Cousin Jed
Retired President of BigFooty
We've all spent the what will be a fortnight by Day 1 since "Horrendous Hobart" mulling over the makeup of the lineup. If you've been under a rock a summary of what has gone on
Ed Cowan has used a century filled 30 day period (Averaging a tick under 200 in his last 4 red ball games) to take the spot previously held by Phil "C Guptill B Martin for not many" Hughes.
Shaun Marsh has spent the month laying on his absolutely rooted back not having Usman "Score 20 in 80 balls then get out" Khawaja making a strong enough case to keep his spot. The selectors opting to retain struggling RT Ponting over Usman with his 2 test tour of India last year the only time in his last 7 series where he has averaged over 35. There were 3 scores in the magical 70's for Ponting in that series. I say magical 70's because 78 is his highest score in those 7 series.
The selectors have said if Shaun Marsh isn't fit enough then Dan Christian will play at 6 forcing all the other batsmen up 1 spot. It would leave Australia playing an all rounder in a batsmen's spot. A batsman with a career average of 30. Of course he is averaging 34 in his last 10 knocks so he is certainly in career best form.
The other decision is in the bowling department. Choice between Mitchell Starc, who despite playing on some of the most helpful test pitches seen in Australia in years, could manage just 4 wickets at 50 and did not impress one bit against NZ or Ben Hilfenhaus. Ben says injuries caused him to bowl un-threatening out swing out of the hand in the Ashes. Either way he'll not want to bowl un-threatening out swing out of the hand here if he gets the call up or he could have his papers stamped.
Not much to think about for the Indian batting order. Yuvraj finally got the chop in the series against the West Indies. Virat Kholi did nothing to show that he wasn't a far superior player and will likely hold off Rohit Sharma for the 6 spot. The top 5 in the order combine for a lazy 48,414 runs at 52. We all know them.
Bit more thought required in the bowling department. Which 3 fast bowlers? Is Zaheer fit enough to risk? Is your spinner Ojha or Ashwin? You would think presumably it will be Ashwin.
No DRS in this series because the BCCI don't like it. Though they've gone to the top of the test umpires with Gunner Gould [/Ian Chappell] and Marias Erasmus in charge of the first 2 tests. Aleem Dar returns to Australia for the final 2 along with Kumar Dharamasena.
Australia XIII
David Warner
Ed Cowan
Shaun Marsh
Ricky Ponting
*Michael Clarke
Michael Hussey
Dan Christian
+Brad Haddin
Peter Siddle
Nathan Lyon
James Pattinson
Mitchell Starc
Ben Hilfenhaus
In:Ben Hilfenhaus
Ed Cowan
Shaun Marsh
Dan Christian
Out
hil HughesUsman Khawaja
India XVII
V Sehwag
G Gambhir
R Dravid
SR Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
V Kohli
RG Sharma
MS Dhoni
R Ashwin
Z Khan
U Yadav
I Sharma
A Mithun
PP Ojha
AM Rahane
WP Saha
R Vinay Kumar
In:AM Rahane
WP Saha
R Vinay Kumar
A Mithun
Z Khan
RG Sharma
U Yadav
Out: V Aaron (inj)
Umpires:
Marais Erasmus (RSA)
Ian Gould (Eng)
3rd Umpire Paul Reiffel (Aus)
Coverage:
Cricinfo Scorecard
Cricket Australia Scores
Session Times (AEDT):
10:30am - 12:30pm
1:10pm - 3:10pm
3:30pm - 6pm (allowing for the slowness)
Weather:
Possible showers days 1 and 2. But it is Melbourne and this is quite early.
Odds courtesy of Jaimee Rogers:
Australia $2.30
Draw $2.75
India $3.50
