India tour of Australia 17 Dec - 19 Jan: Tests

[sussexpob]

Rahane got close ... But he didn't actually get any part of his bat grounded over the line in time. (you do have to have the part over the line in contact with the ground...a bit like the case where you slide in with the hands and handle touched down but short of the line while the blade is unfortunately still in the air

Thanks for clarifying the rule. If that is the case, as I said, he can have no complaints and its clearly out.

[alfie]

Close decisions might be a bit touchy with the home umpires/officials.

Marnus got another umpires call go his way, but that one was pretty fair I think. Looked high live. But I do believe just like Pakistan had in a couple of tests in the summer, India have not got a single umpires call while bowling (didnt watch all their batting innings so cant comment on that). You could argue that the booth backs these calls up, but certainly with indigenous umpires we do seem to be noticing a shading of decision making on closer calls to the home team.

Was thinking that India were getting the rough end of the pineapple with regard to the close calls in this match...don't know whether I'd call it bias (I really rate Paul Reiffel as an umpire) , even unconscious - may be just coincidence. But I guess that is why they've allowed three referrals each instead of two in the Covid Season.

[The Professor]

Really good Test.....probably one of the best of the year.

[sussexpob]

As for today, I would probably cut and paste Alfie's credit of India from innings 1 over this particular innings. I think Australia came to largely do the hard yards, but India didn't relent. Batsman who got in found another layer of assault hitting them, and didnt find easier pastures over the crest of the hill. India forced errors of technique rather than Australia gifting them on a plate; although I think Tim Paine is an exception, his dismissal was very poor playing that type of shot to a ball that wasnt there as soon as he got to the crease. Maybe smacked of the white flag waving from the capo. Burns will almost certainly be gone. Wade might have done his career a bit of good by batting for a long time in the circumstances. Marnus is getting starts but so far is needing luck, but I guess 75 odd runs in this test in comparison to others isnt going to make him the problem.

Steve Smith is obviously the worry. Too early to make any sweeping remarks about him moving forward, its entirely likely he will go on from next test and score 10 centuries in his next 20 tests. But there is a hint of hesitancy in his defensive setup that we havent seen in a long time. Just looks rusty and in need of a few innings.

Travis Head is the other. In previous series I think Head looks an ok player, but India have opened his technique up like a can of beans. His Head (no pun intended) is all over the place, his weight and feet are at sea, and at this level of bowling if you just jab your hands out at the ball you arent lasting long. Anything that straightens off the pitch has looked capable of getting him out. Another bad test this series and will Australia look elsewhere?

[Red Devil]

Close decisions might be a bit touchy with the home umpires/officials.

Marnus got another umpires call go his way, but that one was pretty fair I think. Looked high live. But I do believe just like Pakistan had in a couple of tests in the summer, India have not got a single umpires call while bowling (didnt watch all their batting innings so cant comment on that). You could argue that the booth backs these calls up, but certainly with indigenous umpires we do seem to be noticing a shading of decision making on closer calls to the home team.

Was thinking that India were getting the rough end of the pineapple with regard to the close calls in this match...don't know whether I'd call it bias (I really rate Paul Reiffel as an umpire) , even unconscious - may be just coincidence. But I guess that is why they've allowed three referrals each instead of two in the Covid Season.

The problem is still with the close calls showing bias and then staying with the umpires decision as it is deemed umpires call. This rule needs to change - it's ridiculous that he's out if the ump said out but not out if the ump said not out ... it should be either out or not out and the technology should ensure consistency.

[Red Devil]

Australia's morning as they worried out the last five Indian wickets for just another 49 runs. Tail predictably folding last three going for 1 run...they really are six out all out this mob. Aussies will regret dropping a bunch of catches but they've eventually succeeded in limiting the damage...a good comeback in that session.

Still 131 is a decent lead given there is a bit still in this pitch for the bowlers. A few Aussie bats with a lot to play for both personally and in team terms but at the same time they're likely to feel a bit of pressure so the rest of today will be quite interesting. Couple of early wickets could lead to another collapse...but on the other hand Smith is surely due a (big) score ? Not going to call this yet...

The run out was disappointing but Jadeja falling for the really obvious short ball tactic was mindless. He had Ashwin at the other end and they should have just kept batting. Indian tail after them is awful.

Still did well to recover, especially with Umesh injured so Ind being a bowler short. Injuries really mounting up for the samers - Ishant, Shami, Bhuvi Hardik and now Umesh all injured!

Must be careful though as the Aus tail can bat so if they add 100+ that could cause problems batting last - got to be really focused in the first session and not give Aus a chance to fight back.

[sussexpob]

The problem is still with the close calls showing bias and then staying with the umpires decision as it is deemed umpires call. This rule needs to change - it's ridiculous that he's out if the ump said out but not out if the ump said not out ... it should be either out or not out and the technology should ensure consistency.

Indeed, I have said this for many years. It makes no sense that you have a known margin of maximum error for a technology you trust to get everything right, then essentially in many cases copy and paste human error over its decisions to ensure you get what can be accurately described as a wrong decision. Why would ball hitting the outside half of leg stump at an accuracy rating as close to 100% percent as you can get be given not out is beyond me.

I cant remember the maths exactly but I've done it before ad I think by memory you get down to about a mm of ball scrapping past the leg stump being potentially inaccurate, but any more ball hitting is close to 100 percent certain to be out. Its a system clearly made by someone who didnt want to get rid of umpires. There is no reason why all lbw decisions cant be made instantly by hawkeye anyway.

And dont get me started with snicko and hot spot. Even today I think Paine had something appear on snicko but hot spot was blank, leading the commentators to say maybe it was the shuffle of his feet that caused the sound. Snicko is rubbish and umpires do not know how to use it. Commentators dont know how it works. Its a frankly crap system that I feel confident I could make better with 1 day worth of dedication.

[yuppie]

I think Kholi got one in the first test as well with Snicko showing something but hot spot showing nothing. I think in the end they went with the on field decision which was out.

[sussexpob]

I think Kholi got one in the first test as well with Snicko showing something but hot spot showing nothing. I think in the end they went with the on field decision which was out.

Paine didnt review it. I think its the one from Lyon where he gloved it to Paine, yet snicko had nothing and hot spot had it out.... the latter being unquestionably right because I remember watching the initial camera slow mo and it was clear without further tech it hits the glove.

[GarlicJam]

Assuming India will go on and win this test - and that will probably happen today - this will probably be a test loss that I have "enjoyed" more than any other test Aus has lost.

I have enjoyed watching other nations' bowling before, when they have been a collective of great bowlers, but I can't remember enjoying watching a bowling side dominate Australia more. Generally, at a guess, there is at least one 'villain' amongst the opposition line up - a role that Kolhi happily takes on - but this is nothing to hate about this India line up. All high quality bowlers, who are bowling incredibly well as a unit, and working to what seems like very well laid plans to each batter.

Add to that the circumstances that led to this test - the humiliating defeat last up, Kolhi's departure, and Shami's injury - and Rahane's leadership and great knock, and we have a test that doesn't have me cheering for an opposition win, but I am enjoying their success.

I wouldn't've predicted that. A loss for Aus won't detract from it, either.

[bigfluffylemon]

Close decisions might be a bit touchy with the home umpires/officials.

Marnus got another umpires call go his way, but that one was pretty fair I think. Looked high live. But I do believe just like Pakistan had in a couple of tests in the summer, India have not got a single umpires call while bowling (didnt watch all their batting innings so cant comment on that). You could argue that the booth backs these calls up, but certainly with indigenous umpires we do seem to be noticing a shading of decision making on closer calls to the home team.

Was thinking that India were getting the rough end of the pineapple with regard to the close calls in this match...don't know whether I'd call it bias (I really rate Paul Reiffel as an umpire) , even unconscious - may be just coincidence. But I guess that is why they've allowed three referrals each instead of two in the Covid Season.

I'm not sure. Paine got a bit of a rough one (I have no sympathy, it was a bloody awful shot playing away from his body against one that should have been left), but nothing on hotspot and a dubious spike on snicko. Anyway, I blame teams for reviewing close stuff. DRS is for the clearly wrong decision, and teams keep using it to review marginal calls. But having gone from 2 to 3 reviews, and not losing a review if it's umpire's call, actually ends up encouraging that behaviour. I think the umpires do a pretty darn good job most of the time.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Green and Cummins batted for 27 overs together.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Aussies lead by 12. Only another 25 to give India a tricky target to chase.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cummins out. Surely Mitch2 isn't going to bat two hours for 22 runs.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Green and Cummins batted for 27 overs together.

35 in the end.