India tour of Australia - 2018/19

[LiveLoveABD]

Yes, on a 5th day wicket Ashwin, who as confessed by Bumrah should have been the go to bowler took one wicket, that being off Josh Hazlewood. I mean, it's one thing to be fair and quite another to be so result oriented. 32 more runs and I bet my last penny the bloke would have been abused no end. Ashwin was providing control, given but on this wicket that was not his role. Nathan Lyon looked like picking a wicket every over, Ashwin didn't. This test match was won by the three quicks and the sheer resolve of Pujara. We would have won by 100 runs with Kuldeep or Jadeja.

Before I forget, Ashwin's batting is invaluable. I'd much rather he bat 6 and provide the 5th bowling option that Rohit.

 

[Rehan_24]

Well I think Ashwin was the one who made the difference. He got key batsmen out in both innings. Ashwin and Bumrah are stars of this test match as far as bowling department is concerned. It was a great battle, I think Indian bowling combination is not the issue why the game went close. Rather beating Australia in Australia is a much bigger thing than expecting to do a one sided affair in the first test. The winning itself is a huge achievement. India was heavy on Aussies right from day 2 and deserved a victory

Australia, on the other hand desperately needs a win to regain their lost confidence.

If Bhuvneshswar Kumar is in the squad, He can replace either shami or Ishant and that can be a lethal combo. I also dont understand the logic of inducting Rohit Sharma as number 6th batsman in the squad. He should either open the innings or coming one down. Why not Rohit Sharma and Pujara opens the innings ?

 

[aditya123]

I think Ashwin was fairly good, especially if you factor in his workload. 50+ overs out of 110 overs bowled. Thats a LOT of bowling, and still did not give too many loose deliveries or easy runs. I think if we want him to attack more, we need to get another bowler who can share the workload

Jadeja for Rohit anyone? I am sure Jadjea will be able to equal and probably better Rohit's contribution with the bat.

3 pacers and Ashwin is not enough on these kinds of wickets. This game could have easily gone the other way.

With 4 bowlers, Ashwin cannot afford to be more adventurous and go for wickets all the time. A part of the role for a spinner in a 4-man attack is to keep holding an end up. Ashwin actually got the early wickets in both innings. Harris and Khawaja were looking really comfortable in the first innings and it was Ashwin who started the slide for Australia. I`m not saying he has set the world on fire but a lot of flak that he is getting here is unwarranted. Kuldeep cannot be a spinner in a 4-man attack. If he gets collared by anyone, we are staring down the barrel. The sheer workload that Ashwin took in the second innings allowed the fast bowlers to put in a 100% effort in each of their spells. Ashwin did his job. The wicket on the last day was a difficult one to bowl as well. It did not have the bite of the first 2 days and had slowed down. You cannot just blow away sides in test cricket. Its Australia`s home despite all this. To those comparing Ashwin with Lyon, most of Lyon`s wickets were gifted. Rohit Sharma in both innings and the last few wickets were declaration wickets. Ashwin, on the other hand, did not get freebies.

 

[Morphed]

What a sweet win! Finally after the heartbreak in the Edgbaston Test,this seems better. Let's not get carried away.
We can still lose 1-3,but we have secured our no.1 ranking for this year.
We should do these changes:-

1)Make Rohit open, with Rahul( Vijay is horrible, and nothing can be worse)

2)Give Vihari the spot that was emptied there.


We can still make the same bowling lineup for next test.If Ashwin flops,then replace him with Kuldeep (one spinner is always necessary).

Bhuvi can be a handy lower order bat too

 

[aditya123]

I`m really happy for the two most understated guys in this brash side. Pujara in both innings was exceptional. We all had written off Jinx, given how diffident he looked. However, come the crunch moment in the second innings, he pulled out one of his counter-attacking innings. The reason why so many of us have faith in his test batting credentials are innings of this kind. Even in the worst patch of form, he has 4 innings this year where he has pulled us out of trouble. After being dropped in the first 2 tests, he played that stunning 2nd innings knock at Jo`burg which was worth a 100 in my opinion. Then that 83 in that win at Trent Bridge and the big partnership with Kohli. In the second test against WI, we were 140/4 in response to that 330 from WI when he got another 80-odd. Now this test. I can understand why people wanted him dropped for Vihari or Nair but I feel that the big innings temperament in guys like Pujara and Jinx must be recognized. The management must comfort these guys rather than dropping them often for men like Pandya and Nohit.

 

[SaiSrini]

Very good win for India! I did not follow the final day's play after Australia lost their 6th wicket and didn't see how close it went and how annoying it became for the fans, but in the end, we pulled it off when I did not expect us to. Mighty credit for this to Pujara who almost single handedly won this test match for us. His 123 in the first innings is the backbone of this special win and probably an innings that Indians should not forget for quite some time to come. And after batting like that, he nonchalantly said "Australia will also struggle on this pitch as its tough to bat" and it came out perfectly true (when everyone thought that our performance on Day 1 was poor).

For Perth, I would play Ashwin as the allrounder in Rohit Sharma's spot and free up Ashwin's spot for a 4th seamer in Bhuvi. And also Bhuvi can also be valuable with the bat when needed and so the loss of Rohit Sharma will be offset. I'd also not rush Shaw back into play and let him recuperate well and bring him back in the 3rd test for Vijay. I would play Vijay for another test match though he failed both innings. To his credit, Vijay lasted long enough in the 2nd innings to be in a 60+ partnership with Rahul and set the tone for the innings. I am not happy that he has not scored but just to make sure we dont rush Shaw, Vijay gets another chance.

M Vijay
K Rahul
C Pujara
V Kohli
A Rahane
R Pant
R Ashwin
B Kumar
I Sharma
M Shami
J Bumrah

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

what an arsehole... no dignity at all. Can we please get rid of him?

For all non Hindi speaking folks what he said is "For a while we had our balls in our mouth". Who speaks in this manner on national tv?

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I can't and don't believe he said that. No way!

 

[abhi_jacko]

I can't and don't believe he said that. No way!

Seems like he did say it

Disgusting !!

 

[Villain]

Seems like he did say it

He was being sarcastic.

He obviously said it live.

 

[hammadahmed88]

Never been a fan of Shastri's. Nowhere to be seen after a loss, doing the rounds to take all the credit after wins. Classless and gutless. No wonder class-acts like Ganguly, Tendulkar and Laxman weren't really for his appointment. Even though I'm a huge fan of Kohli's, I think he may have done Indian cricket a disservice by backing this person over Kumble.[DOUBLEPOST=1544522259][/DOUBLEPOST]

There was Rishi Dhawan who was good with his medium pace bowling couple of years ago, but I am no longer following him now

I looked him up and he seems to have great first class numbers. Wonder why he's been away. Perhaps someone who follows domestic cricket can fill in the blanks.

 

[Morphed]

Wait what?!!

This is horrible.You cannot say disgusting words like this in national media.Wonder what was the reaction of experts panel.

[HASHTAG]#SackShastri[/HASHTAG]

 

[Rehan_24]

I thought about some points, To all Australian tours I have followed of different teams around the World, Its 95% that the first match starts off with The Gabba - Brisbane, second at Perth/Sydney and one test at Melbourne.

Starting off the series with Adelaide is strange and its naturally gives Indian team advantage as the pitch famous for batting and most suited for sub-continent teams.

This pitch looked to me a lot like Indian pitches and I was quite surprized with the fact. Australian pitches are famous for bounce and carry and if Perth pitch would be one we usually see, then I think Indian batting will be in troube in the second test match.

 

[aditya123]

I thought about some points, To all Australian tours I have followed of different teams around the World, Its 95% that the first match starts off with The Gabba - Brisbane, second at Perth/Sydney and one test at Melbourne.

Starting off the series with Adelaide is strange and its naturally gives Indian team advantage as the pitch famous for batting and most suited for sub-continent teams.

This pitch looked to me a lot like Indian pitches and I was quite surprized with the fact. Australian pitches are famous for bounce and carry and if Perth pitch would be one we usually see, then I think Indian batting will be in troube in the second test match.

Although it sounds counterintuitive, traditionally we have done better on green tracks overseas in the last 2 decades. In 2003, we started at the GABBA and dominated Australia there and went on to win at Adelaide. In 2008, we won at the WACA, which till date remains the only win at the WACA for an Asian side. Also, bear in mind that those wins came with much weaker Indian pace attacks (arguably). The Adelaide wicket in the last 4 years is not the traditional flat wicket that we have come to known either. There was a fair bit of grass on this track.

 

[Velocity]

Very good win for India! I did not follow the final day's play after Australia lost their 6th wicket and didn't see how close it went and how annoying it became for the fans, but in the end, we pulled it off when I did not expect us to. Mighty credit for this to Pujara who almost single handedly won this test match for us. His 123 in the first innings is the backbone of this special win and probably an innings that Indians should not forget for quite some time to come. And after batting like that, he nonchalantly said "Australia will also struggle on this pitch as its tough to bat" and it came out perfectly true (when everyone thought that our performance on Day 1 was poor).

For Perth, I would play Ashwin as the allrounder in Rohit Sharma's spot and free up Ashwin's spot for a 4th seamer in Bhuvi. And also Bhuvi can also be valuable with the bat when needed and so the loss of Rohit Sharma will be offset. I'd also not rush Shaw back into play and let him recuperate well and bring him back in the 3rd test for Vijay. I would play Vijay for another test match though he failed both innings. To his credit, Vijay lasted long enough in the 2nd innings to be in a 60+ partnership with Rahul and set the tone for the innings. I am not happy that he has not scored but just to make sure we dont rush Shaw, Vijay gets another chance.

M Vijay
K Rahul
C Pujara
V Kohli
A Rahane
R Pant
R Ashwin
B Kumar
I Sharma
M Shami
J Bumrah

I like the sound of this lineup. I'd play this team if there's a green track or a very pace bowler friendly track. Bhuvi can be very useful with the new ball early on. Even in this way the depth is not lost with someone who can bat at 8. Though India will play Rohit again who looked decent in the first innings of Adelaide.