Aus coming to India

First topic message reminder :

Australia squad Steven Smith (capt), David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Agar, Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon

Aus has declared their squad and they have 4 spinners + Maxwell who can bowl spin....and smith too can


and only 3 seamers in the squad....implies they will play 2 seamers and 3 spinners

india should produces pitches like they did vs NZ and SA.....krumblers and not the types they did vs Eng

Regulars will know I'm never keen on using a nightwatchman. Especially so today. Lyon's wicket a predictable gift to get India's tails up even further.

Great resolve shown by Australia for so much of this Test but they now threaten 'to do an England' in line with KP_f's forecasts.

A fine day for India. Cheteshwar Pujara with his 3rd double ton in test cricket, his 2nd against the Australians. Wriddhiman Saha, not my most favorite player in this Indian lineup, playing a mighty fine hand, the best of his 3 test tons so far to safeguard his position for some time to come, and saving India from a potentially difficult situation. And Ravindra Jadeja providing some entertainment with the bat before toying with the mindset of the Australian batsmen and taking out 2 of them in the mini session before stumps. He has taken 7 wickets in the game so far, scored a 50, and effected a run-out. On this road, his contribution with the ball is as valuable as that Pujara double if not more.
But he will still have to finish the job tomorrow. By the look of things, India would be most dependent on him. Ashwin hasn't looked anywhere near his best. Nobody expects anything anyways from Ishant Sharma other than to keep things quiet if and when he gets a ball. Umesh might get some valuable reverse swing on this track.
When bowling to the left-handers, Jadeja has some rough to work with and he's usually outstanding as far as targeting and hitting the same spot ball after ball is concerned. And this Australian lineup has got a few who bat left handed. But otherwise, there is absolutely nothing on this road of a track. And even if it burst into life on day 5 which it might do some time tomorrow, I would any day rate it a much poorer pitch than those for the first 2 games. Even Umesh Yadav looked good for a ton with the bat!

Where's everyone? Still intriguingly poised although the draw once more the favourite in my book. Australia 134/4 off 61 overs, trailing by 18 with 36 overs left.

Handscomb and Marsh playing well, keeping their heads and their wickets. Looks like Australia will bat beyond the 70 overs forecast by KP_f.

Jadeja with his third wicket today and seeming a handful but Ashwin not fully on the money and now replaced by Ishant.

Interesting snippet on Sky a short while ago in praise of the wicket and the curator.

On each of the first four 4 days, less than 300 runs were scored and no more than 7 wickets taken. Strongly suggesting both batsmen and bowlers had to work hard for their rewards. That's how it should be and why I've enjoyed the bits of this Test I've seen.

guildfordbat wrote:Interesting snippet on Sky a short while ago in praise of the wicket and the curator.

On each of the first four 4 days, less than 300 runs were scored and no more than 7 wickets taken. Strongly suggesting both batsmen and bowlers had to work hard for their rewards. That's how it should be and why I've enjoyed the bits of this Test I've seen.

Really? It's been boring as heck - dull slow low pitch, nothing in it for batsmen and barely anything for bowlers. Even on day 5. Rubbish

Saw you said that the other day, Olly, but totally disagree. However, as our man says, ''It's a game of opinions, sir.''

For me, it's been a close contest until India India went into the ascendancy yesterday and always tightly fought. A Test player shouldn't expect a 50 and/or a couple of wickets just for turning up. Neither should the spectators and viewers.

guildfordbat wrote:Saw you said that the other day, Olly, but totally disagree. However, as our man says, ''It's a game of opinions, sir.''

For me, it's been a close contest until India India went into the ascendancy yesterday and always tightly fought. A Test player shouldn't expect a 50 and/or a couple of wickets just for turning up. Neither should the spectators and viewers.

Not saying that at all - but for me 1200 odd runs in over 400 overs (average run rate of less than 3 an over), with only 23 wickets going down isn't a good pitch for test cricket and not an entertaining game. We're into the last session on day 5, and it's still doing nothing to not a lot for two of the best spinners in the world. Just dull

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Saw you said that the other day, Olly, but totally disagree. However, as our man says, ''It's a game of opinions, sir.''

For me, it's been a close contest until India India went into the ascendancy yesterday and always tightly fought. A Test player shouldn't expect a 50 and/or a couple of wickets just for turning up. Neither should the spectators and viewers.

Not saying that at all - but for me 1200 odd runs in over 400 overs (average run rate of less than 3 an over), with only 23 wickets going down isn't a good pitch for test cricket and not an entertaining game. We're into the last session on day 5, and it's still doing nothing to not a lot for two of the best spinners in the world. Just dull

It depends how you look at it. Runs havent been easy to come by, players who have applied themselves have been able to stay in but most have fallen cheaply. Its maybe not the thrilling extended T20 3 dayer lottery theyve had in the prioir tests but its also not been a 800 runs in the first two days followed by 20 wickets in the third type pitch which is entirely decided by who gets to bat first.

I guess you could say its good for the purists and a proper test match pitch, but not good for those who like roller coaster drama, blazing 50s and bowlers taking 5 fer in a session. . One for the coaches rather than the TV audience. Patience, shot selection and good technique have been rewarded. As have accuracy and quality.

They do need to find a happy medium with the pitches though, it seems to be one extreme or the other.

Gooseberry wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Saw you said that the other day, Olly, but totally disagree. However, as our man says, ''It's a game of opinions, sir.''

For me, it's been a close contest until India India went into the ascendancy yesterday and always tightly fought. A Test player shouldn't expect a 50 and/or a couple of wickets just for turning up. Neither should the spectators and viewers.

Not saying that at all - but for me 1200 odd runs in over 400 overs (average run rate of less than 3 an over), with only 23 wickets going down isn't a good pitch for test cricket and not an entertaining game. We're into the last session on day 5, and it's still doing nothing to not a lot for two of the best spinners in the world. Just dull

It depends how you look at it. Runs havent been easy to come by, players who have applied themselves have been able to stay in but most have fallen cheaply. Its maybe not the thrilling extended T20 3 dayer lottery theyve had in the prioir tests but its also not been a 800 runs in the first two days followed by 20 wickets in the third type pitch which is entirely decided by who gets to bat first.

I guess you could say its good for the purists and a proper test match pitch, but not good for those who like roller coaster drama, blazing 50s and bowlers taking 5 fer in a session. . One for the coaches rather than the TV audience. Patience, shot selection and good technique have been rewarded. As have accuracy and quality.

They do need to find a happy medium with the pitches though, it seems to be one extreme or the other.

Those virtues don't of cause exclude the entire tv audience.

Anyway, I have to go out now (no, not an appointment to watch paint dry ) but Australia seem to have achieved the draw barring something sensational very late on. Excellent effort from Handscomb and Marsh. Not just their shot selection but their mental concentration. An example that I hope England have taken notice of.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Saw you said that the other day, Olly, but totally disagree. However, as our man says, ''It's a game of opinions, sir.''

For me, it's been a close contest until India India went into the ascendancy yesterday and always tightly fought. A Test player shouldn't expect a 50 and/or a couple of wickets just for turning up. Neither should the spectators and viewers.

Not saying that at all -but for me 1200 odd runs in over 400 overs (average run rate of less than 3 an over), with only 23 wickets going down isn't a good pitch for test cricket and not an entertaining game. We're into the last session on day 5, and it's still doing nothing to not a lot for two of the best spinners in the world. Just dull

Just as well you weren't around in the sixties , Olly

So the draw I'd fancied from about tea on day one finally eventuates...

A few alarms raised when India took a brace of wickets last night and again this morning - but Handscomb and S Marsh really showed how to bat for a draw ; admirable effort of concentration

Decider next week : might come down to who is less tired ! India have had a long home season and some of them (looking at you , Ashwin ) are showing it ; and Australia's bowlers will be fervently praying Smith doesn't lose the toss ... Even so I wonder if Cummins can back up ?

Wouldn't want the last pitch to be quite this flat ; but neither do I want to see another minefield as it makes it too much of a raffle. Hope we get a good strip for a fitting conclusion to an interesting series.

alfie wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Saw you said that the other day, Olly, but totally disagree. However, as our man says, ''It's a game of opinions, sir.''

For me, it's been a close contest until India India went into the ascendancy yesterday and always tightly fought. A Test player shouldn't expect a 50 and/or a couple of wickets just for turning up. Neither should the spectators and viewers.

Not saying that at all -but for me 1200 odd runs in over 400 overs (average run rate of less than 3 an over), with only 23 wickets going down isn't a good pitch for test cricket and not an entertaining game. We're into the last session on day 5, and it's still doing nothing to not a lot for two of the best spinners in the world. Just dull

Just as well you weren't around in the sixties , Olly

There's a lot of things in the world I wouldn't have liked in the sixties haha!

Sorry but for me only being halfway through the third innings at the end of day five isn't what test cricket needs from its pitches to survive. Result wickets are what's required

Ishant Sharma as a front 4 bowlers isn't what's required if test cricket is going to be taken seriously.

So Australia survive....they live to fight in seaming and cool Dharamsala and can still win the series.....
why they escaped...

1) Ashwin is tired.....12 tests in a row.....bowling in both innings of all these tests.....it's evident he does not have the shoulder and muscles of Jadeja....is a shadow...and the last two tests have been with just 4 bowlers and 2 spinners.
India sorely missed Jayant also.

It's not a good idea to have such a long season and two tough teams Eng and Aus coming back to back....physically and mentally draining...

2) India was a session short of enforcing a win......and another way of looking at it is if their innings RR was 0.5RPO more they would have gotten a session...

3) Pitch was Patta...as my friend msp rightly identified...as bad as Nagpur....and give some credit to Aussies and Maxwell in particular

India has to summon up all mental strength for Dharamsala which assist seam bowling

for next game India should bring in Jayant.....in place of Nair...
and if Ashwin is really tired play Kuldeep in his place

So a draw it was. Did feel for quite a bit of the time that India were short of a sixth morning to get the win.

Nonetheless, a fine achievement by Australia to keep the hosts at bay. Something, England were unable to accomplish recently as their heads and wickets went too quickly.

Handscomb and Marsh the clear and obvious heroes today. However, KP-f's point about India's run rate (and the additional bowling time they would have had if it had been higher) is very valid. I give a lot of credit there to O'Keefe who stuck at it throughout his 77 overs and went at an average of under 2.6 per over. His 3 wickets weren't match influencing but his economy rate was.

As a more general point, I do wonder if some of you folks expect too much from a Test track. Sure, some tracks are more suitable than others. However, when the wicket is not being obliging, it's up to the bowler to come up with something else.

Probably the best bowling performance I've ever seen came from Michael Holding for the West Indies on a sun baked Oval road in 'the drought' year of 1976. Holding took the pitch out of the equation as he bowled with venomous pace mixing in a succession of toe crunching yorkers. He took 14 England wickets, 8 in the first innings of which all were bowled or lbw. Have a look - it must be in YouTube land.

Ok, Ashwin obviously can't do that and realistically neither could Yadav or Ishant bowl today like Holding did four decades ago. However, my point really is that you shouldn't rely on a surface to get you wickets, not even a fifth day surface. When it doesn't and especially if it's actually unhelpful, the bowler has to come up with something else. Change things, consider flight, consider pace. Good reasons for it being named a Test.

guildfordbat wrote:

Nonetheless, a fine achievement by Australia to keep the hosts at bay. Something, England were unable to accomplish recently as their heads and wickets went too quickly.


. However, my point really is that you shouldn't rely on a surface to get you wickets, not even a fifth day surface. When it doesn't and especially if it's actually unhelpful, the bowler has to come up with something else. Change things, consider flight, consider pace. Good reasons for it being named a Test.

 couple of add on points on your well made note...

--The Difference between Eng and Aus's performance  is not between them.......... but the physical and mental energies of India.....which were quite high vs. Eng and the batteries are nearly drained off vs. Aus....

--Ashwin is capable of using flight, guile and variations even when pitch isn't responding and was doing that quite well at the start of this long season  and throuhg the better part of the  Eng series.....
He's just exhausted at the very least and perhaps carrying bruised/ sore fingers and / or shoulder.......and hence not getting the same revs, zipp that the fingers impart nor the same dip / loop that is shoulder reliant

alfie wrote:.......Just as well you weren't around in the sixties , Olly

I think we might have had trouble persuading a 1960s version of Olly to support Surrey while the late, great Sir Ken Barrington was prodding suspiciously forward all day!

KP_fan wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

Nonetheless, a fine achievement by Australia to keep the hosts at bay. Something, England were unable to accomplish recently as their heads and wickets went too quickly.


. However, my point really is that you shouldn't rely on a surface to get you wickets, not even a fifth day surface. When it doesn't and especially if it's actually unhelpful, the bowler has to come up with something else. Change things, consider flight, consider pace. Good reasons for it being named a Test.

 couple of add on points on your well made note...

--The Difference between Eng and Aus's performance  is not between them.......... but the physical and mental energies of India.....which were quite high vs. Eng and the batteries are nearly drained off vs. Aus....

--Ashwin is capable of using flight, guile and variations even when pitch isn't responding and was doing that quite well at the start of this long season  and throuhg the better part of the  Eng series.....
He's just exhausted at the very least and perhaps carrying bruised/ sore fingers and / or shoulder.......and hence not getting the same revs, zipp that the fingers impart nor the same dip / loop that is shoulder reliant

Cheers, KP_f. I note and accept your comments about tiredness and exhaustion impacting India and especially Ashwin. I'm still not convinced that England would have maintained the mental concentration to last out the rest of the day if they had been in Australia's position of 60 odd/4 on the final morning but appreciate that India being nearly drained was of help to the visitors this week.

I didn't see the very end of the match but gather that Kohli and India stuck it out to the very end, his side bowling 92 overs on the final day rather than him shaking hands and agreeing the draw a little earlier as would normally have been expected with any possibility of the win already gone. Thought that was interesting, unusual anyway - certainly not the thing that happens in the English game when captains normally can't get off the pitch quick enough once a draw is inevitable. What do you think that was about here? Was Kohli trying to refute the suggestions of tiredness and show Australia that India still had plenty of fight, including for the Test decider?

a good article on Saha.....and the silent value he has brought...

https://www.thequint.com/infographics/2017/03/22/wriddhiman-saha-wicketkeeper-india-vs-australia-test-series

Think both guilford and KP-f have good points here.

India definitely seem to be showing the effects of a number of long and taxing matches : they had convincing wins over both England and Bangladesh ; but most matches involved a lot of overs...and certainly Ashwin looked to be less than his lively best in this latest match. I think they'll be able to rouse themselves for one last battle later this week , though it might be time to consider adding a fresh bowler , depending on the conditions ?
At the same time I also think this particular Australian batting lineup - at least the top half - are better suited to playing a rearguard action than the rather makeshift order England was putting out for the latter part of their series. Warner - and Maxwell , who surprised all of us with his first innings application - are the only out and out aggressors while Smith is well capable of either attack or defence and Renshaw , Handscomb and Marsh are all rather well suited to batting time.
Contrast with England where only Cook would be regarded as a safety first batsman : and doesn't it show when he gets out ! (Of course the likes of Root - and Ali and Bairstow , though both were rather overburdened as bowler/keeper in any case , are all able to defend for long periods : but it really isn't their natural game.)
I think the missing cog in the England wheel is a Trott rather than a Pietersen ...

Anyway this is about Australia and India : and they've given us a fascinating series so far. Not willing to pick a winner at this stage as a lot will depend on the usual unknowns of pitch and toss ...but somewhat added to by the issues of how the respective danger bowlers come up after what must have been a rather draining effort over the five days just past.
Can the injury prone Cummins really back up after that marathon ? How will O'Keefe bounce back from the sort of over count that used to occur in India and Pakistan back when they had rest days and decent breaks between Tests ?
And as for India , apart from Ashwin , Umesh has been doing a lot of work lately - as has Jadeja , but he somehow still seems to be running on Red Bull

Reckon both teams have had enough time to get to know their opponents strengths and weaknesses by now so the tactics employed in this last clash will be interesting . Hoping for a fair pitch so we get a proper conclusion to this series . And spare us from any drs controversies , hopefully.

http://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/mohammed-shami-answers-virat-kohli-sos-joins-team-in-dharamsala-1362692.html

shami joins the Indian team to provide additional cover in case conditions are seam friendly.
actually Bhuvi would be a better bet for such conditions

They are sticking with Ishant then?

Gooseberry wrote:They are sticking with Ishant then?

I think Ishant should play...he is fit and rolling in momentum....too risky to bring in shami returning from injury and having played only List A games....

Bhuvi is the best for seaming conditions....comes in for Nair....and can bat a bit also

Kohli may not be fully fit......and shreyas iyer called as cover
he should sit out......if not 100% when batting at least......

perfect session for Aus......won the toss batted first...negotiated the 30 min of swing....no spin in the pitch.....lighting quick outfield....

I slept for an hour...woke up to see Chinaman Kuldeep has changed the game...I have been asking for his inclusion for some time...

all wickets to yadavs...looks like samajvadi party bolwing

pitch showing turn and bounce suddenly

so India did make the decision of bringing kuldeep in...first in the squad and before it was too late in the playing 11.....

and he immediately made a difference .....on a pitch with true bounce, some early swing....nothing for the finger spinners ( yet)......Ashwin looking jaded as usual and Jadeja struggling to make an impact......Aus got to 144-1....at 4 RPO

and then the left arm unorthodox wrist spinner with his chinamen and googlies......ripped out the middel order.....beating them with flight, revs, producing ripping turn and spin both ways that atleast so far the Aussies could not decipher.....and crumbled them to 200-6

Rahane did miss a trick taking Kuldeep off.....when he was in full rythm.....

Nevertheless....rolling Aus over for 300 is still a very good effort on this pitch.....

India should breathe easy...in Kuldeep they have a 22 year old mystery writs spinner....who can make a difference in the air, taking the pitch out of the equation and ....together with Jayant, Yajuvendra Chahl and Karn Sharma...the next gen of Indian spin is also well covered.

India need one solid effort batting 5 sessions....they have 5 batters but 4 of their bowlers...ashwin, jadeja, bhuvi and Kuldeep can all bat....and WK Saha is coming off the back of a 100......

5 sessions of batting will put the series beyond Aus's reach.....while Aus needs to get India within 3 sessions to keep their chances intact

Well, a very interesting day of test cricket.
Noted the discussions on the pitch for the last game. It was to say the least, atrocious, a Test Killer! Why do we expect the bowlers to do a Michael Holding while the batsmen always to have it easy. A pitch with life for bowlers gets rated as less than average, a road gets rated as the ideal material for test cricket! No wonder there is a crisis as far as test cricket is concerned.
On the other hand, Dharamsala had pretty good conditions for test cricket at least on day one. I would say conditions, as I think it is also about the air, the altitude and the weather and not just about the track. But the track had life for bowlers, both quicks and spinners. Good batting could get you runs, and the outfield gave the shots good value.

Was out for most of the day and followed the game mostly on cricinfo. Had caught some of the action in the morning though. I was appalled and confused at the same time to see India's best quick, back fit and ready, not picked. Bhuvi may be great when the ball swings, Umesh is getting better throughout this season and now has the wickets to show for all that. But Shami, in any conditions, on any track, is India's best seamer. I would have wanted Bhuvneshwar to play here, and Shami for Ishant was always a given for me. I would have had Bhuvi in for Karun Nair. But then of course Virat didn't recover on time, Nair stayed, Bhuvi came in for Ishant, and India opted for the fascinating Kuldeep Yadav. KPF has been putting up his name for consideration for long, and I too have had major hopes of him, was happy to see him, but I wouldn't have played him here.
But that proved to be a fabulous call from the team management. Perhaps they are keeping Shami out of action because of the Champions Trophy. Perhaps he's fit but not quite match fit for a 5 day game. But Kuldeep has had a spectacular debut. Rescuing the side after David Warner, running away with a lifeline offered first ball of the test by Nair, along with the immovable Steven Smith had India on the mat at lunch. From the highlights, Kuldeep seemed to turn some really big, could trouble the batsmen in the air as well. A couple of seasons of domestic cricket has given him reasonable consistency with line and length. Him getting to play most Ranji games for UP this season has certainly helped, as has the other FC games he played for India A. Ashwin yet again didn't look near his best though he accounted for the big wicket of Smith. Umesh continued to bowl well, and has established himself as the 2nd in the pecking order of seamers for India after Shami. But unlike Shami, Umesh has, touch wood, maintained a better understanding with his body, Shami's body has been an out and out rebel sadly.

msp83 wrote:Well, a very interesting day of test cricket.
Noted the discussions on the pitch for the last game. It was to say the least, atrocious, a Test Killer! Why do we expect the bowlers to do a Michael Holding while the batsmen always to have it easy. A pitch with life for bowlers gets rated as less than average, a road gets rated as the ideal material for test cricket! No wonder there is a crisis as far as test cricket is concerned.
On the other hand, Dharamsala had pretty good conditions for test cricket at least on day one. I would say conditions, as I think it is also about the air, the altitude and the weather and not just about the track. But the track had life for bowlers, both quicks and spinners. Good batting  could get you runs, and the outfield gave the shots good value.

Come on, msp. Whilst I referred to Holding, that's not what I said or expect. The main point is that if you are bowling on a road, you have to do more than moan about it.

Anyway, only saw parts of the final session but do go along with KP_f's comments. Australia ended up with a few more than was looking likely at one stage but still seem to have ended the day light. India should be pleased with that and even more for having taken the first 10 wickets in good time. The draw already looking unlikely.

msp83 wrote:Well, a very interesting day of test cricket.
Noted the discussions on the pitch for the last game. It was to say the least, atrocious, a Test Killer! Why do we expect the bowlers to do a Michael Holding while the batsmen always to have it easy. A pitch with life for bowlers gets rated as less than average, a road gets rated as the ideal material for test cricket! No wonder there is a crisis as far as test cricket is concerned.
On the other hand, Dharamsala had pretty good conditions for test cricket at least on day one. I would say conditions, as I think it is also about the air, the altitude and the weather and not just about the track. But the track had life for bowlers, both quicks and spinners. Good batting  could get you runs, and the outfield gave the shots good value.

Totally agree - day one of this test has already been infinitely more entertaining than the whole of the last one

Guildford, of course I did get the drift of what you were trying to say. But a batting road hardly ever get the criticism that a pitch with some extra life for the bowler usually get. For me, a pitch is bad if it causes significant physical danger to players. Otherwise get on with it. If the batsmen can't buy a run at the first sight of spin, swing or seam, it is they who should shut up. Have you ever come across any instances where the ICC would rate a pitch poor for only assisting the batsmen? There might be tracks where the first sign of life for bowlers would not appear even after 10 days of 24 hour cricket, and all the clowns in the TV box would start by calling it a Good Pitch.
Let the batsmen have all the easy runs in limited overs, test cricket will be at its best when the ball has a slight upperhand over the bat. And if the track ends up favoring any department, it has to be bowling rather than batting.

Anyways, a few other thoughts about the first day's play at Dharamsala.
Felt Rahane missed a trick when he took Kuldeep off after Smith got out. Likewise, after O'Keefe's run-out, he should have taken the new ball much earlier than he eventually did and straight away should have given it to Kumar. That Warner drop first ball, and this rather drifting along strategy with the lower order might still prove to be too much for India as the game progresses. Remember Mitchell Starc's runs that did more to set-up the first test than his double wicket over that took care of Pujara and Kohli?

I thought it an excellent first day...each side had sessions on top and the converse.  India in the better place at the end as I don't see 300 as enough on this basically good pitch - but they still need to bat well today.
I won't be critical of Rahane - I thought he captained well. Could have kept Kuldeep on , yes : but even spinners lose some effectiveness from fatigue if they just keep on bowling ; and I think it was perfectly reasonable to use the nominally best two bowlers in the world in tandem for a spell after the young man had reduced Australia to under 200 for five ; and it was then that Ashwin got Smith ...
Smith just seems to have India totally nonplussed : they have no idea how to bowl to him - though in truth on a good pitch it is not easy to see where one should
The rest of the Australian batting though , Wade apart , was disappointing. Warner had a lot of luck in getting his fifty and it was no surprise when he got out. The tail showed that batting on this surface was not difficult.
Kuldeep a splendid debut : I like his style ; think he will be an asset to India away from home in the future , in conditions in which Ashwin and Jadeja are less effective. Ashwin still looks as if he can't wait for season end , and for once Jadeja was tamed ; but I was again impressed by Umesh.
Indian fielding was mixed. An excellent run out contrasted with a few less than brilliant chases and a costly drop.
And this pitch does look a good one : enough there for the bowlers but essentially good for batting. India will want to press home their advantage now as the next two days should see batting at its easiest .

First hour today even ; though it should have been Australia's , had Renshaw taken that catch !
As it was the wicket of Vijay was scant reward for some excellent fast bowling from Hazlewood and Cummins ; but India will be relieved to have lost just the one.
Smith giving his quicks plenty of work early on - he knows how important it is to make inroads while the ball remains hard. Makes the next half hour to lunch key : Lyon one end , pace men the other.
Think Australia will come to regret the lack of a third seamer before this is over...

India lose only one wicket in the session for their 64 run....bear in mind though only 27 overs were bowled.

1st hour swing having been negotiated.....now Ind should look to score 100 in the second session .......as thee seamers juts cannoto go on at the same intensity and spinners have founf little in the pitch.

Aus would have done well to have a 3rd seamer in place of Lyon.....and use maxwell for 7 overs per day...

maligned as he was Aus still haven't found a replacement for Wwatson......and hence lack balance.

64/1 at lunch. Slow but steady.

Australian quicks bowled well ; but they'll be disappointed to have only one wicket. Batting should be experiencing best conditions after lunch so you'd think India will be looking to proceed much as they did in the previous match - grind down the bowlers , score at a comfortable rather than exciting rate ...and plan to have a lead by the time their all rounders get to the crease.

Looks like hard work for O'Keefe again, and Australia generally. But who knows ? The lunch break changed everything yesterday...not putting money on the same happening today.

Rahul played well again for his 60, Pujara going nicely on 43* at the moment.

Do feel if the Aussies could nip him and Rahane out, they're into Nair/Ashwin/Saha/Jadeja and could potentially rip through the Indians fairly sharpish

KP_fan wrote:India lose only one wicket in the session for their 64 run....bear in mind though only 27 overs were bowled.

1st hour swing having been negotiated.....now Ind should look to score 100 in the second session .......as thee seamers juts cannoto go on at the same intensity and spinners have founf little in the pitch.

Aus would have done well to have a 3rd seamer in place of Lyon.....and use maxwell for 7 overs per day...

maligned as he was Aus still haven't found a replacement for Wwatson......and hence lack balance.

Definitely. I was banging that drum even before Watson left the Test arena.

India get almost 90 runs in the session for the loss of a wicket.....and losing only 1 makes it India's session...after scoring 1-64 in first session

aus seamers especially Cummins bowled very well..and yet the could eek out only 1 wicket......
and that's been the description of Aus's bolwing efforts session after session...since Ranchi
they need a 3rd seamer badly


no way are they gonna get 20 wickets in this match....with only 2 seamers looking like striking...and that intensity cannot be sustained for a full inning..leave aside two innings..
ONLY IND CAN WIN THIS GAME.


while india is going steadily....they will wear out Aussie seamers and once they go past 350....scoring even at 5to 6 RPO is possible.

Ind need one more good session....lose no more than 1 wicket in the 3rd...and score atleast 80 runs

guildfordbat wrote:

KP_fan wrote:India lose only one wicket in the session for their 64 run....bear in mind though only 27 overs were bowled.

1st hour swing having been negotiated.....now Ind should look to score 100 in the second session .......as thee seamers juts cannoto go on at the same intensity and spinners have founf little in the pitch.

Aus would have done well to have a 3rd seamer in place of Lyon.....and use maxwell for 7 overs per day...

maligned as he was Aus still haven't found a replacement for Wwatson......and hence lack balance.

Definitely. I was banging that drum even before Watson left the Test arena.

In the words of Joni Mitchell : you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. Who knew she was a cricket fan

Most Aussie fans couldn't wait to usher Watson out the door. For some reason he never really earned a place in the nation's affection. But for all his limitations - and in fairness he rather fell short of the top rank of all rounders - he was a very useful part of the XI . And the more glamorous young 'uns touted to take his spot haven't come close...

KP-f 's optimism above has been rather superseded by the late session...

Match is pretty evenly poised at stumps. India could still get a substantial lead if they can survive the first half hour tomorrow ; as the Australian bowlers have to be feeling the pinch. But the ball is still new - an early break could see them undone for 300 or less.(Had Renshaw held that easy catch ...)

Terrific day of hard fought cricket - lot of that in this series. Lyon back to his best with a bit of bounce to aid him ; Cummins really putting in a lionhearted effort again , with little luck. The Aussies have once again kept the runs in check ; but they may yet find the effort rebounds against them on the second day of bowling - all depends on this new ball spell , I think.

Cracking match : and surely no one will complain about this pitch ?

alfie wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

KP_fan wrote:India lose only one wicket in the session for their 64 run....bear in mind though only 27 overs were bowled.

1st hour swing having been negotiated.....now Ind should look to score 100 in the second session .......as thee seamers juts cannoto go on at the same intensity and spinners have founf little in the pitch.

Aus would have done well to have a 3rd seamer in place of Lyon.....and use maxwell for 7 overs per day...

maligned as he was Aus still haven't found a replacement for Wwatson......and hence lack balance.

Definitely. I was banging that drum even before Watson left the Test arena.

In the words of Joni Mitchell : you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.  Who knew she was a cricket fan

Most Aussie fans couldn't wait to usher Watson out the door. For some reason he never really earned a place in the nation's affection.  But for all his limitations - and in fairness he rather fell short of the top rank of all rounders - he was a very useful part of the XI .  And the more glamorous young 'uns touted to take his spot haven't come close...

The main frustration with Watson seemed to be that he got between 30-50 runs literally every innings....but there is quite a bit of value in that consistency....and his trundlers were always very handy

Win or lose this match, Australia have already done miles better than I expected in this series. I was predicting around 3-0 to India at the start. Smith is now arguably the best Test batsman in the world. Twenty Test 100s before you've completed 100 innings is some record.

--in the last session of the Day-2 finger spinners got some help....and India scored 92-4...the scoring rate while standard for India in these conditions and match situations...they are 2 wickets too many down....

Nair has a terrible defense...as noted earlier a number of times....he plays down the initial line of the ball not covering for late inwards movement and hence is always suspect to in swingers/ off-cutters / googlies..

--I am done with him and move on to give that spot to  either of Shreyas Iyer or Rohit.....preferably the later because he was incumbent of that slot...and was forced to vacate only due to an injury...


--Aus missed a trick not taking the new ball as soon as Jadeja came.....they allowed him 15 easy runs and a little partnership at the end....

the game as poised on a knife-edge.....like T3 was ......India could crumble for 25 runs tomm handing a slender lead to Aus or add another 100 runs and get 50 runs on Aus...

--I would like to put the neck out and call odds in favor of the later scenario 50 run lead for India.......because all the wickets in hand can bat....Jadeja, Saha, Bhuvi are proven lower order contributors.......young Kuldeep is no muck...he has stated and will be expected to put a price on his wicket...in 22 FC games and only 29 innings he has 5 fifties and a 100 and an average nearing 30....
and No. 11 Umesh can whack 15 odd runs easily.....Saha must make the Aussies pay for the dolly-drop at slips and bat through now....

The pitch will become difficult and 180 is the max, Ind can chase in 4th inning...

sirfredperry wrote:Win or lose this match, Australia have already done miles better than I expected in this series. I was predicting around 3-0 to India at the start. Smith is now arguably the best Test batsman in the world. Twenty Test 100s before you've completed 100 innings is some record.
 

Yeah, I am also quite impressed with the valour they showed on the ground. Batting on day 5 and keeping Indian bowlers on the trail is really an achievement and this Australian team has shown that. Before the tour I was wondering that Aussies are a weak side compared to South Africa and England but they have shown that it is a team in making, which has potential to beat even hefty opposition.

It is one of the best series I have watched in the last 10-15 years, when a visiting "new" team is making an impact.

32 run lead. Though it is not much to put pressure on Aussies, but it has frustrated them a lot. The pitch is still good to bat on and a fourth inning target 180+ will be difficult for India. Aussies have a good chance of winning the series after 13 long years.

What an opening spell this is from Yadav and Bhuvi!

Warner, Smith and Renshaw all gone and the Aussies are still 1 run behind