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

[Around the Wicket]

Finally someone (you) says it. This Australian team isn't thar great. They are a good Test team but that's it. A good Test team in a weak era of world Test cricket (10 to 15 years/currently).

This Test side has won 2 away series (NZ and Pakistan).. of course they aren’t a great side

 

[Neese]

Here comes the rain.
Perfect batting from India.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

The train near the G has rain hitting the window

 

[Kennedy Parker]

Imagine how formidable this India team would be if they dropped their underperforming veterans Rohit and Kohli to instead select proper in form bowlers to support Bumrah.

Instead of needing to select bowling all rounders to supplement their batting line up.

 

[Plugger35]

An early tea called despite there being no rain there, classic test cricket.

 

[JasRulz63]

I hope Konstas can average 40+ and cement his spot because he has a good personality, not a boring kid.

Reminds me of Darcy Wilmot. Love to see players with personalities.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Early tea probably plays into Australia's favour to regroup, and to get Starc looked at without time off field counting against him being able to come back and bowl.

 

[Outtatym]

Yep. All the sore spots are groaning.

Massages from the physios and drugs from the team doctors, needed post-haste

Yep. And a chance for them to take a breath and think about how we are actually taking a wicket. Seems a little blind/bowl it and hope for a false shot at the moment

 

[gtrxuone]

Light rain
Bad Light
Early Tea
Raining in Avalon

 

[tigersnag]

He like roads the gimp Cherry does he?

 

[Around the Wicket]

Jeez, lightest rain ever

Early tea break though so shouldn’t make a difference

 

[ManOfClay]

As has been mentioned many times already, they're 6 & 7 batting allrounders

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

Clicked right after that deep was night watchman.

Sorry for not trawling through hours worth of posts

 

[SportsCentre]

Langer was our national team coach and says he was surprised at the number of 50+ partnerships our attack has allowed throughout the year

 

[Borisdog]

Imagine if we had a no.6 that batted like Reddy.

We kinda do.

The problem is he's running the drinks.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Least we can play Jyhe in Sydney

 

[hawkman]

It is like we can only use one tactic at a time. If we go back of the length we have to stay there. If we go the short ball tactic we have to telegraph it and not depart from it.
There is no variation in spells, no yorkers, no slower balls, no cutters

 

[HK_Hawk]

I don't think it's much more complicated than what we saw in the last Ashes.

This Australian team are not that great, and our opposition not that bad. So neither side will establish and build on dominance for long.

Not questioning the gap in quality between teams. I agree with your observation in regards to that. But giving up huge advantages and not putting teams away when we have them well beaten and demoralised is very worrying

 

[The 747]

Good fightback from India, Reddy is an impressive young player.

 

[Lunchtime]

This Test side has won 2 away series (NZ and Pakistan).. of course they aren’t a great side

Pakistan aren't that good a Test team. World Test cricket collectively currently and the past ten to fifteen years has been weak.

New Zealand....never dominant but a good solid Test team. Pakistan on the other hand...far too inconsistent.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

To put this into further perspective though, their first class batting averages are

Reddy: 23
Sundar: 33

He does have a top score in Indian grade cricket of 441. Plus a triple ton.

He can wield the stick a bit.

 

[Mr Meow]

Finally someone (you) says it. This Australian team isn't thar great. They are a good Test team but that's it. A good Test team in a weak era of world Test cricket (10 to 15 years/currently).

Yeah and that's not me being over the top or trying to hang our players out to dry. They play really good cricket in patches. They've been a solid team and generally hard to beat. But through the long series especially they have struggled to stay on top against competitive enough units. Batting and bowling line ups have had those lulls long enough to keep opposition in it.

Which is fine. They've accomplished plenty without going that extra mile to be considered one of the truly great cricket teams.

 

[Outtatym]

Starc is ineffectual if the conditions don't help.

A hindrance somewhat given how expensive he is as well

 

[gtrxuone]

Been a good day 3 for India.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

In Fitzroy, barely spitting although it does smell of petrichor. Hopefully passes quickly

 

[Donuts_]

I'd have a bit of sympathy for Cummins here since he doesn't have a 5th bowler but his mates pick the team, including Mitchell "Can't bat can't bowl" Marsh