India tour of Australia Nov'20-Jan'21

[LiveLoveABD]

Out of curiosity, and pardon my ignorance on this subject, but does erasing one's guard affect the outcome/mess with the batsmen's concentration/somehow aid the bowlers? Isn't it just a case of batsmen taking guard once again by asking the umpire? I mean it wasn't a case of Smith trying to create forced footmarks so that Lyon could exploit it. It was on the crease.

Could be wrong but feel like the whole Smith situation is being blown out of proportion especially by the social media.

He wasn't cheating. Storm in a tea cup. I have had this done to me in league cricket and it drives me crazy and I am not at all fidgety. I can't really explain why for me but once I make the guard and if I am batting well then that guard is just like my marker from which I can't deviate. May be it is my mental weakness. It's a stupid thing for me but Steve Smith had no business doing what he did. He's not going outside the rules, but just acting smart.

I will say one thing- When the whole sandpaper gate happened, I'd categorically said that it was not just 'a moment of madness' or some sort of isolated incident. "Brain fade" was as bad as sandpaper gate and both were premeditated. Unfortunately, social media these days decides what becomes an agenda and what doesn't.

I'll give you an example from this series- Smith was bowled by Bumrah round his legs, he saw it, it's on camera and he started taking a single like nothing happened. He' just a compulsive person when it comes to playing cricket. Generally happens in very young children where they will go to lengths to get what they want (cheat inadvertently) and live in denial etc etc etc.

 

[Targaryen]

Out of curiosity, and pardon my ignorance on this subject, but does erasing one's guard affect the outcome/mess with the batsmen's concentration/somehow aid the bowlers? Isn't it just a case of batsmen taking guard once again by asking the umpire? I mean it wasn't a case of Smith trying to create forced footmarks so that Lyon could exploit it. It was on the crease.

Could be wrong but feel like the whole Smith situation is being blown out of proportion especially by the social media.

Well, I've seen the fielding players coming up to batsman, take their bats and do the stuffs like weighing it, swinging around etc.. If that can be allowed/considered, then why not this?

(It is often done during the drinks break, I believe)

 

[asprin]

So let's see what do we have for the 4th Test

Players who played the 3rd Test:
S. Gill - Available
A. Rahane - Available
J. Bumrah - 90% chance of sitting out
R. Jadeja - Out
R. Ashwin - Back spasms, uncertain, probably a call will be taken on the morning of the toss
R. Pant - Expected to play
R. Sharma - Expected to play
H. Vihari - Out
C. Pujara - Available
M. Siraj - Available
N. Saini - Available

That leaves us with
M. Agarwal - Injured, decision pending
P. Shaw - Available
W. Saha - Available
T. Natarajan - Available
K. Tyagi - Available
K. Yadav - Available
S. Thakur - Available

We are looking at replacements for Bumrah, Jadeja and Vihari and most likely Ashwin (will need him for England Tests as well).

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Rohit Sharma
Shubman Gill
Cheteshwar Pujara
Ajinkya Rahane
Prithvi Shaw/ Ravi Shastri
Rishabh Pant
Wriddhiman Saha
Ravichandran Ashwin/ Kuldeep Yadav
Shardul Thakur/ T Natarajan
Navdeep Saini
Mohammad Siraj

 

[LiveLoveABD]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...annoyed-by-diy-life-at-brisbane-hotel-1247604

 

[SaiSrini]

I would definitely rest Ashwin for Brisbane since he's going to be crucial for the home series vs England. With Jadeja out for 4-5 weeks, Ashwin becomes very crucial (first two tests at Chepauk too, Ashwin's home ground).

I kinda feel Bumrah can play at Brisbane at 50% and then rest out the England series. If Ishant is playing SMAT in India, he should be available for the England tests. Him with Siraj, Saini and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar can be our bowlers for the England tests. The home tests will be dominated by the spinners. But its a call Bumrah and team should take and cant say much (since the guy's been an absolute workhorse and delivers for us every time)

Imagining that both Ashwin and Bumrah sit out at Brisbane, my XI:

Mayank/Prithvi
Gill
Pujara
Rahane
Pant
Rohit
Sundar/Saha
Saini
Siraj
Kuldeep
Natarajan

I know I earlier mentioned few tests back that Shardul should get a game over Natarajan. But that was when Bumrah was available. Bumrah gives a unique variety with the kind of action he has. Siraj, Saini and Shardul sound too similar in action with not much variety. In this scenario, I would actually replace Bumrah with Natarajan, who is a left armer and brings the variety. I also heard Sundar is there with the squad in Australia. That changes my thought of playing Pant and Saha together. Sundar can bat and a leftie. Somehow feel like trusting him more with the bat than Saha

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Reports of Sunder playing in 4th Test.

thats a first that Washington will be seen in Americas Australia

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Also, Smith isn't guilty. New footage shows it.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Reports of Sunder playing in 4th Test.

thats a first that Washington will be seen in Americas Australia

Sounds like something Shastri would do.

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Sounds like something Shastri would do.

Won't mind him in place of jadeja

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Won't mind him in place of jadeja

He's not a finished player yet with the red ball. Also, comes across as a white ball specialist although such type casting is an age old peril I try stay away from. Just hasn't shown enough guile at the top level.

 

[Bevab]

Sundar's last first-class match was over three years ago. In terms of experience, he has a grand total of 12 games. Not saying that he will be a disappointment but it would be a massive risk to play him out of the blue.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I am extremely weary of playing Ashwin. Knowing him, he will be desperate to play but he can easily break down on day 3 and we will need him against England and at least 4 bowlers here.

 

[abhi_jacko]

Also, Smith isn't guilty. New footage shows it.

It was blown up unnecessarily in the first place. What is the new footage ?

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

It was blown up unnecessarily in the first place. What is the new footage ?

It was drinks break. The sweeper cleaned the popping crease and then Smith did that scrubbing. So he wasn't trying to do foul play.

Post automatically merged: Jan 13, 2021

He's not a finished player yet with the red ball. Also, comes across as a white ball specialist although such type casting is an age old peril I try stay away from. Just hasn't shown enough guile at the top level.

I am extremely weary of playing Ashwin. Knowing him, he will be desperate to play but he can easily break down on day 3 and we will need him against England and at least 4 bowlers here.

Obviously he isn't a red ball guy yet. But wrt the current situation in the Indian camp. Playing him might give the team proper balance.