Mouth watering prospect in melbourne!

[manoj_admlab]

Lawson backs pace bowlers against India Jamie Pandaram, Sydney December 17, 2007 THE quickest way to get from India's top order to tailenders would be in straight lines delivered by four speedsters, according to Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson, who sees little value in a spinner toiling on unresponsive surfaces during the coming Australian Tests. Back in Sydney after his side's recent 1-0 Test series loss to the Indians, Lawson said yesterday Australia would be better served with a four-pronged pace attack against an aggressive opposition, dismissing the need for spinner Brad Hogg unless outrageous turn is expected from the Melbourne pitch. Hogg is favoured to earn a call-up for the Boxing Day Test, but could yet be displaced by a fourth paceman if form and conditions warrant. Lawson, whose leg-spinner Danish Kaneria struggled to penetrate Tendulkar and co. on turning Indian wickets, is expecting a confrontational battle this summer. "They play tough," he said of the Indians, who were unlucky to leave with a 1-1 series draw from their last visit to Australia. "They won't be taking a backward step — verbally or physically. They will stand up to whatever is thrown at them. "It depends on how the pitches are looking of course, but India doesn't have a problem playing spin. Hogg has been great in one-day cricket but I think, all things being equal, Australia should use four quicks. "Michael Clarke can bowl a few overs and with Andrew Symonds in the team you can use your part-time spin effectively, so Australia might be better off with four quicks, and don't pick a spinner." The MCG and SCG offer the opportunity for turn on the fourth and fifth days, so if Hogg is overlooked for the first two Tests he will be battling to fight into the side for the remainder of the series. It's understood that the Australian selectors would prefer to play a spinner, and with paceman Shaun Tait in irresistible form the place of incumbent Mitchell Johnson could be in jeopardy. Tait has shown an intimidating characteristic to his play in the Twenty20 and one-day games against New Zealand this past week. Lawson's argument would also allow for the development of Clarke, whose spin stocks have been steadily rising. But Hogg, who has not played an international Test for four years, also has the backing of captain Ricky Ponting. To compare, India's conundrum is whether to play spinner Harbhajan Singh alongside captain Anil Kumble when neither managed to turn the ball greatly at home. Meanwhile, part-timer Yuvraj Singh had notable success, taking 2-9 off five overs in the final day day of the last Test against Pakistan. While Harbhajan's record against Australia is impressive, using the ever-improving Yuvraj as the spinning alternative may well be India's first consideration. As usual, India's strength lies with its batsmen, and Lawson believes they will be full of confidence against a new-look Australian bowling attack minus Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. "India has got to try and bat Australia out of games. Kumble is a very good thinking captain and he has been getting out of them whatever they've got," said Lawson. "It all goes back to the batting; they've got a quality batting line-up and they will be able to get into games and save games. "If the wickets are good batting wickets and quite flat — which they have been in Australia in recent times — India have a good chance. "Their big opportunity is to make big runs, as they did on the last tour. (Top-order batsman Rahul) Dravid was able to make runs against an Australian team with McGrath and Warne." India's quicks must improve rapidly on recent displays if they are to limit the damage of Australia's batting line-up, Lawson added.

[poori_meri]

India too old, too tired, too rushed http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22940515-11088,00.html

[SachDan]

Aussie Media Underdone India have no chance By Jon Pierik December 18, 2007 INDIA will fly into a hornet's nest in Melbourne amid concerns about their ageing stars and preparation for their four-Test battle with Australia. Former Australia stars Steve Waugh, Ian Healy and Damien Fleming expressed reservations about whether the tourists could finally give Australian spectators the contest they desperately crave this summer. This came as bookies all but wrote off the tourists' hopes of becoming the first nation in 14 years to claim a Test series victory on Australian soil. India will have just the one full day to acclimatise before beginning their lone warm-up clash from Thursday - a three-day affair against Victoria at the Junction Oval - ahead of the Boxing Day Test. While the tourists have just completed three tough Tests at home and scored a breakthrough series victory over Pakistan, the conditions there will be far different to what they can expect this summer. Healy, the former Australia wicketkeeper, said India's governing body had not done the right thing by Anil Kumble's team. "It's not so much a crowded schedule, it's when they plan it," he said. "They didn't have sufficient thought when doing it. But they have gone along with it for some reason and left themselves short for a series that should be extremely important for India's fortunes. "It could be the last time we see three of their legends. The other thing is they know how precious a victory is to their country and it seems to me their administrators haven't given themselves a fair chance. "It needed to be thought of that way two years ago when the schedule was done." Healy said another tour match would have provided the ideal preparation to combat an Australian team just two wins away from equalling its own record streak of 16 straight. "Another fortnight might have been perfect. They are coming off some hard cricket of late but hard cricket in totally opposite conditions," Healy said. "That's not good. I think they are going to have to cram too much, too quickly at a time when they really need to be spot-on for Melbourne and Sydney because Perth could be dangerous for them." India have traditionally struggled to combat bouncers and can expect a torrid short-pitched barrage from the likes of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and perhaps Shaun Tait. This will be as big a test as ever for Sachin Tendulkar, 34, Sourav Ganguly, 35, Rahul Dravid, who turns 35 in January, and V.V.S Laxman, 33, who are all nearing the end of their careers and may have fading reflexes. "That's why there will be a temptation to pick Tait because they are probably much more comfortable against spin than pace," Waugh said. "If they can get stuck into their top-order with some short stuff and be very aggressive, it's a bit of an ageing batting line-up, too. "There are a few question marks over India although on the other side is that they have a lot of experience." While India does boast vast experience, there are concerns about the team's fitness and ability to stay healthy after an overload of cricket in recent months. "My concern with India is that they have played that much cricket they are going to have to keep their energy up in this Test series," Fleming said. Centrebet had Australia at $1.26 to claim the series, the draw was next best with $6 while India have blown out to $8. Other betting agencies won't open their books on the series until later in the week, but TAB Sportsbet's Gary Davies gave the Indians little chance.

[Donny]

Sounds like great news for those of you wanting to back India. :regular_smile: 7/1 to win the series ? Not bad odds for a 2 horse race. No, Aussie bookmakers don't accept ICF $s. :wink_smile:

[manoj_admlab]

Hogg and Tait push for Test place Peter English December 18, 2007 Bowlers picked in 12-man outfit Brad Hogg will face another last-minute battle to resume his Test career after he was named in a 12-man squad alongside Shaun Tait for the first match against India. Hogg lost a bowl-off to Stuart MacGill for the opening game of the Sri Lanka series, but he is now in a different fight as the selectors decide whether to field an all-pace attack at the MCG on Boxing Day or include his left-arm spin. Steve Waugh has pushed for Hogg's inclusion and Harbhajan Singh would love him to play, believing he is significantly inferior to MacGill or Shane Warne. "Brad deserves the opportunity to once again represent Australia in Test cricket," Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. Hogg, who has not appeared in a Test since 2003, has been an outstanding performer in Australia's one-day sides, but he has struggled in first-class fixtures since taking eight wickets against Victoria, adding another five victims in three games. With MacGill out following wrist surgery for at least two matches, and probably the entire series, Hogg has an opportunity to play a string of games. However, containing India's batsmen during 25 overs a day is a much harder task for Hogg than attacking them during a one-day international when they are obliged to hit out. India's plans could involve going after Hogg or sitting on him - and his hard-to-pick wrong'un - while waiting for a loose delivery. The threats are much easier than the dangers provided by Tait. India have come from a series on their low-bouncing pitches and they have only three days to acclimatise during a match against Victoria at the Junction Oval. Tait's pace has been fierce against New Zealand over the past week and Australia will wait to analyse the drop-in surface at the MCG before making a call. Originally in the opening squad for Sri Lanka, Tait pulled out with injury and is looking to play his first Test since 2005 after regaining his spot from Ben Hilfenhaus. Australia already have three bowlers who complement each other, with Brett Lee providing the pace, Stuart Clark the consistent steep bounce and Mitchell Johnson the left-arm variety. If four fast men were employed Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds could break things up with their part-time spin, but it is a risky option against players who mastered MacGill and Shane Warne in previous series. Australia squad Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait. Peter English is the Australasian editor of Cricinfo

[Chandan]

Not a very good news here: Zaheer's fitness a worry for India ahead of boxing day Test Wednesday, December 19, 2007 15:58 IST MELBOURNE: Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan's fitness must be a worrying factor for the Indian think-tank ahead of the Boxing day Test against Australia with the left-arm seamer yet to recover from his ankle injury. The paceman, who missed the final Test against Pakistan in Bangalore due to the injury, had his right heel heavily bandaged while the Indians had their first practice session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this afternoon. Zaheer has impressed one and all with his performance since his return to international cricket last November and is seen as the central figure in achieving India's long-cherished aim of a maiden Test series victory Down Under. After his stint with Worcestershire, a transformed Zaheer picked up 13 wickets at 30.38 from three Tests against South Africa in the away series and gave England a dose of their own medicine to grab 18 wickets at 20.33 in three matches. So good was Zaheer against England on their own turf that the home batsmen had then conceded that it was almost impossible to pick his line and movement. He picked up eight wickets from two Tests against Bangladesh (21.88), and five against Pakistan from two matches (38.20). The Mumbai bowler has also claimed 40 wickets from 34 one-dayers since last year. However, Zaheer's previous trip to Australia was not a happy one even though he picked up a five-wicket haul in the opening Test in Brisbane. The speedster, who was not fit enough, then played the second Test in Melbourne only to return sorry figures of none for 103. He took no further part in the series. Zaheer's fitness worries could force the team management to get in touch with the Indian board to send in lanky Munaf Patel as replacement for the first Test. Patel, who missed the Bangalore Test against Pakistan due to injury, has been declared fit though the board has advised him to play domestic games before putting his hand up for selection. Munaf is the 17th member of the side and presently a stand-by. ---------------------------------------------------------- I'll keep my fingers crossed! Please Zaheer!

[Dhondy]

Not a very good news here: Zaheer's fitness a worry for India ahead of boxing day Test Wednesday, December 19, 2007 15:58 IST MELBOURNE: Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan's fitness must be a worrying factor for the Indian think-tank ahead of the Boxing day Test against Australia with the left-arm seamer yet to recover from his ankle injury. The paceman, who missed the final Test against Pakistan in Bangalore due to the injury, had his right heel heavily bandaged while the Indians had their first practice session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this afternoon

You can't "heavily bandage" the heel, Chandan. More likely he was wearing a heel support, such as a heel cup or visco-heel, which is sensible, given his recent injury. He'll play. Oh, the other thing- Sreesanth will join up after the Sydney Test if I know him at all.

[Chandan]

You can't "heavily bandage" the heel, Chandan. More likely he was wearing a heel support, such as a heel cup or visco-heel, which is sensible, given his recent injury. He'll play. Oh, the other thing- Sreesanth will join up after the Sydney Test if I know him at all.

How I wish that should happen. But in my opinion he should not rush because then he might do some grave damage,if not fully fit. Before being perfectly fit and having tested it(fitness) in a FC match, he should not rush!

[manoj_admlab]

India are welcome to go after Hogg: Ponting Ricky Ponting says India are welcome to have a go at Brad Hogg, the left-arm spinner primed to play a role in the MCG Test, but says they will do so at their own peril. "If they want to go after him, well, that's good, because I think that's probably the best way for us to take wickets," Ponting said. "Hoggy is bowling very well, he's very confident, he's been talking up how well he's been bowling right through the summer ... he'll do a good job." Anil Kumble, India's captain, has identified Hogg as a potential weak link, after Harbhajan Singh took aim at him earlier this week. "I think one-day cricket is a bit different. We have played him [Hogg] before so we should not have a problem," said Kumble. "We play spinners day in, day out. It's not an issue for us." Ponting, however, warned that overconfidence could work in Australia's favour. "A lot of international players have struggled reading Hoggy in one-day cricket especially," he said. "He's brought a lot of guys undone with his variations in that form of the game and I can't see why there would be anything different in Test cricket. "If you'd looked at him before the World Cup, you probably wouldn't have thought he would have been able to have that sort of impact," he said. "But he has kept changing little things, little variations, and he's varied his pace more. He generally bowls at a faster pace now as a stock ball than he did three or four years ago, which I think has helped him a lot. He's learning all the time, which we all are." Hogg has played only four Tests so far, the last one against Zimbabwe in 2003.

[Chandan]

Ricky Ponting says India are welcome to have a go at Brad Hogg' date=' the left-arm spinner primed to play a role in the MCG Test, but says they will do so at their own peril. ".

Does this mean that Tait will not be selected?? Anyway, here is another news from Indian camp: Harbhajan may 'miss out' at MCG December 19, 2007 - 7:36PM India's Harbhajan Singh - one of Australia's few tormenters of recent years - could be squeezed out of the first cricket Test unless the MCG produces a big-spinning wicket, according to visiting vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Just as Australia must decide between playing spinner Brad Hogg and an all-pace attack on Boxing Day, India's selectors face a crucial decision on getting the balance of their attack right. Dhoni holds the perfect position to view Harbhajan's offspin and Anil Kumble's legspin from behind the stumps, and said both spinners were bowling well and could trouble Australia. But he conceded India might be forced to select an attack of three fast bowlers and only one spinner on Australian pitches, which would condemn Harbhajan to spectator given Kumble is the captain. "It depends on the conditions and how much the wickets will suit both the spinners at the same time, that's a crucial decision," Dhoni said. "You have to play with three fast bowlers in most of the places in Australia so of course you have to decide, it depends on the conditions. "If it's Australia most of the time you would go with three and one. "You never know, if there's a wicket that can favour the spinners later on you can play with two and two and Sourav (Ganguly) can bowl a bit (of medium pace)." Kumble and Harbhajan bowled the most overs for India in their recent home series win over Pakistan, and have excellent records against the world's best side. Harbhajan was the star of India's 2001 series win over Steve Waugh's side and averages six runs less a wicket against Australia, having also helped bowl his side to victory in the last Test these sides played, in Mumbai in 2004. He is also one of India's most combative cricketers and has had several verbal run-ins with the Australians. Dhoni is one of the new breed in the Indian side, but was firm on what he expected from the wickets on his first tour of Australia. "Lots of bounce," he said. "If it's Australia, even if it's slow and low, it will be nothing compared to the fastest wicket in India." Although he is yet to experience that sort of lift, Dhoni gave the impression it was unlikely to worry him or deter him from his brash strokeplay. He also said he and his teammates weren't fearful of Australia's Shaun Tait, whose speed and unique slinging could make him a tricky opponent given India's limited view of him. "It's the same as when you go and face (Sri Lanka's Lasith) Malinga or (Pakistan's) Shoaib (Akhtar), guys who have a very different action," Dhoni said. "Of course Tait is an express quick bowler. "We have seen the videos and all the different angles and the front-on videos. "But you have to perform on the field and you know how you adapt yourself quickly when he's bowling on to you, that's very important."

[Cricketics]

Harbhajan missing out isn't really surprising.. even if it was a spin friendly track.. India would have definately gone with 3 seamers..

[King Tendulkar]

Just gutted as a uk desi that the times for watching the aussie games are awful. Games start at midnight uk time:((

[The Outsider]

US east coast is ideal for watching the matches in Australia. They'll start 6:30 in the evening and finish at 1:30 AM. Perfect.

[Predator_05]

Just gutted as a uk desi that the times for watching the aussie games are awful. Games start at midnight uk time:((

hahaha. Now we'll put your loyalty to the test. If you are a TRUE Indian fan (and not just an English born coconut) you WILL stay up ALL NIGHT to watch India play.

[King Tendulkar]

hahaha. Now we'll put your loyalty to the test. If you are a TRUE Indian fan (and not just an English born coconut) you WILL stay up ALL NIGHT to watch India play.

:hysterical::hysterical:

[King Tendulkar]

I will watch it all night! Just wont have access to internet to prove it:finger:

[Predator_05]

Just wont have access to internet to prove it:finger:

Yeah yeah, whateva m8, i see you are already making your excuses now. Point proven - COCONUT. Here, have a Bounty...

[DesiChap]

Zaheer's fitness worry for India ahead of Boxing Day Test Zaheer's fitness worry for India ahead of Boxing Day Test PTI MELBOURNE, December 19: Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan's fitness must be a worrying factor for the Indian think-tank ahead of the Boxing day Test against Australia with the left-arm seamer yet to recover from his ankle injury. The paceman, who missed the final Test against Pakistan in Bangalore due to the injury, had his right heel heavily bandaged while the Indians had their first practice session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this afternoon. Zaheer has impressed one and all with his performance since his return to international cricket last November and is seen as the central figure in achieving India's long-cherished aim of a maiden Test series victory Down Under. After his stint with Worcestershire, a transformed Zaheer picked up 13 wickets at 30.38 from three Tests against South Africa in the away series and gave England a dose of their own medicine to grab 18 wickets at 20.33 in three matches. So good was Zaheer against England on their own turf that the home batsmen had then conceded that it was almost impossible to pick his line and movement. He picked up eight wickets from two Tests against Bangladesh (21.88), and five against Pakistan from two matches (38.20). The Mumbai bowler has also claimed 40 wickets from 34 One-dayers since last year. However, Zaheer's previous trip to Australia was not a happy one even though he picked up a five-wicket haul in the opening Test in Brisbane. The speedster, who was not fit enough, then played the second Test in Melbourne only to return sorry figures of none for 103. He took no further part in the series. Zaheer's fitness worries could force the team management to get in touch with the Indian board to send in lanky Munaf Patel as replacement for the first Test. Patel, who missed the Bangalore Test against Pakistan due to injury, has been declared fit though the board has advised him to play domestic games before putting his hand up for selection. Munaf is the 17th member of the side and presently a stand-by. http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Zaheers_fitness_a_worry/articleshow/2634409.cms

[jf1gp_1]

Cricket lesson of the day. When you strike bowlers is out injured, replace him with supremely fit Munaf.

[MundaPakistani]

US east coast is ideal for watching the matches in Australia. They'll start 6:30 in the evening and finish at 1:30 AM. Perfect.

:two_thumbs_up: