India tour of Australia (Nov 22, 2024 - Jan 03, 2025)

[bigfluffylemon]

38/5, Marsh goes. Pressure tells, 5 runs in over half an hour. Maidens yield wickets.

Mutter mutter over rates.

[mikesiva]

Labuschagne, an hour for one run.

Like a 21st century Wally Grout.

Out for two from 52.

[andy]

47-6 marnus goes for 2 from 51 balls...does anyone think it's the pitch? I just think it's very good bowling and some questionable techniques...

[bigfluffylemon]

The pitch has definitely got some nip, but it's not moving round corners. But the bowling from both sides has been right on the money.

[bigfluffylemon]

Not the greatest shot from Cummins there. But the ball is moving.

[bigfluffylemon]

Even accounting for the change of innings, fewer than 80 overs bowled today.

Pathetic.

[andy]

Australia will do well to get too 100 here....gonna be a short test match...starc has just played a beautiful shot down the ground off bumrah....shows there's nothing wrong with the pitch

[Durhamfootman]

Gawd help anyone who was excited about their day 3 test match tickets

[meninblue]

Aus 67/7 at stumps Day 1.

Highest partnership in this Australian batting innings is 15 runs. Shows how good Indian bowlers have bowled not to allow even one proper partnership fit for even T20i or ODI cricket, lest alone test match. Fabulous by Indian bowlers and Jasprit in particular

[sussexpob]

I agree with the commentators. Defensive techniques have regressed in this current era

Love to see how many runs those guys would have got against the new ball on this deck, because I reckon a few of them would be back in the dressing room before the kettle finished boiling. Aside from a few of the lower order players, I don't think you can really fault a crisis in technical failure for the low scores. Both sides bowled superb lines and lengths early up, and while there is almost no lateral movement in the air, this is really trickly pitch to play on.

Just look at Kohli's short innings and compare it the spell after before Khawaja and Smith got out..... Kohli in his short time at the crease had about 3 balls that bounced on a length and ended mid/high chest level, and then anticipating it again he ducked into a ball that didn't bounce high and cannoned his bat, then got another tennis ball bouncer kiss his gloves. Then similar stage of the Aussies innings, Marnus edges to Kohli with a ball similar length to those to Kolhi, ends knee height. Smith got one that didn't get up at all. Can't fault batsman's technique when the same ball can either rip your ear off or hit your shin. And the pitch has carry and is quick, so those balls that bounce and misbehave are really hard to play.

And then even when the ball is normal, look at Jay's wicket in the Indian innings. Lovely ball, on the money, nature bounce and pace from the wicket. Jaiswal doesn't do a lot wrong at all, just a great ball

[sussexpob]

Travis Head as well.... love to those in the box get bat on that. Seams, bounces... at that pace you have absolutely no chance.

[Arthur Crabtree]

All my life commentators have been blaming low scores on the batters rather than a dodgy pitch. Admittedly there has been a revolution in batting in the last ten years, but you might expect that everyone 50-60 years ago had a watertight defensive technique. But videos of the 70s just show a handful of great batters and plenty of duffers.

And home commentators are always reluctant to admit their Test grounds are capable of providing difficult batting conditions responsible for a three day Test. Easier to point to a decline in batting standards.

When the Aussies fill their boots, it's because of flat tracks. When they're 67-7, it's because they... can't bat.

[sussexpob]

You listen to any player who played at the WACA ground in the past, they will tell you that to bat on those bouncy, quick tracks you basically need to leave any ball that would usually land on lengths where you are doubting to commit on the front foot, because they will sail over the stumps. Problem here is, you have that element of bounce, but its just not consistent. You can leave 5 and the 6th will castle you. So even the best batters playing well will get out.

Tbf to the groundsman, in many ways I salute the attempt to get bounce and pace into the wicket. If it was just a little more consistent, it would be a great wicket. I'd prefer watching 2 days test on these decks, to those in Multan which are not rewarding anything.

I guess that sums up the problem. In the Windies and Asia, the pitches seem to be either painfully flat and slow, or they have dried out a bit and turn sideways. And elsewhere, the glut of drop in pitches thats taken over does the same - the wickets are either lifeless or minefields. No one seems to be able to have cracked a decent, consistent model. English pitches seem to be the best balance, but then the aerial conditions can make them equally difficult because nowhere else does the ball swing from the hand so much.

But as I said.... after a few years in the 2010s - early 2020s when Australian pitches turned into roads, I'd much rather see minefields than a wicket like that one in Melbourne when Cook made a huge knock.

[sussexpob]

I guess thats what I miss about test cricket, particularly in Australia; test match venues that had their own character and pitches, that challenged different elements of a game.

Brisbane used to the best pitch in the world - it rewarded good play from either bat or ball. Bat well, score big. Bowl well, take wickets.
Perth used to reward pace and bounce, and rewarded batters who had the balls to stare a barrage in the face.
Adelaide was the classic two innings pitch - batters get 3 days to make a platform, after which spin and inconsistent bounce comes into play and results come into play.
Melbourne rewarded more classical swing or seam bowlers.
Sydney brought your spinner into play and would turn big as the game went on.

Each was unique. Over a series, every element of your game was tested.... it just doesnt exist now

[meninblue]

Bumrah wins the toss and elects to bat.

No Jadeja, which I find surprising. Is he injured?

Garlic, like we say in India, win toss and opt to bat first. Put on a big first innings score and then take lead enough and bowlong on Day 4 and 5 will win matches. Off course there are exceptions like Darmshala ground and like Bangalore recently against NZ where wicket was under covers and batting first was very tough.

Likewise, is there such more often than not decision that captains should take like a template apart from rare test ground or rain scenario.

Jadeja or Ashwin should have played, As they will not score much less than Rahul. Also they can pick wickets.