[quote=Kasamse;147998] Unfortunately true. They were simply overwhelmed.

I am not sure that it would have made a difference to the end result in this particular test, but on principle I feel that the good old days where touring teams played a handful of local First Class matches before and in between Tests was very useful. The current scheduling is simply too stressful.

It is best to forget that this MCG Test ever happened and try to adopt a new, positive approach for the remaining matches. Come to think of it, what else can they do?

Australia have thrashed India 337 runs.

I think that even Rachael is now going to have to agree that Lee is probably the most important bowler in the Aussie attack.

I think this defeat of India puts World cricket into perspective; not long ago India beat England in a test series, and that was followed by Sri Lanka doing the same to England.

So this leaves Australia clear at the top of the world cricket tree, but India can take comfort that they are up there with the chasing pack with South Africa strugging against a vastly UNDERESTIMATED West Indies.

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Ern

The Indians have been undone by Australias pace attack.

It was clear when they played England and Flintoff played a few of the ODI's none of the Indians were happy with his pace. As England have found out you cannot succeed at test level without pace in your attack.

I cant see things changing for the rest of the series as the pitches will be more in favour of the Australians and I cant see the Indian batsmen coping any better with the Australian fast bowling.

Has anyone else noticed how since Troy Cooley went to Australia their pace attack has suddely started firing and that Englands has barely managed to fire blanks

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Mark.

I have'nt heard that particular chestnut from Rachel Ern.

But while she is mulling that over she can perhaps reconsider her other chestnuts, those being Matt Hayden being a flat track bully (he is a difficult track bully as well apparently) and the lack of unsporting pitches (wonder if the Indian batsmen agree) prepared by Aussie groundsmen

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The thought police are everywhere..............

A comforting thought, no doubt, but outside the one-eyed wonders of Cricinfo, not one that is shared by many experts. I have followed this match pretty closely on the local Indian network covering it, as I am sure have you; most of the experts on Star Cricket during and after the match (Gavaskar, Chappelli, Harsha Bhogle, Michael Slater etc) were of the view that this MCG pitch, with its slow and low (and sometimes unpredictable) bounce, was unAustralian, and in fact, almost sub-continental. Certainly as close to an Indian track as you'd ever hope to find at the MCG.

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A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes
Mark Twain

I am not relying on the experts of cricinfo. Apart from Sunil and Chappell, I do not believe anyone else on Star would be worth listening to anyway. I heard Michael Slater having a lengthy discussion with Bill Lawry on channel 9 about the lack of practice for the Indians and how the Indian administrators made a mistake by not scheduling more matches before the first test match.

In any case, pitch is only one aspect of getting used to the Australian conditions. There is the weather, the atmosphere, just getting exposed to and playing against the first class cricketers here in Aussie is an experience in itself.

I agree with Ian Chappell I have not seen a worse Melbourne wicket since the late 70's early 80's.

It was terrible

Once the effects of the heavy roller wore off about 20-25 overs into the innings, it was a horrible place to try to make runs. Hence why I consider the major reason contributing to Australia's victory was Hayden and Jaques positive and productive opening partnerships as opposed to Jaffer and Dravids slow and indifferent ones.

As for Dravid ???? his strike rate during the first innings when India wanted a positive start was "7" (5 runs/66 balls) his strike rate during the second innings when India wanted crease occupation was double that "14" (16 runs/122 balls).

That is 21 runs from 188 balls (alternatively 31 overs out of 140 overs) for the match. I noted Sunil Gavaskar speaking to Mark Nichols expressed concern Shewag was not selected.

I thought Mitchell Johnson finally got his wicket rewards for some pretty good bowling yesterday.

Of the Indian batters I think Ganguly (who I think is playing good cricket) and Tendulkar (Australian pitches hold no fear to him) look like the major threats.

On to Sydney ...15 consecutive test wins and 7 x $18000 going to breast cancer research re: Adam Gilchrist's 7 catches