Commonwealth Bank Series Feb-Mar 2011/12

[SLICKR392]

@Yudi - Dhoni at-least finished it off. Not like Sehwag.

Hit runs only in easier conditions and easier opponents, scoring runs in the match in which India will win, you guys say that if Sehwag scores century and the team wins. And yeh both are lucky and Sehwag is luckier. Yeah I agree that Dhoni just converted an easy target to tough by reducing the RR. Gambhir was the man today, good knock by him. Hope he and Raina overcome the short-ball weakness,

Sehwag is form out. Those doubles and triples never came against an easy opp.
Excluding his 219. It's all about being in form. And Sehwag is a sort of player who quiet doesn't gets in form that easily acc. to the way he bats i.e.

 

[aussie1st]

Clarke officially out of the match on Friday and probably will be rested on Sunday. As I've been saying these injuries have been helpful to our growth and this time Forrest is the beneficiary.

 

[SaiSrini]

Sanga saying India are vulnerable in overseas conditions. Funnily, SL are even worser than India when it comes to conditions outside the subcontinent. According to the Cricinfo article, Sri Lanka have been thoroughly dominated by India when both have played each other outside the subcontinent. India hold a 8-1 advantage (since 1999). Sri Lanka have the edge only in neutral venues within Asia. But even then, if you look at recent Sri Lanka vs India ODI matches, India have thumped them most often than not. If Sangakkara is trying to indulge in some mind games before the match tomorrow, that was a silly and bland attempt and wont ruffle any feathers.

 

[SLICKR392]

/\
Yeah..had a laugh about that!
He says they are more successful beating India away. Wonder..which period was that?
We have been in Aus for the past 2 months....mind games of some Lankans don't make any sense

 

[sifter132]

He got moved around quite a bit with Ponting towards the end of the game. Don't know if it was due to injury or just Clarke moving his best fielders to the important spots. Like when Ponting took the catch in the deep he was switched with Harris after that runout chance. Even ignoring the fielding his bowling seems to be lacking that extra something. He's usually pretty good in ODIs as his record shows but he just doesn't seem anywhere near threatening since his return.

On the radio, Tim Nielsen reckoned Harris was swapping with Ponting late in the over to get Ricky in the ring and try and force a dot ball to get Dhoni off strike for the next over. So yeah they were trying to 'hide' Harris a bit. Nielsen also reckoned that Dhoni was switching his bats in the last few overs depending on whether Doherty was bowling or a fast man as it seemed like every over break they were bringing out bats. Would be interesting to have a journo ask him Dhoni about it.

Clarke officially out of the match on Friday and probably will be rested on Sunday. As I've been saying these injuries have been helpful to our growth and this time Forrest is the beneficiary.

Massive selection call today actually. Media is asking whether Dave Warner captains on Friday vs Ricky Ponting. I think there's a good chance Watson and/or Haddin get back into the squad, and you'd think those 2 would leap ahead of Warner/Ponting for captaincy.

Watson might get picked only as a batsman at this stage, but Haddin is the more interesting one. First, you have to assume the selectors want him for the West Indies. Their best scenario would be Haddin finding form in the next month and taking he and Wade to WI. How best to get Haddin form? Well consider if he stays with NSW, he's got to fight with Nevill for the WK spot. Now Nevill seems like the guy who might take that 2nd keeper spot for the WI tour if Haddin can't get any runs. With that in mind, I say pick Haddin for the ODIs and let Nevill continue uninteruppted for NSW. That would also give Haddin a confidence boost, signalling that the selectors still like him even after Wade's success. The downside of course is fitting Haddin and Wade into the same team.

Anyway, it will be very interesting to see what the selectors do today...

 

[aussie1st]

Ponting has been made captain, thank God no more random surprises on that front after Bailey in T20 and Haddin vice captain.

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On the radio, Tim Nielsen reckoned Harris was swapping with Ponting late in the over to get Ricky in the ring and try and force a dot ball to get Dhoni off strike for the next over. So yeah they were trying to 'hide' Harris a bit. Nielsen also reckoned that Dhoni was switching his bats in the last few overs depending on whether Doherty was bowling or a fast man as it seemed like every over break they were bringing out bats. Would be interesting to have a journo ask him Dhoni about it.

Yea the commentators pointed out he was switching bats, not the frequency but they definitely noted he was changing them.

 

[midgetwars]

Warner vs Ponting for Captaincy was just plain odd. Both of them should be rested imo.

Is it just me or have Australia not won convincingly once, this ODI series? The rain out probably saved Australia, Sri Lanka was left to the last over as well as india.

 

[aussie1st]

Michael Clarke (Captain)
Ricky Ponting (Captain for Friday?s ODI vs Sri Lanka)
David Warner (vc)
Dan Christian
Peter Forrest
Ben Hilfenhaus
David Hussey
Michael Hussey
Brett Lee
Mitchell Marsh
Clint McKay
Mitchell Starc
Matthew Wade

Not too much changes, guessing the loss to India has halted the rotation policy. Hilfy should get a game though.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Michael Clarke (Captain)
Ricky Ponting (Captain for Friday?s ODI vs Sri Lanka)
David Warner (vc)
Dan Christian
Peter Forrest
Ben Hilfenhaus
David Hussey
Michael Hussey
Brett Lee
Mitchell Marsh
Clint McKay
Mitchell Starc
Matthew Wade

Not too much changes, guessing the loss to India has halted the rotation policy. Hilfy should get a game though.

Clarke is out with an injury and Harris is rested. That is covering the rotation of players surely?

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Warner vs Ponting for Captaincy was just plain odd. Both of them should be rested imo.

Is it just me or have Australia not won convincingly once, this ODI series? The rain out probably saved Australia, Sri Lanka was left to the last over as well as india.

No they haven't been convincing. They need death over bowlers and hitters down the order.

 

[teamindia]

Lol @ sanga.

Pitch is going to be slow I guess. Should be interesting.

 

[Sedition]

Good to see Hilfy in for Harris and Wade retained. I guess Lee's injury wasn't as serious as first thought, or we're just that desperate for a death bowler.

Only downside to Haddin going back to NSW, is that Nevill's opportunities will be reduced.

 

[Aalay]

So Irfan is back and Dhoni's 200th ODI.

Cricinfo:

Sid Patel gets a touch carried away: "Forget my GirlFriend...IRFAN PATHAN playing is the best valentines day gift ever!!!!"

 

[SLICKR392]

Good to see Zak get a rest. Deserves it!
____________
Vinay has come out as a surprise package in this series.

 

[Aalay]

Irfan Pathan strikes.

 

[Bilalshuja]

Ahh great to see ponting back in captaincy. It'ill just remind us old days