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There is a wrong assumption that Kapil played to break Hadlee's record, but having seen cricket of that era too, Kapil had lot of good outings before that one ODI match when Lara stepped out to maul him in an over. He was just 34 when he quit, but after him we never got an allrounder.

GG got the job for other reasons than merit. Once the 3rd test match headed for a draw, there might have been team selection for the 4th test match, and Ashwin has realized that he is not playing, so he took a bold decision.

I saw Kapil Dev struggling to get wickets after he crossed the 400 mark in Australia during the 91 series. It took him three and half years to take 34 wickets to cross Hadlee. He was indeed 34 when he retired but he had lost his pace considerably by then. I remember Subroto Mukherjee and Jawagal Srinath vying for the place in the team while Kapil Dev played on. While it’s true that he was the greatest all rounder we had and we have still not got another Kapil Dev, the team did carry him until he broke the record.

And yes, whole heartedly agree with the second part of your post but with only rider. Ashwin has been dropped before as well, what happened this time ?

These things have happened before as well and we in India are terribly short when it comes to honouring our sporting heroes. All I can say is that the whole thing could have been managed in a better way. But then, if Dravid and Laxman can retire abruptly after being treated shabbily, anyone can be treated the same, so no surprises there.

He was never dropped for another off spinner, that was the difference.

Nass & Athers interview Ashwin.

Quite an insightful chat. Gives one some perspective on how Ash's mind works. At the end Ash says quite bluntly that (Indian) bowlers are not a supporting act to Kohli & Rohit.


The boxing day Test begins tomorrow. Talented 19 year old Sam Konstas will make his debut for Australia. He seems to have a weakness against inswingers and will have his work cut out facing Bumrah with the new ball. I think Aus have missed a trick by dropping McSweeney. He didn't score a lot of runs, but he did eat a lot of deliveries at the start of every innings, which I feel is a big factor in Smith and Head piling on all those runs. In Perth and in second innings at Brisbane, both Smith and Travis Head were in before the 30th over and were dismissed cheaply.

I think the top order playing out 30-40 overs is key even for us. It allows guys like Pant & NKR to play their natural agressive game. Heck even Rohit may hit his way to form with an older Kookaburra ball! Expecting Gill & Jaiswal to have a big game and Pant to score a bruising, deflating century to answer Head.

It was good listening to him, but I don't think he answered the questions that were addressed to him. Wandered off and became verbose sometimes, IMO.

Overall though, one hour well spent.


PS: I hope he does not go the Sehwag way. Too much of me, myself and I'm the best when Sehwag talks. I just cant tolerate him.

Agreed, I have spent some good years with high profile cricketers of now when they were struggling and making their name in the domestic circuit and were having no name to reckon with. They were mostly all about me/myself & loud mouth. I don't blame them, its just the environment background they come from and the hype they get from common junta.

I remember Sehwag, saying something on a YT video, when Ponting asked him, if he edged, he said yes and when umpire asked him, he said no. That was simply stupid, you have just shown your moral degradation to the whole world. Mind you at one time I watched cricket only for his batting.

Completely agree about Ponting & Aussies, but my point here was related to Sehwag and Co. Recently I came to know about Smith that how "brain fade" moment was created in the first place, when broadcasters caught them doing hanky panky during DRS review, thanks to Anil Kumble. Or as recent as Head saying "well bowled mate" to Siraj, common that was for the whole world to see what he said.

And the person asking him is Ponting. The irony of things. Australians are the most notorious for such behavior and stooping to any levels to just win. Morality is over rated in this sport which is played by a bcci team with the biggest logo of byjus and the smallest of small mention of India in it.

We are overthinking about a sport that is aimed to make many people wealthy and it is just another business.

Based on rumors, India is set to play two spinners at the MCG, with NKR most likely making way for Washy, and Rohit returns to the opening slot.

Jadeja taking questions in Hindi, Virat having a go at the reporters and finding imaginary enemies everywhere, a used pitch given to the visitors for practice, Ashwin calling a quit in mid series, Ish Guha calling Bumrah a primate, so much of unwanted noises - Isn't that a perfect recipe for a Blockbuster series.

I guess India has not lost the last 3 tests played at MCG, so they would go in as the favorites, even hot conditions as expected are conducive for us and take away some unwanted pressure. Oh no, But Ashwin isn't there who took 14 odd wickets in those 3.

MCG & Sydney would be filled in with huge Indian fans for sure, another plus for the visitors, it will be like a home game for us. Unlike the previous 3 games where the Aussie crowds were pretty nasty. Both of these will be high scoring grounds and hope the test goes through all 5 days.

Head potentially unfit, poor McSweeny got axed for no reasons, Konstas will have to face Bumrah's fury, Marsh is a dead wood in the team, Khwaja looks like a sitting duck, Boland & Smith seems to be a real threat to visitors.

So far it has been, "Head vs India" and "Bumrah vs Australia"

Team composition would favor 2 spinners as weather forecast shows pretty hot hot 5 days.

Looks like, It will be a good toss to win. Bring it on !!

Jeez, where has this kid come from?

Beginner's luck had a huge role, but it definitely takes a lot of courage to try and reverse ramp Bumrah. Some of Konstas' hoicks were agricultural and he missed more than he connected, but at the end he did manage 60 odd in no time. Definitely one for the future for Australia. Kohli shoulder nudging a 19 year old debutant who managed to score 18 runs off a Bumrah over really made me chuckle. Aus have the advantage though being at 112/1 at lunch.

Meanwhile India have opted to drop Gill for Sundar. Rohit will probably open with KL slotted at 3 or vice versa. This game is the best opportunity for the Indian batting line up to stand up. The weather will be really hot, and Australia have 4 bowlers who are around the 35 age group plus Mitchell Marsh who cramps out after bowling like 3 overs. If we can hit one of the big 3 fast bowlers out of the attack, it's game on!

What would hardcore cricket fans do without these occasional moments of humour!

Remember the Maggi man memes about Rohit before he rose to greatness?

We maybe going back there in the last stages of his career. Hope he proves me wrong.

So 311/6 at the end of day’s play.

Steve Smith looks pretty well settled at the crease, better than he ever has been in this series.

Decent bowling performance, but Australia will go into day 2 knowing that they have the slight edge, and can extend to about 400 or so. At one point it looked like Australia would end the days play with a larger total on the board and fewer wickets, so I guess we managed to reel them back in a bit.

Kohli’s behaviour in trying to intimidate Sam Konstas was comical, and borderline questionable. But the criticism coming from the Aussies, Ponting in particular, is pretty rich honestly.

I think Australia have already gotten too many runs and going by our recent form, we’re starting at another bad first inning batting and if that happens the game will be firmly in Australia’s control.

Yet again, India’s first 30 overs or so of batting will be crucial! That is only after we manage to get 4 more wickets - Smith is going well and with decent support from Cummins and Starc they can manage to pile on more misery, fingers crossed!