2nd Test: India v Australia @ Bangalore (Sat - Wed)

[Cousin Jed]

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/200/icctestjh8.png

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/5779/indv.png v http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3570/aus.png

Bangalore, Saturday 9th October - Wednesday 13th October

Copy and paste from the 1st test preview.
Under performing middle order. Pressure continues to mount on Ricky Ponting and coming to his worst performed country (averages just 20) against his nemesis' Singh and Sharma may not do anything to help that. Marcus North somehow continues to hold on to a berth and he will be hoping to carry on his form from the tour game where a scored an almost run a ball century. Mike Hussey is another who seems to have long since passed his peak and when you throw in 2 test veteran Tim Paine at 7, and number 8 Mitchell Johnson whose batting form in South Africa appears to have been a fraud you have all the makings of a batting order more prone to collapse than an Indian pedestrian bridge.

Well they probably should have won despite the usual 2nd innings collapse after Watson fell, but with a few more runs from serial underperformers Hussey and North and from the Captain in waiting they may have been able to cover the loss of a fast bowler lacking test match fitness during the 2nd dig and a spinner who isn't going to bowl them to victory on the sub-continent (not many do from non Indian teams)

Changes: Gambhir is out through injuryand Murali Vijay is in. Gambhir didn't do much in the 1st test though he was the victim of a Bowden special in the 2nd dig. Sharma who was the key in the 2nd innings for India (picking up 3 quick wickets when it looked like Watson was about to put Australia in the box seat and then his match winning knock) is also out through injury and serial pest and Harbi's bitch slap victim Sreesanth is likely to have a bowl.

Doug Bollinger is in some doubt and with 1 eye towards the Ashes one wonders if they will risk a long term injury for him. So too is 1st test hero VVS Laxman which will be very sad news for Australia if he is out.

As usual the middle order will be unchanged.

Australia XIV
Shane Watson
Simon Katich
*Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Michael Hussey
Marcus North
+Tim Paine
Nathan Hauritz
Mitchell Johnson
Ben Hilfenhaus
Doug Bollinger
Peter George
Phil Hughes

In:Steven Smith
Peter George
Phil Hughes

India squad
+*MS Dhoni
Virender Sehwag
M Vijay
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
Suresh Raina
Cheteshwar Pujara
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
Pragyan Ojha
Sreesanth
Jaidev Undakat
Amit Mishra
In:Vijay
Jaidev Unadkat
Cheteshwar Pujara
Sreesanth
Out: Gambhir
Sharma


Umpires:
Ian Gould (England)
Billy Bowden (NZ)

Coverage
Cricinfo Scorecard (http://www.cricinfo.com/india-v-australia-2010/engine/match/464527.html)
Live from 2:30AEDThttp://img135.imageshack.us/img135/8092/fs2bh3.png

List of Bangalore Tests: Howstat (http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Grounds/GroundMatches.asp?GroundCode=031) (4W 6L 8D at this ground for India.)

Weather: Not as hot and a chance of some afternoon thunderstorms according to the 1 forecast I could be bothered googling.

Session Times AEDT: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
5:40pm - 7:40pm
8:00pm - 10:30pm (when you factor in dodgy over rates)

[whats_at_stake]

Seems like there will be a fair few breaks due to scattered thunderstorms. Will help the bowlers. Expect a draw though depending on how much it will rain.

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/INXX0012?par=cricinfo&site=www.espncricinfo.com&promo=0&cm_ven=cricinfo&cm_cat=scores&cm_pla=citypg&cm_ite=wx-10Day

[albundysmate]

a draw is the best bet for this match

[Purrfect Pussies]

IASbet.com @ 08/10

Draw - $1.85
Aussies - $3.50
India - $4.30

[Rick18]

Bollinger's out, so I assume that'll mean George makes his debut.

[ioppolo]

Probably wouldn't hurt to give Phil Hughes a game either.

[Cousin Jed]

Ponting wins the toss and will bat. Dhoni hapy to lose the toss.

George in for Bollinger

Pujara in for Laxman
Vijay in for Gambhir
Sreesanth in for Sharma

[Flawed Genius]

Subbed.

[bombersno1]

Just you watch North arse his way to the worst 50 in history and keep his spot till the end of the Ashes

[ronnie1234]

Ponting chose to bat first

[happy_eagle]

George is a suprise

[Flawed Genius]

Well that wasn't missing anything.

Watson lucky to be out there still.

[Cousin Jed]

Inside edged it

[bombersno1]

George is a suprise

The other options were Pattiston and Starc..need I say more:thumbsd:

[Flawed Genius]

Surely not. Looked like he missed it by an absolute mile.

Katich playing and missing.

[Doodlesweaver]

Zak is a good bowler to watch. He isn't fast but beautiful wrist position.

[bombersno1]

Still plays for India..and the bloke at teh other end is a wank

[Flawed Genius]

Sreesanth? Complete dickbag

[happy_eagle]

Are ABC covering the game ?

[bombersno1]

Sreesanth? Complete dickbag

Yep, and getting smashed, good to see!:thumbsu:

[bombersno1]

Solid start. Watson looks good again.

Well he better look good as at the moment we are 1 out, all out. When Watson goes our lineup falls to pieces!:thumbsd:

[bombersno1]

Yes Peter George!!:thumbsu::thumbsu:

Beau Casson II, take the cap and run.

[Cousin Jed]

Long off and deep mid on in the 10th over?

[Flawed Genius]

Robot getting fours and not even middling them.

That's a lovely shot.

[amer]

Can't believe North has been selected again. Beyond disgraceful, I don't have a word for it.

[Flawed Genius]

Hah, Robot cutting sick.

[legend166]

Watson off to a flyer.

[Rick18]

Watto man just taking the piss out of the bowling attack.

[happy_eagle]

Anyone got a radio link

[Flawed Genius]

Christ, they just don't shut up in the stands do they?

Camera was nowhere near that ball.

[Kim Hagdorn]

Watson looking in fine form :thumbsu:

[ballanFYNE]

Anyone got a radio link
Try google.

Solid rate of 4.08 an over. Hope Watto keeps this up.

[Flawed Genius]

I love seeing Sreesanth get belted.

[Arecsa]

Robot playing great.

[bombersno1]

Deep mid in the 10th over, wtf

[ballanFYNE]

Shane Watson = LEGEND.

hahah Singh bought in into the 13th over.

[bombersno1]

I love seeing Sreesanth get belted.

Maybe Harby can bitch slap him:D

[bombersno1]

Shane Watson = LEGEND.

hahah Singh bought in into the 13th over.

Watson= best player in the world at the moment. There is NO ONE in world cricket I would swap Watson for. :thumbsu:

[ballanFYNE]

Watson= best player in the world at the moment. There is NO ONE in world cricket I would swap Watson for. :thumbsu:
Agreed, ATM i would not give up Watson for anyone. Would rather him in my team now than Laxman at the moment.

[Flawed Genius]

..Tendulkar?

[ballanFYNE]

Not me. Watson > Tendulkar at current form to the minute.

[TheStinger]

Watson looking in fine form :thumbsu:
VEwwwQAD9ug

[TheStinger]

Why is a Jimi Hendrix impersonator bowling for India?

[placebo]

Pretty lucky Katich.

[bombersno1]

Not me. Watson > Tendulkar at current form to the minute.

Agreed, Watson bowls as well.

[bombersno1]

Pretty lucky Katich.

How? Pitched WAY outside leg stump!:confused:

[Doodlesweaver]

How? Pitched WAY outside leg stump!:confused:

Way? Hardly it was about a 49/51 decision. I wouldn't have blamed Gould for giving that out.

[Rick18]

If there is a god Hogg will never get another commentating gig again.

[Notorious_29]

Great start, Watson's confidence at the moment is just ridiculous. :thumbsu:

[bombersno1]

Way? Hardly it was about a 49/51 decision. I wouldn't have blamed Gould for giving that out.

It was an easy decision. You can't pitch the ball on the stumps if the ball does not straighten. The ball did not straighten. Went on with the arm. Easy decision.

[bombersno1]

Great start, Watson's confidence at the moment is just ridiculous. :thumbsu:

Comes from being injury free!:thumbsu:

[Doodlesweaver]

Comes from being injury free!:thumbsu:

We'd be screwed without our openers, just screwed. It's only when they are out that I start feeling depressed.

[bombersno1]

We'd be screwed without our openers, just screwed. It's only when they are out that I start feeling depressed.

I still am not discounting us falling in an absolute hole once Watson goes. It is turning square FFS..I mean Ohja is turning it a foot!

[ballanFYNE]

Katich now firing.

[lemmon]

It was an easy decision. You can't pitch the ball on the stumps if the ball does not straighten. The ball did not straighten. Went on with the arm. Easy decision.
I think Doodles was talking about the Sreesanth decision which only pitched outside leg by a bee's dick

[Doodlesweaver]

I think Doodles was talking about the Sreesanth decision which only pitched outside leg by a bee's dick

I was, I thought bombers was prone to exaggeration.

[placebo]

Pretty solid start. Watto looking pretty good again, and Katich is solid as always.

How? Pitched WAY outside leg stump!:confused:

We talking about the same decision?

I was talking about the one that just pitched outside. And I actually hadn't seen the pitch map replay when I made my comment, but you couldn't have blamed Gould if he gave it.

[bombersno1]

I was, I thought bombers was prone to exaggeration.

It is an easy decision though. A right arm bowler to get an LBW bowling over the wicket MUST straighten the ball to a left hander. The ball did not straighten, and as a result the easy decision was made- not out.

[bombersno1]

Pretty solid start. Watto looking pretty good again, and Katich is solid as always.



We talking about the same decision?

I was talking about the one that just pitched outside. And I actually hadn't seen the pitch map replay when I made my comment, but you couldn't have blamed Gould if he gave it.

Actually I would have as a right arm bowler has to straighten the ball down the line to get an LBW from over the wicket. That is the whole point. Any person that has umpired will tell you that. There is no way I would be giving LBW's from over the wicket unless they straighten to a left hander.

[Dr Awkward]

Would love to see Watto knock up a huge score.

F8cking North playing again!?!

[saint_larry]

gah, north in the team.:mad:
and at ~0/100, he will stroll in with zero pressure.
and will make 100, against an indian attack that will have absolutely no energy, or fire.
gah.

[lemmon]

It is an easy decision though. A right arm bowler to get an LBW bowling over the wicket MUST straighten the ball to a left hander. The ball did not straighten, and as a result the easy decision was made- not out.
Not sure I agree here, Sreesanth bowls particularly close to the stumps and the ball was dead straight. There is no way that was missing and only pitched outside leg by a couple of milimetres. I wouldnt have been cracking it if he had been given.

[Doodlesweaver]

Oh Kat.

[Rick18]

As if they're stunned that Ponting gets booed coming in to bat.

[Notorious_29]

Solid catch from Dravid, bit of an awkward shot from Katich, pity they fell 1 short of the 100 run opening stand.

[Doodlesweaver]

danger time

[legend166]

This is where we've failed the last couple of years. We lose relatively quick wickets and completely shut up shop, but continue to lose wickets.

They need to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

[TheStinger]

Pup tries to take out the umpire there. He's a bit lucky too, his foot twisted on Pups bat.

[Arecsa]

Usual Aussie collapse, great going guys :rolleyes:

[Doodlesweaver]

Usual Aussie collapse, great going guys :rolleyes:

What fun hey? Pup just looks like he's not concentrating this tour.

And here comes the first of the chuckle bros.

[sherb]

Here we go, the collapse is under way. :rolleyes:

What's the point of a strong opening stand if the side can't capitalize on it? (The second innings of the first test being a case in point).

[ballanFYNE]

Not happy :rolleyes:

[ronnie1234]

sigh

frustrating as usual

[Doodlesweaver]

Here we go, the collapse is under way. :rolleyes:

What's the point of a strong opening stand if the side can't capitalize on it? (The second innings of the first test being a case in point).

Imagine what it would be like if our openers didn't provide decent platforms for the middle order to squander?

[kingbet22]

aussie collapse number 846372837384934291... i hope hussey grinds it out and makes a nice score here...i'm looking forward to watching north bat

[Doodlesweaver]

aussie collapse number 846372837384934291... i hope hussey grinds it out and makes a nice score here...i'm looking forward to watching north bat

Does Punter realise he's into the tail? He cant play shots like that.

[ballanFYNE]

After such a start it can all be over in a day. :(

[TheStinger]

Does Punter realise he's into the tail? He cant play shots like that.
Do we have two tails? North and Hussey come in and then Paine and Johnson make a nice middle order then our other tail.

[OzBomber]

We continually have these collapses, yet the selectors don't do anything about it. Sure you can keep the faith, but this is taking it to the extreme. Hussey and North should've been gone a year ago.

Bring Gilly back, he'd do better than half this side.

[Doodlesweaver]

We continually have these collapses, yet the selectors don't do anything about it. Sure you can keep the faith, but this is taking it to the extreme. Hussey and North should've been gone a year ago.

Bring Gilly back, he'd do better than half this side.

Maybe Huss will redeem himself. He's got a lot of redeeming to do.

[OzBomber]

Maybe Huss will redeem himself. He's got a lot of redeeming to do.
Here's hoping he doesn't score a ton when we're getting absolutely hammered and when it becomes meaningless.

[ballanFYNE]

Stay in Hussey.

Score a ton North.

Then we might go alright.

[Doodlesweaver]

Here's hoping he doesn't score a ton when we're getting absolutely hammered and when it becomes meaningless.

That's the problem. I don't really want him or North to do well as I think it will just cement players who aren't up to it in the team even further than they appear to be entrenched.

[Flawed Genius]

Players like North have an unhappy habit of hanging on by their fingertips until the bitter end.

[OzBomber]

Players like North have an unhappy habit of hanging on by their fingertips until the bitter end.
You had to love his Brett Lee comment by saying he was in the best shape that he'd ever been in. It doesn't matter what shape you are, just score runs. Lehmann, Boon etc. all scored runs fine.

[Doodlesweaver]

Huss is doing the right thing and not getting bogged down. Maybe getting in the ODI team of the year (again) will make him realise that his strengths are not in grinding. It's just asking for trouble.

[OzBomber]

Huss is doing the right thing and not getting bogged down. Maybe getting in the ODI team of the year (again) will make him realise that his strengths are not in grinding. It's just asking for trouble.
He got in the what team? :eek: You're kidding right?

[Rick18]

Dhoni's just allowing Hussey to score runs. Weird field placing.

[Doodlesweaver]

He got in the what team? :eek: You're kidding right?

The ICC team. But he's been saving our arse like normal in that format.

ODI team of the year: Sachin Tendulkar (India), Shane Watson (Australia), Michael Hussey (Australia), AB de Villiers (South Africa), Paul Collingwood (England), Ricky Ponting (capt, Australia), MS Dhoni (wk, India), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Stuart Broad (England), Doug Bollinger (Australia), Ryan Harris (Australia).

[OzBomber]

I said it when I first saw it play and I'm still saying it now. Sreesanth has a really suspect action.

[Arecsa]

Hussey, gone. Now lets see what North can do.

[Notorious_29]

Time to step up Northy boy.

[Doodlesweaver]

I don't think I can watch North bat.

[kingbet22]

north time...is that hogg in commentry talking him up?

[premiers06]

I'm a big fan of Huss but I think it's time for him to go.

[wavefall21]

Huss fails again

[OzBomber]

AB De Villiers should never be allowed to sing again.
Pardon?

[Cooldude]

Ponting's technique looks to be in good order since the start of this series. He must have prepared hard for the Ashes to come, good signs. Now to kick out some of the rubbish in the middle order to support him and we'd be there

[Doodlesweaver]

Ponting's technique looks to be in good order since the start of this series. He must have prepared hard for the Ashes to come, good signs. Now to kick out some of the rubbish in the middle order to support him and we'd be there

:thumbsu:

GOod that he and Huss had a partnership but it's gotten to something when I'm pleased Huss gets to 30.

[Arecsa]

Harby you flog, free runs for North there.