Australia v India Test Series 2024/25

[Eastdog]

Fantastic Test match. Great win by Australia. Test match cricket is well and truly alive and this one has GVGjr mentioned is a great advertisement.

Cummins has been very good as captain. Starc very good.

Loved what Sam Konstas did on Day 1. Great to see Steve Smith get into some form again and Labaschgne did pretty good compared to what he has done in recent times.

We are 2-1 up in the series going to the SCG with confidence. It is a much better position to be in than if we went in at 1-1.

[jeemak]

Today was a great advertisement for keeping test cricket at 5 days. At the start of the day there were 3 genuine outcomes still in play.
I don't think the reasons being discussed for the reduction to 4 days are going to make Test cricket better so I hope we see more cricket going down to the wire.

Of course I was being antagonistic as I know you feel pretty passionate about this (and I'm a jerk), however, I'm surprised that's your main takeaway from the game.

Australia don't get near it if Pant keeps his head, Jaiswal as well (although there was a ridiculous non-call on the field to deny a perfect back leg LBW) and Kohli, or given how benign the pitch was. I mean, it was the longest test of the year and it had a session taken from it due to rain.

If the trend that is pointing to four day cricket continues, then what's the answer? Doctor the pitches to make them more batting friendly (we all remember how that turns out)? Just yell at everyone until they slow down play so much games need to take longer (anyone consider why over rates are already so bad - definitely not for commercial purposes if nobody can actually figure out why)?

I figure we take what we saw today and cherish it, because it isn't the future. Though trust me, I wish it was as I love genuine five day cricket between good teams on wickets that actually do something each innings.

[BontlowSzn]

Australia don't get near it if Pant keeps his head, Jaiswal as well (although there was a ridiculous non-call on the field to deny a perfect back leg LBW) and Kohli, or given how benign the pitch was. I mean, it was the longest test of the year and it had a session taken from it due to rain.

This is what test cricket is all about though. And it's why it takes a special player to be able to stay in control and focused for long periods with the bat. Pant isn't that player. Either is Jaiswal to be frank. He provided plenty of chances with expansive stroke play given the circumstances. One lapse in concentration and you're potentially gone, whether it's a a benign pitch or not. Great captaincy and decision to let Head bowl to Pant.

You don't want a bit of rain for 1 day impacting the result. 5 days allows for that time to be mostly made up. Would be such a shame if that last session didn't happen due to time.

Incredible cricket. Absolutely loved it.

[Dogs 24/7]

Of course I was being antagonistic as I know you feel pretty passionate about this (and I'm a jerk), however, I'm surprised that's your main takeaway from the game.

Australia don't get near it if Pant keeps his head, Jaiswal as well (although there was a ridiculous non-call on the field to deny a perfect back leg LBW) and Kohli, or given how benign the pitch was. I mean, it was the longest test of the year and it had a session taken from it due to rain.

If the trend that is pointing to four day cricket continues, then what's the answer? Doctor the pitches to make them more batting friendly (we all remember how that turns out)? Just yell at everyone until they slow down play so much games need to take longer (anyone consider why over rates are already so bad - definitely not for commercial purposes if nobody can actually figure out why)?

I figure we take what we saw today and cherish it, because it isn't the future. Though trust me, I wish it was as I love genuine five day cricket between good teams on wickets that actually do something each innings.

Trends come and go. Does it really matter is a test has 5 days and it finishes in 4? Grand Slam Tennis schedules 5 sets and some matches finish in 3.
I read this somewhere but while everyone is copying BazBall at the moment and batsman are refusing to grind it out somewhere down the track a coach is going insist that his top order places value on their wickets and grind the opposition bowlers into the turf. Momentum will start to swing back. NZ went to India and swept then by adjusting their style to what was needed to win.
It doesn't matter if Tests finish in 3 or 4 days and we should still plan for 5.

[jeemak]

Trends come and go. Does it really matter is a test has 5 days and it finishes in 4? Grand Slam Tennis schedules 5 sets and some matches finish in 3.
I read this somewhere but while everyone is copying BazBall at the moment and batsman are refusing to grind it out somewhere down the track a coach is going insist that his top order places value on their wickets and grind the opposition bowlers into the turf. Momentum will start to swing back. NZ went to India and swept then by adjusting their style to what was needed to win.
It doesn't matter if Tests finish in 3 or 4 days and we should still plan for 5.

Nobody's copying BazBall. BazBall is copying Australia's dominant period except England doesn't have players good enough to pull it off.

I'm talking about data driven adjustments to the game, and how to either work with them or offset them. To offset them the only lever we have is doctoring pitches, but if you recall the 2000s and 2010's making wickets more batting friendly turned people off the game. The MCG was in dire straits and was being considered ill positioned for test cricket.

Again, and I can't make this any clearer, I LOVE five day cricket. But if the game changes and parties burn money setting up for five days and only end up getting three and a half or four, something needs to change. Economic realities set in, when all of the current realities are working AGAINST five day cricket and pouring money into shorter format cricket.

At some point the odd example doesn't mean a lot, the trend sets in. I'd much rather have four day cricket than no longer format cricket and I am telling you, if everyone is so bloody minded that they insist on five days being the only long form of cricket played at the top level it'll be a relatively quick death.

[GVGjr]

Nobody's copying BazBall. BazBall is copying Australia's dominant period except England doesn't have players good enough to pull it off.

I'm talking about data driven adjustments to the game, and how to either work with them or offset them. To offset them the only lever we have is doctoring pitches, but if you recall the 2000s and 2010's making wickets more batting friendly turned people off the game. The MCG was in dire straits and was being considered ill positioned for test cricket.

Again, and I can't make this any clearer, I LOVE five day cricket. But if the game changes and parties burn money setting up for five days and only end up getting three and a half or four, something needs to change. Economic realities set in, when all of the current realities are working AGAINST five day cricket and pouring money into shorter format cricket.

At some point the odd example doesn't mean a lot, the trend sets in. I'd much rather have four day cricket than no longer format cricket and I am telling you, if everyone is so bloody minded that they insist on five days being the only long form of cricket played at the top level it'll be a relatively quick death.

I just don't care about the commercial challenges Broadcasters face. That's their problem to work out.
We had a massive crowd attend over the 5 days and there is plenty of money in the game but perhaps it's needs to be divvied up a bit better for some of the other countries to grow their game.
I just want the ICC to really look at any and every alternative before changing 5 days tests into 4 day Internationals.
The media and the broadcasters are driving the discussions because it's potentially better for them commercially and to me that's not in the best interest of the game.

[FrediKanoute]

Nobody's copying BazBall. BazBall is copying Australia's dominant period except England doesn't have players good enough to pull it off.

Maybe copying it s a bit of a stretch, but we are seeng more and more then white ball game influence the longer format. Konstas' innings brought that in to focus, but in reality its been happening more and more. To me Konstas is the first time in a whille the selectors have been brave enough to back a less technical player.

[Bulldog Joe]

This is what test cricket is all about though. And it's why it takes a special player to be able to stay in control and focused for long periods with the bat. Pant isn't that player. Either is Jaiswal to be frank. He provided plenty of chances with expansive stroke play given the circumstances. One lapse in concentration and you're potentially gone, whether it's a a benign pitch or not. Great captaincy and decision to let Head bowl to Pant.

You don't want a bit of rain for 1 day impacting the result. 5 days allows for that time to be mostly made up. Would be such a shame if that last session didn't happen due to time.

Incredible cricket. Absolutely loved it.

Well said.
The inability to retain concentration by Pant was his downfall.
Compare that to the efforts of Lyon and Boland the previous evening.

The Australians just kept at it

[Sedat]

Well done Australia for winning the series
#sydneytest
#washouteveryyear

[GVGjr]

Well said.
The inability to retain concentration by Pant was his downfall.
Compare that to the efforts of Lyon and Boland the previous evening.

The Australians just kept at it

This is a great example of the difference between Test and Limited over cricket.
Pant is a dangerous batsman but he isn't quite a test cricketer yet.

[Bulldogs201616]

But but Jaiswal didn't hit it.... India can never accept defeat can they

[whythelongface]

Well done Australia for winning the series
#sydneytest
#washouteveryyear

Yep too right. However looking at the forecast it appears the first three days are going to be good with the 4th slight chance of showers. Bit of rain predicted for the 5th day thus hoping this impacts on the result (or we have already won by then).

[jeemak]

But but Jaiswal didn't hit it.... India can never accept defeat can they

It's hilarious. You've also got an ex-test player calling for Head to be banned for his self-deprecating celebration (put the spinning finger on ice) after getting Pant out to a half tracker.

I guess this is what happens when you mollycoddle a cricketing nation. They develop glass jaws that break easily when things don't go their way..

[GVGjr]

Marsh out and Webster in.
I've never been a believer that batting at 6 in the Shield and in a test match is ideal but Webster's form is very good.

[whythelongface]

Marsh out and Webster in.
I've never been a believer that batting at 6 in the Shield and in a test match is ideal but Webster's form is very good.

good decision and rewards form rather than reputation. I like Marsh but his form just does not warrant selection