Both sides have been disappointing at times in the field, it might be that they're struggling to get their normal amount of practice in with the covid bubbles
India dropped a lot of chances in Adelaide and Australia has here
Smith's lack of runs is a big worry, 10 runs in 4 innings (1 no) and since the 2019 Ashes he's played 11 innings with an average of 26.4
Post-concussion he's made 1 100 in 9 tests (admittedly a little matter of 211 in his first innings back)
Rahane has been very impressive as a captain, a lot of his bowling changes have created chances, unusual field settings have produced results
He's been calm and helped to produce results
Ashwin looks a lot more dangerous in these conditions than he did prevously in Australia
The commentators are saying that he's bowling a bit slower than previously but it'd be interesting to hear him say what he's adjusted
Very good to see him learning and it'll be very good for India in the future if he can advise other spinners on the changes he made
Bumrah looks like he's unaffected by his injury which is great, he's right up there with the top bowlers around at the minute and his attitude seems to be great - not ruffled, aggressive with his bowling, if a catch goes down or he thinks he's been unlucky with a decision just goes back and puts in 100% again. Really impresive. It's probably a bit early to call but I think he's a very good chance of ending up as India's best ever quick
The Indian pace bowling depth is also impressive
Sharma out of the series, Sharma out injured, Sirah comes in and looks promising.
It'll probably be tested with Umesh injured and not looking likely to be fit for the next test but I can't think of too many times that an Indian side missing 3 of their top quicks wouldn't have been down to utter dregs
Cameron Green looks like a test batsman but he need to find a way to score a bit more. Got becalmed in the first innings and started slowly in the second - which is better than getting out hitting out wildly but you've got to get runs because at test level you don't get as many bad balls so you can hang around for a long time and then get a good ball and be out for 8 or 10.
Impressively he looks to handle the Yorker well, which is traditionally a weakness for tall batsmen
His bowling also looks pretty decent and likely to improve as he gets more practice and more confidence in his back
I'm not sure what's the best thing to do with him but he's got a lot of potential
It'd be great if he pushed on and made a score tomorrow and took a few wickets (a triple century and 10 wickets would be ideal)
All in all there are a lot more questions about the Australian lineup than the Indian lineup
Both sides have mostly bowled well (Australia might have been a touch short at times here in Melbourne)
India has generally looked better with the bat - yes the 36 all out is an incredible collapse but it was one of those those things where the bowlers were bowling well and every mistake was a wicket.
Australia hasn't made 200 in an innings yet and really it was down to Paine that they got close to the Indian total in Adelaide, you really can't leave it down to your #7
About the only batsman who shouldn't be terribly disappointed with themselves is Labushagne
He's fought hard for 2 40s making ugly runs before looking good today before getting a good ball, any right hander would have been good odds to have gotten out to that one
Wade's had a couple of good starts without going on with it yet, considering he's been moved up to open without any experience doing it he's probably not doing too badly (although the first innings dismissal here was pretty rubbish)
Smith is last on the averages and just doesn't look right, tough to see what the problem is with his style of batting meaning everything looks pretty crap anyway
Head's had 3 soft dismissals
Burns is getting a hell of a lot of flack but it's fair to say that the Indian bowlers are bowling very well to him, he's the only member of the top 6 to have made a 50 for Australia in the series and he's averaging more than Head, Green and Smith
I think he'll miss out on the next test but it's interesting how much flack he's gotten compared to, say, Smith
Not sure what the selectors should do here
If Warner's fit he'll be back, is it a straight swap for Burns or do they bring Harris in as well?
If they bring Harris in does Wade miss out or is he put back down the order in place of Head?
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Monday, December 28, 2020 at 12:14:53 PM UTC+4, Hamish Laws wrote:

Bumrah looks like he's unaffected by his injury which is great, he's right up there with the top bowlers around at the minute and his attitude seems to be great - not ruffled, aggressive with his bowling, if a catch goes down or he thinks he's been unlucky with a decision just goes back and puts in 100% again. Really impresive. It's probably a bit early to call but I think he's a very good chance of ending up as India's best ever quick

I like Bumrah, especially because (a) he's a nice bloke who doesn't sledge or behave like a cad, which quickies are prone to and (b) runs in no longer than required.
It's quite incredible that he's on his second tour of Oz whereas he hasn't yet played a Test at home! I'll rate him only if he continues to be incisive enough in India, SL and BD, the subcontinent pitches he's likely to play on. He has thus far played in countries that traditionally have pitches affording some purchase for new-ball bowlers. For this reason, I can't quite get myself to rate Lillee highly; on the few occasions he ventured beyond Oz, NZ and Eng, his SR was 264.

The Indian pace bowling depth is also impressive
Sharma out of the series, Sharma out injured, Sirah comes in and looks promising.
It'll probably be tested with Umesh injured and not looking likely to be fit for the next test but I can't think of too many times that an Indian side missing 3 of their top quicks wouldn't have been down to utter dregs

You overlooked the quite underrated Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who never fails to punch above his weight. I also feel for Kuldeep because with persistence, he's one chap who has the potential to be a match-winner, irrespective of the pitch. That he can't field or bat will always have him after Jadeja in the pecking order but that's unfortunate.

About the only batsman who shouldn't be terribly disappointed with themselves is Labushagne
He's fought hard for 2 40s making ugly runs before looking good today before getting a good ball, any right hander would have been good odds to have gotten out to that one
Wade's had a couple of good starts without going on with it yet, considering he's been moved up to open without any experience doing it he's probably not doing too badly (although the first innings dismissal here was pretty rubbish)

I beg to differ here. Once you've played 40-odd deliveries and acclimatised, you've got to root yourself for the long run. To be a Shai Hope or Aiden Markram and score a classy 30 is all very well but batting in Test cricket is something else. If I was Paine, I'd be a lot more vexed with Labuschagne, Wade and Head than Smith, Green or Burns.

If they bring Harris in does Wade miss out or is he put back down the order in place of Head?

Head looks like a long-term captaincy prospect if persisted with, which I think he should.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:14:52 -0800 (PST), Hamish Laws
<hamish.laws@gmail.com> wrote:

Wade's had a couple of good starts without going on with it yet, considering he's been moved up to open without any experience doing it he's probably not doing too badly (although the first innings dismissal here was pretty rubbish)

He may not be doing too badly, considering, but why on earth has he
been selected in that position in the first place? Since he's not from
NSW, the selectors are under no particular obligation to fit him into
the side by hook or by crook, so what's so special about him that he
has to be picked instead of someone who opens on a regular basis?

Cheers,

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 12:15:36 AM UTC+11, Mike Holmans wrote:

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:14:52 -0800 (PST), Hamish Laws
<hamis...@gmail.com> wrote:

Wade's had a couple of good starts without going on with it yet, considering he's been moved up to open without any experience doing it he's probably not doing too badly (although the first innings dismissal here was pretty rubbish)

He may not be doing too badly, considering, but why on earth has he
been selected in that position in the first place? Since he's not from
NSW, the selectors are under no particular obligation to fit him into
the side by hook or by crook, so what's so special about him that he
has to be picked instead of someone who opens on a regular basis?

I think it was so they could fit Green in without having to drop one of Wade or Head.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 12:12:09 AM UTC+11, Ramapriya D wrote:

On Monday, December 28, 2020 at 12:14:53 PM UTC+4, Hamish Laws wrote:

Bumrah looks like he's unaffected by his injury which is great, he's right up there with the top bowlers around at the minute and his attitude seems to be great - not ruffled, aggressive with his bowling, if a catch goes down or he thinks he's been unlucky with a decision just goes back and puts in 100% again. Really impresive. It's probably a bit early to call but I think he's a very good chance of ending up as India's best ever quick

I like Bumrah, especially because (a) he's a nice bloke who doesn't sledge or behave like a cad, which quickies are prone to and (b) runs in no longer than required.

It's quite incredible that he's on his second tour of Oz whereas he hasn't yet played a Test at home! I'll rate him only if he continues to be incisive enough in India, SL and BD, the subcontinent pitches he's likely to play on. He has thus far played in countries that traditionally have pitches affording some purchase for new-ball bowlers.

Yeah, fair enough, against that he's got to have done well enough in first class matches in India to have been picked.
I'd expect him to handle those conditions o.k. but time will tell

For this reason, I can't quite get myself to rate Lillee highly; on the few occasions he ventured beyond Oz, NZ and Eng, his SR was 264.

That's the basest slander, in matches in Pakistan and Sri Lanka his strike rate was a mere 132

The Indian pace bowling depth is also impressive
Sharma out of the series, Sharma out injured, Sirah comes in and looks promising.
It'll probably be tested with Umesh injured and not looking likely to be fit for the next test but I can't think of too many times that an Indian side missing 3 of their top quicks wouldn't have been down to utter dregs

You overlooked the quite underrated Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who never fails to punch above his weight.

I don't think he's in the squad

I also feel for Kuldeep because with persistence, he's one chap who has the potential to be a match-winner, irrespective of the pitch. That he can't field or bat will always have him after Jadeja in the pecking order but that's unfortunate.

Agreed I'd like to see him get more chances

About the only batsman who shouldn't be terribly disappointed with themselves is Labushagne
He's fought hard for 2 40s making ugly runs before looking good today before getting a good ball, any right hander would have been good odds to have gotten out to that one
Wade's had a couple of good starts without going on with it yet, considering he's been moved up to open without any experience doing it he's probably not doing too badly (although the first innings dismissal here was pretty rubbish)

I beg to differ here. Once you've played 40-odd deliveries and acclimatised, you've got to root yourself for the long run. To be a Shai Hope or Aiden Markram and score a classy 30 is all very well but batting in Test cricket is something else. If I was Paine, I'd be a lot more vexed with Labuschagne, Wade and Head than Smith, Green or Burns.

Half agree, half don't
Labuschange I think gets points because he never was comfortable in the 2 40s but he fought through and made the ugly runs.
Making 30 or 40 when you're in trouble is a valuable skill
Ideally you work through it and convert to a big score but being willing to put the fight in is important
Then he was looking good on day 3 but got out to a great piece of bowling
I'm giving Wade some grace because he's been moved up to open but his 2 dismissals this test were disappointing (although Jadeja did put in a good faster ball in the 2nd dig)
Head was frustrating this test, out to 2 loose shots after he'd gotten in
I'd also say that Smith has faced 29 balls for 1 in Adelaide (iirc) and 30 balls for 8 here.
That's really enough time to have gotten himself in to a fair degree with his experience
He hasn't looked his normal self so far this series, whether that's just one of those things or his back acting up I don't know.

If they bring Harris in does Wade miss out or is he put back down the order in place of Head?

Head looks like a long-term captaincy prospect if persisted with, which I think he should.

there's a case either way there
He's underperforming a bit with the bat and needs to convert starts to big scores more often and he's loose outside off so he's getting himself out a lot of the time
Against that he's at least making the starts
Agreed that he's a captaincy prospect if he can keep his spot but dunno if that should be too much of a factor in retaining his spot now
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 06:39:51 -0800 (PST), Hamish Laws
<hamish.laws@gmail.com> wrote:

On Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 12:15:36 AM UTC+11, Mike Holmans wrote:

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:14:52 -0800 (PST), Hamish Laws
<hamis...@gmail.com> wrote:

Wade's had a couple of good starts without going on with it yet, considering he's been moved up to open without any experience doing it he's probably not doing too badly (although the first innings dismissal here was pretty rubbish)

He may not be doing too badly, considering, but why on earth has he
been selected in that position in the first place? Since he's not from
NSW, the selectors are under no particular obligation to fit him into
the side by hook or by crook, so what's so special about him that he
has to be picked instead of someone who opens on a regular basis?

I think it was so they could fit Green in without having to drop one of Wade or Head.

Why is Wade so vital? Or Head, for that matter? They're not terrible,
but equally, they don't seem to offer anything special.

Cheers,

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:14:52 -0800 (PST), Hamish Laws wrote:

Both sides have been disappointing at times in the field, it might be that they're struggling to get their normal amount of practice in with the covid bubbles
India dropped a lot of chances in Adelaide and Australia has here

Smith's lack of runs is a big worry, 10 runs in 4 innings (1 no) and since the 2019 Ashes he's played 11 innings with an average of 26.4
Post-concussion he's made 1 100 in 9 tests (admittedly a little matter of 211 in his first innings back)

Rahane has been very impressive as a captain, a lot of his bowling changes have created chances, unusual field settings have produced results
He's been calm and helped to produce results

Ashwin looks a lot more dangerous in these conditions than he did prevously in Australia
The commentators are saying that he's bowling a bit slower than previously but it'd be interesting to hear him say what he's adjusted
Very good to see him learning and it'll be very good for India in the future if he can advise other spinners on the changes he made

Bumrah looks like he's unaffected by his injury which is great, he's right up there with the top bowlers around at the minute and his attitude seems to be great - not ruffled, aggressive with his bowling, if a catch goes down or he thinks he's been unlucky with a decision just goes back and puts in 100% again. Really impresive. It's probably a bit early to call but I think he's a very good chance of ending up as India's best ever quick

The Indian pace bowling depth is also impressive
Sharma out of the series, Sharma out injured, Sirah comes in and looks promising.
It'll probably be tested with Umesh injured and not looking likely to be fit for the next test but I can't think of too many times that an Indian side missing 3 of their top quicks wouldn't have been down to utter dregs

Cameron Green looks like a test batsman but he need to find a way to score a bit more. Got becalmed in the first innings and started slowly in the second - which is better than getting out hitting out wildly but you've got to get runs because at test level you don't get as many bad balls so you can hang around for a long time and then get a good ball and be out for 8 or 10.
Impressively he looks to handle the Yorker well, which is traditionally a weakness for tall batsmen
His bowling also looks pretty decent and likely to improve as he gets more practice and more confidence in his back
I'm not sure what's the best thing to do with him but he's got a lot of potential
It'd be great if he pushed on and made a score tomorrow and took a few wickets (a triple century and 10 wickets would be ideal)

All in all there are a lot more questions about the Australian lineup than the Indian lineup
Both sides have mostly bowled well (Australia might have been a touch short at times here in Melbourne)
India has generally looked better with the bat - yes the 36 all out is an incredible collapse but it was one of those those things where the bowlers were bowling well and every mistake was a wicket.
Australia hasn't made 200 in an innings yet and really it was down to Paine that they got close to the Indian total in Adelaide, you really can't leave it down to your #7

About the only batsman who shouldn't be terribly disappointed with themselves is Labushagne
He's fought hard for 2 40s making ugly runs before looking good today before getting a good ball, any right hander would have been good odds to have gotten out to that one
Wade's had a couple of good starts without going on with it yet, considering he's been moved up to open without any experience doing it he's probably not doing too badly (although the first innings dismissal here was pretty rubbish)
Smith is last on the averages and just doesn't look right, tough to see what the problem is with his style of batting meaning everything looks pretty crap anyway
Head's had 3 soft dismissals

Burns is getting a hell of a lot of flack but it's fair to say that the Indian bowlers are bowling very well to him, he's the only member of the top 6 to have made a 50 for Australia in the series and he's averaging more than Head, Green and Smith
I think he'll miss out on the next test but it's interesting how much flack he's gotten compared to, say, Smith

Not sure what the selectors should do here
If Warner's fit he'll be back, is it a straight swap for Burns or do they bring Harris in as well?
If they bring Harris in does Wade miss out or is he put back down the order in place of Head?

All good.

My mate reckons that Smith's eyes are going. Additional evidence being the
two catches he's dropped.

I have high hopes for Green. His batting reminds me of a piece Ray Robison
did on Bill Ponsford. Bill was in width what Green is in height but despite Bill's bulk his footwork was always smooth and assured. Ditto Green. And
his bowling action is simplicity itself.

Hubris. Don't you love it? After T1 the NSW slopaganda machine was flogging itself 24 hours a day telling us how great 'their' quicks were. "Best
ever!", "ATGs", "Better than Lillian Thomson!" etc etc. Thud.

Due to 'technical problems' I have no Foxtel atm and have been watching on
7. On balance, I'd rate it better than the Fox comms. The have a couple of
poor comms in Slater & Brayshaw (How does he *still* get a cricket gig?)
and they have ads and they don't have Skull, but the positives outweigh
these. They don't show their comms at all during play, unlike Fox who are
using the Nein model of trying to make the comms 'stars'. Second they don't have the pointless M Waugh, but the biggest advantage of all, they don't
have that Tower of Babble, SK Warne. Jaysus! Does he ever shut up? You get
Isa & Skull together (hooray!) but if His Royal Vanityness is there too
they never get a fucking word in. "When I was bowling against Sri Lanka in 1995...". Aarrrrggghhhhh.


alvey
Hoping for Green to get a score today.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:41:22 +0000, Mike Holmans wrote:

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 06:39:51 -0800 (PST), Hamish Laws
<hamish.laws@gmail.com> wrote:

On Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 12:15:36 AM UTC+11, Mike Holmans wrote:

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:14:52 -0800 (PST), Hamish Laws
<hamis...@gmail.com> wrote:

Wade's had a couple of good starts without going on with it yet, considering he's been moved up to open without any experience doing it he's probably not doing too badly (although the first innings dismissal here was pretty rubbish)

He may not be doing too badly, considering, but why on earth has he
been selected in that position in the first place? Since he's not from
NSW, the selectors are under no particular obligation to fit him into
the side by hook or by crook, so what's so special about him that he
has to be picked instead of someone who opens on a regular basis?

I think it was so they could fit Green in without having to drop one of Wade or Head.

Why is Wade so vital? Or Head, for that matter? They're not terrible,
but equally, they don't seem to offer anything special.

Oz has a history of trying to keep a winning side together. (Especially so
if the struggling player is a Chosen One). Also, none of the three had done badly enough in recent Tests to get punted.


alvey
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tue, 29 Dec 2020 07:13:01 +1000, alvey <alvey@is.invalid> wrote:

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:41:22 +0000, Mike Holmans wrote:

Why is Wade so vital? Or Head, for that matter? They're not terrible,
but equally, they don't seem to offer anything special.

Oz has a history of trying to keep a winning side together. (Especially so
if the struggling player is a Chosen One). Also, none of the three had done >badly enough in recent Tests to get punted.

So now that they're about to lose, does this mean they can drop them?

Cheers,

Mike
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On 29/12/2020 10:11 am, Mike Holmans wrote:

On Tue, 29 Dec 2020 07:13:01 +1000, alvey <alvey@is.invalid> wrote:

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:41:22 +0000, Mike Holmans wrote:

Why is Wade so vital? Or Head, for that matter? They're not terrible,
but equally, they don't seem to offer anything special.

Oz has a history of trying to keep a winning side together. (Especially so >> if the struggling player is a Chosen One). Also, none of the three had done >> badly enough in recent Tests to get punted.

So now that they're about to lose, does this mean they can drop them?

No but drop Burns, one less Queenslander has to improve the side :-)

ducks

BTW when should Aus declare. Anything over 37 should be enough
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 23:11:39 +0000, Mike Holmans wrote:

On Tue, 29 Dec 2020 07:13:01 +1000, alvey <alvey@is.invalid> wrote:

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:41:22 +0000, Mike Holmans wrote:

Why is Wade so vital? Or Head, for that matter? They're not terrible,
but equally, they don't seem to offer anything special.

Oz has a history of trying to keep a winning side together. (Especially so >>if the struggling player is a Chosen One). Also, none of the three had done >>badly enough in recent Tests to get punted.

So now that they're about to lose, does this mean they can drop them?

Faster than you can say "Joe".


alvey
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tue, 29 Dec 2020 11:00:58 +1100, Dechucka wrote:

On 29/12/2020 10:11 am, Mike Holmans wrote:

On Tue, 29 Dec 2020 07:13:01 +1000, alvey <alvey@is.invalid> wrote:

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:41:22 +0000, Mike Holmans wrote:

Why is Wade so vital? Or Head, for that matter? They're not terrible,
but equally, they don't seem to offer anything special.

Oz has a history of trying to keep a winning side together. (Especially so >>> if the struggling player is a Chosen One). Also, none of the three had done >>> badly enough in recent Tests to get punted.

So now that they're about to lose, does this mean they can drop them?

No but drop Burns, one less Queenslander has to improve the side :-)

Could be worse Chuck. It took a global pandemic to get a Dic onto the MCG
turf for their Test...



alvey
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 12:00:57 AM UTC+4, alvey wrote:

My mate reckons that Smith's eyes are going. Additional evidence being the two catches he's dropped.

Over nearly 40 years of following Tests, I've noticed that frontline batters' catching parallels their batting form. There are exceptions like Nathan Astle and Vaughan who seemed to drop catches regularly irrespective of their form, and Mark Taylor who remained excellent even over his somewhat extended lean run towards the end.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On 29/12/2020 11:45 am, Ramapriya D wrote:

On Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 12:00:57 AM UTC+4, alvey wrote:

My mate reckons that Smith's eyes are going. Additional evidence being the >> two catches he's dropped.

Over nearly 40 years of following Tests, I've noticed that frontline batters' catching parallels their batting form. There are exceptions like Nathan Astle and Vaughan who seemed to drop catches regularly irrespective of their form, and Mark Taylor who remained excellent even over his somewhat extended lean run towards the end.

Confidence is a factor in both
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Monday, December 28, 2020 at 12:14:53 PM UTC+4, Hamish Laws wrote:

Both sides have been disappointing at times in the field, it might be that they're struggling to get their normal amount of practice in with the covid bubbles
India dropped a lot of chances in Adelaide and Australia has here

Although at a stage when the Test was over and done with, Rahane received a life that was described on air by Clarke - or was it Hussey - as a 'fantastic effort' or some such. It was a routine sort of catch that you'd expect to receive in the outfield and after having comfortably reached the ball and got both hands on it, the tall Starc couldn't hold on. He should have, IMO. One more in at least half a dozen that went to hand and out in this Test. If the drop wasn't bad enough, the commentator's description made it worse :/
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 12:12:09 AM UTC+11, Ramapriya D wrote:

On Monday, December 28, 2020 at 12:14:53 PM UTC+4, Hamish Laws wrote:

Bumrah looks like he's unaffected by his injury which is great, he's right up there with the top bowlers around at the minute and his attitude seems to be great - not ruffled, aggressive with his bowling, if a catch goes down or he thinks he's been unlucky with a decision just goes back and puts in 100% again. Really impresive. It's probably a bit early to call but I think he's a very good chance of ending up as India's best ever quick

I like Bumrah, especially because (a) he's a nice bloke who doesn't sledge or behave like a cad, which quickies are prone to and (b) runs in no longer than required.

It's quite incredible that he's on his second tour of Oz whereas he hasn't yet played a Test at home!

Wow! I hadn't realised that. He won a lot of friends down under last time for his bowling skills (as you say, being a nice guy doesn't hurt either). His bowling this series has been great too. I won't quite go out on the limb that Hamish has and say he's a chance of being India's best quick ever, but I'm watch his career with interest. I'll be very keen to see how he bowls at home.
-Moriarty
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 6:41:27 AM UTC+11, Mike Holmans wrote:

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 06:39:51 -0800 (PST), Hamish Laws
<hamis...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 12:15:36 AM UTC+11, Mike Holmans wrote:

On Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:14:52 -0800 (PST), Hamish Laws
<hamis...@gmail.com> wrote:

Wade's had a couple of good starts without going on with it yet, considering he's been moved up to open without any experience doing it he's probably not doing too badly (although the first innings dismissal here was pretty rubbish)

He may not be doing too badly, considering, but why on earth has he
been selected in that position in the first place? Since he's not from
NSW, the selectors are under no particular obligation to fit him into
the side by hook or by crook, so what's so special about him that he
has to be picked instead of someone who opens on a regular basis?

I think it was so they could fit Green in without having to drop one of Wade or Head.

Why is Wade so vital? Or Head, for that matter? They're not terrible,
but equally, they don't seem to offer anything special.

I think they're hoping that Head will be the next captain and to be fair he made 2 100s and 4 50s from 17 innings last year.
If they drop Wade at 33 he probably won't make it back into the team and, especially last summer, he was batting for the situation rather than in situations where he was going for a big score

There was also probably a feeling that experience mattered a fair bit compared to a lot of new players coming in against the Indian attack and I think they've both done pretty well in domestics so far this season
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

In message <b8826627-ab02-45a6-91cd-eec5a114ef40n@googlegroups.com>,
Ramapriya D <rama@samura.ai> writes

On Monday, December 28, 2020 at 12:14:53 PM UTC+4, Hamish Laws wrote:

Both sides have been disappointing at times in the field, it might be >>that they're struggling to get their normal amount of practice in with
the covid bubbles
India dropped a lot of chances in Adelaide and Australia has here

Although at a stage when the Test was over and done with, Rahane
received a life that was described on air by Clarke - or was it Hussey
- as a 'fantastic effort' or some such. It was a routine sort of catch
that you'd expect to receive in the outfield and after having
comfortably reached the ball and got both hands on it, the tall Starc >couldn't hold on. He should have, IMO. One more in at least half a
dozen that went to hand and out in this Test. If the drop wasn't bad
enough, the commentator's description made it worse :/

Having now seen it on a highlights programme, my opinion is closer to
the commentator's than to yours. He had to make a considerable amount of ground to get to the ball and was diving pretty much full length.

Congrats to India on a fine win.It must be particularly encouraging the
two of the least experienced members of the side in Gill and Siraj made important contributions.
--
John Hall "Hard work often pays off after time, but laziness always
pays off now." Anon
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 5:18:10 AM UTC+11, John Hall wrote:

Congrats to India on a fine win.It must be particularly encouraging the
two of the least experienced members of the side in Gill and Siraj made important contributions.

That's a very good point, it does seem like new Indian players are coming through well prepared for international cricket currently
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 9:22:58 AM UTC+4, Hamish Laws wrote:

Congrats to India on a fine win.It must be particularly encouraging the two of the least experienced members of the side in Gill and Siraj made important contributions.

That's a very good point, it does seem like new Indian players are coming through well prepared for international cricket currently

I'd reserve judgment on that. One victory - it was commendable, mind you, coming as it did in the wake of the 36 - doesn't tot up to that much. I don't know what to make of news reports that Natarajan has been included as the substitute for Umesh Yadav. I mean, the bloke is no spring chicken at 29 and has only played 20 FC matches in his life. Since the only conceivable reason for his inclusion is his decent performance of late in the IPL and couple of T20s, I do hope Shastri, Rahane and Co. know what they're doing.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)