*Official* India in Australia Thread

[marc71178]

The bowling is the main improver since the '99 tour. Khan is improving and Kumble and Harbajhan are proving a formidable combination. With the Indians finally having a versatile attack that when matured will be able to be competitive on pace and spin friendly wickets, they will improve their record away from home.

I can't see both spinners playing since they'll need 3 seamers at least, and can only do that by changing the opening partnership.

 

[anzac]

As I said elsewhere if India go into the Aussie Tests with only 4 front line bowlers they will get well & truely done.....

the main problem with their batting (apart from not adapting well to pace & bounce), is that the top order are lazy with their foot movement at the start of their innings, esp Sehwag & Ganguly who like to play at the ball away from their bodies. If McGrath is fit enough to play he will be looking forward to picking up early wickets.

Once the Indians have lost a few early wickets the rest of the line up will have to work hard to post a competitive score, let alone a dominating or match winning total.

 

[Anil]

India will lose in Australia, I think the only question is whether they can make it competitive unlike last time when everyone except SRT folded under the slightest bit of pressure. If they show some aggro, I feel they can even win a test and fight well the rest of the way. I don't have a good feel for the final scoreline like you guys, but I will still hope against hope for a miracle to happen!

 

[esgallindeion]

I also think Yuvraj Singh should be given a fair chance, ie, at least 1 or 2 matches. It would be tough finding him a place, but I really feel Yuvraj should be allowed to play a test at least.

 

[gibbsnsmith]

Surely, Yuvraj is not ready after his unspectaular season at Yorkshire and the fact that chucking him iun against Australia in his first test is hardly wise.

 

[Richard]

A few thoughts:
Assuming we get the traditional belters at Adelaide Oval, The 'Gabba and The M and SCG, we are most likely in for a high-scoring series.
The one big thing John Wright has done is gone some way to curing the mental problems India have had away from home.
The spectatre of winning a single Test outside the subcontinent in 14 years (in Zimbabwe) cannot have been much of a confidence-producer, but the notion that Indian batsmen have trouble with a bit of extra bounce than they're used to is quite stupid - no, I haven't watched every single series in that time, but I highly doubt batsmen will have constantly fallen to gloves to short-leg, splices and top-edges.
It is far more likely that, in thinking "we're playing overseas and we might have trouble with the bounce" they have failed to maintain their normal concentration and have played poor shots, ie inside the line when defending, angled bats, drives on the up to the wrong balls, hitting the ball in the air when it's not difficult to keep it on the ground, etc.
If Dravid, SRT (as he seems to be popularly known on here), Laxman and Ganguly can forget this and actually think "hey, these pitches aren't much different to ours at home - sure, they bounce a bit more, but I'm good enough not to worry about that".
If, on the other hand, they decide (sensibly) to leave a bit of grass on the wickets, watch out - McGrath and Gillespie will destroy anyone, no matter how good, on a seaming pitch. This could be the tour that finally exposes Virender Sehwag's limitations as a Test-match opener. As for Aakash Chopra, I don't know - he averages 50 in FC-cricket, but so do plenty of Indian batsmen. Sridharam Sriram averages 60 in FC cricket and he's only played ODIs.
Shiv Sunder Das and Sadagoppan Ramesh did OK for a while, but neither have exactly got brilliant FC averages when you look at those with 50 and more.
If the middle-order gets some flat pitches, we're in for a lot of big totals. Brett Lee and Stuart MacGill (and anyone else who plays) watch-out.
Similarly, if there's no turn in the wickets (which there is no reason to expect there to be, except at The SCG) expect to see Kumble and Harbhajan exposed. Khan and Nehra seem to be the only seamers in India ATM who rise above mediocrity and even they haven't exactly got flash domestic records. With Prasad and Srinath seemingly gone and Agarkar seemingly not the bowler he was last time (where he actually averaged under 30 at a very good economy-rate for the first 2 Tests) expect to see lots of runs from Ponting and the gang.
The likeliest score I reckon is 3-0 or 4-0. Thank God West Indies made an impossible run-chase and Vaughan managed 183, otherwise Australia might be on another 20-Test winning streak entering India.

 

[marc71178]

As I said elsewhere if India go into the Aussie Tests with only 4 front line bowlers they will get well & truely done.....

We all agree I think, but how do you get 5 front line in?

Only way I can see is either push one of the middle order up top, bat Patel at 6, AA 7, or recall Bangar as a front line?

Alternatively Ratra opens and keeps, then Sehwag, the big 4, AA and the tail.

Either way, AA at 7 is not good!

 

[marc71178]

I also think Yuvraj Singh should be given a fair chance, ie, at least 1 or 2 matches. It would be tough finding him a place, but I really feel Yuvraj should be allowed to play a test at least.

It would be imppossible to find a place if you have to drop one of Dravid, Ganguly, SRT or VVS?

My feelings on VVS have already been raised on here and cause controversy, but I can't see them following them!

 

[V Reddy]

I expect it to go 3-1 or 3-0 in favour of AUS and India winning the C&U Series. I think Ind can win a test in AUS this time.

 

[Anil]

How about this Indian test team for the Australian tour:

Parthiv Patel(w/k)(skating on thin ice here, a compromise at best)
Akash Chopra(worth giving a go)
Rahul Dravid(v/c)(automatic choice)
Sachin Tendulkar(automatic choice)
Virender Sehwag(will be much happier here)
Saurav Ganguly(c)(has to be included as he is the captain)
V.V.S Laxman(could be given a chance atleast for the first 2 tests)
Zaheer Khan(automatic choice)
Aashish Nehra(automatic choice if he is fit)
Aavishkar Salvi(see if the so called Indian McGrath has it in him)
Harbhajan Singh(best spinner in the country)

Reserve players:

Murali Kathik
Yuvraj Singh
Sridharan Sriram

 

[Kenny]

A few thoughts:
Assuming we get the traditional belters at Adelaide Oval, The 'Gabba and The M and SCG, we are most likely in for a high-scoring series.
The one big thing John Wright has done is gone some way to curing the mental problems India have had away from home.
The spectatre of winning a single Test outside the subcontinent in 14 years (in Zimbabwe) cannot have been much of a confidence-producer, but the notion that Indian batsmen have trouble with a bit of extra bounce than they're used to is quite stupid - no, I haven't watched every single series in that time, but I highly doubt batsmen will have constantly fallen to gloves to short-leg, splices and top-edges.
It is far more likely that, in thinking "we're playing overseas and we might have trouble with the bounce" they have failed to maintain their normal concentration and have played poor shots, ie inside the line when defending, angled bats, drives on the up to the wrong balls, hitting the ball in the air when it's not difficult to keep it on the ground, etc.
If Dravid, SRT (as he seems to be popularly known on here), Laxman and Ganguly can forget this and actually think "hey, these pitches aren't much different to ours at home - sure, they bounce a bit more, but I'm good enough not to worry about that".
If, on the other hand, they decide (sensibly) to leave a bit of grass on the wickets, watch out - McGrath and Gillespie will destroy anyone, no matter how good, on a seaming pitch. This could be the tour that finally exposes Virender Sehwag's limitations as a Test-match opener. As for Aakash Chopra, I don't know - he averages 50 in FC-cricket, but so do plenty of Indian batsmen. Sridharam Sriram averages 60 in FC cricket and he's only played ODIs.
Shiv Sunder Das and Sadagoppan Ramesh did OK for a while, but neither have exactly got brilliant FC averages when you look at those with 50 and more.
If the middle-order gets some flat pitches, we're in for a lot of big totals. Brett Lee and Stuart MacGill (and anyone else who plays) watch-out.
Similarly, if there's no turn in the wickets (which there is no reason to expect there to be, except at The SCG) expect to see Kumble and Harbhajan exposed. Khan and Nehra seem to be the only seamers in India ATM who rise above mediocrity and even they haven't exactly got flash domestic records. With Prasad and Srinath seemingly gone and Agarkar seemingly not the bowler he was last time (where he actually averaged under 30 at a very good economy-rate for the first 2 Tests) expect to see lots of runs from Ponting and the gang.
The likeliest score I reckon is 3-0 or 4-0. Thank God West Indies made an impossible run-chase and Vaughan managed 183, otherwise Australia might be on another 20-Test winning streak entering India.

You sounded like a supreme optimist in terms of Indian chances pal........and then you went and said you think it will be 3-0 or 4-0 anyway!!!

Heres a prediction for ya - Kumble will get about 6 wkts for the series at about 40 apiece, and Harbajhan will get 10 at 35.00 at best.

 

[esgallindeion]

How about this Indian test team for the Australian tour:

Parthiv Patel(w/k)(skating on thin ice here, a compromise at best)

NO! He's ok, but not that good. In fact, in Australia, he would do good to average 20-30 even.


Here's my choice..

1. Akash Chopra
2. VVS Laxman <--- this fellow said that he wouldn't mind opening again.
3. Rahul Dravid <--- He can be made to open as well. But I wld rather keep him at 3.
4. Tendulkar
5. Ganguly
6. Sehwag/Yuvraj <--- Add a bowler (Salvi/a spinner) in this spot if needed.
7. Parthiv Patel
8. Harbhajan Singh/Kumble
9. Ajit Agarkar
10. Zaheer Khan
11. Ashish Nehra

 

[esgallindeion]

Heres a prediction for ya - Kumble will get about 6 wkts for the series at about 40 apiece, and Harbajhan will get 10 at 35.00 at best.

Yeah, something like that. It would be madness to play both spinners at the same time, considering that SRT, Sehwag, Yuvraj and Laxman can spin the bowl if needed.

 

[Kenny]

Yeah, something like that. It would be madness to play both spinners at the same time, considering that SRT, Sehwag, Yuvraj and Laxman can spin the bowl if needed.

I'd go with Harbajahn if it were me.
He has troubled all the Aussies, (with the possible exception of Hayden).........and Kumble had no impact last tour to Australia - his over spinners don't seem to be suited to our wickets.

Having said that, he hasn't toured here before, I don't think, so it will be a big ask for him..........it will be a fascinating series, looking forward to it.

I also doubt very much if India will play both spinners - maybe in Sydney. Tendulkar has had some success bowling against us, so.......

 

[masterblaster]

Harbhajan has toured Australia back in 1999, but didnt play any internationals. Kumble and three fast bowlers were preferred.

 

[iamdavid]

I was actually very impressed with Akash Chopra on his debut , although he hardly set the scorebook on fire he showed some great judgement outside the offstump , really a lot of patience (which is the number 1 attribute required when playing against Glenn McGrath) & some nice drives , after looking at some players stats I begin to wonder who couldnt average 50 in Indian domestic cricket but the guy can certainly bat.

Its a long way off but for the first test at the Gabba I reckon:
1.V.Sehwag
2.A.Chopra
3.R.Dravid
4.S.R.Tendulkar
5.*S.C.Ganguly
6.V.V.S.Laxman
7.+P.Patel
8.A.Agarkar
9.Harbhajan Singh
10.Z.Khan
11.A.Nehra

The team I would pick if I were selector is-
1.A.Chopra
2.S.Ramesh
3.+R.Dravid
4.S.Tendulkar
5.*S.Ganguly
6.V.Laxman
7.V.Sehwag
8.H.Singh
9.Z.Khan
10.A.Nehra
11.A.Salvi

I know its a big call to have Dravid keep & put Sehwag all the way down at 7 , however I dont think he has what it takes to open & you couldnt drop SRT , RD , SCG or VVS.

 

[marc71178]

Heres a prediction for ya - Kumble will get about 6 wkts for the series at about 40 apiece, and Harbajhan will get 10 at 35.00 at best.

Only one of them will play IMO.

 

[V Reddy]

My squad would be

Sehwag
Chopra
Dravid
Sourav
Sachin
Laxman
Dasgupta
Harbhajan
Kumble
Nehra
Zaheer
Salvi
Agarkar
Pathan
Yuvraj
Sriram

Dasgupta b'coz he kept well in the tour game and is a proven batsman in tests and also can be an opener but i think the selectors will pick Patel

 

[Anil]

NO! He's ok, but not that good. In fact, in Australia, he would do good to average 20-30 even.


Here's my choice..

1. Akash Chopra
2. VVS Laxman <--- this fellow said that he wouldn't mind opening again.
3. Rahul Dravid <--- He can be made to open as well. But I wld rather keep him at 3.
4. Tendulkar
5. Ganguly
6. Sehwag/Yuvraj <--- Add a bowler (Salvi/a spinner) in this spot if needed.
7. Parthiv Patel
8. Harbhajan Singh/Kumble
9. Ajit Agarkar
10. Zaheer Khan
11. Ashish Nehra

V.V.S Laxman hates opening and he has said that several times. If the team forces him to open, it will be at best a compromise from him and I don't think we will see his best in that position.

Rahul Dravid has been fantastic at No:3, he has been shunted up and down the order so many times and is just settling down in this position, changing it again wouldn't be a good idea IMO.

Sehwag is a wonderful talent who can really hit form in the middle order, I feel. Unfortunately, then we need 2 specialist openers and the captain won't have a place in the side...!!!

My ideal team would have any two of Gambhir, Chopra, Ramesh, Jaffer or even S.S Das to open, Sehwag in the middle order and either Dravid or maybe even Tendulkar to captain.....

 

[Choora]

My squad would be,


Chopra
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Ganguly
Laxman
Patel
Khan
Harb
KUmb
Nehra

-Balaji
-Salvi
-Kaif
-Sriram