Australia Tour Of India 2012/13

[Gurjot95]

As I said...the criticism of Smith has been unfair...the guy can play...seems these dump on everyone fans know nothing...and can not even name any alternatives anyway.
Yeah, Smith's bowling is not test standard...yet.
But the guy is 23, leave him be.
He shows way more potential than Cameron White ever did.

If he can bat better than all of your specialist batsman barring Clarke then shouldn't he be the first choice in team irrespective of his bowling?

I bet Mitchel Johnson would have scored more than Hughes in this series. Never understood the logic why Australians are so keen in including all rounder who can bowl well but not the otherwise. it's quite ironic considering how the Australian batsman have batted in this tour.

 

[Aalay]

Steve Smith @ # 5 in a test match?. That is not a long batting line-up, that is a short batting line-up that ends @ # 4.

Nobody expected to play how he did.

so why not try someone else such as Smith? I think he has a good technique to play spin bowling.

Haha so suddenly people comes in support of Smith as soon as he score runs. I have been saying since the end of the 2nd test match that Smith has to be there because he has technique to tackle spin. It does not matter if he bats at 5 or 6 or 7 but he is one player apart from Clarke in that lineup who can handle spin. After good performance in the first test, Henriques is also struggling get runs.

As far as India is concern, Sirji's sudden rise is really troubling me because I don't think he will be a good option in South Africa. Good comeback for us after that opening partnership. We need to get them out quickly tomorrow and try to restrict them under 300.

 

[cerande]

I like Pragyan Ojha,but he was the worst spinner on show today.Possibly a case of confidence loss or a solitary off day,but Jadeja bowled better than him today.So,who knows,maybe Jadeja is the one to go to when it comes to left arm spin in SA.

Jadeja has stunned everybody really.

 

[Sedition]

Well well, that opening partnership from Cowan and Warner should silence a few people. As I said, Cowan just needs to cash in on these flat decks like everyone else and people can't just point to his low 30 average and say he sucks without ever seeing him play.

And yep Clarke back at 5 thanks. Obviously he can take world class attacks apart and in theory should be able to bat anywhere, but it's all about mentality with him it seems. Coming in at 5, the game situation is reasonably clear, as far as what he needs to do. If we're 3 down for not many, he digs in better than anyone, if runs are on the board, he takes control and can play aggressively.

Was interested to see how far Smith has come, and he's delivered so far. Hopefully the energy that he and Warner bring to the field will be rewarded if our bowlers can't get the breakthroughs.

Disappointing from Hughes again. Anything other than a big hundred should see him dropped for Khawaja. Henriques will find out pretty soon that his two good innings on debut only carry so much weight, luckily he has a chance to deliver with the ball though.

Starc and Smith should be pretty familiar with each other, two NSW boys, so hopefully they can build on this partnership tomorrow and push us up past 350.

 

[Aalay]

India Cricket News: Duncan Fletcher gets one-year extension as India coach | ESPN Cricinfo

One more chance for Duncan but if we lose in SA, I think that will be it for him. Still he deserved one more chance.

 

[greymatter776]

Duncan Fletcher?s contract extended by one year | Firstpost

One more chance for Duncan but if we lose in SA, I think that will be it for him.

Yes. His strategy is a poor one. Making the players play football for more time than practice in nets is not a very good one.

 

[King of Cricket]

Mohali test was stopped by god
otherways India make a Htrick Test Victory....

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

So...

3 = Unlucky
5 = Lucky
?

batting averages for no.3 batsmen over the last 2 years.

South Africa	66.41
Sri Lanka	55.27
India		55.14
England		45.12
Pakistan	44.50
Bangladesh	40.26
West Indies	35.44
New Zealand	29.37
Australia	25.94

and in fairness, no.5s

Australia	75.80
West Indies	63.89
South Africa	54.75
Sri Lanka	32.22
India		35.85
England		33.58
Pakistan	40.50
New Zealand	21.68
Bangladesh	34.14

it's only poor NZ who don't have someone compensating their no.3 right, bangladesh surprsingly unrubbish from that.

 

[Satan666]

Excellent opening partnership by Warner and Cowan, finally exposing the volatile Indian bowling lineup, 273 with 3 wicktes in hand and Clarke making zero certainly means it was Australia's day. Alot now depends on how well the weakened Australian bowling lineup cope with the Indian batsmen, mainly MSD as he showed in the first test he can single-handedly win a test match for India.

 

[puddleduck]

Australia are hilarious. Genuinely hilarious. They may as well bring in Devon Malcolm and Mark Ramprakash for all the good it'll do them.

 

[SaiSrini]

India Cricket News: Duncan Fletcher gets one-year extension as India coach | ESPN Cricinfo

One more chance for Duncan but if we lose in SA, I think that will be it for him. Still he deserved one more chance.

U.N.B.E.L.I.E.V.A.B.L.E!! Just.........forget it!

 

[sifter132]

Haha so suddenly people comes in support of Smith as soon as he score runs. I have been saying since the end of the 2nd test match that Smith has to be there because he has technique to tackle spin. It does not matter if he bats at 5 or 6 or 7 but he is one player apart from Clarke in that lineup who can handle spin. After good performance in the first test, Henriques is also struggling get runs.

I couldn't get the smile off my face all the way after Smith got past about 20. He's been massively written off. I think most Aussie fans think he's a joke, while most international fan thinks he's playing as a leg spinner.

I won't say that I've been a fan of Smith for x-amount of time like you have Aalay ...but he's certainly copped more abuse than he deserves. I always like sticking up for those players.

Interestingly, I think it's the Aussie ODI #7 syndrome coming through in regards to his public perception. Basically everyone who has played at #7 in the last 10-15 years for the Aussie ODI team has been deemed useless by the general public. Largely because they are! They don't get the opportunity to make any runs and they are always the 5th bowler used at best. Andrew Symonds was the 7 for a long time and thought of as entertaining, but hollow player - until he moved up the order, then Shane Watson was an injury riddled waste of space at #7, Steve Smith had his time there - picked as a specialist fielder was the usual criticism. Cameron White is largely despised by Aussie fans - he was a #7 in the ODI side for a while. Dan Christian as well. Glenn Maxwell looks like he'll be the next guy. Just seems to be an odd trend - you play at #7 in the Aussie ODI team and you'll be regarded as a shitty player. A jack of all trades, master of none type.


Hoping the Aussies can get through to lunch today. Would be a big effort, but it might save the match. If Starc gets going it might lead Dhoni to put the field back and ease that pressure a bit.

 

[midgetwars]

batting averages for no.3 batsmen over the last 2 years.

South Africa	66.41
Sri Lanka	55.27
India		55.14
England		45.12
Pakistan	44.50
Bangladesh	40.26
West Indies	35.44
New Zealand	29.37
Australia	25.94

and in fairness, no.5s

Australia	75.80
West Indies	63.89
South Africa	54.75
Sri Lanka	32.22
India		35.85
England		33.58
Pakistan	40.50
New Zealand	21.68
Bangladesh	34.14

it's only poor NZ who don't have someone compensating their no.3 right, bangladesh surprsingly unrubbish from that.

Haha, that is awesome. Cricinfo had a good stat piece on it but they didn't show the number 5s.

 

[aussie1st]

That all started with the great Ponting too. I thought Hughes would be the one to make the spot his own after his reappearance against SL, but this series he has looked all at sea. It's a shame as he is our best youngster and his FC stats make good reading. If he is dropped it'll probably be a while before we see him back i.e. him really piling on the runs for 5 seasons ala Hayden and co.

 

[midgetwars]

That all started with the great Ponting too. I thought Hughes would be the one to make the spot his own after his reappearance against SL, but this series he has looked all at sea. It's a shame as he is our best youngster and his FC stats make good reading. If he is dropped it'll probably be a while before we see him back i.e. him really piling on the runs for 5 seasons ala Hayden and co.

With the lack of batting for australia it probably won't be 5 seasons.