Australia Tour Of India 2012/13

[Samuels]

India is on song right now but looking at Murali Vijay's technique (or the lack of it) and the way he was bowled by Pattinson in the first test, -- beaten by pace -- if at all Dale Steyn clocks 145+, he is going to be a failure in South Africa. I see some comments about Unmukt Chand and I have heard he is such a talented lad but by what I have seen off him, he is more of a ODI material. If you ask me, India should take technically solid players to the land of Proteas when they can afford to. Someone like a Manoj Tiwary (I don't really know how he has more ODIs under his belt than Tests looking at his OD and FC record) or blue eyed boy from Mumbai, Ajinkya Rahane can be blooded into the side for the fourth test just to get them going. You would not want to take them afresh to South Africa. Coming back to technically solid players, Abhinav Mukund can be a far better bet than Murali Vijay there. Dhawan looks pretty solid in technique and being associated with the same IPL franchise that some of the South African players are a part of including Dale Steyn, he would have played a lot against them in the nets and that experience can be an added advantage on the tour. Bowlingwise, there will be choice between Jadeja and Ashwin. Both are good bowlers on dustbowls and are decent lower order batsmen. Jadeja might just get the edge just because he is very consistent at pitching the ball in the same areas. By doing so, he will play on the patience of the South Africans and that might just do the trick. It will be interesting to see B. Kumar in seaming conditions. If Zaheer or Umesh Yadav join him, they can post a serious challenge to the Proteas

 

[midgetwars]

Another fast bowler injured. I seriously did not see this one coming.

 

[Aalay]

Rahane, Pujara in race to open if Dhawan is finally ruled out - The Times of India

Tears of joy

 

[Epic]

Ok go then....

No point, we get it all here, through you.

 

[KrishnamurthiN]

Well....Now whats remaining in the main picture and on my mind is "will aussies have the last laugh?"....will they?? I seriously hope they don't

 

[Aalay]

Australia in India 2012-13 : Shikhar Dhawan out, Suresh Raina in for Delhi Test | Cricket News | India v Australia | ESPN Cricinfo

Now don't pick Raina in the final 11.

So Gambhir was the original pick but because he is ill, it is Raina who gets the opportunity.

 

[War]

Australia in India 2012-13 : Mitchell Starc flies home for ankle surgery | Cricket News | India v Australia | ESPN Cricinfo

This probably explains why he was so under-par in this series.

Australia in India 2012-13 : Shane Watson return creates selection headache | Cricket News | India v Australia | ESPN Cricinfo

Perfect opportunity to axe Ed Cowan i would think. He has been a stop gap measure & his output has been average at best.

Hughes has struggled, but he isn't to first AUS batsman to struggle miserably on an asian tour vs spin. Ponting in India 2001 & Mark Waugh in Sri Lanka 93 were probably worse. Hughes is more talented & could (although its debatable) still be a long term player for AUS.

Get Watson back opening.

 

[cerande]

^That would be very harsh on Cowan IMO.He has looked solid in each innings he has played .Didn't he just make 85 odd in Mohali?To drop a player after such an innings would be very odd.
Cowan has also been the centre of many dodgy LBWs.

 

[War]

Its not just about one innings. An inning of 85 in which he was dropped 3 times mind you.

Its about his overall career. He averages 33 after 16 tests as opener, with one. Watson averages 10 times more as opener.

Cowan was always a stop gap measure because S Marsh & Hughes struggled in the top order after their impressive starts.

Unfortunately Cowan has not set the world alight & its time for him to be thanked for his contributions & let go, so that AUS can get its balance of its top order properly settled before the Ashes.

 

[cerande]

When I first saw Cowan during Ind-Aus series in 2011-12,I assumed he was there only because Watson was injured.I always found that odd that Watson did not return to opening when he eventually made a return to the team.

I didn't know he averaged 33.I thought he was atleast in the 40s.Maybe he just gives an illusion of calmness amidst all the chaos.

 

[Sedition]

Vijay was averaging 30.5 before this series and off the back of two big hundreds, has jumped to 39. He's now played 15 tests, 8 in India where he averages 57, while Cowan has played 16 and is yet to really cash in. It's too early in both their careers to say that Cowan isn't good enough or that Vijay has finally cemented his place. Take a guy like Strauss who averaged 48.64 in as many tests and then declined dramatically over a number of years.

 

[SaiSrini]

Hope Rahane finally gets that opportunity! I would tear everything off if Raina now gets in ahead of Rahane,

 

[shravi]

I hope we pick Raina then!

 

[SaiSrini]

I hope we pick Raina then!

Sarcasm detector in good working condition!

 

[shravi]

Nope, just my gaydar. Also, my binoculars.