India Vs. Australia - The second test

[Ernest]

Yes but Rachael, it would appear the pitch is a spinners paradise, all the wickets to go down where from spin, bar one run out.
Before any conclusions can be drawn, lets see how Warne bowls tomorrow, even though he is a leggie.

Well done India on a good days play.

[Nikhil]

Holy ***** .

I slept at 2 am EST, with the Aussies on 115/0. Hayden had just hit Kumble for a six to get to his fifty and Langer also had got to his in the same over.

As I woke up, I could not believe what I saw. I was expecting a score of about 350 for 3.

Amazing. Well bowled Kumble. Those who have written him off, should kindly eat the words.

Now it's entirely upto the Indian batting to take the Aussies out of the game. Go India!!

[Rachael]

OK - Sanz has a go at Anil Kumble for being "a spent force now" here. My reply is here and Sanz reaffirms his stance here. I was somewhat taken aback that after today's performance, Sanz says:

Originally Posted by sanz

Rachael, Yes it is the same Anil Kumble I am talking about. It doesn't really matter whether anil took heaps of wickets or if Harbhajan took 11 wickets in last test. Because despite His sensational bowling we didn't win the series(the test we won was coz of Agarkar's bowling), Harbhajan's 11 wicket in the match that was won by Australia by a huge margin and was all but over by the end of the 4th day(excpet for the record keepers). In last 4-5 years Anil has always needed a big score by our batsmen (Check out Anil's match winning performances in last couple of years) and His bowling doesn't have the sharpness of the 90s. I dont think India can rely on Anil and Bhaji to defend low scores.

What's the poor guy got to do ?

[i] ps - Ernest: the pitch has a bit of bounce in it.. but no more.. and the Aussies would appear to have been complicit in their own demise: see here. Should be a pitch to suit Warne (far more than the last one).. but if this day's play lifts the Indian batsmen we could be in for a thriller.

[Ernest]

I am loking forward to tomorrow Rachael, what you gona say if Warne takes 7 for? with his extreme turn, or McGrath takes 8 for?(God forbid), or if McGrath ends up with 1 for 101, intersting times.

Looks like being a real good one, if there is bounce, then that will be a good indication of how well Warne is bowling, BTY I am not of the thought that Kumble is past it.

[Nikhil]

Warne can certainly be dangerous. But I do not think he can run through the Indian batting order. It's the seamers we have to guard against.

If there are a couple of big scores and two decent partnerships, India should be in driver's seat by tomorrow evening.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Nikhil

Warne can certainly be dangerous. But I do not think he can run through the Indian batting order. It's the seamers we have to guard against.

Looks like one of matches when batsmen have to take care, if there is bounce I will be interested to see how Warne bowls, see of the newish ball, and I can't see the seamers being the problem.if the batsmen get themselves in.

prob have egg on my face tomorrow

[Nikhil]

Originally Posted by Ernest

prob have egg on my face tomorrow

I had mine share last night, when I said Harbhajan began well, and as soon I posted that, Hayden hit a six off him :P.

Well I hope you are true about the seamers, since I think we will take care of Warne. It will be interesting to see how the batsmen play if it start reversing for Gillespie and Kaspa.

[sanz]

Originally Posted by Rachael

OK - Sanz has a go at Anil Kumble for being "a spent force now" here. My reply is here and Sanz reaffirms his stance here. I was somewhat taken aback that after today's performance, Sanz says:

What's the poor guy got to do ?

Rachael, If you have not noticed, Harbhajan and Anil still couldn't get Katich out (IMO best player of spin in the aussie team), had one aussie batsman hung in, the score would have looked totally different. I am not criticizing Anil(I can't, because IMO he has won us more Test matches than SRT), All I am saying that Anil is not the threat he used to be couple of years ago.Earlier we could ride and depend on his arm (at least @home) for the victory lap. We could count on him to defend low totals but not anymore.

Anyways I am glad to be proved wrong, I hope I get to eat these words again and again throughout this winter. They taste really sweet.

[Occasional Fan]

We're all quick to condemn the batsmen who stand their ground when obviously out, so let's raise our collective hats, please, to the three Aussies who walked today - including one who went after an appeal was turned down by David Shepherd.

This from the BBC's match report:



A remarkable feature of Australia's collapse was three batsmen walking before waiting for the umpire's verdict.

Adam Gilchrist, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz all did the honourable thing when edging to bat-pad fielders.


And the latter's self-eviction came as a surprise to umpire David Shepherd, who had turned Kumble's appeal down.

[fair_&_balance]

Holy Moly Cow !!!
What happened ..I went to bed when AUS were 150/2 and was hoping that by then end of day they would be like 350/4 and here we are.

What did Anil Kumbel do special.
Talk os Mediocre bowling and spent force.

I hope Indians can make something around 400 so that they dont have to chase a big target in 4th inning.