India tour of Australia (Nov 22, 2024 - Jan 03, 2025)

[meninblue]

152 for Travis and 101 for Steven Smith.

3 quick wickets in 12 balls for Jasprit as well. What a bowler. Like it is said 1 brings two. Here it is like 1 brings 3.

But I think Australia will end up with enough to take a first innings lead.

[meninblue]

The new ball did bring 3 wickets for India, however Australia have scored 378/6 in 96 overs. The performance of Indian batsmen seen in recent times has been below par. Australia will be very much happy to be in such a advantage position after being asked to bat first. Moreover, Jasprit's spell with new ball is over. Hence, I feel Australia are more likely to add a decent number of runs further.

[meninblue]

Stumps Day 2

Australia are in comanding position. 405/7 in 101 overs.

Jasprit already has a 5 fer. 25-7-72-5

Nitish, Jaddu and Siraj have leaked runs. Nitish primary skills is a batsman though so understandable. He is there because thinktank thinks the top 7 batsman cannnot be relied and Nitish's batting at 8 is required. But Siraj and Jaddu have clearly struggled to backup Jasprit. Akash didn't take wicket, but good to se ehe didn't leak runs like others.

Like I mentioned during 1st test, yet again clearly we are wasting a bowlers spot because of underperforming batting expecting runs from a batsman at No. 8.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe good time for Smith to retire on a late career ton.

[alfie]

:hide

Well if you are alive still, I apologise for what must have been the most boring post ever put on this message board.

I think I will just keep calling him Marnus...

[alfie]

Australia certainly in a fine position - after weathering the storm before lunch , the Head innings transformed the game ; and helped Smith to get back doing what he loves best...

However the weather forecast for days 4 and 5 is horrendous - and not a lot better tomorrow ; so unless most the rain fails to arrive it is going to be rather difficult to see a result in this match. Which might be welcome news for Indian fans after today !

[GarlicJam]

Maybe good time for Smith to retire on a late career ton.

You know that won't happen though.

Not so early.

Surely he is hanging on
for the Ashes?

[andy]

Who comes in when he's gone though? Not huge batting depth in Australia at the moment...as seen by the choice of Warner's replacement as opener

[Arthur Crabtree]

A gamble for Smith though. If he has a bad series in the spotlight of the Ashes, maybe he will regret not taking a bow after a score in another high profile series, vs India.

Still, I suppose he's probably an optimist.

[andy]

Bad form dosent mean he's finished though...still believe he will come good on regular basis again

[meninblue]

What I do not understand is the reason he does commentary when he is playing international cricket. I also see him in analysis shows during entire IPL. Would it not be better to channelize such time in practicing in nets. He has done commentary in international matches too?

[Arthur Crabtree]

His recent Test record is actually a bit better than I thought. Was worse at the turn of the decade.

[GarlicJam]

Bad form dosent mean he's finished though...still believe he will come good on regular basis again

I reckon his best is well past him though.

Even yesterday, when he (say) straight drove, the commentators would be gleefully tell us how "he is back!", in what seemed a little desperate to me. He wasn't "back", that was one of the hardest-working centuries he has scored, I reckon.

It was great to see him get a century, but I am not expecting a return to his halcyon days.

[andy]

Problem is his best now is probably better than the best of most in Australia right now...

[mikesiva]

Australia 445 all out

Head 152
Smith 101
Carey 70

Bumrah 6-76