The same difference

[rkt.india]

3-0 is not the only similarity going into the final Test in the two series between India and Australia in 2011-12 and the ongoing one as Krishnaraj Singh Jasana tells you We haven’t seen a trailblazing triple-hundred in this series, highlight of the last one, but what is striking is the similarity between the India-Australia series of 2011-12 Down Under and the ongoing one. And, Sachin Tendulkar’s highest score has been in the 80s (80 then and 81 before Delhi Test). Both times the series ended before the final Test and if the script in the final match is anything to go by then the Australians would be a worried lot as they had beaten India by 298 runs in the fourth and final Test in Adelaide in 2012 after going up 3-0 in the four-match series. Incidentally there is a chance that Australian captain Michael Clarke would sit out due to a back injury just like MS Dhoni did last year but due to a suspension. And, surprisingly, while Virender Sehwag captained India in the final Test in 2012, Shane Watson might well do it in two days time. Simply put both sets of players might not enjoy a cordial relationship. That’s the beginning of the many similarities. 1st: Melbourne and Chennai The first matches of both these series were keenly contested in the beginning, had moments where it could have gone anywhere and then ended up being big-margin victories for the host nation. In Melbourne, India were 214 for 2 at the closing moments of Day 2, Australia had been all out for 333 and Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar had just shared a partnership of 117 when Sachin got out in the final over of the day to lose initiative. The next day visitors got out for 282, Australia gave them a target of 292 and the Indians lost by 121 runs to go 1-0 down, In Chennai this time round, it was the third day and Sachin has just got out with India at 196 for 4, still trailing by 184 when Indian captain MS Dhoni came in. A wicket here and an uncertain batsman in Ravindra Jadeja would have come in followed by the tail. Dhoni blasted his first-ever double-hundred, took the initiative with him as the hosts took a 192 run-lead and went on to win the Test by eight wickets. 2nd Test: Sydney and Hyderabad In both Tests, visitors won the toss, batted first but posted thin totals, 191 by India in Sydney and 237 by Australia in Hyderabad. Then the hosts put up mammoth totals to annihilate the opposition. Australia in 2012, posted 659 to take a lead of 268 and beat India by an innings and 68 runs while the Indians to there credit lead by 266 runs (just two short) and then went on to win the Test by an innings and 135 runs. Another similarity is a triple-century stands. In Sydney of 312 runs between Michael Clarke (329 not out) and Mike Hussey (150 not out) while in Hyderabad Cheteshwar Pujara (204) and Murali Vijay (167) added 360. 3rd Test: Perth and Mohali The curious tale continued in the third Test in both series. A left-hander at the beginning of his career, Shikhar Dhawan’s blitzkrieg 187 on debut while David Warner’s 180 just over a year back, in what was just his fifth Test match. Bowlers taking five wickets yet ending on the losing side was another feature with Umesh Yadav taking 5 for 93 last year while Peter Siddle’s 5 for 71 last Sunday. This one’s indeed made somewhere up there.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/sports/134397-the-same-difference-.html

[Junyfan]

Simply,not good enough.

[Sidhoni]

:nice:

[SLICKR392]

TFS

[bharat297]

4th Test - Losing captain doesn't play (Clarke/Dhoni). Vice-captain (Watson/Sehwag) takes over the side despite internal conflict between captain and vice-captain (Clarke vs Watson / Dhoni vs Sehwag).