The World Champions(Aus) are on the defensive for sure...

[Rahul Khan]

Australia paying for their arrogance?

New Delhi: With the kind of run the Australians were having against India for four years, defending all kind of scores and chasing everything, they could have been forgiven for thinking that they just needed to take the field to beat this side. Also, that almost anybody in their team (any combination) was good enough to tackle the Indians. With the Indians in disarray - without adequate rest for the tour and with senior-versus-junior questions becoming uglier by the day - it looked a matter of time before they wrapped up the series 6-nil. At least, that must have been the objective after Bangalore washout. The Aussies looked determined to avenge their T20 semifinal humiliation in style. But underestimating a side does no good. The prime example being persisting with Hodge (now just 23 runs from four innings) while overlooking Haddin, a move that smacked of arrogance against the opposition’s ability. Haddin’s importance can be underscored by the fact that out of three century partnerships in the series so far, all by Australia, he has been part of two along with Clarke and Symonds. Both time for the crucial fifth wicket.

Century Partnerships in the Future Cup ODI Players Runs Bangalore Haddin-Clarke 144 Hyderabad Clarke-Symonds 123 Kochi Haddin-Symonds 108

If Ponting was to be there, he should have been in place of out of form Hodge. A challenging series like the one in India is not for rediscovering of form, it is about retaining the players with good form in the side. Australia did that with Hayden six years ago, when they hurriedly included him in the 2001 ODI side against India after a tremendous run-feast in the test series. In just five outings against India in his brief career, Haddin has shown his mettle time and again. His average against India is a tremendous 56, with the best match saving innings being at Kuala Lumpur a year ago, with Australia looking like failing to reach even 150 in a do or die battle against India. They were 117 for six in their final tri-series group match, with all top batsmen gone and Haddin left only with tail enders. It was then the keeper sparkled with an invaluable 46, which along with Hogg’s 38 got Australia to 213. Lee’s five-wicket haul did the rest and Australia eventually went on to win the tri-series. Strange, that such a batsman was left out against a quality team. Probably a chastened Australia will get him for the remaining three ODIs. Bowling and Barbs

Bowling indiscipline at times can also be construed as arrogance about the perceived ability to blast the opposition with sheer speed. No use in harping now about the 39 extras including 31 runs off wides. Trends were there in the second ODI when there were as many as 27 extras in India’s score of 222, with 17 coming off no balls and wides. That kind of indiscipline in two out of three (completed) outings had to pinch sometime,and it did in the fourth ODI. Then, probably the war of words harmed Ponting’s side more. Targeting the Indians even before the series united the team like never before. The signs were visible in the 3rd ODI when Yuvraj, Tendulkar and Dhoni took the fight to the Australians. And the fruits were reaped in the fourth encounter. Now suddenly, Australia will be thinking about their batting and bowling composition. They might even be looking at a 4-2 score line. The World Champions are on the defensive for sure. source: http://www.cricketnext.com/news/australia-paying-for-their-arrogance/27364-13-single.html

[fineleg]

The World Champions are on the defensive for sure.

source: http://www.cricketnext.com/news/australia-paying-for-their-arrogance/27364-13-single.html

LOL!!! Yeah, sure.

[Rahul Khan]

Irfan fasted today, and I went to Makkah and just came back... Inshallah, India will win this game...a thumping victory!

[Ram]

Why does the article have such a ridiculously submissive feel about it ? The way its written , it seems as though the Aussies are cricketing Gods and doing us a favor by losing now and then. A 4-2 scoreline , according to the author , seems a compromise for the Australians. And the author keeps proving he knows Zilch about cricket by attributing the continuous selection of Hodge and their erratic bowling to Aussie arrogance. I dont see any relation at all. We are a good team and we will run the Aussies ragged, i am sure. No need to feel defensive about hammering the Australians.

[Rahul Khan]

No need to feel defensive about hammering the Australians.

There is no point in being defensive...our team must take them to the task and hammer them like anything...!