Australia vs India | 1st Test | Adelaide | Dec 6-10, 2018 | Day 2 Thread

[Oligochaetes]

Ashwin's bowling figures are quite praiseworthy

 

[Justcrazy]

Two overs left for new ball.

 

[Varun]

Get Vijay off NOW!

 

[Justcrazy]

New ball taken , Bumrah back

 

[Justcrazy]

seven down

 

[Smbhayi]

and Bumra strikes immediately..

 

[Savage]

FInally OUT.

India needs to be careful now.Starc averages 36 with bat against India.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Is it the pitch or both sides have batted badly to he getting bowled out for 250 or under?

 

[Justcrazy]

Ashwin with new ball , very good move by Kohli here

 

[Oligochaetes]

Ashwin could get Starc with an inswinger...lol.. I hope I see it

 

[Chief Destroyer]

del

 

[Justcrazy]

Aussies trail by 66 runs with 3 wickets left

 

[Chief Destroyer]

India better win this.

 

[Justcrazy]

Runs have dried up.

 

[Bilal7]

India should win this match unless Australia get to 250 themselves and then bowl India out for under 180.

 

[battler]

Ashwin and Bumrah have been bowled to the ground here.

 

[Oligochaetes]

Shami si such a generous human being.. so kind

 

[Justcrazy]

Starc gets that away

 

[Sidilicious]

Why Shami? Ishant has bowled beautifully. Surely he deserves a go with he new ball.

 

[battler]

Shami has been the biggest weak link. Not control and leaking runs.

 

[Oligochaetes]

All international lower order bats must love playing against India

 

[Varun]

Lyon bats at #10.

Scary.

 

[Justcrazy]

Australia trail by 59 runs with 3 wickets remaining in the innings

 

[Canford Cliffs]

Australia will be looking to make 500+ on this pitch.

No 500 bro

 

[Justcrazy]

Lyon bats at #10.

Scary.

Lyon is a Tailender. India will wrap this up with in 20 runs in the morning

 

[Bilal7]

All international lower order bats must love playing against India

They've bowled very well actually. I would hate to be an Aussie batsman in that fourth innings. However, tail-enders that can bat can get very annoying. Shami and Bumrah need to watch and learn.

 

[BDfanforever]

This Australia team without Smith and Warner is garbage, even Bangladesh will sweep them in Bangladesh.

Game is 50/50, given the circumstances Australia would be happy to concede less than 50 runs lead.

 

[Varun]

They've bowled very well actually. I would hate to be an Aussie batsman in that fourth innings. However, tail-enders that can bat can get very annoying. Shami and Bumrah need to watch and learn.

I feel Shami is a little thick. He has decided that he will not apply himself with the bat, come what may.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

This Australia team without Smith and Warner is garbage, even Bangladesh will sweep them in Bangladesh.

Game is 50/50, given the circumstances Australia would be happy to concede less than 50 runs lead.

Pakistan wasn't able to whitewash them

 

[MenInG]

Ravichandran Ashwin picked up three wickets, while Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah shared four as India reduced Australia to 191/7 after putting up 250.

Australia may have had a brilliant run on Day 1, their bowlers reducing India to 250/9, but the story was starkly different when it was their turn with the bat.

Josh Hazlewood picked up the last Indian wicket, strangling Mohammed Shami down leg, without addition to the overnight score. But from then until Travis Head's gritty 61* towards the end of the day, Australia had little to cheer about, the Indian bowlers running riot.

Sharma made an impact in the very first over, getting one to swing in sharply to castle Aaron Finch – Australia were 0/1.

Debutant Marcus Harris, Finch's opening partner, displayed more resistance, but never looked fully comfortable during his knock of 26, and then left after a bat-pad catch to silly point off an Ashwin in-drifter.

After lunch, Shaun Marsh was lured with one tossed up outside off. He drove but as the ball dipped on him, he only got an inside edge onto his stumps, falling for 2, leaving Australia at 59/3. Ashwin got good purchase from the wicket, and the drift he got through the air made him a threatening prospect.

Ishant Sharma made an early impact, removing Aaron Finch for a duck, and later getting Tim Paine Ishant Sharma made an early impact, removing Aaron Finch for a duck, and later getting Tim Paine
He was soon to make possibly the most important breakthrough, getting one to dip and then turn to graze Usman Khawaja's outside edge on the way to the wicket-keeper. Khawaja had battled for his 28, taking 125 balls for it, but Ashwin finally had his number even as he looked to move forward and smother the turn.

For some time it looked like the bright young men in Peter Handscomb and Head would yank Australia out of a rather troubling position, as they both looked fairly solid. But India were relentless. Bumrah joined the party, getting one to bounce a bit more than usual, finding Handscomb's leading edge through to Rishabh Pant as he looked to turn it down the leg-side, falling for 34.

Australia skipper Tim Paine didn't look at ease during his brief stay and was put out of his misery by Sharma when he tamely poked outside off to fall for five. All this while, Head had been growing in confidence and had already played a couple of confident drives.

Travis Head held things together for Australia with a fine fifty Travis Head held things together for Australia with a fine fifty
Pat Cummins came and gave Head all the support, although in a more defensive capacity. Head soon went past his 50 although India continued to bowl well.

The Head-Cummins partnership was snapped at 50, Cummins having scored just 10, the moment the new ball was taken, Bumrah getting it to swing in the line of stumps as Cummins shouldered arms only to be struck on his pads. He reviewed, but the ball was hitting top of off.

Mitchell Starc had a few nervy moments, including a miscued slog off Ashwin that just cleared the man at point, but was able to keep company with Head at stumps. Head will look to build on his 61 early on the third day to try and get Australia closer to the Indian score, but the visitors will feel confident of wrapping the tail up after a truly stellar show upfront.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/935372

 

[RamLakhan]

Australia has ensured that they go into 4th & 5th day on this pitch (for their 2nd innings) with their slow RR. I think game is 80-20 in favor of India! The only way India is going to lose this is if they continue their super-stupid batting again! (Rahul & Rahane are real stupids in this lineup!)

 

[Canford Cliffs]

This Australia team without Smith and Warner is garbage, even Bangladesh will sweep them in Bangladesh.

Game is 50/50, given the circumstances Australia would be happy to concede less than 50 runs lead.

Lol...you guys really over estimate your team...dont you?

BD just lost a home test against Zimb and you recon they will clean sweep this Aust team?

 

[ind_win]

So far ,ok performance from India.
But what kind of selection is this - 3 fast bowlers and a spinner .

And who is the backup - vijay?
Why not use rohit sharma who has ample experience in bowling in IPL or local tournaments.
Why not select vihari, who could roll 7-8 break overs for fast bowlers.

And ishant being the seniormost was crappy again.
Let loose the tailend/lowerend batsmen.

Should close the innings by 225 or so.
India should bat well and bat aggressively and not go into shell.

Hope positive things for India.

 

[Sidilicious]

So far ,ok performance from India.
But what kind of selection is this - 3 fast bowlers and a spinner .

And who is the backup - vijay?
Why not use rohit sharma who has ample experience in bowling in IPL or local tournaments.
Why not select vihari, who could roll 7-8 break overs for fast bowlers.

And ishant being the seniormost was crappy again.
Let loose the tailend/lowerend batsmen.

Should close the innings by 225 or so.
India should bat well and bat aggressively and not go into shell.

Hope positive things for India.

Ishant bowled pretty well. He didnt get to bowl much against the lower order, which was Kohli's mistake. He didnt even get to bowl the new ball over Shami. He is the senior most pace bowler in India, and a guaranteed sport in XI with Bumrah.

Agreed on the other point though. We need to have a backup 5th bowler to bowl 5-10 overs in a day. We always had Sachin, Sehwag and Ganguly in the previous gen. Pandya did resolve the issue, but we dont have anyone in his absence.

 

[RainMan_]

[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

What's happening with the Australian pitches Bro.

Even two days of play haven't yet completed and ball is already turning square. Is adelaide historically favor spinners or r we seeing an anomaly here?

We wanna see fast and bouncy wickets in Australia, not this garbage Indian types of pitches. It feels as if someone has created a mini Iden garden in adelaide. Absolutely pathetic.

 

[ind_win]

Ishant bowled pretty well. He didnt get to bowl much against the lower order, which was Kohli's mistake. He didnt even get to bowl the new ball over Shami. He is the senior most pace bowler in India, and a guaranteed sport in XI with Bumrah.

Agreed on the other point though. We need to have a backup 5th bowler to bowl 5-10 overs in a day. We always had Sachin, Sehwag and Ganguly in the previous gen. Pandya did resolve the issue, but we dont have anyone in his absence.

With Ishant I was positive over the last 3-4 years like most.
He is the Pujara of bowling in Indian cricket team - plays mostly only one format and does not deliver with more experience than Pujara out of India. A win here and there is not enough.
His average vs Aus is 45 - he should at least contain if not take wickets.
His bowling to head was headless in my opinion. Either short or too full.
Being the senior-most guy, you should be proud of that tag is all I meant.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

What's happening with the Australian pitches Bro.

Even two days of play haven't yet completed and ball is already turning square. Is adelaide historically favor spinners or r we seeing an anomaly here?

We wanna see fast and bouncy wickets in Australia, not this garbage Indian types of pitches. It feels as if someone has created a mini Iden garden in adelaide. Absolutely pathetic.

No bhangra today for you and [MENTION=146632]Mamba Red[/MENTION]. Now blaming pitch to salvage some face

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Brilliant performance by the bowlers today. Hopefully they won't allow the tail to wag for long. Bowlers performed well on the England tour as well. It's the batting that has been over reliant on Kohli and Pujara. Superstars like KL Rahul should start performing now. They have been given too many chances already.

 

[BDfanforever]

Lol...you guys really over estimate your team...dont you?

BD just lost a home test against Zimb and you recon they will clean sweep this Aust team?

We drew against a much more powerful Australia and England team at home. David Warner and Steven Smith are better than this entire Aus batting lineup.

 

[RainMan_]

No bhangra today for you and [MENTION=146632]Mamba Red[/MENTION]. Now blaming pitch to salvage some face

Ummmm, I m not blaming the pitch. Just got surprised after seeing such spin friendly wicket in Australia especially considering the fact Indians have always struggled against bounce. Whose idea was it to prepare such wicket? It feels like India is playing at home.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

We drew against a much more powerful Australia and England team at home. David Warner and Steven Smith are better than this entire Aus batting lineup.

In how many 2 test series? Lol. Play 4 test matches and this Aust team (even without Smith and Warner) will beat BD anywhere. Starc-Cummins-Hazelwood-Lyon is too much for a team who was struggling to play Chatara and Jarvis recently.

But anyway this topic is not about BD. Can you guys (for once), stop honking your own horn?

 

[Mainul]

Aussies Tail will not wag long , they are well behind Indian total

Only 59 behind with 3 wickets in hand.6th wicket fell at the score of 127. Since then they added 64 just for the loss of 1 wicket. Indians should feel depressed by Aussie tail.

 

[Mainul]

We drew against a much more powerful Australia and England team at home. David Warner and Steven Smith are better than this entire Aus batting lineup.

This Aussie attack can destroy us even at our home .You are right about batting though, our spinners will be all over these 11 Aussie bats, but our batsmen's vulnerability against genuine pace and swing will cause our downfall in my opinion.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

Ummmm, I m not blaming the pitch. Just got surprised after seeing such spin friendly wicket in Australia especially considering the fact Indians have always struggled against bounce. Whose idea was it to prepare such wicket? It feels like India is playing at home.

Adelaide wicket always assist spinners to a certain extent. But you need a class bowler like Ashwin to take advantage of it. You put some garbage spinners and they will be cannon fodder here. Its not a square turner like we saw recently in BD-WI test series where a bowling attack consists of all spinners. Ash bowled beautifully today with proper loop and flight. But so did Bumrah and rest.

Come next test in Perth, you will see fast pitch. MCG will be a batting paradise and SCG will assist spinners again.

 

[Varun]

This Aussie attack can destroy us even at our home .You are right about batting though, our spinners will be all over these 11 Aussie bats, but our batsmen's vulnerability against genuine pace and swing will cause our downfall in my opinion.

Bangladesh will find a way to lose. It's why they shell tests to Zimbabwe and get whitewashed by Afghanistan.

The team members are not configured to be the 'overdog'.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

With Ishant I was positive over the last 3-4 years like most.
He is the Pujara of bowling in Indian cricket team - plays mostly only one format and does not deliver with more experience than Pujara out of India. A win here and there is not enough.
His average vs Aus is 45 - he should at least contain if not take wickets.
His bowling to head was headless in my opinion. Either short or too full.
Being the senior-most guy, you should be proud of that tag is all I meant.

Ishant Sharma in 2018:

Matches: 9
Wickets: 32
Average: 20.71
Strike Rate: 46.31

 

[Varun]

Ishant Sharma in 2018:

Matches: 9
Wickets: 32
Average: 20.71
Strike Rate: 46.31

Playing 5 tests in England makes anyone look good.

 

[BDfanforever]

In how many 2 test series? Lol. Play 4 test matches and this Aust team (even without Smith and Warner) will beat BD anywhere. Starc-Cummins-Hazelwood-Lyon is too much for a team who was struggling to play Chatara and Jarvis recently.

But anyway this topic is not about BD. Can you guys (for once), stop honking your own horn?

Lol we are not talking about Aus or England pitches. Let me give you a context, even Chris Woakes destroyed India in England, but he couldn't do jack in Bangladesh when he last toured. The player that would be effective in BD would be Nathan Lyon or their other spinners.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

Lol we are not talking about Aus or England pitches. Let me give you a context, even Chris Woakes destroyed India in England, but he couldn't do jack in Bangladesh when he last toured. The player that would be effective in BD would be Nathan Lyon or their other spinners.

Eng when they last toured India...lost 4-0. When did Woakes destroyed India?

If I recall, in that 3rd ODI when Eng toured BD, it was Woakes-Stokes Partnership that won them that game and series.

Listen, I know you guys are in cloud 9 after recent WI series and hence dragging BD in all threads needlessly. But your team is really not that good as you make it out to be. This Aust team would beat BD anywhere in planet earth.

 

[Mainul]

Playing 5 tests in England makes anyone look good.

Harsh and unrealistic criticsm.
What did Amir do in England? One needs to have the skills to exlpoit the condition, not everyone can do that.
Ishant is the most improved Pacer of the present generation, from an average Pacer now he has become a wicket taking bowler

 

[Mainul]

Ishant has taken 71 test wickets @27 in last 4 years. What an imroved performer!

 

[BDfanforever]

Eng when they last toured India...lost 4-0. When did Woakes destroyed India?

If I recall, in that 3rd ODI when Eng toured BD, it was Woakes-Stokes Partnership that won them that game and series.

Listen, I know you guys are in cloud 9 after recent WI series and hence dragging BD in all threads needlessly. But your team is really not that good as you make it out to be. This Aust team would beat BD anywhere in planet earth.

No, I am talking about when you guys toured England in the 2nd or 3rd test, and Chris Woakes bowling in England not in India, that is the point.

Yeah, as I said before Warner and Smith are better than entire Aus lineup. I never said BD team was good, and you don't have to be good against this hopeless Aus batting team.

 

[BreadPakoda]

On their day, Bangladesh at home can destroy Ozzies, and even defeat England. Defeating SA, NZ could be challenging. More than that, they need to find more consistency in beating WI, Zimbabwe etc. if they need to get into the middle of the table.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Playing 5 tests in England makes anyone look good.

He played 4 tests in England. His stats in the other 4 matches not in England is this:

Matches: 4
Wickets: 14
Average: 16.14
Strike Rate: 41.14

 

[Romali_rotti]

On their day, Bangladesh at home can destroy Ozzies, and even defeat England. Defeating SA, NZ could be challenging. More than that, they need to find more consistency in beating WI, Zimbabwe etc. if they need to get into the middle of the table.

On their day, Bangladesh are capable of losing to a bigger minnow Zimbabwe in tests, that is some achievement.

 

[ind_win]

Ishant Sharma in 2018:

Matches: 9
Wickets: 32
Average: 20.71
Strike Rate: 46.31

What he did in the past 3-4 years I had a positive thing to say about.
What I said was what he had done to contain - take wickets or bowl loose bowls, two kinds of extremities were always ishant't problem.
The frequency of oscillation between the two reduced but he still does perform the containing role.
That was my observation.

 

[ILcricket]

Unless we set them a 250+ kind of target , we have no hope .

 

[Romali_rotti]

No, I am talking about when you guys toured England in the 2nd or 3rd test, and Chris Woakes bowling in England not in India, that is the point.

Yeah, as I said before Warner and Smith are better than entire Aus lineup. I never said BD team was good, and you don't have to be good against this hopeless Aus batting team.

Yeah but you are comparing how Woakes performed in England vs India, compared to how Woakes performed in Bangladesh on those flat pattas.... Nice try....

 

[Romali_rotti]

Can someone please tell me why there is no recent posts from our Pakistani poster Mamba_red ????????? I miss the guy...

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

The frequency of oscillation between the two reduced but he still does perform the containing role.

Maybe he does, but he's been taking wickets this year at least, not just containing. He's also bowled with a lot more discipline.

 

[ind_win]

Maybe he does, but he's been taking wickets this year at least, not just containing. He's also bowled with a lot more discipline.

The frequency of oscillation between the two reduced but he still does NOT perform the containing role.
That was a typo but I think you understood the meaning.

For the parched Indian fan, Ishant is bowling well.
For the win-thirst Indian fan, Ishant has to do better.

May be I am in the second category.

Overseas victories will give the team more respect.
And what is more these guys are more capable and not delivering that is more frustrating.

 

[ILcricket]

Shami clearly is struggling as apparent from his approach to bowling crease , playing him in a 4 man attack is a blunder .
If we do not set a target over 250 , we have no realistic chance .

 

[battler]

[MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION] who do you think are favourites after day 2?

 

[Ab Fan]

India need to bat well in second innings to win this game. Lots of Indian batsmen have lot to prove.

 

[Buffet]

[MENTION=97523]Buffet[/MENTION] who do you think are favourites after day 2?

India is slightly ahead. Aus has to get 50 runs lead from here to make it even. If Indians bat reasonably well then they should close this match. They need to stop playing stupid shots.

 

[battler]

India is slightly ahead. Aus has to get 50 runs lead from here to make it even. If Indians bat reasonably well then they should close this match. They need to stop playing stupid shots.

I hope India take a 50 run lead though! From there on another 250 from India should be enough. I feel nothing less than 300 will be safe to defend as first of all bowlers will be tired by 2nd innings and also Aus batsmen might have learned from their mistakes in the 1st innings.

 

[Buffet]

I hope India take a 50 run lead though! From there on another 250 from India should be enough. I feel nothing less than 300 will be safe to defend as first of all bowlers will be tired by 2nd innings and also Aus batsmen might have learned from their mistakes in the 1st innings.

I doubt that India will get 50 runs lead.I expect Aus tail to add some runs. Not safe, but even chasing 250 won't be easy in 4th inning for Aus. India needs to bat a lot better this time. Pujara played a fantastic inning otherwise test was lost for India .

 

[BDfanforever]

India is slightly ahead. Aus has to get 50 runs lead from here to make it even. If Indians bat reasonably well then they should close this match. They need to stop playing stupid shots.

I dont see how Aus can take 50 runs lead. If anything they will be lucky to concede just 50 runs lead given the circumstances, and without Warner and Smith their batting is really bad. They also dont have Mitchell Johnson anymore.

Most of the Indians are downplaying Aus lack of Warner and Smith. If you take out Kholi and Pujara from Indian team its very similar.

 

[Mp812]

Shami clearly is struggling as apparent from his approach to bowling crease , playing him in a 4 man attack is a blunder .
If we do not set a target over 250 , we have no realistic chance .

Shami usually is good for a burst of 2-4 wickets in second innings as his history suggests. He is not effective in first innings.

 

[Mp812]

Can someone please tell me why there is no recent posts from our Pakistani poster Mamba_red ????????? I miss the guy...

He is taking sick day. His doctor prescribed a medicine but that is not available in the market if Indian team is doing well

 

[rhony]

I dont see how Aus can take 50 runs lead. If anything they will be lucky to concede just 50 runs lead given the circumstances, and without Warner and Smith their batting is really bad. They also dont have Mitchell Johnson anymore.

Most of the Indians are downplaying Aus lack of Warner and Smith. If you take out Kholi and Pujara from Indian team its very similar.

Mitchell Johnson lol. I bet they miss Ricky Pinting and Alan Border too. That Greg Chappelle would have been handy too.

Nobody is downplaying anything. There is a reason why Indians think they can truly win the series. I believe Aussies will still take the series because of their bowling attack but If Indians bat well, they have a good chance.

Indian bowling should be given a lot of credit. They dismissed SA and Eng for low scores too

 

[BDfanforever]

Mitchell Johnson lol. I bet they miss Ricky Pinting and Alan Border too. That Greg Chappelle would have been handy too.

Nobody is downplaying anything. There is a reason why Indians think they can truly win the series. I believe Aussies will still take the series because of their bowling attack but If Indians bat well, they have a good chance.

Indian bowling should be given a lot of credit. They dismissed SA and Eng for low scores too

Mitchell Johnson was a monster, bowling lineup of Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, and Johnson would been devastating even if India had SRT and Dravid. I know even without Johnson their bowling is good.

Yes, India did well in England despite losing 1-4. I would take that performance over beating this Aus B side anyway. India should be looking to win the series 2-1 at least. Trust me I would love for India to put these arrogant Aussies in their place( ball biting, making racist remarks, declining BD tour lol). Their commies were biased as hell when Pujara was batting lol.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Brilliant so far from India. They should look to bat all day and set Australia more than 300 to chase in the 4th innings.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

I dont see how Aus can take 50 runs lead. If anything they will be lucky to concede just 50 runs lead given the circumstances, and without Warner and Smith their batting is really bad. They also dont have Mitchell Johnson anymore.

Most of the Indians are downplaying Aus lack of Warner and Smith. If you take out Kholi and Pujara from Indian team its very similar.

Think you are missing the point (again) like a broken niddle. Yes Smithy/Warner is a loss but its neutralized by the fact that they are playing at home. I expect India to win 9/10 games against any opposition at home even without Kohli/Pujara. Don't forget even a debutant Jayant Yadav (current emerging U23 captain) was enough for Eng when they toured India in 2016.

On the contrary, most of the people here are over stressing the Warner/Smithy angle, maybe as an excuse if India wins. They will be missed immensely only when Aussies tour overseas...at home it gets neutralized due to home advantage.

 

[Akki malhotra]

I dont see how Aus can take 50 runs lead. If anything they will be lucky to concede just 50 runs lead given the circumstances, and without Warner and Smith their batting is really bad. They also dont have Mitchell Johnson anymore.

Most of the Indians are downplaying Aus lack of Warner and Smith. If you take out Kholi and Pujara from Indian team its very similar.

Man you may take kohli, pujara , ishant,ashwin, players out of indian team and still we wud whitewash any team of the world in india. India whitewash teams single handedly at home . Hardly tests goes to 4th or 5th day . Even toss doesnt matter there.

India needed bit luck in england . Almost lost all tosses there and batted 4th in all test matches except one which we won. We need bit luck . Hopefully we will win series in australia.

 

[rhony]

Mitchell Johnson was a monster, bowling lineup of Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, and Johnson would been devastating even if India had SRT and Dravid. I know even without Johnson their bowling is good.

Yes, India did well in England despite losing 1-4. I would take that performance over beating this Aus B side anyway. India should be looking to win the series 2-1 at least. Trust me I would love for India to put these arrogant Aussies in their place( ball biting, making racist remarks, declining BD tour lol). Their commies were biased as hell when Pujara was batting lol.

Mitch was a monster for a few years yes, but was neutralized and smashed around by Indians in the last tour in AUS in his prime. He should not even be mentioned because he has retired unlike Smith and Warner. AUS A or B or C doesn't matter. It's going to be bloody tough because they are playing at home and they have a gun, relentless bowling attack that is the best in these conditions. Indian batting is weak abroad with only Kohli and to some extent Pujara performing. It will be a great series if India bats well and that doesn't depend on Smith or Warner.

 

[Buffet]

I dont see how Aus can take 50 runs lead. If anything they will be lucky to concede just 50 runs lead given the circumstances, and without Warner and Smith their batting is really bad. They also dont have Mitchell Johnson anymore.

Most of the Indians are downplaying Aus lack of Warner and Smith. If you take out Kholi and Pujara from Indian team its very similar.

They just need 9 runs with 3 wickets left. They don't need luck to score 9 runs. I expect them to add some runs to take it closer to Indian total.

 

[Buffet]

If you take out Kholi and Pujara from Indian team its very similar.

I will back Indians to win in India against every team even if Pujara and Kohli sit out. At home Aus is still going to be very hard to beat. Even this test is hanging in balance right now. Let's see how it goes.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Heard Graeme Hick in an interview earlier on how Handscomb has been working on his technique over the past few months in a bid to play the ball as late as possible, from under his eyes so to speak. The result has been that he is standing a few metres inside his crease and is fairly diffident in moving forward. It looks very ungainly, and I think a quality fast bowler will be able to work him over pretty quickly.

As for the rest of the Australian batsmen: Aaron Finch looked out of his depth as any dog with less than common intelligence would have been able to predict, Shaun Marsh appears hit and miss as always, and it's too early to talk about Marcus Harris and Travis Head. It all rests on Usman Khawaja, and I don't know if he's strong enough mentally to cope with that pressure.

 

[BaankeJi]

Ummmm, I m not blaming the pitch. Just got surprised after seeing such spin friendly wicket in Australia especially considering the fact Indians have always struggled against bounce. Whose idea was it to prepare such wicket? It feels like India is playing at home.

BCCI forced ICC and ACB to prepare this kind of pitch. Our money, our pitches.