If we had of played 6 specialist batsman and no back up bowler, how do you think 4 bowlers would have survived in the heat for 2 days.
A good test level all rounder is required - get rid of both Marsh's  & Handscomb for good.

Jazzy Jim

Agree with you about how tough it would have been for the Aussie attack in searing heat with no all rounder to bowl some overs.

6-121 Aus.

7-448 declared India.

Is it the same pitch?

None of the wickets were due to the pitch, some utterly horrific shots

missed the match so far but what a disaster

bad batting, good bowling or deteriorating pitch?

The old saying is never judge a pitch till both sides have bowled on it. Right from the start I said there is nothing wrong with the pitch, it was always going to yield a result, which it should unless rain affects play. It will always break up and 2 days under the heat has dried it out, absolute brilliance by Kholi and Pujara and the "economy" of Australia's bowlers means nothing, it just cooked the pitch and tired the players. It does it all the time at Shield level, and there are results all the time in 4 days.

Give credit to India, they came with a plan to score 600 runs because they knew Australia couldn't. They took their time and didn't get suckered into Australia's only plan to bowl wide of the stumps and let the batsmen make the mistake. At no point did Australia try to get the batsmen out, even the Channel 7 commentary team, said on numerous occasions that they were playing to Kholi's ego, that he would eventually go for the big shot, which he didn't. Australia had no plan 2 and you see big scores from the majority of India's batsmen

India's bowlers have made the batsmen play regardless of runs they may or may not score, and some beautiful, thoughtful bowling, esp S Marsh and Travis Head, not to mention Shami to Cummins, everyone could see that beautiful delivery coming. 

 Not the pitch, just poor bowling by Australia. We need an attack that can consistently restrict the opposition to 500. Even with Smith and Warner back in the side won't amount to much when they only have 5 batsmen. M Marsh should never play again for Australia IMO, shouldn't be playing this test. If the bowlers need help, get better bowlers.

can we finally sack the selectors and choose a batting squad with 1st class averages of 40+ not 35?

We won't be world beaters but at least we will be competitive. This is just sad

Imagine being an Australian cricketer - and knowing that this entire innings is simply about recharging Bumrah...

What Australia wouldn't give for a world class bowler like him...

Bumrah uses limited overs smarts, some reverse, the crumbling deck and deflated Australian morale to humble us.

If CA does not make changes  now there with be a national outcry.

Surprise surprise. India is batting again not gone for the throat.

they have?
He's just one helluva bowler... Sharma is accurate, Shami swings it both ways.... India is probably in the top 3 seam attacks after SA and England... Though Southee and Boulty are doing well... as are Gabriel, Holder and Roach...

And then there's the superstar Pak attack with Ali, Abbas, Amir and Afridi - does Aus have replacements for Starc or Hazelwood? Or is the best that they have?

I was so looking forward to seeing him this summer and he hasn't disappointed. 

But the ball of the innings for me was Shami to Cummins, nearly got Paine with the first 4 deliveries of the over, and the little bit extra with the same delivery , knocked the off stump out of the ground. Difference between bowling at the stumps 5 bowled or lbw, how many did Australia take 1 to Cummins and 1 to Lyon, plus Australia could only take 7 wickets.

Not enforcing is going for the throat....

Pitch has done nothing, horrible batting

They're brilliant right?
All this grass on Aus pitches keeps the ball swinging for Shami (I dont' get it - Shami seriously swings it both ways - noone in the Aus team does at alll)...

But this Bumrah cat is on the way to setting some records... saw him in 2016 and I was just like - omg - this kid is a future superstar....

They'll only bat for the rest of the day and maybe an hour tomorrow, they'll throw the bat, give the bowlers some easy wickets. They already have enough runs. Sure enough 8 runs off the first 2 overs.

Give Aus a sporting 500 in five sessions...

More than Aus deserves....

This is about recharging Bumrah and breaking the holes down for Jadeja....

Nah - he uses an inswinger - has a great yorker, is accurate and pacy...keeps it as simple as it gets... bar the odd slower balll...

Not sure about reverse that you claim.... he was inswinging for the most part.... if you see an outswinger.... that's reverse from him....

There are some serious bowlers at the moment. Rabada, Bumrah, Shami, Pat Cummins, Gabriel, Boult, Southee, Ngidi, What about Olivier from SA?

Not to mention the tried and true Anderson and Broad Philander even Sharma this year

Listen to individuals on this site, they say Hazlewood is something special? This year averages 35.3 the 3rd worst in the world of 42 bowlers, only Chase and Bishoo from WI are worse. Not to mention SR of 77 2nd worse in the world currently only Colin de Grandhomme with 88 is worse, but give Josh time he just may take that wooden spoon for his cabinet.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?class=1;id=2018;type=year

LOL - I've spent all sumer asking Baggers about the Aus World Class Attack.... and he knows it...

I don't get how the Aus media keep a straiught face sellling this tosh.... 


If AUs want to leave grass on the pitch - the bowlers need to start swinging it... because Saffir, WI, NZ, Eng, Ind, Aus, Pak are....

Now Warne realises the problem.... of Starc and Haze....as I type....

(look at Cdg's batting and bowling average for the year with that SR -I'd take hium over Starc and Haze in the tail as a bowler - lol....)


This is how I see it - Aus bowlers are great for roads - they have no idea how to exploit grass for seam or swing as the shine stays on longer. Baggers thinks Bumrah is getting reverse because its swiningafter 40 overs - no thats still normal swing with all that grasss on the pitch.... LOL... Aus seamers have forgotten about grass...

Paddles you know i've given you a few laughs over the years, but in reality it has always been a problem, for all the years we've known each other. And now Warne is just realising it? Baggers will never admit it, he must be related to Hazlewood? In general selectors, media, Baggers, heads in the sand. The evidence is there and is obvious, I'm not a genius, You're not a genius, we just look at cricket with no emotional aspect, which I expect from you as a Kiwi regarding Australian cricket.

Kohli as a captain has made smart decisions & his team has responded.
He has gone for the throat - put a tired Australian team in again in the heat, that are dejected, look at their body language.
Whilst his team relax in the air conditioning, waiting to get Australia in on a pitch that looks like it will be harder to bat on.
Will the selectors respond or with Holmes at the head is it just more of the same old, same old, as we can't seem to have been wrong.

I'm actually better with the books than I ever was at cricket...

But besides that... pitch conditions matter.... and how to exploit pitch conditions....


Aus bowlers are second best on roads.... to SAFRICA.... but with grass.... England, Ind, NZ, Pak, SA, even WI ... all have weapons....

Now Boghle talking about swing.... And Now M Waugh has woekn up to the isssue...

Aus bowlers dont swing - as I said to Baggers two months ago....

The Aus media are just realising this.... I said it months ago and Baggers knows it....

Mate they can swing a ball, it's called Warner's taped hand rubbing grits into it, and if that doesn't work try the sandpaper. Funny that Warner's tape disappeared after SA questioned it in the first test, then the sandpaper appeared, and now the ball doesn't swing and Hazlewood and Starc have had their worst years. I don't believe in coincidences, maybe its a psychological thing, no help on the field they can't do it.

LOL Mike - you're my fav CA fan right now....

This year

Player Wickets Avg
Cummins 40 21.35
Starc 31 33.35
Hazelwood 24 35.45
Lyon 49 33.34

Mike and I already knew Sam - Baggers and the Aussie media have been obvlivious.....


I mean lets be honest - Aus's 2 new ball bowlers in the year of the bowler in a record 50 year low ave per wicket - trundle at well over 30 - while Morkel, Rabada, Bumrah and  Abbas have embrassed them head on .... Then there's Yasir....

This WC Aus attack nonsense has to stop...


Its just nowhere near it....

Pat Cummins is only one holding head high - and he dont get the new ball...

Baggers thinks Bumrah is getting reverse because its swiningafter 40 overs - no thats still normal swing with all that grasss on the pitch.... LOL... Aus seamers have forgotten about grass...  

Comms said it was reversing.

If only Cummins had gotten these two cheaply in the first inn.. if only. 

He is having a golden match.

Cummins again!! That's 4

Pat Cummins and the GOAT are the only talent in Australia's bowlers. Time to drop Starc and Hazlewood, let Cummins open and try Pattinson and Tremain. But that won't happen because CA pay Hazlewood and Starc in excess of 3 million per year and are on a contract. They have to pay them out. You've seen the add Hazlewood purchases a 1.6 million dollar home and the other bidders are Starc and Cummins. Pattinson and Tremain aren't on contract currently.