India v Australia, 4th Test, Dharamsala, 25-29 March, 2017

Too soon?

I guess NoShow has locked in a spot for T4. Hard to see Ooze getting a go. Wonder how 2nd pulled up?

I imagine there are 2 wickets being prepared right now. One a raging turner (to be used if Aus get out of T3 with a draw) , and the other a Cahill Expressway equivalent (if India go 2-1 up - which seems likely).

Hard to see Khawaja NOT being chosen ... fewer mental scars than the rest.

Also I wonder if any of the bowlers will be fit to play the next game. Surely Cummins needs a rest. Hazlewood too must need a break.

I'd choose Stoinis, Khawaja, Agar, Swepson, and Bird, all of whom are at least fresh. Wade has to play, I suppose, in the absence of an alternative. Smith and Renshaw will play because they are the only two credential led batsmen from the series. Maxwell has definitely earned another go. Two others from the current mob can stay; I reckon you could draw them from a hat, especially if the pitch is a road as anticipated.


Renshaw
Khawaja
Smith
Maxwell
Wade
Stoinis
Agar
Swepson
Bird

and two of

Marsh
Lyon
O'Keefe*
Hazlewood
Cummins
Handscomb*
Warner

probably the asterisked two

Interesting stragedy.

Well, given Aus hold the AB-Sunny trophy, a flat belter just won't do for India. Wouldn't it be piss funny if a bunsen is rolled out and the Aus attack makes better use of it (ala T1) than India do.

Oh, the dilemma the BCCOARIAB may have on their hands.

It will be a Bunsen. They have to play the odds.

Win the toss = win the game; lose the toss = probably win the game.

skully wrote:Interesting stragedy.

I like that word. I guess it means "a plan that is going to end really badly".

I always thought it was a Bee Gees song.

Will we have a bowling attack after being ground into the dirt in T3?

so has Seasick offered any explanation for Maxwell bowling just 4 overs out of 210?

JGK wrote:Will we have a bowling attack after being ground into the dirt in T3?

Gloomy on that count for both. Australia's batting wasn't any short in this match. Jadeja bowled 90+ overs, for one.

But he was as dangerous at the end as he was at the start. Jadeja is beginning to rival Ashwin as the premier spinner in world cricket.

Good news is that Shami bowled his full quota in the domestic od final and took four wickets. Should replace Ishant.

Australia will go in unchanged unless there is an injury. I'd like to see Usman get a go at opening but the NSP think Warner walks on water so i can't see it happening.

My biggest concerns would be Cummins and (to a lesser extent) Lyon.

If the pitch is a bunsen, as expected, I'd leave Cummins out and put Agar in. If only we had a Funky type.

What do we do about Lyon? If his spinning finger isn't 100%, it would be asking a lot for Swepson to come into the XI

I don't think that can happen ... I guess Stoinis would come in, bat at 7, and open the bowling!

The ground is well above sea level. The atmosphere is lighter and oxygen thinner - this will really test the quicks. Somewhere I read that the ball moves around at the stadium

If the spin elongated version of Bob Massie's career plays, it could be we need a fifth bowler so it could be in Stoinis out Maxwell given Seasick just about refuses to bowl NS.

Lardy - Stoinis can move the ball around at pace and gets wickets...BUT he can be expensive...he bowls quicker than him but his bowling reminds me of the partnership breaking qualities of Douggie Walters. You would not want either opening the bowling.

If it looks like swing and cut is there I'd drop Lyon and bring in Bird, but keep Maxwell in.

There's nothing wrong with a horses for courses policy but I think it exempts vice-captains and previous test century makers. Though here they do need a fifth bowler and not a batting flat-all-round-er.

$500K incentive?

"Silverware isn't the only thing up for grabs for Australia this weekend, with the Proteas breathing down their necks on the Test rankings

Australia will hardly need any extra motivation when the Border-Gavaskar Trophy goes on the line in Saturday’s series-deciding Test in Dharamsala.

But just in case any of Steve Smith’s men require a little added incentive to get themselves up for the fourth Test of a highly-charged tour, half a million US dollars (about $AUD 650,000) from the International Cricket Council is up for grabs.

India locked up top spot on the ICC’s Test rankings for the governing body's official April 1 cut-off date, and the US $1 million prize cheque that goes with it, with their second Test victory in Bengaluru.

ICC Test Team Rankings:


Should Australia prevail in the Himalayan foothills over India, they’ll hang onto second spot regardless of how the Proteas fare in Hamilton.

A draw or a loss in the fourth Test against India will only be enough for Steve Smith’s men to cling on to second spot if South Africa also lose their Test against the Kiwis. "

-----------------------------------------------

Given the cash would probably go straight into the CA coffers, probably not an incentive at all. Retaining the AB-Sunny and retaining "get that up yer, E-Coli" bragging rights is a far more important.

Bhogle's view.

http://www.themercury.com.au/sport/cricket/toxic-external-force-will-hurt-test-cricket-eventually/news-story/079ebd1f320ed9191705b60453503cde

Decent balanced response by Harsha. Nice to see such balance. I had struggled to give him any credence for stirring the pot after THAT toxic Sydney Test in 2008, when India threatened to take their bat and ball home. He was weak as piss in not denouncing the threat AND also backing up Jumbo's "only one side was playing cricket" bullshit.

He's not on anyone's payroll now. Can give his own views. Was criticised for praising Bangladesh when they choked in the T20 world cup against India. Didn't have his contract with star renewed soon after that. Quite pathetic treatment, really.

Cool, t. I remember being shocked at how biased he was, when he'd never previously displayed the trait.

MJ says Tweet should replace SOK for the decider....I agree.

http://www.cricket.com.au/news/mitchell-johnson-jackson-bird-steve-okeefe-australia-india-fourth-test-dharamsala-decider/2017-03-22