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looked at one picture of a groundsman scratching off a nice pile of grass from the wicket , reminded me a bit of the West Indian tradition of burning then polishing theirs
but I did expect a pitch which might look like something resembling green for the first 2 hours of the match but in reality will turn from dot
why would India prepare anything that could play into our 4 quick's hands?

Sounds like the wicket will be a bone white colour.The quicks should be able to swing the ball in the air, reverse the old ball.That may be after 20 overs on this wicket.

as I expected India have gone in with the three spinners
Handscomb and Murphy get in for Australia
We've won probably one of the more valuable tosses of the coin and get to bat first on what could be a minefield come day 3 


Late Edit: Travis Head dropped for Handscomb

superb start , both openers gone inside the series' first 3 overs geez

Absolutely staggering some of the selections but not surprising when you have East Coast numpties running the show!

First they drop Head because of his record in the subcontinent but pick 3 guys in Warner (Ave-22), Renshaw (Ave-29) & the most disbelieving Handscomb (Ave-28) who are all just as bad if not worse in Indian conditions......Warner already out cleaned bowled for 1 off only 5 balls.

Secondly they have picked Murphy who is an off spinner that has only played a handful of first class games. We already have Lyon who bowls off spin and with Renshaw and Head if chosen we had 2 part time off spin options. Swepson & Agar (India has picked 2 left arm orthodox spinners) both must be shaking their head in disbelief!

Thirdly we have to put up with those 2 NSW rocket scientists Lee & Haddin on the Fox Cricket studio coverage.
These 2 "experts" reckon Head hasnt played in the subcontinent before....are the UAE, Pakistan & Sri Lanka now no longer a part of the subcontinent??? 

Renshaw 1st ball duck.......Bet head could have done at least that good at number 5 and he is a better batter and fielder

I guess Head couldn't of done any worse then Renshaw, here's hoping Handscomb can double his average of 29, and with the help of the reverse sweeper keeper in Carey, usher Aust to a score over 200.

Don't mind Murphy playing, if Warne's record was so so in India, not sure Swepson would be any better.....pretty sure Agar will play a test at some point during this series.
 

Our batsmen really are clueless on Indian pitches.
177 all out just after tea after winning the toss and batting first sheesh!!!

Words fail me. I cannot believe they dropped Head, as well as his counter attacking style of batting he is one of the better part time spin options around. As BH said after all the talk about their preparation on "doctored pitches in Australia" and revision of techniques they have again been bundled out for less than 200. If India make any more than 350 in their dig, it will most likely be a 3 innings match. Now they have Cummins Boland, Lyon and Murphy to try and bowl india out. Good luck with that.  For all the use Renshaw was they might as well have included Agar as an extra bowler and batted him at 7.
Just clueless selection and batting. .
 

Inning's defeat coming here.