[carboy]

Originally Posted by C300

+1. Given the focus on T20 big bash down under, I expect the wickets to be bat friendly across Aus barring Hobart. They will be tempted to create green tops against India but that strategy can potentially backfire given their batting form.
We have to adapt quickly at MCG and a drawn boxing day test will be a good start IMO.


There are no two doubts that this is our best chance to win the series in Aus. Pattinson is a threat but lack of experience means he will have few bad days in the field.
Our batters will do well but its the bowlers who win the matches. All eyes on Zak, Ishant & co.

My eyes are on whether Zak will break down before the first test or after it.

[karty_83]

Originally Posted by carboy

My eyes are on whether Zak will break down before the first test or after it.

Exactly. Is he even match fit ? Else no point in playing him. He was in much better situation in England and broke down on day 1.

It ll be very interesting to see what kinda wickets they produce this time. For once a bowlers paradise can actually backfire for the oz

[carboy]

Originally Posted by karty_83

Exactly. Is he even match fit ? Else no point in playing him. He was in much better situation in England and broke down on day 1.

If he is match fit, he should last 1 test. Or very optimistically 2 tests.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by karty_83

I second that. In fact Aussies are struggling with their batting and not bowling.

This is India's best chance to beat OZ in their own backyard.

You are contradicting yourself carboy. Why do you worry about what happened in England (agreeing with 007) and then say this is the best chance to beat OZs in Australia ?

@ 007, your instincts are terribly misplaced this time around. NZ with their tremendous fielding, decent bowling and pathetic batting have been able to beat an OZ side, this means that with an enormously good batting, average fielding and decent to brilliant bowling side, India can certainly win at least 2 tests and not lose any tests in Australia. That is my premonition, India will win 2-0, 3-0 or 3-1 or 2-1. This is OUR series for the taking and we will take it. SRT, Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman, Dhoni, Zak, Vinay, Ishant etc will play important roles in this.


At the same time, I want Ponting to bow out with grace, he is too good a batsman to be disgraced, I dont care about his demeanor etc etc.

Originally Posted by carboy

The last time India got fast bouncy wickets in Australia was in the 99 tour.

The last 2 tours have been very average wickets - yeah, they are faster & and bouncier than Indian wickets but not really like the 91-92 & 99 tours. The 92 Perth pitch was really really quick & bouncy.

Agree to that totally. We actually won a test match at perth, that tells a story.

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

At the same time, I want Ponting to bow out with grace, he is too good a batsman to be disgraced, I dont care about his demeanor etc etc.

As much as I hate his smug behaviour, I wouldn't mind watching him get a fighting but in-vain 100. That would be quite the swan-song that Ponting has been looking for.

After all, he is one of the game's greats!

[Eddy]

On a different topic, this is interesting

Kumble vs BCCI: The real story

[ampere]

Dravid speaking at Bradman Oration.

Dravid's powerful speech in Oz gets standing ovation | Features | NDTVSports.com

[deky]

^^^^ Ive always enjoyed listening to Dravid. He is very soft spoken, down to earth and pretty precise. Oh Well I guess good command over the language also makes a lot of difference

[esteem_lover]

Dravid's speech was impeccable, he did not mince words, yet very graceful. That is Dravid.

[WindRide]

A speech as beautiful in form and content as any of Dravid's cricketing strokes.
Awesome man. Awesome human, whom I admire endlessly and tirelessly.

[Eddy]

Saw a bit of the Big Bash today. Very impressed by James Faulkner. Definitely a future Aussie fast bowler. And with the spate of injuries that have hit them, he just might get to play against India.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Saw a bit of the Big Bash today. Very impressed by James Faulkner. Definitely a future Aussie fast bowler. And with the spate of injuries that have hit them, he just might get to play against India.

Our IPL owners would have also been watching and itching to have him for a pittance then.

[Eddy]

The IPL guys have 2million $ to spend. I think that Ravindra Jadeja might be worth a million and a half. It'll be interesting to see if anyone picks Murali.

[Eddy]

So, who all are getting up early tomorrow ?

I have set my alarm to 4.40, 4.45, 4.50 & 4.55.

And an alarm of 5.00 am on my wife's phone - without her noticing. At least one of these will wake me up !

Lets hope we do well tomorrow

[Naturalist]

Hope the weather holds up in Melbourne tomorrow.
Forecast is showers mostly. Set my alarm though. Hope we get a good start to set the tone for the series.