Australia v India, 4th Test, Adelaide, 24-28 January, 2012

should we rest Hilfy or Siddle?

Neither.

Collected a nice packet yesterday on the 3rd test - but didn't reinvest the dosh as the odds offered for Aus to win the 4th test were too prohibitive - 4/6 - and I dislike betting odds-on faves!

Still, 4 - 0 is on the cards based on the shambles over the past 4 days.

Gambhir is a liability still, but at least he's gone over 1,000 runs.... in the last 2.1 years. 1,122 runs @ 32.05. One ton in that time. Jokey disgrace.

The thing is that like Aus over the past 2 years, they don't really have TEST replacements ... aye, plenty of big hitting T20 specialists, but no one like the Wall who would stand his ground and sell his wicket dearly.

BanIndia really are in deep poo IMO ... coz once those middle 3 (and Sehwag) go ... they're going to flounder ... unless Felch has a miracle cure for them.

Merlin wrote:The thing is that like Aus over the past 2 years, they don't really have TEST replacements ... aye, plenty of big hitting T20 specialists, but no one like the Wall who would stand his ground and sell his wicket dearly.

BanIndia really are in deep poo IMO ... coz once those middle 3 (and Sehwag) go ... they're going to flounder ... unless Felch has a miracle cure for them.

I'd have stuck Rahane in for Gambhir - told the arrogant big-eared twat to go f*ck himself until he's pulling up trees in the domestics. Or get him a county gig.

skully wrote:Just realised this starts on a Tuesday and ends on Saturday. Seems odd programming. Wouldn't start Thursday (Aus Day) and finish Monday been more sensible?

Aye, madness. The match seems unlikely to reach Saturday, so the gate will largely depend on the National Day attendance on day 3. Hopefully that will be a full day.

My Indian team would be-

Sehwag(c)
Rahane
Kohli
Tendulkar
Dravid
Rohit
Saha+
Ashwin
Zaheer
Yadav
Ojha

Wouldn't Ashwin come in above Saha? Come to think of it, send him in at 5.

And surely the most telling statement about Dhoni as a test cricketer is that India and the BCCI haven't even bothered to release a strongly worded statement against his banning for a slow over rate, let alone threaten to call off the tour and fuel up the plane and go home. Can you imagine the stink if it had been Ganguly who was banned?

I think they're quietly happy to see him out of the side. Saves them having to make a big decision like dropping him, because he's the most overrated cricketer in history.

If Saha does well at Adelaide, what leg does Dhoni have to stand on when it comes to his claims for an immediate test recall?

nowt

lardbucket wrote:Wouldn't Ashwin come in above Saha? Come to think of it, send him in at 5.

I couldn't believe they dropped him for Perth. I don't think he's bowled all that badly, it's just that Dhoni's captaining of him has been appalling. And yes, he has been one of their better batsmen.....

I see him as a future captain ....

It may not even be that long; Dhoni seems to be dead meat.

Henry wrote:And surely the most telling statement about Dhoni as a test cricketer is that India and the BCCI haven't even bothered to release a strongly worded statement against his banning for a slow over rate, let alone threaten to call off the tour and fuel up the plane and go home. Can you imagine the stink if it had been Ganguly who was banned?

I think they're quietly happy to see him out of the side. Saves them having to make a big decision like dropping him, because he's the most overrated cricketer in history.

If Saha does well at Adelaide, what leg does Dhoni have to stand on when it comes to his claims for an immediate test recall?

The other possibility is that they no longer give a flying kick about test cricket.

Henry wrote:And surely the most telling statement about Dhoni as a test cricketer is that India and the BCCI haven't even bothered to release a strongly worded statement against his banning for a slow over rate, let alone threaten to call off the tour and fuel up the plane and go home. Can you imagine the stink if it had been Ganguly who was banned?

I think they're quietly happy to see him out of the side. Saves them having to make a big decision like dropping him, because he's the most overrated cricketer in history.

If Saha does well at Adelaide, what leg does Dhoni have to stand on when it comes to his claims for an immediate test recall?

I thought the same thing, Trev. I was quite sure the Bannies would've got on their high-horses and at least appealled and looked for a stay of execution.

Has someone in the ICC finally called the BCCI's bluff? Or is it just that, as Bas alludes, the BCCI CGAF?

If the series was 1-1 it would have been different.

Aye, espesh if Emma had been pasting us around the park.

Spiv wireless was suggesting that Cot would be the bowler rested for test IV.

I guess not bowling at Adelaide is a reasonable reward for a pretty grouse season

Aye, he's a bowler that really does the hard yards. Bowlers like those deserve the odd dead rubber off. Especially at Aderoade.

I doubt he would see it that way - being victorian he is no doubt quite greedy and would like the additional $20k match fee to get another tat and buy a greyhound.

Also a bit of cop out by the selectors. Couldn't decide which bowler deserved to be dropped so "reward" the best one*. Still the end result is probably good one - although who knows what damage 2 tests in 12 days will do to Harris



* Lardy I acknowledge that Milf has been the best bowler this series but Cot has been in there all summer.

G.Wood wrote:I doubt he would see it that way - being victorian he is no doubt quite greedy and would like the additional $20k match fee to get another tat and buy a greyhound.

Also a bit of cop out by the selectors. Couldn't decide which bowler deserved to be dropped so "reward" the best one*. Still the end result is probably good one - although who knows what damage 2 tests in 12 days will do to Harris



* Lardy I acknowledge that Milf has been the best bowler this series but Cot has been in there all summer.

Aye, well it is a dead rubber against minnows. May as well see which bowler deserves leaving out when Siddle is back in the side. These are the perfect times to give newer players a go. I suppose it is a bit of a cop out, but they'll have tough decisions when OP's perm sets and Cummins' French manicure dries anyway.

and I guess it is all very well looking impressive on decks that have a bit in them against old crocks but let's but we will learn more by seeing how they go against FTBs on their preferred surface

Aye, I'm looking forward to seeing (from a neutral's perspective). The more good fast bowling, the better. Even if it is much more likely that England stop looking like cricketing superaliens from another planet.

Weren't Aust 3/2 and 4 for about 20 early in last season's Adelaide test?

2/0 and then 3/2, I think.