Australia Tour Of India 2012/13

[angryangy]

Well the problem is the sweep. They kept sweeping and missing. Even the Clarke.

The problem is how they're seeing the ball and getting into position to play. The sweep becomes a rubbish shot when it's the default "I don't know" shot. You can hardly play any shot at a ball pitching outside leg if you're going to plant the front foot outside off stump as Warner did. Hughes made a better attempt, but still enabled the ball to york him and sneak behind his pad. In both cases the ball was a bit full to sweep, but they didn't demonstrate that they knew much about the line of the ball either. I think we can forgive the Clarke his rash shot when Australia were 8 down.

 

[midgetwars]

Haddin in for Wade for stand by.

Not even Paine or Hartley.

Seems like selectors just don't give a damn any more.

 

[Prithvi]

If Laxman had not been hasty and had not given importance to his bruised ego, probably Sachin might have left and Laxman stayed. You need one senior pro to take the team through the transition. Dravid left at the right time (4 years after Ganguly/Kumble left). Laxman felt insulted when he was given an ultimatum of the series (even if the rumors are not true, Laxman should not have left immediately after Dravid. India didn't play a single test inbetween Laxman and Dravid's retirement. Laxman took a hasty decision). So all India was left with was Tendulkar.

Since others did not time their retirements properly, Tendulkar is left to stay with the team. While Tendulkar is in the side, Kohli and Pujara are starting to find their feet now. Once their feet are permanently planted, Tendulkar will leave and the next guy will come in. Its working out pretty well for the team. Sehwag can't play that role that Tendulkar plays in transitioning the team through, even if Sehwag bats at No.4.

But who was responsible for Laxmans controversial retirement? The rumor is strong that Laxman was forced to retire after the Hyderabad test/that series. If not, why would Laxman give retirement just days before test at his home ground? That too after having prepared for test series. And also Dhoni- the captain of Indian Cricket team was unavailable at his phone when Laxman tried to contact him. One does not simply retire abruptly, unless he has been insulted badly. And when Tendulkar is made to stay in the team as lonely senior player by pulling off all other players, how can it be mistake of Laxman and his ego?

And rest story, why can't Sehwag play role of Tendulkar at #4 after Tendulkar? For the situation what it is now- I don't want Tendulkar to retire at this moment- but do you think debutant Rahane will do justice to #4 rather than Sehwag?

Amarnath wanted to make Sehwag captain.Now,I agree that Dhoni was struggling and all,but Sehwag wasn't?Sehwag just gives an impression that he is not interested anymore.I would have Dhoni as a captain over Sehwag any day of the week.

Well, Amarnath wanted to make Sehwag captain. Agreed, sir. Mind it- if Amarnath wanted to make Sehwag captain of Indian team, only he would have opposed the decision of sacking Dhoni as captain. But what he said to media is different- he says that "it was unanimous decision of sacking Dhoni as captain for India in test cricket but N.Srinivasan overruled the decision". It clearly means Srinivasan is the guy who wants to see Dhoni as captain and Amarnath doesn't mind whoever is the captain- but he should be rightful person.

Agreed that Sehwag wasn't good either. But the fact remains this "There are more number of wicketkeeper batsmen who can bat better than Dhoni, and there are comparatively less opening batsmen who can bat better than Sehwag" and seeing who has done justice to his role, it is Sehwag, who contributed more to team than Dhoni comparitively.

Now,I am not saying that what happened with Amarnath wasn't bad.I am simply saying I would not have been happy with Sehwag as captain any more than Dhoni.If Amarnath wanted a new fresh face ,then he would have had a point.

The above theory states that Dhoni is captain because of N Srinivasan- who also doesn't like to have a new face- what according to you, he doesn't have a point.

Dhoni is no Dravid to be honest.He does not have a copy-book style of play.So I would actually prefer him to play his natural game.No need to be bogged down.
If he comes at 50-5,then the whole team is batting horribly,no need to single out your wicketkeeper batsmen who is probably only next to Prior and De villiers in terms of performances.

I don't want Dhoni to play like Rahul Dravid or Hashim Amla. I want him to play according to how situation demands. When situation demands some strong defense- wicketkeepers like Sangakkara, AB de and Matt Prior play some rock solid defense. When he is unable to- why is he still continuing? In India, we have wicketkeepers like Parthiv Patel, KKD, Wriddhiman Saha, who are better in batting and wicketkeeping in FC format than Dhoni.

Also,when has Sehwag defended continuously?He was anti -defense from ball one.You could argue it was due to him opening but when you really think about it,he is more attacking towards spinners.Middle order position won't miraculously change Sehwag's fortunes.

Well, it is his role to play that. And the way you see, a test team requires a person who can be aggressive when situation demands. And for team India- it is Sehwag. There are instances where Sehwag played some good defense- but there is no instance where Dhoni saved a match by playing good defense.

Also, not to forget, Sehwag wants to play at middle order, not opening. When he is forced to do that duty of opening when he has hinted that he is unable to open the innings, why not oblige his request?

I am sorry but that 37 age limit is stupid.A player has a right to be available for selection.Selectors are the ones who select.If someone is out of form,they should drop him.Now I know selectors don't have it in them,just saying.

Okay fine, let people play cricket upto when they are dead.

Tendulkar probably is blocking Rohit Sharma's place.It was supposed to be Rahane at #6,Rohit replacing Sachin after he retires.Jadeja simply messed up the calculations.

Kohli at #4 would be ideal IMO. Sehwag at #4, Kohli at #5 and Rahane at #6 with Parthiv Patel at #7 would be excellent after Tendulkar- but sad that Dhoni won't move out.

Rohit Sharma and Jadeja can take care of India in ODis and they can play alternate test series by giving one of #3, #4, #5 or #6 rest.

I would like to add that nothing would thrill me more than to see Sehwag at his old best.He has made an astonishing comeback before.Here is to hoping he makes another,opening or otherwise.

Shocking to see you not supporting his favor of himself playing at middle order- what he requested.

 

[JG1995]

Australia can still win if they get in guys like Mitchell Johnson,Marcus North in place of Siddle and Hughes or Huges should try his hand at opening even getting in Brad Haddin and Moises is good.

 

[Satan666]

All this crap, I am going in to deep meditation for the AUssies to win this test! India will be defeated!!!!!!

 

[Aalay]

This is the runs Indian batsman made after January 2011. Who is struggling?

 

[cerande]

But who was responsible for Laxmans controversial retirement? The rumor is strong that Laxman was forced to retire after the Hyderabad test/that series. If not, why would Laxman give retirement just days before test at his home ground? That too after having prepared for test series. And also Dhoni- the captain of Indian Cricket team was unavailable at his phone when Laxman tried to contact him. One does not simply retire abruptly, unless he has been insulted badly. And when Tendulkar is made to stay in the team as lonely senior player by pulling off all other players, how can it be mistake of Laxman and his ego?

And rest story, why can't Sehwag play role of Tendulkar at #4 after Tendulkar? For the situation what it is now- I don't want Tendulkar to retire at this moment- but do you think debutant Rahane will do justice to #4 rather than Sehwag?



Well, Amarnath wanted to make Sehwag captain. Agreed, sir. Mind it- if Amarnath wanted to make Sehwag captain of Indian team, only he would have opposed the decision of sacking Dhoni as captain. But what he said to media is different- he says that "it was unanimous decision of sacking Dhoni as captain for India in test cricket but N.Srinivasan overruled the decision". It clearly means Srinivasan is the guy who wants to see Dhoni as captain and Amarnath doesn't mind whoever is the captain- but he should be rightful person.

Agreed that Sehwag wasn't good either. But the fact remains this "There are more number of wicketkeeper batsmen who can bat better than Dhoni, and there are comparatively less opening batsmen who can bat better than Sehwag" and seeing who has done justice to his role, it is Sehwag, who contributed more to team than Dhoni comparitively.


The above theory states that Dhoni is captain because of N Srinivasan- who also doesn't like to have a new face- what according to you, he doesn't have a point.


I don't want Dhoni to play like Rahul Dravid or Hashim Amla. I want him to play according to how situation demands. When situation demands some strong defense- wicketkeepers like Sangakkara, AB de and Matt Prior play some rock solid defense. When he is unable to- why is he still continuing? In India, we have wicketkeepers like Parthiv Patel, KKD, Wriddhiman Saha, who are better in batting and wicketkeeping in FC format than Dhoni.



Well, it is his role to play that. And the way you see, a test team requires a person who can be aggressive when situation demands. And for team India- it is Sehwag. There are instances where Sehwag played some good defense- but there is no instance where Dhoni saved a match by playing good defense.

Also, not to forget, Sehwag wants to play at middle order, not opening. When he is forced to do that duty of opening when he has hinted that he is unable to open the innings, why not oblige his request?


Okay fine, let people play cricket upto when they are dead.


Kohli at #4 would be ideal IMO. Sehwag at #4, Kohli at #5 and Rahane at #6 with Parthiv Patel at #7 would be excellent after Tendulkar- but sad that Dhoni won't move out.

Rohit Sharma and Jadeja can take care of India in ODis and they can play alternate test series by giving one of #3, #4, #5 or #6 rest.


Shocking to see you not supporting his favor of himself playing at middle order- what he requested.

I don't know the full facts about Amarnath incident.If what you say is indeed true,it says a lot about the sorry state of affairs at Bcci.

But you are wrong about a few things,I think.I still think Dhoni's way better than atleast Parthiv Patel for example.
On current form Sehwag shouldn't be in team,opening or in middle order.I am a firm believer in the theory that picking a player who is in horrible form does more harm than good.

 

[Aalay]

There is absolutely no one right now in India who is better WK/B than Dhoni. Uday Kaul from Punjab is coming good with an average of 53 but I have never seen him play before so can't give opinion about it. Comparing Dhoni with likes of Karthik and Parthiv is a joke.

 

[swacker]

So true ... Hitler seems to be spot on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZNGE0jCA7E

 

[Prithvi]

But you are wrong about a few things,I think.I still think Dhoni's way better than atleast Parthiv Patel for example.

There is absolutely no one right now in India who is better WK/B than Dhoni. Uday Kaul from Punjab is coming good with an average of 53 but I have never seen him play before so can't give opinion about it. Comparing Dhoni with likes of Karthik and Parthiv is a joke.

Parthiv Patel and KKD have played 100+ domestic games and they will be quite better than Dhoni when you play test matches. They can play some orthodox shots, what Dhoni can never play.

On current form Sehwag shouldn't be in team,opening or in middle order.I am a firm believer in the theory that picking a player who is in horrible form does more harm than good.

Good. But Sehwag's role is risky role. Whenever he accelerates the innings, his wicket falls. So, his role must be changed, he should be tried at different position and then he must be sacked. But the way management have dealt with Sehwag- they kept him playing at opening position even though he failed to perform.

MS Dhoni behind Virender Sehwag's Test ouster, says Sourav Ganguly - cricketnext - IBNLive

 

[Aalay]

Parthiv Patel and KKD have played 100+ domestic games and they will be quite better than Dhoni when you play test matches. They can play some orthodox shots, what Dhoni can never play.

Well Dhoni have also played 116 matches as well which is higher Dinesh Karthik's 108. Parthiv has played the highest of 131. You have to understand one thing that Dhoni is not a technical batsman. You will never see him playing those elegant cover drive or the lovely straight drive because he has no technique. However, he has more power than the other two and he will play those unorthodox shots to frustrate the bowlers. The thing is, since he became the captain, he was not playing his natural game in test cricket. His natural game is to attack but I have rarely seen him doing that in test. He plays best when attack the bowlers. If he plays his natural game he will be definately more successful than what he is right now. If Sehwag can play like that than why can't Dhoni? And he can play some shots that the two your mentioned never can. This is coming from a Gujarat fan whose captain is Parthiv Patel.

 

[Aalay]

MS Dhoni behind Virender Sehwag's Test ouster, says Sourav Ganguly - cricketnext - IBNLive

Never categorically said Dhoni had hand in Sehwag's ouster: Ganguly - Hindustan Times

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Yep Hussey was needed for a big partnership. But Cowan and Warner also made centuries in those Tests - that can't be swept under the rug. Don't just ignore their big partnerships with Clarke to fit the narrative. Then Hughes did well vs Sri Lanka and both he and Watson performed in the ODI series afterwards. Watson carved up the bowling in first tour game here and has obviously been working on his game vs spin because he's coming down the pitch sometimes - he never did that before. Combine them with Clarke and is it really so insane to think that these are the 5 batsmen that should be playing? And that they are all rubbish bar Clarke? And if it is insane, then who precisely is this Messiah that should be in the Aussie batting lineup?

well, I don't think there is a messiah, I really do think watson, cowan and hughes are terrible though. I was only comparing india's selection options with australia and talking about where rahane should start, if india want to put a new batsman in he opens or goes at 6, if rahane was an aussie they'd have no problem putting him in at his favoured 1 down spot because everyone else that's played their is rubbish.

I dunno, I think cowan and watson have a terrible, worrying habit of throwing away wickets, bangladesh-esque in the frequency they manage it. cowan did make that ton, but it was on a pitch that yielded 14 wickets over 5 days, I don't see how anyone could use it to justify his ability. watson has been a top order batsman 3 years now? he's still playing cameos like a 6 down the order. hughes is the most interesting of all because like you said, he did do well in sri lanka, yet now looks hopeless on these pitches, he's picking up technical faults not ironing out existing ones, take out his 2nd test which is now bizarrely out of character and he's averaging 27. I would genuinely stand by my assessment that these 3 are terrible, terrible players. however, the most I feel I could suggest they do right now is have an overhaul of their coaching and domestic pitches or something, because it's not producing any batting talent. I think they probably need to decide if who's in to learn and who's in to deliver because at this rate the team is going to perform badly and continue to do so and they've got to figure out how to avoid at least one of those outcomes because I don't they can avoid both.

warner has got some ability for sure but he's no more than decent right now.

maybe I've been a bit gloaty here because there were a few posters a while ago that were maintaining india were going to decline to the status of the windies and new zealand (a few years ago, lets give NZ their due, they're played some decent cricket) which I thought was quite a laughable prediction given the number of talented young indian batsmen about and was more brought about because people hate the BCCI and IPL and want to see india fail. I think I've kinda been vindicated a bit, but yeah, I'll apologise for pointlessly slagging australia.

 

[War]

Blessing in disguise for Australia.

Ye in some ways it is.

But it would have been a bigger blessing if Doherty, Smith & Maxwell had all got injuries & had to be sent home.

 

[War]

well, I don't think there is a messiah, I really do think watson, cowan and hughes are terrible though. I was only comparing india's selection options with australia and talking about where rahane should start, if india want to put a new batsman in he opens or goes at 6, if rahane was an aussie they'd have no problem putting him in at his favoured 1 down spot because everyone else that's played their is rubbish.

I dunno, I think cowan and watson have a terrible, worrying habit of throwing away wickets, bangladesh-esque in the frequency they manage it. cowan did make that ton, but it was on a pitch that yielded 14 wickets over 5 days, I don't see how anyone could use it to justify his ability. watson has been a top order batsman 3 years now? he's still playing cameos like a 6 down the order. hughes is the most interesting of all because like you said, he did do well in sri lanka, yet now looks hopeless on these pitches, he's picking up technical faults not ironing out existing ones, take out his 2nd test which is now bizarrely out of character and he's averaging 27. I would genuinely stand by my assessment that these 3 are terrible, terrible players. however, the most I feel I could suggest they do right now is have an overhaul of their coaching and domestic pitches or something, because it's not producing any batting talent. I think they probably need to decide if who's in to learn and who's in to deliver because at this rate the team is going to perform badly and continue to do so and they've got to figure out how to avoid at least one of those outcomes because I don't they can avoid both.

warner has got some ability for sure but he's no more than decent right now.

I don't see a messiah either. But to say Watson, Cowan & Hughes are "terrible, terrible" players and comparing anything they do to Bangladesh like is madness.

AUS have won 1 series in India since IND became a force @ home after 1969. Seeing AUS teams look poor in India in tests is a very common trait. As i showed you before A FAR STRONGER AUS team in 1998 that were highly rated, were throttled over two tests in a similar way to this series.

Hughes career currently is resembling that of Greg Blewett & Matt Elliot. Very talent players who made very good runs in the very solid AUS domestic season (AUS domestic cricket still has many good fast bowlers & a lot of helpul pitches). But on the international stage, they are displaying a bit too much technical faults. That don't make them terrible & whether Hughes can ever sort himself out is the million dollar question.

Watson for 2 straight years was opening with a 40+ average. He scored a hundred in India opening in 2010. And while ENG were slicing through AUS top & middle-order in Ashes 2010/11 - he average 40+ getting a lot of 50's.

It is a tactical mistake by the AUS selectors that many have identified that he should not open, since he has a weakness vs spin that may non asian batsmen traditionally have. How can player with such a record in his strongest position be classified as terrible in any shape or form is a illogical statement.

The most prudent criticism one can give to Watson in his "best role" is that he needed to increase his conversion rate.

One thing i know for sure is that historically AUS always find batsmen. Good all conditions batsmen that score them runs, just as often as they always produce good fast-bowlers. The only thing AUS struggle to produce with any consistently is a good off-spinner. This is a barren period for the batsmen which is extremely unusual in their history. I am concerned, but i know a revival will happen - its just i or no one can conclusively say when.

maybe I've been a bit gloaty here because there were a few posters a while ago that were maintaining india were going to decline to the status of the windies and new zealand (a few years ago, lets give NZ their due, they're played some decent cricket) which I thought was quite a laughable prediction given the number of talented young indian batsmen about and was more brought about because people hate the BCCI and IPL and want to see india fail. I think I've kinda been vindicated a bit, but yeah, I'll apologise for pointlessly slagging australia.

I don't know about anything wanting Indian to fail, although their is much good reason to dislike the BCCI & IPL.

However, lets not use India good home performance vs a badly selected AUS team suddenly be a sign to give India young batsmen a pass mark that they are the real deal or that India decline has now halted.

AUS simply don't have a team of exposing the potential faults of India that a strong ENG team did & what Pakistan did in the ODI series last december.

Their is no reason regardless of the perceived talent of India's batsmen to suddenly feel just because for example Rahane is obviously more talented than Cowan - that he could play for AUS & do well as an opener.

IND have produced one proper opener in their history in Sunil Gavaskar (Mankad, Shastri, Sidhu had their moments). But have a turbulent history of producing many openers who get technically exposed overtime & get sent to scrap heap.

If India go to South Africa later this year & those so called young batsman can't translate their domestic stats to test performances & get blown away like they were in ENG & AUS - then we will be back to square one with questioning India.

Kohli i've alwways rated & Pujara looks good enough to be the new Dravid (Pujara i sense is helped by not playing IPL cricket) - but all the rest have a lot to prove on the international stage, especially test cricket.

India's spin depth is also still a question mark. India posters on this site even was question Ashwin heavily & saying Harbhajan is still being picked on sentiment. AUS have not played Ashwin with any degree of certainly like what England did before christmas & he has taken advantage of their ineptness.

Is Ravindra Jadeja really a spin-bowling all-rounder of test standard, that can do a similar effective job @ test level for India that Vinoo Mankad in the 40 & 50s, Bapu Nadkarni in the 60s or Shastri in the 80s did?. This is still a massive question mark as well...