Well, the doomsday posts sort of look like the ones sent before the start of the first test, but Ganguly and Co surprised everyone with a decent showing. Depleted attack or not, this is an Australian side, one witht he most advanced Cricket system and supposedly one with great depth.
Why take away anything from the Indian performance. True the next tests will be tough, India may lose, but then hey, if they play like they played the first test, with their heart really in it, thats not such a bad thing.
As far as the first test went, Day 1 went to Australia. Day 2 to India, Day 3 to all the Umbrella makers in Australia, Day 4 again to the Indians and Day 5 to the Aussies.
I don't think scoring a century in a drawn test is a good idea. Now, you guys have really pissed off the Aussies. Get ready for their wrath in the remaining matches.
In the next match... Harbhajan Singh should give way to Irfan Pathan... though Pathan did not exactly set the stage on fire in the preliminary match. Also, I am not too happy with Agarkar's performance. He has been far too expensive but he can be retained for another match. Another cause for concern is Ashish Nehra... but he will be there because of the "there is no alternative" factor.
Rest of the team is good as it is.
Some1 - indications are that next match Kumble will come in. I totally agree with you that Irfan should come in for Nehra. Agarkar should stay, he has swing and mixes them up. He's a good bat also, whereas Nehra can't give you 2 runs to save his life. Nehra's bowling was unimpressive in this match, but he did manage to contain the Aussies on day 2.
However knowing Ganguly's superstitious nature he won't change the team combo, thinking it'll be bad luck.
On the last day Hayden batting was aweseom. I think that was the highlight of last day, he was so calm and he was smashing the ball like a kid is throwing th ball at him no wonder his strike rate was way high. 99 of 98 balls. :k:
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*Originally posted by Some1: *
Also, I am not too happy with Agarkar's performance. He has been far too expensive but he can be retained for another match.
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i think Agarkar bowled pretty well on day two and even on 5th day..
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*Originally posted by karina: *
Some1 - indications are that next match Kumble will come in. I totally agree with you that Irfan should come in for Nehra. Agarkar should stay, he has swing and mixes them up. He's a good bat also, whereas Nehra can't give you 2 runs to save his life. Nehra's bowling was unimpressive in this match, but he did manage to contain the Aussies on day 2.
However knowing Ganguly's superstitious nature he won't change the team combo, thinking it'll be bad luck.
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What do you say about replacing Sehwag with Sadgopan Ramesh. Sehwag scored 45 in the first(with 1 life) and ZERO in the second...He has hardly been consistent of late.
First of all, well played India. It is a big deal to hold Australia to a draw these days. Weather did favor India, as ehsan bhai said had it been not interrupted by rain, Australia would have easily won; the contempt they showed for the Indian bowling in the second inning surely testifies that. Psychological victory for India? I think that bubble was busted on the last day by Hayden and Co. very comfortably. Perhaps a better way to put it would be to say that Indian side has been saved from humiliation - so far; and Indian management realized the importance of doing so by NOT sending the "great" Tendulkar to bat in the second inning: the prospect of getting a PAIR in this match must be weighing heavily on every Indians' mind. Now thats something that would have psychologically killed the entire tour for India.
Not sending Tendulkar at his regular number four position is exactly the kind of trap Aussies would like to have Ganguly in. He played right into their hands. Why not send Tendulkar and let him get some bat on balls in a non-pressure drawn test. He has to come out and bat in the next match anyway so what the hell is Ganguly protecting?.
What do you say about replacing Sehwag with Sadgopan Ramesh. Sehwag scored 45 in the first(with 1 life) and ZERO in the second...He has hardly been consistent of late.
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I'd go for it, but will Ganguly? He seems to believe that if Shewag clicks it's nadiya paar. Very true, only VS clicks once in 5 innings.
How many teams managed to draw first test in Aus in recent times. This is called psycological advantage.
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I am not taking anything away from batting by indians BUT . how many times it rained for a whole day in in test match in last few Years in australia.?
If you think Inda has a pyscological advantage Over australia. YOU ARE WRONG PERIOD. lets see what next test proves.
My point is its not just the batting but also good luck too.
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*Originally posted by Nikema: *
If you think Inda has a pyscological advantage Over australia. YOU ARE WRONG PERIOD. lets see what next test proves.
My point is its not just the batting but also good luck too.
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Don't worry dude, for the next test we'll have psychological advantage plus good luck - we're the good guys, see.
I agree with Karina here. Adelade does turn on 3rd and 4th days.Ideal situation would be to go with 2 spinners but we cannot afford the luxury of 5 bowlers. So Harbhajan should make way for Kumble.Harbhajan is finished as a TEST bowler.He cannot keep playing just because he took 32 wickets in a series 3 years back.
Ahsish nehra should make way for Irfan pathan.He didnt do good bowling and he cant bat at all.Irfan is a good bat also.
Talking about Sehwag making way for Ramesh.I totally agree that it will be a sane move but knowing Sehwag closeness with Seniors and hsi past laurel he will probably stay.If I was the selector I will brign Ramesh in.
