Australia vs India | 4th Test | Sydney | Jan 3-7 2019 | Pre-Match Thread

[Slog]

What can they do to save the series? (Assuming there’s no miracle of the ages with 150+ runs needed with 2 wickets in hand right now)

Mitch Marsh should probably be dropped again and same either Finch.

I’d probably recall Handscomb and actually give the in form Wade a chance as well as a specialist batsman maybe

 

[Slog]

How could I forget travis Head

Literally anyone should be better than him

 

[EliteCynical]

What can they do to save the series? (Assuming there’s no miracle of the ages with 150+ runs needed with 2 wickets in hand right now)

Mitch Marsh should probably be dropped again and same either Finch.

I’d probably recall Handscomb and actually give the in form Wade a chance as well as a specialist batsman maybe

Burns should come in and Khwaja should open
I would select Wade or recall Handscomb for M Marsh
I would also probably drop Starc and pick Pattinson

 

[Slog]

Burns should come in and Khwaja should open
I would select Wade or recall Handscomb for M Marsh
I would also probably drop Starc and pick Pattinson

Actually yea Burns should come in if he has any semblance of form

He was unjustifiably dropped in my opinion. He failed in Sri Lanka but that was not enough reason to drop him altogether since he had a decent record in Australia. I guess him publicly lambasting the selectors was one of the reasons he’s never been recalled

 

[Gullycricket]

Selecting a test team based on IPL and T20 and this is what happens.If this continues we may soon see Lynn playing tests.
Renshaw should replace Finch,Burns for M.Marsh

 

[hk031992]

Why is Shaun Marsh in the team?

 

[leg-side-flick]

They first need to win the toss else whatever they put up, India will run through them

 

[Hasan123]

Burns for Finch . Handscomb for Marsh.

 

[Tusker]

How could I forget travis Head

Literally anyone should be better than him

he is the highest scorer for Aus this series well clear of the next best Harris lol

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=12384;type=series

 

[Slog]

he is the highest scorer for Aus this series well clear of the next best Harris lol

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=12384;type=series

Thanks

This proves in a nutshell the sorry state of Aussie batting

 

[ILcricket]

merge with pre-match discussion thread for Sydney precisely after 7 hours .

 

[cricketindiafan]

With just a 3 day gap between the two tests, highly unlikely there will be any changes.

 

[Tusker]

he is the highest scorer for Aus this series well clear of the next best Harris lol

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=12384;type=series

He is not the worst in that side. Although Finch doesn't belong as an opener. Cummins can easily bat at 6 or 7. I do not know if you saw the match but India have bowled really well to the top order by relentlessly working them over. (I don't know why they cannot do the same to the lower order but thats a different story )

 

[Mobashir]

My australian XI for the last match :

Matt Renshaw
Marcus Harris
Usman Khawaja
Shaun Marsh
Travis Head
Tim Paine
James Pattinson
Jye Richardson
Patt Cumins
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood

Not that they will win with this team, so bad is the batting.

Starc should be dropped as his bowling is not good enough these days. He will have rethink his test game.

Sydney will probably be flat, so they need 5 bowlers otherwise their is a risk that their 2-3 good players remaining, Cummins, Hazlewood, will breakdown. Jye Richardson is in great form and he can also bat, same for James Pattinson.

Finch - Well, that joke has to end as soon as possible.

 

[Buffet]

Let India win this test first.

 

[bantu]

Let India win this test first.

Absolutely... With India bowling to tailenders , anything is possible

 

[Ab Fan]

What can they do to save the series? (Assuming there’s no miracle of the ages with 150+ runs needed with 2 wickets in hand right now)

Mitch Marsh should probably be dropped again and same either Finch.

I’d probably recall Handscomb and actually give the in form Wade a chance as well as a specialist batsman maybe

Burns, yes, needs to be brought back. He was dropped, if I remember well, because he was quite mediocre away from home.

Remember a time around 2015-16, Australia had some HTBs in the team, who scored lots of runs at home but were terrible as soon as they travelled. Burns, Voges, Khawaja etc.

 

[leatherface58]

Warney was coming up with some bizarre selections on commentary. D'Arcy Short who averages under 30 in FC with the bat? Riley Meredith who has played 6 FC games with a bowling average of around 30?

Drop Mitch Marsh and push Finch to 6 as a last chance (he does not open in FC). Have Renshaw/Joe Burns open with Marcus Harris. They can even bring in Maxwell for Mitch Marsh as a spin option and drop Finch for Renshaw/Burns.

 

[Abdullah719]

Warney was coming up with some bizarre selections on commentary. D'Arcy Short who averages under 30 in FC with the bat? Riley Meredith who has played 6 FC games with a bowling average of around 30?

Drop Mitch Marsh and push Finch to 6 as a last chance (he does not open in FC). Have Renshaw/Joe Burns open with Marcus Harris. They can even bring in Maxwell for Mitch Marsh as a spin option and drop Finch for Renshaw/Burns.

Short averages 23 in FC cricket with a top score of 66 and Warne has been campaigning for him for a while now.

Also wanted Paine discarded some time ago, not sure if his views have changed regarding that.

 

[leatherface58]

Short averages 23 in FC cricket with a top score of 66 and Warne has been campaigning for him for a while now.

Also wanted Paine discarded some time ago, not sure if his views have changed regarding that.

He wanted Lyon dropped for Mitchell Swepson! Warney, aside from some sublime commentary when talking about spin and strategies, has said some really bizarre stuff when it comes to team selections.

 

[Slog]

Interesting article on Joe Burns:

https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/11/30/poor-joe-burns/

 

[Buffet]

Warne is talking nonsense about trying out players in the 4th test. He is forgetting a minor fact that series can be 2-2. The last test can change the result of series.

 

[Sadozai]

Interesting article on Joe Burns:

https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/11/30/poor-joe-burns/

interesting

 

[Slog]

Unless Aussie make wholesale changes there is literally no chance for Them to draw series now

The current eleven is not equipped

 

[MenInG]

This thread for changes to India also.

 

[Reyansh2017]

He wanted Lyon dropped for Mitchell Swepson! Warney, aside from some sublime commentary when talking about spin and strategies, has said some really bizarre stuff when it comes to team selections.

Warney is so out of the box with his suggestions that make him look silly

 

[Ramsay]

Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns should replace Finchy and one of the Marsh brothers.

 

[Oligochaetes]

AN interesting stat. Kohli has NEVER lost a test after winning the toss, (can someone confirm via statsguru?)

So if Kohli win ths toss in the next test. It's game over for Aussies.

 

[Justcrazy]

They need to have green pitch , and hope to win Toss.

 

[Buffet]

AN interesting stat. Kohli has NEVER lost a test after winning the toss, (can someone confirm via statsguru?)

So if Kohli win ths toss in the next test. It's game over for Aussies.

It's true. I think it's like 21 test , 18 wins and 3 draws after he won the toss.

 

[Justcrazy]

AN interesting stat. Kohli has NEVER lost a test after winning the toss, (can someone confirm via statsguru?)

So if Kohli win ths toss in the next test. It's game over for Aussies.

Even if India loose the toss , Aussies will have to play extraordinary cricket to create any impact.

 

[Oligochaetes]

It's true. I think it's like 21 test , 18 wins and 3 draws after he won the toss.

Darn... this stat demands a separate thread

 

[Khalistani99]

Australia will not change the 4 bowlers unless someone gets injured.
I expect two changes in batting. Mitch Marsh will be dropped for spinning allrounder. Finch will be replaced with proper opener. Its very unlikely that they will make three changes.
Indian team will stay the same; anyway they don't have many choices

 

[Rayyman]

All I know is India got lucky as hell

 

[ILcricket]

All I know is India got lucky as hell

absolutely , Bumrah is the luckiest bowler in the World .

 

[MenInG]

Marnus Labuschagne has been added to the Australian Test squad for the fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy beginning 3 January at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The right-handed batsman from Queensland also serves as a leg-spin bowling option and made his Test debut in the United Arab Emirates during the two-Test series against Pakistan in October this year.

Australia face a must-win situation in Sydney in the New Year's Test after having lost the Boxing-Day Test in Melbourne by 137 runs and conceded a 2-1 lead as well as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to India.

"We’ll get up to Sydney and have a look at the conditions," Australia captain Tim Paine said after the Melbourne Test on Sunday, 30 December, while confirming Labuschagne's inclusion.

"From what we’re hearing, it’ll probably spin quite a bit so once we see that for ourselves, we’ll start to think about the best combination for ourselves to win that Test."

With Australia's batting not able to match their Indian counterparts in Melbourne, changes are expected to be ushered in for the final Test and Paine admitted there will be "a lot of things on the table".

"We think we’ve got the best group of players available to us at the moment and we’ll pick the best combination for that group that we think will win the last Test," Paine said.

Since his debut series in the UAE, Labuschagne was dropped from the squad for Peter Handscomb and Mitchell Marsh, who occupied middle-order spots.

Labuschagne picked up seven wickets and scored 43 runs in the two Tests he played against Pakistan and averages 28 with the bat from five Sheffield Shield matches following that series.

While his last five first-class scores of 52, 4, 47, 21 and 78 hold him in good stead, he might make the cut as much for his leg-spin as for his batting credentials and could replace Marsh as the fifth bowling option.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/961545

 

[ILcricket]

Australia have added allrounder Marnus Labuschagne to their squad for the final Test against India in Sydney which they need to win to level the series, with captain Tim Paine admitting "a lot of things are on table" following the batting slump at the MCG.

Labuschagne made his debut in the UAE earlier this year and played both Tests against Pakistan where he showed some promise with bat and ball, making a top score of 43 alongside claiming seven wickets with his legspin.

 

[ILcricket]

I would like to see visitors opt for 5 bowling options in playing 11 . Bumrah , Shami , Jadeja , Ashwin if not fit then Kuldeep & Pandya . Problem is , who gets dropped to accommodate Pandya .
Hopefully Kohli will be fit & go for this 11 : Mayank , Rohit , Pujara , Kohli , Rahane , Pandya , Pant ,Ashwin , Jadeja , Shami , Bumrah .

 

[BreadPakoda]

I would like to see visitors opt for 5 bowling options in playing 11 . Bumrah , Shami , Jadeja , Ashwin if not fit then Kuldeep & Pandya . Problem is , who gets dropped to accommodate Pandya .
Hopefully Kohli will be fit & go for this 11 : Mayank , Rohit , Pujara , Kohli , Rahane , Pandya , Pant ,Ashwin , Jadeja , Shami , Bumrah .

He will go with the same team unless someone is injured.

 

[ILcricket]

Too much workload on Bumrah & Shami plus 2 spinners at Sydney sounds right if Paine's comments are to be trusted .

 

[Khalistani99]

Vihari is decent line and length spinner. I don't think India will drop a fast bowler. Jadeja and Vihari will do fine. No need for useless Ashwin who is dud with the bat nowadays.

 

[b.lesner]

Change the whole line up
1. Michael Klinger
2. Matt Renshaw
3. Usman khawaja
4. Tom Cooper
5. Travis head
6. Daniel haris
7. Tim paine
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Pat Cummins
10. Nathan Lyon
11. James pattinson

 

[Malik786]

Change the whole line up
1. Michael Klinger
2. Matt Renshaw
3. Usman khawaja
4. Tom Cooper
5. Travis head
6. Daniel haris
7. Tim paine
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Pat Cummins
10. Nathan Lyon
11. James pattinson

Atleast pick the best 11 according to the squad.

 

[Sidilicious]

The extra batsman is fine for the next test. India would be fine with a draw, whereas its the Aussies going after the win.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Change the whole line up
1. Michael Klinger
2. Matt Renshaw
3. Usman khawaja
4. Tom Cooper
5. Travis head
6. Daniel haris
7. Tim paine
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Pat Cummins
10. Nathan Lyon
11. James pattinson

Horrible line up. Why would you drop Hazlewood?

 

[jeetu]

AN interesting stat. Kohli has NEVER lost a test after winning the toss, (can someone confirm via statsguru?)

So if Kohli win ths toss in the next test. It's game over for Aussies.

True for both India and South Africa this year, even Zimbabwe.

Test record for team after winning Toss in 2018
[table=width: 500, class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Team [/td][td]Mat [/td][td]Won [/td][td]Lost [/td][td]Draw [/td][td]W/L [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]India [/td][td]5 [/td][td]5 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]- [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]South Africa [/td][td]4 [/td][td]4 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]- [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]New Zealand [/td][td]5 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]- [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Zimbabwe [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]- [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Bangladesh [/td][td]5 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Sri Lanka [/td][td]5 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]3 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]England [/td][td]10 [/td][td]7 [/td][td]3 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2.333 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Australia [/td][td]3 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]2 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan [/td][td]5 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]West Indies [/td][td]4 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]2 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]1 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Ireland [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]1 [/td][td]0 [/td][td]0 [/td][/tr]
[/table]

 

[Stalin]

India Should drop Ishant for Kuldeep and Vihari for Pandya. Rohit will open with Mayank. Ishant will be a liability on a surface like the SCG and having Pandya will give depth in fast bowling and batting. Although, it may seem unfair on Vihari , he should make way for team's sake

 

[Buffet]

India Should drop Ishant for Kuldeep and Vihari for Pandya. Rohit will open with Mayank. Ishant will be a liability on a surface like the SCG and having Pandya will give depth in fast bowling and batting. Although, it may seem unfair on Vihari , he should make way for team's sake

If Vihari can simply play out 25 overs, he will do his job. It makes it much easier for middle order then. Rohit may or may not be able to bat out time while opening. I suspect, India will go with the same unit.

 

[Tusker]

If Vihari can simply play out 25 overs, he will do his job. It makes it much easier for middle order then. Rohit may or may not be able to bat out time while opening. I suspect, India will go with the same unit.

Unless Ashwin is fit. However Jadeja is a better option in Sydney too because of footmarks.

 

[Centurion]

Kuldeep has to play at the SCG. Being an attacking wrist-spinner, he is a genuine wicket taker, a big turner of the ball and most batsmen have a hard time reading his variations. He may replace Ishant or Vihari. Rohit should open the batting with Mayank.

 

[Buffet]

Kuldeep has to play at the SCG. Being an attacking wrist-spinner, he is a genuine wicket taker, a big turner of the ball and most batsmen have a hard time reading his variations. He may replace Ishant or Vihari. Rohit should open the batting with Mayank.

Kuldeep can also go for runs and not help others in sustaining pressure. Series has been mostly low scoring so far.

 

[SLcric123]

Same team for me. Vihari deserves one more chance and he can bowl some overs.

 

[ind_win]

I think SCG traditionally is a spin-oriented pitch.
So, go all out with 2 spinners - jadeja+yadav (as ashwin is doubtful), 2 pacers (shami+bumrah) and include pandya - though he may fail in batting, others are failing too. The added advantage is he bowls at 140 even after 10-12 overs, in the role of a part timer which is a huge plus.

And drop - ishant for yadav, rohit for pandya.

 

[ILcricket]

What are the chances that this will NOT be a win toss win match affair ?

 

[munaf4u]

Kuldeep can also go for runs and not help others in sustaining pressure. Series has been mostly low scoring so far.

Kuldeep can run through batting line ups on spin pitches n with the australian batsmans confidence level currently, india must go with kuldeep.

 

[ILcricket]

Rohit will miss the Sydney Test due to birth of his daughter .
I guess Pandya should come in for him .

 

[dani2k]

Rohit, the new dad to miss Sydney (Congrats to Mrs & Mr Rohit)

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/963349

It would be interesting to see the replacement. Any ideas/images about the pitch?

 

[Sidilicious]

Rohit will miss the Sydney Test due to birth of his daughter .
I guess Pandya should come in for him .

Depending on the pitch, it would be Ashwin or Pandya.

Or they could go a little defensive and play an extra batsman.

 

[Centurion]

Kuldeep can also go for runs and not help others in sustaining pressure. Series has been mostly low scoring so far.

I don't ever remember watching him go for lots of runs. He bowls tight lines in LOIs and can bowl to contain runs if needed though his natural style of bowling is attacking and looking to take wickets with flight and turn. His USP is the unfamiliarity and inexperience of batsmen the world over in playing Chinaman bowling. He's a shoo-in at a venue like the SCG.

 

[JaDed]

Rohit will not be there.. Ash can come.in for him and rest can stay same.imho.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Rohit has the rest of his life to spend with his daughter - however he'll never have another chance to experience a test series win in Australia. He's already missed his daughters birth so what difference will another week or so make. Hope his replacement scores a 100 and cements his place in the side going forward.

Controversial comments I know but it's how I see it.

 

[ILcricket]

Rohit has the rest of his life to spend with his daughter - however he'll never have another chance to experience a test series win in Australia. He's already missed his daughters birth so what difference will another week or so make. Hope his replacement scores a 100 and cements his place in the side going forward.

Controversial comments I know but it's how I see it.

Family over cricket ?

 

[jnaveen1980]

Rohit has the rest of his life to spend with his daughter - however he'll never have another chance to experience a test series win in Australia. He's already missed his daughters birth so what difference will another week or so make. Hope his replacement scores a 100 and cements his place in the side going forward.

Controversial comments I know but it's how I see it.

He has a 30 crore house in Mumbai without playing many tests. He is just taking up the spot of a much more deserved candidate who slogged in first class cricket. But for Mumbai lobby he would have never been in the squad.

 

[JaDed]

Rohit has the rest of his life to spend with his daughter - however he'll never have another chance to experience a test series win in Australia. He's already missed his daughters birth so what difference will another week or so make. Hope his replacement scores a 100 and cements his place in the side going forward.

Controversial comments I know but it's how I see it.

Even if India win the series he will not be remembered as making any genuine contribution although Sydney would have suited him the most.

He will be least remembered for it.. people don't remember RP Singh and Dinesh Karthik getting us series victory in England do you think Rohits contribution in this series would be considered??

 

[kingusama92]

Rohit has the rest of his life to spend with his daughter - however he'll never have another chance to experience a test series win in Australia. He's already missed his daughters birth so what difference will another week or so make. Hope his replacement scores a 100 and cements his place in the side going forward.

Controversial comments I know but it's how I see it.

To be fair, he was already on the plane to Mumbai when the daughter was born.

 

[Buffet]

I think SCG traditionally is a spin-oriented pitch.
So, go all out with 2 spinners - jadeja+yadav (as ashwin is doubtful), 2 pacers (shami+bumrah) and include pandya - though he may fail in batting, others are failing too. The added advantage is he bowls at 140 even after 10-12 overs, in the role of a part timer which is a huge plus.

And drop - ishant for yadav, rohit for pandya.

In the last 5 years in SCG,

Lyon avg 43 in 5 tests
Ashwin avg 49 in 1 test
Yasir average 149 in 1 test

 

[Buffet]

Rohit will not be there.. Ash can come.in for him and rest can stay same.imho.

India batting will be then slightly weaker. SCG pitch may have suited Rohit.

 

[The Viper]

Labuschagne is not amazing but can't do worse than Mitch Marsh.

 

[ind_win]

In the last 5 years in SCG,

Lyon avg 43 in 5 tests
Ashwin avg 49 in 1 test
Yasir average 149 in 1 test

Ok, I had it wrong.
Pacers doing ok it seems, just looked at last year's match scoreboard.
I had this feeling it was good for India in few matches they performed ok.
So, I assumed without getting into statistics.

Just saw the result of last year's match.
It seems like a batting paradise, where even mitch marsh could score a century.

I think the match will go into 5th day just like at Melbourne.

 

[Buffet]

Ok, I had it wrong.
Pacers doing ok it seems, just looked at last year's match scoreboard.
I had this feeling it was good for India in few matches they performed ok.
So, I assumed without getting into statistics.

Just saw the result of last year's match.
It seems like a batting paradise, where even mitch marsh could score a century.

I think the match will go into 5th day just like at Melbourne.

Yah, if pitch is like that then India's best chance is to simply bat big and aim for a draw. If it's a win then it's bonus. Rohit not playing may hurt them a bit here. Indians trying to play 5 bowlers or anything funky may backfire and Aus may get a win to level this series.

 

[ManFan]

I would play Jadeja and Ashwin at the SCG.

Think Australia will come back hard though and draw the series.

 

[Buffet]

I would play Jadeja and Ashwin at the SCG.

Think Australia will come back hard though and draw the series.

Cummins can have an inspired spell and bundle India cheaply in the first inning. That's the one way Aus can win to level this series.

 

[ManFan]

Cummins can have an inspired spell and bundle India cheaply in the first inning. That's the one way Aus can win to level this series.

Or if Paine wins the toss and Cummins does so in the second innings.

 

[Buffet]

Or if Paine wins the toss and Cummins does so in the second innings.

I meant first inning for India irrespective of who wins the toss. This is the one venue where toss will have a slightly lesser role.

 

[ILcricket]

I do not see 3-1 here .

 

[ind_win]

Yah, if pitch is like that then India's best chance is to simply bat big and aim for a draw. If it's a win then it's bonus. Rohit not playing may hurt them a bit here. Indians trying to play 5 bowlers or anything funky may backfire and Aus may get a win to level this series.

I agree.
India should ensure they have better batsmen for the conditions going into this crucial test.

 

[ILcricket]

A CA video on Aussies nets briefly showed the pitch & it looks GREEN .

 

[The Viper]

India vs Australia: Virat Kohli on the verge of history ahead of Sydney Test

A win over Australia in Sydney will also make Virat Kohli the most successful Asian captain with three wins in Australia - a feat only achieved by Bishan Singh Bedi and Mushtaq Mohammad

Virat Kohli is on the verge of another landmark as the Indian cricket team prepare to take on Australia in the fourth match of their ongoing four-Test series in Sydney on 3 January.

With a win in Sydney, Kohli will become the most successful Indian skipper in away matches. Kohli has skippered India to 11 victories outside India and is currently tied with Sourav Ganguly for the record.

A win in Sydney will also make Kohli the most successful Asian captain with three wins in Australia. Former Indian skipper Bishan Singh Bedi and Pakistan great Mushtaq Mohammad are the other two Asian captains with a pair of wins each Down Under.

Kohli’s both wins in Australia have come on their ongoing tour as a 31-run victory in the opening Adelaide Test was followed by a 137-run thumping of the hosts in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

This year, under Kohli’s stewardship, India recorded a Test win each in South Africa and England but went on to lose both the series. A 2-1 loss in South Africa was followed by a 4-1 thumping on the summer tour of England. However, a win or a draw in Sydney will mark a historic first series victory in Australia for an Indian side.

India will begin the fourth Test as favourites, having dominated the Melbourne match with both the ball and the bat will hope to continue their dominance as history beckons.

Kohli will again be the prized scalp for the Australians as he looks to add to his 259-run tally from the first three Tests.

https://m.hindustantimes.com/cricke...sydney-test/story-YDzk7hiRyMKN6ugdDh19hI.html

 

[Buffet]

A CA video on Aussies nets briefly showed the pitch & it looks GREEN .

If it's true then one great spell from Aus can do the trick and help them to level this series.

 

[Tusker]

A CA video on Aussies nets briefly showed the pitch & it looks GREEN .

can you post the link ?