Oz tour of India, Feb 9 - March 22

[yuppie]

Smith.......ahhhhhh they had the perfect foil in Head.

I guess this also brings into question Heads selection for the Ashes.....

In fairness though the Aussies have got most things right recently. So maybe we need to trust them here.........

they might only need 2 quality spinners....no pressure then Murphy

Going to be interesting to see Boland on such a pitch. Smart bowler.

[yuppie]

Into the tail...this will be over quickly

[alfie]

Going to be scratching to get up to 200 now. Plenty of help for the bowlers but not sure Australia have the attack to take it to India in these conditions. Really only four bowlers and one of them a debutant. We will see...

[sussexpob]

I dont know if the photos floating about are fake, but been a lot of suggestions that India have prepared this pitch leaving a lot of dusty patches specifically outside the off stump for left handers, knowing Australia have quite a lot of left handed batters... probably rubbish though

Annoyingly, this seems to be the only recent series where neither board are broadcasting the games free on Youtube to non-test playing nations. Might have to have a look if its on Disney +, because I know Disney own the rights in India..

[mikesiva]

This is on BT Sports in the UK, if that's any help.

India 177 all out

Labuschagne 49

Jadeja 5-47
Ashwin 3-42

On Day One!

The pacers might as well skip the match and go to the beach. Three day Test?

[andy]

First ball boundary through the cordon for rohit

[bigfluffylemon]

Rohit looking like he's batting on a different surface.

But then, he is right handed, so he actually is.

Notable that of Australia's five lefties, only one made more than 1 run, while Marnus, Smith and Handscomb all got 30+

[sussexpob]

Rohit looking like he's batting on a different surface.

But then, he is right handed, so he actually is.

Notable that of Australia's five lefties, only one made more than 1 run, while Marnus, Smith and Handscomb all got 30+

So the above comment I made about the pitch is actually true (as well as the photos?). If India specifically prepared a pitch like that, then punishment should follow.

[yuppie]

right thankfully out of here now. Ski trip becones. enjoy the cricket:)

[sussexpob]

Rohit looking like he's batting on a different surface.

But then, he is right handed, so he actually is.

Notable that of Australia's five lefties, only one made more than 1 run, while Marnus, Smith and Handscomb all got 30+

So the above comment I made about the pitch is actually true (as well as the photos?). If India specifically prepared a pitch like that, then punishment should follow.

I have no problem with India producing bunsens that suit their bowlers, after all its not like England dont like to provide pitches which seam a lot when the boot is on the other foot, but purposefully doctoring the pitch on one side of the wicket is something different.

Its not like India need to bother with the effort, its hardly like they are struggling to thrash teams at home. Just making the impossible even more impossible.

[alfie]

Rohit looking like he's batting on a different surface.

But then, he is right handed, so he actually is.

Notable that of Australia's five lefties, only one made more than 1 run, while Marnus, Smith and Handscomb all got 30+

Don't think you can blame funny pitch business for that though. Warner and Khawaja were cleaned up by the pace men before they got started ; Renshaw was beaten by one that pitched on middle , and Murphy can't bat. Carey played pretty well.

Might be the lefties will be troubled later in the match. If it goes long enough ...

[bigfluffylemon]

Apparently Murphy can't bowl either.

As far as we can tell, sp, the pitch has been deliberately prepared to be different on different sides of the wicket. Nothing to suggest the photos are fake.

[bigfluffylemon]

Also, add me to the chorus of incredulity about Head's omission.

[alfie]

Apparently Murphy can't bowl either.

Did he not bowl well , BFL ? I wasn't able to watch more than his first over but I saw his final figures looked quite good...and he did get the only wicket. What did you think of him so far ?

[bigfluffylemon]

I was just being mean. He's got the second too.