2nd Test: Australia v India at Sydney Jan 3-7, 2012

[Valheru]

It's day 3 not day 4. There was simply no strategic advantage from declaring. None, zip, zero, zilch, nada. The only possible explanation for declaring 470 in front at the middle session drinks break of day 3 is because you fear the opposition making 600 (or you fear all your critics bagging you for playing for yourself - which just ends up seeing you being bagged for trying too hard to look like you only care for the team (haterz have to hate after all)).

By your own admission declaring now leaves open the chance to be level by the beginning of day 5. If as you assert it's 4 out all out then batting another two hours wouldn't have made much difference, except to make India bat in worse conditions, whilst they are even more tired and demoralised.

We'll win, and we deserve to, but we've given away some valuable advantages for no good reason.

Not. Sure. If. Serious.

Declaring means the aussies are confident of bowling India out for less than what the lead is, not the other way around.

 

[Meth]

Left with Clarke on 320 odd. Went to run a few errands and wanted to come back to see him knock off 400. Seriously gutted about the declaration. Maybe he was getting a bit fatigued, but there was absolutely no reason for him to declare. He could have batted out the day and would have been left with 2 days to bowl out a hope-deprived, strangled Indian team. I would have loved to see Clarke knock up 400.

Anyway, it's done. You have to admire his selflessness in putting the team first. Super knock.

 

[Meth]

I think Clarke may have had criticism that he would have copped (unfairly) if India batted out 2 days and secured a draw in the back of his mind. People may have moaned that his innings was too self-indulgent for a captain. IMO, Clarke scoring 400 would have been a major boost for a team that has done it relatively tough over the last year or so.

 

[firechild]

India could well be 150 runs into the chase for the loss of 1 or 2 wickets by stumps. That leaves the door open for a draw (an Indian win is rediculously unlikely).

 

[firechild]

I think Clarke may have had criticism that he would have copped (unfairly) if India batted out 2 days and secured a draw in the back of his mind.

I'd say that's the likely reason he declared early.

 

[yappy]

Thats way to pessimistic and negative thinking for my opinion.

We just live in a "I want it now" generation, if there hasn't been a wicket for 10mins suddenly we are struggling.

To suggest that we should have played in such a way that we expect the opposition to get 650 in the second innings, well might as well give up.

What possible reason could there be to give India the chance to bat on a beautiful flat deck in bright sunshine when you're up by 470 with 7.5 sessions to play other than you expect the opposition to score 650? Perhaps Clarke believed he could earn a day off on day 5, but that would just be terribly arrogant and I don't think that's why he did it.

I've advocated that we should have allowed ourselves well over 180 overs (more than we ended up batting) to bowl out India and win the game. Anything more than that is ridiculously pessimistic and negative which is why I have bagged Clarke's decision. You don't get on top like we were today very often, and when you do you fill your boots. It would have been much more attacking to make another 100-150 and only let India get an hour tonight, before having to bat under cloudy skies tomorrow. As it is now we've just given the Indians a great chance to get set, to wear down our bowlers and open up the chance of being set a tricky chase. We'll win it, but I believe very very strongly that we would have made it easier to win if we'd left the declaration til about now or even a little longer.

I've no doubt that if it was someone else going towards 400 Clarke would have kept going as he should have. It seems he's made a decision based on how it would 'look'. That's bad captaincy.

 

[Meth]

What's happened to Gambhir now? He's remembered how to bat

 

[firechild]

India are showing how good this pitch is for batting and the lead is now well under 400 with 9 wickets in hand, Gambir finding some form and Tendulkar (and others that relish these conditions) still to come. A good innings by India could give them some confidence for the rest of the series.

 

[Lego_Man]

It seems to me to be a "PR" move. Unless he really felt the Indians were mentally shagged at that stage, there doesnt seem to me to be any advantage to not have batted until half a session before stumps.

I think one day he will look back and regret the move, coming as it is in a series that will be a flogging anyway.

And if it was a decision out of respect for Tubby/Bradman, that's even more ridiculous IMO. If you've got there, you deserve it. It was a brilliant innings. Why limit yourself by prematurely declaring?

Will be interesting to see what he comes out with in the media.

 

[SharkShocked]

Have any of you considered the fact that weather forecasts may come into it?

There is some projection of rain tomorrow... Could have been in his mind.

 

[firechild]

The small amount of predicted rain will have little effect. Some morning showers and mainly fine for the next day and a half.

 

[SharkShocked]

I also would have batted until the end of the day maybe 10 overs before the end of the day... forcing them to bat for 6+ sessions to secure a draw.

But Clarke has been known so far to declare fairly early on and make it more sporting than say Ponting... who preferred an extra 50-100 runs over what was ideal.

Just wondering if they were worried about the potential of losing some time to rain...

 

[yappy]

Not. Sure. If. Serious.

Declaring means the aussies are confident of bowling India out for less than what the lead is, not the other way around.

You don't declare on runs alone, you declare on time v runs. Time simply wasn't an issue, so he should have kept batting. If he's been told tomorrow is a wash out then fair enough. But from all the publicly available info there is no reason to assume we'll lose much if any time.

I would agree that assuming 460 is more than enough though would be a very aggressive declaration, because for all their current form problems the Indian middle order is still capable of punishing you, especially on a flat day 3 SCG track. He didn't declare because he felt they had enough runs, he declared because he was worried about time.

It would have been a fine declaration on day 4, but on day 3 it was waaaay premature.

 

[Fast Eddie]

India doing it easy. I thought they were supposed to be knocked over already?

 

[SharkShocked]

The timing of it can also work against India though Yappy... instead of thinking we only need to bat for 4.5 or 5 sessions to escape, they need to bat for 6.5.

Keep in mind if they reach the target and only lead by 50 runs and are dismissed, it's an Australian victory day 5 anyway.

The time that is left surely will worry the Indians, they won't be thinking its possible to win.

 

[chrisD]

Killer ball.

 

[redvscotty]

Hilfy!

 

[Horrie Is God]

Here comes Siddle's bunny..

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Hilfy is a champ. Great come back. With this form, Harris won't be back anytime soon bar Perth.

 

[Sam_the_man]

India doing it easy. I thought they were supposed to be knocked over already?

Nek minit.....