The Cricket Thread

[STL]

Hussey is indeed all we have. If we had both Husseys in the team, we'd have a lot more.

I think Hayden deserves to be given a chance. Katich as we've said is a temp and he's done what he can. Watson didn't do half bad today with the bat. Symonds though is better. I watched a bit of the Indian bowling over the weekend at my mates (wish this was free to air) and they're bowling much fuller and straighter, attacking the stumps. Sharma seemed to get some late swing with the old ball that was hard to read. But that aside, it really came down to the spinners that was the difference

Lee's split webbing might give him an excuse but Johnson just doesn't hold up. His figures are appalling and his wickets are too expensive. Siddle shows promise on this pitch. I think he's done astoundingly well for a first gamer on a batsman's paradise. Deserves a chance in Australia. I'd like to drop Johnson and give Nofke a crack at this point and maybe play four quicks. Or even Bollinger who I felt badly for when he missed last year's Pura Cup final. Let's admit it, we don't have a spinner. Period.

I think the Aussies have to bite the bullet and realise that the era's over and look to the future. We need two openers. I don't mean I want Hayden gone, I respect him and i believe all old stagers deserve to be given their last rights to walk away with dignity. But the top of the order is shaky. 5, 6 really need to be looked at. Clarke again crashed and burned under pressure. Watson showed promise but he's a poor man's Symonds. Symonds brings an impetuous confidence to the team in the field. Clarke's throwing at the stumps is off too. Not sure if we should read much into that. As for a spinner, well, I'm as stumped as I'm sure the collectors are. McGain might be a Victorian but he's 37.

[i_amtrunks]

I think this will be Hayden's last summer, and going out against South Africa in Australia is not a bad final series. His body and reactions aren't what they used to be, a bit like Kallis.

Who will replace him is the big question, Jacques, nor Katich are going to be long term replacements, and moving Hussey to opener like I have suggested earlier would leave a gaping hole in our middle order, D. Hussey is good, but he is a bit like Symonds, he is not the kind of batter that holds the team together for an innings.

Clarke again failed when he needed to prove the selectors faith in him, he only seems to be somewhat competent when the rest of the team has batted well, and his bowling is abysmal. Watson has earned his place thus far, he has bowled decently and batted fairly, but he really is only holding Symonds seat warm.

Lee needs to be rested from tests, and turned into a one day only bowler when Australia tours, he has had a woeful tour, and the split webbing is a poor excuse that can only be used for this test, Johnson has always been iffy, but has been the dominant bowler this series, Clark is often so very good and economical but he has been out of form as well (the elbow injury explains it though).

India have shown the Aussies that while the pitch is extremely batter friendly, it is also more than capable of helping the bowlers too, Sharma is having a blinder, and Mishra on debut has perplexed the Aussie middle order. Kumble might not get to return to the Test side if Mishra has another blinder in the 2nd innings. Nice that the mongrel Singh has not had much success.
Why India have been scoring so easily at 4 an over and the Aussies so poorly at 2.6 I do not know.

India would probably be fine to declare with a lead of 400 (at this rate it'll be after an hour of play today) and be safe from an Aussie victory, but I expect them to be ultra conservative and go for a lead of 550-600 and declare around tea today to give themselves 110-120 overs to bowl the Aussies out. India deserve to thrash us, but if they play too conservatively it may bite them in the bum if Australia can hold it together in the 4th innings.

[jacksplatt11]

There is definitely a few spots that need to be filled by retiring/out of form older players, and not just with other older players, I think we need to really look at bringing in younger players, not too young, maybe 23-25. India have shown that you can have success with a young team, so there is no reason why we cannot do the same. I'm not saying get rid of everyone over 30 or so, but for example when Hayden retires, get a younger player who we can really develop into an opener for the next 10 years.

We really need to find a spinner though, we've gone from having 2 great spinners in Warne and MacGill, to nothing, apart from an in form spinner who is 37 in McGain, who could only play for 1-2 years at most you would suggest, if he is even given another chance after his surgery.

I'd like to see Marsh given a go as opener, to be honest I haven't seen him much in domestic 4 day competition, but from what I have seen in ODI and 2020 he seems very solid, and a powerful hitter, similar to Hayden.

This test is really India's to lose, and by lose I mean result in a draw. With how we performed in the first innings, I can't see us going for a win no matter what target we are left with, considering India already have 300 over us with 10 wickets. India should bat till around lunch, putting on as much as possible, they have enough aggressive, fast scoring batsmen in Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dhoni as well as Ghambir and Sehwag who are at the crease to put on 150-200 more easily. Then hope that they have enough time to bowl us out.

[Borgeman]

if india bat at the rate they are, they will probably declare a bit before tea, and have one of those niglling periods at the aussies prior to the break.

india should be able to pass 500 lead easily in half a day (as long as dravid doesnt bat :P)

George

[Borgeman]

india 1/210 after 43...... gg australia

George

[optimus1]

Im looking more towards a Draw at best by Australia due to the current score and our form in the last innings
Unless our batsmen show more grit on this pitch!

Im hoping Bangladesh beats the Kiwis for a very rare win. I was impressed by how one of their bowlers who got 7/36 in their 1st innings

[STL]

Im looking more towards a Draw at best by Australia due to the current score and our form in the last innings
Unless our batsmen show more grit on this pitch!

Looks like we're falling to pieces but what's the biggest thing in the team is the disunity in the team. I can only imagine how divisive it is.

Australia dug itself into a hole again and Hayden played like a school kid thinking he could smack his way into form. All the Aussies look like rank amateurs and it doesn't come down to spin. Sharma was damaging and sharp on top of Singh (hate that nuff-nuff). I like to see us with our backs to the wall to see we pick ourselves up but I think we're falling apart as a team here. I have no idea what happened between Lee and Ponting but all I can think of is this would never have happened under Steve Waugh.