1st Test V India starting Boxing Day

[Media Park]

Christian to miss, and either Starc or Hilfy of the bowlers.

[Media Park]

Out of left field, the Indians have so much batting depth it is ridiculous.
Dheeraj Jadhav, 32 years old, is an opening batsman who is not even thought of as a Test possibility.
By the time Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid retire, his time will be past.
His season?
135*, 73 & 102*, 10 & 33, 102 & 106*, 105* & 38*.

That is 704 runs at an average of 176.

Someone scores a few runs or bowls a good spell, and in our country, they're straight in!

[Squids]

The general averages of the Indians are very high in the domestic comp. An average of 60 is nothing unusual.

In Australia it would be about 50 and while in Bangladesh you are doing well if you average 30.

[Squids]

Hilf confirmed in the 11

Starc 12th man

Christian misses out

[Media Park]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v ... 46736.html

[Media Park]

As happy as I am that Lyon, Cummins and Warner have all burst onto the Test scene on the back of T20 cricket and limited First Class exposure or success, I am much happier for a guy like Ed Cowan, who has 55 First Class appearances to his name since 2003, and he has been selected purely because he is the form batsman in the country.
Bravo selectors, I think you've got this one right.

[Q.]

Still waiting for Ponting and Hussey to announce that they will be retiring after this series...

[Gozu]

Still waiting for Ponting and Hussey to announce that they will be retiring after this series...

The money is too good.

The vast majority of them hang around for as long as they possibly can now until they're dragged out behind the shed.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Out of left field, the Indians have so much batting depth it is ridiculous.
Dheeraj Jadhav, 32 years old, is an opening batsman who is not even thought of as a Test possibility.
By the time Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid retire, his time will be past.
His season?
135*, 73 & 102*, 10 & 33, 102 & 106*, 105* & 38*.

That is 704 runs at an average of 176.

Someone scores a few runs or bowls a good spell, and in our country, they're straight in!

politics plays a huge part in the selection processes of india, pakis, sri lanka, bangers

[the joker]

I don't mind that side. But why wouldn't you leave it to the toss to announce your team. Make the Indians have to do their homework on all of our players.

[locky801]

Still waiting for Ponting and Hussey to announce that they will be retiring after this series...

The money is too good.

The vast majority of them hang around for as long as they possibly can now until they're dragged out behind the shed.

Thats right on the money so to speak, nothing could be truer

[rod_rooster]

Out of left field, the Indians have so much batting depth it is ridiculous.
Dheeraj Jadhav, 32 years old, is an opening batsman who is not even thought of as a Test possibility.
By the time Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid retire, his time will be past.
His season?
135*, 73 & 102*, 10 & 33, 102 & 106*, 105* & 38*.

That is 704 runs at an average of 176.

Someone scores a few runs or bowls a good spell, and in our country, they're straight in!

Interestingly Australia will go into the Boxing Day Test with two of the top three batsmen averaging under 40 in first class cricket. When was the last time that happened?

[the joker]

Out of left field, the Indians have so much batting depth it is ridiculous.
Dheeraj Jadhav, 32 years old, is an opening batsman who is not even thought of as a Test possibility.
By the time Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid retire, his time will be past.
His season?
135*, 73 & 102*, 10 & 33, 102 & 106*, 105* & 38*.

That is 704 runs at an average of 176.

Someone scores a few runs or bowls a good spell, and in our country, they're straight in!

Interestingly Australia will go into the Boxing Day Test with two of the top three batsmen averaging under 40 in first class cricket. When was the last time that happened?

bit picky hey? Both could average over 40 in FC by lunch on boxing day

[rod_rooster]

Out of left field, the Indians have so much batting depth it is ridiculous.
Dheeraj Jadhav, 32 years old, is an opening batsman who is not even thought of as a Test possibility.
By the time Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid retire, his time will be past.
His season?
135*, 73 & 102*, 10 & 33, 102 & 106*, 105* & 38*.

That is 704 runs at an average of 176.

Someone scores a few runs or bowls a good spell, and in our country, they're straight in!

Interestingly Australia will go into the Boxing Day Test with two of the top three batsmen averaging under 40 in first class cricket. When was the last time that happened?

bit picky hey? Both could average over 40 in FC by lunch on boxing day

Given they have played 55 and 65 first class matches respectively i'm not confident of that. Their records after that sort of time would suggest that's where they are at. I hope they both make big scores though i just don't see it happening (moreso with Marsh).

My point is not an attack on either player though, more just pointing out that getting a baggy green is much easier now than it was in the nineties/early 2000's. Cowan and Marsh are not anywhere near the caliber of player that was missing out in those days. Siddons, Lehmann, Law, Love etc. etc.

[Pup]

As happy as I am that Lyon, Cummins and Warner have all burst onto the Test scene on the back of T20 cricket and limited First Class exposure or success, I am much happier for a guy like Ed Cowan, who has 55 First Class appearances to his name since 2003, and he has been selected purely because he is the form batsman in the country.
Bravo selectors, I think you've got this one right.

Plus one.

I have been a fan for a while and he has done a great job to earn his spot. Lets hope he goes well.

[Hondo]

Plus 2

I think we have swayed by circumstances into thinking we have to play our predicted 2014 side right this second thereby apparently ruling out anyone aged over 24. Mainly in the batting.

[Media Park]

Bit of rain forecast at the minute.

[Media Park]

India likely: Gambhir, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Kohli, Dhoni (wk & c), R Ashwin, Ojha, I Sharma, Khan
Aus: Warner, Cowan, Marsh, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Haddin, Siddle, Pattinson, Lyon, Hilfenhaus

[locky801]

Clarke wins the toss and bats under cloudy skies with a bit of humidity

[Media Park]

Only change from the likely team I posted is no Ojha, Yadav is in.