[AtheK]

While Test team continues to deteriorate, I am absolutely in love with the new look T20 team. After the PR stars retired, we have opened up two places and one more instead of Jadeja, they have literally dominated SA at home with bat. Playing freely scoring like it is a T20 match and not an ODI match curtailed to 20 overs.

Thank god SA lost the T20 world cup otherwise the PR stars would have waited for another 2 years to try win the cup.

[anupmpatilbyd]

Originally Posted by NPV

especially the manner in which we lost (we were vanquished literally!).

It's not brainer. None of the players are approaching the tests the way it's supposed to be played. It's always easy wickets (any batsman). Tests are always played to show a teams ability to test opponent's bowlers ability to take wickets. It's supposed to be challenging. Instead we are witnessing majority of the test matches being finished in three days of the reserved five.

I think they should play tests to play for all the five days and approach the game accordingly. Only then the current players stats will hold some credibility when compared to the previous generation players.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by AtheK

While Test team continues to deteriorate, I am absolutely in love with the new look T20 team. After the PR stars retired, we have opened up two places and one more instead of Jadeja, they have literally dominated SA at home with bat. Playing freely scoring like it is a T20 match and not an ODI match curtailed to 20 overs.

This was long overdue, I would say the T20 team overhaul should have been done 2 years ago, who knows we may have even won the T20I WC!

Rohit, Kohli, Bumrah and Pant are not needed in the T20I squad and playing 3 formats took their toll as we just saw in the Test series.

Effectively, our selection process ensured that we destroyed the Test team

[Shumi_21]

Crushing T20 series win in SA. Sanju seems to finally found his mojo & Tilak seems well on his way to be an all format player for India. Bishnoi is getting his leg spinners to turn & Varun has been amazing on his second debut. The best part of this series for me was Surya giving up his number 3 spot because Tilak requested him.

We've actually been lucky with captains in a way. I remember Ganguly giving up his incredibly successful opening pairing with Sachin for a young Sehwag, MSD taking up the tough finisher's role, Kohli absorbing pressure in run chases and Rohit taking on bowlers himself from ball 1 rather than delegating it to Gill or Jaiswal. Great on Tilak to have the self belief and confidence to ask the best T20 batter for his preferred batting spot and to have the skill to deliver with back to back hundreds!

Meanwhile, Gill has fractured his thumb and will most likely miss the first test. I'm backing Sai Sudarshan to replace him. My XI looks like this:

Jaiswal
KL
Sai
Kohli
Pant
Jurel
Sundar
NKR
Akashdeep
Bumrah
Siraj

[Shumi_21]

It begins tomorrow guys. For a refreshing change, we have the respective teams' best bowlers leading, if only for the first test.

[PPS]

As per news floating around, Harshit Rana will make his debut as the 3rd seamer along with Nitish Reddy who will be the 4th medium pacer with Ashwin as the sole spinner! Really interesting combination, I can understand why Reddy was drafted in because the management is worried about four no.11s but would have liked to have seen AkashDeep & Prasidh Krishna play at Perth.

[searacer932]

My prediction is that India will lose 5-0 in the BGT. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have over stayed and I completely blame the BCCI head and selectors for this mess.

I can't believe the infinite chances that somebody like KL Rahul is getting. He is averaging in the 30s after 10 years in international cricket. Atrocious!

[rajeevsulu]

I am predicting 3-1 in favour of Australia. One test ends in a draw because of a very good pitch/bad weather or a combination of both, one test India wins because Australia underperforms, and, three tests Australia wins because they have home territory advantage.

If I am proved wrong with the results, I would be happy.

Cheers

[Eddy]

4-0 Australia.

I do not see the Indian batting stand up to the Aussie bowlers.

[rx100]

I’m going to be contrarian here and say it would end up on a 2-2 draw with Brisbane and Adelaide favoring India and Sydney will be a draw.

[Laxmistart]

Whatever may be the outcome, watching India vs Australia test match in the early morning hours is always something i look forward

[AtheK]

I am more interested to see how our pace battery operates, we losing seems to be the most favorable opinion, and seems that is how it will end, but can our bowlers rattle Aussie batsman!!

KL Rahul (Disaster)
Jaiswal
Devdutt Paddikal (Disaster)
Kohli (Multiple year continuation of Disaster)
Pant
Jurel
Ashwin
Nitish Reddy
Harshit Rana
Akashdeep
Bumrah

This seems to be the team that might play with probably tossup between Aksahdeep and Siraj

[NomadSK]

Following his fathers footsteps, but please don’t groom him for the IPL heroics !!

[harry10]

The Day is finally here.
Irrespective of the result I am quite excited for this series as both teams batsman do not aspire too much confidence. Could very well be a bowlers series. Plus let's see what combination Indian team puts up for final 11.

[rx100]

India decided to bat first (fingers crossed). Traditionally WACA pitch supports early movement and pace friendly wicket, not sure it’s a wise decision.

Two debutants, but instead of NKR, I would have pick Prasid Krishna as we need to take 20 wickets of opposition to win the match. Also Sundar been chosen over seniors Ashwin and Jaddu.

Edit : Sorry it’s not WACA stadium. It’s the new Perth stadium.
And while I editing Jaiswal gone.