2nd Test: India v Australia at Bangalore on Mar 4-8, 2017

[Meapro Ham]

Australia made the pitch look worse than it was yesterday. It's not a popular opinion around here but the batting was a little too defensive yesterday as India have shown today.

 

[undertaker]

This was the chance to seal the series before India woke up. Did the job with the ball in the first innings but can't make a decent score with passengers like Warner, Handscombe and Mmarsh in the top 6. Great fight by Renshaw, Smarsh and (surprisingly) Wade but brainless Starc's dismissal started the rot this afternoon and unless there's a collapse in these last overs, hard to see us chasing the likely 200+ they will set us. Really disappointing after such a great first day.

Agree with you. Today was the chance to put the result beyond doubt and go 2-0 up. Had Australia batted the way they did in the first 30 mins today and got to around 350 or so, that would've psychologically crushed India and I don't believe they would've come back from that.

I said earlier, Starc/Lyon/Hazlewood's wickets....I'd be very angry if I were Smith/Lehmann. In the context of the test (considering it was only day 3 with plenty of time left), that was NOT the strategy to take with 4 wickets in hand, going for those airborne slogs. As Gussy boy would say, "NO NO NO NO NO!"

Australia can still win this if they can skittle India cheaply tomorrow. However, if Rahane/Pujara continue building the partnership and end up with a lead of 200+, it would have to go down as one of Australia's greatest 4th innings run chases if they can chase down that total, especially in an overseas tour.

And sorry to labor the point again, but having your 'all-rounder' Mitch Marsh only bowling 3 overs is pathetic. Might as well have picked a 5th front-line bowler (to balance the workload of the other 4 bowlers) or picked another batsman in place of Marsh and had Smith/Warner/Wade rolling the arm over for several overs. Yes, Matthew Wade has bowled before in test cricket:

 

[Bazal]

I'd say India have got this match back to dead even at this stage. Crucial for us to break through early and restrict them to under 200 in front if we're to wrestle any control back. Their tail has done nothing so far so a wicket or two straight away tomorrow and we're right back in it

 

[Meapro Ham]

Wishful thinking lads. India are comfortably on top now. Pretty slim chance for us now.

 

[8Ball]

Interesting day's play. I thought the pitch would have broken up been near unplayable by the last session. It's held together. It might hold together well enough to make it reasonable to bat on tomorrow and first half of day 5.

 

[Eelectrica]

Mitchell marsh literally contributes zero with bat and ball. Why keep picking him?

That really is the question. 5 overs so far for no result and 0 runs. MMarsh is that unwanted subscription that people just keep forgetting to cancel. Selectors have probably forgotten he's even in the side.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

We're still in this but only just. Our biggest problem is that we basically have 5 batsmen, then 3 guys who average around 20 - 30 at 6,7,8. Wade for all his faults should bat above Levers who is basically a passenger in this side.

Hanscome too looks less effective in these conditions. Warner has to stand up if we are to win, its great to score hundreds in Australia but lets see some application overseas.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

I jumped on the draw at $7. Forecast to be rain and storms the next few days, should make things interesting.

 

[vvvrulz]

India are all over them now, their confidence is back. Australia missed a trick and should have squeezed 30 more runs or so and taken some of those half chances.

Great test match though, hoping Aussie find something tomorrow or those insufferable Indian fans will come rushing back from hiding

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Sad to say Australia lost it day 3.

Has been a great test but we won't win it from here. :-(

 

[mattyg]

I'm still fairly confident we can win this if we are chasing something around 200-250. India might have their groove back so we won't want to throw this one away from a very winnable position. We just need to show some application with the bat and hope our top 5 can do most of the chasing. I agree though that Wade should bat ahead of MMarsh, who should be axed after this test for good. Has contributed absolutely nothing

 

[Meapro Ham]

That last session had an ominous feeling to it. Definitely all over if we don't get a bunch of wickets early.

 

[Meapro Ham]

I'm still fairly confident we can win this if we are chasing something around 200-250. India might have their groove back so we won't want to throw this one away from a very winnable position. We just need to show some application with the bat and hope our top 5 can do most of the chasing. I agree though that Wade should bat ahead of MMarsh, who should be axed after this test for good. Has contributed absolutely nothing

Mate I hope you're right but big call to say we could chase that many. India have their tails up and will create huge pressure. It would be up to Smith. The rest of our plodders cant do it without a big dig from him.

 

[hineyrulz]

The goal this morning should be keep it tight as possible and hopefully the wickets might come, far to much rubbish bowled yesterday and the GOAT back to his second innings shitfulness. Haze can't do it all himself, and MMarsh and Wade should be fired from a cannon into the sun.

 

[Meapro Ham]

and MMarsh and Wade should be fired from a cannon into the sun.

lol

 

[Twizzle]

hard to work this pitch out, its not quiet dead just yet so there are still runs in it imo but that can change

 

[Twizzle]

Also I thought Kholi was unlucky, the on field umpire surely had some doubt and it should never have gone to DRS, however I slept OK last night.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

So M Marsh has, so far, bowled five overs for no wickets and faced 11 balls for no runs.

I guess that still makes his top five best performances.

 

[Bgoodorgoodatit]

Yeah that handy 5th bowling option who's also a solid test number 6 batsmen is really paying off for us... Bravo, selectors.. Bravo

 

[Fangs]

Fairly even test match, momentum with India after their fightback in the last session yesterday.

Definately need early breakthroughs, 200 is a realistic target. This still isn't an easy pitch to bat on.

The total is relative though. If Warner can step up in the fourth innings and play out of his skin then suddenly 250 doesn't look too distant.