[hothatchaway]

Originally Posted by harry10

Well you and me did but brain dead team management again played Siraj who is a waste of space and has done nothing. 80 wickets in 31 test matches with an average of 31 is a terrible record for a fast bowler, especially when he has played mostly outside India on helpful wickets. How is he still getting selected is beyond me.

They are not brain dead; they have become extremely risk averse and pro status quo.

Too many performance related chopping and changing would also mean that the privileged few can also be questioned as to why they should also not be dropped.

[Shumi_21]

The most entertaining part of today's game was Washington taking breaks to cool off and coming out wearing Jurel's & Axar's shirts. NZ have been bowled out for 235, not a bad score on this pitch.

The real test begins now, of our shaky batting line up. NZ have dropped the wrecker in chief from Pune, Santner for Ish Sodhi. Rohit & Kohli really need to carry their weights in this innings. Although I totally expect Rohit to get caught in the deep trying to slog a loopy leg spinner from Sodhi and Kohli to not pick a googly and get LBW.

[AtheK]

I really hope Rohit comes good and gains some confidence, as I was typing this he just got lucky and catch was dropped, I hope he makes it count.

Edit: Of course he won't, what a baggage he has become. Star culture is destroying the test team, let's see what Kohli does.

Rohit Sharma's average of 13.55 in this home season is the second lowest for a captain of all countries in a home Test season while batting in the top six. (Min: 8 innings)

^^ From espncricinfo, such a sorry state.

[SoumenD]

Rohit doing what he does best. 2 chances and still got out cheaply. A captain playing so irresponsibly inning after inning is just sad. If this was Australia, he would have been dropped long ago but India has superstar culture, hence the long rope probably

Does he or his playing style even belong to this format? I am a nobody but just as a fan he seems best suited for white ball cricket

Even Gill seems to be struggling. Why has everyone become so impatient these days? Nobody wants to play test like test. They either go bang bang or out

[Shumi_21]

Originally Posted by SoumenD

Does he or his playing style even belong to this format? I am a nobody but just as a fan he seems best suited for white ball cricket

There's absolutely no doubt about Rohit's batting skill. The problem seems to be fitness especially at 37. He played around that straight ball like almost an amateur because he most likely was exhausted in NZ' first innings itself. The pull shot trap that he almost fell into was clear as basic as they come, it's very unlikely that a world class batter is falling for it, unless his mind is muddled by tiredness.

At least that's what my experience in club cricket has been. I had gained 20 odd kilos a couple of years ago after I broke my ankle in a motorcycle accident and didn't play at all for 9-10 months. The extra weight made it almost impossible to bat anywhere close to a level I could before the break.

Originally Posted by AtheK

From espncricinfo, such a sorry state.

Really? Didn't Rohit get a couple of hundreds during the England series earlier this year?

[rx100]

Originally Posted by Shumi_21

Really? Didn't Rohit get a couple of hundreds during the England series earlier this year?

I think the stats are from June, usually the start of current season. Rohit scored 122 from 9 innings during Bangladesh and NZ series so far. And Kohli scored 191 from 9 innings(1 not out) @ an average of 23.8

Back to the match- Ind lost 3 wickets now including night watchman Siraj and he wasted a review too.

Edit : Updated Kohli’s stats after the suicidal runout

[AtheK]

WOW Kohli, Just wow!! Run out in test match, such desperation to get off strike. This team is looking at a 3-0 whitewash at home, a feat no other captain or team has achieved yet at home.

[SoumenD]

86/4 already

Its all happening in the last 2-3 overs. Night watchman wasting review, well set jaiswal getting out to a bad shot, superstar kohli runout for an absolute useless single. Another classic Indian collapse on the way. It has become kinda BAU in this series. So all we needed was a good team to show us our place.

As usual all hopes on Ashwin & Jadeja to try and bail us out. Else a shameful 3-0 whitewash looks inevitable.

Exactly what we needed before an Aussie series. India coming from a thrashing back home, rising from the ashes like a phoenix and thrashing Australia 4-1/5-0. Stuff of legends

[rajeevsulu]

This so called King ran out Pant in the last test match. He cuts such a sorry figure. He should collect his 21 crores and stick to just IPL.

[Shumi_21]

So in the last 15 minutes:

1. Jaiswal gets bowled premeditating a reverse sweep.

2. Siraj comes in as nightwatchman, gets LBW first ball and burns a review too.

3. Kohli goes for a non existent single, gets run out and Gill goes down at the other end with a cramp.

This is actually hilarious, even though it's happening to us

[VWAllstar]

I want the stuff Indian Cricket Strategy Team is smoking

Feels like the team is not interested in this Series. The way Rohit Sharma replies during press conferences, the way the team is playing, team selection and their own attitude on the field. They have already lost the series (0-3) in their heads.

There is nothing wrong in losing at home or away in Cricket. However, the application in this series by the Indian Team is so poor. No batter is willing to play the traditional way of Test Cricket. Unfortunately we don't have Pujara in Australia. And Siraj, what a waste of a bowler and out of the blue came out as a Night Watchman (perplexing)

[NPV]

I felt this game was going away when NZ recovered after losing 4 quick wickets and Young and Mitchell put up a brilliant fight back, but that defiant fan in me brushed it off making me feel guilty of not being positive and supporting our Indian team. Couple hours later, we are 4 down and I don’t know what to say India seem like deer blinded by super powerful headlights in their eyes!

[Vinod_nair]

Did anyone notice, Rohit actually hitting Jaiswal with wherever he was munching in the dressing room, then turned towards the camera and shouting/abusing him....

Rohit should be kicking himself for getting out so cheaply.

Anyway, whoever has bought tickets for 4th and 5th days, take a refund, this match should be over Max by Sunday.

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by SoumenD

Exactly what we needed before an Aussie series. India coming from a thrashing back home, rising from the ashes like a phoenix and thrashing Australia 4-1/5-0. Stuff of legends

Last time we won because there was team who was hungry, not of King and Hitman, Aussie must be laughing right now, the scoreline you predict above could well be against us.

[msdivy]

Siraj as night watchman? Seriously the team think tank don’t seem to grasp the definition. Night watchman is not the weakest batsman. Night watchman needs to have good defences. My candidates for night watchman in the order:
1) Ashwin
2) Sundar
3) Jadeja
4) Akash
5) Next batsman in the line

The team think tank thought Siraj can do the job. They seem have taken this test lightly.