[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Kareem: *
Look for India to get bowled out for about 100, whether they bat first or second.
Look for Australia to score 300+ if they bat first, or finish the match in 18 or so overs if they bat second (chasing 100).
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We will see..but dont run away if that doesnt happen.
Rain forecast in Pretoria.
Lagta hai Australia bach gaya 
Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag take a ride on a motorcycle after a practice session on the eve of their match against Australia in Pretoria.
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Gadhon Zyada masti mat karo..Jab Macgrath Lega na tab pata chalega.
**
India sticks to same 12
**
After showing every indication of including all-rounder Sanjay Bangar in place of Mohammed Kaif, India has retained the same 12 for the crucial Pool A match against Australia on Saturday.
Bangar, who has repeatedly referred to as a key player by captain Saurav Ganguly, had an extended session at the nets, leading to speculation that he may be included in the 12, maybe even the playing XI.
But Ganguly sang a different tune at the match-eve press conference: “Bangar has got enough opportunities but he has not fulfilled his potential to merit a place. And he hasn’t played enough one-dayers. But he is still in our scheme of things.”
That means Kaif, who starred in India’s Natwest finals victory at Lord’s and the ICC Champions Trophy in Colombo but has been having a bad time with the bat lately, gets one more chance although it is unclear at this stage if he will find a place in the final XI.
Kaif scored 9 off 21 in India’s World Cup opening match.
Speculation over Bangar’s inclusion for the Australia match had picked up because India had gone into the Holland match with seven batsmen and four bowlers. The fifth bowling complement of 10 overs was shared by Ganguly, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar.
Including Bangar would have given Ganguly an extra bowling option against the Australians without greatly impacting the batting lineup. Bangar has a Test match century, and scored a whirlwind 50 against West Indies in the one-day series at home recently.
But it is clear that Kaif’s current form is a problem area for the team. **Tendulkar took personal interest in the young cricketer’s session at the nets this afternoon. “Pressure mein nahi aneka. Kitna ability hai, kitna opportunities hai. Use kar. Jo hua abhi tak sab nikalde dimaag se. Just play your natural game,” he told Kaif. **
The team’s other bone of contention – the opening slot – too is far from being resolved. Ganguly was emphatic that he would open the innings with Tendulkar on Saturday **although the general clamour has been for the skipper to drop down given his current form, and allow Sehwag and Tendulkar to open. ** :k:
Ganguly refused to be drawn into a debate that he was proving to be a handicap against quality fast bowling. “We’ve batsmen who can cope with pace. Aren’t the Australians suspect against spin,” he asked.
Sources told rediff.com that the team’s current thinking is that Sehwag would be back at the top of the batting order, but only after the Australia game.
**
Sehwag was heard telling Ganguly at the nets: ‘Jo aap bolo, Dada. Sirf ek din pehle bata dena ki mereko one drop jaana hai’ ** (whatever you say, captain, just let me know a day before that I have to go one-drop).
But the Australian coach John Buchanan believes the Indians were looking for practice against Holland and experimenting with their batting order with the bigger match over the weekend in mind.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by andha_qanoon: *
Rain forecast in Pretoria.
Lagta hai Australia bach gaya ;)
[/QUOTE]
Bad luck for India. Kismat ne Australia kaa saath de diyaa...........
Seriously, if the points are shared between Aus and Ind , the only team whose chances would be hurt would be Pakistan... and that my friend... gladdens my heart !!
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by andha_qanoon: *
Ganguly said "Bangar has got enough opportunities but he has not fulfilled his potential to merit a place. "
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This coming from Ganguly... Does this man have any shame at all...
If anybody does not merit a place... that is Mr. Ganguly himself...
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by andha_qanoon: *
**Tendulkar took personal interest in the young cricketer's session at the nets this afternoon. "Pressure mein nahi aneka. Kitna ability hai, kitna opportunities hai. Use kar. Jo hua abhi tak sab nikalde dimaag se. Just play your natural game," he told Kaif. *
[/QUOTE]
Tandulkar's Mumbai ishtyle Tapori Language surely must have hit home for Kaif Allahbadi!!
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Some1: *
Tandulkar's Mumbai ishtyle Tapori Language surely must have hit home for Kaif Allahbadi!!
[/QUOTE]
where r u gonna watch the game? Stanford,NAZ or home?
Indian bowlers will be creamed by the Aussies batsman, thats a fact, with the return of Micheal Bevan hopefully and Darren Lehman, the Aussies batsman will look and proof once again why they are the best in the world and specially the best batting lineup in the world.
Indian batsman, so much expectations but so little proof, once in every couple months they chase 300 odd runs and become world favorites but when it comes to big games, they get crushed.
As for Aussie vulnerbale against spin, only in subcontinent, and this is South Africa, fast bowlers rule when it comes to fast bowling.
Coming back to the long Aussie batting lineup, look at the names, Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting, Martyn, Bevan, Lehman and now Symonds, and Hogg, this lineup is everything but vulnerable.
As for the Indian team, top 3 are the key, my opinion would be that Ganguly doesn't shuffle with the batting order, yes he might be in bad form but that doesn't mean he should come down the order. The best batsman in the team should always come at number 3 and Tendulkar is perfect for that spot, so no need to open with him. Sehwag is a genuine striker of the bowl, though his tactics won't be as effective against McGrath and Gillespie but he should still open. Dravid is a definite number 4 batsman, he can build a perntership if the top collapses or he can come in and blast away if the top does well.
Number 5 spot still up for grabs, and thats where VVS Laxman was good at but unfortuantly he isn't picked. Dinesh Mongia has proved to be inconsistent and Kaif is off form, I say go with Kaif, he can come in and win the match for his country if required and a real match winner.
Yuvraj is a definite number 7 batsman with no doubts, he is handy with the bowl but I think he should be played only as a batsman.
And then you have the 4 bowlers in Harbajhan, Kumble, Zaheer, Srinath, all capable of big hitting when required specially Harbajhan.
Main problem is if India should go in with 2 experience classy spinners in Singh and Kumble with the expense of only 2 medium fast bowlers.
Bangar is uselss both as a batsman or a bowler and same goes for Agarkar, so India should go with 2 spinners.
My Indian team
Sauruv Ganguly
Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
Rahul Dravid
Mohammad Kaif
Yuvraj Singh
Ajit Agarkar
Harbajhan Singh
Anil Kumble
Zaheer Khan
Javagal Srinath.
PS- I forgot to mention, Aussies will cream India, Go Aussies!
Ganguly gone... Bret Lee draws the first blood
After 6 overs India 28-1... Great shot by Sehwaq in the last over off of Bret Lee
2 beautiful fours in a row by the little master off of Mgrath..
Great over for Inda.. After 7 overs India is 40-1
Bret Lee on fire.. Sehwaq gone. India 41-2
Good start by Australia!!!
:bhangra: :bhangra:
9 overs gone. India 42-2 . Dravid and Tendulkar are still there. If they loose one more wicket, I'll turn it off. BTW Tendulkar looking in a fine touch and its always a treat to watch him in flow.
Martyn dropped Dravid. Though Dravid hasnt looked very comfortable out there this might prove costly. He is a fine batsman.
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Martyn
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Slow going right now.
Dravid gone...
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:bhangra: :bhangra: 