Australia tour of India (Feb '17/Mar '17)

[LittleBigPlanet]

One would have to think ashwins days are numbered at number 7... W.Saha has twice the amount of first class centuries, and 10 runs better average. Also how is jadeja considered a number 9 with 3 first class triples and a healthy average, should at least be batting higher than ashwin! [HASHTAG]#kohliaswhintightfriends[/HASHTAG]

 

[aditya123]

One would have to think ashwins days are numbered at number 7... W.Saha has twice the amount of first class centuries, and 10 runs better average. Also how is jadeja considered a number 9 with 3 first class triples and a healthy average, should at least be batting higher than ashwin! [HASHTAG]#kohliaswhintightfriends[/HASHTAG]

Ashwin has shown himself to be a much better batsman in test cricket than the other two and against really good attacks in difficult situations. Jadeja is very hit and miss and cannot apply himself to save his life. The batting order has nothing to do with anyone being Kohli`s friends.

One thing is clear from the Indian innings though. Although the wicket does`nt hold demons like the ones at Pune or B`lore, it is`nt a track that supports free-flowing batsmanship. If India can get to 400-odd, then only one team can win it from there and that is India. This is simply because of the fact that I do not see Smith setting India anything less than 350 to win, and scoring 300-runs here would take at least a 110 overs on this track on the 4th and 5th day.

Another observation I would like to add is the fight that India has shown after the Pune test. This batting lineup has shown that they are`nt a one man lineup. Right through the season, we`ve had different batsmen perform at different times. In the West Indies it was Rahane and Kohli. Against NZ, it was Rahane and Pujara. Against England it was Vijay, Kohli and Pujara who stood up. In this series, Rahul and Pujara have been exceptional and we`ve had people chipping in at tough times, like Vijay in this innings and Rahane in the B`lore second innings. These are knocks that won`t make your stats look any better but they are worth their weight in gold. Our efforts despite Kohli`s failure in this series will make us a more complete batting unit. I rate our fight in this series more than the 4-0 drubbing of England.

So, 90 behind with 4 wickets in hand. Its 60-40 in Australia`s favor but we are an hour and a half of good batting away from being close to parity. Its a fascinatingly poised test match. If India get anywhere close to that score of 450, you can expect a lot of company for the Australian batting lineup close-in in the second innings. I will stick my neck out and say that India will win this if they score another 60 runs from here in their first innings.

 

[LittleBigPlanet]

He's a capable number 7 but saha or jadeja have more potential to be a good number 7 (40+ avg), plus jadeja is a more free flowing batsman with more gears better suited to 7.

If warner fires next innings there will be enough runs and time left for an australian victory. 240-5 in a days play is tough going, pretty even day really, game is pretty much even. Will be interesting to see when the pitch starts to crumble, hopefully not till tea time at the earliest lol.

 

[Bigby Wolf]

At the end of day 3 the result is possibly looking like Australia > Draw > India.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

One would have to think ashwins days are numbered at number 7... W.Saha has twice the amount of first class centuries, and 10 runs better average. Also how is jadeja considered a number 9 with 3 first class triples and a healthy average, should at least be batting higher than ashwin! [HASHTAG]#kohliaswhintightfriends[/HASHTAG]

I think Ashwin in one of the best batsmen in the Indian team from a technical perspective. Alright, he has had a few bad innings against Australia but overall, he'd walk into most test sides as a batsman alone. Exceptional temperament to go with his technique too.

A draw is looking the most likely result at the moment but if I had to choose one team to win, it'd be India. The pitch is fantastic in terms of supporting bat and ball but is showing occassional signs of mischief and one would expect it to gradually worsen. India could well exploit this better than Australia due to their experience of these conditions.

Pujara's innings has been absolutely fantastic, a masterclass in test match batting. Not often do you see two such innings in the same test. Absolutely brilliant.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

Numbers still stack up for fidgety Australia captain Shakin’ Steven | Barney Ronay | Sport | The Guardian

This is a great read, one worth your time. I was wondering, is Smith the Kallis of this generation in being a very efficient, but underappreciated, run accumulator?

 

[Satan666]

India are playing for a draw here, hope it backfires and they get defeated!

 

[Aalay]

Well as it says on Cricinfo, Pujara is the only reason we are still in this game. That was an absolutely amazing inning from him when wickets were falling at the other end. This partnership is vital now for India and these two needs to get us as close to the Australian total as possible. The games does move pretty quickly in subcontinent in the last two days so I wouldn't completely rule out a result in this game but it's been a good game so far. Pat Cummins has been brilliant for someone who is just playing his second first class game in 6 years. He has shown great variation in his bowling for a young bowler bowling in subcontinent. A fit attack of Starc, Hazelwood, Pattinson and Cummins does sound quite intimidating for any opposition.

From India's perspective, Kohli is having a very bad series with the bat which is quite rare and that too against Australia. However, the positive India can take is that without any significant contribution from Kohli or Ashwin, we are still very much alive in the series. I know Ashwin took a five-fer in the last game but Australia have played him well generally in this series. So it is good to see other players stepping up for India. KL Rahul has looked probably the best from Indian batting line-up and it looks like he will get runs every time he comes out to bat. However, he does have the tendency to throw away his wicket which he needs to avoid to cement his spot in the final 11.

 

[Aalay]

India are playing for a draw here, hope it backfires and they get defeated!

As long as Kohli is captain of the team, India will never play for a draw. It was important for India to bat out the whole day to stay competitive in the game and they have done exactly that. Due to the wickets falling regularly at the other end, we did not get enough runs but Pujara has kept us alive in this test. This is just a typical Pujara inning which a lot of us have seen before but this post by you clearly tells me that you haven't.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

While I'm Ashwin's biggest critic here, he's easily a better bat than Saha and Jadeja in tests. There's a symphony attached to his batting which is very easy on the eye. Saha just is a tough little nugget. He will fight till the cows come home. Aesthetically and technically I don't find him very endearing.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Loving Pat Cummins. Have had the pleasure of meeting him. One class individual!

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Loving Pat Cummins. Have had the pleasure of meeting him. One class individual!

Wow ! when and where ?

 

[SaiSrini]

Pretty stellar effort there from Pujara! Exactly the kind of innings that one expects to see from him - gritty, bloody minded and almost immovable. Saha is more than capable of giving him support in Day 4. After this, we have Jadeja, who can also stay in there. If things go well, we are capable of getting the first innings lead. How quickly we can do that will determine how this test goes.

Right now, it looks like 'Draw > India > Australia' to me. By not picking too many wickets today, Australia have given up their dominance position. If the pitch starts acting up right now, India hold all the aces with their spinners to exploit. And before that, I definitely expect Pujara and co to add decent amount of runs to eat up Australia's lead (likely get a lead of our own) and then let Ashwin/Jadeja loose on a 4th day pitch. I rate an Indian win higher now than I did yesterday.

 

[Rehan_24]

Had it been Jackson Bird in place of Cummins in this test match. Indian Batsmen's life would have been much easier according to my view. This shows that a performer and talent doesn't need full domestic season to get back into the test team. This is called the eye which Australian and sensible management possess which are free of politics and the like.

Amazing test match going on. Do you guys think a result is there around the corner, India can have the edge if they wrap Australia quickly in the second innings by first getting a lead of atleast 100 or so.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Loving Pat Cummins. Have had the pleasure of meeting him. One class individual!

Actually, him and Chris Lynn together at the Park in Kolkata during the IPL. It was a promotional event and I was lucky enough to get a pass. While I went with the sole intention of meeting my hero, I met these two blokes. They were kind enough to share a drink and have a pleasant chat. After that, I just left because I didn't want to intrude. Even Yuzi Chahal is a lovely chap. Ashoke Dinda asked me if I want his autograph or take a selfie while I was not at all keen. This was before Lynn created havoc in the BBL.

Very easy going chaps with no air of stardom whatsoever.