Pack Of Players

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Miss Hit

It has to be Indian...on paper they are the strongest team in the world.

On Paper, they have the best batting line up maybe, I think they still lack strength in Bowling.

The big test will be when the Aussies tour later this year. Last time the did so well mainly due to the efforts of Habarjan, I don't see that being the case this time.

In General test matches are set up by Batsmen, but won by Bowlers. You have to take twenty wickets to win, you can score a mountinful of runs, but that often leads to draws and not victories. (4th Test Sydney - is a very good example) That is always going to be India's problem, I can't see them bowling out Australia enough.

[DanielJamesSimon]

Originally Posted by Miss Hit

It has to be Indian...on paper they are the strongest team in the world.

On paper, their batting line up comes close to (but doesn't quite match) Australia's. They definitely lack in the bowling department. Their reliance on Harbajhan Singh and the aging Anil Kumble could become a problem, especially when touring Australia.

My vote goes with Australia - on paper, on the field, batting, bowling, and fielding.

[Rachael]

I think Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman would walk straight into the Aussie side... as might Sehwag: the Indian top 6 is a class apart. That said.. the Aussie's bat down to 7+ and in truth, neither side have anything to worry about on that front.

Keeping wise.. Patel might get the nod as better gloveman than Gilchrist... but I'm not sure he's sufficiently better for anyone to say he gives his side the edge. In terms of outfielding.. I just don't know the answer: the Aussie's are certainly well drilled... but India seem to be catching up on that front as well.

Leaves the bowling: Warne, McGrath and Gillespie are certainly the pick on pitches with a bit of pace and bounce... and Kasprowicz impressed in Sri Lanka... but Kumble bowls well anywhere and the young Indian seamers certainly look the part... and if Harbhajan can come back and bowl somewhere near his best I'd favour Harbhajan and Kumble over Warne and MacGill on a wearing track.

The difference, to my mind, is experience: the Aussie side is stacked high with players who have been there and done it with guys who have 60 or 70 Tests under their belt... and they certainly know what it takes to win, no matter where they are.

By comparison.. the Indian (that middle order apart) looks a bit raw: in big matches i feel that would consistently make the difference.

[DanielJamesSimon]

Agreed. Dravid, Tendulkar, and Laxman could walk straight into the Aussie side, certainly Dravid and Tendulkar. Sehwag is certainly a good opener, but I believe Hayden is better, and Langer probably is as well when he's in form. The opening partnership is often vital, and there are few in history better than Hayden and Langer. Dravid, Tendulkar, and Laxman are matched by Ponting, Hayden, and Gilchrist. Gilchrist may not be the best gloveman in the world, but he more than makes up for that with his batting.

Fielding, I can't see anyone close to Australia. Ponting and Hayden in the circle/slips cordon, Langer in close, Brett Lee and, to a lesser extent, even Glenn McGrath in the outfield match any fielding side in the world.

It's certainly true that Kumble bowls well most anywhere. Still, there's no doubt in my mind that Warne is the best spinner in the world. I would favour Harbajhan over MacGill, though. The Indian pace bowlers show promise, but an Aussie side with McGrath and Gillespie would be far better. McGrath's only being freshly back from injury and Gillespie's injury problems are worrying, though, as the depth in Australian fast bowling is not as great as we would like to think.

And, as you say, the Aussie side is far more experienced, and often that's what it can come down too. Having said that, with Waugh gone now they lose the most experienced player ever. When McGrath and Warne were out they severely lacked experience in the bowling department, and these two plus Gilchrist and Lehmann, in particular, won't be around all that much longer. So Australia will possibly face a problem with inexperience in the not-too-distant future, and India then may out-do Australia in that department.