TOPIC:

With the BBL dragging on ad nauseum as the only cricketing distraction, thoughts will be turning to the upcoming test series in India. 
The bad news for Australia is that Virat Kohli is back to making runs for fun again after a lean spell ( he made 160no in a one dayer yesterday) . Jadeja is also back after an injury layoff.
 An 18 man squad would seem to be an overkill for just 4 tests although we know now that Starc won't be fit for the 1st test and Green is in doubt.
Inglis and Harris would be fairly miffed with some justification that they were not selected as both were sitting on the bench for the test and white ball teams for most of the summer while guys like Renshaw and Handscomb were scoring truckloads of runs in the Sheffield Shield and usurped them from their positions. Picking 4 spinners would seem to be a bit of overkill, especially as they have competent part timers in Head, Smith and Labuschagne, but Murphy is being taken for development reasons and probably won't get a guernsey in any of the tests. I hope Morris gets at least one match to show off his wares for the ashes tour
I think it will be a competitive series but it is a tough place for Australia to win, only once in the last 50 years.

we didn't have particularly great pitches here this summer and I can't see that changing much in India so maybe that's something very small to draw upon ,  so much depends on what pitches are prepared and then when the spin starts - Australia will have to get their reverse swing game together quickly also
Australian top order have got to produce runs , otherwise it'll get ugly and very swiftly
Our spinners will come under immense heat from their batsmen I think

I reckon we should run a book on who will be the first player in the series out Mankad.

I have no doubt if presented with an opportunity the opportunity Ravi Ashwin will claim one.

Interestingly there was one in the under 19 womens world cup on the weekend and no complaints from anyone

Rather Kohli have his purple patch now mikeh, then next month....can see Aust bowlers asking more questions of the Indian batsmen then Sri Lanka's right now. Can see Aust playing the tried n tested  3 pacemen...TBH with Starc out, and he is the variety in Aust attack, Morris surely needs a look in....because Boland, Cummins and Hazlewood are pretty much the same.....

Spinning wise Agar will play if Green is out, Carey will go to 6 and Agar to 7....no way will Aust play Swepson or Murphy over Agar, the tail would start at 7 if they did. Big test for Head, killed it last 2 years in Oz, then died a death overseas....though scored runs as an opener in ODI....perhaps do that in the tests, before the spinners come on...put Uzzie to 5.....wont happen, but Head at 5, means Ashwin and Jadeja will be licking their lips every time he comes out.

Reckon Aust will squeeze one test, gee would be funny if they did win the series....all the anti Cummins and pro JL fans will self implode.....

I gotta say Freeze, while I don’t trust Cummins, I’m not anti, he’s an Australian player and I respect him for that.  I have always been a JL fan since the day he started playing - even at state level.  Will I implode if we win the series?  I don’t think so, I’ll have a couple of celebratory sherbets and brag to my Pommy and Kiwi friends. 😬😬😬

58, my implosion comment is directed to the FB keybord warriors TBH....lot of the stuff said, beggars beyond relief. Mate as a WA boy, I too am a JL fan, though his antics ar times, do go beyond the realms of being passionate, whilst Cummins is just an example of today's society......though as a cricketer, the fella is definitely old school.

I just hope Pat leads by example over in India and they all walk to the ground, the lights are never turned on in fading light and or the airconditioning is left off in the players changeroom and hotel room for the entire series Freeze! 

Don't forget BH that Captain Woke.Endourced a Chinese Solar Panel company.That was kicked out of the USA.For using child labour to manufacture the panels.

Cant believe you boys even care what Cummins thinks or says off the pitch? As long as Paddy delivers with the ball, that will do for me......not the first or last tosser to captain Australia in cricket......

Agree Freezin. Since Cummins took over as Captain his record is up there with the best including a 4-0 ashes victory, a series win in Pakistan and an unblemished record this last summer. He has also bowled brilliantly in every game he has played. Without doubt his capacity will be tested in 2023, but as long as he is performing on the field, I couldn't give a rats about what he does in his spare time.