Re: Australia v India, 1st Test, Melbourne, 26-30 December, 2011

by Brass Monkey Tue 13 Dec 2011, 09:51

Henry wrote:India-

Gambhir
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Kohli
Dhoni(c)+
Ashwin
Zaheer
Ishant
Yadav

Is Praveen fit? Currently, this weird dyspraxic ADHD Aus batting line-up only needs the probe away at a length style of bowling to make them crumple.

by skully Tue 13 Dec 2011, 09:53

SG wrote:
India-

Gambhir
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Kohli
Dhoni(c)+
Ashwin
Zaheer
Ishant
Yadav
Pretty much.

Every member selects himself in the XI except for Zaheer who I still think will once again flatter to deceive like he did at Lord's. Also, considering how dire our fitness record is especially during last few months, I won't be surrpised one bit if someone else pulls out at the last moment.

Peerless top 7 but questionable bowling line-up, espesh with Zak returning from injury. I'd back Aus to do well if highways are not served up. Some bounce and the Bannies will not be comfortable.

On Inside Cricket the Bowlologist said as much. We won't dismiss India twice in any Test if roads are provided by the road-building curators at the MCG, SCG, WACA and the Adelaide Hwy.

by Red Tue 13 Dec 2011, 09:54

Brass Monkey wrote:
Henry wrote:India-

Gambhir
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Kohli
Dhoni(c)+
Ashwin
Zaheer
Ishant
Yadav

Is Praveen fit? Currently, this weird dyspraxic ADHD Aus batting line-up only needs the probe away at a length style of bowling to make them crumple.

Praveen pulled out of the tour with a rib problem.

by Red Tue 13 Dec 2011, 09:56

WideWally wrote:I guess many forummers would have watched the highlights of the Boxing Day test 1987 shown by Channel 9 during rain breaks in the Hobart test. It showed Dyer at his most dire including that catch he claimed that never was & a slapstick runout when he was batting or rather falling over in the middle of the pitch.

I was there that day and the crowd booed when they replayed it on the big screen. He was doomed after that deception. And with Zoehrer's alleged thieving from players' lockers it wasn't a good time for keepers.

by Brass Monkey Tue 13 Dec 2011, 09:58

Red wrote:
Praveen pulled out of the tour with a rib problem.

Ahhh, we have another weakling on our hands...

by Henry Tue 13 Dec 2011, 09:58

Mickey Arthur (he is also a selector) said that both Ponting and Hussey had his backing. Whether that backing extends to John Inverarity remains to be seen.

Saw Phil Hughes being questioned by journalists as he walked through Sydney airport, and you would have thought he had been charged with a serious crime. Direct questions about his form were met with a glum look and a muttered "no comment."

by Red Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:00

With Arthur publicly backing Punter and Hussey you wonder when the selectors will make the tough call. Sutherland said tonight on radio that the issue of the finish line for the former has never been discussed. He also admitted that the MOTM system did affect the integrity of the award but defended the Tassie crowd saying that per capita it stands up well and that they tend to get the 'dud' tests.

by Fred Nerk Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:08

I was there Boxing Day 87 as well. The ball was on the ground so long that when Dire picked it up you could see o patch of dead grass where it had been.

He turned out to be a serial offender, did 'Captain. Bloody Awful'. Two years later he lost his State gig, and the captaincy, in very similar circumstances.

The unlucky batsman was Andrew Jones. It was not a good match for Joneses generally. Ours had had a bad series, and failed again in this game. He revealed he'd had a bet with Martin Crowe for who scored more runs, and when Hadlee found out about it he wrote in his Sun column that Jones should have had the bet with Ewan Chatfield instead.

by skully Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:08

Henry wrote:Mickey Arthur (he is also a selector) said that both Ponting and Hussey had his backing. Whether that backing extends to John Inverarity remains to be seen.

Saw Phil Hughes being questioned by journalists as he walked through Sydney airport, and you would have thought he had been charged with a serious crime. Direct questions about his form were met with a glum look and a muttered "no comment."

Fuse and Starc are gone from the MCG Test squad for sure. The selectors will be loath to make any more changes for fear of looking like they are panicking and for lack of suitable replacements.

Aus squad for T1 v Bannies:

GCS
Watto (Ed Cowans if he's still crocked)
Koaja
Drunky
Pup
Paris
Haddit (they may chuck him and go with Wade but I think they'll wait until Paine is fit to flick the Spiv)
Rhino
Cot
OP
Elmer

by Henry Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:13

Ponting needs to go. He should have gone after the ashes. He's a stubborn prick though, who always feels like it's him against the World. He sees retiring as a sign of weakness and admitting that his abilities have waned.

He needs to be pushed. Averages 25 in his last 15 tests. If he was Indian, we'd all be saying how he's well past his use by date but is continuing on because he has the backing of some key board members and politicians, has a giant ego, and can't admit he's past it.

by Henry Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:16

Some are saying Shaun Marsh's career is in serious doubt because of a chronic back injury.

He's already been ruled out of the PM's XI game, and is all but ruled out for boxing day.

Will be sad if a guy has to end his career at 28. And he's not even a fast bowler.

by skully Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:19

That's tragic for Bog (and for Aus). I was only thinking today that he may be another highly talented cricketer whose career is cut short by injury.

by skully Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:20

Henry wrote:Ponting needs to go. He should have gone after the ashes. He's a stubborn prick though, who always feels like it's him against the World. He sees retiring as a sign of weakness and admitting that his abilities have waned.

He needs to be pushed. Averages 25 in his last 15 tests. If he was Indian, we'd all be saying how he's well past his use by date but is continuing on because he has the backing of some key board members and politicians, has a giant ego, and can't admit he's past it.

All true, Trev, but who is ready to step up, especially if Watto is still crocked? This is the 2nd best series behind the Ashes, and we simply can't be experimenting with "maybe" players.

I know lardy would have Fleas back in the side in an instant for exactly that reason.

by Fred Nerk Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:21

If they can bring back a well-established player such as Watson, it still leaves them elbow room to make other changes without being seen panicking, if that is any kind of concern (which of course it shouldn't be)..

by Henry Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:39

skully wrote:
Henry wrote:Ponting needs to go. He should have gone after the ashes. He's a stubborn prick though, who always feels like it's him against the World. He sees retiring as a sign of weakness and admitting that his abilities have waned.

He needs to be pushed. Averages 25 in his last 15 tests. If he was Indian, we'd all be saying how he's well past his use by date but is continuing on because he has the backing of some key board members and politicians, has a giant ego, and can't admit he's past it.
All true, Trev, but who is ready to step up, especially if Watto is still crocked? This is the 2nd best series behind the Ashes, and we simply can't be experimenting with "maybe" players.

I know lardy would have Fleas back in the side in an instant for exactly that reason.

Well, the last few guys (Cummins, Pattinson, Warner) that have come into the Aus team have done well, so maybe that's the way to go. Surely someone like Cowan, Bailey, or I dunno....Kurtis Patterson? Couldn't do any worse than averaging 25, and they are all younger than Ponting. In fact, you could say that the young players have kept Aus afloat in the last four months whilst the likes of Ponting, Clarke, and Haddin have been reckless and irresponsible with their shot selection.

Even Phil Hughes has statistically done better than Ponting in the last year, is 14 years younger than Ponting, and has to face the new ball whereas Ponting has slid down to number 4, and yet he's being criticised left, right, and centre, and being condemned (still rightly so, imo) by everyone to the scrapheap.

by Brass Monkey Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:43

Henry wrote:
Well, the last few guys (Cummins, Harris, Warner) that have come into the Aus team have ~~done well~~ got injured.

Beep

by Nath Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:52

batting constantly falls over and it seems like we're only going to make 1 change. stoopidheads!

by Guest Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:55

skully wrote:
Henry wrote:Ponting needs to go. He should have gone after the ashes. He's a stubborn prick though, who always feels like it's him against the World. He sees retiring as a sign of weakness and admitting that his abilities have waned.

He needs to be pushed. Averages 25 in his last 15 tests. If he was Indian, we'd all be saying how he's well past his use by date but is continuing on because he has the backing of some key board members and politicians, has a giant ego, and can't admit he's past it.
All true, Trev, but who is ready to step up, especially if Watto is still crocked? This is the 2nd best series behind the Ashes, and we simply can't be experimenting with "maybe" players.

I know lardy would have Fleas back in the side in an instant for exactly that reason.

I've only just this second "got" the Katich/Fleas thing.

God I'm slow.

by Brass Monkey Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:56

Abominable Vilks. I'm actually seriously a little angry.

by Henry Tue 13 Dec 2011, 10:58

Goddamit man. I will leave a pistol on your desk, take a stroll around the neighbourhood, and come back in half an hour. I hope you will have done the 'decent thing' by then.

by Guest Tue 13 Dec 2011, 11:07

In my defence, it's not like I've been trying to work it out for years. It just never occurred to me until 10:54am today.

by skully Tue 13 Dec 2011, 11:08

Such is the value of the Forum Glossary. Spells these things out in simple big letters. "Fleas (n) Simon Katich. Derived from 'cat itch'." Smile

by Brass Monkey Tue 13 Dec 2011, 11:17

skully wrote:Such is the value of the Forum Glossary. Spells these things out in simple big letters. "Fleas (n) Simon Katich. Derived from 'cat itch'."

Egg-f*cking-zactly

by Guest Tue 13 Dec 2011, 11:26

At least I eventually figured it out without needing the glossary....

by Red Tue 13 Dec 2011, 11:28

Talking of injuries, Harris admitted today that his next injury will be the last.

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