Cricket Test Series 2014: Australia v India

[turtlemichael]

Not quite enough time?

Now series has been won is it time to make some changes?

Agree that the selectors should now start to look to the Ashes and consider whether Watson. Haddin, Marsh and Siddle are the best options. Let the World Cup squad selection take care of itself.

 

[turtlemichael]

Dhoni retires from Test cricket.A bit of a shock. Indian captain MS Dhoni retires from Test cricket

 

[whatmeworry]

The witch hunt has begun from the armchair critics:

Australia vs India Boxing Day Test at MCG: live scoreboard, scores, highlights, video

Looks like I was right in my assessment:





I have to agree. To have gone into the last Test 2-1 up meant that India, if they could win in Sydney, could have ended the series 2-2.

Sorry, don't give them a chance is the correct option. A draw won us the series. 'nuff said

I think snuffing out their chance to win was the correct call. India has done it to before to us. However pulling up stumps with 4 overs to go and 4 wickets with a fragile tail.

Agree that the selectors should now start to look to the Ashes and consider whether Watson. Haddin, Marsh and Siddle are the best options. Let the World Cup squad selection take care of itself.

Haddin is getting long in the tooth and his batting has been waning and his glove skills are slipping and has to go. Watson is not a number 3 batsman let alone as a batting allrounder. Shaun Marsh also doesn't average high enough to stay in the team and Siddle has lost speed. Siddle has to get off the vegan diet.

Agar has joined the squad and might be selected as a batting allrounder rather then as a spinner. Ashton Agar in squad for final Test against India

The worrying thing about Australia Cricket is the waning of kids playing Cricket and the lack of ethnic diversity at most levels of Australian Cricket.

 

[Pushka]

Good to know that Australia has so many captains waiting in the wings.

And others have a long history in cricket.

 

[JohnK]

Very surprised Dhoni has retired. Most commentators have been unfairly critical of him of late.

 

[RooFlyer]

Dhoni retires from Test cricket.A bit of a shock. Indian captain MS Dhoni retires from Test cricket

Very surprised Dhoni has retired. Most commentators have been unfairly critical of him of late.

Was it actually a retirement ... when he didn't say anything at the presser immediately beforehand?

I think he got dumped for losing the BG Trophy and 'retirement' was the sweetener to cover up a fuss (using a very understated term, there)

 

[JohnK]

Was it actually a retirement ... when he didn't say anything at the presser immediately beforehand?

I think he got dumped for losing the BG Trophy and 'retirement' was the sweetener to cover up a fuss (using a very understated term, there)

Good point. I thought about Dhoni being pushed but surely he's the type of player India will miss?

 

[Pushka]

Lehmann inferred on radio here they didn't declare mainly to get Marsh to his century.

I hope Smith doesn't continue to lead the team in this manner. That declaration made the game a farce.

 

[serfty]

Lehmann inferred on radio here they didn't declare mainly to get Marsh to his century.

I hope Smith doesn't continue to lead the team in this manner. That declaration made the game a farce.

How low perceptions have sunk!

Back 30 years ago, winning a series was always more important than winning an individual match rubber.

Smith's decision would have been normal then. For mine the game was better for it.

That is why since the term "it's not Cricket" became passé in lieu of the almighty dollar I have not given a stuff about the australian cricket side.

 

[RooFlyer]

Lehmann inferred on radio here they didn't declare mainly to get Marsh to his century.

I hope Smith doesn't continue to lead the team in this manner. That declaration made the game a farce.

There was only downside for Australia if Smith made a 'challenging' declaration; that is, India succeeded in a chase. As it was, the Aussies got close; they were in with a chance until probably 10 overs to go. Not a farce at all I think.

Captains who declared and stranded batsmen in the 90s are still talked about unflatteringly (Lawry-Marsh!) and I dare say Smith didn't want to begin his captaincy like that.

 

[Awesom Andy]

There was only downside for Australia if Smith made a 'challenging' declaration; that is, India succeeded in a chase. As it was, the Aussies got close; they were in with a chance until probably 10 overs to go. Not a farce at all I think.

The Aussies got close partly due to the negative mind set of the Indian team, knowing that they have lost the series. If they were sent in with a target that could be chased (be it challenging), I think they would have approached their innings very differently.

 

[Pushka]

Sure. I get the 100 issue. Don't necessarily agree the player over rules the idea of winning a match though. What was Marsh's overnight score?

But why stop with four overs to go?
(I see I said "declaration". I should have said calling the game off early.)

 

[whatmeworry]

That last four hours they could have been very aggressive with the fielding positions. Plus I am sure that channel 9 would have been pissed off considering the ratings they could have got in prime time. Only thing I got think of, is maybe avoiding injuries to players? But even then, should have kept going till wickets outnumbered balls available.

 

[RooFlyer]

That last four hours they could have been very aggressive with the fielding positions. Plus I am sure that channel 9 would have been pissed off considering the ratings they could have got in prime time. Only thing I got think of, is maybe avoiding injuries to players? But even then, should have kept going till wickets outnumbered balls available.

I thought of that but what about no balls?

 

[tuapekastar]

The timing of the declaration will be forever a contentious point. Clearly they did not want to give the Indians a sniff, and that was the right thing to do but I still think it came 30 to 60 minutes too late, but hey I am not out there playing.

As for not bowling the last four overs, that is simply disrespectful to the paying spectators at the ground, the television audience and broadcaster, and the sponsors...i.e. just about everybody that pays their wages. Smith has flourished as a batsman in the last 12 months, absolutely wonderful, but his captaincy is showing a crack or two. Already. (Yep, brought to you by armchair captain tuapekastar).

I did read an article that claimed that the last four overs were not bowled because Dhoni indicated to Smith that he wanted to retire. Immediately. With seven overs to go. Smith 'bargained' him down to four. It was of course from a satirical publication.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I thought of that but what about no balls? 

You generally can't get out from a no ball, except for being run out (or some other very obscure ways of getting out).

 

[whatmeworry]

I thought of that but what about no balls? 

I thought about the balls left long and hard!

 

[QF WP]

Sitting on the deck of our holiday apartment in Hervey Bay, with a Millers Chill, thinking about the Sydney Test starting tomorrow. A Test of memories for 5 players who were at the ground with Philip Hughes on that fateful day. Kohli now India's captain, wonder if that will shift momentum?

 

[Major]

The openers are looking good. Aust. 0/100

 

[Major]

I didn't realize QF WP had not started the day's details

Aust. won the toss and elected to bat

Warner has scored his century and Rogers not far behind.

Aust. 0/200