Australia v. India - Test Series.

[Dark Beanie]

Win set up by good, sensible batting from Pujara and Kohli.
And great bowling from Bumrah.

Apart from Cummins, no other Aussie showed much in this game.

Indians deserve to be leading series.
Pity Kohli is such a knob....

[K]

If you prepare an Indian pitch, you will get an Indian result.

For all the Indian passion for cricket, look at the attendances at Indian Test matches and that answers the question whether such pitches are good for cricket.

[K]

Pressure eases on MCG as Boxing Day pitch rated 'average'

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/pressure-eases-on-mcg-as-boxing-day-pitch-rated-average-20190101-p50p26.html

"Despite this rating, the MCG pitches will undergo a major revamp under curator Matt Page.

He had worked diligently to improve the sand base and add moisture after the Ashes debacle but the venue is about to invest in up to four new pitches and greater technology.

The current wickets are about 15 years old but will continue to be used next season. It will take about three years for the new pitches to be grown."


Three more years of disgraceful MCG wickets?

[Donny]

Not confirmed but our SCG XI could well look like this:

Harris
Khawaja
M Marsh
Handscomb
Head
Labuschagne
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

12th. Finch

[K]

Does Labuschagne have a nickname?

I must say, I'm still shocked by the unprofessional nature of his Test runout. And he's not the only one... It's as if these guys have no ability to concentrate, even in situations where zero skill is required.

[Donny]

Fairly predictable and ordinary: Labu or Marny.

[Donny]

Imagine if India lost Kohli & Pujara, out of their top 6.

SA lost Amla and Du Plessis.

NZ lost Williamson and Taylor.

Australia has lost the #1 Test batsman in the World, Smith, plus the highest rated opener, Warner. (Recently, #5 in the Test top 10.)

So, of course, 2 new batsmen into any Test lineup will take a while to adjust to the rigours of Test cricket batting.

[K]

The other run-myself-out player that came to mind was a bowler: Hazlewood.

Media report Labuschagne has a first-class average that is decidedly not first class: 33.
This is scraping the barrel, but at least he and Handscomb can field very well. How about giving 12th-man duties to someone who can field too?


Oh, and great tongue-work by Labuschagne in bowling, it appears...

[K]

Confirmed: Labuschagne & Handscomb in. Finch & M. Marsh out.

India win the toss again & bat again.

Is this a result wicket? It needs to be.

[K]

India 1/69 (24) at lunch.

Wickets needed...

[K]

100 up without further loss. Trouble?

In the lead-up to this Test, there have been media murmurings about the Oz. attack.
Has the pathetic batting deflected attention from allegedly pathetic bowling?

[K]

[Donny]

Kohli out to Hazlewood (2/37) for 23.

3/213.

[Donny]

Starc bowls a ripper short ball. Rahane fends it off - straight to Paine.

4/228.

[K]

What are the black armbands for?