3rd ODI; Australia V India @ the MCG.

[Doodlesweaver]

Thanks mate. Sounds like a gun second change from what you're saying. That's too bad they couldn't get him a better paying gig?

He may like being a groundsman.

 

[Wedge McManus]

Indian people are great people. They just put their heads down, work hard and stay happy

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Andy Roberts was an angry human. He and holding were the start of what was to be a production line of terrifying fast bowlers that seemed like it would never end. Was at the G as a young boy during the 75 tour.

No Jamaican rum for Roberts, he was a tee-totaller who preferred orange soft drinks from Antigua. I always found it apropos that he was a grave digger for a living in the West Indies. He had that economical run to the wicket and then that power thrust which generated tremendous pace. He always had that look on his face, that of a poker player.

The thing I liked about Roberts, apart from his accuracy whilst generating tremendous pace, was his bouncer. The initial bouncer was quick and lethal, followed up by an even quicker bouncer that was devastating, as David Hookes found out one day at the Sydney Showground during World Series Cricket.

Andy was an amazing bowler who ushered in a long line of West Indian quick bowlers. It's interesting to note that there weren't any genuine quicks in world cricket, apart from John Snow, then Lillee and Roberts came along. Within 3-4 years, there were express bowlers everywhere.

 

[Park cricketer]

Kohli destroyed a lot of that this year.
His century (150) against Rabada, Philander, Morkel and Maharaj at SuperSport park was a masterclass in a series absolutely dominated by the ball.
His two centuries and a 90 in England against Broad, Anderson, Curran and Stokes were next level good as well. And people seem to have already forgotten how difficult batting was in Perth a few weeks ago.
He’s not at Dravidian levels of ‘Indian overseas’ achievement yet but he’s got nothing left to prove. He’s hit 10 centuries in Australia, england, SA and NZ.

Edit: last year

Agreed with your original point, but Kohli has already achieved more than Dravid ever did in his overseas career and that's saying something.

Kohli is more versatile than Dravid and has proven himself in virtually every condition out there in world cricket.

 

[frenchcutforsix]

Time has softened my view on those tours but I don't know how they did it. I first went there in the very early 90s and while Apartheid was being pulled apart it was still there in attitude, it was shocking. A hefty pay cheque must have softened the blow for them a bit but it must have been f***ing hard work ethically at times. It's also now been uncovered that the SABC was subsidised through tax cuts from the government to sponsor that tour, it was basically paid for by the regime which was denied at the time.

You make a very good point mate. Brutal times back then. Credit to the players and fans of all colours and backgrounds to make the world a bit better for people today. Imagine going through that hell now?

 

[frenchcutforsix]

Please don’t ever mention this again

Omg what was Gabriel thinking? Lol. He looks like a world class bowler in the making tho

 

[PhatBoy]

Agreed with your original point, but Kohli has already achieved more than Dravid ever did in his overseas career and that's saying something.

Kohli is more versatile than Dravid and has proven himself in virtually every condition out there in world cricket.

Not sure - Dravid hit 6 tons in england, a couple in New Zealand, one each in SA and Australia, and also 3 in Pakistan - a tour which may not have tested him hugely conditions wise, but in terms of context and pressure, it doesn’t get tougher for an Indian batsman. He was a superstar when it came to playing important knocks away from home.

 

[frenchcutforsix]

Not sure - Dravid hit 6 tons in england, a couple in New Zealand, one each in SA and Australia, and also 3 in Pakistan - a tour which may not have tested him hugely conditions wise, but in terms of context and pressure, it doesn’t get tougher for an Indian batsman. He was a superstar when it came to playing important knocks away from home.

David definitely played a few seasons too many. But those three tons he scored in England right at the end were amazing

 

[frenchcutforsix]

Steven Smith will be unstoppable upon his return. A year off to rest and wind down. Flat pitches on his return plus a few points to make to show he can still dominate. Look out bowlers

 

[frenchcutforsix]

Siddle is a disgrace to the country

Probably a bit harsh there

 

[sobrave]

Steven Smith will be unstoppable upon his return. A year off to rest and wind down. Flat pitches on his return plus a few points to make to show he can still dominate. Look out bowlers

That's not usually what happens when players are out for a year mate

 

[frenchcutforsix]

That's not usually what happens when players are out for a year mate

Lol true. Be funny if he came back 15 kilos overweight and addicted to fortnite

 

[Pykie]

That's not usually what happens when players are out for a year mate

He hasn't been out injured though.

He's still been playing.

 

[PhatBoy]

Yeah I don’t see a reason why he’s particularly gonna struggle.

De Villiers came back from his sabbatical and won his side two series

 

[Park cricketer]

Not sure - Dravid hit 6 tons in england, a couple in New Zealand, one each in SA and Australia, and also 3 in Pakistan - a tour which may not have tested him hugely conditions wise, but in terms of context and pressure, it doesn’t get tougher for an Indian batsman. He was a superstar when it came to playing important knocks away from home.

There was no doubt about Dravid's ability in playing clutch knocks away from home. He is India's best ever player when the ball is moving around and his masterclass in England in the twilight of his career while India were getting destroyed badly in 2011 will remain one of my bittersweet memories for the entirety of my life. He actually had some memorable knocks in the West Indies and held himself well against Ambrose, Walsh and Bishop but he struggled in South Africa (tbf to him, that's a place where all asian batsmen struggle and I don't remember any asian batsman not struggling there except Tendulkar and Kohli) and also had average performances in Australia barring one series in 2003, a bit like Cook I suppose. In his short career, Kohli has proved he can make runs in all conditions including England which was his (only) torturing ground in the past. To put things into context, Dravid scored 13 tons outside asia in his career which is an excellent record especially for an asian batsman. Kohli just lags by a century to Dravid's tally and has done it in almost half the matches.

Tendulkar was the most versatile batsman that India produced across all conditions and Gavaskar was up there too. Then Dravid, Laxman, etc. Kohli I think has surpassed the likes of Dravid and Laxman and is now seriously challenging Gavaskar and Tendulkar at the top.

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

Probably a bit harsh there

Hi Pete

 

[PhatBoy]

There was no doubt about Dravid's ability in playing clutch knocks away from home. He is India's best ever player when the ball is moving around and his masterclass in England in the twilight of his career while India were getting destroyed badly in 2011 will remain one of my bittersweet memories for the entirety of my life. He actually had some memorable knocks in the West Indies and held himself well against Ambrose, Walsh and Bishop but he struggled in South Africa (tbf to him, that's a place where all asian batsmen struggle and I don't remember any asian batsman not struggling there except Tendulkar and Kohli) and also had average performances in Australia barring one series in 2003, a bit like Cook I suppose. In his short career, Kohli has proved he can make runs in all conditions including England which was his (only) torturing ground in the past. To put things into context, Dravid scored 13 tons outside asia in his career which is an excellent record especially for an asian batsman. Kohli just lags by a century to Dravid's tally and has done it in almost half the matches.

Tendulkar was the most versatile batsman that India produced across all conditions and Gavaskar was up there too. Then Dravid, Laxman, etc. Kohli I think has surpassed the likes of Dravid and Laxman and is now seriously challenging Gavaskar and Tendulkar at the top.

What I wrote earlier probably sounded like I was talking down Kohli, though I didn’t mean for it to. While I rated all his innings in Australia prior to this series just gone, they were featherbeds, to be fair. It doesn’t mean they don’t count obviously, but I’d rate some of his lower knocks on tougher decks higher than those ones. I guess my point was more that in my eyes, it is Dravid, Tendulkar and Gavaskar that Kohli is competing with rather than just the latter two. At one point Dravid’s average actually went past Tendulkar’s before his late career malaise, and to me the impactfulness of his runs gave them extra context.

 

[frenchcutforsix]

What I wrote earlier probably sounded like I was talking down Kohli, though I didn’t mean for it to. While I rated all his innings in Australia prior to this series just gone, they were featherbeds, to be fair. It doesn’t mean they don’t count obviously, but I’d rate some of his lower knocks on tougher decks higher than those ones. I guess my point was more that in my eyes, it is Dravid, Tendulkar and Gavaskar that Kohli is competing with rather than just the latter two. At one point Dravid’s average actually went past Tendulkar’s before his late career malaise, and to me the impactfulness of his runs gave them extra context.

I would suggest it's his own ego he's competing with... If he manages to keep it in check long enough no international batting record apart from Bradman's average will be safe from him. Absolute gun batsman

 

[Stopher]

Not sure where to put this, but I'm scratching my head trying to work out the D/L equation for this NZ v India game.

Yeah, for this particular match, it might not mean much, but it looks like India have been massively short-changed there.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Yes, believe it or not, in odi cricket I would pick a player who hits a century every five games - despite having less overs to face than Gilchrist - and who’s ability to get his team home in run chases is absolutely unparalleled, over another player who averages 25 less.

He’s hit two and a half times as many centuries as Gilchrist.... in 80 less games.

Hell, Gilchrist isn’t even the first left handed opener id pick in an all time ODI side. I’d pick Jayasuriya before him. He changed the way the entire game was played, and took the small matter of 350 wickets.

Gilchrist seems an odd choice if you were to try and argue that Kohli isn’t the best of all time.

Richards, perhaps Garner who’s bowling numbers stick out like dogs balls, maybe Dhoni if you were to factor in his finishing and his keeping, and Amla who averages 50 and has 27 centuries from 169 matches.

I mean seriously - Gilchrist isn’t even (statistically at least) the best left-handed opening batsman wicketkeeper in odi cricket.
That title belongs to quinton De Kock.

In 190 less matches than Gilchrist he’s hit 13 centuries (three less than Gilchrist). His average is 10 higher, his strike rate is the same. And he’s only 26. And he plays half his games on the most new ball friendly decks in the world.

Pick your battles a bit better mate.

You love stats eh? Do you like these, Gilchrist has won more ODI world cups than Kohli and De Kock combined, stats like that don't matter though right?

As for De Kock, FMD, we hammered over 400 in SA one day and got beaten lol, are you really going to compare his stats to Gillies?

As for Kohli, mate, Gilchrist just got the job done, we had many no3s to do Kohlis job, but eh, i guess that's why we win world cups, and you beg for them, and it has to be on your soil lol.

I also fail to recall ropes being 30 metres in from the fence on Australian grounds when Gilly was active, but as i said, you love stats, not ones that you don't like though.

 

[PhatBoy]

You love stats eh? Do you like these, Gilchrist has won more ODI world cups than Kohli and De Kock combined, stats like that don't matter though right?

As for De Kock, FMD, we hammered over 400 in SA one day and got beaten lol, are you really going to compare his stats to Gillies?

As for Kohli, mate, Gilchrist just got the job done, we had many no3s to do Kohlis job, but eh, i guess that's why we win world cups, and you beg for them, and it has to be on your soil lol.

I also fail to recall ropes being 30 metres in from the fence when Gilly was active, but as i said, you love stats, not ones that you don't like though.

So what? Viv Richards won as many world cups as Gilchrist, was a better batsman, with a better average, a similar strike rate, in an era where batting was tougher and run rates were lower. Where are you on that one?

De kock’s averaged AWAY from South Africa is better than Gilchrist’s career average.

F*** me are you seriously still unable to grasp this?

Collis King hit 86 at a run a ball in a winning World Cup final. Does that make him a superior player to say, AB de Villiers?

In all likelihood by the end of this year Kohli will have won as many world cups as Gilchrist anyway so it’s a moot point.

I just enjoy destroying your demented logic.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

What I wrote earlier probably sounded like I was talking down Kohli, though I didn’t mean for it to. While I rated all his innings in Australia prior to this series just gone, they were featherbeds, to be fair. It doesn’t mean they don’t count obviously, but I’d rate some of his lower knocks on tougher decks higher than those ones. I guess my point was more that in my eyes, it is Dravid, Tendulkar and Gavaskar that Kohli is competing with rather than just the latter two. At one point Dravid’s average actually went past Tendulkar’s before his late career malaise, and to me the impactfulness of his runs gave them extra context.

Kohli is different, like Viv was different in a way, he has swagger.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

So what? Viv Richards won as many world cups as Gilchrist, was a better batsman, with a better average, a similar strike rate, in an era where batting was tougher and run rates were lower. Where are you on that one?

De kock’s averaged AWAY from South Africa is better than Gilchrist’s career average.

F*** me are you seriously still unable to grasp this?

Collis King hit 86 at a run a ball in a winning World Cup final. Does that make him a superior player to say, AB de Villiers?

In all likelihood by the end of this year Kohli will have won as many world cups as Gilchrist anyway so it’s a moot point.

I just enjoy destroying your demented logic.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

I never said Gilly was a better bat than Viv, Gilly was also a very capable wicky, not sure if i'd pick him before the Man but **** it'd be close, but i'd pick Gilly ahead of Kohli any day of the week knowing i Punter at no3.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

I remember once Viv 'strutted' out to bat in an ODI at the G, was no urgent need to up the rate, over 18ish maybe, first ball he faced (was either Odonnal or Lawson), 3 skips down the pitch and hammered it with a shit bat, fielder had to lean over the fence to catch it, was out but FMD, just awesome!!