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ArkRoyal wrote: How many defeats by an innings to India in Australia? This could be the first as they have made a lot of runs. We shall see.

AR it will depend on whether Kohli wants to give his bowlers a break. If he enforces the follow on, they will win by an innings. He may decide to bat for a session to be ruthless to an already demoralised opposition

It looks like India will not enforce the follow-on.Kohli doesn't want to bat last on this wicket.Can understand his decision in Melbourne. But the Aussies are rattled here with both bat+ball.And rain Sunday arvo+Monday a possibility.

Gtrx I doubt if India will bat last on this pitch even if they enforce the follow on. Then again If Australia were to bat out of their skins in the 2nd innings India may need to knock off 30 or 40 on the last day you never know. I think you are correct though, Kohli will bat again just to make Starc and co bowl some more overs.

mikeh wrote: Gtrx I doubt if India will bat last on this pitch even if they enforce the follow on. Then again If Australia were to bat out of their skins in the 2nd innings India may need to knock off 30 or 40 on the last day you never know. I think you are correct though, Kohli will bat again just to make Starc and co bowl some more overs.

Mike I'm not sure where Bankstown is in relation to the SCG.But it's bucketing down there with rain.

gtrxuone wrote:

mikeh wrote: Gtrx I doubt if India will bat last on this pitch even if they enforce the follow on. Then again If Australia were to bat out of their skins in the 2nd innings India may need to knock off 30 or 40 on the last day you never know. I think you are correct though, Kohli will bat again just to make Starc and co bowl some more overs.

Mike I'm not sure where Bankstown is in relation to the SCG.But it's bucketing down there with rain.

Thats where GWS play so in the Western suburbs. At the moment the rain appears to be going around the SCG.

Cummins looks to have best technique of all the top order guys....poor technique and failure to do the basics seem to be the downfall of these dismissals today and every day during this series....highlighted by Paine's "bowled thru the gate" dismissal....tries hard, nice fella, good with the banter, but batting wise just not good enough at the test level...makes his piss take of Pant look school boyish now....with Pant scoring a big hundred and Paine getting out for 5.....Pant has pantsed Paine with bat and gloves this series.....won't happen, but surely Carey is a better option for Aust heading over to the UK....

mikeh: your absolutely right about Kohli not officially enforcing the follow on which is why I will be looking to see if our two innings at the crease add up to more than 622. Anything below that, as you know, will be effectively an innings defeat.

Despite the massive weather intervention today, I doubt if this Australian batting line up will be able to last for 98 overs on a 5th day wicket against the Indian attack.

Well...so much for that....the final day's play has been called off due to rain and India win the series 2-1. Even with Smith and Warner in the team I don't think the result would have been too different to now such is the current state of Australian test cricket. Time for a Ross Lyon rebuild, restump, replumb job.

India 2018 are one of the best and most organised teams to visit our shores since the great West Indian juggernauts of the 80's and early 90's. 2 - 1 flattered Australia I thought. It could have been 4 - 0 if not for the weather and poor selection decisions in Perth.


Probably only 4 Australians could look back on this series with any satisfaction. Marcus Harris who has played himself into the Ashes team, Pat Cummins the most consistent all round player in the series, Nathan Lyon who was the difference between a win and loss in Perth and Tim Paine for his good natured captaincy and gritty batting in a difficult situation.

Onto the one dayers and a much more manageable test assignment against Sri Lanka.