India v Australia, 4th Test, Ahmedabad, 9-13 March, 2023

Though the series is gone, a 2-2 result would be an achievement for Aus.

It'll be interesting to see what sort of wicket is served up for this one.

With Cummins unlikely to return, it may be to India's advantage to have some juice in the track.

I’d like to see Boland in for either Murphy or Kuhnemann (assuming Lyon is fit to play).

Lyon getting close to 100 consecutive Tests (since the Agar experiment ended in Ashes 2013 T3)

lardbucket wrote:I’d like to see Boland in for either Murphy or Kuhnemann (assuming Lyon is fit to play).

Lyon getting close to 100 consecutive Tests (since the Agar experiment ended in Ashes 2013 T3)

Very much depends on the wicket. No Hit was musing about dialling in a green top.

I wonder how bad the GOATs fetlock injury is. I expect he will put his hand up.

 Funny Lardy should mention the Agar experiment 10 years ago. Lyon was pissed at the time and imo has never looked comfortable bowling in tandem with other spinners.

That is until now. Think he has really enjoyed bowling with K and Spud. Each has enjoyed some great returns. I suspect Spud just hangs with Lyon as much as he can, esp sharing notes on Lyon’s toppy. 

On K, I agree with embee that his action is susso

Can lightning strike twice in the same spot (or more to the point, at Indore then Ahmedabad)?

lardbucket wrote:I’d like to see Boland in for either Murphy or Kuhnemann (assuming Lyon is fit to play).

Lyon getting close to 100 consecutive Tests (since the Agar experiment ended in Ashes 2013 T3)

Easily the longest active streak (Kraigggg and Minnowbasher both in the 70s).

Cook, Border, M Waugh, Gavaskar and McCullum the only players to manage a three-figure streak.

M Waugh looks out of place on that list.

Incidentally I note that this will be Test number 2499.

Three days away. If India win (favoured by the bookies) they book their ticket to Lords, and the NZ - S/L result becomes irrelevant to that contest.

lardbucket wrote:I’d like to see Boland in for either Murphy or Kuhnemann (assuming Lyon is fit to play).

Lyon getting close to 100 consecutive Tests (since the Agar experiment ended in Ashes 2013 T3)

If Green can bowl then drop Murphy for Boland.

That's the way I'd go.

lardbucket wrote:M Waugh looks out of place on that list.

I’d have expected it to be Steve… though do remember Mark having a long unbroken run in the side.

I was trying to remember when Root last missed one, apparently was for the birth of his child in 2020 (I do vaguely remember that, as Covid quarantine rules meant he couldn’t have left and rejoined the squad). He can’t have missed many over the past decade though.

Steve W played his first 44 unbroken (if my maths is right) before losing his spot to Mark mid-Ashes 90-91. Another couple of years went by before he regained a regular spot. (Among the games he missed, vitally imo, was the notorious SCG v SA Jan 94.) I don't remember him missing after that but he must have for the stats to be right.
Mark was on the outer in NZ in 1993. His 100+ on the trot would have been his last 100.

Fred Nerk wrote:Steve W played his first 44 unbroken (if my maths is right) before losing his spot to Mark mid-Ashes 90-91. Another couple of years went by before he regained a regular spot. (Among the games he missed, vitally imo, was the notorious SCG v SA Jan 94.) I don't remember him missing after that but he must have for the stats to be right.
Mark was on the outer in NZ in 1993. His 100+ on the trot would have been his last 100.

He missed Headingley 2001 (Butcher's heroics).

So which pitch?

India and Aus can delay the naming of their final XI until the opening morning of the Test, so shirley the Bannies will instruct one of the pitches to be chosen based on the side they think is most likely to win.

One would think that with Aus being without Pat Cummins, a juicy track might be the way to go, with Umesh, Shami and Siraj being picked. Aus only has Koo, ScoBo and Snot.

On paper, an attack of Umesh, Shami, Siraj, Ashwin and Jadeja looks a little stronger than Koo, ScoBo, Snot, Elmer and Conan/Murf.

Where is Bumrah?

lardbucket wrote:Where is Bumrah?

Expected to be out for six months after back surgery, according to reports.

skully wrote:


So which pitch?

India and Aus can delay the naming of their final XI until the opening morning of the Test, so shirley the Bannies will instruct one of the pitches to be chosen based on the side they think is most likely to win.

One would think that with Aus being without Pat Cummins, a juicy track might be the way to go, with Umesh, Shami and Siraj being picked. Aus only has Koo, ScoBo and Snot.

On paper, an attack of Umesh, Shami, Siraj, Ashwin and Jadeja looks a little stronger than Koo, ScoBo, Snot, Elmer and Conan/Murf.

So much to enjoy in that image. I really liked the technology of the watering cans and the toy town roller.

Possible a green top has been dialled in to give the locals a chance of obtaining mental dominance ahead of the "championship" decider in England.

I really don't know how much store I place on that one off match and bragging rights. I think I care more about individual series in h&a conditions than confected world championships in tests. Where's Don King?

I do concede to being a dinosaur.

Well, obviously you want to win big series, but being able to call yourselves “world champions” in anything is a big accolade, and something that’s always been missing from the Test game, despite the existence of rankings - for decades, the 50(ish) over game decided who was “world champion” at cricket, full stop.

It was always a challenge to come up with the right format, particularly with today’s crowded calendar, and there’s still scope for tweaks to avoid unworthy sides potentially making the final, but I think it’s one of the better developments in the game in recent years, and long overdue.

As far as alternatives go, I think England still own my “WBC Belt”, anyway… must check!

Have the Bannies picked a pitch yet?

Aus wins the toss and bowls.

Aus are unchanged so it must be a dry pitch.

India have swapped Shami for Siraj.

Dickinfo farked up. We're batting.

Aus was sailing along fairly trouble free, going at a run a minute, until Head played a poor shot, swatting Ashtray to mid-on.

Then Marnus didn't move his feet and played outside one from Shami

2-75

Wicket looks to be the best of the series. Looks fairly green but played pretty low and slow.

The Indian twirlers didn't get much purchase.

Modi and Albo - what a wankfest

Hard working session for Aus. 0-74 in the session.

2-149 at Tea.

Always the way.....you're well into the 90s, and suddenly stuck at the non strikers end while the other bloke feasts on Four & Twenty's finest....good to see Snot playing so well all the same