Australia v. India - 4th. Test, Sydney

Post by **Donny** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 5:44 pm

Get Lee OFF !!! 11 overs, 5 no balls, 0/65.

I groaned when Waugh tossed him the ball at the start of the Indian second innings.

Bracken is in this team because he gets swing with the new ball and had such great success against Sehwag (and others) in India.

Lee bowls terribly during India's first innings, goes for 200 runs from 40 overs which included 18 no balls and still, Waugh opens the bowling with him ?? Crazy.

Post by **Donny** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 5:57 pm

Oh, the penny just dropped as Lee goes for another 9 run over - his 12th.

Waugh is bowling his most expensive bowler in the hope Dravid gets his ton and Ganguly may declare.

Gillespie has bowled 7 overs and Bracken, 8.

Post by **Donny** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:00 pm

Lee starts his 13th. over and bounces Dravid, hitting him on the helmet. Dravid hurt.

Ganguly declares at 2/211. Dravid 91 n.o. Tendulkar 60 n.o.

Australia will need to score at 4.9 to win.

Post by **Donny** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:27 pm

At stumps, Australia is 0/10.

433 needed from 90 overs. 4.81 r.p.o.

The odds are very much in India's favour but .......

JLC · Post by **JLC** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:47 pm

Nathan Bracken is in the team because he is fortunate that he learnt to bowl a cricket ball with his left arm as opposed to his right. Bracken went through the whole match wicketless. Lee needs to learn from Ahktar who has improved his bowling so he doesnt just rely on pace.

Paul Reiffel stuck up for Lee in the MX newspaper today saying that the pitches have not helped Lee this summer.

I think Lee will bounce back in the one day series.

jlc

commonwombat · Post by **commonwombat** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 8:07 pm

Donny,

There IS still a maybe but realistically I see the following as the best tactical options for Waugh's men in avoiding defeat.

1. Raindance
2. Consult their local witchdoctor
3. Steal key to groundsman's shed and dig up the pitch.

JLC · Post by **JLC** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 8:38 pm

It is hard but not impossible. The only real threat should be Kumble. Argarkar is tired the other spinner is crack and Pathan is young so it may not be hard to get him off his game. Australia normally scores around the rate so the key is keeping wickets in tact.

They key is Matthew Hayden as he handles the spin the best out of all the Australians. The longer he stays in the greater the chance if victory.

The punters have rallied around Australia and their odds have firmed from 17-1 to 6.5-1 for the win.

Should be a ripper of a game tomorrow weather permitting. A few showers have been forecast.

jlc

Ev5Magpies · Post by **Ev5Magpies** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 8:51 pm

Our choice of bowlers in this test was pathetic.

Brett Lee is shit, full stop. Stop celebrating getting no.9 & 10 batsmen out & work out your line & length. Hopefully it has just been because of your lay off through injury. Hopefully he can work it out.

Stuart Macgill has played his last test as well. Piss him off, he is shit. Hurry up & get Warney back, Macgill is a shit fielder & bowls a lot of crap. The crowd said it all on day 2 or 3 when they were chanting for Warney, even his home state don't rate him!

Nathan Bracken. How he is even in the test team amazes me. This argument has been stated before so i won't go into it. A bowler who bowls at 114 kph and 127kph at his fastest is not a test bowler. Brad Williams or Andy Bichel should have played this test, at least they have a bit of aggro about their bowling. His last test, hopefully...

Simon Katich may have saved his career today with a well made ton. Now Damien Martyn has to do the same, or move over & give Hodgey, Martin Love or Michael Clarke a go...

Haydos you are a freak, my favorite by far...

That is all.

commonwombat · Post by **commonwombat** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 9:41 pm

Frankly there ain't too bloody much to choose from is there???

McGrath is out of action with his ETR still in question. Dizzy is certainly up to it but fitness is always a question.

Yr points are accurate. Bing Lee has been listening too much to his own publicity blurbs and should ditch the Hollywood for the ABC of bowling fundamentals.

Bracken has been about as threatening as a lump of jelly but please consider that those others, whilst definitely more hostile, have also been found to be highly hittable by some rather hungry Indians.

McGill IS finished and Cameron White will take over as no.2 to Warney, that is pending further episodes in the saga of S K Warne.

Frankly, the pace bowling situation in Aus is a worry. The fringe men picked this season have not impressed. No-one amongst the A sides has really put up a convincing case that they are ready (ie Tait, Cleary, Wright etc) and the other possible choices such as Noffke and Nicholson are somewhat advanced into their 20's notwithstanding issues re quality.

London Dave · Post by **London Dave** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:17 pm

Pace bowling a worry? a little, two best bowlers out, three best miss one test, and for the first time in god knows how long, Oz face a team where more than 2 bats average over 40. Oz undoubtedly figured India would roll over and allow theselves to be rodgered, but they had a little more ticker than that.

Lee is a strange case, I kinda recall when he first started in test cricket he swung the ball late at pace, he seems to have lost that. Fast straight shit gets hammered quicker that Kartik or MacGill! Lee has been picked more in hope than expectation for a while in tests now. Perhaps JLC's prayers will be answered when Ponting takes over, as the 'NSW bias' is lessened, but the punter does live in Wollongong NSW doesn't he?

I'm predicting an Oz win, however, with Macgill dancing down the track to clobber three consecutive sixes to secure the win with 1 ball to go!

foxy · Post by **foxy** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:17 pm

was amazed the other day to see lee's bowling averages over the last 3 years - don't think he's ever got them below 30 (except in his exceptional first year). in one year his average was over 40.

strangely enough i wouldn't be surprised if oz win tomorrow. indian attack seriously lacks depth & anil will have to bowl pretty much all day.

JLC · Post by **JLC** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 7:55 am

The main worry is the best fast bowler we have is in his mid 30's and out injured and the best spin bowler is also in his 30's. Those two bowlers both must have a question mark over whether they will come back as good or anywhere close to their best.

This was the time for the younger bowlers who should be fit and full of energy to take the bull by the horns and take over. Sure the wickets were not great but they have to show more promise than what they did.

Mabe its time they pick a tear away quick bowler and take him on an overseas tour and throw them to the wolves and see how they go.

jlc

JLC · Post by **JLC** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 11:08 am

I think Australia may get home as normally when there is a betting plunge its on the mark and the Indian attack isnt that good. This will be a good test for the Australians and the cream normally rises to the top so no doubt Hayden and Ponting will rise to the challenge.

Condolences to Brett Lee whose grandma apparently passed away. No doubt it has been a trying time for him.

jlc

Post by **Donny** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:08 pm

Losing time to rain hasn't helped but the Aussies are off to a positive start.

After 14 overs, Australia is 0/60 and on target.

Post by **Donny** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:22 pm

1/75 as Kumble claims Hayden for 30. Langer is 37 n.o.

A big wicket for India as the run rate is right on target.

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Australia v. India - 4th. Test, Sydney