Salamuddin
International Debutant
I really think India's young bowling attack is going to be in for
a very torrid time in Australia on the hard, true decks.
I expect Australia to rack up scores of 500-600 every time.
I only hope India's batsmen can show some courage (unlike the last two tours where they came with big reputations but completely flopped) and fight hard.
Sachin Tendulkar will certainly dig in (as he did in 1991-92 and 99-2000 although he got some dodgy decisions against him on the latter tour) but I am unconvinced about the others including Dravid.
If India are to compete on the bowling front at all, it has to be through spin and not pace. With the exception of Hayden, I still
feel the rest of the Aussie batting line up is not entirely comfortable against spin (a point on which Ian Chappell also agrees). John Wright would have noted Raymond Price's performance in Sydney. Keeping this in mind, I would certainly bring Murali Kartik to Australia, thus having 3 spinners in the squad.
I would play 2 spinners at Sydney and Adelaide -- the only venures I feel India has the remotest chance of forcing anything other than a loss.
But whether the India's selectors pick Karthik is another matter --
if they pick Balaji instead, add another 100 to the Aussie total.
I'm expecting Aus to win 4-0 although I would dearly love to see a contest, as I'm sure most cricket fans would.
a very torrid time in Australia on the hard, true decks.
I expect Australia to rack up scores of 500-600 every time.
I only hope India's batsmen can show some courage (unlike the last two tours where they came with big reputations but completely flopped) and fight hard.
Sachin Tendulkar will certainly dig in (as he did in 1991-92 and 99-2000 although he got some dodgy decisions against him on the latter tour) but I am unconvinced about the others including Dravid.
If India are to compete on the bowling front at all, it has to be through spin and not pace. With the exception of Hayden, I still
feel the rest of the Aussie batting line up is not entirely comfortable against spin (a point on which Ian Chappell also agrees). John Wright would have noted Raymond Price's performance in Sydney. Keeping this in mind, I would certainly bring Murali Kartik to Australia, thus having 3 spinners in the squad.
I would play 2 spinners at Sydney and Adelaide -- the only venures I feel India has the remotest chance of forcing anything other than a loss.
But whether the India's selectors pick Karthik is another matter --
if they pick Balaji instead, add another 100 to the Aussie total.
I'm expecting Aus to win 4-0 although I would dearly love to see a contest, as I'm sure most cricket fans would.