Test Changes for... India 23 Edition + Post-match chat...

[frankrizzo]

jadeja has 50 wickets@18 in india against us you could make the case in these conditions he is their mvp against us but in saying that al the talk seems to be that he should be ok for tests but he would be a huge loss if out injured.

 

[hawkman]

India are going to roll out dustbowls because we only have one good spinner and only Smith is proven against quality spin

And there's no SOK like there was back in 2017 to catch India offguard

I think it's going to be a bloodbath

Dustbowls bring average to poor spinners like Agar into play. The worst 2 pitches last time saw Australia win one and fall just short in the other one

 

[frankrizzo]

yeah im fine with dustbows and shorter test matches realistically its our only shot at a series win over there quicker games on difficult pitches reduce skill gap and one batting our bowling performance can win you a test, decent pitches that turn later in game india will just grind us down and beat us easily.

Also interesting o keefe is mentioned as he really only performed on the "dustbowl" and struggled on less helpful decks taking just 7 wickets@53 in last 3 tests.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Versatility is the word I'd use Jim. Bats, bowls and is a brilliant fielder. I also heard that Starc is likely to miss 2-3 and Green only the one. Had it been the other way round, I expect CA may have added Aaron Hardie to the squad as cover for Green. I'd also prefer Handscomb over Renshaw in the starting X1 as one of our better players of spin. We will certainly need him if those pesky Indians dish up a typical Nagpur dust bowl in the first.


Astonishes me how successful Pant has been given his loose technique. Like Travis Head and a younger Dave Warner, Pant has pinpoint hand eye co-ordination to get the majority of his runs, the rest is with reckless abandon. Pant will have an up and down career.

Was meaning flexible team selection, but yes, agree with the above.

 

[BGman]

Was meaning flexible team selection

Team flexibility very important in India. We need bowlers that bat and batmen that bowl, r/a l/a bowlers, pace and spin. Medium and express pace. I think the only aspect we dont have covered is a left arm paceman with Starc out. CA need to keep an eye on South Aussie quick Spencer Johnson for the future is we want to continue with that policy.

Also interesting o keefe is mentioned as he really only performed on the "dustbowl" and struggled on less helpful decks taking just 7 wickets@53 in last 3 tests.

Good point and one not often mentioned by SOK devotees when comparing him in sub continent to fellow left armer Agar.

jadeja has 50 wickets@18 in india against us you could make the case in these conditions he is their mvp

Yes he is our top danger man with bat and ball. Hoping then he misses Nagpur.

 

[Westend]

Team flexibility very important in India. We need as many bowlers that bat and batmen that bowl as we can find. Long tails we dont want.

Agreed and that's why Greenie is going to be so crucial....will give us the option of playing an extra spinner

 

[BGman]

Agreed and that's why Greenie is going to be so crucial....will give us the option of playing an extra spinner

Playing against the Indian spin attack led by Ashwin and Jadeja in their conditions is a far cry from playing them in ours where there is slow turn and even bounce. Green and the other debutants will be given quite an examination. Are they up for it. Green being almost 2m tall has a long way to bend to smother any spin and it will not be only spin off their surfaces but vicious spitting balls that have a nasty habit of taking wickets. Warner and Head are our two weak links against a well pitched turning ball, specially at Nagpur with its reputation as a batsmen killer. CA will pick both for Nagpur.

 

[Westend]

Playing against Ashwin and Jadeja in their condition is a far cry from playing them in our conditions where there is slow turn and even bounce. Green and the other debutants will be given quite an examination. Are they up for it. Green being almost 2m tall has a long way to bend to smother any spin and it will not be only spin off their surfaces but vicious spitting balls that have a nasty habit of taking wickets. Warner and Head are our two weak links against a well pitched turning ball, specially at Nagpur with its reputation as a batmen killer.

Its a fantastic learning opportunity for all our batters. Our batting group needs to come with there own plan to combat the spin. If you look at past tours and who has gone well they had a plan

Hayden...used his reach and used the sweep as his primary weapon against the turn
Gillie...the same as hayden
Clarkey ...great use of his feet dancer when in form..would get to the pitch to smother the spin
Martyn.....severely underated by aussies IMO in india but not by Indians.. He used his soft hands and played back riding the spin around the corner off his hip and playing the cut when it dropped short

They are just recent players...but further back probably the best of all was AB...could dance down the track to get to the pitch and play back when they dropped short...he was fantastic against spin

With our current batters I would like to see Greenie use his bigger reach to get to the pitch and use the sweep. Smudge and Marnus to use there feet and also play back when its short. Ussie has come up with the reverse sweep which is working well for him along with Carey. Warner can play it as well and when set warner plays back well... The biggest issue is Head as he does not employ the sweep for me he needs to use his feet either get to the pitch or play right back and use his best shot the cut and keep being aggressive.

If we stick to a plan we can go well. If we get caught on the crease in two minds thats when we get in trouble

I am really looking forward to see how our batters combat the spin threat this series....but also remember that pace/reverse swing will come into it as well.

 

[BGman]

With our current batters I would like to see Greenie use his bigger reach to get to the pitch and use the sweep. Smudge and Marnus to use there feet and also play back when its short.

You mentioned Hayden. He was terrible against spin in sub continent so had to work his bum off to develop the sweep as his main weapon. Did so and scored big in later tours. Been watching Green playing the sweep and he appears to be in better control than most as he does use his extensive reach and hits down on the ball as all good sweepers should do. More a paddle than a sweep which will work far better in India than the conventional or riskier slog sweep.

If we stick to a plan we can go well. If we get caught on the crease in two minds thats when we get in trouble

Above all we have to be positive, show intent, never let their superior spinners settle as then they will dominate our minds and any lack of technique.

 

[Westend]

11

22

2

1027

203

51.35

1635

62.81

2

5

2

Hayden average in india was fantastic

His series back in 2001 when both him and gillie scored hundreds in the first test was awesome. That was a fantastic series...should of won IMO but Very Very special Laxman produced a gem with Dravid that goes down in cricket folklore

 

[swingdog]

Versatility is the word I'd use Jim. Bats, bowls and is a brilliant fielder. I also heard that Starc is likely to miss 2-3 and Green only the one. Had it been the other way round, I expect CA may have added Aaron Hardie to the squad as cover for Green. I'd also prefer Handscomb over Renshaw in the starting X1 as one of our better players of spin. We will certainly need him if those pesky Indians dish up a typical Nagpur dust bowl in the first.


Astonishes me how successful Pant has been given his loose technique. Like Travis Head and a younger Dave Warner, Pant has pinpoint hand eye co-ordination to get the majority of his runs, the rest is with reckless abandon. Pant will have an up and down career.

He'll be like Sehwag - good until the eyes go.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Think Jadeja took 7fa in his return to the long form.

 

[Cleavy]

"Australia will have a chef, a golf simulator but no tour match as part of a unique preparation to try and crack its Indian hoodoo.
Pat Cummins’ team will fly to Bengaluru next week for a specialised training camp after receiving a guarantee from the Indian Cricket Board that they will be prepare practice wickets for them which take raging turn."

 

[Belnakor]

11

22

2

1027

203

51.35

1635

62.81

2

5

2

Hayden average in india was fantastic

His series back in 2001 when both him and gillie scored hundreds in the first test was awesome. That was a fantastic series...should of won IMO but Very Very special Laxman produced a gem with Dravid that goes down in cricket folklore

The umpiring in that series was horrendous. DRS era we win the 2001 series 3-0. Easily.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Like most I am really looking forward to this BGT series - it's all very well to lord it up at home, but it's series like this one in India upon which reputations should surely be forged.

The selectors have named a telephone book of a squad.

Warner's spot really should be under scrutiny but I don't think we'll see the boat rocked.

I have some hopes that Usman can contribute, and both Renshaw and Handscomb sgould be given every opportunity for a run - if either are to be included I'd be going with Head ahead of Warner despite the struggles of both against spin in the subcontinent.

Hoping Carey can keep up his stellar home summer form, big ask but if he is up and about he will be very handy too.

It sounds as though Agar will be partnering Nathan Lyon for the bulk of the spinning overs; like nearly everyone I'm a sceptic; I feel like his and (to a lesser extent) Lyon's trajectory will play right into the Indian batsmen's hands.

Big Tests, despite no Bumrah and Pant. Cummins greatest examination in terms of both his captaincy and his bowling in unfriendly conditions.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Its a fantastic learning opportunity for all our batters. Our batting group needs to come with there own plan to combat the spin. If you look at past tours and who has gone well they had a plan

Hayden...used his reach and used the sweep as his primary weapon against the turn
Gillie...the same as hayden
Clarkey ...great use of his feet dancer when in form..would get to the pitch to smother the spin
Martyn.....severely underated by aussies IMO in india but not by Indians.. He used his soft hands and played back riding the spin around the corner off his hip and playing the cut when it dropped short

They are just recent players...but further back probably the best of all was AB...could dance down the track to get to the pitch and play back when they dropped short...he was fantastic against spin

With our current batters I would like to see Greenie use his bigger reach to get to the pitch and use the sweep. Smudge and Marnus to use there feet and also play back when its short. Ussie has come up with the reverse sweep which is working well for him along with Carey. Warner can play it as well and when set warner plays back well... The biggest issue is Head as he does not employ the sweep for me he needs to use his feet either get to the pitch or play right back and use his best shot the cut and keep being aggressive.

If we stick to a plan we can go well. If we get caught on the crease in two minds thats when we get in trouble

I am really looking forward to see how our batters combat the spin threat this series....but also remember that pace/reverse swing will come into it as well.

Australia has the batting line-up to cobble together a decent score under hostile conditions more often than not.
I read an interview with Labuschagne where he spoke of Steve Smith imparting the importance of going really big in India when you're on top.
I think they know what is required; whether or not they can deliver is another thing.
Tough opposition.

Khawaja will really have to knuckle down; Head has to have his head together. Not sure Warner can bring it; if he proves me wrong here I will reassess his entire career on one level.

Cam Green will be the interesting one - logic says he will have a shocker, but he is a unique talent still exploring his limitations. He might surprise. A maiden century in India would be super sweet.

 

[Cleavy]

Its a fantastic learning opportunity for all our batters. Our batting group needs to come with there own plan to combat the spin. If you look at past tours and who has gone well they had a plan

Hayden...used his reach and used the sweep as his primary weapon against the turn
Gillie...the same as hayden
Clarkey ...great use of his feet dancer when in form..would get to the pitch to smother the spin
Martyn.....severely underated by aussies IMO in india but not by Indians.. He used his soft hands and played back riding the spin around the corner off his hip and playing the cut when it dropped short

Gillespie - block the heck out of everything and tire out the bowlers. His partnership contributions were underrated that series.

 

[BGman]

Steve Smith imparting the importance of going really big in India when you're on top.

Good advice by Smudge. Not be surprised if he also said 'go hard even when not on top'. In other words dont give their spinners the chance to dominate. That does not mean be reckless but rather proactive. Use feet, all the crease and push singles and twos for constant strike rotation.

 

[doggies ftw]

If Green and Starc miss the first test and it’s an absolute rager - I’m lining up like this:

Renshaw
Ussie
Marnus
Smith
Head
Carey
Agar
Cummins
Lyon
Murphy
Hazlewood

Renshaw over Warner, it won’t happen but it should. Warner can possibly play a role on less hostile pitches later in the series - he shouldn’t be a lock for first test.

Green also going to be super important for us so hopefully he only misses the one max. Agar as the 3rd spinner/all rounder could be handy on an absolute dust bowl, with two front line spinners in Gaz & Murphy.

Getting excited for this one now, we’re going to go way better than the negative nancys in here claim I reckon. Will be a very tight series, although a win would be remarkably difficult

 

[magpiemaniac44]

Despite what posters in here are saying about playing 3 quicks, if Green is fit we should be playing 2 quicks and 2 spinners alongside him, with Head to bowl as well we would most bases covered.

 

[Lia]

I reckon june would be great for not biting his tongue & toeing the BCCI line. I can already picture june laying into the curators for dishing out rank turners & sunny arguing with him. The weasal bhogle cowering in the corner unsure how to calm things down so he can go on a 20 min lecture about some maths equation which has little to do with cricket. Glorious.

In all seriousness I hope it's punter & only june if punter/kok/katich are unavailable.

My opinion of Harsha has tanked over the last couple of years. He used to put the game of cricket first by and large and I loved his enthusiasm and analysis but now he is another Indian sycophant blowing smoke up all their overrated players.

 

[Lia]

Warner and Khawaja among others already talking about scheduling fatigue is not a good sign either. It is hard to escape the feeling that we have seriously handicapped ourselves. Warner might not even last the series.

 

[Cleavy]

Warner 'exhausted' ahead of India tour, would rather skip CA awards

The opener will head overseas early next week having not found his best form in the BBL

www.espncricinfo.com

great signs...

 

[Cursed Cat]

Warner 'exhausted' ahead of India tour, would rather skip CA awards

The opener will head overseas early next week having not found his best form in the BBL

www.espncricinfo.com

great signs...

Shouldn't have been selected, should now do the right thing and step aside given his current malaise.

 

[hawkman]

Warner 'exhausted' ahead of India tour, would rather skip CA awards

The opener will head overseas early next week having not found his best form in the BBL

www.espncricinfo.com

great signs...

Could have not taken the cash from CA to play for the Thunder and had a few weeks of rest