[harry10]

Originally Posted by selfdrive

Only then?



This should have been the XI for the Perth test, of course with the exception of Mayank who was not there on time and maybe Bhuvi coming in for Shami. Which makes me wonder why they did not call for him immediately once they knew Shaw was injured. Looks like they were hoping that one of Rahul or Vijay will come good.

Vihari seems to be going the VVS Laxman way. I hope they don't jettison him if e does not succeed at opening.
By the way, why no Kuldeep yet? Do we still need 3 seamers? I wonder why Shami still gets to play, Bhuvi or Kuldeep would have been better picks. Bhuvi especially seems to have gone way down the pecking order. I would pick him over Shami any day, given that his attitude towards batting would also help the team.

In the lower middle order Rohit can still hope to make a 40-50. As an opener he won't cross even single digits. Though my first preference will be not playing him at all.

If Vihari is pally with Kohli he is assured of at least 10 tests. So, completely depends on his buttering technique if he fails as an opener.
Kuldeep has no experience of tests as of now. Jadeja/Ashwin being senior pros will always get a nod ahead of him. Shami has been good most of the series. In fact at Perth he was easily the best bowler. Ishant has been doing alrite. Bhumrah is our best pacer. So, bhuvi could have played in place of yadav last match but Kohli/Shastri are known to make stupid selections.

[atnyia]

Originally Posted by harry10

If Vihari is pally with Kohli he is assured of at least 10 tests. So, completely depends on his buttering technique if he fails as an opener...
Kohli/Shastri are known to make stupid selections

Kohli's captaincy has turned an otherwise fine batting line up into a mediocrity. Much like Dada's and Dhoni's captaincy turned fierce and talented pacers into 'medium-pacers' who would bowl line and length, thus lacking enough emphasis on pace. Ishant has turned into a fine, reliable test bowler under Kohli; but look at Pujara or Ajinkya. They seem like unfulfilled promise - like Ishant, Munaf, Umesh, Pathan etc used to look like; after two seasons.
There have been simply too many, unforced, selection errors under Kohli. One of the most egregious one was the bowling decision in CT final. It defied all kind of common sense. That they still keep happening, demoralises the team over the long run. The process seems to be unrelated to merit or players' suitability. Rather, we are playing players like Rohit Sharma on greentops against likes of Rabada and Styne, based on their one day 'form' on flat decks.

[PPS]

Rohit being the senior player should put his hand up & opt to open the innings, something i doubt he'll do! He knows he's just 1 failure away from getting dropped from the test team.

[pratyush6]

We might win, I am just tired with the selection blunders we keep making. Bhuvi doesn't get a spot in the XI ?
Good that Mayank & Vihari open the innings. Rohit, I don't really know, if pitches are good (and they have been as expected on the Aussie tour), he can perhaps play his natural game, attack - it seems he should succeed, only that at best he gives us a 30 or 40.
During the break, the Indian team as expected, defended their selections and went after their critics. Who will tell them than words need to be backed by deeds? This team is hollow, they act like brutes on the field and brash intoxicated teenagers with others - I hope Aussies beat them again and teach them a lesson.

[msdivy]

Vihari is not a regular opener. He doesn't open for his state in domestic matches. Hope he manages the boxing day extravaganza.

Selection of Mr Nohit Talent is triumph of hope over experience. Though I am not a fan of Pandya's test cricket abilities, I think he would have been better bat and handy as a change bowler.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by PPS

He knows he's just 1 failure away from getting dropped from the test team.

Talent will be there forever I think. He may get into the actual XI only occasionally, but he will keep coming in & out of the squad for a long time.

[harry10]

123/2. Ok. Better than last 2 matches. But another 40 runs would have been golden. Need to be at least 250 end of day. Shouldn't just play for time. We need minimum 400 on this pitch to make Aussies sweat in first innings.
Top debut by Mayank. Looked compact but didn't bogged down. Some shots were a delight. Especially the six of Lyon was great to watch. Deserved a 100.

[suhaas307]

Well, 215/2 at the end of day's play. Scratchy innings from Kohli, but a couple of good shots too. Pujara has done well to hold fort, but Mayank Agarwal's innings was the stand out contribution. It was also great to see Vihari's application as an opener. Unconventional, but his determination was missing in the rest of the batsmen in the last match.

India needs to continue tomorrow in the same fashion, and maybe up the scoring rate a touch. 400+ is needed. A century from Kohli and Pujara, and a couple of quick fire 50s from Pant and Jadeja would help us achieve that 400 target easily.

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

A century from Kohli and Pujara, and a couple of quick fire 50s from Pant and Jadeja would help us achieve that 400 target easily.

So no expectations at all from Rahane and Rohit?

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by Oxy

So no expectations at all from Rahane and Rohit?

Rahane I'm sure will chip in!

Nohit, noway!

[msdivy]

Some leisure time read - Why is Hanuma Vihari opening for India?

Some snippets:

The No 4 down batsman Rohit Sharma has an unimpressive Test record. It suggests that he struggles against genuine pace in overseas conditions and the odds are loaded against him to succeed as a Test opener in Australia.

And then he has powerful satraps backing him up, waiting with unending patience for him to taste success in the five day version of the game. They wouldn't want him to open and fail. They think their boy has some chances of coming good, batting lower down the order in Test cricket, batting at No 6 or 7.

Who these powerful satraps are, no one clearly knows as yet. But the day will come when we will all know that, and we will continue to remain silent.

That just leaves Hanuma Vihari, the most malleable member who can be asked to open the innings.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by msdivy

Some leisure time read - Why is Hanuma Vihari opening for India?

You said it, The No-hit Sharma Test Cricket Experiment has been going on for too long. It should end pronto!

And at the other end of the planet, the Pakistani bowlers have SA crumbling at home! Man how does their assembly line keep churning out pacers like that?!

[naveenvenkatesh]

Great application by Mayak Agarwal. Pujara is solid as always. If we get 400+ score, there is a chance. The pitch is misbehaving on day 1. Hope it turns on days 4 & 5.


Whatever happened to Karun Nair? Does anyone remember that bloke? Has a triple hundred against England, albeit in India. Seems like miles better than Nohit Talent at No.6. The last i read, his attitude was not acceptable. This coming from Kohli and Shastry is rather ironic! He warmed the bench in SA and Vs Eng at home before being dropped to make way for his excellency, Mr.Nohit Talent.

If only we had Ganguly or Kumble as captain with of this side!

[NPV]

Originally Posted by am1m

You said it, The No-hit Sharma Test Cricket Experiment has been going on for too long. It should end pronto!

Guess what, Rohit will most probably have the last laugh since he is not too far away from a fifty and with that he will seal his spot for a few more tests regardless of how he plays Luckiest Indian test batsman probably ? This will keep the Mumbai brigade happy too! We almost have a region based reservation system when it comes to team selection, sad but true.

With Kohli, Pujara and Rahane gone, let's see if India can get to 450-500 runs and bat Australia out of the match, don't think we can expect a result otherwise.

**What's with the pathetic Aussie fielding ? After Kohli and Rohit now Rishabh Pant gets a life after another catch is dropped No doubt good for India though to make hay while the sun shines!

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by NPV

**What's with the pathetic Aussie fielding ? After Kohli and Rohit now Rishabh Pant gets a life after another catch is dropped No doubt good for India though to make hay while the sun shines!

The commentators were mentioning the Australia team is dead tired out due to the physical and mental toll of having been on the field for over 160+ overs. And they have been slogging it off on the field; so guess there is some truth in this.

Regardless of our slow batting rate, we should race quickly to ~450 target and get the Aussie team to bat for atleast 10 overs; given their state, there is a strong potential to get in a few wickets for sure!

Else this match is heading towards a draw for sure.

Edit: My guess - the team will choose to play out the rest of the wickets for a 500+ score and put in the Australian team for batting on the third day only