TOPIC:

Shaun Marsh- Tests-36, Inns-65, Runs-2194, Ave-34.8, HS-182, 100s-6, 50s-10...FC Ave-41.1
Bill Ponsford- Tests-29, Inns-48, Runs-2122, Ave-48.2, HS-266, 100s-7, 50s-6...FC Ave-65.2

I think Bill Ponsford has Shaun Marsh well and truly covered as a batsman!

Interesting to hear also that the likes of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood give these guys a torrid time in the nets supposedly.....yet they all look completely out of their depth and comfort zone v the Indian boys, who supposedly on the speed clock, are meant to be a few clicks slower......

There was an article somewhere in the last week that made comparisons on Ponsford and Marsh, not sure if that is what is being referred to.
Still for mine it is a fair stretch to try and compare the two.With the pitch becoming harder, but still holding up you would think Australia is well placed. If they can get to a lead of 250 you would think that with the strength of the Australian bowling attack they should get home, even 220 could be enough. Kohli is the key for India.

Good to read the Australian skipper not afraid to give a bit of stick back to Kohli who is trying to take advantage of Australia's predicament since the sand paper scandal and get under the aussie players skin. That should fire up his team mates to not back down. The key is not to go overboard like Warner and a few others have in the past. Tom Moody made comments he thought Virat was just stepping over the line and the umpires need to step in. I think that is a key role of umpires to nip things in the bud when it gets out of hand. "You still have to bat yet big head". Haha love it.

Loving the pace and bounce of the Perth Stadium pitch plus the odd grubber to keep the batsmen guessing...the sort of quality pitch that makes for great Test Match Cricket unlike the borefest of the MCG of late!

Anch: your right on the Kohli question; but, don't worry about him too much, because everywhere he has played outside of India he has lost, which is all the Australian captain needs to remind him.

Anchor, do you really think that the game is in the balance? India need 175 runs with their last two recognised batsmen at the crease. All their big guns and experienced batsmen are back in the shed for 112. Vohari and Pant are capable but all it will take is one ball to hit a crack and we are into the tail. I think the Aussies would have to bowl really terribly to even give India a sniff.
As for Kohli's behaviour, I agree that it is over the top but I guess we cannot afford to be too high and mighty about it because guys like Warner behaved just like him before sandpapergate.

Whatever the result tomorrow both teams will have their issues going into the boxing day test. Australia will be pondering whether to give Handscomb another chance or maybe Mitch Marsh will come in for him to give them an extra bowling option. Even though Finch thankfully has no structural damage to his finger it is obviously very sore and he would not be a certainty to be fit in the next week. Perhaps could be worth taking a punt on someone like Jake Weatherald if Finch doesnt come up. Great to see Ussie back in form with a courageous and potentially match winning 72
As for India they would be kicking themselves that they didnt replace Ashwin with Jadeja who would have been much better value than Yadav who contributed very little. Also their young opener Shaw who damaged his ankle in the warm up game has now been ruled out for the rest of the series.

Not sure who would come in with all those possible outs mikeh....Mitch Marsh has done fark all with bat n ball since being dropped for the first/second tests.....is he in form?...fark I would even pick Pattinson over Mitch...greater chance of making more runs and taking more wickets than Mitch.....pity the BBL comes into play now right bang in the middle of an absorbing test series....

Burns to come in I reckon instead of Weatherald mikeh, not who I want, but atleast Burns has a tad of test experience, in a very inexperienced test batting order......but Finch will be given to the last minute I reckon......for me I would love to see local boy Pucovksi get a home debut, won't happen I know with all his recent battles, but hey he would be closer to family for support.....

Pity Shaw is out....exceptional talent who will be an international drawcard in the future.....Kohli is no different from the likes of Warner.....just smarter than Warner....which ain't saying much TBH

Two tests 1\1.Two evenly matched sides.Two good test wickets at Optus and Adelaide. Bowlers on top so far.Day 5 was deadly for the Indian batsman.They where not to interested this morning.
Looks like the Au\India gamesship\sledging is on come boxing day.It started on Sunday morning when the sides walked on the ground. Kohli said to Paine [I'm the best player in the World.And your a fill in captain].Then Kohli walking in Paines space as a batsman.The Aussies sent off all Indian batsman today.
Listened to both Kohli+Paine after the game.Both sides are loving the onfield banter.