Australia Tour Of India 2012/13

[SaiSrini]

I still have hope in Raina turning things around and making a comeback in test matches and doing so successfully. When Ganguly, with the kind of technique had, can succeed in test cricket, why not Raina? Ganguly is said to have gone that far with his attitude. Well Raina has a very good attitude too. He is positive, vibrant and never gives up easily.

And anyways after the golden trio (Sachin, Dravid and Laxman), you will find it hard to see youngsters who are good against the short ball. Even Pujara has a small chink against the pull shot and his dad says he should not play it. Kohli is a good hooker, but can you certainly say he is good against the short ball? Not yet... Raina might make a career for himself in tests inspite of the short ball problem. Avoiding the short ball is something that you can practice well at. And then it becomes a test of patience to see how long the bowler can keep banging it short to the batsman.

 

[puddleduck]

I do know of one team that just lost to a second New Zealand XI and got bowled out for 167 today who get as much coverage as this yes. By the way, when was the last time NZ beat a test class opposition at home other than Pakistan? I don`t remember having seen them beat anyone at home either for a while now. Was thrilled to see them do well in Aus, SL and now today at home against England. Bit offthread but yeah

Sorry I couldn't hear you. Far too much traffic going over my bridge.

Considering England have lost their last 4 test matches at the start of a series, I'm not too worried yet. Although how bad must India be at the moment if they lose to an England side that gets rolled over by NZ?

In seriousness, how bad must Sehwag be if he's getting dropped from an Indian side that's just won two tests by emphatic margins? Can't field, no longer bowls, and he can't bat. Glad the selectors are finally showing some common sense.

 

[Sedition]

I personally would never move Pujara from his number 3 position because he has actually proved that he can build or anchor the inning from that position. If they want to include Rahane, they have to play him at either 6 or open the innings with him because those are the only 2 spots that are currently open in the lineup. As stinky pointed out that both Pujara and Kohli started their batting at number 6 when they made their debut. Pujara batted at 6 in our last tour of South Africa and Kohli batted at the same position in our home series against West Indies and they gradually got settled in the middle order. We have to do the same thing with Rahane because If the selectors are not seeing him as an opener, then he has to bat at 6. Once Sachin retire, Kohli can move at number 4 and we can have Rahane at 5 and someone like Manoj Tiwary at 6.

As I correctly pointed out, Pujara and Kohli both debuted at 5 because old has-beens like Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar had a stranglehold over 3-5 and at least one of those three were missing to allow them to debut there.

Never seen Kohli as a #3 personally. Maybe he's batted there in FC, don't know, but is doing well enough at 5 that I don't see a reason to move him yet.

If Indian fans/selectors really want to hide a promising top order batsman down at 6, when playing at home and in a dominant series position, then go for it I guess.. doesn't show a great deal of confidence in him and he probably won't get anything out of it either.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

it's a bit of a weird criticism, they're not going to move tendulkar are they, and pujara has nailed down the number 3 spot. I dunno, you seem to be just trying to pretend this isn't normal, they have established players doing well higher up, they're not australia where every single batsman bar one is completely terrible.

 

[Sedition]

Yeah I forgot that it's standard practice even though it really isn't. Hardly an established top order when there's a hole that needs filling. Go ahead and stick Dhawan in though, Rahane down 6 and watch India collapse and gift us the test.

Even our inexperienced top order has us sitting safely above everyone except South Africa, so doesn't say much for the rest of the world. As long as the idiotic critics don't get their way and drop everyone after one poor series on the dustbowels of India, this team we have will find their feet and put us clear ahead of everyone else like how it's always been.

 

[SaiSrini]

In all this 'Sehwag discussion', we have probably glossed over the fact that they have not made any changes to India's bowling arsenal. I don't think we don't have options. What's wrong in blooding a few raw pacers right now rather than think about it later, when South Africa looms? Or do the selectors seriously think Dinda, Zaheer and Sreesanth are enough for backup (considering Umesh, Ishant and Bhuvaneshwar are our frontliners)?

I wish we had seen Ishwar Pandey or atleast Shami Ahmed get a nod in place of Ishant.

 

[War]

it's a bit of a weird criticism, they're not going to move tendulkar are they, and pujara has nailed down the number 3 spot. I dunno, you seem to be just trying to pretend this isn't normal, they have established players doing well higher up, they're not australia where every single batsman bar one is completely terrible.

Hold up. They may be clearly terrible in Indian conditions currently. But i hope you are not saying they are "terrible overall"?

Past AUS batting line-ups recognized as actually great, have collapsed in India just as badly as the Hyderbad tests:

2nd Test: India v Australia at Kolkata, Mar 18-21, 1998 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

yes, I am saying hughes, cowan and watson are terrible. ok, warner is alright for a chancer but he's nothing special. this line up will be slaughtered in england.

 

[Sedition]

Some of us don't rely on South Africa to produce their talent. The current England side is getting slaughtered by NZ right now Won't be any trouble at all for us come the back-to-back Ashes.

Cowan's averaging 32 and is consistently getting starts against every side we've played since his inclusion. Didn't need to hide him down the order either. Converting a couple of those starts will bump his average up handily, a hundred in his next innings for example puts him up to 35, not too shabby.

Hughes is far more talented than the likes of Root, Compton, Butler and whatever other youngsters are waiting on the wings of England. Just finishing demolishing Sri Lanka too.

Watson's bowling would be handy, considering he's by far the best allrounder in the world right now, but I'll take his batting any day, anywhere in the top 4 across all 3 forms.

As I said, if those guys are crap, the rest of the world are bloody hopeless.

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Rather annoying that the next test isn't for another week, I feel like I could get out there and bowl the first ball now. What a waste of passion.

 

[Satan666]

Apparently the Indians have forgotten there are two tests remaining, reading the last couple of pages I was swayed into thinking this is the India versus SA thread. I am backing the Aussies 100% to bounce back and win the last two tests then we will see the best Indian lineup going to SA!

 

[greymatter776]

I would love to see two youngsters opening for India in third test. It was a much wanted change to remove Viru and Gambhir .

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

I am backing the Aussies 100% to bounce back and win the last two tests then we will see the best Indian lineup going to SA!

The Aussies have learnt from their mistakes, barring the umpiring errors I expect India to suffer in the next three tests. I am saying it here it seems India have pay off the umpires too many series are occuring with these silly umpiring mistakes involving India, an investigation must be carried out. Dhoni batted well, also Kholi once theyre back in the dressing room the Indians wont be able to score against the Aussie pacers.

They also won the first game against the Eng and we all know what the result at the end of the series was. Beware Indian fans after joy is sorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems all you can do is EXPECT Your hatred towards India and Indian cricket would not make you a pundit.

For me the next match lineup should be

--> Vijay
--> Dhawan
--> Pujara
--> Tendulkar
--> Kohli
--> Dhoni
--> Jadeja
--> Ashwin
--> Dinda
--> Sharma
--> Kumar

Mohali track will be a great help to seam bowling. Hope to see Dinda making good use of his ability if selected

 

[SaiSrini]

If I were Dhoni, I would try out Rahane along with Dhawan for the next two tests before the South Africa tour. With India up 2-0 and with Mohali expected to be less spin friendly than the other two venues where we played so far, I don't see the need for Jadeja in the XI. Instead if we can play 4 bowlers and Rahane, we can give Rahane a good two games before the South Africa tour, and also we can beef up our batting in case the Aussie quicks get on fire on the Mohali pitch.

Personally, this will be my lineup

Vijay
Dhawan
Pujara
Tendulkar
Kohli
Rahane
Dhoni
Ashwin
Bhuvaneshwar
Ishant
Dinda/Ojha

If the wicket is not really the typical Mohali seamer friendly wicket but yet its not exactly spin friendly, then play two spinners + two seamers and play Ojha and Ashwin, along with Ishant and Bhuvaneshwar.

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It seems all you can do is EXPECT Your hatred towards India and Indian cricket would not make you a pundit.

Dude - I just stopped reacting to his trolls, and now its you? He is playing a lottery. At some point of time, he will win but we know what a lottery means.

 

[Epic]

Australia in India 2012-13 : Selectors take the tough calls | Cricket Features | India v Australia | ESPN Cricinfo

Finally.

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I like that line-up you got there and it isn't totally illogical like some of the ones I see floating about the interwebs(), but two debutants though? I really can't think of the last time I saw any country debut two players at once, against a top nation that is.

As far as the pitch goes, it really hasn't deserved plaudits such as "seamer friendly" in recent times, but we'll see. Anything but a road please.

 

[SaiSrini]

Technically, Rahane might be a debutant but the guy has been on the India benches for too too long now plus he has also played enough ODI/T20 games now. And if we have an eye on the South Africa tour, we need to blood both those guys soon NOW.