2ND Test v's India.

[Missing Dog]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

A great knock by Clarke ,Ponting and Mr Cricket not a huge wrap for Clarke either too many soft dismissals but credit where it's due a great knock now for the big 300!!!

[westdog54]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

Superb from the Australian Captain and a thoroughly deserved Milestone.

I say stuff the declaration, get 400, then spend two days bowling them out.

Ok, maybe not but gee it'd be nice

[Ozza]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

Depending how quickly they can score over the next 50 mins - it may be worth putting the Indians in to bat for 10 or so minutes before tea - and then have a session at them tonight.

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

With the game only in day 3 Clarke should aim for Lara's record.
Were the Aussies 3/37? Just wondering how those so called fans who booed Clarke last summer are feeling?

[Bornadog]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

Australia has declared at 4/659 a lead of 468

Not Out Clarke 329 and Hussey 150

[Sedat]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

Good to see Sehwag sacrifice his attacking instincts and knuckle down for the betterment of the team - lasting a whole 8 balls was truly a fantastic effort of sustained concentration

He should be lynched when he gets back home but I doubt he will be.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

I expected Clarke bat on & try to get to 400. Kudos to him for sacrificing personal glory in favour of the team.

[hujsh]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

Well and truly sick of Haddin now. I'll take any other state keeper please

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

Michael Slater
"It Travelled Quickly"
Fair Dinkum Enough is Enough
That has to be taken

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

Just wondering how those so called fans who booed Clarke last summer are feeling?

I was one who was critical of Clarke.

While it's good to see him performing well, this time last year he should have been dropped. Dropped doesn't mean forever, dropped means left out until you score some Shield runs (not 50 over or T20 runs, Shield runs).


In the last half of 2010 we played away series v Pakistan and India - 2 tests against each (Pakistan tests were played in England). In these two series Clarke made 174 runs @ 21.75.

He followed that up with five home tests v England where he made 193 runs @ 21.4.

In 9 tests he made a total of 367 runs @ 21.6. How many times do you have to fail before someone else gets a shot at it?


It takes a lot to get dropped if you are in the sponsors ads.

[Ozza]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

I was one who was critical of Clarke.

While it's good to see him performing well, this time last year he should have been dropped. Dropped doesn't mean forever, dropped means left out until you score some Shield runs (not 50 over or T20 runs, Shield runs).


In the last half of 2010 we played away series v Pakistan and India - 2 tests against each (Pakistan tests were played in England). In these two series Clarke made 174 runs @ 21.75.

He followed that up with five home tests v England where he made 193 runs @ 21.4.

In 9 tests he made a total of 367 runs @ 21.6. How many times do you have to fail before someone else gets a shot at it?


It takes a lot to get dropped if you are in the sponsors ads.

Fair enough he had some chances over those 9 tests - but he did have a fair few credits in the bank.
His previous 4 test series were,

Averaged 86 v NZ
Ave. 63 v Pakistan
Ave 52 v West Indies
and
Averaged 64 in the 2009 Ashes series.

I'd be surprised if Clarke isn't our leading Test run scorer over the past 5 years.

[Sedat]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

His knock in this test has been awesome, but it doesn't counter the 'feast or famine' aspect that has crept into his batting in recent seasons. We got away with it in Melbourne due to India's utter ineptitude with the bat and their pathetic bowling to the tail (not helped by Dhoni's useless captaincy), but he failed when runs were desperately needed in the 2nd innings there (luckily Ponting, Hussey and the tail dug us out of a big hole), and likewise in the Hobart test against NZ. He needs to grind out 50+ scores on a more consistent basis when our backs are against the wall and when the conditions aren't optimum for the batsmen - he's never really done this in a match-saving or match-winning capacity ever in his career, and the likes of Ponting and Hussey have done this repeatedly in the last few years, as did Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Gilchrist, S Waugh, M Waugh on a number of occasions in the last 10-15 years.

I sound like a tough marker considering he's just scored a brilliant triple-century but I actually rated his hundred in Sth Africa a couple of months ago as a better knock. Nevertheless, I will still be nervous when he next comes out to bat and we are 3 for bugger-all and in need of a steadying hand.

He a vastly better actual captain than his predecessor, so if he can iron out the gap between best and worst with the bat he will be a brilliant captain and batsman for Australia. You can't deny his passion for his country, eschewing the millions on offer in T20 comps around the world.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

His knock in this test has been awesome, but it doesn't counter the 'feast or famine' aspect that has crept into his batting in recent seasons. We got away with it in Melbourne due to India's utter ineptitude with the bat and their pathetic bowling to the tail (not helped by Dhoni's useless captaincy), but he failed when runs were desperately needed in the 2nd innings there (luckily Ponting, Hussey and the tail dug us out of a big hole), and likewise in the Hobart test against NZ. He needs to grind out 50+ scores on a more consistent basis when our backs are against the wall and when the conditions aren't optimum for the batsmen - he's never really done this in a match-saving or match-winning capacity ever in his career, and the likes of Ponting and Hussey have done this repeatedly in the last few years, as did Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Gilchrist, S Waugh, M Waugh on a number of occasions in the last 10-15 years.

I sound like a tough marker considering he's just scored a brilliant triple-century but I actually rated his hundred in Sth Africa a couple of months ago as a better knock. Nevertheless, I will still be nervous when he next comes out to bat and we are 3 for bugger-all and in need of a steadying hand.

He a vastly better actual captain than his predecessor, so if he can iron out the gap between best and worst with the bat he will be a brilliant captain and batsman for Australia. You can't deny his passion for his country, eschewing the millions on offer in T20 comps around the world.

This is where the problem lies. Our openers have let down our number 3's and 4's as has the number 3 lately which means guys like Clarke have to come in when the shine has not even dulled one bit off the ball. Tough batting when the top three fail. Clarke has now scored 4 100's in the past year with two of those when we need him. He is starting to come of age and is now averaging just over 48, not bad at all.

[Sedat]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

This is where the problem lies. Our openers have let down our number 3's and 4's as has the number 3 lately which means guys like Clarke have to come in when the shine has not even dulled one bit off the ball. Tough batting when the top three fail. Clarke has now scored 4 100's in the past year with two of those when we need him. He is starting to come of age and is now averaging just over 48, not bad at all.

Don't disagree with any of this but it doesn't take away from the fact that Clarke has yet to make a match-winning or match saving knock in adversity over the course of a long career to date. Several Australian batsmen in recent history have, and on numerous occasions each. It sounds as though I'm having a go at Clarke but I'm not - just pointing out that there is still one aspect missing from his CV that will make him the complete batsman.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: 2ND Test v's India.

Don't disagree with any of this but it doesn't take away from the fact that Clarke has yet to make a match-winning or match saving knock in adversity over the course of a long career to date. Several Australian batsmen in recent history have, and on numerous occasions each. It sounds as though I'm having a go at Clarke but I'm not - just pointing out that there is still one aspect missing from his CV that will make him the complete batsman.

I get your point but he did come in at 3/37. I know it was the 1st innings but Australia were in trouble at that point. I would say it was pretty evenly poised with India definitely having the momentum. I definitely think he had a fair bit of adversity coming in at 3/37.

Hard to be a match saver/winner making a triple century as you need the side to make an oveall massive score.