too many players with similar sounding names :D

Why you sticking with Marsh? 

Shaun? As bad as he is I'm not sure we have someone better unless lynn is available. Maybe Wade? Perhaps I've missed someone. Giving Harris another go being a youngster of Pukovski are other options

They are playing. Must have been a break in the rain. But more to come says the radar.

Can Cummins get his ton? What coverage do you get of this series in the states?

I have to use streams sadly

shame about cummins

Got a good'n from India's best bowler. Hard to pick up where he left off last nite.. He was well and truly in the zone then. Will be all over soon. 

passed 300 one time in the last 8 tests unbelievably poor from the batsmen

So many times when opposition have been in trouble they can just say to themselves "even if we make 200 we probably win"

My REPORT CARD:

Finch 3
Harris 4
Khawaja 5
Marsh 5
head 4
Marsh 5
Paine 5
Cummins 9
Starc 6
Lyon 6
Hazlewood 6

Before y'all jump down my throat. Mitch Marsh gets a pass mark due to his contribution with the ball.

well that was depressingly quick

That didnt take long. Well played India. They have finally won a series on our shores. CA handed them this trophy by the batsmen they picked. India comprehensively  superior with the bat and jus t took the points with the ball.

Think it would be a touch harsh not to give Harris at least the 4th Test. 

Both Cummins & Lyon looked tired at the crease and played tired looking shots - What they have done in the conditions was impressive 
but I think finally caught up with them.

my department castigates us to make sure we use the full range in grading
So with that in mind and forgetting who dropped those 5 catches (apart from pain) my scores

Finch 0/10
Harris 2/10
Khawaja 4/10
S Marsh 5/10
M Marsh 4/10
Paine 3/10
Cummins 10/10
Starc 5/10
Hazelwood 4/10
Lyon 2/10

yeah ok Marsh Burns Khawaja White Patterson Maxwell Paine Cummins Starc Lyon Tremain

That is harsh on our two quicks. Hazlewood outbowled Starc for mine. You were full of praise for their bowling effort on that sweltering day. Lyon toiled hard too. Reason I gave them all same points. Why Paine only 3? You missed Head.

Missed Head?

missed a pivotal catch, sloppy with byes and didn't chip in enough runs

They certainly bowled without luck and it was an incredible effort but in the end they didn't break through this test. They got scored higher than most players in the team

Good time for a pun about Australia missing their head
4/10ish 

If you are dumping Hazlewood, Starc has to go too. I want Richardson for him.

True. This was more a deck for Starc. He was the most disappointing for me.

Finch 11 V Virhari 21  Draw
Harris 35 V Agarwal 118 Knock out blow by India
Khawaja 54 V Pujara 106 Knock out blow by India
S Marsh 63 V Kholi 82 Points decision India
Head 54 V Rahane 35 Points decision to Australia
M Marsh 19 V R Sharma 68 Knockout blow by India
Paine 48 V Pant 72 Points decision India

Starc 2/99 V I Sharma 3/81 Points decision India
Hazlewood 3/108 V Bumrah 9/86 Killer Blow by India
Cummins 9/99 + 80 runs V Shami 3/98 Killer Blow by Australia
Lyons 1/150 V Jadeja 5/127 Knockout blow India

So apart from Head and Cummins, those would be the only two to play for India in this test. So Australia 4-5's except Cummins 10/10 and Head 6/10

Tremain deserves his chance.  His record is very good but is he technically as good as Haze?

I would pit Sharma and H/Wood together as both seamers. Points decision to Australia.

Sharma bowls 1 Starc bowls 1
Hazlewood bowls 2 Bumrah bowls 2.
Can't pick and choose as you want the cards to fall. It is what it is?

My batting lineup for Sydney. Harris, Burns, Khawaja, White, Patterson, Maxwell/Labu/Wade.

If not mistaken Bumrah only opened bowling with second new ball. Ishant opened the most. (I stand corrected) I remember thinking Bumrah as their fastest bowler should be opening. Or has the Sydney heatwave got to me?

I'g go with that side, but White you have to use common sense he is too old, but then again Smith is back in 3 tests. Jake Lehmann instead of White is another that could go 4/5 with Patterson. I like the idea of Burns and Harris fighting it out for the opening position with Warner's return, may the best man win. I'll go Labuschagne for Sydney only (if does well batting give him Sri Lanka), but Maxwell otherwise.

What was I thinking Baggers you got rid of Head our leading run scorer of the series. Get rid of Khawaja as well then. If Patterson comes in he comes in at 4 or 6 or Jake Lehmann but being Sydney Patterson 

Problem is, go back to list of contracted players, no White, Patterson, Labu or Wade.
Is everyone forgetting about Renshaw = contracted player & opener.
Only non contracted player in current side is Harris.
On the basis, Finch, Handscomb & M. Marsh dropped,
Contracted test batters; Head, Khawaja, S. Marsh & Renshaw.
Contracted test all rounders; Agar & Maxwell
Contracted test bowlers; Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon, J Richardson, Starc.
Contracted test keepers; Paine & Carey.
Are they going to bring in non contracted players, when they can make wholesale changes to play Sri lanka, to blood young players looking ahead to the Ashes'
and this way they don't loose too much face.
It will be on their mind not loosing at the SCG, but can they win from the above list?