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Di Maria's angel

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Are they the best two sides in cricket? Last time India played Eng they got hammered and they lost in SA too. Australia are probably stronger on a neutral pitch but they're not flawless either.

Tbf it's all very even right now isn't it, no one outstanding side.
We've won 48 out of our last 78 test matches, losing 18. We've also won 21 series', drawing 1 and losing 5 in that time. Thats an eight year run.
 

ArmchairCritic

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I don't think this is any longer as true as it was a couple of years ago where you'd have been 100% right.

Rohit, Shreyas Iyer are very good at playing spin. Pujara has always been great at spin, and for my money, the best batter of spin of the last 10 years.
Yeah I’m not saying no one can play spin in India anymore, but when I was younger I felt like every India player was a phenomenal player of spin. That might be nostalgia kicking in more than anything else.
 

AshRK

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There's definitely an element of this Ash. For all the pitch was poor, they could have played it better.

Would England have done any better trying to belt every ball for six? Might have scraped a few more through pure streakiness.
It will be fun to see this Bazball version of England. Although, I still don't think barring root any of your side plays spin that well. Ashwin and Jadeja bring a lot of quality and people sometimes disregard them using pitch talk.

The other thing the pitch excuses have done in past some years is hide the fact that today's batters play spin so bad. Half of the shots attempted today were awful. Take Smith and Labushange out of it, you see some piss poor shot selections.

Also, questions have to be asked to Lyon. He was pisspoor in a spinning surface. You don't do that. It's a big test for him in the remaining matches to up his game or else aussie are in trouble.
 

ArmchairCritic

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It will be fun to see this Bazball version of England. Although, I still don't think barring root any of your side plays spin that well. Ashwin and Jadeja bring a lot of quality and people sometimes disregard them using pitch talk.

The other thing the pitch excuses have done in past some years is hide the fact that today's batters play spin so bad. Half of the shots attempted today were awful. Take Smith and Labushange out of it, you see some piss poor shot selections.

Also, questions have to be asked to Lyon. He was pisspoor in a spinning surface. You don't do that. It's a big test for him in the remaining matches to up his game or else aussie are in trouble.
Brook looks proper against spin, his back foot pull off good length balls is amazing.
 

AshRK

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Yeah I’m not saying no one can play spin in India anymore, but when I was younger I felt like every India player was a phenomenal player of spin. That might be nostalgia kicking in more than anything else.
It's not just India..i think in general batters play spin poorly in modern times. KP a decade back showed how to tackle spin. In 2004 Damien Martyn showed how to play spin. I would have loved to see the likes of Lara, Sangakara, Jayawardane, Kallis, Amla, Langer show to the current crop on how to play spin. I am not even including Indian greats like Dravid Sachin and Laxman.

What we saw today was some quality bowling playing against some average batters minus smith and labushange who had no idea how to play spin.
 

royalewithcheese2006

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New drinking game! Take a sip everytime @Rams says 'spectacle'

Nothing wrong with the pitch. Some of the Indian batsmen got themselves out and were still able to play 139 overs on the same pitch.
Getting bowled out in 30 overs on the same track where Shami lasted 50 balls a couple of hours earlier is more to do with the Aussies poor application vs spin combined with the quality of Ashwin and Jadeja.
 

JohnnyKills

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It's not just India..i think in general batters play spin poorly in modern times. KP a decade back showed how to tackle spin. In 2004 Damien Martyn showed how to play spin. I would have loved to see the likes of Lara, Sangakara, Jayawardane, Kallis, Amla, Langer show to the current crop on how to play spin. I am not even including Indian greats like Dravid Sachin and Laxman.

What we saw today was some quality bowling playing against some average batters minus smith and labushange who had no idea how to play spin.
I think it's also true that this Aussie batting line-up is limited. Great on flat wickets at home but put them in foreign conditions...
 

SinNombre

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Decent record but it's a bit patchier recently though...
India is carrying passengers in the middle order in Pujara and Kohli - both should have been dropped long ago.

India’s record before these 2 fell off the cliff was very impressive.
 

JohnnyKills

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India is carrying passengers in the middle order in Pujara and Kohli - both should have been dropped long ago.

India’s record before these 2 fell off the cliff was very impressive.
Who do you bring in though?

Mad how India's bowling has outstripped their batting in recent years.
 

SinNombre

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Who do you bring in though?

Mad how India's bowling has outstripped their batting in recent years.
Jadeja has also been one of the top 3 Indian batsmen over a very long time now. I have a suspicion that Sundar can bat equally well.

In Asian conditions, Iyer is a given.

You have to give Gill a longer run in red ball cricket and see how he does. Much like Rohit, too much talent to not succeed.

Sarfaraz is not liked by the team management but how long can you ignore his ridiculous FC record.

Pant obviously returning will be a major boost to the lower middle order
 

Di Maria's angel

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Decent record but it's a bit patchier recently though...
Yea, to some extent. We really shouldve beaten South Africa but that's really it. Without a doubt, we've been the best test team over the past 4 or 5 years. Dominated everyone at home, not even one close series. Wins in Australia - one of which came with a number of players from our 2nd team, lets not forget. We were one covid incident away from winning in England. And we were undone by the weakest SA team in years. New Zealand away is our kryptonite. Our only series losses are against the last 3 I mentioned.

This might be the best India has ever been in test cricket.
 

Cooksen

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The lack of First class games before the test series for away teams is more harmful then the pitches.

Smith will have to do one hell of a carry job for Australia to win a test.
 

FlawlessThaw

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The lack of First class games before the test series for away teams is more harmful then the pitches.

Smith will have to do one hell of a carry job for Australia to win a test.

Not every country is as hospitable as England as offering overseas players first class matches on offer
 

Cooksen

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They were offered but turned it down in this case
Cricket Australia are morons.

Should have toured Bangladesh or play some warm up games, not worry about the big bash league which has too many games and goes too long after School Holidays.
 

JohnnyKills

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Cricket Australia are morons.

Should have toured Bangladesh or play some warm up games, not worry about the big bash league which has too many games and goes too long after School Holidays.
The big issue is that T20 cricket rules the roost doesn't it. Test series are being squeezed into shorter and shorter periods so there's no time for warm-ups.

Host countries will have to produce neutral pitches or the spectacle will be a total farce.
 

JohnnyKills

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Yea, to some extent. We really shouldve beaten South Africa but that's really it. Without a doubt, we've been the best test team over the past 4 or 5 years. Dominated everyone at home, not even one close series. Wins in Australia - one of which came with a number of players from our 2nd team, lets not forget. We were one covid incident away from winning in England. And we were undone by the weakest SA team in years. New Zealand away is our kryptonite. Our only series losses are against the last 3 I mentioned.

This might be the best India has ever been in test cricket.
This bit is true for sure!
 

Rams

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India haven’t lost a test series at home in over a decade. In fact, they’ve hardly lost a test at home and won most in such an overwhelming way that @royalewithcheese2006 it can hardly be called a spectacle. The last time a test side came even close to giving them a run for their money at home was Australia 5 years ago. These are the hard facts about the pitches being produced in India for test matches. This in an era where interest in test cricket in India and most countries is in decline.

Surely it would be in the interest of cricket and everybody who loves the sport that India starts producing pitches in test matches that produce a more even competition? Hell, India have enough brilliant players to be competitive in all types of conditions! In the Indian environment I’m not expecting a fast & green wicket, but surely they offer something else than the dry slow turning unpredictable pitches they keep churning out at test level? What are the pitches like over there at league level?
Just asking for pitches that are a tad quicker and that that turn less from day 1 and then gradually turn more as the game goes on. It will create better competition, give a touring side at least some chance and hopefully we’ll start seeing some cracking test matches over there. India vs Australia should be the greatest cricket show on earth and it isn’t right now.
 

hasanejaz88

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India haven’t lost a test series at home in over a decade. In fact, they’ve hardly lost a test at home and won most in such an overwhelming way that @royalewithcheese2006 it can hardly be called a spectacle. The last time a test side came even close to giving them a run for their money at home was Australia 5 years ago. These are the hard facts about the pitches being produced in India for test matches. This in an era where interest in test cricket in India and most countries is in decline.

Surely it would be in the interest of cricket and everybody who loves the sport that India starts producing pitches in test matches that produce a more even competition? Hell, India have enough brilliant players to be competitive in all types of conditions! In the Indian environment I’m not expecting a fast & green wicket, but surely they offer something else than the dry slow turning unpredictable pitches they keep churning out at test level? What are the pitches like over there at league level?
Just asking for pitches that are a tad quicker and that that turn less from day 1 and then gradually turn more as the game goes on. It will create better competition, give a touring side at least some chance and hopefully we’ll start seeing some cracking test matches over there. India vs Australia should be the greatest cricket show on earth and it isn’t right now.
Mate I'm Pakistani and I hate the BCCI's guts but to expect India to change their pitches, which their batsman are very comfortable playing on, just so they opposition doesn't look like amateurs at playing spin in ridiculous :lol:

They've had to adapt to different conditions become more competitive in England, South Africa and even bloody beating Australia two times in a row. Why can't other teams adapt to their conditions to be more competitive there? How would you react if Asian teams started complaining about Australian pitches saying Australia should adjust them to better suit them since Australia are so dominant?
 

Rams

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Mate I'm Pakistani and I hate the BCCI's guts but to expect India to change their pitches, which their batsman are very comfortable playing on, just so they opposition doesn't look like amateurs at playing spin in ridiculous :lol:

They've had to adapt to different conditions become more competitive in England, South Africa and even bloody beating Australia two times in a row. Why can't other teams adapt to their conditions to be more competitive there? How would you react if Asian teams started complaining about Australian pitches saying Australia should adjust them to better suit them since Australia are so dominant?
Take a look at the stats. How many home series have India won on a trott now, 18 or summat? Next nearest test nation has 10 on a row from 20 years ago. It’s not only about adapting to these pitches, it’s about creating better cricket to get bums on seats.
 

mav_9me

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The lack of First class games before the test series for away teams is more harmful then the pitches.

Smith will have to do one hell of a carry job for Australia to win a test.
How good is Smith though eh?
 

Di Maria's angel

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Take a look at the stats. How many home series have India won on a trott now, 18 or summat? Next nearest test nation has 10 on a row from 20 years ago. It’s not only about adapting to these pitches, it’s about creating better cricket to get bums on seats.
You're lost, Rams.

We literally put so much effort into developing a team that could succeed in foreign conditions. We started creating more green pitches at home, in first class cricket, and have been rewarded in the development of some excellent fast bowlers. But, yeah, we should cater to the likes of SA, Aus, Eng and NZ because they're clueless against spin.

In fairness, I do remember those rank turners at Lords, Perth, Jo'Burg and Auckland back in the 2000s. We should really offer the same.
 

AshRK

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Take a look at the stats. How many home series have India won on a trott now, 18 or summat? Next nearest test nation has 10 on a row from 20 years ago. It’s not only about adapting to these pitches, it’s about creating better cricket to get bums on seats.
Maybe just maybe Indian test side is that damn good. It's funny how you have been rambling somce yesterday but not once you question Australia's batting. They were piss poor mate. Axar Patel and Jadeja two left handers played amazing knocks against two spinners and one of them has taken 460 odd wickets.

I have seen far worse pitches than the Nagpur one. It wasn't even bad. All you have been doing is making excuses for your team's incompetence and also not willing to give any appreciation to Indian team.
 

Rams

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We can all go on about saying the pitches in India are not to blame for the sheer number of one sided results against every single test side for over a decade, but this is simply ignoring the elephant in the room. There were balls spitting up vertically from the Indian spinners on the first morning of the 1st test ffs. Sure, India are entitled to produce whatever pitches suit them and it’s up to the opposition to improve, but that’s completely missing the point.
 

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Maybe just maybe Indian test side is that damn good. It's funny how you have been rambling somce yesterday but not once you question Australia's batting. They were piss poor mate. Axar Patel and Jadeja two left handers played amazing knocks against two spinners and one of them has taken 460 odd wickets.

I have seen far worse pitches than the Nagpur one. It wasn't even bad. All you have been doing is making excuses for your team's incompetence and also not willing to give any appreciation to Indian team.
Yes India are damn good and have brilliant players. So do Australia mind. All nothing to do with producing pitches that produce a better spectacle.
 

SinNombre

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You have to be quite stupid or a troll to bring up the pitch after India scored 400 in their first innings.
 

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@Rams has a point. the average first innings score in india is less than 450. in england it’s less than 650.
 

AshRK

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You have to be quite stupid or a troll to bring up the pitch after India scored 400 in their first innings.
It has become a trend. Whenever a team comes to India , pitch becomes a talking point to cover their own team's incompetence. I didn't see Indian team cry when they were bundled out for 36 in Australia. I bet the same moaners wouldn't have questioned the pitch. What about 2 months back when SA toured Aus. The pitches werw horrendous but yet I didn't see anyone moaning.

If the opposing team cannot play spin then one cannot call them brilliant. Take Smith and Labushange out this batting line up is not brilliant.
 

Rams

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To be fair this pitch looks a little better than the one for the first test from the few glimpses I’ve seen, a tad more pace it seems and a little less unpredictable spin.
 

SinNombre

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Whisper it quietly but Ashwin and Jadeja (and Axar for a much smaller run) might just be the greatest red ball cricketers in Asian conditions.

All of India’s domination in Asian and West Indies over the past decade has come because of them, both with bat and ball.
 

ArmchairCritic

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Enjoying India’s brand of cricket in this series. Luring Australia in so they think they have a chance and then fecking them over with lower-middle order runs.