*Official* India in Australia Thread

gibbsnsmith said:

yes, sehwag is looking completely uneasy in his 3rd ton whiole opening....

Click to expand...

mind you it is a bit different to opening in OZ, although at this stage who knows who he'll be facing the rate the Aussie seamers are dropping.....


does this mean it's now Australia's turn to inherit the "seamers' injury blues"????? If so watch out RSA / WI / PAK / IND / SRL, 2005 is looking bad for one of you!!!!!

gibbsnsmith said:

yes, sehwag is looking completely uneasy in his 3rd ton whiole opening....

i dont see why laxman cant try to play at no:3 IF and only IF india experiment with Dravid opening.

Click to expand...

My dear friend, I did say he has played well in one or two innings here and there, so, make that three and you still don't have an opener who is happy and contented at the top of the innings. Don't throw a century against a weak NZ attack on a dead Indian pitch in my face and try to prove that Sehwag is a regular opener. Of course, he is a brilliant batsman who will have his moments as long as he is in the team, my contention is that we are not seeing his best at the top of the order. He is batting there because very unfortunately, there is no other place for him in the team and for no other reason.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: VVS Laxman

marc71178 said:

Maybe that was more to do with Dillon's lightning pace?

Click to expand...

I keep reading old articals about Dillon when he was an up-and-coming youngster and every one of them says he was the slowest of a group that included Rose, Nixon McLean and Reon King. When he came over here in 2000 he was only over for the ODIs and he bowled like the speed of light, whilst Rose looked more like a medium-fast swinger. Is he still as fast as he was then?

esgallindeion said:

2. Dravid, unlike some other players, isn't a batsman who needs to settle in one position. The fact that he has done well in 2-3 different positions proves this. And I'm sure he won't mind opening IF AND ONLY IF its really essential.

Click to expand...

I think the problem lies in that he has already opened for India, when they toured SA. He didn't have a good time of it.

As for makeshift openers, what about Ganguly?
Can't see it happening though, it might actually help the team rather than his own average...

anilramavarma said:

My dear friend, I did say he has played well in one or two innings here and there, so, make that three and you still don't have an opener who is happy and contented at the top of the innings. Don't throw a century against a weak NZ attack on a dead Indian pitch in my face and try to prove that Sehwag is a regular opener. Of course, he is a brilliant batsman who will have his moments as long as he is in the team, my contention is that we are not seeing his best at the top of the order. He is batting there because very unfortunately, there is no other place for him in the team and for no other reason.

Click to expand...

Heh, i didnt mean it like that but India really needed to play more Tests before NZL and AUS so they couldve experimented and had a stable team. Sehwag is not yet a regular opener but surely with a bit more practise he could be. I am indifferent to him opening and batting at no:6 as i need to see him bat at those 2 enough times to be convincing.

Rik said:

I think the problem lies in that he has already opened for India, when they toured SA. He didn't have a good time of it.

As for makeshift openers, what about Ganguly?
Can't see it happening though, it might actually help the team rather than his own average...

Click to expand...

Well... he has improved a lot. And... what can I say. He doesn't really want to open, and he shouldn't open but Dravid opening in the Australia series is a much better scenario than some others that I can imagine.

Such as Ganguly opening. :duh:

esgallindeion said:

Such as Ganguly opening. :duh:

Click to expand...

At this point I can visualise him opening in Australia(for eg: Perth) thus:

Trudge to the crease with his fellow opener.....hop, skip, jump.....trudge back to the pavilion.....

I know I am being unnecessarily harsh on the man, but couldn't resist it....hope he proves me wrong....

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: VVS Laxman

Rik said:

I keep reading old articals about Dillon when he was an up-and-coming youngster and every one of them says he was the slowest of a group that included Rose, Nixon McLean and Reon King. When he came over here in 2000 he was only over for the ODIs and he bowled like the speed of light, whilst Rose looked more like a medium-fast swinger. Is he still as fast as he was then?

Click to expand...

Rose bowled like a useless bowler who couldn't hit the right line 4 out of 6, let alone 5 or 6. But he did touch 92 mph.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: VVS Laxman

Rik said:

I keep reading old articals about Dillon when he was an up-and-coming youngster and every one of them says he was the slowest of a group that included Rose, Nixon McLean and Reon King. When he came over here in 2000 he was only over for the ODIs and he bowled like the speed of light, whilst Rose looked more like a medium-fast swinger. Is he still as fast as he was then?

Click to expand...

Injuries between then & the 2000/01 Australian tour robbed him of a yard of pace , at one stage his Cricinfo player profile actually listed him as Right Arm Medium.

anilramavarma said:

At this point I can visualise him opening in Australia(for eg: Perth) thus:

Trudge to the crease with his fellow opener.....hop, skip, jump.....trudge back to the pavilion.....

I know I am being unnecessarily harsh on the man, but couldn't resist it....hope he proves me wrong....

Click to expand...

Although I have always supported Gangguly, I have to agree that what you said is quite possible.

esgallindeion said:

Although I have always supported Gangguly, I have to agree that what you said is quite possible.

Click to expand...

Let's hope that short stint with Chappell has helped him iron out his flaws against extreme pace....

India's probables for the tour of Australia:

Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Akash Chopra, V V S Laxman, Hemang Badani, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel, Deep Dasgupta, S Ramesh, Anil Kumble, Murli Kartik, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Ifran Pathan, Zaheer Khan, L Balaji, Ajit Agarkar, Avishkar Salvi.

The squad will be trimmed down to 16 after the one day series.

Good to see Ramesh and Dasgupta making it. I think it also signals the end of Sanjay Bangar:!( . I think Yuvraj,Balaji , Ramesh and Pathan will be the ones to be left out from that squad.

Thread seems a little early, but I'll stick my oar in for what it's worth.

Although I'm a big Indian fan I'd have to predict a 4-0 win for the Aussies. I can't imagine the Indian batting will be as poor as it was on the last tour. I'm sure Dravid, in particular, will make a big improvement and, as somebody else pointed out, Laxman has been very consistent since his 281 and should also contribute.

The openers are a problem, but I would like to see Sehwag persevered with initiallly because the Aussies aren't keen on having the fight taken to them. Sehwag is bound to have a few single figure scores, but if he gets off to a couple of flyers he'll put Australia on the back foot.

The big problem, of course, is the bowling. I just can't see them bowling Australia out for reasonable totals (i.e. less than 400).
Nehra and Zaheer must have mental scars after the World Cup and Tri-Series maulings they've received and neither Kumble or Harbhajan have done anything to suggest they can be series-winning bowlers away from home.

People are suggesting that India need to pick more than 4 bowlers, but without Bangar (can't believe he hasn't even made the probables list!) they don't have an all-rounder and with an unproven 'keeper they must have 6 specialist bats. Agarkar may play as the 3rd seamer, but by no means is he an all-rounder.

garage flower said:

Thread seems a little early, but I'll stick my oar in for what it's worth.

Click to expand...

The first tour match starts in 10 days and so i think it is time for it to be TOPPED. Also the squad of 16 will be picked after tomorrow's match and not after the series.

vishnureddy said:

The first tour match starts in 10 days and so i think it is time for it to be TOPPED. Also the squad of 16 will be picked after tomorrow's match and not after the series.

Click to expand...

Patience my friend

It will be topped when it is topped.

garage flower said:

Thread seems a little early, but I'll stick my oar in for what it's worth.

Although I'm a big Indian fan I'd have to predict a 4-0 win for the Aussies. I can't imagine the Indian batting will be as poor as it was on the last tour. I'm sure Dravid, in particular, will make a big improvement and, as somebody else pointed out, Laxman has been very consistent since his 281 and should also contribute.

The openers are a problem, but I would like to see Sehwag persevered with initiallly because the Aussies aren't keen on having the fight taken to them. Sehwag is bound to have a few single figure scores, but if he gets off to a couple of flyers he'll put Australia on the back foot.

The big problem, of course, is the bowling. I just can't see them bowling Australia out for reasonable totals (i.e. less than 400).
Nehra and Zaheer must have mental scars after the World Cup and Tri-Series maulings they've received and neither Kumble or Harbhajan have done anything to suggest they can be series-winning bowlers away from home.

People are suggesting that India need to pick more than 4 bowlers, but without Bangar (can't believe he hasn't even made the probables list!) they don't have an all-rounder and with an unproven 'keeper they must have 6 specialist bats. Agarkar may play as the 3rd seamer, but by no means is he an all-rounder.

Click to expand...

Totally agree....

am i the only one who is predicting an Indian victory ??? :O

i think that india will win the series. australian bowling isnt as good as it was say 1 or 2 years ago and the top bowlers are breaking down with injuries.

come on guys, if england can win and zimbabwe can be competitive to aus in aus, then i dont see any reason why india wont win a match or 2.

to be realistic, i am expecting atleast 2 wins for india with one of them in sydney. in sydney, if the indians play to their potential, then india will win. the other win will come in the 1st test in brisbane as an inspired india will keep their cool and calm to get a thrilling victory in thee 1st test.

indian batting has also vastly improved and new guys like chopra look comfortable and he will be the man for the aussie tour. not to forget, the sehwag from apni dilli as well who would be looking to give india the flying starts.

laxman, dravid and sachin will be the senior players and 1 of them will be required to play a big innings. if india set 400+, which they will after betting 1st, then aus will be under some pressure.

if india bowl 1st, then india will have to knock australia over for less than 300 to have a chance.

My prediction: Ind 2-1 or Ind 3-1

amits said:

am i the only one who is predicting an Indian victory ??? :O

come on guys, if england can win and zimbabwe can be competitive to aus in aus, then i dont see any reason why india wont win a match or 2.

My prediction: Ind 2-1 or Ind 3-1

Click to expand...

Cutting to the chase (and ignoring all your arguments like I normally do)

Yes, you probably are the only one on this board predicting an Indian victory, but that's fine. I used to be an optimist too.

England won a solitary game in a dead rubber but on the whole that series was about as comprehensive as they come. To do better than Zimbabwe, you've just got to get Hayden out for 379.

I certainly think that India are good enough to win a test or possibly get a couple of draws but I wouldn't go as far as saying that they will win the series.

3-1 Australia for me.

Watching the second string Aussies in action, I can't see India having the strength or depth to beat them.

I was under the impression that you needed 20 wickets to win a Test match.

I can't see that happening given Nehra and Zaheer's past records against Australia.

Amits - suggest you find a bookmaker in Australia and put money on it if you're that sure as you will get some large odds. You'll also get some big odds on Grimsby Town winning the FA Cup.