Australia v India, 4th Test, Sydney, 6-10 January 2015

Changes: Watson is gone, I think Burns will stay unless India chases these runs down, a rest for MJ and maybe Harris or Hazlewood?

Possible ins: Starc, Siddle, Henriques or Faulkner


Rogers
Warner
Burns
Smith
S Marsh
Henriques
Haddin
Starc
Harris
Siddle
Lyon

For India, Rahul clearly out ... Dhoni has been so poor, if he fails with the bat here, might Saha get back in at his expense? Yadav has tired as the series has gone on; who comes in for him? Has India enough reserves to replace Shami as well?

Interesting. I think they'll keep Watson.

If they do, it would have to be 'last ever last chance'.

What a frustrating player he has been.

I think India should give Rahul another chance. Write Melbourne off as a bad attack of nerves. Dhoni and the coach should sit down with him and talk through what he can do better in Sydney, and how he can approach the match better and manage his nerves, but I think it would be sad and a bit cruel if he's jettisoned after such a nightmare debut, especially since he's been an opener his whole life, yet was asked to bat in the middle order on his test debut. If he plays awful shots again even as an opener then fine, drop him.

Besides, Dhawan should be dropped. He's had far more chances.

Dhawan's made a few runs here, though, and has been one of India's better fielders.

lardbucket wrote:Dhawan's made a few runs here, though, and has been one of India's better fielders.

Dhawan is getting good starts, looking a million dollars, but then playing weak, overconfident shots to get out. A bigger crime than getting 0 every time, imo.

Agar apparently added to the Test squad

WTF?

I don't have the stats but I'd guess he's taken three first class wickets all season.

Is he being picked as a batsman?

Nath wrote:Agar apparently added to the Test squad

Confirmed. a definite WTF selection.

http://www.cricket.com.au/news/ashton-agar-called-up-to-australian-test-squad-for-final-match-against-india-at-scg/2014-12-30

He must be the all-rounder picked to replace Watson.

Are these selectors trying to outqunt Hilditch?

Haddin is lucky to survive as well. I'm not sure his first innings 50 should be enough to save him.

So, for Aus......

Rogers
Warner
Burns (S.Marsh)
Smith
S.Marsh (Burns)
Haddin+
Agar
Johnson
Harris
Lyon
Hazlewood

They've won the series. May as well experiment.

Big Dog wrote:Are these selectors trying to outqunt Hilditch?

It appears so, and sadly they are on track.

I think Siddle will come in to rest Harris.

I really can't believe they will play young Agar against the Indian batsmen, unless they are counting on their admittedly supreme arrogance to cause their self-destruction.

Henry wrote:WTF?

I don't have the stats but I'd guess he's taken three first class wickets all season.

5 for 300 odd

lardbucket wrote:I think Siddle will come in to rest Harris.

I really can't believe they will play young Agar against the Indian batsmen, unless they are counting on their admittedly supreme arrogance to cause their self-destruction.

Watching the Big Bash game at the moment, the new, slingy James Pattinson might be a better bet than Siddle.

Agar can be our new #3

according to cricinfo twitter, Dhoni has retired from Tests and Kohli to captain in Sydney

Are Ch 9 still planning on wheeling Richie back out for this test match? Or has that been scrapped? There was a cheesy feature on him during the Melbourne test with him as narrator, talking about how he still loves his cricket, loves Coogee, loves Daphne etc....he looked very old and frail.

He looked and sounded like he'd just had a stroke.

Has Agar deserved the recall?

Maybe they know something about the SCG pitch no-one else does?

Henry wrote:WTF?

I don't have the stats but I'd guess he's taken three first class wickets all season.

Is he being picked as a batsman?

He got a golden duck last night...

pinko maths ...second ball