Australian tour of India 2017

[am Bays]

Looks like we're done but no disgrace this test series. You can cop the odd bad session rather than a complete capitulation like we did against Sri Lanka. This was the best effort in Asia for some time against a side that is ranked number one in the world. A number of our players made real strides in this series with some telling contributions in tough conditions. Players such as Renshaw, Cummins, O'keefe and Handscombe will learn a lot and they will be better for the run.

On the down side surely this is the end of the Marsh brothers. For a so called 'sub-continental specialist' Shaun Marsh was underwhelming for most of the series. Mitch Marsh should never wear the Baggy Green again and Usman Khawaja can consider himself very unlucky indeed given Warner's crap form in this series.

Looking forward to the Ashes this lineup should account for the Poms.

Warner
Renshaw
Khawaja
Smith
Handscomb
tba but NO ALLROUNDER
Wade
Starc
Cummins
Hazelwood
Lyon

A pity we couldn't go on with it but we did keep fighting back again and again and if Kholi had played in this match we would have won it I reckon.

regards,

REB

100% spot on REB

Here's a novel idea for the #6 spot, it's a bat off, whoever has made the most runs in the shield matches before the Test (outside the top five listed by REB) gets a gong at Brissy in the 1st test!

[Dogwatcher]

I'd back Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag, Kumble, Dhoni etc to wipe the floor with this current mob

Can we put together an all time Indian XI?

All of your names there must be considered, Sunil Gavaskar would also have to be around the mark.
Ravi Shastri
Kapil Dev
Saurav Ganguly
Mohammed Azharudin
Mohinder Armanath

I can only really judge on players of my era but their list would be as impressive as any nations, I recall Ravi Shastri coming over here one tour and batted 10 or 11 as every player in their team had scored a first class century, a couple of years later he was opening the batting for them.

Bishen Bedi, Farokh Engineer, Lala Armanarth, Vijay Hazare, Dilip Doshi, Dilip Vengsarker - could all be considered.

Chandraseaker ahead of Bedi let alone Doshi. Sir Isaac himself rated Chandra the most difficult bowler to face in his career.

regards,

REB

Good call. TBH, I wasn't as familiar with Chandraseaker.

[Grenville]

He was a good coach too Chandra.

[Grenville]

One positive from this series is courtesy of Jadeja I now know a Hindi swear word.

[The Dark Knight]

India win by 8 wickets with Rahul finishing with 51 not out. Jadeja named man of the match and man of the series.

[Spargo]

India win by 2 wickets

Shit, they were cruising last time I checked...

[The Dark Knight]

India win by 2 wickets

Shit, they were cruising last time I checked...

Shit lol my bad.

[Jack]

After this series the trophy should be called Smith/Gavaskar
I had thought Allan Border or Greg Chappell were the best Australian batsmen Ive seen , but Steven Smith is now marginally just ahead of them
My disclaimer might be that Border and Chappell did it for longer and might still be better than Smith when he finishes his career

Had Smith had an average to good series , Australia might have lost 0-4
That he could score 499 runs for the series on those decks is one of the great series performances for Australia

[Spargo]

After this series the trophy should be called Smith/Gavaskar
I had thought Allan Border or Greg Chappell were the best Australian batsmen Ive seen , but Steven Smith is now marginally just ahead of them
My disclaimer might be that Border and Chappell did it for longer and might still be better than Smith when he finishes his career

Had Smith had an average to good series , Australia might have lost 0-4
That he could score 499 runs for the series on those decks is one of the great series performances for Australia

Don't rate Ponting?

[LaughingKookaburra]

Smith will go down in Australia's greatest 5 Test players behind Bradman, Warne, Lillee and McGrath. He is an absolute great and I have no doubt even if he was in a different era when bowlers were considered stronger he would average well over 50 still. He is a competitive beast!

Right now Chappel, Waugh, Hayden Ponting, Border are ahead of him but he will pass them. I reckon he is close to going past Waugh right now!

[Lightning McQueen]

After this series the trophy should be called Smith/Gavaskar
I had thought Allan Border or Greg Chappell were the best Australian batsmen Ive seen , but Steven Smith is now marginally just ahead of them
My disclaimer might be that Border and Chappell did it for longer and might still be better than Smith when he finishes his career

Had Smith had an average to good series , Australia might have lost 0-4
That he could score 499 runs for the series on those decks is one of the great series performances for Australia

Border and Gavaskar played against each other, probably has more relevance.

[Sonofbrowny25]

many years down the track it could be renamed to the smith/ kholi or Ponting/tandulka trophy. these guys have and will lead this era of cricket.

[stampy]

good to see kholi being a flog right to the end, blaming the aussies for everything and conveniently glossing over his crap batting and behaviour, cant wait till he returns to australia, boy will he cop it and deservedly so

[MW]

He feeds off the controversy. Why would he come out and say everything is rosy with the Aussies? There is no benefit for him to do that. If he keeps the animosity going, its more press, more publicity, and the hype for next time they play will be just as big.
When you are backed by the BCCI and in extension, the ICC, he is unstoppable.
The downside (or upside for us) is it seems like a distraction to him actually being able to play well.
So let him keep going with it IMO.

[Rik E Boy]

After this series the trophy should be called Smith/Gavaskar
I had thought Allan Border or Greg Chappell were the best Australian batsmen Ive seen , but Steven Smith is now marginally just ahead of them
My disclaimer might be that Border and Chappell did it for longer and might still be better than Smith when he finishes his career

Had Smith had an average to good series , Australia might have lost 0-4
That he could score 499 runs for the series on those decks is one of the great series performances for Australia

2. Ponting
3. Chappell

Smith arguably not 4 yet. Must produce in England (even though his average is not too shabby over there). Smith might be up there by the time he calls it but for now we should just enjoy.

regards,

REB

[Lightning McQueen]

After this series the trophy should be called Smith/Gavaskar
I had thought Allan Border or Greg Chappell were the best Australian batsmen Ive seen , but Steven Smith is now marginally just ahead of them
My disclaimer might be that Border and Chappell did it for longer and might still be better than Smith when he finishes his career

Had Smith had an average to good series , Australia might have lost 0-4
That he could score 499 runs for the series on those decks is one of the great series performances for Australia

2. Ponting
3. Chappell

Smith arguably not 4 yet. Must produce in England (even though his average is not too shabby over there). Smith might be up there by the time he calls it but for now we should just enjoy.

regards,

REB

Yep, potentially will be top 3 sort of stuff.

I find it hard to judge greatness rankings due to what position they batted in, Hayden was probably our best opener and was overlooked for too many years before finally getting a gig.
Steve Waugh at 5 was pure grit, Clarke was pure elegance and faced easier attacks.
Border had a backbone like no other, Chappell made it look so easy although I was growing up at the arse end of his career where he couldn't buy a run.

Gee we've been blessed in this era, plenty of great names that wont be in the top 5 or 10 but made their mark, Langer, Boon, Gilly, Mark Waugh to name a few, all had their purple patch and their own trademark.

[Yangebup]

quote - The Dark Knight 'India win by 8 wickets with Rahul finishing with 51 not out. Jadeja named man of the match and man of the series'

Test debut - Kuldeep Yadav (India)
Player of the match - RA Jadeja (India)
Player of the series - RA Jadeja (India)

Who was man of the series??? The Dark Knight quoted the top line above & The cricket Australia site as above said Jadeja man of the series, but the TV last night showed Smith getting the cheque & award & said Smith was the player of the series? So who really was? Jadeja in my books I reckon!

[The Dark Knight]

quote - The Dark Knight 'India win by 8 wickets with Rahul finishing with 51 not out. Jadeja named man of the match and man of the series'

Test debut - Kuldeep Yadav (India)
Player of the match - RA Jadeja (India)
Player of the series - RA Jadeja (India)

Who was man of the series??? The Dark Knight quoted the top line above & The cricket Australia site as above said Jadeja man of the series, but the TV last night showed Smith getting the cheque & award & said Smith was the player of the series? So who really was? Jadeja in my books I reckon!

Yeah I don't wtf is going on there, saw that photo of Smith and was dumbfounded.