Threads for the last three series: ... This topic is now in its third largely apathetic forum, but there’s got to be some culture here on the SDMB.
The first Test has started and stumps day one at Bangalore sees the Australians at 4/254 having opted to bat. Ponting is out having made 123, sometime opener Katich made 66 and Mike Hussey is 46*.
There are other sporting contests. There are other interesting things in cricket (like when we get to see the latest Sri Lankan freak - Mendis - in person). But for me, this series is the one I look forward to the most. It’s a real rivalry between two fairly closely-matched teams. And there’s the slow procession of great careers emerging, shining and then fading away.
The two big angles this time are: whether Australia can stay at the top given the changes of the last few years; and how well India copes with the impending departure of some of the greatest players the country has ever seen.
Australia’s batting deep because they don’t have a real spinner. The uncapped McGain is crocked and has gone home. In his absence, they’ve picked White. I think he’s the third-best spinner in the team. It’s a worry.
Of India’s five in the twilight, it seems to me that only Kumble has a medium-term future. He’s still bowling beautifully. I don’t see any reason for him to go. Ganguly has said he will go at the end of series, although he’s made it clear that he’s been ill-used. At least he’s getting to retire - he certainly deserves no less and I’m glad he’s taken the chance.
My prediction is Australia 2-1. But it should be quite a scrap.
Pretty decent first day for the Aussies, all told, but at least Hayden got out swiftly. No real indication as to how the Indians will bat, as the suggestion was that there was something in the pitch for the seamers that just didn’t get exploited.
As pointed out by someone on cricinfo (I think), pretty scandalous that spinners bowled thirteen overs in the first session and India still ended up behind the over rate. I reckon they should make captains who don’t meet the over rate wear clown shoes for the next innings. Then you’d see them get a move on. Docking the match fees doesn’t mean a thing to players earning what this lot do.
More genuinely interested in this series than I am England’s visit to India. How the hell are we supposed to get excited about a two-match Test series? It’s hardly worthy of the name.
Anyway, I’m going for a series tie at 1-1; can’t see three results out of four unless some real spinners’ paradises are lying in wait.
I agree there…but I think it could be particularly bad for Australia if there are some turning pitches, and especially if they have to bat in the fourth innings.
Harbajan and Kumble didn’t look particularly incisive today. I think under the circumstances 254/4 might have been a bit less than Australia had hoped for; they’ll really be looking for 500 batting first in this match. If hawthorne is right and there’s something for seamers in this pitch, this will probably be the match Australia needs to win to take the series. If they don’t win here, I don’t see them getting two wins on less-favorable pitches.
I just don’t think Australia has the bowling firepower on these Indian wickets to consistently take 20 wickets a game.
I really want to see some highlights from yesterdays game, as my local newspaper this morning was reporting that Hayden didn’t hit the ball he was given out on, and Clarks (I think) LBW was goign to miss the stumps.
If the first day’s play is any indicator, this will be a drawn series. 250 odd runs and four wickets in a day’s play is pretty pedestrian. Great maiden (in India) century by Ponting. though. I’m ready to follow day two play on the ABC web site.
Latest Sri Lankan freak !!?? Guess you are not that popular among the large number of Sri Lankans living in MEL.
Time is ripe for SL to win a test match against Aussies…Murali and Ajanatha taking 16 wickets among them to win by 150 runs. Ponting hit by a bouncer from Malinga. These are what dreams are made of…
Yeah, but some of those Indian pitches can turn especially nasty on day 4 and 5. You might get four or five wickets a day for the first three days, then four or five wickets and hour near the end.
Delightful century from Mr Cricket, Mike Hussey. The ABC radio commentary team is convinced that this Australian innings is putting us in a great position to win. The speculation is that accurate seam bowling and uneven bounce on this particlular wicket will favour our bowling. Don’t know about that. Indian pitches are very unpredictable at best.
I can’t believe that I’m posting in both the post-season MLBaseball and the Aussie cricket threads. Mixed cultural heritage, I guess.
Australia all out for 430 with Hussey out chancing his wicket four short of his 150. Interestingly, the seam bowlers for India took nine of the Aussie wickets. Could be a chance for us if the superior Aussie quickbowling is tight and accurate. The next hour and a half is critical.
And India get yet another good start. Their “fab four” (I really hate that name) have been the weak spot lately, so we’ll see how it pans out. Hopefully Sehwag bats the whole day, then the Aussies should be in a spot of bother
Probably a draw though unless Sehwag gets on fire and the pitch breaks up just in time for Australia’s second innings. Gonna be tough for Aus to bowl them out twice with Cameron White and Michael Clark (haha). For Aus to win they need the pitch to get worse fast, if India are still batting at close tomorrow it’s draw or India win IMO.
Their spinners were pretty iffy but their seamers were good and if the pitch turns nicely I’d still back them.
GreedySmurf, Ponting got a free life too, though he’d got a hundred already to be fair. Were a few good shouts from that Ishant Sharma guy (who has a Pollock/McGrath like pitch-map) early on too, could easily have been out. Just the usual examples of why not using replays is boneheaded.
I didn’t mean it in a negative way at all. Just that SL has very little first class cricket yet seems to produce a lot of cricketers who immediately perform at Test level. I guess it started with PA de Silva. When he burst onto the scene he was an individual talent with great technique able to play like Viv Richards in any country in the world. How do you get to that level by playing in such a small first class system? It’s freakish.
As well as Aravinda, there are other freaks: Kalu, Sanath, Jayawardne, Murali of course and Malinga - with that outrageous action how *does *he bowl a consistent line and length at that pace?
I’m just really excited about Mendis. He’s a real mystery spinner who’s capable of landing it consistently. When Dravid can’t figure out which way the ball is turning and doesn’t get any bad balls, you know something has *arrived *on the scene - not a special, developing talent (like Warne was), something that’s just turned up fully fledged and ready to go against the best players in the world.
Australia don’t have enough runs on the board but they’re in the game after two days. Zaheer picked up 5 but young Sharma - who I noted “could be the new McGrath” in the last thread - was the star IMHO.
I don’t share people’s view that it could be a 1-0 series, although a drawn series is certainly possible. I just don’t see there being three drawn Tests in these times. It is true that scoring rates have slowed in the last couple of years, but the results keep coming.
Discordia, don’t discount Simon Katich as a spin option. I think he’s the best spinner in the side by quite a long way.
Should be an interesting final day with Australia up by 263. Will Ponting declare to give three full sessions to bowl India out or will he bat on to give us an insurmountable lead?
I say declare and let the chips fall where they may. The ‘fab four or five’ are too bloody old to do any chasing.
I saw that “bump ball” :dubious:. At least it didn’t have a huge impact, only another 12 odd runs before Pointing was out anyway.
Good to see the umpiring is up to its usual standards. (The LBW decision against Dravid was pretty ordinary too).
Final day looking like being a cracker though. I think the Aussies will be under instructions to lift the run rate, and if they don’t get out I reckon we’ll see declaration around lunch.
(The LBW decision against Dravid was pretty ordinary too).