Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
Ricky Ponting hasn't performed with his bat in this series. I expect him to play another clutch inngs. If India can take him out than there is no other player that can deliever in a pressure situation. Ponting is the key.
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
for Ponting, let bhajee do the business 
If India is to loose this match now, they have to bowl really bad !!!.. else its India’s game.
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
I have n’t posted much recently but I must say that I have been greatly impressed with the way India has competed with the mighty Aussies in their own back yard esp. in the last two tests. Even in the first test, a lousy hour’s (second innings) batting display on the 4th morning is what ruined the game for India. Another 100 runs and the result could have been different. All tests have gone to day 5. With Pakistan games usu. finish in 3-3.5 days in Australia owing to our inept and inconsistent batting.
Some Pakistani yahan abhi bhi keeray nikaal rahay hain. I say give credit where it is due. yaar pehlay apni team ko dekho, phir dobara apni team ko dekho, Apart from the two Y’s (If Akhtar manages to complete 30 overs in a test that is a bonus) *koi shaklain hain *(I mean the present team) humaray players kee Australia say Australia main compete karnay kee. If we score 300 against them we think that we have done really well! The Aussies can score that in just two sessions and that (i.e. our repetitive batting failures) largely explains why we have never been able to compete with Australia in Australia in recent times.
When was the last time Pakistan were in a position to force a draw never mind a win against Australia in Australia? And when was the last time we made 500 in a test innings in Australia?
Infact in recent times the only test where we made the Aussies sweat in their own back yard was this one in Nov. 1999
http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999-2000/PAK_IN_AUS/SCORECARDS/PAK_AUS_T2_18-22NOV1999.html](http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1999-2000/PAK_IN_AUS/SCORECARDS/PAK_AUS_T2_18-22NOV1999.html)
That said I would warn Indian guppies against premature celebrations. :k: This Aussie team does n’t know how to lose and with a record-breaking 17th straight victory (well not quite) in sight and with players like Ponting (who is due a big score) Hussey, Symonds and Gilchrist still there you just never know. I sincerely hope for reasons that are quite obvious that Asad Rauf has a good day in the field tomorrow.
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
:k:
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
My view about the 2 players is slightly different. Yuvraj has always been among my favourite players. I considered him along with Kaif as a highly explosive combinaation in the Indian middle order which BCCI tried to destroy on numerous occasions and were almost successful as well. They finished Kaif’s career however couldn’t do the same with Yuvraj. Eventhough Gangu and other seniors have been performing well off late however there were many many occasions in the past where situation demanded Yuvraj’s inclusion but still he was not part of playing 11. He didn’t click in this series but he is indeed a special player who can harass any opponent in any condition with his aggresive batting.
About Pathan I am still not convinced. At times he seems to be an extraordinary all rounder with enormous talent but then there are times he become a very mediocre player confused about his role in the team. Off late he has been playing well. I guess his problem is lack of consistency and obviosuly some experimentation courtesy of Chappel and Indian borad. There is a line between being a utility player and a player who is sort of maser of none and Pathan often falls into the latter category. At test level you consistently have to demonstrate strenght in one department.
I agree about Kumble that he has demonstrated good leadership skills which is a must facing a team like Australia. India has been a thorn in Australia’s side in the last 5-6 years and I hope they not only win this game but also the last one. Playing with such determination after 0-2 down against australia requires some extraordinary skills :k:
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
Holy cow…Australia successfully chased 369 inspite of being 126/5 at one point. (btw, whatever happened to Mohammed Wasim)
Makes me wonder if India really are in such a strong position as it is being made out to be.
The other thing is the ultra fast Perth outfield – I mean runs have been scored in this Test at an ODI run rate…so if just one or two batsmen manage to hang around for a bit, they would have knocked off enough runs from the target (something like Symonds/Gilchrist partnership in the 1st innings).
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
Holy cow...Australia successfully chased 369 inspite of being 126/5 at one point..
extraordinary umpiring in the final inngins cost us that game :(
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
extraordinary umpiring in the final inngins cost us that game :(
Really ? Such a deadly attack Pakistan had in that game - Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar....still Australia managed to knock off those runs in the 4th innings.
What chance do our poor speedsters have ?
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
What chance do our poor speedsters have ?
The best batting line-up in the world was once complemented with the best bowling attack. Had this gem been given the reigns, Ajit Agarkar would have creamed Australia.
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
i still feel terrible with how our batting collapsed
idiots talk big how they want to win the series, but talk is not going to win u matches
there was no fire (before laxman and co), i mean this is their chance to win a freaking test against australia at the WACA, and pillars of indian cricket collapse
if they batted well, they would had the game sealed
also i realize that it was some amazing bowling esp by lee and gotta give them credit for fighting the way they did
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
funny last comment 
yeah aussies are fighters
ive noticed that symonds always gives u a chance early on and if u dont get him, this guy makes you pay BIG time
gilchrist obviously can change the game at anytime
its going to be tight
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
Really ? Such a deadly attack Pakistan had in that game - Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar....still Australia managed to knock off those runs in the 4th innings.
What chance do our poor speedsters have ?
It's not about Pakistan's deadly attack in that particular game. Sometimes even the deadliest suffers at the hands of minnows. However in that game Pakistan was punished by two classy players, Langer and Gilli who were assisted by the umpires.
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
Anyone know where i can get loads of mithai for little money :D
Hope India wins this one
BTW this is my 2nd thread for this series and both times India scored more 1st innings runs than Aussies ..... well no need to remind why he 2nd Test went on as it did but i hope they pull it off.
Come on India
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
i still feel terrible with how our batting collapsed idiots talk big how they want to win the series, but talk is not going to win u matches
I share your sentiments......the contribution from the Big 3 (Tendu/Dravid/Gangu) was close to ZERO in the 2nd innings...even if they had added only 50-60 runs between the three of them, we wouldn't be sitting here and wondering "IF" India would win this test. Was it too much to ask ?
Tendu esp never comes off in situations such as this.
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
It's not about Pakistan's deadly attack in that particular game. Sometimes even the deadliest suffers at the hands of minnows. However in that game Pakistan was punished by two classy players, Langer and Gilli who were assisted by the umpires.
i remember that game...Langer was gone early and was ruled not out
plus some other close decisions ruled in favor of batsmen
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
Game On
Kumble traps hussey, looks like it was going hit middle, but bowden turns down the appeal
edit - hawkeye shows its going over the stumps
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
no intensity from indians, dont look like getting a wicket anytime soon
pitch seems flat
ponting dominating
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
Not sure why Kumble is prefering Ishant Sharma over Pathan - our only wicket keeper. Not very smart kaptaani , I am afraid.
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
Hussey is leaving everything even a fraction outside off stump.
Good strategy.
Re: 3rd Test: Australia vs. India at Perth (WACA) Jan. 16-20, 2008
Ricky Ponting, finding Ambrose unplayable.
:D