India tour of Australia, Nov 21 - Jan 18

[meninblue]

As for India, i think Kuldeep / Ashwin will replace Ishant Sharma at Sydney as the wicket can be expected to assist spinners more. Otherwise there will be no changes. Toss will also have a lot of say in the result as we see nowadays.

Not sure Sydney has been spin friendly for a while now. Lyon has terrible figures at the SCG, by some distance his worst home venue. Happy to be corrected, but without checking, I think it's been a mix of green pitches and flat decks.

There is hardly any significant difference:

Since Jan 1 2015 - Lyon at Sydney
Matches : 4, Innings: 7, Wickets: 16 , Avg: 44.25, SR: 95.5 (More than 2 wickets per innings)


Lyon Overall at Sydney:
Matches : 7, Innings: 13, Wickets: 22 , Avg: 48.13, SR: 92.9 (Less than 2 wickets per innings)


Lyon is in wonderful form in last two years, and more relevant is this series. Also, this Indian batting is weak against spin than the past ones.

It goes back further than that. The occasional pitch has been spicy for seamers, like for Pakistan in 2009 ish. But other than that, I think it's been pretty flat. Can't remember any really breaking up and turning.

Nothing like the previous decades anyway. Remember that pitch in 98/99 when, by the four innings, MacGill was turning the ball at right angles. Bowling people round their legs from balls that would have been leg aide wides on other decks.

Average of 45 plus confirms that.

I have now taken last two tests at Sydney:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/1088 ... nz-2017-18

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/1061 ... us-2016-17

What you say is correct - it's not a tough pitch to bat on, which is clear by the fact that 2513 runs for 53 wickets i.e. 44 runs per wicket were scored in two tests.

Lyon has given 355 runs for 9 wickets i.e. 39.44 runs per wicket. He has been relatively better than others at Sydney. I am unable to find who and by how much he is better than others because i am not aware how to pull cricinfo stats ground-wise for all bowlers who played those last two tests at Sydney. However, it is higher than Lyons overall career average of 31.60.

[meninblue]

This is the commentary we got to hear in the morning. I was watching when this comment was made. The other commentators too joined in by laughing.


https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cri ... ans/338686

The former Aussie cricketer had previously suggested that Indian opener Agarwal’s Ranji trophy triple ton had come against a team of “canteen staff”. “Apparently he got the triple against the Railways canteen staff,” O’Keeffe was heard saying on air during commentary responsibilities with Fox Cricket.

Although O'Keefe had apologised for his remark on Mayank's triple hundred, to be heard making fun of Indian names probably hints that the 69-year-old didn't really learn from his mistake. Later, India head coach, Ravi Shastri, had also responded to the former cricketer's attempt to ridicule Agarwal's Ranji Trophy knock.

"He [Mayank] has got a message for Kerry… ‘when you do open your canteen, he wants to come and smell the coffee. He wants to compare it to the ones back in India…coffee here’s better or the ones back home’," Shastri had said after the conclusion of second day's play.

During his stint on the fourth day, O'Keefe was heard as saying, "Why would you name your kid Cheteshwar Jadeja?" while having difficulties pronouncing the names of the two Indian cricketers. The comment didn't go down well with Indian fans who expressed their disappointment on social media.

[bigfluffylemon]

O'Keefe is a moron. Never could stand him in the commentary box.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Worrying rain break for India.

[Red Devil]

Worrying rain break for India.

Yes, starting to get nervous now. Would be just our luck to have the rain come in!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Forecast is for sun later. But still raining now.

Presume Aussie grounds will dry quickly.

[Red Devil]

O'Keefe is a moron. Never could stand him in the commentary box.

Should be sacked, his attitude belies a culture of casual racism that should be completely unacceptable

[Red Devil]

Forecast is for sun later. But still raining now.

Presume Aussie grounds will dry quickly.

Cummins batted beautifully yesterday and Lyon has batted well all series. If it rains for a while that will give them encouragement that they can see it through. The India bowlers and fielders will need to be on their game

[bigfluffylemon]

O'Keefe is a moron. Never could stand him in the commentary box.

Should be sacked, his attitude belies a culture of casual racism that should be completely unacceptable

Agreed.

Looks like it will clear up this afternoon. Early lunch to be taken, so resumption should be about 1pm local time for an extended afternoon session.

India still have the new ball - that plus the cloud cover should help.

[Red Devil]

Hopefully!

The rain has messed up my plans. It's 1am now and we are hosting family tomorrow so I'm probably going to have to go to bed and see what the score is in the morning. Or I'll stay up and be knackered all day tomorrow!

[GarlicJam]

Own up now, who here didn't think that Aus would make it to Lunch?

[Red Devil]

Own up now, who here didn't think that Aus would make it to Lunch?

Me for one!

Worth staying up and great to see the bowlers wrap it up quickly

[bigfluffylemon]

Well that was over quickly. (I hear that a lot).

Well done India. Changes for Australia for Sydney, surely? Finch's place must be in doubt, at least. Harris too, but then they'd have to find two openers...

[meninblue]

Comprehensive victory in just over 4 days and 5 overs with a victory margin of 137 runs.

The Border - Gavaskar Trophy stays with us with this win.

[alfie]

Went quickly once they got on ...I went shopping when they took the early lunch and actually missed the finish...

Comprehensive win for India . - well done Kohli and co

The trophy secured , they can just about taste a series win : but nothing should be assumed about Sydney. Might be a flat sort of pitch so whoever wins the toss could rack up a decent first innings score - which would leave the chasing team to confront their nerves.

I do think India are favourites now - the local commentators all sound rather pessimistic this afternoon so lord knows how the team are feeling - but not ruling out an Australian fightback : they came back pretty well in Perth. As long as Cummins stays upright they have a chance ...