One I should have thrown in was Derek Underwood of course.
The spinners you mention are obviously good players, but I would not place them as 'greats". That may sound odd for Gibbs held the record for wickets at one stage, however … actually it may be better if this was started as another dedicated thread. Any interest in a thread discussing the best spinners?
Yes sure. But, while I agree with say Saqlain and Bedi as well as adding Underwood, I must respectfully disagree with Abdul Qadir and Chandrashekar. Qadir pretty much dominated teams and he had a great record against the best teams of his day, Australia, WI, England. Players who played against both him and Warne, rated him better then Warne (as did Warne himself). Ditto Chandrashekar, a far better bowler then some of the others of the list.
Saqlain had his doosra and topspinner, but when teams figured it out, he had little in the way to offer. I can’t comment on Gibbs ( as I never saw him) and ditto Bedi.
Yes. He certainly scored well at the WACA but I’m not convinced he’s a Test player as opposed to a basher.
Early days yet and I’d love to be able to come back here and say I was wrong.
Well Warner went for 8 yesterday, although Australia continued to completely dominate the Indian attack to close the day at 335/3. At this rate Ponting looks more likely to reach 100 international hundreds before Tendulkar (he only needs about 30 more).
600 plus by the Aussies and Swhwag is gone.
It’s been interesting (the series). Clarke and Ponting batted well, but it is Adelaide where you expect large totals. Especially against a bowling attack like India which has shown itself to be little above mediocre. Add to that there appears a lack of interest from the Indian team, and whose fielding is awful. They really seem half fit.
Given that Ponting and Clarke batted so well ahem… what about Warner, Cowan and Marsh? I can’t be too critical of Warner given his earlier efforts (and Hussey was in a no win situation). However, Marsh must be on very thin ice. Cowan has never struck me as anything special and I don’t know what he brings to the team that Katich didn’t.
And another poor start by India. Dhoni must be pretty happy he was suspended for the game.
I’d give Cowan a few more chances. You’re right that he’s no Katich, but I feel that, for the want of a better way to put it, he has a story to tell. A bit like Geoff Marsh in the late 80’s he’s there to see off the new ball and occasionally do a bit more.
Marsh junior is indeed hopeless. I watched his debut century in Sri Lanka, but reserved my judgement until later. Later has come, and he’s shit.
And it seems that this will be an Australian victory and probably a well earned one- by the bowlers.
Two days to go and it already seems India will notbe able to get the runs. Even on a flat pitch. I imagine Ponting and Clarke must be pissed at having to bat again so soon, and I think if a few more runs had been on the board Hussey and Haddin may have been elevated. As it was Ponting and Clarke had to be called upon again.
The Australian attack did well against a fading Indian line up. That is a 500 pitch.
I would expect Australia to give themselves about 4 sessions to bowl India out- and also to rest the pacemen. Harris already looks like he has a few niggles.
Is that why Australia did enforce the follow-on? It seemed an odd decision to me, but then again it’s all pretty academic really, 3-0 is as good as 4-0 for the series.
(Now watch India make a monkey of me and roll Aussie for not much and crack off the winning runs quickly).
I don’t know if that was the only reason. It was bloody hot in Perth and Adelaide yesterday so I think the idea to give the bowlers a break was there. (It was just under 50 C at home here yesterdaY and although Adelaide is a thousand miles away it was still pretty hot).
And Australia has just declared setting India 500 for victory. I thought the declaration was a little generous to be honest.
Yup. I do remember India chasing nearly 400 in an innings against the Windies in the 1970’s and the Windies actually managing it against Oz in 2003.
With a second Innings score of 6/166, I don’t think there’s a lot of chance India will be able to do the same.
Yeah- free entry to the ground tomorrow.