1st test AUS V IND

[Shaka]

I don't know about a draw being the likely result. I still think India are psychologially reeling from Tendulkar's absence. There will be the added pressure of fighting to stave off defeat but I'd think they would feel a lot more bullish with him in their ranks. We all know Dravid is capable of holding up the Aussies, for me it's Laxman and Ganguly who have to stand up and be counted. They are both class batsmen and they have to take responsibility to show that Indian batting doesn't just rely on Dravid and Tendulkar when up against it.

[fair_&_balance]

Though Cricket is funny game and anything can happen but I dont see draw as an option. Thought I would love to see that happen. But it is gonna be India's defeat most probably.

Here is the Scenario :

Scenario 1: Aussies will bat till Lunch and give India to chase something aroung 450-475 in 5 session. AR Aussies are bowled out by then with a score of say 200-225.

Expected Result : It will be very difficult for India to bat 5 session on last 2 days of match.If by any miracle they manages to bat 5 session then they will probavbly make 450 in those 150 overs and win it.

Scenario 2: Aussies will bat till Tea and give India to chase something aroung 550-600 in 4 session.

Expected Result :This is one situation where draw is posibility because Indian batsmen may hang around 4 session. If Aussies do that it will be shame. It will be one rare example of seeing Aussies so defensive.

[sanz]

Anything but a defeat is really WISHFUL thinking on our part. India will lose the test and there is a good chance (98%) that the match will be over on 4th day itself. Australia will not wait till TEA. IMO they should be declaring any time around lunch.

[fair_&_balance]

Originally Posted by sanz

Anything but a defeat is really WISHFUL thinking on our part. India will lose the test and there is a good chance (98%) that the match will be over on 4th day itself. Australia will not wait till TEA. IMO they should be declaring any time around lunch.

I would agree with the result part. but I think Indians will manage to drag it into 5th day.

[Zainub]

I hope that the match doesn't end on the 4th day for the sake of all the fans that have bought the tickets already - Sunday is scheduled to be a jam packed full house. I hope India can survive for that long, and I hope they make a match of it, I relinquish seeing exciting ends to test matches.

I also think Gilchrist is one of the most gentlemen of cricketers around these days, I think he will make a sporting declaration.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

I also think Gilchrist is one of the most gentlemen of cricketers around these days, I think he will make a sporting declaration.

Gentlemen of cricketers? Hello? This is Australia. He'll do whatever he needs to do win as quickly and as ruthlessly as possible. If India can survive the new ball relatively unscathed they might be able to make a fight of it as they play spin as well as anybody. But I still expect them to lose.

[Zainub]

Who says you can't be a gentlemen cricketer without being un-ruthless (please, don't tell me that's not a word!!!!)? Gilchrist walks remember?

Gilchrist play's his game hard, but he also has a reputation of playing his game fair. I don't think he'll try and get to 500 neccessarily - may be just round about 400-420 would suffice him. My point though is that run scoring tomorrow will be slower than usual tomorrow and especially if Australia lose early wickets - because wicket is getting harder to bat on - in which case Gilchrist might declared viewing it this way:if we can get 450 by half lunch then good, if not, then there isn't any point in trying to reach there and consequently reduce the time left to take the 10 remaining wickets. In other words I don't think Aus will bat beyond lunch even if they don't get to 450 -and that's in Steve's terminilogy would be a sporting declaration since it would give India about .02-.03% chance of winning which isn't that bad by modern standard ;-)

[fair_&_balance]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

Who says you can't be a gentlemen cricketer without being un-ruthless (please, don't tell me that's not a word!!!!)? Gilchrist walks remember?

Gilchrist play's his game hard, but he also has a reputation of playing his game fair. I don't think he'll try and get to 500 neccessarily - may be just round about 400-420 would suffice him. My point though is that run scoring tomorrow will be slower than usual tomorrow and especially if Australia lose early wickets - because wicket is getting harder to bat on - in which case Gilchrist might declared viewing it this way:if we can get 450 by half lunch then good, if not, then there isn't any point in trying to reach there and consequently reduce the time left to take the 10 remaining wickets. In other words I don't think Aus will bat beyond lunch even if they don't get to 450 -and that's in Steve's terminilogy would be a sporting declaration since it would give India about .02-.03% chance of winning which isn't that bad by modern standard ;-)

I agree that if they will declare around 450 then it will be sporting declaration. But beleive me after Calcutta they wouldnot want to take that risk. 450 in almost 150 overs is do-able.Chances wont be 0.03% but almost 5-10%

[Beny]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi 21043

Who says you can't be a gentlemen cricketer without being un-ruthless (please, don't tell me that's not a word!!!!)? Gilchrist walks remember?

Gilchrist play's his game hard, but he also has a reputation of playing his game fair. I don't think he'll try and get to 500 neccessarily - may be just round about 400-420 would suffice him. My point though is that run scoring tomorrow will be slower than usual tomorrow and especially if Australia lose early wickets - because wicket is getting harder to bat on - in which case Gilchrist might declared viewing it this way:if we can get 450 by half lunch then good, if not, then there isn't any point in trying to reach there and consequently reduce the time left to take the 10 remaining wickets. In other words I don't think Aus will bat beyond lunch even if they don't get to 450 -and that's in Steve's terminilogy would be a sporting declaration since it would give India about .02-.03% chance of winning which isn't that bad by modern standard ;-)

How very colonial of you.

(no it's not a word, there is actualy no word that goes there, it's more of a grammer problem)

[Nikhil]

As I said, the first session today holds the key. If Indian bowlers can keep Martyn, Clarke and Gilchrist under a leash, then Aussies will have to bat for longer than they would like to. That would mean India will have to play lesser overs.

Aussies will try to attack after the first half hour today. They will certainly not go gung-ho, but they will try to attack. It depends on the Indian bowlers how well they bowl today. Apparently (since I could not watch it live), Harbhajan was bowling quite well y'day. If he can keep it tight and sneak a couple of early wickets, India are in with a chance.