Australia v India, 1st Test, Melbourne, 26-30 December (II)

lardbucket wrote:

skully wrote:Outstanding session for Aus. 5 top order wickets in the rather stellar Indian batting line up is a fantastic return. Very good team bowling from Cot, Milf and Patto. Patto was very impressive after a poor start, once Pup got in his ear.

How grouse is it that Rhino, Cummins and *cough* Midge are on the sidelines and will remain so while these three bowl like this?

and Starc, and George, and Copeland

There has been some ABC chat that the SCG will be a pacer's wicket, and that Lyon may be left out in order to go all out with 4 pace bowlers ... that would normally seem foolish, but it is true that our spinners never really worry the Indians.

there is no chance we'll play 4 pacemen in Sydney.

It does seem unlikely ... is there any word from our Spivvy mates as to whether a real old-fashioned greentop has been prepared in Sydney? Can't see any excuse for the chat otherwise ...

Anyone know how well Lyon has bowled at the SCG in Shield cricket?

... or even IF he's bowled there?

Meanwhile, Ashwin is gone, and Siddle is a step closer to 100 Test wickets.

I don't think Lyon has played at the SCG, at least not first class. He made his debut in February which was after the NSW vs SA game in Sydney last season which was in December.

Lyon's not bowled at the SCG yet in any form of cricket.

why have Australia stopped trying to take wickets and just bowl short useless crap?

Is it some sort of perverse homage to Brett Lee?

Patto aiming for another Michelle here

lardbucket wrote:It does seem unlikely ... is there any word from our Spivvy mates as to whether a real old-fashioned greentop has been prepared in Sydney? Can't see any excuse for the chat otherwise ...

Doubt it will be a Green top unless we get a bucketload of rain between now and then.
Most likely the traditional SCG wicket, some help early on for the quicks and then taking spin from mid/late day 3.

Aim at the stumps, not his head! You're right, JGK, this is very reminiscent of how Lee used to bowl at tailenders. I remember one game, I think it was against Zimbabwe, when a hapless tailender started backing away in fear so Lee followed him with the bounces, rather than just aim it at the stumps which were undefended.

good catch by Warner

huzzah!

Good match.

Woo-ferkin-hooooo!! That is an EXCELLENT victory. I didn't think for a minute we'd win this Test by 120 runs within 4 days.

The additional 60-odd runs this morning was vital and took the wind out of the Indian sails. Then, apart from an ordinary first spell from Patto, the bowling of the 3 quicks was outstanding.

Milf for MoM for mine, although Drunky may get it in a bowler's match.

Any one of Siddle, Pattinson, or Hilfenhaus would be a worthy winner ... runs as well as wickets; Siddle's runs in the first innings were vital and he probably took the more 'vital' wickets.

Kudos to the curator. I thought the straw-coloured wicket would make for a batathon, but the extra grass really helped the bowlers. Another for Sydney, please.

my 'marks out of 10'

Warner 5
Cowan 7
Marsh 2
Ponting 8
Clarke 3
Hussey 7
Haddin 3
Siddle 9
Pattinson 8
Lyon 5
Hilfenhaus 8

the local boy gets it

lardbucket wrote:my 'marks out of 10'

Warner 5
Cowan 7
Marsh 2
Ponting 8
Clarke 3
Hussey 7
Haddin 3
Siddle 9
Pattinson 8
Lyon 5
Hilfenhaus 8

Tough on Haddin, relative to Warner.

Clarke's captaincy was good.

Patto MoM in a toss up. Well done him.

Early days, but could he be the all-rounder that Aus has searched for since the likes of Roy and Hoggggggyyyyyyyy!!! ?? 20 wickets at 15 and a batting average of 30.

The fast bowling is coming together as a unit - the weakness in the attack is the absence of a class spinner. The batting still looks very brittle and is still heavily reliant on Ponting and Hussey who may or may not still be around in 18 months time. In any event, Ashes '13 looks to be a far closer contest (could it be any less?) than 10-11 but, barring injuries and given home advantage, England must still be slight favourites.

lardbucket wrote: Siddle's runs in the first innings were vital and he probably took the more 'vital' wickets.

Tough runs & Tendulkar twice.

skully wrote:Patto MoM in a toss up. Well done him.

Early days, but could he be the all-rounder that Aus has searched for since the likes of Roy and Hoggggggyyyyyyyy!!! ?? 20 wickets at 15 and a batting average of 30.

Early days, but sheeeet it's cool.

He does bat well ... seems to have a sound technique and all the shots.

Nice to have Rhino, Koo, Cummins, Cutting and *cough* Midge *cough* chomping at the bit to get a run in the Test side as well. GCS and Moo have justified the faith in them, and with Watto to come back, the batting stocks aren't too bad either. Could do with a class 4, 5 or 6 to come out of the woodwork.