Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

GarlicJam wrote:Some bad news for you though, Adi: both Ashwin and Rohit are out of the Perth test.

Ashwin has a side strain, and Rohit jarred his back on the last day.

Rohit out is bad news for Aussies. Ashwin out is bad news for us because Aussie batting lineup is packed with lefties and he can score as much or few more runs than couple of our specialist batsmen.

Ashwin's side hasn't been right since UK tour, and he played there when he really shouldn't have...no suprise he's struggling with it now...

Bit of a blow losing Ashwin - he held up an end really well in Adelaide.

I think four quicks might be a mistake. Yes, the talk of Perth has been pace and bounce, but as sp pointed out, they say that every year, and I'm sure part of it is to try and psyche the opposition out. Perth in recent years has not been a particularly fast or difficult wicket.

But even if it is quick, it's going to be 38 degrees out there. Four seamers and no allrounder is potentially a very heavy workload.

Interesting comment I've seen about how poor Australia's much-vaunted attack has actually been this year.

Starc, Lyon and Hazlewood all average over 33 with a SR of over 60 (Lyon and Hazlewood SR 75 in 2018). Starc and Hazlewood have taken an average of 3 wickets per game each. Only Cummins has done respectably well (32 wickets in 6 games, average under 22, SR 43)
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=bowling

The batting (rightly) cops a lot of flak for Australia's losses this year, but the bowlers haven't been particularly good either.

Interesting India have gone with four seamers, with Umesh Yadav instead of B Kumar. Odd choice IMO, but they must have their reasons.

Decent start for Australia. Ishant seems to be struggling a bit.

Can't be many times India have gone in with four specialist pace bowlers.

Hundred up and the part time spinner on.

bigfluffylemon wrote:Interesting India have gone with four seamers, with Umesh Yadav instead of B Kumar. Odd choice IMO, but they must have their reasons.

Decent start for Australia. Ishant seems to be struggling a bit.

Finch just gone. Bummer.

I was just about to write about Aus' good start (still ok), and how Shami was they only bowler of note so far, when Bumrah gets Finch plumb in front on the shoe.

and Bumrah has continued to bowl well this session, keeping Khawaja alert, that much is true.

Ishant back, hopefully for India, he can regain his control, rhythm and pressure that he had in Adelaide, but hasn't had at all today.

Bumrah and Shami keeping it tight, but Ishant is really struggling for rhythm.

A bit slow for the last hour or so, but Australia won't mind. Keep this up, and there are going to be some tired bowlers out there to cash in against.

Not watched this morning, what's the pitch like

The new stadium's drop-in pitch DOES look to be channeling the WACA pitches of old - and maybe adding a little.

Not so much with the high bounce, but with the occasionally wildly varying bounce. One from a seamer very early in the morning went right along the ground, and one just now from the part-time spinner has just speared up at Harris' throat to get him caught behind.

Bit of bad luck for Harris, but more of an omen for later in the match. I am pleased Aus are not batting last.

that wasn't in reply to your question, Sussex, although it did answer it in part.

Except for the occasional wild bounce, it is pretty good, decent bounce without being bouncy. Plenty in it for the bowlers - India did not pressure the openers enough in the first session.

though, the second session has had plenty of trouble for Aus.

Australia should be happy then. Last thing you want bowling first is evidence of the ball already keeping low. If this venue is anything like the waca, the cracks will just continue to widen too.

Although in my experience of Perth tests, the cracks represented more of a mental issue, that. Practical one. The ball never usually deviated from the cracks that much. And when it did, you had no chance (starc to Vince, and I seem to remember Lyon bowling a length ball that hit a crack and went over slips head.)

India strike straight after tea