[rks]

Yuvraj and Tendulkar combined to take one wicket for 50 runs in 10 overs. But that was not enough for Dhoni. He asked for more, and gave another over to Yuvraj and cut one over from regular bowler Sreesanth. Result: Yuvraj goes for 21 runs. To give Yuvraj the ball in the final overs when a guy like Symonds is blazing away is asking for trouble.

Ponting was out of sorts after a long break. But note that the Aussies maintained 7 an over in the intial 10 overs or so. The mantra of keeping wickets for the final assault can be answered by bowling the weakest bowlers (including non-regulars) in the middle overs and then keeping the best bowlers for the death. The correct mantra is to pick the weak bowlers and smash them, whenever they bowl. The priority should be to keep the run rate high, rather than playing cautiously for the purpose of keeping wickets in hand (which can boomerang). Today the Aussies failed to give Sachin and Yuvraj the punishment they deserved, otherwise 300 was easily on the cards.

I think India can get to this target if they bat to their potential.

[shuvc]

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

12. Can't wait to see Rohit Sharma play.

oh my god ! that would mean potential top order collapse
I'd rather not see him play too much. Let the front runners do the job !

[thefreak]

Originally Posted by shuvc

oh my god ! that would mean potential top order collapse
I'd rather not see him play too much. Let the front runners do the job !

Looks like McLaren may get what he wants..

[lohithrao]

India 11 for 2...

Shuvc looks like top order doesnt like to spend much time on crease

ohh 1 more wicket down before i complete this post, guess we all know who is gona win today!

[extreme_torque]

15-3 now! The wall's gone!

[rks]

Gambhir and Uthappa have technical shortcomings and the Aussie pacemen will always be looking to exploit that. I would prefer Kaif and Karthik at the top of the order. These guys are a class ahead in terms of technique. Now it is up to Yuvraj and Rohit Sharma to get the run rate moving, cannot expect that from Sachin.

One more point. As Mclaren noted, it was shocking to see Haddin dropped. Some kind of "rotation policy" at work? Maybe the Aussies wanted to nurse Hodge back into confidence, but the terrible injustice to Haddin is not justified. Maybe Haddin was injured, otherwise I would say that the Aussie tour selectors (Ponting and Gilchrist included?) are playing politics. Was Haddin (the reserve wicketkeeper) considered a threat to Gilchrist?

Anyway, all that is of academic interest now, the Aussies seem to be coasting to a win.

[diabloo]

Sreesanth is proving to be more of a liability than asset.

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

6. Sreesant is doing more of an Agarkar. Only difference is that Agarkar has monkey ears, while Sreesant behaves like one . And someone please give him some mental stability lessons, you CANNOT afford to loose your head and gave away extra runs like that after dropping a sitter.

Why didn't the all rounder bowl? With 5 bowlers, India gave more than 300 runs. Now with just 4 bowlers they managed to keep it less than 300. Maybe if Powar was in, his mis-fields would have had Australia reach 300

12. Can't wait to see Rohit Sharma play.

Note: Now that India are 3 down, we have a match on our hands. Time for the little dwarf to prove he also the little master

[snaronikar]

Any guesses what will be India's score at the end of match.....My guess is it will be around 200~220.

[diabloo]

Some kind of contest, huh, I would put it at 291.

Originally Posted by snaronikar

Any guesses what will be India's score at the end of match.....My guess is it will be around 200~220.

[benbsb29]

Indian batsmen falling like a pack of cards. Bad.

[Surprise]

Ind 3 down with Gambir, Uthappa and Dravid out. Curator needs to be blamed for not giving similar pitches for India and aussies innings

Indian squad news: Murali Kartik in for Ramesh Powar - Cric info

[snaronikar]

291......i can only dream of that.....with the ball zipping across >140kmph, do boys our stand any chance? I hope not except Sachin/Yuvi......

[rks]

Sachin hoggs the bowling for almost 4 overs in a row. Poor Yuvi must be tearing his hair in frustration. But the "Little champion" is out of form, he is playing to get a decent personal score so that he will not be dropped. Maybe Sachin will open up after getting to 50; till then Yuvi has to get some strike and get the run rate up. Unfortunately Stuart Clark is a very tough customer and will not give anything away. So the Indians must look to target the Aussie spinners, including Hogg, and Hopes as well.

[Surprise]

Cricket-India axe spinner Powar from ODI squad | Sports | Cricket | Reuters

Powar dropped & Murali Karthik in

RKS, Both yuvi and sachin has the same strike rate. Yuvi has played just 11 deliveries short compared to Sachin (note that sachin opened the innings) (ATO-16 OV)

[diabloo]

No surprise this time too Now its upto Dhoni & his boys

Originally Posted by diabloo

Note: Now that India are 3 down, we have a match on our hands. Time for the little dwarf to prove he also the little master

Note: Howz now this time? (from Cricinfo.com)
24.6 Hogg to Tendulkar, OUT, disaster for India! Tendulkar gives himself plenty of room outside off to cut, the ball lands on a full length and jags back in and clips the off stump

SR Tendulkar b Hogg 43 (119m 71b 6x4 0x6) SR: 60.56