Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Terrible bowling by India, but Smith is just too good.
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- Thread starter Grug
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The bowling hasn't been amazing, for sure, but the field placement and captaincy by India has been fucking appalling. They're playing for a draw on day two it looks like, just rubbish.
This is some pretty terrific batting by Smithy though, far out. No bowler or field could contain him at the moment.
This is some pretty terrific batting by Smithy though, far out. No bowler or field could contain him at the moment.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Putting everybody to the boundary apparently worked.
Pity the guy you're trying to get out already made 192.
Pity the guy you're trying to get out already made 192.
From what little I heard it sounded like Rahane was the one. 147 off 171. Took it to Australia and Johnson as soon as he got to the crease.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Rahane was great. Really rated the guy ever since I saw his hundred at lords.
bobnowhere
Member
I think "The Big Show" just got cancelled.
bobnowhere
Member
I'm not really sure what Australia is up to at the moment. Rain around, pitch hasn't really deteriorated...
Maybe he thought they were going to declare immediately after that over. I know I did.
bobnowhere
Member
Don't know, the pitch was a road. Clarke sure as hell would've declared earlier though. Can't really blame Smith too much, early in his captaincy, a little conservatism is OK. He'll grow a set with more experience.
Edit: Pattinson on fire in the BBL tonight. With Cummins also looking good, it might spell the end for Siddle.
Maybe. Would have declared earlier for sure. At least Smith is getting this experience during a relatively easy series win for Australia instead of when they might really need the game win.
ItAintEasyBeinCheesy
it's 4th of July in my asshole
Is there a list of guys who have retired after getting beaten by Australia recently.
Kallis, Smith, Dohni...
Kallis, Smith, Dohni...
Graeme Swann.
Anyways Dhoni retiring is fairly surprising to me. Seems like he could play for many more years to me. I guess he's already super famous in India and incredibly rich, if he doesn't want to play he can now enjoy the rest of his life.
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The more I think about it the more I realize how right Steve Smith was to not declare early. There's aggressive cricket and then there's dumb cricket. Dumb cricket would be to let India have a chance of winning the game when Australia was 2-0 up, with the onus being on India to produce that win by getting 20 wickets in a game.
Smithy boy played it smart and did the right thing.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
I have no idea why everyone is banging on about drawing it.
Drawing it means that the series is clinched. This test is not a must-win for us, but it is for the indians, and they clearly did not want it enough to be aggressive searching for wickets during their time on the field.
Drawing it means that the series is clinched. This test is not a must-win for us, but it is for the indians, and they clearly did not want it enough to be aggressive searching for wickets during their time on the field.
Smith looked absolutely dejected like he had lost the series post match.
Yeah his test record wasn't that great but look at this comment on cricinfo
Holy shit what a record.
Cricinfo piling on Smith - India lost their last three wickets in 16 balls in the first innings, Australia didn't even bowl the last 24 balls in the second innings.
He's just a very poor test captain and that too overseas as Dravid said.
He won the T20 and Champions trophy overseas.
He's just a very poor test captain and that too overseas as Dravid said.
Yep, Ch9 commentary were awful in their own approach about that. I mean, I'm all for aggressive, play-for-the-win and play-for-enjoyment too, but there was nothing in it for us to declare early in the day and set India 5 an over to win. Like you say, if India wanted it bad enough they would have pressed harder for 20 wickets themselves.
Smithy did the right thing, and nearly won it anyway. Pitch sucked, too. Leave the carparks for limited overs cricket, please.
Anyway, roll on Sydney!
What do you think guys, I'm not convinced yet on Agar and the media is pushing his case for Sydney.
Also the declaration was defensive, you knew there was rain in the forecast (with how many overs being lost remaining unknown), Clarkey would have declared much earlier. Just going for a draw (from being in a position to win) is not his brand of cricket.
Also the declaration was defensive, you knew there was rain in the forecast (with how many overs being lost remaining unknown), Clarkey would have declared much earlier. Just going for a draw (from being in a position to win) is not his brand of cricket.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
They're somehow even worse than before.
Can't believe I'm saying this but they really needed ishant sharma.
Can't believe I'm saying this but they really needed ishant sharma.
bobnowhere
Member
Yeah strange day, india probably could have used a little more luck/better fielding, but the whole team was aimless and planless today. One over spells?
bobnowhere
Member
Good comment on cricinfo:
Watto needs to be dropped down to 6, his mind can't handle 3 anymore. Take the pressure off him.
bobnowhere
Member
Mark Nichols keeps calling Hazelwood Joss Hashelwood for some reason.