Aus v Ind, 2nd Test Preview, Should Dhoni Captain?

The first test promised much but delivered very little. The first 4 days dragged on without too much happening until Pricky made a generous declaration. In the end rain made sure that the affair ended in a dull draw.

So we look ahead to Mohali now.

Which isnt really known for its result oriented pitches. Teams batting first generally tend to do OK. But the 2nd and 3rd innings have proved to be the most profitable for the batsmen.

Batting
Australia-Polishing off the edges

Ponting and Hussey stole the show and Bagaloroo, what the hell is up with that anyway, We predicted a lean series for Pricky but he proves us wrong. Top effort. Still might be troubled if the spinners get their act together. Hussey just looks like hes on another plane altogether at the moment.

Clarke owes some runs to the team. I expect him to make a significant contribution in this game.
Watson and White did enough to keep their place. Hayden might need to make some runs to secure his place in the team. But the question is will Australia consider dropping him if he fails again? Jaques is breathing down his neck and is a very good replacement.

India-Relying on the openers.
All it takes is one innings from Sehwag and everyones predictions go out the window. He is due.
Gotham City Gambir played a solid hand but must convert his starts into considerable scores to make Ponting sweat.

The fab4 came to the rescue in the last innings but still look dodgy. Another false start in the first innings might leave India reeling.

Bowling
Australia- Team effort.
They bowled well as a unit , without exceeding at an individual level. Stuey needs to put up a better show in the wickets coloumn and Lee needs to make better use of the new ball for early break throughs. Watson, White and Clarke all will chip in with handy wickets. But you wonder when the lack of a quality spinner will finally tell on the Aussies.

India- Relying on the quicks.
Zaheer bowled superbly to put the Aussies under pressure. A repeat performance is expected. Sharma will be expected to deliver some early wickets as well. The biggest issue for India right now is the fitness of Kumble.

If he is unfit who do they go for? 3 quicks and Bajji?
Or bringing in Chawla?

Tough decisions. Personally Id back Chawla. He bowled well in the warm up game. Had the Aussies in trouble more often than not.

Captaincy
India is facing a huge dilemma at the moment. Whether to go with Dhoni or Kumble. An hour and half under Dhoni revealed a lot more about than Kumbles leadership than it did Dhonis. The players seem to respond to Dhoni more. He seems at ease with the job. He has his players respect and is Ian Chappels man for the job.

If Kumble is unfit, then Dhoni must be given the reins. If so then another issue arrises when Kumble is fit for the 3rd. If Dhoni does well the the problem is compounded.

I predicted the end of the road for Kumble after this series. It might not even go that far for him.

Verdict:Im going to go out on a limb and say an Aussie victory. They seem the more assured team. Their key players are firing. The captaincy is in safe hands and seem the team that can push on for a victory when the opportunity presents.

Aus v Ind- 1st test preview

It is upon us, through the haze of the hype surrounding the series, the day has finally come.

It looks like the weather might ruin things for all. But if it doesn’t, this is how I see things going down..

Batting
Australia- Strong.
Highly dependant on Hussey and Ponting and Clarke. And there is the problem. I don’t see a big series for Punter, he struggles against spin early on and if India get early wickets they can crowd him and put him under severe pressure. Struggled in the tour game against Chawla. So, the batting will revolve around Hussey and Clarke.

This series will be won in the middle order. But the importance of a good start cannot be under estimated. Hayden and Krab Kattich will need to offer solid starts consistently if Aus are to start a remotely good chance.

India-Potentially deadly
All the hype is around the Fab four and Ganguly right now, so its easy to forget Goutham City Gambir. We shouldn’t. He handeled Mendis and co brilliantly in Sri Lanka. I expect a big series for him

Sehwags a marked man, but as homer grumbled, he can change the game in a session. He did in SL. And that’s the only test India won.

The fab bore, don’t really look threatening to me. But on home soil, with this potentially being their last series, who knows. Its on a knives edge and you can feel it.

Bowling
Australia- One dimensional.
Fuck all the talk about the Australian spinner. I saw Krejza, hes shit. I’ve seen Cam white, hes harmless. Micheal Clarke- If Warne couldn’t . So yeh.

Lee and Stuey lead the charge. This is the first big test for this attack since Mcgrath and Warne left.
Away, with no experience in India. Lee will look to make his mark. Clark will have a belter.

3rd quick , who ever it may be will need to support with solid economical spells while these two dismantle India.

India- Nothing special.
Bajji will be the main threat. Kumble wont make an impact. Aussies have the wood on him. Strong performances from Adams apple and Zaheer might make the difference. Ishants been inconsistent since Australia, so its hard to see early wickets coming on a regular basis for India.

Leadership.
Neither are brilliant leaders. How Ponting uses his bowlers might decide this series.

1st test prediction- Draw, weather looks bad. So we might not get a full 5 days. With both attacks being generally weak this spells draw for me.

Sehwag sends the first volley- "Aussies cheated in Sydney"

"We suffered the most in the catches pact during the last series," Sehwag told ESPN-STAR.

Oooooooooooh, no he dint

"There is no point in having such an arrangement when the Australians are claiming one-bounce catches.

Oooooooooooh, no he dint

"We'd have won the Sydney Test if they hadn't claimed catches off half-volleys in that game."

Whats this Whinging son? Thought you of all people, facing up to the mighty Brett Lee with a new ball would know better than to stir the pot.

The aussies aint gonna be taking to this lightly.

What would posses Sehwag to say this? Only he would know. This is highly unlike the usually pristine Viru we all love.

You're gonna be a marked man. Enjoy the ride. I will.

The Brad Haddin Injury.

So I'm guessing he is alright?

Gilly's shadow took a blow to his tender fingers and was escorted off yesterday.

Australia claimed he was Ok, while The Huss took up the gloves. Proving to one and all he is truly Mr.Cricket.

This could prove to be disastrous if Haddin gets a knock on the fingers during the test, when you consider he is ONLY keeper on tour. Smart thinking by CA again.

Aus v Ind #3 Most likely to loose his balls

Its getting exciting now aint it.

At no3

Rahul Dravid

"So old he cant even stand up straight"


Why?
-He was part of the Big4 before WG was born.

-Only in the team as part of the Brearley/Taylor rule.(Thank you Jrod)

-Runs are something he used to do

-Me thinks he squints his eyes cuz he cant see no more.

Verdict?


Dravids so old that we are not sure if he still has any balls.

If he does, he will loose both and then some.

Will be the last series he ever plays.

Board XI v Aus Day 2 HLs + A special for Suave

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

And this one is a flyslip special for my friend, Suave

Aus v Board XI, Day 1 H/Ls

Watch Krejza get smashed below.
(If you hear a deranged maniacal laugh in the background...don't worry...lock your doors and watch it on mute.

Some say Insane Mcgain has put a spell on Jason Krajza , and had seen him carrying a voodoo doll of him.

We trust you can put two and two together)

Krejza came, Krejza saw, Krejza got smashed for 123

This was my first sighting of Krejzy eyes.

I am not impressed.

Having gotten the chance of a life time after world renowned Nice Bryce of CWB, got his shoulder messed up, you would think Jason Krejza would accept it with gleeful hands.

He is a new bowler yes, hasn't done too much in shield cricket yes, but what Krejza called bowling today is what I call..

Whats the word Im looking for here.

Ah yes.

Pies.

His line and length were rubbish. Every over he offered at least 2 four-balls. Sometimes even three with a full toss thrown in good measure. It was ridiculous. Actually, it was painful. Krejza looked completely out of depth. If this is what the Indian board XI can do to him in a day I dont know what kind of merry making the fab 4, no matter what kind of form they are in, will get up to.

A regular over from Krejza today consisted of

- a flighted one on off stump
- a half volley way out side off stump
- a half volley on leg stump
- a short ball outside off
- a long hop
- a full toss.

Mix and match these 20 times and you'd have a basic Idea of what he threw down today.

Realising that this is Australias ONLY spin option ahead of the first test must be huge worry for them. If I were Ricky Ponting, Id be shitting in my pants.

Luckily I am not and I hope I never am.

The only excuse that Krejza has is that this is the first day of the tour. So naturally the Aussies are a little undone. Understandable.

Things can only go up from here for Kerjzy.

Aus v Ind #4 Most likely to loose his balls

Coming in at a healthy number 4

Ricky Ponting
Flyslips dropping the big names early ya hear!


"Loosing ones balls can hurt"

Why?

12.28, thats why.

172, thats why.

He is under severe mental stress after Insane Mcgain went proper crazy-eyed on him.

Do we see Punter making a difference this time. Not really. Id like to see him change those stats but with Bajji and Kumble raring to go. I highly doubt that will happen.

Besides, no one really like him anyway.

Verdict?


Will loose both balls. But flyslip gives him an outside chance to save one nut.

He will probably loose the series as well.

Aus v Ind - #5 most likely to loose his balls

As promised flyslip brings you the top 5 players most likely to loose their balls in the BGS.
Coming in at

The #5 Player most likely to his balls.

Sachin Tendulkar.

Losing one ball is tough, but two can be quite tricky.

Why?
-Sachins been on the come back trail for a while now. With limited success. And has not looked like he will hit his lofty heights in the mid 90s.

-Scored next to no runs in Sri Lanka. He has no form.

-No match practice. He has no form.

-There are no matches at the SCG.


Verdict?

Sach will loose both his balls. In addition to his elbow

People will forget he ever took part in the BGS by the end of the series.

Harsh yes. But balls are unforgiving as we all know.

fly slip does Border and Gavaskar

Doggy style.

Scratch that.

Here ye Here ye.
The Border-Gavaskar series is coming up.In 9 days to be exact. Cricblogosphere is a buzz with activity and whole posts have been dedicated to the event. Well by golly flyslips not gonna be left out.

See, flyslip realised, through personal experience we may add, that losing your ball or balls can be painful. Excruciating even.

As anyone with some would attest. Balls are important. And losing them is not good. Not good at all.

In lieu of this-flyslip will launch a mini series entitled

BGS- Top 5 "Most likely to loose their balls"

Fly slip will go undercover and boldly go where no cricketblog has gone before, as we strive to name the top 5 players from the two camps , most likely to loose their balls.

Losing their balls in this context is not literal, of course.

And since most of the players in the series are over the age of 25 I expect a distinct lack of hits from the ECB PCs.

Watch this space. Closely

The end of an era in Test Cricket.

The next series between Australia and India will probably be the last time we see the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, Shewag, Ganguly filling out the role of batsmen for the Indian line up. It will also be Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden's last test series against India and thus close a chapter of remarkable success in test cricket for Australia. With any luck, this series should prove to be a great contest to mark this magicial milestone.

Sadly, it will also be the end of quality test cricket for the foreseeable future - with a number of other players around the world also playing their last year now. Its a shame that the younger players haven't caught the imagination of the public, save Ajantha Mendis. We sit and hope that another Adam Gilchrist or another Sachin Tendulkar will come along and everything will be good in the world, but alas, we are wishing for too much. Since the famous Ws left Pakistan, the once proud cricket team has turned into a basket case of team, though not all due to the players or administrators themselves. The similar thing has happened in the West Indies, were the popularity of the sport has fallen to epic portions.

I predict that to a lesser extent, that the Australian cricket team will also find itself in a similar place. Aside from the Sri Lankan cricket team, No team has actually improved in the 3 years in real terms - Bangladesh is lucky to find 12 people who want to play for them, Zimbabwe has gone to the dogs and weasels, South Africa since 2002 has been steadily declining and the list goes on and on. Even India, which seldom matched its talent in times past, is now looking to the future and forced to replace old players with new players who seem to lack any temperament. And therein lies the problem.

Sport is a reflection of the society that partakes in it. The Romans had gladiators and Christians and lions, which was bloody - and this was accepted by society in those times. Basketball is popular in a country that has as much modesty as a drunk whore and as much humility as a heavy weight boxer - again a reflection on the American people themselves. The changes in cricket on a global level is a reaction to the changes in the attitudes of society - cricket has to remain relevant in people's lives. In this very way we see the growth of 20-20 and 50-50 cricket with a drop in test cricket patronage, which tends to reflect people's shortening attention span. Test cricket may of had its day already.

It breaks my heart to see falling standards across society, but especially in cricket. Cricket has turned from a team sport to a sport of "I". Soon cricket will become another English premier league, where the money and ego does the talking and not the loyalty to team nor country. Maybe I am stuck in 1500s still and maybe I am being completely unreasonable, but I know one thing and that is that sport is no longer for the purist. If you want purism, take up another religion.

I digress, As for this test series, It should be a great series but a very sad one. If you have opportunity to go, by all means go - because I doubt in our lifetimes we will see a collection of finer players playing test cricket again. And to God that I was wrong about the future of the Game, but the coming colours for test cricket are not good.