India tour of Australia, Nov 21 - Jan 18

[alfie]

This is currently Australia's worst home series with the bat since 1984, when the great West Indies (Holding et Al) toured, and the fifth worst since the war (not really fair to compare prevwar, what with uncovered pitches and all)

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... iew=series

I guess when you suddenly take out the two best bats from any side - especially one that did tend to rely on them rather a lot - they're going to struggle. Plus the pitches haven't been quite the roads that have been common on recent years.

[yuppie]

The Australian tail showing up the top order again.

[alfie]

Yes they've held out to the close

Good determined effort from these two bowlers ; a bit frustrating for Kohli and his boys but they should finish the job pretty early tomorrow. Must admit I'm surprised Australia have reached 250 !

But I don't think they're on for another 142

[meninblue]

India has to come back tomorrow. No collapse of the tail but still this is going to be a comprehensive victory around 100 runs. Well played Team India.

[meninblue]

Australian Team must be wondering about the openers.

Finch has scored 0,11,50,25,8,3 (97 runs) in 6 innings this series.

Marcus has scored 26,26,70,20,22,13 (177 runs) in 6 innings this series.

Obviously Finch is better batsman, but Pat Cummins has scored 10, 28, 19, 1, 17, 61* (136 runs) in 6 innings this series. Such has been Finch's form. He has given very poor starts to Team Australia and has helped Indian pacers attack the one down with brand new ball, also effectively asking Usman Khawaja to play the openers role. Like this strong Indian pace bowling spoilt the batting averages on our tour of SA, now the batting averages of Australian batsman are looking below par this series.


Indian batsmen have scored 3 tons, Australian batsmen have none. Will the Australian think tank change or shuffle the batting lineup to address this issue

Border in the post stumps interview says tough calls need to be taken for Sydney test as far as batting is concerned.

[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.

[sussexpob]

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.

[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.

We won't mind even if it is pace friendly. If in case the wicket looks different to what it has previously been, our think tank will not swap pacer with spinner. I am more concerned about the toss.

[bigfluffylemon]

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.

It hasn't really been spin friendly since Warne retired. I think you're right.

[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.

[GarlicJam]

You need to remember, Adi, that Finch should never have been selected as an opener. White ball opener, yes. Red ball number 6.

Australia's trouble is One of Australia's troubles is that there are too many batsmen they want to select that need to be batting at 6.

[meninblue]

You need to remember, Adi, that Finch should never have been selected as an opener. White ball opener, yes. Red ball number 6.

Australia's trouble is One of Australia's troubles is that there are too many batsmen they want to select that need to be batting at 6.

Agree Similar to Rohit Sharma. Debatable in test, though top class player in short format. And middle order player at best in test if selected.

[alfie]

Selection for Sydney might be crucial , I think. Neither team can really afford to get it badly wrong as all the main bowlers have done a lot of work over three games and they'll need to put out a combination that can take twenty wickets.

India have more options . Ashwin - if he is fit - could come in for a pace man. But then you might want Pandya to play as a third seam option , perhaps ? Or perhaps they might look at Bhuvi as a fresh pace bowler ? Tough call as the current bowlers are doing well... Agarwal has secured one opening spot ; but if they want the extra bowling option then I'd imagine Rohit has to open as they don't seem to rate Vihari's bowling.

Australia really don't have anyone who can take a pace bowling spot without weakening the attack. But if any of the pace men are "cooked" I wouldn't be surprised to see Siddle in for Sydney. I must confess I wonder if Hazlewood isn't a bit worn down... As for Marsh I'm not certain his batting is much help so if the pitch does look reasonably spin-friendly perhaps Labuschagne might get a recall ?
As for the batting I don't think Finch is up to it but not sure they have a (non) rabbit to pull out of the hat to replace him. Think they have to persist with what they have - for now. Not having any red ball cricket going on now doesn't help...

Still think Sydney could go either way. Toss likely to be important.

[meninblue]

Selection for Sydney might be crucial , I think. Neither team can really afford to get it badly wrong as all the main bowlers have done a lot of work over three games and they'll need to put out a combination that can take twenty wickets.

India have more options . Ashwin - if he is fit - could come in for a pace man. But then you might want Pandya to play as a third seam option , perhaps ? Or perhaps they might look at Bhuvi as a fresh pace bowler ? Tough call as the current bowlers are doing well... Agarwal has secured one opening spot ; but if they want the extra bowling option then I'd imagine Rohit has to open as they don't seem to rate Vihari's bowling.

Australia really don't have anyone who can take a pace bowling spot without weakening the attack. But if any of the pace men are "cooked" I wouldn't be surprised to see Siddle in for Sydney. I must confess I wonder if Hazlewood isn't a bit worn down... As for Marsh I'm not certain his batting is much help so if the pitch does look reasonably spin-friendly perhaps Labuschagne might get a recall ?
As for the batting I don't think Finch is up to it but not sure they have a (non) rabbit to pull out of the hat to replace him. Think they have to persist with what they have - for now. Not having any red ball cricket going on now doesn't help...

Still think Sydney could go either way. Toss likely to be important.

Rohit should not be in test team, atleast not away from home. He is actually managed by the same Player Management agency (Cornerstone), whose owners cousin sister is Rohit's wife. Nothing wrong, but imo the player management agencies role should be monitored in selection, especially if the players captain picks are from same agency. She was Rohit's profile manager. It makes sense to keep a check on player management agencies where the captain comes from. . Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Murali Vijay ,Umesh Yadav,Ishant Sharma are some of the players managed by the agency. The other is Rhiti Sports which had Dhoni, Jadeja, Raina etc. Although a ODI superstar with 3 double tons, his selection in tests is ridiculous, especially with so many middle order batsmen we have in domestic cricket. In fact the selection has been horrible in many aspects. His temperament even when he played for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy was pathetic. Once we had a match under control in Ranji trophy and he played a ridiculous short and we lost the domestic match. It's not a one off match issue. Let him show he has improved a lot on temperament, patience m shot selection before selectors give him test spot. Otherwise keep him 10k miles away from test team.


Better middle order test match suited players than Rohit in test format: Vihari once he sorts his weakness against short pitch stuff. He isn't a regular opener for his state team, although a top order bat and now a make shift opener for tests. He can be shifted to middle order. Karun Nair, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill should also be tried ahead of Rohit in tests.

[sussexpob]

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.