First Test - Australia vs India

[GVGjr]

Our batting let us down yesterday but we have the runs on the board. Hayden was solid with his century but other than Jacques there was a lot of starts but not another 50 to help the team.

How do you see the game playing out?

[Mantis]

Good score, not great, but atleast we have a game.

The Indian batters haven't been in great form and seem to be living on former glories. The decision to open Dravid may backfire and leave there middle order vulnerable. Today's play will decide the result so it should be a very interesting day of test cricket.

The wicket should be at its best today, will have a bit more pace and bounce, but is still a horrible pitch.

[Griffen#16]

but is still a horrible pitch.

What are you guys doing out in Melbourne? :D


It really should be an interesting game now. We're going to need to bowl well, it's really going to be a day where you would love to have Warnie at your disposal.

Hopefully India make a few runs and it's a good game.

[GVGjr]

Finally we are being challenged which is great for the spectators.

The fact that they have basically dismissed us on day one and played two spinners sets them up in a strong position providing they can build a lead.

They will go after Hogg today.

[Topdog]

Clark has well and truly put Australia in control.

[GVGjr]

Clark has well and truly put Australia in control.

A mate of mine said on the weekend that Tait was a better fit for this test. A call has been made ;)

[Griffen#16]

It has been a very solid bowling display. Lee and Johnson were great with the new ball early and really built the pressure.

The wicket of Sachin was crucial, and we seem to be pretty comfortably in control at this stage, and the pitch will probably only be getting harder to bat on.

[Dogs 24/7]

I wonder how the Aussies will go with just a 140 run lead? Often we have another 100 on top of that.
If the two Indian spinners do well in the next innings they will have a fair bit of confidence going into the Sydney test.

[Sunshine]

They will go after Hogg today.


Yeah they did but he got a couple of wickets as well and Ganguly's scalp was a good one.

[Topdog]

Australia should win this match from here but at the very least it's a lot more interesting than previous matches.

India really need to learn how to rotate the strike though.

[Mantis]

Seems to pointing to another very easy win.

It's getting boring. We have probably won 3 & 1/2 sessions so far out of the 6 played, but we are that far in front it might as well read that we have won all 6.

When is this team going to face a serious challenge???

[GVGjr]

Seems to pointing to another very easy win.

It's getting boring. We have probably won 3 & 1/2 sessions so far out of the 6 played, but we are that far in front it might as well read that we have won all 6.

When is this team going to face a serious challenge???


India in India?
Perhaps even the next test

[GVGjr]

Solid session for Australia. The Indians will be a handful up in Sydney though.

[Griffen#16]

Yes, now that we're over 300 ahead, I think we have it in the bag.

Sydney will be interesting, especially if it's a spinners wicket. I like Hoggy and his enthusiasm, but I'm not convinced he's the answer at this stage. Hopefully he can bowl well tomorrow though and really stake his claim.

[Dogs 24/7]

Yes, now that we're over 300 ahead, I think we have it in the bag.

Sydney will be interesting, especially if it's a spinners wicket. I like Hoggy and his enthusiasm, but I'm not convinced he's the answer at this stage. Hopefully he can bowl well tomorrow though and really stake his claim.

Well over the 400 mark now but being a greedy bugger I want a lot more than that :D
Gilly needs a hard fought 50 in my opinion.

[The Underdog]

I went yesterday, and had a few observations from a not overly cricket oriented type.

- Although the Indians bowled and caught well, the ground fielding was average at best and the amount of times the ball hit the ground while throwing it arond between balls was a joke. Guys throwing it to guys who weren't expecting it etc. Not a great sign, especially some of the body language. Hope Kirsten can drill into them the importance of fielding.

- Impressed at how good the Aussies are at keeping the board ticking over. Even when they seem tied down they're taking singles and rotating the strike.

- For a game you don't get to see often, test cricket really has its own pace, and even as a spectator you tend to drift in and out a little bit (or is that just me?), but its great fun and I hope that pace isn't lost in the rush to 20/20.

-Spectator wise, some people are just flat out ****wits. It'd be great if they were interested in cricket but clearly it's secondary to chanting really, really dumb chants.

[GVGjr]

When is this team going to face a serious challenge???

India in India?
Perhaps even the next test

I know it's early days in the scheme of test cricket but the way things have gone today we might have underestimated the quality of the Indian team.