TOPIC:

Well game 2 was a little more predictable with India hitting back hard with a 340 batting performance. To be fair the Australians made a pretty good fist of the reply and if the rub of the green had gone their way, they might have just got over the line. Brilliant catch to remove Warner when he looked good. Finch was given out on a very line ball stumping ( whatever happened to giving the batsman the benefit of the doubt??) Steve Smith a bit unlucky to play on when 98.

Much as I love WA and will applaud when our players get selected in a National team, I must admit to being confused by the selection of the two Ashtons ( Turner and Agar) in this team as neither has much form in any category of cricket this year. When Labausagne got out last night, the Aussies needed about 130 from about 14 overs from memory. This was a situation that would be ideal for someone like Maxwell with his IPL experience but alas he was in Australia and we had Turner instead who seems to have been selected on one good innings in India. Not saying that Maxwells presence would have changed the result but I think it might have ended up a bit closer and given the Indians a bit more to think about.

understand the recent return to cricket again but geez Maxwell is pretty close to the most devastating batsman going - piece of piss top 3
30 or 40 off barely anything wins it

Well barring a Brisbane Heat type collapse, it looks like India have got the target of 286 well and truly covered. Disappointing batting display by Australia, with the exception of Smith ( how many times have we heard that?) Even Labuschagne looked a bit pedestrian today and failed to up the tempo when required. The real killer was the run out of Finch as he and Warner are the only two guys capable of hitting multiple 6s to push the score up towards 350 which is what they needed to challenge the Indian batting line up. Carey struck the ball well but was guilty of gifting his wicket when set and Turner unsurprisingly looked like a fish out of water as he has looked at State level all season.
Overall disappointing after their first dominant performance but not entirely unexpected as India are very difficult to beat in their own backyard

Quite surprised Short didn't get a run over of Turner, as folk have said, not sure how or why Turner got in the squad considering his ordinary season so far....could be Turner's last game for Aust for some time...very disappointing bowling performance from Starc....seems to have no nous what so ever....if doesn't get a wicket or 2 early he usually goes for big numbers....agree with you Mikeh about Aust batting...too many steady eddy types...get found out when Warner and finch go early...no back up power in the shed...Smith always productive, but no power hitting...ditto to Labuschagne....but then again Mitch Marsh and Stonis have been picked before...many times in fact.... for that power effect and always been less then effective....surprised Maxwell didn't get a ticket...especially in India....be interested to see who Aust plump for in NZ for the ODI/ T20 stuff in March

We made mention of it before but how the 2 Ashton's were picked for this tour is still mind boggling. Turner was actually dropped for WA before the BBL started whilst Agar hasnt really fired a shot all season either. M.Marsh & Maxwell were probably unavailable when the initial squad was chosen by gee we must have had others more worthy of a spot then the 2 WA boys?

Sending Starc out at number 5 yesterday was a recognition that the Australians lack power hitters beyond Warner and Finch. It didn't work but I think it was worth the risk as they needed a 30 from 15 balls to change the momentum of the innings. It was a smack in the face to Turner who you would think had been selected for his power but of course he is so palpably out of form and confidence at the moment. Which brings you back to the question that there was Short sitting on his arse in the changeroom and he would have made much more of that situation in his current form. Hard to gauge the selection for this series and don't get me started about Maxwell again.

Funny how the closed shop for mates policy that has plagued WA cricket for two decades has surfaced in the National team - this why I had concerns over Langer being coach
Starc at 3rd drop is a ridiculous decision really especially when there's two power hitters readily available

Time for the Australian ODI team to have its own head coach. Langer need not apply.