2023 Tour of India

[Axe Man]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Some of the shots our batsman went out to were appalling shot selections. Smith, Carey, Labuschagne and Cummins and Renshaw got themselves out with poor decisions more than brilliant bowling getting their wickets.

I thought Marnus was a little unlucky with a grubber, although he didn't play it well. Funnily enough if he had have been sweeping he might have hit it!

Some players are good at sweeping, some aren't. They can't force it, if it's not in your repertoire, put it away.

[lemmon]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Sweeping isn't the problem, it is sweeping on length instead of line. Sweeping was very lucrative for Khawaja, Marnus and Head and got us ahead of the game after the first 2 days - these 3 used the sweep variations (for the most part) strategically against the right balls and alongside straight bat shots down the ground, and they swept only when the ball was pitching outside leg or off. Khawaja perished twice from sweeping but one was a blinder (after top scoring in the match) and the other was the right shot but the wrong execution.

Renshaw and Carey especially are compulsively sweeping in this series and always on length, which makes it very predictable for the Indian spinners (who are world class) to attack the stumps/pads. Smith's dismissal sweeping (for a player of his world class) was awful and spooked the rest of the batting line-up - he didn't even get close to hitting it.

Great analysis.

I think Renshaw and Carey are sweeping because they aren't natural players of spin and it's become a 'defined plan' they're using as a crutch. When your only tool is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. Renshaw's shot in particular was awful - his hands and bat are that far out in front of his body, he was only headed for disaster. I think the selectors should've seriously considered Inglis instead of Carey for this tour as a horses for courses pick - much in the same way they have Handscomb. He's one of the best players of spin in the country and he should have been over there.

Smith's shot looked like he lost his off-stump to me. I think he genuinely thought he had got himself outside the line, was safe from the LBW and saw a big leg-side gap to take advantage of. Really poor execution.

[Grantysghost]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

The Indian batsman after the game to a man said they wouldn't be sweeping on that pitch.

I agree way too inconsistent bounce and some were skidding on.

Play late with soft hands, there were plenty of ones and twos on the leg side.

They just don't want to build an innings.

[Axe Man]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

The Indian batsman after the game to a man said they wouldn't be sweeping on that pitch.

I read India played one sweep shot in their second innings. One.

Jadeja was asked after the game if he thought it was a good idea for batsmen to be sweeping him - "Not on a pitch like this" was his reply.

How did we get our planning so wrong?

[Bornadog]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

I read India played one sweep shot in their second innings. One.

Jadeja was asked after the game if he thought it was a good idea for batsmen to be sweeping him - "Not on a pitch like this" was his reply.

How did we get our planning so wrong?

Coach has a lot to answer for.

[Grantysghost]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

I read India played one sweep shot in their second innings. One.

Jadeja was asked after the game if he thought it was a good idea for batsmen to be sweeping him - "Not on a pitch like this" was his reply.

How did we get our planning so wrong?

The brains trust of Warner, Smith and Cummins. Seems a nice little clique they've got there.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

As brilliant as some of the batsman are on reasonable tracks their near total refusal to want to try and master a spinning pitch unless Labuschagne or Smith leads the way. One or two batsman that put more up more fight and value on their wicket is required and we need to look at replacing McDonald with some who is prepared to make harder decisions

[lemmon]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

As brilliant as some of the batsman are on reasonable tracks their near total refusal to want to try and master a spinning pitch unless Labuschagne or Smith leads the way. One or two batsman that put more up more fight and value on their wicket is required and we need to look at replacing McDonald with some who is prepared to make harder decisions

Which changes would you be making, GVG? I'm not sure there's much on the shelf at Shield level that could be called in.

I'm not sold Marn gets a pass mark in these conditions yet. He's played 13 overseas Tests and only has 1 century to show for it. He averages 50 in the UK (four Tests) but:

-29 in India (only from these two Tests)
-34 in Pakistan (three Tests)
-49 in Sri Lanka (two Tests)
-20 in the UAE (two Tests).

I've been far more impressed by what we've seen from Khawaja and Handscomb so far.

[jazzadogs]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

IMG-20230220-WA0009.jpg

Alt text (mostly in case the image doesn't load):
Lee Carvallos Putting Challenge from the Simpsons
Frame 1: May I suggest straight bat? You have selected: Sweep Shot
Frame 2: now select the force of your swing. You have selected: slog
Frame 3: the ball has hit the wickets. Would you like to play 3rd test

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Which changes would you be making, GVG? I'm not sure there's much on the shelf at Shield level that could be called in.

I'm not sold Marn gets a pass mark in these conditions yet. He's played 13 overseas Tests and only has 1 century to show for it. He averages 50 in the UK (four Tests) but:

-29 in India (only from these two Tests)
-34 in Pakistan (three Tests)
-49 in Sri Lanka (two Tests)
-20 in the UAE (two Tests).

I've been far more impressed by what we've seen from Khawaja and Handscomb so far.

Well in hindsight we should have taken over an all-rounder to cover for Green so perhaps Hardie could have been an option
Warner was an accident waiting to happen and I wonder if Bancroft would have been a better choice plus he is a great bat-pad fieldsman.
Neser to cover Starc would have been better value than Morris plus he is a very decent #8.
And by the looks of things Carey's reckless batting might have opened the door on Inglis in the longer term.
McDonald has to go, this has been a disaster. And to top it off given the test match finished two days early and there is an extended break between the 2nd and 3rd tests we have some of the players flying out of the country for a break rather than doing extra net sessions to hone their batting. The captain has gone home for personal reasons but will return.

[Axe Man]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

And to top it off given the test match finished two days early and there is an extended break between the 2nd and 3rd tests we have some of the players flying out of the country for a break rather than doing extra net sessions to hone their batting. The captain has gone home for personal reasons but will return.

I get what you are saying but the players have a pretty packed schedule and a few days away could actually help clear their heads a little. I feel most of the batting issues have originated above the shoulders.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

I get what you are saying but the players have a pretty packed schedule and a few days away could actually help clear their heads a little. I feel most of the batting issues have originated above the shoulders.

It's a fair point but they didn't play a lead in game because of their packed schedule and after 2 x 3 day test matches where our batsman have failed the plan is to rest them seems flawed to me. At the very least hold them back for the 2 days that the test match finished early and have them work on their technique.

Running away to have a break will not address the problems and I think hard work and an improved attitude towards batting in spinning decks is the answer.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

I read India played one sweep shot in their second innings. One.

Jadeja was asked after the game if he thought it was a good idea for batsmen to be sweeping him - "Not on a pitch like this" was his reply.

How did we get our planning so wrong?

The Coach? This is McDonald-Cummins 1st BIG test and so far its coming up with a big fail......

About the only success is that Warner go dropped (or will be)

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Some really odd things happened from a selections perspective for this tour.
3 players selected to tour while with significant injuries and Hazlewood is now heading home. Starc and Green will be okay to play the third test but really weren't in the mix for the first two.
Swepson was in the squad but went home after the first Test due to the birth of his child and is now returning.
Agar selected to tour and then overlooked for Kuhnemann who was not in the original squad and was a late call up to replace Swepson.
Renshaw has made just 9 runs since returning to the test team in his 3 tests and 4 innings. He was dropped for the last test but replaced a concussed Warner.
The in form Travis Head was dropped for the first test but earned his spot back for the 2nd test.

The upside is clearly Todd Murphy but I'm struggling to see a lot more at the moment.

[Happy Days]

Re: 2023 Tour of India

Better or worse than the homework tour in your opinion G?