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Post by hoskotafe3 on Dec 17, 2020 7:38:58 GMT
India really digging in after losing both openers fairly early, but they need the scoreboard to start moving. While stoic batting can flatten attacks in regular test matches, in Day/ nights it's all about setting up your innings ahead of the difficult night session.
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Post by weststigersbob on Dec 17, 2020 10:20:59 GMT
India going along nicely, albeit a bit slowly ATM. 3-163 after 70 odd. 2nd New Ball could be massive. The first one swung for 2 overs. Australia will want more sideways movement. Kohli looks solid on 67*
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Dec 17, 2020 11:41:44 GMT
Sheesh Ayjinka Rahane batted well, but cost his team huge. First he ran out his captain (no exaggeration to say that was the only way Australia were going to get him out) right before the new ball, exposing Vihari to some tough conditions which ultimately accounted for his wicket, he then fell almost immediately when the new ball was taken.
At 6-233 and a long tail, plenty for Saha and Ashwin to do tomorrow. If they can somehow bat through most of the first session, they may have Australia 2 down by the night session and some challenging conditions for Smith and Labuschagne under lights, but that last 45 minutes could prove incredibly costly for India in this match and in this series.
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Post by Aj_June on Dec 17, 2020 16:04:54 GMT
I think India batted well in parts but none of the batsmen consolidated on the starts. I say advantage Australia but Shami could do well here so there is some hope for India.
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Post by weststigersbob on Dec 17, 2020 16:14:34 GMT
I’m thinking India are slightly ahead, but if they bat for longer than a session tomorrow they have to get the score up to 350+. Plod along and get bowled out tomorrow an hour in for 270 - Australia then gets to bat under lights with a ball 60 overs old and possibly on Day 3 the new ball gets taken exactly at the time Australia wants it.
The key of course is Australia’s batting. Burns and Wade at 1 & 2, Green and Paine at 6 & 7, Longish tail. 270 might be enough if Marnus and Smith can’t do the business.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Dec 17, 2020 19:16:15 GMT
I can't put India ahead because they left anywhere up to a hundred runs out there between Pujara doing his best Chris Tavare impression and Kohli's run out. What I will say is that they aren't in a terrible position. Australia do have a long tail as well as an untested opening combination. India should push on to somewhere close to 300 tomorrow which should give them a decent shot if they bowl well.
A lot of shoulds and ifs that wouldn't be there if Pujara had scored 60 or 70 off his 160 balls and they were 4 down with Kohli still batting, two things that could have happened quite easily.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Dec 18, 2020 6:00:29 GMT
India fall to bits and lose 4-11 in the first half hour, but have done what they needed to and got Wade and Burns cheaply (8 apiece). Now the pivotal partnership...and as I write Bumrah drops Marnus, a sitter, on the boundary. That is making things a lot harder than they need to be. They can afford these two to put on 60 or 70, but if the partnership gets to 100+ then it's going to be along tour for India methinks.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Dec 18, 2020 6:59:12 GMT
India just wrecking their chance here, dropping Labuschagne again. Another skied chance...and Smith survives a thick edge because the slips are too deep.
Bumrah is bowling other-worldly well.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Dec 18, 2020 7:15:27 GMT
Ashwin nabs Smith in his first over. Yuuuge wicket. Oz 3-45 with a lefty coming in to face Ashwin. Australia in deep shit.
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Post by weststigersbob on Dec 18, 2020 8:43:28 GMT
Ashwin nabs Smith in his first over. Yuuuge wicket. Oz 3-45 with a lefty coming in to face Ashwin. Australia in deep shit. Australia still in deep shit at 5/92. Poor Shot by Travis Head. Green a tad unlucky, but should’ve been rolling the wrists on that one. It’s a problem with modern techniques - that press forward makes the pull shot difficult and off balance. |
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Post by weststigersbob on Dec 18, 2020 8:46:15 GMT
It was a good nut to get Smith by Ashwin. Flattish, quick, perfect length and slid straight, almost away. Smith had to play that line.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Dec 18, 2020 9:36:45 GMT
No way do Australia reach triple figures if India hold their catches.
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Post by weststigersbob on Dec 18, 2020 11:02:58 GMT
Australia scramble to 191 all out. Tricky little 20 minutes under the lights here for India. Tim Paine with a classy captains knock of 73*
60/40 India
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Post by Aj_June on Dec 18, 2020 12:10:45 GMT
Australia scramble to 191 all out. Tricky little 20 minutes under the lights here for India. Tim Paine with a classy captains knock of 73* 60/40 India I think any person knowledgeable in cricket would agree with you that India are ahead on paper at the end of day 2. But psychology is also a big part of cricket and in past Australia being mentally stronger team helped them win a few matches that other teams should have won. The psychological advantage has definitely narrowed in last 12 years between Australia and the field but there is still some advantage carried by Australia although they will miss Warner. I think India 55-45 but Australia can strike back with early wickets. Paine looked very comfortable.
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Post by weststigersbob on Dec 18, 2020 14:48:35 GMT
AJ - India are far superior in the psychology department. Australia has a very fragile batting lineup - both openers are well out of their comfort zone. Marnus looked like he on pingers. Head needs runs and looks dodgy against Ashwin. Green is a debutant.
Only Smith and Paine are mentally good enough to chase something challenging.
Meanwhile, India has the modern wall in the unflappable Pujara, King Kohli and players used to playing in pressured situations in the IPL.
Chasing anything over 250 Australia is struggling. 275 and India are $1.10 favourites.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Dec 18, 2020 15:22:11 GMT
On Pujara - it might not be to everyone's taste, but the art of the leave is in quality exhibition with him, especially the short ball. Which now comes at a time when some cretins are advocating the banning of the bouncer... Test Cricket is finished if we go down that road. Test cricketers are the most accomplished and technical highlights of the sport - white ball specialists know it's a whole new ball game, tis why they are playing white ball. The best cricketers in the world learn to leave or play the short one - in any format! Rant over. This game. I like this pitch, there's something for all here, fast, spin, value for shots etc. I thought Lasagne was just chaotic, did he just feel secure having Smith at the other end? Bumrah, brilliant, on another day he could have had 5. Paine has stood up with a captains knock, well needed as Oz have to now bat last and you feel Ashwin may have something to say... This match is delivering everything I hoped for and making it worthwhile that I'm getting up in the early UK hours to watch it  |
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Dec 18, 2020 18:20:06 GMT
I'll go with all that and add that India's planning was excellent. They looked at Smith and noted that Jofra Archer knocked him out with some quality short stuff and so bowled him a lot of short balls. Smith, to his credit, ducked under most of them but it stunted his scoring. So when Ashwin came in he decided to use his feet in trying to break the shackles and Ashwin bowled the perfect ball to a fidgety batsman trying to work runs on the leg side. Quick, flat and full and no sideways movement.
And they got right in Marnus' head with field placing and line and length. No short ball to him was wasted. They were all well directed, appropriately set up and with the right field placings. It was great test cricket. And the considtency of the bowling: almost every ball bowled by Shami to Smith hit the same five cent coin outside off and swinging in. He had to play at every ball. No leaves. And when you have to play at every ball you are 100% more likely to make an error than when you're able to leave. Aussies should note this when they bowl to Pujara.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Dec 18, 2020 18:30:39 GMT
Another interesting note: both Ian Chappell and Brett Lee have been forced to stand down as commentators and self isolate while awaitibg test results due to living in the Northern Beaches where there is a growing covid cluster.
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Dec 19, 2020 4:38:36 GMT
Snd like that India are just about done. As a matter of fact, I see no way back from here. 5-68 in effect. This could be one of the all time stinkers in the sub 50 category if they're not careful.
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Post by weststigersbob on Dec 19, 2020 4:43:48 GMT
6-19. WTF !?!?!
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