Australia A v. India - Hobart

Donny · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2003 3:37 pm

India are 7/213 with Patel on 44 n.o.

Nicholson has looked the best of the quicks. Tait has the figures but has been comparatively expensive.

Johnson#26 · Joined: 18 Dec 2003

Karktik run out for 26 by Rofe. India: 8\233

Donny · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2003 4:57 pm

Nicho's 4/25 from 21.5 overs must have impressed the selectors.

India made 245.

Donny · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2003 5:27 pm

Hussey and Rogers both out early. 2/10.

Love and Hodge both get off the mark with boundaries.

Donny · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2003 8:21 pm

Australia A made a sloppy start to their second innings, Chris Rogers (2) departing in the second over when he was caught at second slip off the bowling of Lakshmipathy Balaji.

Captain Mike Hussey (7) went in the next over when Sachin Tendulkar took a rising catch at first slip off Irfan Pathan (1-1 Cool

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Balaji (2-34) bowled Martin Love (11) with an inswinger which darted between bat and pad.

India came into this match with their Test batting line-up in superb form, with the exception of Tendulkar.

He looked ready to bat himself into some form as he hit seven boundaries, including three in row off one over from Damien Wright.

But on 36 he mistimed a hook shot off Wright and was caught in the deep by Paul Rofe.

It was an unsatisfying knock for Tendulkar, lasting just over an hour, and not what he needs after scores of 0, 1 and 37 in the Test series.

His captain Sourav Ganguly (5) also turned in a lax effort, waving his bat at a ball from Matt Nicholson to be caught for five.

The one player to shine for India was Test opener Akash Chopra, who compiled a patient and deliberate 46 before he was run-out by Mike Hussey.

Test wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel was impressive, top-scoring with 49 with his busy stroke-play.

He was Nicholson's third victim when he slashed at a wide ball and was caught by Love at first slip.

His partnership of 71 for the eighth wicket with Murali Kartik helped keep India in the game after they lost 4-23 to be 7-162 at one stage.

Nicholson wrapped up the tail when he had Irfan Pathan caught in the gully by a diving Wright.

South Australian Tait finished with 3-85 from 20 overs while Wright had 1-33 and Rofe 0-38.

Cameron White suffered the fate of so many leg-spinners against India and was thumped for 60 runs off 13 overs.

Donny · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 1:32 pm

Clarke does the job

Fox Sports

MICHAEL Clarke has lifted Australia A to 5-147 in its second innings at lunch on the final day of the tour cricket match against India at Bellerive Oval today.

Australia A, resuming at 3-57, has built its lead to 213 over the tourists, with a run-chase looming this afternoon.

Clarke went to lunch on 58 with Queensland wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe on 25.

Clarke's half-century came off 69 balls with six fours and he had one life when he was dropped on 44 by Murali Kartik at point.

Australia A lost two wickets this morning.

Brad Hodge was bowled by Irfan Pathan for 33 when he got a bottom edge on an attempted pull shot and Cameron White made five before he was caught at square leg by Deep Dasgupta off the bowling of Ashish Nehra.

Donny · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 3:42 pm

Australia A declared at 7/241 giving India a target of 308 from a minimum of 41 overs.

Michael Clarke scored 131 from just 140 balls with 12 fours and 4 sixes, including one over square leg to reach his eighth first-class hundred.

This was a timely innings for Clarke because he hasn't had a significant score in the longer game for a while.

The main wicket-taker for India was Lakshmipathy Balaji, who took 3/87.

commonwombat · commonwombat Joined: 12 Jul 2003 Location: sydney/s.africa

What can we take out of this match???

Perhaps a bit difficult to guage. The A side certainly approached the game positively whereas many of the Indians gave the appearance that this match was a contractual obligation performance.

On the bowling front, Nicholson did not harm his claims for a possible Test recall. Of the others whose prospects may be considered more long term, certainly all performed creditably but neither did they display anything startling, probably Tait showed the greatest penetrative potential.

Batting?? Rogers and Hussey had successful 1st innings, with Hussey looking considerably the more secure. Love looked in very good touch and will deservedly stay very high in selectors consideration with the added bonus that he can bat top order.

It will only be a matter of time before Clarke is promoted into the Test side and he looks one of the very finest young players in a decade ( this is from someone who is v cynical of all these great white hopes trumpeted in the media). Not sure that he would be best served by an immediate call-up but certainly a tour spot and promotion from therein.

Bradley?? Sorry folks but no career progress likely.

Newelly · newelly Joined: 21 Apr 1999 Location: Perth again.

It's hard to believe that Clarkes' first class average is in the high thirties. As was mentioned by Mark Taylor, he is the type of player who easily makes the step up when required. His domestic one day average is not large either, but his international ODI average is in the 60's. Certainly a player who handles perssure superbly.

Joe · Joined: 01 Jun 2003

as far as I am concerned may Australia bring back Greg Chapell.
Go India kick their butts again.