon will be a big challenge tomorrow.
Hope the batting can somehow avoid a collapse and at least get away with a draw. Play normal, positive game, and if there are enough wickets, go for it later in the day.

fielging, and to a lesser extent umpiring didn't set standards in this series. Fielding standards have been very poor in this game in particular, from both sides.......

A word for the often targeted Ravichandran Ashwin is in order. He batted well yet again, and helped reduce the lead to under 100, and then looked the only Indian bowler up for duties in the Australian 2nd innings.

But despite scoring close to 500 in the first innings, we are about to lose another test due to the pathetic bowling unit, not too much because of Kohli, not too much because Dhoni, not too much because of defensive fields.......

The highest ever final innings successful chase at the SCG is around 288 I think so 348 runs would seem to be a bridge too far... but you never know. If Smith declares and India get off to a good start, then the 3.88 r.p.o. will naturally reduce.

However, as you say, it will more likely be a defensive effort which may play into the hands of Lyon & Co.

Strange having a final day on Saturday. There might be a few extra fans turning out there to see what unfolds. Crowds have been down (for a few reasons) but the final day is well set up if the declaration is made overnight.

msp83 wrote:A word for the often targeted Ravichandran Ashwin is in order. He batted well yet again, and helped reduce the lead to under 100, and then looked the only Indian bowler up for duties in the Australian 2nd innings.

I still can't fathom why he wasn't selected for Adelaide. He had to play in that one. If he had; then it may have well been a very different situation to the current one.

--the match  has gridlocked itself into a situation where only one script is possibble.....

fast building the image of a "thin-skinned kid" and "defensive captain"....Smith got away with his delayed declaration attributed to "series not in the bag", "Sydney may be emotional" .....he has none of those excuses any more
348 is big enough a lead
although he may not really want to.......he has no option but to declare else be clearly labelled as a defensive captain  of traditionally an aggressive cricketing nation.

--Kohli with his aggressive brand and shastri having said 2-0 or 3-0 doesn't matter we will be positive.......are left with no choice but to chase.

--and the moment the decision " to chase" is made, Rahul cannot open else he will survive and kill the game in one session.....so Rohit will have to open and between Kohli and Raina they will decide and cover positions 3 and 4.
and I thouhgt at the end of first inning that Raina and Rohit's test chances are finished.....here they can be heros in a situation perfectly tailored for them.

--in the morning...India did well inspite of Kohli to get to 475.
They are the best batting side in the world right now......and the worst bowling side.
God knows what Kohli and bowlers smoked to let Aus get away at 6RPO for so long in a test match environment.

the only silver-lining.......Smith has no excuses to not declare an India will get a fresh full day to chase down what is a par score for them.

"Best batting side in the world right now"  Turn it up, KP_f.

Which side has scored more runs in every match thus far and which side has collapsed on cue in every Test?

If you had watched any of the play today you'd understand that India were let off the hook too (a few times) and that the late afternoon onslaught with the bat had nothing to do with Kohli's captaincy. Sure, the bowling looked more tired and clueless, except for Ashwin, but most bowling attacks would have had their work cut out when Rogers, Smith and Burns showed their intentions as soon as they took guard and put the pressure (the same pressure you mentioned yesterday) back on India and on Kohli too, of course. That's cricket.

Why would Smith have been so desperate to build up a lead? There's only one reason for that. He'll declare overnight and then see what his bowlers can achieve. I don't think you read him properly. When he got flustered dropping the simple catch yesterday - that was a good thing, imo... what one would expect from a fierce competitor. Better than the nonchalant shrug or dazed look we often see from other captains in a similar situation. He was angry with himself. That's not to be confused with "losing the plot" or temperament issues. It showed us that he expected better of himself.

Maybe India will have a chance to give some back to the Aussies tomorrow? Both sides have expended lots of energy in this series and it's taking its toll on all players now. I think we'll see a result given the changing conditions... it's raining on and off as I type. It's never over until it's over.

The Loaded Dog wrote:"Best batting side in the world right now"  Turn it up, KP_f.

Which side has scored more runs in every match thus far and which side has collapsed on cue in every Test?

actually Aussie batting scored runs against the "worst bowling side"
if you put the Indian and Australian batting against the same bowling attack...for example SA or Australia......Indian batting will emerge superior.

If you had watched any of the play today you'd understand that India were let off the hook too (a few times) and that the late afternoon onslaught with the bat had nothing to do with Kohli's captaincy.


Sure, the bowling looked more tired and clueless, except for Ashwin, but most bowling attacks would have had their work cut out when Rogers, Smith and Burns showed their intentions as soon as they took guard and put the pressure (the same pressure you mentioned yesterday) back on India and on Kohli too, of course. That's cricket.

everyone gets off the hook....dropped catches and umpiring errors even out for all sides and cannot be counted.

Why would Smith have been so desperate to build up a lead? There's only one reason for that. He'll declare overnight and then see what his bowlers can achieve. I don't think you read him properly. When he got flustered dropping the simple catch yesterday - that was a good thing, imo... what one would expect from a fierce competitor. Better than the nonchalant shrug or dazed look we often see from other captains in a similar situation. He was angry with himself. That's not to be confused with "losing the plot" or temperament issues. It showed us that he expected better of himself.

I see you are seeing positives in his weaknesses.....like the commentators on Aussie TV
either you are correct or I am.
the truth about his basic persona i.e too defensive or not...cannot be discounted for too long.
the truth will emerge...and I have made an early call...relative to his predecessors Clarke, waugh and to some extent Ponting ( who was more defensive that waugh and Clarke) but more aggressive than Smith.
why smith was so desperate to buld the lead you ask?....he is conscious and trying too hard to break the image that's getting built of him I think.

Maybe India will have a chance to give some back to the Aussies tomorrow? Both sides have expended lots of energy in this series and it's taking its toll on all players now. I think we'll see a result given the changing conditions... it's raining on and off as I type. It's never over until it's over.

yes i agree there will be a result unless the rain blows away some chunk of the game.

I wouldn't say India are the best batting side or worst bowling side.

Better Batting Sides: SA, Aus, possibly Eng and NZ
Worse Bowling: Bangladesh, possibly Windies

Nor can Smith be called a defensive captain so early in his career.

Ridiculous comments all round!

@ KP_f,

1st quote:
I'm not so sure about that. That's all too hypothetical. I believe Australian batsmen handle Australian bowlers better than anyone else - in Australian conditions. That's what defines our style of play with bat, ball and in the field. It's also what all the visiting teams usually struggle with here.

2nd quote:
I totally agree

3rd quote:
I don't know what they are saying on TV. I can't listen to Ch 9. It's Macquarie Network Summer of Cricket for me. Much more pleasant on the ears.

Yes, you are judging him after 9 days of captaincy. Far too early to say he is being defensive. The guy is a baby-faced assassin with the bat... and he will show more aggression leading the team as well. I don't think "his image" has been developed enough yet; not that he is overly conscious of what other people think. He is a sportsman first - all he wants to do is win and make sure the team doesn't lose. Nothing wrong with that. He can be responsible and aggressive at the same time. Those two characteristics are not mutually exclusive.

4th quote:
Glad we agree on that one.
I reckon there will be a few twists and turns on Day 5 as usual (well... mostly) and hopefully the storms will blow away overnight.

Amongst all the criticism of India's bowling... maybe also a bit of praise for Aus batting so well? Smith in particular played beautifully, on a tough pitch, against a decent spinner bowling well. Burns also showed very quick and precise footwork, and a good array of shots.

People keep going on about captaincy as if the captain is the only person who has an input in the brand of cricket being played. It's a bit silly really. Things like declarations and of course the toss aren't made simply by the captain on the spot going "hummm, I think we'll do this"; they are the result of (sometimes lengthy and involved) discussions involving the captain, coaching staff and maybe a few senior players.

I wasn't as quick as most to fly at Smith after Melbourne. It seemed to me that yes he'd been overly defensive (by about 5-10 overs or so), but with Australia 2-0 up with 2 to play his primary focus had to be to avoid defeat and thus secure the series and the trophy's return. Balancing against that was giving himself a chance of winning the test, which he did; he (and others around him) probably got it wrong by a bit, but as I always say in these circumstances, it is far easier making these calls from the comfort of your home when your decision doesn't actually matter. Also, I remember far more defensive declarations from Indian teams in years gone by in similar circumstances (when they first won in England, they set England 450 on the last day; in the series where Swann debuted and Shewag and Tendulkar led that extraordinary final day chase, in the final test India set England something like 300 in 30 overs - hardly an attacking declaration). Most sides would have done the same.

As for the cricket... Ashwin showed why picking Karn Sharma ahead of him (and Jadeja) was daft. Whilst on the face of things he went for just as many, he was much more threatening, and recieved much less good support.

India's seamers just aren't really good enough. Kumar was understandably short of match fitness, but Yadav has tailed off alarmingly (short of fitness full stop is my analysis) whilst Shami is neither one thing nor the other. None of them seemed to have a clue as to how to bowl on this pitch, which isn't rocket science: length or just back of a length with mid-off and mid-on set fairly deep and catchers at mid-wicket and extra-cover, and bowl plenty of cutters. With the ball not coming onto the bat, and Australia intent on going after the bowling, this would have (and when they got the ball in the areas did) given a number of opportunities at mid-off/on off big shots. Instead all the bowlers seemed intent on being too short, too wide and when they pitched up it was too floaty. Not very good.

As I said though this shouldn't detract from Australia who batted really really well. 6 per over on that pitch was a very good effort indeed, and should now give them a real chance of winning. I too think India will have a crack at the total.

And for what it's worth, I think the umpiring in the series has been pretty good overall (well, apart from Erasmus who I just don't rate that highly). Some mistakes sure, but everyone makes them. Very few actual howlers, and a number of very very good decisions in difficult circumstances.

I actually enjoy these matches without DRS.

That's how the game should be played - pure and simple. I found it very irritating watching recent series when so much time is wasted - especially when you can see/hear with the naked eye/ear - and the match stops in its tracks. It got to a ridiculous state when captains were calling for a review (sometimes with poor judgement) and we had to go through the laborious processes - which were still even not consistent in terms of technology used (i.e no hot-spot in some Tests).

I still actually prefer the "old way" of having to endure the odd howler and/or a few borderline umpire calls - as happened this afternoon. I do think this series has favoured Australia in that respect but there's still a day to go for something to perhaps go India's way. I can live with that.

The Loaded Dog wrote:I actually enjoy these matches without DRS.

That's how the game should be played - pure and simple. I found it very irritating watching recent series when so much time is wasted - especially when you can see/hear with the naked eye/ear - and the match stops in its tracks. It got to a ridiculous state when captains were calling for a review (sometimes with poor judgement) and we had to go through the laborious processes - which were still even not consistent in terms of technology used (i.e no hot-spot in some Tests).

I still actually prefer the "old way" of having to endure the odd howler and/or a few borderline umpire calls - as happened this afternoon. I do think this series has favoured Australia in that respect but there's still a day to go for something to perhaps go India's way. I can live with that.

Couldn't agree more.

The Loaded Dog wrote:@ KP_f,

1st quote:
I'm not so sure about that. That's all too hypothetical. I believe Australian batsmen handle Australian bowlers better than anyone else - in Australian conditions. That's what defines our style of play with bat, ball and in the field. It's also what all the visiting teams usually struggle with here.

anotehr way of looking at it.......the peformance of visiting teams with the bat......in Aus. India has done a 400+ score in every one of the 4 tests i think.

3rd quote:
I don't know what they are saying on TV. I can't listen to Ch 9. It's Macquarie Network Summer of Cricket for me. Much more pleasant on the ears.

Yes, you are judging him after 9 days of captaincy. Far too early to say he is being defensive. The guy is a baby-faced assassin with the bat... and he will show more aggression leading the team as well. I don't think "his image" has been developed enough yet; not that he is overly conscious of what other people think. He is a sportsman first - all he wants to do is win and make sure the team doesn't lose. Nothing wrong with that. He can be responsible and aggressive at the same time. Those two characteristics are not mutually exclusive.

yeah...I like to make early calls because that's when it's analysis and judgement...when a lot of data and evidence has been gathered it becomes a proven fact one way or the other.
Every one wants to win.....how hungry and how confident of yourself.... you are to win decides whether you want to pursue the win with a 150% safety cushion or "risk" it with an 80% chance( which means by definition there is a small chance you may lose)

and he has shown to be not the natural in the 80% bracket

The Loaded Dog wrote:I actually enjoy these matches without DRS.

That's how the game should be played - pure and simple. I found it very irritating watching recent series when so much time is wasted - especially when you can see/hear with the naked eye/ear - and the match stops in its tracks. It got to a ridiculous state when captains were calling for a review (sometimes with poor judgement) and we had to go through the laborious processes - which were still even not consistent in terms of technology used (i.e no hot-spot in some Tests).

I still actually prefer the "old way" of having to endure the odd howler and/or a few borderline umpire calls - as happened this afternoon. I do think this series has favoured Australia in that respect but there's still a day to go for something to perhaps go India's way. I can live with that.

yes that's a good observation....no DRS has made no material difference to the outcome of the series.
Borderline decisions with human eye are acceptable but borderline mistake with technology creates an unnecessary controversy....
and the natural flow of the game has not been disrupted

Stella,

Regardless of the results I've really enjoyed the flow of these matches.

I'm almost going off rugby with all the TMO stuff and endless replays... over and over again.
Also that monotonous commentator's routine: "here we go again... let's see what the the TMO/3rd umpire thinks..."
That drives me spare (and square too)!

Cricket should be made as uncomplicated as possible. There are already enough possible permutations and points of interest. It shouldn't be overburdened with more unnecessary dissection and analysis. It's such a beautiful game.

Helps the over rates too and we get more of what we want to see. Just get on with it.

Loaded dog

I worry that Football will follow rugby and cricket, and have TV replays for throw-ins etc.

Back to the game.

I expect Smith will declare overnight. This pitch has been flat, but could still produce a result.

If he doesn't, then I'll have some explaining to do to KP_f, won't I?

Interesting to see several posters saying they enjoy non drs Tests... I must confess it doesn't bother me either , though I concede we are never going back to the Old Way in general...

Haven't been posting because I am in Paris on holiday and haven't seen any of this match - and like Mike and MFC I am not seeing cricket as very important right now , in light of current events here. (And my thoughts are very much with you and yours , and indeed all the people of this country )
But I hope for the spectators in Australia that Smith does declare overnight and India have a go at the target ; would be a better end to the series whatever the result than letting it fizzle out ...nothing duller than a dead rubber being allowed to die again (if that makes any sense) For all the Australian domination in terms of actual scores , there has been some interesting cricket played in this series , and it deserves a good finish.

They batted like he was going to declare. I'd be very surprised if we see Haddin and Burns in the morning.

I am not so sure about this idea that as its a dead rubber it doesn't matter if Australia lose by giving India a chance.

It would still be a defeat, and ideally you want players to not have to experience that. Aus are on a bit of a roll, defeat is a rarity and I'd be looking to keep it that way.

The Loaded Dog wrote:If he doesn't, then I'll have some explaining to do to KP_f, won't I?

It's beyond consideration that smith should even consider batting tomorrow morning  

Has this series set a record for number of invented records in a Test series?

"Smith breaks Bradman record" main headline on the BBC. Then I click on it and its the most runs by an Australian in a series vs India. Every match could be record breaking if any old stat is dug out as a record.

Some are more credible than others. This is one of them. Especially as he did it in a test less. The record of a century in every match in a four test series is another. That's rare form. I don't as a rule though, like "fastest" records. player. It's stupid when one player holds the record for being the fastest to 2000 runs in terms of innings, then another on terms of time taken, another still in terms of matches. Time taken is a footnote, always has been.

kingraf wrote:Some are more credible than others. This is one of them. Especially as he did it in a test less. The record of a century in every match in a four test series is another. That's rare form. I don't as a rule though, like "fastest" records. player. It's stupid when one player holds the record for being the fastest to 2000 runs in terms of innings, then another on terms of time taken, another still in terms of matches. Time taken is a footnote, always has been.

Agreed. Though if he had overtaken say Matthew Hayden rather than Bradman then I don't think the BBC would even mention it. It's a game of statistics and these days records are being pointed out everywhere. You will find them if you look for them, the current obsession with them is a bit annoying and detracts from the actual reporting of how each match is going.

Recent example of a headline: Sangakarra closes in on Bradman record, which turned out to be for most double hundreds in Tests. Surely the main point of interest was how that innings contributed to turning the match on its head.

Some stats highlighting how batsman friendly the wickets have been this season.

(runs per wicket)
Adelaide: 67.25
'Gabba: 39.68
MCG: 44.63
SCG: 63.30

and something for KP_f - indicating Australia's dominance with the bat (v England last year and v India this season)

(runs per wicket)
2013/14: Australia 41.41, England 21.58
2014/15: Australia 51.88, India 41.75

So Australia has averaged over 100 runs more than "the world's best batting side" - scoring an average of 518 runs to India's 417 runs.

Steve Smith has declared overnight. Think
he's overcompesated for last week's critical
and now cue him losing the match.

Typical negative saffa thinking, raf. Give yourself an upper cut!

Great too see India showing some intent to chase these runs down.

8/0 after 6 overs.......

Vijay scores 16 off that over from Lyons - dropped by Haddin in the process.  Showing some aggression against the spinner. 38 - 0 after 11 overs.

Right then, big innings for Sharma.

Got 200 all out written all over it, with Kholi scoring another 50 in vain.

Tight, he'll get the benefit. I think

Mark Butcher talking on Sky about India continuing to keep wickets in hand and then make ''a charge later in the day''. Sounds nice but I don't think it's realistic.

At lunch, India are 73/1 and still need 276 more for victory. Already too many in my book - particularly with India unlikely to want to do anything rash straightaway in the middle session. I can't envisage them changing gear so dramatically.

Still, a potentially fascinating two sessions, definitely one, in prospect as I retire too tired and head for bed. Back late morning having (hopefully) first avoided the final score and then watched highlights.

Hope you get a showing of the Lyon King, LD! Night, folks.

Cheers, Guildford.

Another dropped catch from Marsh at short extra cover... should have taken that. Snatched at it much like Burns did yesterday at short leg.
Smith then takes a screamer at 1st slip to dismiss Rohit for 39.

Hazlewood very unlucky. He had Vijay plumb lbw but Kettleborough makes a blunder. So these things do go both ways.

India 110/2... 239 runs required for a win with a minimum 48 overs remaining.

Need to break this partnership between Rahane and Ashwin. Only 15 overs left.

Well, not quite there in the end for Australia and hats off to India for hanging in there and seeing off the 90 overs today.

It has been a strange sort of series with the sombre build up, some feisty exchanges early on, new talents emerging and an Indian great calling it a day.

Nonetheless, I think it has been an enjoyable one to witness. Both teams can feel as though they have something to build on as well as areas to work on in their games.

We now move onto the triangular ODI series between Oz-India-England in the build up to the World Cup and then a few more WC warm up matches - just for good measure.

Draw a fair result. The Aus bowling looked tight and pitch never so easy on final day...offering spin, variable bounce, once Rahul was out and Rohit made 1 off 29, Ind lagged so much by lunch that return back required a miraculous hitting by somebody.....that did not happen.

Realistically 275 was gettable and 300 by a long shot.
and that it in itself not bad for India to have batted well to within within shooting distance of 300.
that they were so far from 350 that they dropped shutter and hence survived unlike Adelaide where they were so close ( In RR atleast) that they kept going and lost.

in the end analysis cricket requires you to be reasonably good in the other skill....bowling, where Ind sukks.
conceding 250 in 40 test match overs was the Nadir of Indian bowling yesterday . that was atleast 70 runs too many by any standards when you know the match situation and can use the unrestricted test match bowling / fielding conditions to your advantage.

Kohli has to understand even being aggressive allows for bowling tight and tight bowling creates wickets.

PS*
1)A fair result in the end , Ind needs to find a good bowling coach and work on their horror bowling, there is HUGE room for improvement.
2) came close to winning T1 and put fear of defeat in minds of Aus, had their moments in T2 and had they not blown it away to Johnson and Starc 's batting the narrow Aussie win by 4 wickets could have been much tighter
3) Did not lose 2 tests in a row at MCG and SCG...that in itself is a Renassiance given the recent histors

The Loaded Dog wrote:Some stats highlighting how batsman friendly the wickets have been this season.

(runs per wicket)
Adelaide: 67.25
'Gabba: 39.68
MCG: 44.63
SCG: 63.30

and something for KP_f - indicating Australia's dominance with the bat (v England last year and v India this season)

(runs per wicket)
2013/14: Australia 41.41, England 21.58
2014/15: Australia 51.88, India 41.75

So Australia has averaged over 100 runs more than "the world's best batting side" - scoring an average of 518 runs to India's 417 runs.

and aus averaged 10 and 0 runs per inning more " against the worst bowling lineup in the world"
compare how much Eng averaged in Aus...nearly 200 per inning less than India

compare how much Aus averaged in SA when they last visited for their mini test series and how much Ind averaged in SA

I am sure Ind did better.

KP_fan wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:Some stats highlighting how batsman friendly the wickets have been this season.

(runs per wicket)
Adelaide: 67.25
'Gabba: 39.68
MCG: 44.63
SCG: 63.30

and something for KP_f - indicating Australia's dominance with the bat (v England last year and v India this season)

(runs per wicket)
2013/14: Australia 41.41, England 21.58
2014/15: Australia 51.88, India 41.75

So Australia has averaged over 100 runs more than "the world's best batting side" - scoring an average of 518 runs to India's 417 runs.

and aus averaged 10 and 0 runs per inning more " against the worst bowling lineup in the world"
compare how much Eng averaged in Aus...nearly 200 per inning less than India

compare how much Aus averaged in SA when they last visited for their mini test series and how much Ind averaged in SA

I am sure Ind did better.

Ind lost their last series in SA (and have never won in SA), whereas Aus won their last one as they usually do there (haven't lost there since '69).
India - 31.45 runs per wicket
Australia - 42.30 runs per wicket

So not better at all!

The batting just about managed to hang on for a draw, like they did in the last game. So 2-0 it is, a significant improvement on the previous tour, and overall recent record. Unlike in England where they completely lost the plot after the 2nd game, India gave a better account of their batting at least in all the 4 tests.
Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, and above all Virat Kohli, they were outstanding with the bat. Ravichandran Ashwin has improved his overseas bowling and seems to have learned from his experience. KL Rahul, despite a horrer start to his test career with the bat and on the field, has showed he's worth continued investment.
The bowling as a whole, was consistently awful throughout the series. The seamers are inconsistent with their lines and lengths, their fitness levels are not adequate and they don't seem to use their brains much in trying to work batsmen out.
With the retirement of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, there is a fresh concern in the wicketkeeping department. For Wriddhiman Saha, there were problems with both the gloves and the bat. Saha didn't look comfortable keeping to Ashwin one bit and missed a few chances. He's not much of a modern style wicketkeeper batsman who can really make a difference with the bat. Think they should seriously consider Naman Ojha. He's experienced in First Class cricket, has exposure to international game through the A teams and has been batting very very well for the last year or so. Hopefully Bhuvneshwar Kumar will get back to top fitness and then rediscover the pace he has lost, because even if he manages to swing the ball, at 115-120, international batsmen can play him in sleep. But Bhuvi on form adds lots of value to the side, is a strike option up front, and can provide substance to lower order batting.
Ishant Sharma wasn't awful, but has yet again failed to make use of his physical attributes or the 8 year international experience to lead the bowling lineup. Think he should be left out of the test side for a year at least and should play domestic cricket and prompted to think like a bowler.
In Bangladesh they won't anyways need more than 2 seamers and Jadeja and Akshar can add to the spin department, but for the next overseas assignment they really need to do some serious work with the bowling unit.

good assesment msp....
I second most:

1) India needs to look for anotehr WK batsman.....saha is neitehr electric behind the gloves like More or Mongia....he is worse than them and Dhoni and Kirmani
Nor is he a batsman..

he was in because anyone more competent made Dhoni felt insecure i guess

Naman Ojha will replace him sooner....he is atleast a proper batsman.

I would have preferred Dhoni had offered one year as a WK cum senior mentor to play in Kohli's side.
Dhoni himself got support from all seniors at the start of his captaincy tenure and owed it to the team.

2) we have some time now playing in India, BD and i think UAE so Kohli will get breathing space to build the bowling unit.
the talent is there......we need a proper bowling coach who can drill fast and deeply inside the core group the art of test match bowling......6 balls in one spot in an over....and over after over.
Prasad, Kumble will be good ......even shane bond who turned around the NZ bowling is also availbale.

3) Bhuvi made a difference with the bat in both innings and if fully fit....will make a difference on any pitches...won't be as prolific in Aus as he was in Eng but will be handy.
needs to get back to peak fitness where he can bowl in the 125-132 kph and atleast 22 overs per day.

in this half fit form.....he can be one of 5 bowlers

Just watching the highlights, bit of a naughty appeal from Marsh on a catch at silly point off Ashwin. Clearly didn't carry.

Good effort from India in the end though, Ashwin and Kumar showed in both innings the importance of having lower order batsmen who can dig in and supply some runs.

Cheteshwar Pujara should consider withdrawing from the IPL and play as much county cricket he can manage. The bowling of course would be less challenging, but that would provide him the opportunity to work on some technical aspects of his game in conditions that should ask questions of that technique. He's unlikely to even play all of the IPL games for his side and make a significant difference, and he doesn't seem to be figuring significantly in India's immediate limited over plans. His immediate future is in the longer format, and India most certainly need him to come good in that format not only at home, but overseas as well. Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, India should look at other alternatives. Rahul should get a run now, and they should pick Jiwanjot Singh or Robin Uthappa as the backup opener. There should be a couple of fresh investments in the middle order as well. Pujara should come back in, and perhaps they can look at a more left-field pick like Punjab's young Gurkirat Singh, who can chip in with the ball too.

KPF, I too would have liked Dhoni to play tests for a year more. I was thinking he should give up captaincy in all formats after the wc and continue to play on for a year more.
But in a way, it isn't a bad time to blood in a new wicketkeeper batsman. India would now be playing tests at home for a while before their next overseas test assignment. So the new guy should get a bit more comfortable landing to test cricket, if ever it can get comfortable ever.......
Think Ojha is the one realistic option we have at the moment. Karthik and Parthiv have had their chances and failed consistently, young Sanju Samson doesn't keep in the longer formats for Kerala. The other option is Karnataka's CM Gautam. Gautam has a bit of a reputation as a man for a crisis with the bat, but the advantage that Ojha has over him is that he's more of an all format player as Gautam's record with the bat In the limited over formats is average.

msp83 wrote:KPF, I too would have liked Dhoni to play tests for a year more. I was thinking he should give up captaincy in all formats after the wc and continue to play on for a year more.
But in a way, it isn't a bad time to blood in a new wicketkeeper batsman. India would now be playing tests at home for a while before their next overseas test assignment. So the new guy should get a bit more comfortable landing to test cricket, if ever it can get comfortable ever.......
Think Ojha is the one realistic option we have at the moment. Karthik and Parthiv have had their chances and failed consistently, young Sanju Samson doesn't keep in the longer formats for Kerala. The other option is Karnataka's CM Gautam. Gautam has a bit of a reputation as a man for a crisis with the bat, but the advantage that Ojha has over him is that he's more of an all format player as Gautam's record with the bat In the limited over formats is average.

--i agree with your counter logic also......gives us an opportunity to groom a replacement WK.
alternatives to Ojha would be Pinal Shah( Baroda), who is the leading WK this season and Aditya Tare ( Mumbai)
DK and PP would be step back

--I also agree Raina and Dhawan are gone....rohit might juts hang on for a bit more.
Suggestion for Pujara to play county is a good one, for now he needs to play Ranji.....he will be back in reckoning.

others in reckoning immediately will be Tiwary and Rayadu especially if he does well in limited over in Aus.
mandeep singh and Kedar Jadhav
Sheldon Jackson is the top run gettet this season....from Raj and begining to attack attention

--Irfan made a 98 on return and picked about 3 wickets...him and Dhawan should be tried as bowling allrounders