India vs Australia | 1st Test | Mohali | Oct 1-5 2010

[SOSami]

Pity it was under-attended. Those photos look quite nice..

 

[Dondulkar]

Over the years i've been hearing and reading a lot of stuff about the attacking Ozzy style test cricket. I think that was just a load of BS. Now that they're no more a great side, they've become so defensive.
Even more defensive than most of the other teams.
Pakistan could have done better today !

 

[siddharth]

Looking at the start,I expected a 300+ score,but that was a surprise especially from the Aus.By the way Ishant is continuing to be useless.

 

[skittles]

All in all, India take the advantage on day 1. They would have been happy to accept a score of 224/5 at the start of the days play, and Australia would have wanted at least another 100 runs if they had to lose 5 wickets. Zaheer is proving many of his detractors wrong here, and has been very effective with the old ball in recent years. Ishant is still struggling and hopefully he can get over his niggle and get into some rhythm. Watson should be tired tomorrow and hats off to him if he can extend his time at the crease even more.

Batting last will be a challenge, but less so since there is no quality spinner for India to contend with, although they do have a small chance of imploding like they did against Clarke in Mumbai in 2004.

Enough talk about the pitch- it's the same for both sides, and Australia won the toss and had the chance to choose the best conditions. If all the pitches were the same worldwide, what would be the test in test cricket? Subcontinent pitches are slow and low and Aus/SA have bounce, deal with it. It's not an excuse either way.

It's sad to see the lack of crowds, and tests in India should only be awarded to cities where they are appreciated and can fill the stadia.

 

[Dondulkar]

And Zaheer Khan justified again that he is the best left arm fast bowler in the world !

He is just class

 

[skittles]

And Zaheer Khan justified again that he is the best left arm fast bowler in the world !

He is just class

I wouldn't go that far...definitely one of the best. His main competition is Mitchell Johnson and Amir, the latter is indefinitely suspended at the moment and Johnson had a terrible series in England against Pakistan recently, and was average last time in India.

*Cue the typical Pakistani responses about him not really being phaaaast

 

[Zaheer Abbas's Fan]

Pitch doesn't have bounce but that does not mean it is bad- which is a habit/prejudice we can fall into in oz. I'd say a pitch where 5 wickets are taken and a couple of chanced dropped/missed on day 1 has to be said to be a fair pitch. Australian batsmen were also able to score reasonably freely at first, before Ohja bowled well. No compaints there.

Yes I think India would be more happy than oz, but it is still a position oz can fight back from. Not a great days play but absorbing enough to be worthy of an oz/india test, can't wait for tomorrow.

I hope there is no more arguing/fighting, cricket doesn't need that right now.

 

[Dondulkar]

I wouldn't go that far...definitely one of the best. His main competition is Mitchell Johnson and Amir, the latter is indefinitely suspended at the moment and Johnson had a terrible series in England against Pakistan recently, and was average last time in India.

*Cue the typical Pakistani responses about him not really being phaaaast

Mitchell's strength is pace and bounce. When the bounce is not there he struggles as the line length is poor and he doesnt swing much.
Zaheer is far better than him, he is more skillfull, less condition dependent, more accurate and smart.

Aamer was cool , though just a starter. You cant rate a starter best in the world, without being tested thoroghly.

So Zaheer's position as the best lefty is quite secure

 

[PakistanPaindabad]

And Zaheer Khan justified again that he is the best left arm fast bowler in the world !

He is just class

)
lets not get carried away just yet.

 

[skittles]

)
lets not get carried away just yet.

Who do you think is the best left arm pacer? And what backs up your claims? As I said, I don't think there is anyone head and shoulders above the others currently.

 

[ajithrocks]

Who do you think is the best left arm pacer? And what backs up your claims? As I said, I don't think there is anyone head and shoulders above the others currently.

The best left arm pacer today will be tough call between mitchell johnson and zaheer..

if you go by records.. then you got to give it to mitchell johnson, he is way ahead of Zaheer. he has better average, economy rate and strike rate, just playing half the matches of that of zaheer, he is much more successful than zaheer at the same stage in the career. but if you consider consistency on various tracks then zaheer edges ahead..

While zaheer is good at exploiting reverse swing.. johnson is extremely good in bouncy tracks, but not as good in seaming or sub continent tracks.. In australia and SA, MJ can be devastating and zaheer can bowl decently well. and in pitches like England and subcontinent tracks Zaheer is good, but mitchell is poor(he might improve in those conditions as well in the future,) so until then..

To me Zaheer is slightly better than MJ in test matches

Purely based on records, he would edge out zaheer, but based on consistency zaheer would edge him..

 

[Dondulkar]

If you're judging an Indian and an Aussie fast bowler based on stats only, then i think you're not doing a fair analysis !

If Zaheer was in Australian team, he would have been a lot more successful whereas Mitchell Johnson would have struggled to secure place in side

 

[James]

M.Johnson hasn't been the same since he was defeated by the Lord's slope in 2009.

in the meantime, lol at the Aussies. 224-5 is a terrible first day score. you just can't bat that slowly in test cricket, it is so easy to lose a few wickets and ruin all your hard work. I think England posted better scores than that on their last couple of tours of India, and England weren't good then.

 

[1137moiz]

M.Johnson hasn't been the same since he was defeated by the Lord's slope in 2009.

apart from that match he was overall decent thru the series...it's a pity that the ashes make or break the reputation, because in 2008-09 he was just incredible

I think Zaheer is steadier but Johnson in form is a lethal weapon

 

[James]

apart from that match he was overall decent thru the series...

I disagree. He was the flop of the series. he bowled really well in test 1, but test 2 was a shocker for him, and the fear factor that had been built up around him before the tour was completely destroyed. England found the Aussie bowling pretty easy in tests 2, 3 and 5, and MJ's slump had a lot to do with that.

definitely agree that on top of his game he is pretty much unplayable. with the consistency of Hilfenhaus and the threat of MJ, Australia potentially have a very good new ball pair. if there is anyone to win the Ashes on flat pitches, it will be MJ.

 

[Wised up]

North and Michael Hussey do not belong to Test cricket. It's time for Mr. Cricket to retire from Tests.

 

[Zaheer Abbas's Fan]

If you're judging an Indian and an Aussie fast bowler based on stats only, then i think you're not doing a fair analysis !

If Zaheer was in Australian team, he would have been a lot more successful whereas Mitchell Johnson would have struggled to secure place in side

Fair point, but the very best indian quicks (Kapil, Srinath) found a way to average well on Indian pitches, Zaheer is not yet doing that consistently enough.

Johnson has not had a bowl yet. It will be interesting but he has shown zero signs of learning to bowl on low pitches yet. Watson was our best bowler here last time around I thought.

 

[iHammad]

let's see how many runs the aussies make before getting all out

 

[iHammad]

day 1 highlights: http://www.crichotline.com/australia-vs-india-1st-test-2010-day-1-highlights-mohali/

 

[Aditya Khanna]

Second day's play.

Today and tomorrow we'll have the best batting conditions before the ball starts turning square. Hopefully. The Aussies couldn't have hoped for a better luck with the toss and a crippled Indian attack but they have dug themselves in a bit of a hole.

Very pleased with how Dhoni controlled the game after it seemed the opponents were running away with it. Some excellent constricting spin on display. Holding on to the catches would have made the deal sweeter still.

Here's hoping for another gripping day of cricket!

 

[Aditya Khanna]

The current partnership between Watson and Paine is worth 3 runs from 56 balls.

Good old attacking cricket that Aussies are best at. On the typical Indian flat track.

 

[iHammad]

1 run from 4 overs today

 

[Aditya Khanna]

Unlucky Zaheer. Watson the cat has nine lives.

 

[Aditya Khanna]

What a blooming RIPPER! Cut Paine into two!

 

[iHammad]

still no new ball

 

[iHammad]

Last 10 ovs 9/0 RR 0.90

 

[iHammad]

Watson

 

[iHammad]

ohja bowling leg stump

 

[PB]

Why couldnt they have ODIS first -__-...

 

[bluffmasterv2]

Is Watson getting fat?

 

[Random Aussie]

After a bright start we have slowed down big time. Still 250 runs are on the board.

Watto as usual bringing it. Why is North still in our cricket team?

And MJ>>>>>>>Zaheer Khan. MJ has a far superior record. Zaheer has been very good the last few years but over his career he has been very average.

 

[Random Aussie]

Is Watson getting fat?

Don't care how fat he is so long as he doesn't get injured.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

match is fixed

 

[Kamranaazam]

After a bright start we have slowed down big time. Still 250 runs are on the board.

Watto as usual bringing it. Why is North still in our cricket team?

And MJ>>>>>>>Zaheer Khan. MJ has a far superior record. Zaheer has been very good the last few years but over his career he has been very average.

I wonder why...........

 

[Sir john]

aussies playing defensive cricket.

 

[iHammad]

Paine

 

[iHammad]

Paine, off Zaheer again

 

[Sir john]

paine looks good now.

 

[iHammad]

Watson gone
caught at short leg

 

[Sir john]

bhajji strikes end of watson.now need to finish tail fast.

 

[Kamranaazam]

At least 400 runs ,Come on Paine

 

[Arsh_afridi]

Come on Aussies...

 

[Sir john]

ojha bowling superb

 

[T20_Cricket]

)

 

[Sir john]

cricinfo what a mess.

 

[Inziquicksingle]

wow at ojhas figures.

 

[Umpiredickybird]

Mitch Johnson is due for a big score with the bat. It looked like he was going to be a genuine allrounder for a while there, but he hasn't made any runs for a long time.

That said, Shane Watson has to be the best allrounder in the world now on current form, hasn't he?

 

[insaftak]

game is set for a draw.

these subcontinent pitches annoy the crap out of me. there is nothing for bowlers in this pitch.

 

[IT_Khumbee]

maar Paine maar

 

[aqeelPK]

132 overs already and still no new ball lol. Do they have any other cricket ball in mohali?

 

[IT_Khumbee]

After facing Pakistan wrold class fsst bowlers, indian bowlers are like piece of cake for the Aussies :aamir

 

[UsmanhailsAfridi]

130+ old ball...oh jeez

 

[NJamal]

132 overs bowled and still no New ball taken by India. I think Dhoni has lost his mind.

 

[UsmanhailsAfridi]

bhajji almost just did a broad...throwing the ball back to the keeper almost hitting paine

 

[NJamal]

Tim Paine is looking good for his maiden ton.

 

[Schickelgruber]

Zaheer and Ishant are world class spinners.

 

[UsmanhailsAfridi]

no one would come to watch this BS if this game was in england or australia....140 with the same ball...nothing in the pitch...game looks dead there seems no life in it

 

[dinakar]

132 overs bowled and still no New ball taken by India. I think Dhoni has lost his mind.

I guess still 10-12 overs to go before Ishant eligible to bowl. So, Dhoni has to just bid time with that ball with minimal damage. As I write, the damage getting to the maximum!! can't blame Ojha, nothing can be done with that ball.

 

[over]

Too early to make that call, Aussie bowlers are a bit quicker so might get something from this pitch. But nothing will probably happen and it'll be a draw...

 

[NJamal]

Ojha is getting the treatment he deserves from Johnson. SIXXXXXXXXXXX & 44444444444444

 

[T20_Cricket]

drinks break

Scorecard

 

[NJamal]

I guess still 10-12 overs to go before Ishant eligible to bowl. So, Dhoni has to just bid time with that ball with minimal damage. As I write, the damage getting to the maximum!! can't blame Ojha, nothing can be done with that ball.

He should have taken the New ball early at the start of play today and given to Zaheer and Raina( I think he can ball seam up).

 

[0tt0man]

Harbhajan doing a Kaneria

 

[Poison]

Really don't know who to support here...Australia are prats...India is India...

 

[James]

definitely going for India. I don't think I could support Australia against anyone ever.

 

[Random Aussie]

Not enough runs

 

[James]

you have the better bowling attack, so it could actually be enough runs. but right now it looks like they have scored not enough in too much time.

 

[Poison]

RA and Whippy your display pics look very similar

 

[Random Aussie]

you have the better bowling attack, so it could actually be enough runs. but right now it looks like they have scored not enough in too much time.

Maybe but they have a far better batting line up in these conditions.

Time is on our side - because we are playing defensively we want the draw as an option or to make India bat when this track is at it's worst.

But we needed 500 not 400.

 

[NJamal]

I think 400 would be a good score on this pitch. Aussies bowling is way better than India's. Aussies can utilize the new ball better.

 

[James]

India will be looking to score 600 and put the Aussies under pressure on the 4th evening and 5th day.

 

[Mobashir]

That is probably going to be a draw...

 

[Kamranaazam]

 

[SOSami]

Tim Paine looks like a good find. He played well against Pak in a couple of innings too.

 

[Poison]

Tim Paine looks like a good find. He played well against Pak in a couple of innings too.

Australian bred FTB to be honest. Looks useless when the ball is moving about. Zaheer should've had him on 0.

 

[Kamranaazam]

Partnership 46 runs from 66

419/8

 

[farooq_pzb]

what happened to Indian catching? 4 or 5 dropped catches already? Following in Pak footsteps lol.

 

[Mobashir]

Dhoni (CSK) is on fire in this innings...

 

[Amjid Javed]

Paine heading towards a very good hundred.

So Dhoni must be kicking himself for dropping a sitter 2nd ball of his inns!

 

[farooq_pzb]

he just dropped him again. Dhoni doing an Akmal.