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Says the same fella that thinks Mitch Marsh is ready to go if needed for the Boxing Day test.....LOL......

Well if the MCG turns out to be the batting paradise that it has been in recent years then Marsh will be hoping like there is no tomorrow his mate Langer picks him.
31 tests for a batting average of 26, that said I reckon he will get picked and make a hundred. Backing him in big time to come through here.

anchorman wrote: Not wanting to cast a line here, but did anyone hear Justin Langer declare Tim Paine the best keeper in the world at the moment!!!

AM, he is a very good keeper and would definitely be one of the best in the world right now.

I think a couple of the commentators on 7 the other day were comparing him to as good as Gilly and Haddin in their prime, especially how he keeps to the slow bowlers....

Looks like the pitch is going to be a bit more bowler friendly than the one last year. The Shield games there have all had result type wickets so my guess is that it will be a far more interesting contest than the Ashes test last year. India will retain the Border/Gavaskar trophy if they win here or in Sydney. They will be sweating on the availability of Ashwin who is still in some doubt I believe.

Only an hour in to the Boxing Day Test and despite all the hoo haa from the Vic lead media about how much work has gone into the MCG deck and yet somehow yet again the Vics have produced another lifeless boring road of a pitch for the god knows how many years in a row now that hasn’t offered one bit to the bowlers in the first hour, disgraceful really!
Kohli could break Lara’s Test Innings record that is if he even gets a bat on this.

Pretty sure that Kohli will get a bat, will still be a batters wicket no doubt. Bowlers being disciplined and maintaining the right line and length will be the key, also taking all opportunities when they come your way make a huge difference.

Unless something changes with the weather or wicket.Or some bad batting from India.There looking at 500+ in there first innings. Not a good day1 test wicket at this point.61,000 the lowest day 1 boxing day crowd in my memory.

Yes it looks like a pretty flat track and a good toss to win. Cummins is the only bowler who has looked threatening. Pujara looks like he wants to bat for two days. Could be a grind for the Aussie bowlers.

Gee 1- 80 odd after 42 overs,what a borefest on boxing day. By contrast the Perth test had a pitch that offered something to everyone. It rewarded good batting and bowling. Hard to imagine a team being bowled out twice on this road but 5 days is a long time I guess.

mikeh wrote: Gee 1- 80 odd after 42 overs,what a borefest on boxing day. By contrast the Perth test had a pitch that offered something to everyone. It rewarded good batting and bowling. Hard to imagine a team being bowled out twice on this road but 5 days is a long time I guess.

India's tactics are clear here Mike.There going to try and bat for over 2 days.Keeping our bowlers and fieldsmen in the 37 degree heat tomorrow. Probably over 40 at ground level.600 + and looking for the wicket to break up the last 2 days.