The Cricket Thread

[Pulse]

Can they scrounge up a draw? They probably could

Is a sniff of a win in the air? My tips for Tuesday are way-shorter than the Aussies chances of a longshot...

[i_amtrunks]

India 2/43 a lead of 79. One of those wickets was of the night watchman Sharma.

On a day that Kumble showed why he needs to step aside from the captaincy, India were atrocious in the field, Clarke was dropped 3 times (all fairly easy catches) on his way to a patient 112 to guide the Aussies only 36 runs short of the Indians 7/613. The pitch gave nothing to the bowlers till late on the day, now it looks like it might start to fall apart.

Lee was lucky to be bowling to Sehwag who was easily the pick of the Indian team, getting his first 5 wicket haul from a massive 40 overs (Tendulkar bowled 1 , Kumble 43). Personally I think it's fair enough that he was stuffed and in need of a good rest instead of opening the batting.

Just as you could see the moment when the momentum swung from the Aussies to India in the first test (the Singh Khan partnership), you could see the momentum swing back to the Aussies when the Indians could not remove Clarke and White for most of the day. Watch the Indians play for the draw today, and go for the draw from the get go in the fourth test. India are too scared to risk playing a game that will see them draw a series, and see the Australians retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

While Clarke was the only Aussie to score a century, and it was a good one, he once again showed that he can only score runs when the Aussies are in a good position, and when the batsmen ahead of him have put decent runs on the boards. Had we been 3/100 I have no doubt he would have been dismissed for a paltry sum of runs.
White was much improved with the bat, but his lack of turn with the ball and not scoring too many runs should see him replaced for the final test. I expect to see a lot of Katich bowling today. Hopefully he can pull a Sehwag and get a handful of wickets. (then move Hussey to open to give him a break if needed).

And in related news did anyone else read that Harbhajan Singh has been given permission from the ICC (read: BCCI) to have injections of an illegal steroid to help him recover from a...... toe injury. Yes thats right little Harby needs an illegally banned substance to overcome what has always been reported as a minor injury. Anyone else think the cheat has taken a performance enhancing drug and has tested positive to internal tests and now India are going to cover it up by claiming any future positive tests are due to this "legally sanctioned" taking of a banned substance? If it were anyone else I'd not bring it up, but Harbhajan is right up there with Shoaib and Asif in the dirty grub and rotten cheat stakes.
And I wonder how easily Gambhir will get off his ban for that elbow incident...

Anyway it should be fun to watch India play the negative cricket that they used so well in Sydney earlier this year [/sarcasm]. Lets see what excuses they can come up with when they draw a game they should have won.

[STL]

We drew. No surprise really and given India's negativity, I doubt they'll play for anything in the last game.

One thing that frustrates me to no end is the regard people seem to starting to hold Michael Clarke in. All the talk about his increasing maturity and how that makes him the perfect captain for Australia is annoying the hell out of me. He -does- not have the persona to be a successful captain. As trunks pointed out, he would've failed w/ the bat if the top order has. He has no backbone about him. In the last tour when he made 91 odd with Martyn, it was Martyn's innings that held the Aussies together yet he gets the credit for playing with his flair. And while he was quick to separate Katich and Gambier, that doesn't make him a leader either. I mean plenty of players try to separate fights/arguments in other sports like Rugby and AFL but that doesn't make them born leaders either. Clarke may be maturing but maturity does not mean you for a single moment possess leadership qualities. I'm pretty sick of the commentators talking about him and his maturity. Its important to mature but maturing does not mean you have all these leadership and personal qualities that make you great. I'm happy to be proven wrong but let's make Clarke earn it. He did nothing special. Hayden, Ponting both made near centuries - they just didn't notch up the triple figures. Which is important but he didn't score very much more than them.

For me, reading the report, Katich had the last over of the 4th day. That says enough about White's ability. Play Kreja. Period. It's a risk worth taking.

And I concur absolutely. India's rise is something to be feared. Not b/c of their cricketing ability but the amount of power they will wield. I may be taking it too far but I fear their administration will be bad for the game. Self-interested, arrogant, and conceited.

[jacksplatt11]

We drew. No surprise really and given India's negativity, I doubt they'll play for anything in the last game.

Yeah, definitely look for India to play safe, all they will be looking for is a draw, they're 1 up so I guess it's up to us to take it to them...

Michael Clarke has been, and always will be, a front runner.. When we struggle, he struggles.. When other players do all the hardwork, in this test Hayden, Katich, Ponting n co, Clarke is quite happy then to come in and perform and take all the credit... If he is made captain, I'll be severely disappointed.. Who to make captain after Ponting? I don't know, maybe Hussey if he is still playing, but there are much better players and captains (or captain material) waiting in the wings...

When White started out, he was a true all rounder, batter/bowler.. But over the last couple of years he has obviously concentrated too much on his batting...

Should definitely play Krejza, we need a true spinner, and we're not going to find one until we give some a go... Relying on part timers like Clarke, Katich and White (that's all he really is nowadays) will not do..

[STL]

When White started out, he was a true all rounder, batter/bowler.. But over the last couple of years he has obviously concentrated too much on his batting...

Apparently, according to Rob Cassell, a friend of his and an old MHS boy who I know, White figured that he'd make more money as a batsman.

From everything I've heard/read, White's worked with Jenner extensively to try and get the action right. But I think circumstances have conspired against him b/c of the fact that McGain was up and coming at the time and fair more accomplished. And with the advent of 20-20 cricket, it far suited White's game much better. After all, he just needs to play in the IPL for the next 3 years and he's set for life.

Has anyone seen this John Holland guy play? Apparently he's a good prospect. Finger spinner though he did go for a bit today in the Ford Ranger Cup. The Vics had a comfortable win too with Hussey leading the day again. His one day form has been excellent but not so much his 4 day form. Rogers and Quiney both batted well as well and Quiney has come out of nowhere this year.

Should definitely play Krejza, we need a true spinner, and we're not going to find one until we give some a go... Relying on part timers like Clarke, Katich and White (that's all he really is nowadays) will not do..

Agree totally. We've also got to remember, warn to come to us and announce his brilliance overnight. It took time for him to develop his craft and gain that confidence. I think people expect a spinner too soon. I'd rather see Krejza play and get smacked around for 4 or 5 games and get a chance rather than not.

The problem with McGain as well if he does play for Australia is that it just means that Australia is avoiding the issue of developing a new spinner. Most spinners have to blooded first. They're not like pacemen and you have to accept that they go for runs. Good ones take time b/c as much as spinning is about turning a ball, its about mind games and temperament. That was one of Warne's trademarks and that of many others from Kumble to chucker.

The other spot that might come up is Haddin's. His fingers were injured quite a bit and he's not really consolidated that spot. I'd love to see Pomersbach in for Haddin. Some youth could do a lot for Australia.

[jacksplatt11]

Ahh yeah that makes sense about White, and yeah Mcgain playing well hasn't really helped him either..

And you're right, spinners do go for runs, lots of runs... I think that because we've been used to Warne bowling pretty effeciently for a spinner, we expect anyone to come in and perform the same... But most new spinners are gonna get hit for a bit while they find their feet, you just have to persist..

The other spot that might come up is Haddin's. His fingers were injured quite a bit and he's not really consolidated that spot. I'd love to see Pomersbach in for Haddin. Some youth could do a lot for Australia.

While I agree that Haddin's spot is definitely up for grabs, I don't quite think Pomersbach is a good substitution... Considering that it would leave us without a wicket-keeper haha, but I know what you're trying to say, Haddin for me, while being a very capable keeper, doesn't quite impress me with the bat.. I don't think that he thinks batting situations through properly, like a Test batsmen should, I think he is much more suited to One Day with his attacking style... I know I know, Gilchrist was attacking in both One Day AND Tests, but Gilchrist is a one of a kind type of player, who you could rely on in a Test to score quick but still keep his wicket, most of the time anyway.. I think Ronchi will be our next keeper

[STL]

I think Ronchi will be our next keeper

That's what I meant... oops