India v Australia, 3rd Test, Indore, 1-5 March, 2023

Should I even bother.

This already appears a foregone conclusion. Aus will have their inevitable bad session with the ball and horrendous session with bat and lose comfortably.

Rabble.

Apparently* the Grub has a busted elbow, the real reason he was subbed out (Of course, he did fail the concussion protocol).

Might rule him out for the remainder of the series. Pity we don't have anyone to take his place.

2nd heading home because of a family illness, but will return for T3.

skully wrote:Apparently* the Grub has a busted elbow, the real reason he was subbed out (Of course, he did fail the concussion protocol).

Might rule him out for the remainder of the series. Pity we don't have anyone to take his place.

Inanimate carbon rod, come on down.

< minnows >

maybe if we're really really really really super duper lucky, we might make it to day 4....


as if!

Luck has nothing to do with it, Nath.

It's all about commitment, application and concentration, things Aus showed pathetically little of in T1 and T2.

Warner flies home. How long will the Head experiment last?

skully wrote:Warner flies home. How long will the Head experiment last?

just for the remaining 2 tests, back to 5 for the Ashes

Only the third-ever Test fixture for the Forest Moon of Indore…

Someone looks happy to not be in India

Poor guy.

Pat Cummins will not return for the 3rd Test.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/pat-cummins-out-of-third-test-india-indore-family-emergency-steve-smith-captain/2023-02-24

The family emergency that saw Pat Cummins dash back to Australia after the second Test will see the fast bowler remain at home for next week's third match

Louis Cameron in Delhi

24 February 2023, 04:45 PM AEST

@LouisDBCameron

Steve Smith will take the captaincy reins in India after Australia announced captain Pat Cummins would not return for the third Test in Indore next week due to a family illness.

Cummins flew home to Sydney following the Aussies' second-Test defeat last week, explaining in a statement that his mother "is ill and in palliative care".

With a nine-day break between Tests following the three-day finish in Delhi, it had been hoped the 29-year-old would return to India for the third Test beginning Wednesday.

But Australia confirmed on Friday Cummins would miss the Indore Test. They are keeping the door open for him to return for the fourth Test in Ahmedabad, but Smith could end up captaining in both the remaining matches.

"I have decided against returning to India at this time," said Cummins. "I feel I am best being here with my family.

"I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my teammates. Thanks for your understanding."

Smith spent four days in Dubai with his wife Dani following the second Test before re-joining the Australia squad in Delhi on Thursday evening (India time), when he was informed of Cummins' decision to remain at home for the next Test.

Agar heads home amid format crunch

The wider playing group was informed at training on Friday morning at Arun Jaitley Stadium. The Aussies are training in the Indian capital for two more days before flying to Indore on Sunday.

It will be the third time Smith has led the Test side since his reinstatement as vice-captain in late 2021 when Cummins took over from Tim Paine. Smith has filled in as skipper for two Tests that Cummins has been unavailable for - both of which have been in Adelaide over the past two summers.

Smith was captain for 34 Tests between 2014 and 2018, including Australia's most recent Test tour of India in 2017, a controversy-marred campaign which Smith dominated with the bat, scoring three centuries.

It has so far been a less prolific series this time around for the star right-hander, who has scored 71 runs at 23.66 in four innings so far.

While the leadership transfer should prove smooth enough given Smith's extensive leadership history, Australia's selectors now must decide on how to balance the bowling attack in Cummins' absence.

Warner among big calls for Aussies amid upheaval

Three spinners could again be on the cards if the pitch is anticipated to take turn, especially now after Cameron Green declared himself fit again after a finger injury sidelined him from the first two Tests against India.

Green’s return would give Australia a second seam-bowling option after Cummins was the sole quick in Delhi.

"When you come in as an allrounder, you might be able to help out with team balance maybe a little bit," Green told reporters in Delhi on Friday. "It will be interesting to see which way the selectors go for this game."

Mitchell Starc, who is also on the mend from a serious finger concern, is expected to be available to play and could be a direct replacement for Cummins.

beamer wrote:Only the third-ever Test fixture for the Forest Moon of Indore…

So the third Indore Test.....(and the third held in a Chinese Restaurant )

So Smudge to take over from the pretty distraught (very crook Mum) missing 2nd.

Side will look much better balanced with the inclusion of Snot. Will ScoBo partner Koo? Shirley we don't try 3 spinners again?

Khawaja
Head
Labs
Smith
Handscum
Green
Carey
Starc
Boland
Lyon
Murphy

Yup, that's the XI I'd go with.

Kuhnemann already cast as a one-Test wonder?

Yup.

lardbucket wrote:Kuhnemann already cast as a one-Test wonder?

Given the circumstances, I thought he did well enough.

Can see him getting more Tests.

horace wrote:

lardbucket wrote:Kuhnemann already cast as a one-Test wonder?

Given the circumstances, I thought he did well enough.

Can see him getting more Tests.

not if the umpires do their jobs 


pings like a sonar in overdrive

Hey whatever happened to that Aussie kid with the multiple concussions problem? Forgetting his name but he was supposed to be a hell of a batsman. Not fit to play yet?

Will Pucovski.

Scored a big ton in a 2nd XI pre-Shield season game, then took indefinite leave for reasons unrelated to his concussions.

Is apparently* due to resume playing in Victorian Grade Cricket.

skully wrote:Will Pucovski.

Scored a big ton in a 2nd XI pre-Shield season game, then took indefinite leave for reasons unrelated to his concussions.

Is apparently* due to resume playing in Victorian Grade Cricket.

Yep. Made 28 iirc. Got through ok.

Sadly I doubt he will ever play Test cricket again.