Steve Smith taking over the mantle as the Skipper of the Aussie team has shown tremendous form with the bat scoring at brisk pace and often taking the game away from the opposition in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy series 2014-15.
Smith has grown into a run machine on this tour scoring 769 runs in 4 matches with a staggering average of 140 plus runs an innings, that is simply outstanding as a batsmen. Australia with the exception of Watson and Warner doesn't have that experience in their batting line up, their middle order is constantly under scrutiny with Michael Clarke having to skip series and then the unfortunate and tragic death of Phil Hughes made Australian middle order wanting for a compact batsmen. Mitchell Marsh too had to sit out of the eleven with injury.
Joe Burns was called in to the side, the batsmen is still catching up with the grind of an international tour, and was aggressive with the bat in the Aussie second innings of Fourth Test at SCG scoring a brisk 66. Haddin too was not among the runs as he was in the Ashes last season often rescuing Australia with late stands with the middle order. Smith had to click to keep the Indian challenge at bay and he did with ease, IPL experience could've provided him with the perfect foil in preparing agains the Indian pace bowlers.
The stance of shuffling across the stumps to negate the line of the bowler often unsettled the inexperienced Indian bowling attack who often were clueless than want of technique or effort, they were lacking in strategy and planning. Indian bowlers need to prepare mentally on an Aussie tour more than anything else.
Australia playing at home are always formidable and will never let the opposition bowling attack settle down, no matter what and often change the course of the match briskly and then they have a trump card in Mitchel Johnson who has the ability to take quick wickets and also is a very good with finishing the tail off. Given the limited resources, Smith has proved to be a good bet under the circumstances in which he led the team.
It augurs well for Australian cricket with Smith performing so well. Of course he may have to give back the mantle to Skipper Clarke if he makes return to the team in the future.Crowds were simply missing Clarke, the team looked dull with out him in the dressing room. Especially the performance he had with the team last Ashes series is worth remembering for a long time to come.
eValleyz.Blog
Friday, January 9, 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Australia took a commanding lead of 348 runs at SCG on fourth day of the Test match.
4th and the final Test of 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar trophy is interestingly poised at the end of fourth day's play. Australia scored a fast paced 251/6 and lead by 348 runs overall with one day remaining in the Test match.
Earlier India resuming to bat with the overnight batting pair of Wriddhiman Saha and Virat Kohli managed to score just under hundred runs with the team overall total being 475 all out in the Indian first innings.
Skipper Virat Kohli was out in the similar fashion as he was out at MCG in the first innings, he was out on 147 runs. Soon Ashwin joined Saha and the pair put up a healthy 50 run partnership, later Saha got out to a bouncer from Hazlewood.
Ashwin scored freely making a well played fifty with Bhuvneshwar Kumar giving good support from the other end.
Later Australia started their second innings quickly loosing Warner to Ashwin edging into the slips and Watson too followed suit quickly. And then Skipper Smith joined Chris Rogers to score at a very fast pace and putting up a partnership of 80 runs before Rogers got out making a strokeful 56. This was Chris Rogers sixth consecutive fifty equaling some old time Australian batting records.
Then Joe Burns carried on the Australian momentum of the innigns scoring 66 runs of just 39 balls, with the help of 8 fours and three sixes. Haddin and Ryan Harris were at the crease when matched was stopped due to bad light with one over to go.
Australia are yet to decalre and have not indicated whether they will resume the innings tomorrow or not.
Steve Smith scored most runs in the series surpassing Sir Don Bradman's record of most runs by an Aussie player against India. With four test hundreds and scoring 769 runs. Smith overtakes Pontings record of 706 runs in a four match Test Series and 715 runs in a Test series against India by Sir Don.
Valleyz.Blog
Earlier India resuming to bat with the overnight batting pair of Wriddhiman Saha and Virat Kohli managed to score just under hundred runs with the team overall total being 475 all out in the Indian first innings.
Skipper Virat Kohli was out in the similar fashion as he was out at MCG in the first innings, he was out on 147 runs. Soon Ashwin joined Saha and the pair put up a healthy 50 run partnership, later Saha got out to a bouncer from Hazlewood.
Ashwin scored freely making a well played fifty with Bhuvneshwar Kumar giving good support from the other end.
Later Australia started their second innings quickly loosing Warner to Ashwin edging into the slips and Watson too followed suit quickly. And then Skipper Smith joined Chris Rogers to score at a very fast pace and putting up a partnership of 80 runs before Rogers got out making a strokeful 56. This was Chris Rogers sixth consecutive fifty equaling some old time Australian batting records.
Then Joe Burns carried on the Australian momentum of the innigns scoring 66 runs of just 39 balls, with the help of 8 fours and three sixes. Haddin and Ryan Harris were at the crease when matched was stopped due to bad light with one over to go.
Australia are yet to decalre and have not indicated whether they will resume the innings tomorrow or not.
Steve Smith scored most runs in the series surpassing Sir Don Bradman's record of most runs by an Aussie player against India. With four test hundreds and scoring 769 runs. Smith overtakes Pontings record of 706 runs in a four match Test Series and 715 runs in a Test series against India by Sir Don.
Valleyz.Blog
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Australia could've nipped Indian challenge at MCG in the 3rd Test keeping an eye on WC2015
There could be many possible reasons Why Australia went for a draw in the third Test. Skipper Smith said the side didn't want to give India a sniff at the Target, and mentioned India's strong batting line up as the reason behind.
Though Smith was clear on the subject, it was not sounding like Australian. Australia are known to be ruthless in field and run down oppositions with sheer competitive brilliance.
It could have been easily accepted, had Australia been touring and found in the conditions that it found itself on Day 4 of the 2nd innings. Australia lost quick wickets in the middle order in Smith, Haddin, Rogers and Johnson for 70 odd runs, putting Australia on the back foot. But not by much as Shaun Marsh recovered to post a match saving fifty on that evening, and Australia commanded the lead and could have stepped up the pedal.
But instead it slowed and slowed down it's innings until the match was over the next morning on the final day of the Test. Australia not only eat up the morning session, it did not declare till the lunch. That India played so and so is altogether a different story.
Why Australia did so, made a contest look so 'boring'?
One reason could be that Australia did not want to give India any what so ever remote chance in the series keeping an eye on the up coming World Cup as India are the reigning champions. The Test loss though a little remote possibility, Australia wanted to play it very safe. As it could have opened up chinks in Australian team.
Post Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke era the side is yet to reach pinnacle of the ladder where it enjoyed that position of Top Test playing nation in the world for many years. South Africa has challenged that top position by constantly posing questions and successfully held the top position for a longer duration.
Though Australia might not be that worried for the Top nation rankings as much as the up coming World Cup 2015 which is hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Given all the permutations and combinations, India did not fare that badly. As I remember when India played at MCG in 2012, it had lost the match. And this time not only it posted a hand some reply in the first innings, there was rejuvenated response from the batsmen to Australia's 508 in the first innings.
Though bowling is concern for India, it still carried the punch and took down the Australian top order and middle order occassionally. The batters responded well through out the series and lost out only a session or two.
Though on the face of it, it looks like Australia won the series, but it was not in the same fashion as it beat England in the Ashes in 2014.
Given the state of play Australian think tank might have considered for a lame draw than an all-out winning approach to sub-due the Indian challenge and nip it in the bud keeping an eye on World Cup 2015.
Valleyz.Blog
Though Smith was clear on the subject, it was not sounding like Australian. Australia are known to be ruthless in field and run down oppositions with sheer competitive brilliance.
It could have been easily accepted, had Australia been touring and found in the conditions that it found itself on Day 4 of the 2nd innings. Australia lost quick wickets in the middle order in Smith, Haddin, Rogers and Johnson for 70 odd runs, putting Australia on the back foot. But not by much as Shaun Marsh recovered to post a match saving fifty on that evening, and Australia commanded the lead and could have stepped up the pedal.
But instead it slowed and slowed down it's innings until the match was over the next morning on the final day of the Test. Australia not only eat up the morning session, it did not declare till the lunch. That India played so and so is altogether a different story.
Why Australia did so, made a contest look so 'boring'?
One reason could be that Australia did not want to give India any what so ever remote chance in the series keeping an eye on the up coming World Cup as India are the reigning champions. The Test loss though a little remote possibility, Australia wanted to play it very safe. As it could have opened up chinks in Australian team.
Post Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke era the side is yet to reach pinnacle of the ladder where it enjoyed that position of Top Test playing nation in the world for many years. South Africa has challenged that top position by constantly posing questions and successfully held the top position for a longer duration.
Though Australia might not be that worried for the Top nation rankings as much as the up coming World Cup 2015 which is hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Given all the permutations and combinations, India did not fare that badly. As I remember when India played at MCG in 2012, it had lost the match. And this time not only it posted a hand some reply in the first innings, there was rejuvenated response from the batsmen to Australia's 508 in the first innings.
Though bowling is concern for India, it still carried the punch and took down the Australian top order and middle order occassionally. The batters responded well through out the series and lost out only a session or two.
Though on the face of it, it looks like Australia won the series, but it was not in the same fashion as it beat England in the Ashes in 2014.
Given the state of play Australian think tank might have considered for a lame draw than an all-out winning approach to sub-due the Indian challenge and nip it in the bud keeping an eye on World Cup 2015.
Valleyz.Blog
Thursday, January 1, 2015
New comers should be given the chance at SCG, as India look to win the final Test.
With the fourth and the final test to be played in Sydney, Australia are brimming with confidence, and would even give young Ashton Agar a chance in the team, who was recalled earlier prior to the fourth test.
India on the other hand have this task of gathering itself together after the series defeat and with final test to go in the 4 match Test series down under.
The new captain in the form of Virat Kohli has some tremendous runs under his belt and is easily among the players with huge confidence. Taking over the mantle after MS Dhoni retired from Test Cricket, Virat would be looking , if there is any need for a change or two in the team composition.
It is the India's first line of batting and bowling attack which played at MCG, if at all there could be any change and that might be in the form of playing the leg spin of Karn Sharma, who was given the chance in the first test.
Also troubling the India's scheme of things is the middle order batting, with the series drawing to a close, Rohit Sharma was not amongst the runs in first two and KL Rahul the new comer failed in his first test, which gives India little room to decide whether to bring in a new face for the last match of the series or go with the same team.
Cheteshwar Pujara is another batsmen in Indian line up who is not amongst the runs on this tour, he scored runs on the South Africa in 2014 and that should back the middle order batsman in these times. A good solid knock would go a long way in his career and India need him to score some big runs in the middle order.
Wriddhiman Saha played in place of MS Dhoni in the series opener of the tour, and would have never thought in his dreams that he would have to be ready to play full time role so soon courtesy the sudden and shocking retirement of the former Indian Skipper. Axar Patel, Sanju Samson are the other new faces on this tour one would like to have a look. Though Indian audience had the glimpse of the players in the T20 league, Test Cricket is altogether a different grind. If any one of them gets the chance, it'll be the best way one could have the feel of International Cricket and who knows can turn up with best figures on debut.
Time flies so quick and fast, the tragic circumstances under which the series started, the teams will be returning to the Sydney Cricket Ground where Phil Hughes succumbed to fatal injury a month earlier. Words cannot fill the void, the slot in the batting order has his indelible mark that only he can fill in the Australian line up and it will be a moist and poignant moment for the followers across the cricketing world. Phil Hughes remains in the heart of the cricket lovers, forever 63 Not Out.
Valleyz.Blog
India on the other hand have this task of gathering itself together after the series defeat and with final test to go in the 4 match Test series down under.
The new captain in the form of Virat Kohli has some tremendous runs under his belt and is easily among the players with huge confidence. Taking over the mantle after MS Dhoni retired from Test Cricket, Virat would be looking , if there is any need for a change or two in the team composition.
It is the India's first line of batting and bowling attack which played at MCG, if at all there could be any change and that might be in the form of playing the leg spin of Karn Sharma, who was given the chance in the first test.
Also troubling the India's scheme of things is the middle order batting, with the series drawing to a close, Rohit Sharma was not amongst the runs in first two and KL Rahul the new comer failed in his first test, which gives India little room to decide whether to bring in a new face for the last match of the series or go with the same team.
Cheteshwar Pujara is another batsmen in Indian line up who is not amongst the runs on this tour, he scored runs on the South Africa in 2014 and that should back the middle order batsman in these times. A good solid knock would go a long way in his career and India need him to score some big runs in the middle order.
Wriddhiman Saha played in place of MS Dhoni in the series opener of the tour, and would have never thought in his dreams that he would have to be ready to play full time role so soon courtesy the sudden and shocking retirement of the former Indian Skipper. Axar Patel, Sanju Samson are the other new faces on this tour one would like to have a look. Though Indian audience had the glimpse of the players in the T20 league, Test Cricket is altogether a different grind. If any one of them gets the chance, it'll be the best way one could have the feel of International Cricket and who knows can turn up with best figures on debut.
Time flies so quick and fast, the tragic circumstances under which the series started, the teams will be returning to the Sydney Cricket Ground where Phil Hughes succumbed to fatal injury a month earlier. Words cannot fill the void, the slot in the batting order has his indelible mark that only he can fill in the Australian line up and it will be a moist and poignant moment for the followers across the cricketing world. Phil Hughes remains in the heart of the cricket lovers, forever 63 Not Out.
Valleyz.Blog
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
MS Dhoni retires from Test Cricket to continue as Skipper in ODI and T20 formats of the game
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's retirement from Test Cricket has come as a shocking news to many people across the cricketing world. Even though MSD fared a little low this year in terms of averages, he is still the No.1 Wicket-Keeper batsmen that any team in the world would like to have.
Perhaps the sporting acumen and his vision of Indian cricket has forced him to take such a drastic decision. MSD lead from the front and Indian team was a force to reckon with when playing at home. He understood the strengths of every player very well and his cricketing acumen kept him in the good books of administrators for a long time.
MSD led India to World No 1 Test rankings during his stint as the captain and won many fans across the world. He led at a time when India was at it's peak in the International Test arena, consisting of players of calibre like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Zaheer Khan. India won Test matches across the world with regular tenacity.
After the retirement of the stalwarts it was the crucial phase of rebuilding the team with new comers and he handled that pressure too quite well. Only the results went dry and that went heavy on his captaincy record watched by a cricket crazy fans. The pressure was there to win abroad quickly and off late the teams fledgling fortunes overseas particularly the series in England and Australia should have influenced his decision.
After Ganguly and Azharuddin, MS Dhoni is most succesful captain in Indian cricket, who handled the job of being the skipper of the Indian team with great maturity and acumen and recorded a handsome winning percentage, that won him many fans across the cricketing world. His decision to retire has left many in this nation of cricket lovers sad and humbled.
Valleyz.Blog
Perhaps the sporting acumen and his vision of Indian cricket has forced him to take such a drastic decision. MSD lead from the front and Indian team was a force to reckon with when playing at home. He understood the strengths of every player very well and his cricketing acumen kept him in the good books of administrators for a long time.
MSD led India to World No 1 Test rankings during his stint as the captain and won many fans across the world. He led at a time when India was at it's peak in the International Test arena, consisting of players of calibre like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Zaheer Khan. India won Test matches across the world with regular tenacity.
After the retirement of the stalwarts it was the crucial phase of rebuilding the team with new comers and he handled that pressure too quite well. Only the results went dry and that went heavy on his captaincy record watched by a cricket crazy fans. The pressure was there to win abroad quickly and off late the teams fledgling fortunes overseas particularly the series in England and Australia should have influenced his decision.
After Ganguly and Azharuddin, MS Dhoni is most succesful captain in Indian cricket, who handled the job of being the skipper of the Indian team with great maturity and acumen and recorded a handsome winning percentage, that won him many fans across the cricketing world. His decision to retire has left many in this nation of cricket lovers sad and humbled.
Valleyz.Blog
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)