CL bhai 
I meant that they may lose confidence by loosing the GAME, but “PLUMMET” NOT.
Thanks 
Lot depends on first session.
Its "I miss you hit, you miss i hit" situation. If Kumble (or any other bowler) strikes atleast couple of times in the first session, India can force the result in their favor but if Hayden and Langer played on the whole first session (in their style), India will be on backfoot becasue we have seen Aus getting 400+ in one day of the game.
India, Aus or Draw this can be tell with 75% surity only after the first sesssion of the game.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Arun: *
... but one thing's for certain if India has to win this game.. Kumble needs support.. we really can't expect him to run through the Aussie side all by himself..
[/QUOTE]
Exactly my thoughts... the fact is that India's bowling is extremely weak right now.... amidst all this hoopla over India's batting what has been forgotten is that India cannot be expected to be world beaters with the current quality of bowling...just as we can't expect our batsmen to score 700+ in every match.
Coming back to this match... I would say things would have been much different if we had a genuine spinner in the side like Harbhajan(unfortunately Karthik has been a major disappointment in this test). Kumble has taken wickets but he is not a great turner of the ball and as Arun says above can't be expected to run through the Aussie innings all by himself (+there is no Umpire Jayprakash officiating ;) )
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Decent 6Chora: *
Lot depends on first session.
Its "I miss you hit, you miss i hit" situation. If Kumble (or any other bowler) strikes atleast couple of times in the first session, India can force the result in their favor but if Hayden and Langer played on the whole first session (in their style), India will be on backfoot becasue we have seen Aus getting 400+ in one day of the game.
India, Aus or Draw this can be tell with 75% surity only after the first sesssion of the game.
[/QUOTE]
scoring 400 on first day of test and scopring 440 on last day of test is not the same. There is no way aussies can do it.
take my word. :)
Its not easy scoring 5 runs/over for 90 overs.When worst comes to worst Indian can always use negative tatctics as Steve Waugh used on 4th day.
Aussies’ monumental run chase to send Waugh out a winner](Yahoo is part of the Yahoo family of brands.)
SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia were left needing to conjure up a world record-breaking performance to give skipper Steve Waugh a winning send-off against India after the fourth day in the final cricket Test.
India set Australia a mammoth victory target of 443 here on Monday after skipper Sourav Ganguly called a halt to his team’s second innings at 211 for two, denying Rahul Dravid his 16th Test century with four overs left of the day’s play.
The tourists now look odds on to gain at least a draw from the series-decider, with Australia needing to surpass the existing world record run chase of 418 set by the West Indies against them in Antigua last May.
And another factor mitigating against Australia is that no team has scored more than 276 in the fourth innings to win a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground since Australia’s six-wicket victory over England in 1898.
At stumps on the fourth day, Australia had survived four tense overs to be 10 without loss with Justin Langer on four and Matthew Hayden on one.
That left the home side with the herculean task of scoring 433 to win off a minimum 90 overs on Tuesday’s final day.
“We’ll need a big effort, we’ll need someone to bowl well, it’s still a good wicket but hopefully on the last day it might play a few tricks and if we can get a few wickets then we can put them under pressure,” Dravid said.
"The chances of them batting through the day are pretty good, but the first session tomorrow is going to be critical, the key to their batting in this series has been their top three batsmen and if we can get them early then we can put pressure on them.
“It’s not easy to score 400-plus runs on the last day in any Test match, esepcially when there’s a bit of rough outside the leg-stump.”
India held a massive 231-run innings lead after dismissing Australia for 474 earlier in the day with Simon Katich scoring a maiden Test century and leg-spinner Anil Kumble bagging eight wickets.
Ganguly elected not to enforce the follow-on after the Australians were dismissed 32 runs short of the target and instead sought the added security of further second innings runs before a declaration after India posted a record 705 for seven in the first innings.
The Indians have never won a Test series in seven previous visits to Australia but will retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy with at least a draw on Tuesday’s final day.
Dravid was stranded on 91 and first-innings double centurion Sachin Tendulkar was on 60 when the declaration was called at 5:57pm (0657 GMT).
Adding to the mix is that this is Steve Waugh’s 168th and last Test match and Australia are desperate to send out their skipper a winner.
The match was in a holding pattern late in the day waiting for Ganguly’s declaration with Waugh setting defensive fields to limit the damage from the onslaught of Dravid and Tendulkar’s unbroken 138-run partnership.
India lost both openers with Akash Chopra out for two in the fourth over and Ricky Ponting dropping Virender Sehwag (9) in a routine slips catch off Brett Lee’s bowling for Australia’s 15th dropped catch of the series.
Sehwag, who had been caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist off a no-ball earlier in the Lee over, went on to make 47 before he was caught in the deep by Jason Gillespie off leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.
Kumble became only the third man to take eight wickets in an innings at a SCG Test with 8-141. It is almost 104 years since Englishman Thomas Richardson took 8-94 in an innings here in 1898.
Kumble, who is one of only two bowlers in Test cricket to have taken 10 wickets in an innings, has now taken 378 wickets at 28.23 and ranks second only to Kapil Dev (434 wickets) as India’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker.
Katich scored his maiden Test century in his sixth Test off 116 balls in Australia’s first innings.
Left-handed Katich put on a record 117 runs with Gillespie for the eighth wicket after losing overnight batting partner Lee in the fourth over of the day.
That bettered Ponting and Gillespie’s previous highest 83-run stand against India in the second Adelaide Test of this series.
Lee was out for a duck to a superb diving one-handed catch by Chopra at short leg off Kumble.
Katich hit 125 before he was out caught at long on by Sehwag off Kumble for 125, while Gillespie was later stumped off Kumble for 47.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *
I really can't understand why India did not enforce teh follow on. They had the advantage and should have pressed for victory from thereon. After their first innings performance they should have had the confidence to bat last if so required.With a lead of 236 India could not have gone wrong. The Aussies would had to bat cautiously to save the match and they could not have declared before scoring at least 450 to 500 runs. That would have left very little time for the Indians to bat to save teh match. Now the Aussies only have to bat out today to save the match and draw the series. I feel India has lost a chance.
[/QUOTE]
2 reasons....
- Kumble has bowled continues 45 overs in this match.and you cant expect him to bowl anothr one day from one end.
2.lead was only 230 aussies could have easily made 420-430 and asked india o chase on the last day wicket.
By not enforcing follow on ganguly made sure that Anil has rest,India has enough lead that from their they dont loose and give few more hours of play on the wicket for it to detoriate further.
I think it was good decision.
Howvere if India has a lead of around 300+ then follow on could have made sense.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Some1: *
^ Ok , just as I said that... Australia lost three quick wickets and were alll out for 474... but guess what... it looks like India has decided not to enforce the follow-on...
I think this is weird.... because say that the Indian batting collapses this time around for around 150 runs... Australia will be left with 350-360 runs to win on the last day which will be possible for them to get...
Well, I am not saying that this is what will happen...but why take a chance.... I dont know what is going on in Wright's/Ganguly's mind right now that they decided to do this...
Can someone(f&b?) explain what disadvantage India had in enforcing the follow-on....
[/QUOTE]
refer to above post.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by fair_&_balance: *
2 reasons....
- Kumble has bowled continues 45 overs in this match.and you cant expect him to bowl anothr one day from one end.
2.lead was only 230 aussies could have easily made 420-430 and asked india o chase on the last day wicket.
By not enforcing follow on ganguly made sure that Anil has rest,India has enough lead that from their they dont loose and give few more hours of play on the wicket for it to detoriate further.
I think it was good decision.
Howvere if India has a lead of around 300+ then follow on could have made sense.
[/QUOTE]
FB bhai not convincing arguments. if you are not confident with a lead of 230 than what is the use of such a batting line up?
Also look how quickly the Indinas rattled up runs in the second innings. Therefore, the Aussies would not have declared with such slender lead.
I still feel that they lost a chance to press a victory charge. A blunder by Gangs but not on the scale of Inzi's recent blunder when he took the light instead of finishing the job.
I still feel that India has the upper hand and will either win or draw this match. However, if the Aussies were to lead a sucessful chase then you will see that this decision will be challenged by your media.
My two cents worth.
ehsan, I agree to some extent but I would back Ganguly's decision not to enforce the FO. The Indians had bowled over a 100 overs and got the Aussies out for a mamoth 474. The bowler Ganguly was counting on, Kumble needed a break. I belive his decision was based on Kumble factor. He avoids the pressure of batting last on the last day and gives Kumble a day to rest. Good decision. Good luck India, and kick these aussies hard. What a fabulous end to Steve Waugh's career. He was always deemed as a tough cricketer. Doesn't get tougher than losing a home series against a team who has never won a series in Aus. Ironies of cricket.
I think India should send some Shiv Sena activists to dig up the pitch a bit before the last day play.
Looking forward to today's game!
I don’t know who to support!!!! For quite some time I m hoping that someone kick Aus's butt in their backyard but then Waugh is one of my favorite cricketer. I want him to end his career on high note (at least not on defeat if not on win).
Help..help..tell me who to support :(
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Decent 6Chora: *
Help..help..tell me who to support :(
[/QUOTE]
i guess i am the only one here who's backing Aussies - so back Aussies as we both are Steven's loyal fans!
Aussies will go for victory - will go for biggest chase in the history of Test Cricket - COME ON AUSSIES!
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *
FB bhai not convincing arguments. if you are not confident with a lead of 230 than what is the use of such a batting line up?
Also look how quickly the Indinas rattled up runs in the second innings. Therefore, the Aussies would not have declared with such slender lead.
I still feel that they lost a chance to press a victory charge. A blunder by Gangs but not on the scale of Inzi's recent blunder when he took the light instead of finishing the job.
I still feel that India has the upper hand and will either win or draw this match. However, if the Aussies were to lead a sucessful chase then you will see that this decision will be challenged by your media.
My two cents worth.
[/QUOTE]
I totally agree with Ganguly's decision. Kumble was limping on 3rd eveninng itself.
Its not easy to bowl 45 overs and come back after 10 minutes and ball another 40 overs.
This is what Dravid said after the 4th day play..
On the prospects for the final day: We'll need a big effort. It's a last day wicket, and it might play a few tricks. But it will still be hard work. The chances of them batting out the whole day can't be counted out. But it's not easy to score 400 plus, more so when there's a rough outside leg stump.
Whether there was any confusion about the declaration: Yes, there was a bit of confusion. There was also the question of the light, whether we would be allowed to bowl our fast bowlers when they came out to bat.
**
On why India didn't declare earlier, setting Australia less than 400: ** I'd back a team to score 300 on this wicket, last day pitch or not. The pitch is playing a lot easier than it did for the Australia-England game last year, when there were big cracks on the last day.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by fair_&_balance: *
......The pitch is playing a lot easier than it did for the Australia-England game last year, when there were big cracks on the last day.
[/QUOTE]
So DRAW it is...
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Some1: *
So DRAW it is...
[/QUOTE]
Be positive.
** Prediction for 5th day **
-
Hayden & Langer get out in almost identical fashion to I1. Going
the slog chasing the Impossible Dream. -
Pointing out early to Good Murali.
-
Martyn scratches out 43 before SRW runs him out cold. Again.
-
Waugh is again c Patel b Irfan. Believed to the the only time a
batsman has been dismissed in both innings of a Test by players whose
combined ages are less than the batters. -
"Crap"ich scores his 2nd 100 in match and becoming the new king of
Useless hundreds. Tragically he is forced to retire hurt upon reaching
the landmark when he throws his helmet in the air in celebration but
fails to catch it on the way down and receives a nasty head gash. He
returns later at the death but is obviously unwell as he plays with
his foot close to the pitch of ball and is dismissed immediately. -
Several SCG workers collapse due to the record amounts of beer
being ordered. A CA board member steps in and orders that no more beer
is to be delivered to the Aust dressing room. -
The newly refurbished SCG home side dressing shed is stripped bare
as players (and AW Greig, seen driving a small frontend loader) remove
everything possible which could be later flogged as “SRW’s last Test”
memoriabilia. (“This unique spa bath, one of only 50 used by SRW in
his last Test…”) -
The Aust tail provides as much resistance as Julian Clary’s and
India win by 187. A highlight being Brett Lee’s second duck whereupon
the entire Indian side perform a choreographed fist-pumping
imitations while laughing their heads off. Aust decide not to protest
to the MR as he was noticed on the field performing with the Indians. -
At the completion of post-game ceremonies the Aust players form a
guard of honour for Those Playing Their Last Test. Steve, Brett &
Nathan are visibly touched by the guesture. -
In a post-game interview Ricky Ponting announces some changes will
take place immediately. One thing specifically mentioned is that any
Oz player found in possession of a John Williamson cd will be fined
150% of their match fee. -
Ganguly’s acceptance speech is eloquent, fulsome and gracious,
especially to the Australian bowlers, but the effect is completely
spoilt when the camera catches him flashing the finger at SRW as he
descends the podium clutching the BGT.
**
12. Back in India 28 Indians are tragically killed in assorted victory
celebrations. 29 if you count scribe Anil who suffered a fatal panic attack
when he realised that he had no ICC/MR/umpiring/ bias or Aust sledging
or cheating to write about.**
PS: Please take it as a humor post not as a real prediction by me..This is just to make sure that some people will come back later saying that I said So on this thread.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by fair_&_balance: *
PS: Please take it as a humor post not as a real prediction by me..
[/QUOTE]
Do you mean that this is not real prediction by you... Damn !
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *
Be positive.
[/QUOTE]
"B Negative" is my blood group and motto - as I have said before.
fair and balance:rotfl: