Get your tips in.

Here's the team: Michael Clarke (capt), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc (12th man).

EDIT: Correction, removed sentence about Hogg. Wrong game. (Thanks paveway)

Odds:

Australia Draw India
Australia v India 1.76 3.60 4.80

Starts tomorrow, by the way, 10.30am local which is 11am in Melbourne and whatever else in the more backward parts of Australia that don't want DST.

Hogg has been selected for the Australian twenty20 game..

hogg = 41

prediction: india will play better without MS Dohni. He is a lazy captain and doesn't order his field about enough. VVS Laxman will continue to be a s*** fielder, they will make errors in the slips and their spin bowling won't damage us.

Overall, australia will win, but it will be one or two key players (Warner? Hussey?) who will overall make the difference between a tight game and an easy-ish win.

As I tipped in the '1st test thread.'

Tendulka to get his 100th 100 in Adelaide.

This time I think india will go ok.
They may be destroyed but will have a fair bash in the last.

Aust by a 4 wickets or 60 runs by lunch day 5.

Great weather predicted down there for Aust Day.
Thankfully, cause its gonna be pouring here.

what would be nice, is if we still have a game by thursday, and not the bulls*** walkover that was the last game,

Prediction: Over before lunch Day 4, comfortably Australian win. Punter to score a century and Siddle to take the wicket of Tendulkar in the first innings and Hilfenhaus in the second innings - might as well get specifc!

Prediction: Over before lunch Day 4, comfortably Australian win. Punter to score a century and Siddle to take the wicket of Tendulkar in the first innings and Hilfenhaus in the second innings - might as well get specifc! --Sleepy

just in case.

sehwag 100

We'll kill 'em

Tendulka to get a 100 tho

just in case.

I'm TELLING MUMMMMM....GET YOUR OWN PREDICTION

Rough start. Warner LBW was plumb and Marsh was just fiddling about. Don't like his chances being selected for an Aussie test side in the near future, even if he does make runs in the next innings.

haha cya marshy, hope you enjoyed the baggy green while it lasted

Wtf marsh!

Useless

GO PUNTER

Yep, Ponting is looking sharp. As is Clarke for that matter. Partnership is already great, but would be nice to see them put on a heap together.

bit of a low run rate

bit of a low run rate

True but I don't think they need to get carried out based on the first three tests. Just keep the runs ticking over and maybe ramp it up a bit towards the end if they make a big score.

run rate is 3.6 an over? that's not bad at all, especially after being 2/31

everyone expects 20/20 run rates these days

what i was more worried about is the current teams propensity to lose wickets in bunches, so the partnerships between cowan/ponting and ponting/clarke are awesome to see

bit of a low run rate

not sure if serious or not

13000 test runs for punter, great effort

Regarding 13,000 test runs:

Here's more from Madhu: "Ponting reached the mark in his 275th innings which is second to Tendulkar's 266. Dravid got there in fewer matches (160) than Ponting (162) and Tendulkar (163)."

It's amazing to think that they all took about the same amount of time to reach the runs. Is Tendulkar really that much better than Dravid and Punter?

That little incident before lunch was rather strange.

Might be headed for a draw this game, unless India collapse yet again.

41st test century for punter! nice one

also, lol at yadav going at almost 8 an over after 10 overs

nice centuries by punter and clarke.

Poor old Marsh. Not getting any love.

Hey who was the genius who suggested Ponting was past his prime and he should be gotten rid of in favour of the young blood?

Punter and pup look awesome!

geez Marsh's dismissal was ordinary.

Hey who was the genius who suggested Ponting was past his prime and he should be gotten rid of in favour of the young blood?

More than half of Australia and the entire media.

Glad to say I wasn't a part of that. Us Taswegians born in Lonnie have to stick together, yo!

Hey who was the genius who suggested Ponting was past his prime and he should be gotten rid of in favour of the young blood?

Clearly I transgressed (I don't think it was me you were referring to though - I didn't mention age or prime) but I've been to confession so I'm back to square one again, though I still feel a little icky about it! Also, back when Ponting was in a bit of trouble not saying anything negative OR positive about the situation then coming out later when the grass is green and proclaiming you always knew the latter is a little.. meh. ;)

Nice big plate of crowe heading my way too on Ponting.

Is Tendulkar really that much better than Dravid and Punter?

I don't want to get into a huge argument here... but it would be interesting to look at how many runs Tendulkar/Dravid have amassed on flat subcontinent pitches against teams like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka compared with Ponting's runs on Australian and English pitches

Having said that I think Tendulkar is the best of the three.

it would be interesting to look at how many runs Tendulkar/Dravid have amassed on flat subcontinent pitches against teams like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka compared with Ponting's runs on Australian and English pitches

It's somewhat easy to look up stats about who players have scored runs against, and where they made them on cricinfo. Screenshots:
Ponting:
http://i.imgur.com/i6sqH.jpg
Tendulkar:
http://i.imgur.com/c6W4Y.jpg
Dravid:
http://i.imgur.com/6o3Fo.jpg
Ponting has a very good average against India, but very poor in India. So that tells you his current runs against India in Australia are nothing out of the ordinary. Sachin and Dravid have obviously made a lot of runs in India, but their home vs away averages are pretty similar, and they haven't played a lot in or against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe either. Tendulkar is the only one of the 3 to cash in fairly big time in Sri Lanka, but it's not like he has too many more opportunities than Ponting so it's hard to say that's a major contributing factor.

Cheers Chakas... looking at those stats it's incredibly difficult to separate Tendulkar/Ponting, I guess that's why the arguments as to who is better are so vigorous...

Good mornings play for Australia so far, guess it's not hard to accumulate quick runs when the opposition are chucking pies though :p

What a hiding, tough to see India getting up off the canvass to save this match. I guess its all about Tendulker getting that Ton.
Punter should retire on high.

Clarke goes!

What exactly are we witnessing here!? Dynamic duo styles. :)

Edit: Note to self: keep an eye on the cricinfo tab while leaving post fields open for a while.

last edited by Jc_23 at 13:45:56 25/Jan/12

Yep Clarke gone, great innings though.

Punter about to get his double ton!

Cheers Chakas... looking at those stats it's incredibly difficult to separate Tendulkar/Ponting, I guess that's why the arguments as to who is better are so vigorous...

I reckon those numbers make it pretty clear that Tendulkar is the better player.

He averages 58 against the best side in the world and 55 IN Australia.

He doesn't have a sub 40 average against any nation in any location either, his record is quite simply flawless.

What a hiding, tough to see India getting up off the canvass to save this match

always so quickly to call it

they could quite easily go out and do exactly the same thing to us and the game ends up in a draw

the pitch is flat and doing nothing for the bowlers, which tbh is kind of good for a change this summer hah

Did you see the averages for the Indian batsmen just then ?
Their Off spinner is the 2nd best batsman behind Tendulker.

There is always hope...

so?

this is another game on a different pitch

pontings critics should be silenced for a while

Their Off spinner is the 2nd best batsman behind Tendulker.

Luckily for him - because he hasn't done a lot with the ball in his hand.

Siddle's catch - lol!

Now Dravid playing on with his forearm. And it starts...

dravid bowled by hilfenhaus again? :O

http://static.androidwallpaper.org/adorable-bunny.jpg

It sort of appeared that the Tendulkar wicket/catch hit the ground and Ponting got a bit fresh.

Awesome work by SIDS and Punter

f*** YES Siddle again

GAMBIR goneski

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llos9ybLMa1qdvraco1_500.jpg

What a waste of a Summer.
We should have played 4 Tests against New Zealand.

india really underperformed.

I still have hope for the day nighters

nvm

last edited by FaceMan at 16:05:28 26/Jan/12

If I am Clarke I would be thinking about going back out to bat again. Give the bowlers a rest because the commentators keep talking about how hot it is in Adelaide.

Let the Batsmen demoralize the Indians a bit more. Bat for maybe 1.5 sessions and leave a day and a half to bowl India out again.

Sure it is risky but in a test series we've already won in a test we can't really lose I say don't risk burning out your quicks.

Bloody marsh....

I'd say we'll go for quick ruins in. the morning and their then I before lunch....

we'll just forget last like 3 tendulkar dismissals before that one jc

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/431322_180036735430609_100002728512204_237842_1280564233_n.jpg

If I am Clarke I would be thinking about going back out to bat again. Give the bowlers a rest because the commentators keep talking about how hot it is in Adelaide.

Let the Batsmen demoralize the Indians a bit more. Bat for maybe 1.5 sessions and leave a day and a half to bowl India out again.

Sure it is risky but in a test series we've already won in a test we can't really lose I say don't risk burning out your quicks.

yeh, I was wondering about this. I often struggle with the strategic decisions made by the captains in test matches because they often seem to be the opposite of what I would do, which leaves me wondering how clueless I am about the game.

e.g., in this match I would have thought sending them back in would have been the way to go. Its not like the bowlers had been going for days at a time, they'd smashed through them pretty quickly and the pitch seems terrible for batting so it seems likely they could have banged out some quick wickets in the afternoon (which is exactly what happened to us).

Plus I feel like it must be utterly demoralising for the batsmen to be sent back in, especially when so many of them did do poorly the first time around.

Our top order hasn't impressed so far (man I feel sorry for Marsh, he can not get any traction) and tbh it looks to me like they need more resting than the bowlers!@#

yeh, I was wondering about this. I often struggle with the strategic decisions made by the captains in test matches because they often seem to be the opposite of what I would do, which leaves me wondering how clueless I am about the game.

e.g., in this match I would have thought sending them back in would have been the way to go. Its not like the bowlers had been going for days at a time, they'd smashed through them pretty quickly and the pitch seems terrible for batting so it seems likely they could have banged out some quick wickets in the afternoon (which is exactly what happened to us).

Plus I feel like it must be utterly demoralising for the batsmen to be sent back in, especially when so many of them did do poorly the first time around.

Our top order hasn't impressed so far (man I feel sorry for Marsh, he can not get any traction) and tbh it looks to me like they need more resting than the bowlers!@#

Nah, I think this is the right call. Sending them back in would look great if they'd bundled them out for 200 again, but if not it could have turned the game around. Because it's not about how tired the bowlers are now, it's how tired they would be after lunch today. After being out there in the heat for 150 straight overs, India could kick on and post a big 2nd innings total if the Aussies didn't take early wickets. Even a total of 450 (unlikely looking at the series so far, but not out of the question if a couple of the very talented Indian top order bats find form against tired bowlers), could lead to a challenging 100+ run chase on a deteriorating track by a tired team against fresh bowlers.

Well we've declared, India need 500 to win.

We have just shy of 5 sessions to bowl them out, early wickets are key imo

5 sessions, 500 runs = very gettable if they don't lose cheap wickets early.

Well that's that...

4-Nil whitewash, gotta love that :D

I would of rather seen India perform and give us a challenge. India is an awesome side and we could of had some great games. We'll probably never see half of that Indian team again in Australia. So its kind of s***ty to see them go out on such a low. At least Clarke cemented his position as captain and our veterans performed well to silence the spastic critics and media.

Bring on the day night games

5 sessions, 500 runs = very gettable if they don't lose cheap wickets early.

Technically the run rate required is far from impossible, but that kind of total just doesn't happen in the 4th innings of a test, on a day 5 pitch. Highest ever successful 4th innings chase in a test was 418, and the highest ever in Adelaide was 315 which was made 110 years ago.

Im digusted with Indias performance.
Australia played well and will get a lot of team spirit out of that series but Indias Batsmen were Disgraceful.

I thought their bowlers were ok, Indias bowlers have never done well here.
Sharma and Zaheer were carrying injuries and so maybe didnt bowl to their fullest ability. You would have to think that the spineless batting performance made them lose focus.

Siddle bowled really well much better than last season.
Clarke was awesome, since being Captain its like he is a different player.
Punter saved his ass, even though he was due he played some great innings.
Cowen and Warner seem like a good match at the top of the order.
Haddin was ok, he wasnt really required much.
Did any Aussie bowlers miss out ?
Some our best bowlers were unavailable and we still crushed a pitiful India.

Aussie Cricket is certainly back on its feet but Punter + Hussey cant stay there forever.

It was an interesting series no doubt and it really brought a lot of frothy insight to the top of the international test cricket boiling pot, that is for sure. Australia now has an apt and proven hip new age skipper, a resurgence of our experienced middle order and a successful and talented young/ish pace attack potentially capable of amazing things. A little more tampering with some of the top order and some luck from the injury Gods and we may have a team of superstars that even Faceman would be proud of!* ;P

* Post may be jumping the gun due to a sub-par Indian performance and excessive amounts of excitement

IMHO
I don't think our newer players and team in general will be properly tested until we play internationally and come under pressure.

Heh. Windies is the next stop, in April.

I don't think anyone will give Australia credit until they hit #1 in the rankings. This can only be achieved by beating ENG, RSA and IND on their own ground. (i.e. the 1st, 2nd and 3rd ranked teams - we are 4th)