Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[Indymoney]

Is anyone also watching the Test match between SL and ENG?

Just checked it on Google and found the probability of winning is more inclined towards SL and not ENG. This will be an interesting match to watch as I was expecting the English team has a good chance. SL has won the toss and chose to bat first

Sri Lanka had a horrible series in South Africa and therefore I would consider England as the favorites. But the latter is playing without some of their key players. Right now Sri Lanka is struggling at 22/2, with Stuart Broad picking up both the wickets (his test wicket tally has now increased to 516). Surprisingly, England has chosen two spinners in the playing XI (Dom Bess and Jack Leach).

After end of first day England is in complete control as they restricted Sri Lanka on 135 very good bowling by Broad 3/20 and Bes on his best with great figure of 5/30 career best now in batting England 127.2 with Root and Bairstow on crease 110 runs partnership look like they can win this match by an ining because Sri Lanka is far away from their best currently no one able to handle this all for them in test matches.

[mersal]

For anyone interested, here in Brisbane it was a cloudless day, not overly hot day, but tonight (it's after eleven local time) it's very hot and humid. There's a severe storm forecast for Sunday. Originally storms Saturday evening through late Sunday, but now just Sunday.  If it keeps being this hot and cloudless, then it'll be a corker of a downpour (brief, but heavy).

Together with the number of players injuring themselves and the storm having the potential to delay things (and both teams in Covid lockdown in the same hotel (think late night revelry)), I'm seeing the fourth test being a draw. (Even if Warner stops mucking about and starts playing)

It funny t watch some news that Indian team is waiting to create a history in Brisbane but they don't even know how many players were injured in the playing squad and actually have to go with all the remaining players just to meet the 11 eligible players.

[teosanru]

~
Yes I agree with you and I think this is the sole reason why even the selectors have selected him in the team. Obviously his bowling is considered pretty similar to that of Bumrah but I feel Bumrah's short run up and slinging action was the reason for his success too nevertheless test cricket is not like T20 cricket it always rewards the bowler who is best with his line and length.

The success of Jasprit Bumrah is his line and length and his control and Natarajan showed his control with his line and length in the T20 format and until you give the bowlers a chance to perform in the longer format you never know whether he will be successful. The difference between Test and the rest of the format is the endurance and stamina in the longer format and you need a smart captain to understand the weakness of a bowler and never burn them out.
Not sure about the Indian line up, reports are coming out that Cheteshwar Pujara injured his hand during net session and considering this to be a fast bowling friendly wicket it is going to be a difficult task for India.

One more injury? C'mon man without Pujara our middle order can't wait play even 70 overs. What's this thing with injuries in Australia never have I ever seen such a long list of injuries on single series. But coming back to bowlers for tomorrow. i think a few people are even expecting Sharadul Thakur in place of Bumrah. Because if India decides to play with 5 bowlers too chances are only 3 would b pacers. And can't deny the fact that Sharadul Thakur has been great with his line & length too. I think Pujara's injury might be the reason that even the playing XI announcement has been delayed until toss

[vella85]

Its a shame that Will Pucovski will miss the final test match as his career is just getting started. He makes way for Marcus Harris which I think is a good selection as Burns is in poor form and might not ever play test match cricket again. Its been a long while since it has come down to the final test match for a team to win the series in Australia as normally the series is wrapped up by now with Australia mostly winning in Australia so its going to be a great match to watch.

[7788bitcoin]

It looks like T Natarajan and Washington Sundar will make their debut for India and the full squad is still unknown. The last match was a blessing in disguise for India and in the first innings the focus was on the dropped catches of Pant and i did not notice that they replaced the wicket keeper with Saha until i read an article recently and that changed a lot of factors in favor of India who took three great catches and i was not aware of the rule change of substituting a wicket keeper which helped India.
Coming into this match the team winning the toss will choose batting.

[eaLiTy]

Coming into this match the team winning the toss will choose batting.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat as expected. Rishabh Pant is back to drop some catches as a wicket keeper and the surprising change is the inclusion of Washington Sundar and Australia is also having a change as Marcus Harris is replacing the injured Will Pucovski.

The match depends upon how Natarajan, Saini, Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar bowls as they are completely new faces and i am curious how they will perform.

[Sithara007]

Excited to see Thangarasu Natarajan making his test debut. Always thought that he has the potential to become a permanent member of the national squad. And the openers failed once again for Australia. Both David Warner and Marcus Harris failed to get to double digits. And as usual, it is left to the pair of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith to rescue the team. The 3rd wicket partnership has made 48 runs till now.

[mersal]

Excited to see Thangarasu Natarajan making his test debut. Always thought that he has the potential to become a permanent member of the national squad. And the openers failed once again for Australia. Both David Warner and Marcus Harris failed to get to double digits. And as usual, it is left to the pair of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith to rescue the team. The 3rd wicket partnership has made 48 runs till now.

Once again this pair is saving team AUS from the fall and successfully doing it now, each bowler is new face but still performed well until now.I think India would be happy about their first innings bowling performance but their real task is to break the partnership between Labuschagne and Smith to get them into low total as possible. The match is about to resume in the next few minutes so let's see how the pacers are going to make a strategy.

[JSRAW]

So basically India came up with the India A bowlers against the mighty Aussie. Siraj is senior bowler (3rd match) in this bowling line up, it tells you complete story. 2 bowlers were net bowler (Sundar +Natarajan).. What a turnaround in this squad.

Rishabh Pant is back to drop some catches as a wicket keeper

Oh boy! Did he drop something again?

-----------
Holy shit Sundar got the big fish... Smudge gone!!!

------
Labuschagne dropped by Rahane. 

[bryant.coleman]

Breaking the partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith was the big task for the Indian bowlers, and they managed to do that. Now the Aussies are in backfoot. Labuschagne is still there, but there is a chance that he will soon run out of support. Middle order batsmen like Matthew Wade and Tim Paine are in very poor form right now. I would have rather asked Cameron Green to bat ahead of Wade.

[mersal]

Breaking the partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith was the big task for the Indian bowlers, and they managed to do that. Now the Aussies are in backfoot. Labuschagne is still there, but there is a chance that he will soon run out of support. Middle order batsmen like Matthew Wade and Tim Paine are in very poor form right now. I would have rather asked Cameron Green to bat ahead of Wade.

Even though they are in bad form they can able to manage to build a partnership there.OZ trying to face more balls as much as possible so the bowlers can get exhausted then it is possible for them to go for runs at the later of this session.

Good effort from Indian bowlers though even when everyone is inexperienced and almost everyone debuted on this series.

[JSRAW]

 98 runs on 163 balls, this partnership between Marnus- Wade is hurting now. Shardul thakur leaking runs and going 4.50 per over, Rahane need to be careful with the run rate Aussie scoring right now, almost 5 runs per over in last 10 overs. Its seems Marnus is set for big 100 this time.

[bryant.coleman]

98 runs on 163 balls, this partnership between Marnus- Wade is hurting now. Shardul thakur leaking runs and going 4.50 per over, Rahane need to be careful with the run rate Aussie scoring right now, almost 5 runs per over in last 10 overs. Its seems Marnus is set for big 100 this time.

Wade is gone, with Natarajan getting his first wicket. But Labuschagne got his century before that. He got out for 91 in Sydney, but managed to get in to three digits this time. Now it is up to Cameron Green, to provide support for Labuschagne. After Green the tail will start, with Paine in such pathetic form. Australians must thank the quota policy of South Africa. Without the South African import, India could have whitewashed Australia in this series.

[JSRAW]

98 runs on 163 balls, this partnership between Marnus- Wade is hurting now. Shardul thakur leaking runs and going 4.50 per over, Rahane need to be careful with the run rate Aussie scoring right now, almost 5 runs per over in last 10 overs. Its seems Marnus is set for big 100 this time.

Wade is gone, with Natarajan getting his first wicket. But Labuschagne got his century before that. He got out for 91 in Sydney, but managed to get in to three digits this time. Now it is up to Cameron Green, to provide support for Labuschagne. After Green the tail will start, with Paine in such pathetic form. Australians must thank the quota policy of South Africa. Without the South African import, India could have whitewashed Australia in this series.

Labuschagne  got out but damn this guy is really talented and really loves to make runs against every freaking team.

Natarajan baba got the both wicket (Labuschagne and Wade) Nice debut for Nattu.

India is back in the game again.

Aus : 213/5

[Indymoney]

Labuschagne  got out but damn this guy is really talented and really loves to make runs against every freaking team.

Natarajan baba got the both wicket (Labuschagne and Wade) Nice debut for Nattu.

India is back in the game again.

Aus : 213/5

Mark my words. Labuschagne is going to be the next Steve Smith for Australia. He is extremely consistent and performs against top teams. BTW, I am happy for Natarajan. He made his international debut for India in all the three formats during this series. And that was despite the fact that he wasn't originally named in the ODI/test squads. It turns out that the injury woes are beneficial for at least some of the players.

Too many injuries and again drop catches but I am feeling still India done some good in first day of final test of this series but still visitors have to go very long way if they want to do some more good in end just some better thngs from batsmen can bring historical end of this series now they need some quickly end of this partnership because these also can done some good damage.

[Timelord2067]

Well... At least David Warner got ONE run before he took the long walk back to the pub.

The BBL games this past week have been a lot more interesting to watch (even if the players fielding do all kinds of cart-wheels while trying to catch the ball...) 🙄

[mersal]

98 runs on 163 balls, this partnership between Marnus- Wade is hurting now. Shardul thakur leaking runs and going 4.50 per over, Rahane need to be careful with the run rate Aussie scoring right now, almost 5 runs per over in last 10 overs. Its seems Marnus is set for big 100 this time.

Wade is gone, with Natarajan getting his first wicket. But Labuschagne got his century before that. He got out for 91 in Sydney, but managed to get in to three digits this time. Now it is up to Cameron Green, to provide support for Labuschagne. After Green the tail will start, with Paine in such pathetic form. Australians must thank the quota policy of South Africa. Without the South African import, India could have whitewashed Australia in this series.

Labuschagne  got out but damn this guy is really talented and really loves to make runs against every freaking team.

Natarajan baba got the both wicket (Labuschagne and Wade) Nice debut for Nattu.

India is back in the game again.

Aus : 213/5

At this point, India looks like they back into the game but again another big partnership hurting the inexperienced bowling lineup of India for sure. In my opinion, OZ will be happy with their 274 for the loss of only five wickets even when they lost both the openers very early in this match.Indian Fielding again showing pathetic performances which is one of the reasons for leaking too many runs and let them build a partnership.

[JSRAW]

Labuschagne  got out but damn this guy is really talented and really loves to make runs against every freaking team.

Natarajan baba got the both wicket (Labuschagne and Wade) Nice debut for Nattu.

India is back in the game again.

Aus : 213/5

Mark my words. Labuschagne is going to be the next Steve Smith for Australia. He is extremely consistent and performs against top teams. BTW, I am happy for Natarajan. He made his international debut for India in all the three formats during this series. And that was despite the fact that he wasn't originally named in the ODI/test squads. It turns out that the injury woes are beneficial for at least some of the players.

True... This decade belongs to Labuschangne and Babar, then may be couple of other young guys like Gill, Green, Daniel Lawrence etc

Well... At least David Warner got ONE run before he took the long walk back to the pub.

The BBL games this past week have been a lot more interesting to watch (even if the players fielding do all kinds of cart-wheels while trying to catch the ball...) 🙄

New rules such as The Power Surge, X-Factor etc coming out nicely with in the game?
Meanwhile its seems that England breached the Lankan's fortress.

[Timelord2067]

New rules such as The Power Surge, X-Factor etc coming out nicely with in the game?

I'd be happy if they just played "hit the bloody ball ya mug!" Every once in a while.

All joking aside, Australia's players need to stop preening themselves in the mirror and get back to basics starting with practing in the nets.

[onrise]

At this point, India looks like they back into the game but again another big partnership hurting the inexperienced bowling lineup of India for sure. In my opinion, OZ will be happy with their 274 for the loss of only five wickets even when they lost both the openers very early in this match.Indian Fielding again showing pathetic performances which is one of the reasons for leaking too many runs and let them build a partnership.

If they had held the catches, then India would have been in a much better position. Labuschagne was initially dropped by Ajinkya Rahane and then he was again dropped by Cheteshwar Pujara, and he went on to make a century. Misfields also resulted in additional runs for the Australians. The bowlers did well, irrespective of their inexperience, but the Indian fielders let them down.

This dropped catches could cause them match as well. Firstly, getting Warner out early itself was a big achievement and if Labuschagne was out early today OZ would have been nearly all out. But now they could end up making easily 325+ runs and for India now among top 4 batsman 1 must make century to reach near OZ total or take a lead. Bowlers were remarkable and you rightly pointed they are inexperienced as no bowler has till now even played 5 test matches.