Australia v India Test Series: General Discussion

[TheRealTMA]

Another century to Smith. Nineteen centuries across 97 innings currently averaging 60+

But the big surprise is Maxwell 74 not out smashing previously high score of 37.

Maxwell seems a good replacement for one Marsh. Now to do something about the other.

 

[Rallo]

First session tomorrow will be huge, pile on the runs and the pressure is really on the Indians.
Gavaskar thinks there are only two good sessions left in the pitch before it starts to disintegrate.

 

[kpc]

First session tomorrow will be huge, pile on the runs and the pressure is really on the Indians.
Gavaskar thinks there are only two good sessions left in the pitch before it starts to disintegrate.

We must bat for most of the 2 sessions tomorrow and score 400+, preferably closer to 500, and then hope / wait for the pitch to deteriorate. BTW, Kohli's shoulder injury didn't look good!

 

[BacchusMarsh]

I'd like to see a bit more than 400. England did seem to give up halfway through their series, but made 400 and 477 in the first innings of each of the last two tests, and lost each by an innings.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Missed the evening session. Just returned home. Shock! Maxwell replacement Marsh scored 74 so far. Who would have guessed.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

What a difference having someone that can bat at 6.

Maxwell makes runs and hangs around to partner the captain and we get back into the game.

If he had failed then it may well have been all out for 250 on a good batting pitch.

 

[Warks]

Was a nice change to see some runs at 6. Silencing the doubters for the moment. We've been four out, all out except for Starc managing some late runs in recent times. Let's see them go on with it beyond 450. India seem to lack intensity on the field without Kohli and aren't game to refer anything in case he get angry. Apparently Maxwell might have been out in the 70s if they'd referred.

Over in NZ the home team only managed 268 but have SA 5-78.

 

[coyote25]

Nice hundred to Maxwell!

 

[QF WP]

Well, unfortunately the highest partnership of this Tour (by Australian batsmen) is broken. Maxwell is finally out...

101.2 Jadeja to Maxwell, OUT, and Maxwell falls soon after getting to a hundred. And it's that man Jadeja again. Jadeja this morning: 20 balls, no runs, and now a wicket of the centurion. This is short of a length, Maxwell shapes up for the pull, but there is a puff of dust where it pitches before it turns away to take the edge. Goos catch by Saha

GJ Maxwell c †Saha b Jadeja 104 (185b 9x4 2x6) SR: 56.21

5/331 with Smith 126 n.o. Great partnership of 191 between the current Captain and a prospective Captain...IMHO

Partnership was the 4th highest 5th wicket partnership in India by any visiting team
Partnership was the highest 5th wicket partnership in India by an Australian team

Smith is only the 3rd Captain to score 2 centuries against India in India. Impressive stat there - only Clive Lloyd and Alistair Cook have emulated that feat

 

[Warks]

Both are IPL captains along with Warner. The Aus team has three vs India's one.

Hoping Smith can score a really big one and the tail can hang with him. Doesn't sound too bad a pitch but they say it will start to decline late today. Let's hope Aus can stay there until then.

 

[QF WP]

Wade looks like he has settled in nicely, swatting three 4's in his score thus far...5/368, Smith 142, Wade 16

 

[QF WP]

They've already clocked up a 50 run partnership. Wade seems to be enjoying his time out in the middle, from the number of 4's he's hitting...

5/391. Wade 34, Smith 147

 

[Cossie]

2 quick wickets, they need to bat until tea at least.

 

[QF WP]

I talk to a client for 15 minute and it all happens

115.4 Jadeja to Wade, OUT, Jadeja has another wicket. He is keeping India alive single-handedly. Jadeja keeps hitting the rough on a length, and this one explodes from the pitch to go straight on as opposed to turning as expected. Wade edges this to be caught by Saha

MS Wade c †Saha b Jadeja 37 (50b 6x4 0x6) SR: 74.00

115.6 Jadeja to coughmins, OUT, what a beauty from Jadeja. This is sensational bowling. A left-arm bowler's dream ball, but this will worry India too. This is on a length, on middle and leg, drawing a forward-defensive from coughmins. The ball then turns away to beat the outside edge and hit the top of off. No puff of dust here
PJ coughmins b Jadeja 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

The positive in the midst of the wickets:

116.6 Ashwin to Smith, 1 run, short of a length, outside off, bunted for a single that brings up Smith's 150. He raises his bat to everyone. Magnificent batting

Currently 7/401 with Smith on 153, O'Keefe 1

 

[kpc]

All out for 451...I would have liked it closer to 500 but if the bowlers do their job and can somehow restrict India to around 300, we should be on top to win this match, and retain the Border Gavaskar trophy

 

[Warks]

At least we got one wicket but at 1/120 it looks ominous unless the pitch goes south as they were all predicting. Rather road-like now. People blaming Maxwell for not getting 200 and putting India away.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

All out for 451...I would have liked it closer to 500 but if the bowlers do their job and can somehow restrict India to around 300, we should be on top to win this match, and retain the Border Gavaskar trophy

Flat track. Unfortunately we had a few batsman like Warner give away their wickets. I suspect our only real chance for a win in this test was to have made 550+ in the first innings.

As it stands India may push past the Australian 1st innings and if so if the rolled mud pitch then falls apart on Day 5 as predicted the Aussies could be under a lot of pressure to survive.

 

[Cossie]

Really missed someone like Starc or Johnson to whack a few balls over the fence at the end. Also I thought Lyon could bat far better than he has in this series.

 

[kpc]

Flat track. Unfortunately we had a few batsman like Warner give away their wickets. I suspect our only real chance for a win in this test was to have made 550+ in the first innings.

As it stands India may push past the Australian 1st innings and if so if the rolled mud pitch then falls apart on Day 5 as predicted the Aussies could be under a lot of pressure to survive.

I hope you are wrong but fear you might be right!

 

[whatmeworry]

How to judge a pitch.