India won the toss and will bat.
India team:
A Chopra, V Sehwag, R Dravid, SR Tendulkar, *SC Ganguly,
VVS Laxman, +PA Patel, AB Agarkar, A Kumble, M Kartik,
IK Pathan.
Australia team:
JL Langer, ML Hayden, RT Ponting, +AC Gilchrist, DR Martyn,
*SR Waugh, SM Katich, B Lee, JN Gillespie, NW Bracken,
SCG MacGill.
Australia v. India - 4th. Test, Sydney
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Go_The_Mighty_Magpies
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Donny
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From a 'Waugh's last Test' point of view, it's set up perfectly.
If things take a normal course. Australia will be chasing a win on the last day. Bring it on !!
India look a little light on in the bowling department with both Zaheer and Nehrer out. Kartic comes in and he and Kumble will bowl a lot of overs.
Lee is a bit lucky to get a run ahead of Williams, on form, but should be ready for a big effort for the skipper - his biggest supporter.
If things take a normal course. Australia will be chasing a win on the last day. Bring it on !!
India look a little light on in the bowling department with both Zaheer and Nehrer out. Kartic comes in and he and Kumble will bowl a lot of overs.
Lee is a bit lucky to get a run ahead of Williams, on form, but should be ready for a big effort for the skipper - his biggest supporter.
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
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Donny
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Waugh wants big guns
By Malcolm Conn - Fox Sports
STEVE WAUGH has demanded the selectors provide him with Australia's two fastest bowlers, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie, in the hope of producing a fond farewell on a surprisingly well-grassed SCG wicket.
The captain has dismissed fitness concerns over Gillespie and Lee's modest Boxing Day return, claiming that together the pace pair can unsettle the Indian batsmen in the series-deciding fourth and final Test at the SCG, beginning today.
"If I were the Indian batsmen, there are certainly two blokes I wouldn't want to be facing," Waugh said after training at the SCG yesterday. "Lee and Gillespie will be top of the list.
"I certainly want him (Gillespie) in the side. He's been fit for the last four or five days. He just missed out on the last Test. That was more of a precaution. He's ready to play."
A final XI will not be announced until this morning and might well contain the sixth different bowling combination in as many Tests this disjointed season.
Should Waugh get his way, which appears likely, then the last bowling spot will be between Nathan Bracken, Brad Williams and Andy Bichel.
In a tight race, Bracken is favoured to play, given his outstanding but largely unrewarded performance during the second innings in Melbourne.
His accuracy has been an excellent foil to the quicker bowlers and the left-armer's angle across the Indian right-hand batsmen has unsettled a number of them.
Although Sydney is usually a wicket suited to batting first, Waugh believes there may be a case to bowl first.
"I think there's a bit in the wicket," Waugh said. "It's nice and hard; it's not really a traditional Sydney wicket. I think if you expect it to play like it has previously, you might be wrong.
"This might hold a few surprises and, with the toss of the coin, the choice won't be as obvious as it has been in the past to the guy who wins it.
"I think there'll be something in it for the quick guys. It's going to be quite pacey."
Curator Tom Parker believes it will offer the fast bowlers more help than usual. This may be aided by the fact that he continues to water it because of Sydney's hot weather.
"Obviously, at the SCG, it's always going to turn from late day three but I think we're going to see a bit in this during the first day or two," Parker said.
Gillespie missed the Melbourne Test after breaking down in Adelaide with a slight groin strain but Waugh denied it was taking a chance to pick the country's best fast bowler despite his injury history and a lack of any state match to prove his fitness.
"He knows his body very well," Waugh said. "It was only a very slight injury. It's not as if he's coming back from a major tear. And he's honest enough to know whether it's going to be right."
The Australians have taken inspiration from their victory in Melbourne after India's batsmen dominated most of the opening day, racing to 1-278.
"I think that was one of our best Test wins," Waugh said.
"There's been some fantastic Tests between these sides over the last six or seven Tests but to come back like that and to win by nine wickets is a major win. We've taken a lot out of that match."
By Malcolm Conn - Fox Sports
STEVE WAUGH has demanded the selectors provide him with Australia's two fastest bowlers, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie, in the hope of producing a fond farewell on a surprisingly well-grassed SCG wicket.
The captain has dismissed fitness concerns over Gillespie and Lee's modest Boxing Day return, claiming that together the pace pair can unsettle the Indian batsmen in the series-deciding fourth and final Test at the SCG, beginning today.
"If I were the Indian batsmen, there are certainly two blokes I wouldn't want to be facing," Waugh said after training at the SCG yesterday. "Lee and Gillespie will be top of the list.
"I certainly want him (Gillespie) in the side. He's been fit for the last four or five days. He just missed out on the last Test. That was more of a precaution. He's ready to play."
A final XI will not be announced until this morning and might well contain the sixth different bowling combination in as many Tests this disjointed season.
Should Waugh get his way, which appears likely, then the last bowling spot will be between Nathan Bracken, Brad Williams and Andy Bichel.
In a tight race, Bracken is favoured to play, given his outstanding but largely unrewarded performance during the second innings in Melbourne.
His accuracy has been an excellent foil to the quicker bowlers and the left-armer's angle across the Indian right-hand batsmen has unsettled a number of them.
Although Sydney is usually a wicket suited to batting first, Waugh believes there may be a case to bowl first.
"I think there's a bit in the wicket," Waugh said. "It's nice and hard; it's not really a traditional Sydney wicket. I think if you expect it to play like it has previously, you might be wrong.
"This might hold a few surprises and, with the toss of the coin, the choice won't be as obvious as it has been in the past to the guy who wins it.
"I think there'll be something in it for the quick guys. It's going to be quite pacey."
Curator Tom Parker believes it will offer the fast bowlers more help than usual. This may be aided by the fact that he continues to water it because of Sydney's hot weather.
"Obviously, at the SCG, it's always going to turn from late day three but I think we're going to see a bit in this during the first day or two," Parker said.
Gillespie missed the Melbourne Test after breaking down in Adelaide with a slight groin strain but Waugh denied it was taking a chance to pick the country's best fast bowler despite his injury history and a lack of any state match to prove his fitness.
"He knows his body very well," Waugh said. "It was only a very slight injury. It's not as if he's coming back from a major tear. And he's honest enough to know whether it's going to be right."
The Australians have taken inspiration from their victory in Melbourne after India's batsmen dominated most of the opening day, racing to 1-278.
"I think that was one of our best Test wins," Waugh said.
"There's been some fantastic Tests between these sides over the last six or seven Tests but to come back like that and to win by nine wickets is a major win. We've taken a lot out of that match."
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
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Donny
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The biggest dichotomy in big time cricket was in evidence again, as Lee looked to have claimed a wicket only to see the umpire's arm out. No ball.
We see players risking whole careers diving after balls to save 1 run, on the boundary and yet bowlers continue to give away many more runs by bowling front foot no balls. Even Warne and MacGill are guilty of this !!
It's completely unnecessary and undisciplined. Why bowlers strive to get centremetre perfect (front foot) is beyond me.
Why the hell aren't Buchanan and Waugh on to this ??
We see players risking whole careers diving after balls to save 1 run, on the boundary and yet bowlers continue to give away many more runs by bowling front foot no balls. Even Warne and MacGill are guilty of this !!
It's completely unnecessary and undisciplined. Why bowlers strive to get centremetre perfect (front foot) is beyond me.
Why the hell aren't Buchanan and Waugh on to this ??
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
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Johnson#26
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Surely Billy Bowden heard it?-
Donny
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Johnno, Billy might have heard a noise but that's only part of what he'd have to take into consideration. A noise isn't enough.
He must be sure that noise comes from ball hitting bat. If that was the case, the curling finger would have reached skyward.
Otherwise, not out and a correct decision.
He must be sure that noise comes from ball hitting bat. If that was the case, the curling finger would have reached skyward.
Otherwise, not out and a correct decision.
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
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Donny
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At lunch and after 27 overs, India is on 0/98.
Sehwag is 55 n.o. and Chopra, 35 n.o.
If that's an example of the team playing extra well for their skipper's last Test, they had better go to plan B - and quickly.
Let's hope we don't pay too heavily for leaving out Williams in favour of Waugh's preference, Brett Lee.
We so often hear Waugh and others stating they want the best eleven and yet here we have a bowler getting a game ahead of one who clearly outbowled him in the previous Test.
Sehwag is 55 n.o. and Chopra, 35 n.o.
If that's an example of the team playing extra well for their skipper's last Test, they had better go to plan B - and quickly.
Let's hope we don't pay too heavily for leaving out Williams in favour of Waugh's preference, Brett Lee.
We so often hear Waugh and others stating they want the best eleven and yet here we have a bowler getting a game ahead of one who clearly outbowled him in the previous Test.
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
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foxy
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JLC
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Yeah their running is very impressive and as a combination they have out performed Hayden and Langer this summer in terms of their opening stands. Australia were their own worst enemy though with their fielding.
Katich has a little bit of ground to make up and hopefully he can do this with the ball this afternoon.
The Australians could do a lot worse than watch Akhtar bowl - fast and straight and forcing the batsman to play.
jlc
Katich has a little bit of ground to make up and hopefully he can do this with the ball this afternoon.
The Australians could do a lot worse than watch Akhtar bowl - fast and straight and forcing the batsman to play.
jlc
The Torres bounce is officially dead. You are walking alone now Fernando.