1st Test: India v Australia at Pune on Feb 23-27, 2017 - AUST WIN BY 333 RUNS

[Timbo]

Mark Waugh clearly doesn't watch a lot of domestic cricket. You can tell during his BBL commentary stints. They ask him a question about a young player and he's a deer in the headlights.

Our teams are picked on gut instinct and 'who fits in best in the sheds'. It's a f**king disgrace.

 

[TheParraboy]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-australia-2016-17/content/story/1083909.html


Smith told reporters that the pitch was "incredibly dry". "I think it will take spin from ball one," Smith said. "There are a couple of divots out of the wicket as well. I haven't really seen a wicket like that before a Test match, so I think it is going to take a lot of spin and potentially some up and down movement for the fast bowlers as well."

While Smith was certain India were going in with three spinners, Australia themselves are thinking of three, which could mean Josh Hazlewood or Mitch Marsh might sit out. Smith explained the logic of playing three spinners if Australia do.

"When someone started to look a little bit comfortable against one of the spinners, they'd just change it and bowl someone else," Smith said. "And then when they start looking comfortable against them they go back. And you can chop and change and not let the batter get in a bit of a rhythm against a spinner. I guess that's part of the thinking behind potentially playing three spinners. But we'll wait and see."

 

[8Ball]

Looking forward to Wade's keeping with 3 spinners

 

[Timbo]

Leave out Mitch Marsh and play Agar then!

f**k me, why the f**k are these dickheads so f**king dumb!!!!!

 

[TheParraboy]

Looking forward to Wade's keeping with 3 spinners

keeping to Stephen Okeefe

"Nice one Skull" ?

 

[mozza91]

Looking forward to Wade's keeping with 3 spinners

It's made even more painful by the fact we watched a quality keeper playing for Australia Z last night. Meanwhile we get the cross eyed midget for the Test team.

 

[8Ball]

keeping to Stephen Okeefe

"Nice one Skull" ?

I think he's already gone with Sokky

 

[JJ]

Playing three spinners is pretty much a concession you can't get India out and will have to bowl a huge amount of overs

 

[8Ball]

From cricinfo:

8.55am From what I can see, there is no gloss, no shine on the pitch. There is grass, a decent bit. But it looks abrasive, plenty of cracks. This will deteriorate rapidly as the game progresses. The toss becomes even more crucial for Australia.

"I've never seen a pitch like this in India. I've seen turning tracks, but [never like this]," says Ravi Shastri at the pitch report.

 

[8Ball]

Australia bat

 

[TheParraboy]

capacity crowd of about 30 at the moment

looks like Haze is playing

 

[yobbo84]

From cricinfo:

8.55am From what I can see, there is no gloss, no shine on the pitch. There is grass, a decent bit. But it looks abrasive, plenty of cracks. This will deteriorate rapidly as the game progresses. The toss becomes even more crucial for Australia.

"I've never seen a pitch like this in India. I've seen turning tracks, but [never like this]," says Ravi Shastri at the pitch report.

Good - as it should be. Home curators willing to design a pitch to win their team a match, as opposed to a road designed to last 5 days as they do over here.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Does anyone know how the hell do I tune in the new 507 on a Telstra T-Box? PM if anyone knows.

Just flicked it on to find out it's shifted etc. Grrrrr.

 

[mave]

Lets hope Warner remembers this is a 5 day game, well hopefully 5 days anywsy

 

[Timbo]

Will we make it to tea?

Looking at the deck, I vote no.

 

[TiggaPlease]

Glad to have the Marsh brothers recalled into the team. Both have done the hard yards to put themselves back in the selection frame.

 

[Tommy Smith]

AB is so much smarter than any of the selectors.

He just said that fast bowling has been and remains the key to beating India in India.

Why is everyone in the Aussie set up too dumb to realise this?

 

[hineyrulz]

Awesome MMarsh is back!!

After getting dropped it was great to see him work his way back into the team through his great shield form averaging 6.

 

[Timbo]

I honestly thought they picked MMarsh as the fourth seamer and nothing else.

I really can't fathom this. It's like when you'd play junior sport and the coach would be some gumbies dad, and he'd always be the captain, bat at 3, open the bowling even though he was a genius who didn't know which end of the bat to hold.

Lehmann clearly loves him and he's unf**kingtouchable.

 

[mave]

well we win the battle of the anthems.