Australia v. India - 4th. Test, Sydney

JLC · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2004 5:34 pm

Northern Pie - Dizzy??? Quality....yeah sure his figures are good but if you pound it predictably past the off stump and every ball get's let by quality then I am stumped as to what bichel has been doing....atleast he has been micing things up a little....a draw seems likely..

Cheers

Donny - What do you call Bichel, JLC ?

Both openers, Sacred Sach for 1 and Laxman during which time Dizzy went wicketless. All flukes ?

Anyway quote me on this one.......i have always thought and still think that Gillespie is world class and Bichel is Sheffield Shield standard bowler.

jlc

Donny · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2004 5:55 pm

I can't speak for NP except to say his summation was correct. If you're not making the batsman play, you can't get him out. That's what Dizzy was doing that day (Adelaide Test).

Bichel bowled more AT the off stump (not outside) and got 4 very important wickets.

My comment was about the same Test.

Both of us were referring to one Test innings.

You asked me for my thoughts on our bowling attack during the Mebourne Test.

I said, "We are seeing the other side of the coin. For many years we've had McGrath, Gillespie, Warne, Fleming and then Lee to compliment a superb batting line up.

The opportunity has just not been there to blood a young bowler and each time there's been an injury, the admirable but somewhere short of top class Andy Bichel has stepped in."

JLC · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:02 pm

Thats good we both agree that Bichel is crap. He is used as a last resort or when Hohns Border and Buchanan want to revert to their "horses for courses" policy and he gets his Gabba test......lol

jlc

Donny · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:47 pm

At stumps, India is 3/284 with Tendulkar on 73 n.o. and Dravid, 29 n.o.

The performance by Brett Lee was sub standard, putting it mildly. The decision to give him the second new ball ahead of Bracken was an indication of a tired captain.

15 no balls from 21 overs ?? That's a disgrace.

It was a poor decision to play him and it looks ever poorer now.

JLC, I don't think Bichel is crap at all.

JLC · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:49 pm

Very disappointing bowling effort from the NSW "Untouchables trio" of Bracken, Lee and MacGill.

Brett Lee is a player whose bark is worse than his bite. His status far exceeds his actual output. They had Shoaib Akhtar on the radio this morning and he has really matured as a person and a player and i think Brett Lee could do the same. Shoaib isnt worried about who can bowl the fastest in the world as he has matured and is more worried about making the batsman play. Also Brett Lee should spend less time on his wicket celebration of the chain saw and more time addressing his no ball problems. He also gives away far too many runs. Be thankful you are from NSW Brett and your captain has so much faith in you or you would be playing Sheffield Shield.

Bracken should be thankful that he is a left arm bowler as thats about all he has going for him. Realistically if he bowled right arm he would still be in the Sheffield Shield. He claims to spend time talking to Wasim Akram to help improve his game. I have failed to see any resemblence in his bowling to that of Akrams.

MacGill bowls way too many loose balls but we dont have any other options at this stage. It wont be long until Warnie is back so thats good news.

Glad to report that Brad Williams has been in the nets all day bowling with his left arm as it appears that is what he needs to do to get back in the team Wink

Lets hope for a more disciplined effort from Australia tomorrow.

Thank goodness for Gillespie....

jlc

The Prototype · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2004 10:08 pm

It took a long time for Lee to realise that he should aim for the stumps instead of wasting balls by balling them short. If that was a One-Dayer there would be many wides (same with India when they were balling in previous tests) I think Bracken needs to try and get wickets, aswell as holding up one end. Once he does that he will be a better bowler, but right now he is just bowling for maidens, rather then wickets.

JLC · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 8:54 am

Right now Bracken should be thankful that he is a left armer and is from NSW. It seems as though the selectors are crying out for one and hence he is getting a game. I would have played Williams and made Bracken 12th man. Lee at least has the weapons but needs to read the instruction manual on how to use them. Hopefully Waugh gave him a kick in the bum and he will bounce back today.

Which other bowlers in Pura Cup bowl left arm. Maybe there is a better option than Bracken.

jlc

Johnson#26 · Joined: 18 Dec 2003

JLC · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 10:46 am

Yes he does. I have never seen him bowl but looked up his profile on the baggy green website.

He was actually born in Zimbabwe and is still only 20 years old.

jlc

JLC · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 11:33 am

Lee has really gotta pick himself up.........he is all over the place at the moment and all Gillespies work is being undone.

jlc

Donny · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 1:07 pm

Although Laxman is trying hard to get out in the 90s, he's played a top knock today with Tendulkar in support.

This will be Sachin's role from now on as, one by one, Dravid, Ganguly, Sehwag and now Laxman take over the dominant, strokeplaying batsman's role.

The partnership of 193 between Laxman (94 n.o.) and Tendulkar (110 n.o.) is now a record for the 4th. wicket against Australia.

At lunch, India is 3/387.

couragous cloke · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 1:37 pm

Isnt it just great to see that wanker Lee getting Killed Very Happy

i can safely say im loving every minute of it Laughing

Geoffy Pie · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:08 pm

i'm finding it extremely boring

Donny · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:27 pm

With both batsmen on 125 n.o. and the partnership reaching 242, India moves on to 3/436.

Donny · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 3:41 pm

At tea, India is 3/495.

The partnership of 301 is India's highest against all comers.

Laxman has hit 159 of them and Tendulkar is 149 n.o.