India tour of Australia Nov'20-Jan'21

[Bigby Wolf]

Got up at 5AM today to watch the match but ironically felt asleep after 1st session only woke up to see the score 36 but just 2 wickets.

Great sigh of relief that was!

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

What a tweaking victory!!! Rahane and Gill take us through and showed what batting with confidence looks like. This victory means so much more after the 1st test drubbing. From Rahane's brilliant captaincy, to Gills amazing batting, from Ashwin's brilliant spell in the first inning to Jadeja's brilliant 50, from Pant's quick runs which actually I feel changed this match to Siraj's dream debut. We can do it and have done it!! Well played India and well captained Rahane.[DOUBLEPOST=1609214021][/DOUBLEPOST]Oh so India win and now Shastri is out to hog the attention.

 

[Bigby Wolf]

I was seriously hurt by the 36 all out last week.

This comes as a sweet revenge for all the Indian fans - the feeling is similar to win we had at Perth back in 2008.

Massive congratulations & hats off to Ajinkya Rahane to turn it around leading from the front and Impressive debut from Gill & Siraj with Bumrah & Ashwin performing brilliantly as well.

It was a complete team performance.

 

[Aalay]

What if? What if we had got a decent total in that second inning of Adelaide? We probably would have retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy at this stage. Anyways, brilliant performance by the team lead by the captain himself.

I can't believe we are missing four players from our regular 11, and we still beat this Australian team at the MCG.

On to the next one.

 

[SaiSrini]

SPECTACULAR!!!! SENSATIONAL!!! ABSOLUTELY INSANE FEELING THIS IS!!!

After all the crap talk that happened post the 36A/O, this win feels like a massive achievement. I am sure there will be some who might say that captaincy didn't make a difference, but to me, it was a huge factor in India recovering from Adelaide. A calm and composed captain made a difference in the type of nerves that were displayed between Adelaide and Melbourne. India almost dropped no catch this test whereas their dropped catches at Adelaide was the talk of the town. Most importantly, the captaincy lifted Rahane and the batting he displayed was out of the top drawer. He also backed the right players and the choice to play Jadeja as the 5th bowler and going a batsman short was SENSATIONAL!!!

Not our greatest ever test win, but for modern day India, this is a very very special win!!

 

[SaiSrini]

What if? What if we had got a decent total in that second inning of Adelaide? We probably would have retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy at this stage. Anyways, brilliant performance by the team lead by the captain himself.

I can't believe we are missing four players from our regular 11, and we still beat this Australian team at the MCG.

On to the next one.

Yes. I actually want to see a session-by-session breakup of these two tests and see how many sessions have India won or ended equal. India were the better side in Adelaide after the first innings of both teams got completed. India dominated almost every session in this test match (barring a few where they were equal).

 

[Aalay]

Boy! This place will come alive if India find their mojo like they did under Kumble at Perth!

This time the enemy is within and India is a dangerous side when they're humiliated and cornered, even more so than Pakistan. What a story it would be if Rahane and Pujara are able to echo what we have been put through for the past 4-5 years with performances to remember.

Come on India!

Good Call!

 

[wasteyouryouth]

What if? What if we had got a decent total in that second inning of Adelaide? We probably would have retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy at this stage.

Definitely think this is the case. Even if India had got bowled out for 106 I think they could have won. Australia's batting is far too dependent on Smith, Labuschagne and Warner.

 

[SaiSrini]

Still hope Ashwin can end up with 20 wickets in this series. Along with Bumrah, he has been an absolute star of the show and a revelation for a guy who is roasted for his overseas returns and is always called "subcontinent bowler". He has not completely reversed that data yet, but just like how Kumble turned around his overseas figures starting from that 2003-04 Down Under series, Ashwin seems to be on the same path with this current series. Something's changed for him recently. He looked quite different even in the IPL (for the better, of course).

 

[Bigby Wolf]

That madarboard Shastri is gloating in the press conference.

Useless Goti.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Still hope Ashwin can end up with 20 wickets in this series. Along with Bumrah, he has been an absolute star of the show and a revelation for a guy who is roasted for his overseas returns and is always called "subcontinent bowler". He has not completely reversed that data yet, but just like how Kumble turned around his overseas figures starting from that 2003-04 Down Under series, Ashwin seems to be on the same path with this current series. Something's changed for him recently. He looked quite different even in the IPL (for the better, of course).

I don't give a rat's rear end whether he takes 20, 200 or another 2 wickets. Right from the second visit to England he has been brilliant overseas and although I hate him I have never let that come between facts and his worth. That coach should see all this and feel ashamed. The only thing I am worried about him and still am worried is his body. I will not be surprised if he breaks down in the third test. The rate at which our guys are getting injured, even two bowlers breaking down won't surprise me.[DOUBLEPOST=1609223101][/DOUBLEPOST]

Mayank Agarwal looks out of touch. Will he be replaced by KL or Rohit in the 3rd test?

It will be an absolute travesty if that happens but there is a high level of politics surrounding this issue and it may not be in Rahane's hands.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Also, this test match was won by us thanks to Jinks and Jynx. Good job @Bigby Wolf

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

@LiveLoveABD you were spot on when you said that India could repeat Perth 2008. The Captaincy has definitely made a lot of difference in this Test. The fielding positions, the bowling changes, the catching & the positive approach from the batsman were just spot on and helped India to a great extent to win this Test. What a turn around this is. But I am still a little worried with our batting. It's not the skills but the mindset that needs to be changed. I think people have started to call out Agarwal saying he wouldn't get to play I strongly believe he would play and he would definitely make good use of his opportunity the next match. He is one of those players in the side who could wear down the new ball and also attack some bad balls thrown to him and he deserves opportunities to play. And also I don't buy the logic of bringing Rohit back in the side right away. I think the current opening pair should continue to open in the next match and I honestly don't find a place for him in the middle order.

Also Rahane's Captaincy to me seems a lot more like Rahul Dravid. I think he was a great Captain who won us a series in England and our first Test win in South Africa. He was calm and composed yet a ruthless Captain for the opposition. And Rahane has every ingredient that Dravid-The Captain had. I haven't seen much of Dravid's Captaincy in Tests though but what I saw him doing in the IPL during 2012-13 he adapts to the situations pretty quickly. Same thing seems true for Ajinkya Rahane.

 

[Bevab]

Really important inning for Mayank here. With Rohit coming in for the last 2 test matches and Gill playing well in the first inning, he NEEDS RUNS.

If Mayank is dropped after everything he has done in domestic cricket and on the last tour, it will be proof that there truly is no logic or reason in this current management setup.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

If Mayank is dropped after everything he has done in domestic cricket and on the last tour, it will be proof that there truly is no logic or reason in this current management setup.

Pretty much. The guy has a thousand runs in 10 tests and he did very well on the last tour. I think the main thing is that cricket is not so simple. Rohit, even if he is Rohit cannot just romp up and start making hundreds. He has not played in A WHILE. I don't think a change is warranted but if these guys are hell bent then it should be KL because he's been in the thick of it. He has been in Australia a lot longer. But there is no way any change is needed bar Umesh. Let a group of people just play. There is nothing I wanted more than KL to play and make a mark but if everyone starts chopping and changing for their own reasons then where is the consistency? But hey, what the hell do I know?

I am DEAD certain Jinks won't make any changes if it is left to him. But, I doubt there is in the Rohit context.