5th Test Border Gavaskar Trophy January 3-7 1000hrs @ the SCG

[Gavin Excell]

They did the right thing batting first, but they fluffed it. Australia is currently well ahead. India will need to bowl very well to get back in to it

Yeah reckon needed 270 India

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I just think theres a time to keep it under wraps. Knowing a wicket will end the day or 1 more over, perhaps letting the striker concentrate is the best approach under rhe circumstances.

Khawaja started it though. He was the one playing "the game"

Konstas just followed his lead and ran with it

Didn't work

 

[beema limapep]

Admire Konstas preparedness to have a crack and throw Bumrah off

Bumrah is one of the best bowlers we've seen in many years here

A 40 or so will stamp Konstas future

Will also lay the foundation for a 100-150+ run lead heading into the 2nd innings. Assuming the others don't shit the bed.

29 and clear tomorrow in Sydney. Let the sun bake that pitch all day!!!

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Yeah reckon needed 270 India

At least, 270 would be break even, 300 would be ok, 350-450 would be good. They absolutely failed. Miserably. Bumrah can be as fired up as he’d like, he’ll need to be because they are a long way behind

 

[beema limapep]

Hopefully Sydney can turn on the sunshine for us tomorrow

Clear skies. Baking, grass-drying heat

lol just posted this

 

[The hands of stone]

Why is Khawaja jumping before playing so many defensive shots? Surely that technique is far from ideal. Does he do it because he’s on the shorter side, or to give him more time to react?

You do that when the ball is getting big on you because you arent in position quick enough to get forward/back using the crease .

At his age its a sign that the end is near or here already

 

[SportsCentre]

Do you think he’s subconsciously admitting that his “natural” game - whatever that is - is not good enough to play Test Cricket yet?
That he felt the need to do something different even before starting his Test career?
Good luck to him that he has, to each their own way and all ways are far better than mine.

Whatever are his inner thoughts, and however his immediate career plays out, I can comfortably say Konstas won't be going anywhere for the time-being, CA have found a new poster boy and he'll get the time and opportunities to consolidate

 

[Young Redleg]

Pay no heed to Aristotle. If it was the other way around he would be lambasting the Australians for bullying tactics against a young Indian player. Aristotle is a self loathing individual, who hates his own country.

It's also really amusing that he ripped into Smith early in the series and then conveniently went missing as soon as he found form again

 

[Woody15]

Khawaja started it though. He was the one playing "the game"

Konstas just followed his lead and ran with it

Didn't work

Yes but that was his prerogative. He was the striker. He was choosing to delay. I dont think Khawaja the seasoned veteran, needing the help from the 19 y/o non-striker.

Theres no right or wrong answer here. If it was me facing up, I would want to concentrate as much as possible and would want the rookie to fall in line.

If others dont have a problem with it, so be it.

 

[Iceman!]

Do you think he’s subconsciously admitting that his “natural” game - whatever that is - is not good enough to play Test Cricket yet?
That he felt the need to do something different even before starting his Test career?
Good luck to him that he has, to each their own way and all ways are far better than mine.

I think he was brought in to bring a change of pace and take the attack back to Bumrah. He is playing his role.

 

[chriso11]

No doubt. But perhaps the last ball of the day at the non-strikers end is maybe not the right time.

Disagree. Bumrah showed just as much lip back. No issue with Konstas standing up for himself and his teammate

 

[Lunchtime]

But he wasn’t and many of the posters here glossed over that fact or worse, tried to excuse the behaviour…and that’s what makes them trolls

As a former umpire....his actions can't be excused. No excuse at all. Kohli shouldn't have chosen to bump.

It goes against the Spirit of the Game.

 

[31550]

To me, two separate things happened.

1. Konstas definitely has got in Bumrah's head, continuing his approach from Melbourne.

2. Khawaja's foot movement and eyes have gone and that's why he got out. He didn't get out because Bumrah was fired up and bowled a brilliant ball in response to Konstas - it was a half-volley that he should have come forward and covered, but he doesn't do that anymore to quicks because he needs the extra millisecond to play a shot.

In any dismissal, bowlers and batters contribute to some degree. That one was 80% Khawaja.

Khawaja had one job - to block out the last over or two. It looked like he was too intent on wasting time and making sure it was one over, not two. That lack of of focus probably contributed to him getting out. You could call it karma. Just concentrate on the next ball - it's the only thing you can really control.

 

[ABAB]

Looks like Saturday and Sunday are the best batting condition with the sun out, Bumrah should really have bowl instead of bat.

 

[Woody15]

Disagree. Bumrah showed just as much lip back. No issue with Konstas standing up for himself and his teammate

Bumrah was bowling. He was involved in the play. Konstas not so much. I dont think Khawaja needs a 19 y/o “standing up for him”

 

[Gavin Excell]

At least, 270 would be break even, 300 would be ok, 350-450 would be good. They absolutely failed. Miserably. Bumrah can be as fired up as he’d like, he’ll need to be because they are a long way behind

Bumrah will need to produce one of the most Herculean bowling efforts for them to be back in it

I don't rate Siraj who seems a show pony and not convinced their other attack

 

[Iceman!]

Khawaja had one job - to block out the last over or two. It looked like he was too intent on wasting time and making sure it was one over, not two. That lack of of focus probably contributed to him getting out. You could call it karma. Just concentrate on the next ball - it's the only thing you can really control.

Usman has looked like that almost all series, i think it was less to do with his mind not being in it and more to do with the fact he has looking more and more cooked.

 

[Redline]

I don't have a real problem with Konstas but I am involved in alot of kids and local sport and this kind of behaviour and Kohl's will filter down.

The difference at Test level is they get on with the game but at lower emotions spill over and it can real ugly between players, umpires, parents and supporters.

 

[beema limapep]

I don't have a real problem with Konstas but I am involved in alot of kids and local sport and this kind of behaviour and Kohl's will filter down.

The difference at Test level is they get on with the game but at lower emotions spill over and it can real ugly between players, umpires, parents and supporters.

That's on the ICC. Unfortunately they are short sighted. Not unlike the AFL.

 

[Iceman!]

I don't have a real problem with Konstas but I am involved in alot of kids and local sport and this kind of behaviour and Kohl's will filter down.

The difference at Test level is they get on with the game but at lower emotions spill over and it can real ugly between players, umpires, parents and supporters.

Again i think his attitude has been fine? Almost all of it has been light hearted except for this afternoon where he really didn't do much wrong.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

I don't have a real problem with Konstas but I am involved in alot of kids and local sport and this kind of behaviour and Kohl's will filter down.

The difference at Test level is they get on with the game but at lower emotions spill over and it can real ugly between players, umpires, parents and supporters.

I think you're going to be very busy with a lot more kids interested in cricket after this test

And what Virat did should definitely be stamped out. At all levels.

 

[gordo2016]

Disagree. Bumrah showed just as much lip back. No issue with Konstas standing up for himself and his teammate

He can stand up for himself by making runs. Engaging in verbals with an opposition fast bowler with 2 balls to go in the day shows a level of immaturity in Konstas that you wouldn't like to see in a park cricketer, let alone a test player.

 

[Johnny_Dogg4]

aus on top for sure

i dont mind konstas character, so long as he can get the runs

aus cricket team in the past were successful being a hard intimidating team

translate to other sports - hawks under clarko

 

[FreoRicci]

Why are people saying Konstas stuff backfired he did nothing wrong it's his partner up the other end who couldn't keep his head. This is all Khawaja being a bunny for Bumrah, if Konstas was facing the Last ball probably would have ran down the pitch and driven it through the covers, that ball was straight and did not move off the seam, Khawaja was just really poor in a really big moment.

It was full and should’ve been flicked. The fact Khawaja stepped back and tried to defend. Too easy

 

[RoughysMullet]

Sad state of affairs for Indian cricket if experienced players like Kohli and Bumrah are going after a 19 year old kid