Aussie Cricket
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@NTA Yeah Pujara and Rahane did very well last night. Probably have India fractionally in front now.
I reckon Oz would still be favorites to chase 200. In my mind, I have 220 as a 50-50 score and anything more rapidly goes heavily in India's favour. 250 would be very tough.
I get the impression that it's a very tough track to score runs on if you're not a specialist batsman. For India, a lot will depend on whether Pujara and Rahane can re-establish themselves and add, say, another 50 between them. Then they need another 50 out of Nair, Ashwin and the tail.
For Oz, initially a bit will depend on how much has been sapped from Lyon and Hazlewood, especially.
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@Chris-B. Either Pujara or Rahane said the track was a bit easier to bat on than in the first innings because the moisture is gone.
A good Indian bowling performance will have us struggling to win chasing 200, so every wicket is vital now for Smith
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Yeah - the commentators were saying that, as well. I didn't see the first innings, but apparently Lyons had the ball spitting like a cobra. He was still getting the odd one to bounce pretty alarmingly last night, but it wasn't impossible to bat. Commentators expecting it to get lower and more variable bounce as today wears on, so the sooner Oz get out on it the better, irrespective of the number of runs they need.
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Ive seen a couple of sessions of both teams with the bat and the application, patience, determination and luck showed by all batsmen who got 30 or more has been astounding.
Quicks bowled a lot because the bounce is so variable. Spinners bowl 2 balls the same and one rises to the batsmens chest off a length.It's attrition at it's best. And such a pleasant distraction from the batter friendly diet that we normally consume.
Lyon had the entire off side from backward point to straight mid off open, and only Rahane could hit there, twice, and they were a single and a two, and textbook nudges. India and Oz have legslips and 3 boundary riders as a matter of course and with half the oval not in play, it's tortuously hard to get a run rate happening. You sense both teams understand the folly many teams have previously (unsuccessfully) deployed by trying to "positive" or even slog your way through it.
Nah, it's pure patience, discipline and will. Pujara and Rahane showed it, as did Marsh and Renshaw.
Advantage India slightly because that wicket will naturally deteriorate and with a baying atmosphere on day 5, the team at the crease will do well to hold on.
Still say 150 would be a prick of a chase
Overall though, its great test cricket
Edit, shit this game doesnt quit!!
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@Chris-B. said in Aussie Cricket:
Yeah - the commentators were saying that, as well. I didn't see the first innings, but apparently Lyons had the ball spitting like a cobra. He was still getting the odd one to bounce pretty alarmingly last night, but it wasn't impossible to bat. Commentators expecting it to get lower and more variable bounce as today wears on, so the sooner Oz get out on it the better, irrespective of the number of runs they need.
And the cracks are now playing merry hell with proceedings. Saha has decided to go the kitchen sink on some bad bowling. Lead is 171
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Hazlewood is so fucking good. He's McGrath but better
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@NTA said in Aussie Cricket:
Still can't get the fuckers out tho...
Re. Your post on Ashwin - your pessimism knows no bounds.
On this one - that's a good sign. Actually, Saha and Ishant are looking relatively comfortable after a foolish flurry of wickets.
Michael Clarke doesn't think the Indians have enough runs - I don't think they do either. If the Aussies start well and keep their nerve they'll get these comfortably.
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@NTA said in Aussie Cricket:
Its hard to be optimistic when you can't see the wicket.
Funnily enough, seeing the wicket isn't that much of a help.
Started out this morning looking quite bat-able - then suddenly Starc and Hazelwood blew away five Indians and I thought "minefield" - and then it suddenly looked pretty benign again. Saha turned down 10-15 runs, which is costly in itself - due to some shit shots from the lower middle order getting themselves out.
If the Aussies grind away with a bit of caution they'll get these - four down! Mitch Marsh to hit the winning runs!
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10/0, organise the victory parade now.
