4th Test Border Gavaskar Trophy December 26-30 1000hrs @ the MCG

[Neese]

Bowl at the nuts

 

[Mr Meow]

Not denying that we have a habit of doing this regularly but this feels like the MCG of old. Flat and slow. Which is a long way off what it was looking like doing after day 1.

Youd almost want to be chasing a total at this stage (assuming you can get close enough in the first innings). Gives me Gabba/Headingly vibes where it’s super easy to just sit on the back foot and wait for the ball to get to you.

Starc (especially) and Cummins have these dry spells during the latter stages of series unfortunately. The pitch doesn't help but our capacity to take 20 timely wickets does seem to dwindle in a 4th or 5th Test scenario.

 

[Plugger35]

Carey standing up to Boland is brave, he isn't bowling medium pace like Mitch Marsh.

 

[Gough]

There is a bit of Warwick Todd with Travis Head too.

Got one of them signed by Tom Gleisner.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Stick ya ****ing finger up

 

[Mr Meow]

Agreed. Far from the biggest road ever, but I think one that warrants reasonable criticism. I don't feel there's been enough of a contest between bat and ball, with most of the important decisions coming from the batters making dumb errors.

Yeah that's fair.

It's a pitch where a much bigger proportion of those good balls would've had to catch the edge, or the half chance hits the fielder, for the balance to feel better. The occasional ball that's done a bit through the match generally hasn't ended with a wicket.

 

[Xtreme]

Magnificent 4

 

[dumb]

time for some cutters from the pacers

 

[chriso11]

Yeah that's fair.

It's a pitch where a much bigger proportion of those good balls would've had to catch the edge, or the half chance hits the fielder, for the balance to feel better. The occasional ball that's done a bit through the match generally hasn't ended with a wicket.

Let’s see how it plays on day 4 and 5. If we get a result then it will be justified as a pitch that enabled 5 full days of play. No harm in the Indians having a little purple patch, credit where it’s due to these 2 grinding

 

[danielnajdek]

This is so frustrating.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Lyon bowling within nine overs of the new ball.

Good stuff.

 

[carloss]

 

[Lunchtime]

Reddy averages 20 in first class cricket. Not exactly a world class batsman

His Test career average is boosted by the fact he has only played his Test series here against a bowling attack who have no idea what to do against him.

Don't need to be a "world class batsman" to have batting ability. Both Sundar and Reddy have 100s in First-Class cricket.

 

[Doctor Feel]

This is gonna be a draw or indian win isnt it

 

[The Lobbster]

]][emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji6][emoji[emoji6]]" data-quote="chriso" data-source="post: 0" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

Let’s see how it plays on day and [emoji6]. If we get a result then it will be justified as a pitch that enabled [emoji6] full days of play. No harm in the Indians having a little purple patch, credit where it’s due to these grinding

There’s been no suggestion this pitch will deteriorate at all. Obviously time will tell but it’s very flat at the moment

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Boring

 

[western royboy]

Carey standing up to Boland is brave, he isn't bowling medium pace like Mitch Marsh.

Differentiates between a keeper and a backstop - you make your name as a keeper by your ability to stand up

 

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

This is gonna be a draw or indian win isnt it

No.

 

[ManOfClay]

We are still comfortably ahead but the longer we let this go on the longer India can hope to hold on for a draw and our sensational batting innings will go to waste

 

[Xtreme]

This is gonna be a draw or indian win isnt it

The right result after Kohli's adversity

 

[Johnny_Dogg4]

The wkt looks flat
Plenty of players getting starts

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

77k in the crowd

 

[HitTheNailOnTheHead]

Wow

 

[danielnajdek]

Put a fielder at point. They are just pushing it there and running.

 

[Lunchtime]

Let’s see how it plays on day 4 and 5. If we get a result then it will be justified as a pitch that enabled 5 full days of play. No harm in the Indians having a little purple patch, credit where it’s due to these 2 grinding

Exactly. Sundar and Reddy have played with little risk. Plus the deck is good to bat on. It makes Pant's shot selection earlier today (which got him out) even more stupid and bizarre given the circumstances/match situation. Sometimes playing aggressively is not the way to go. He could of still been out there and played in a moderate fashion and be scoring runs.