Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[bryant.coleman]

I guess Australia will be in deep trouble today without Steve Smith. During the last two matches, he scored close to 50% of all the runs scored by Australia. With David Warner and Usman Khawaja in such a horrible form, England will be definitely overjoyed today and will go for the kill. I won't be surprised if they ask Australia to bat first (in case Joe Root wins the toss). One thing that I would like to repeat is that Australia needs to include Mitchell Starc in the playing XI. If they want, they can go for an all-pace attack, but including Starc is a must. During the second test, the England lower order was able to put on 100 plus runs, and if Starc was there this could have never happened.

[Juggy777]

I guess Australia will be in deep trouble today without Steve Smith. During the last two matches, he scored close to 50% of all the runs scored by Australia. With David Warner and Usman Khawaja in such a horrible form, England will be definitely overjoyed today and will go for the kill. I won't be surprised if they ask Australia to bat first (in case Joe Root wins the toss). One thing that I would like to repeat is that Australia needs to include Mitchell Starc in the playing XI. If they want, they can go for an all-pace attack, but including Starc is a must. During the second test, the England lower order was able to put on 100 plus runs, and if Starc was there this could have never happened.

Smith will be sorely missed by the Australian team and I hope he recovers soon, and is declared fit to play in the remaining test matches. @bryant.coleman everyone here including me has been rooting for Starc inclusion in the team, his absence hurt Australia in the last match and it would be a terrible mistake to leave him out again. Even if Australia is not batting first England can put up a huge total, and take quick wickets and put the pressure back on Australia.

[Haunebu]

I feel like you guys are underestimating Australia a bit too much here. Smith has saved them in the recent tests, but this in no way implies that they are completely dependent on just him. They have many good players who have simply not stepped up yet.

Dismissing them just because Smith is out is utter stupidity. Also, England themselves are under massive pressure currently. I still don't understand why the selectors would choose Siddle over Starc though.

[JSRAW]

During the second test, the England lower order was able to put on 100 plus runs, and if Starc was there this could have never happened.

The same thingy happened in 1st test too. I agree that there is fierce competition in the bowling department, but I feel selectors neglecting him for some weird reasons. @Vella care to chip in here if you got any insights/info about this? because i am failed to understand the reasoning behind this.

And agree with Haunebu. It's not like that Aussie suddenly became a lousy side after exclusion of Smith and will go down without a fight. Top-order is going with some miserable phase, arguably every test playing nation is going with the same phase but only 1 big inning can change the mood.

SL vs NZ : Sri lanka won the toss and opted to bat

Rain flirting in every game these days. it looks like Rain God is against Cricket, s/he/it might be soccer fan.  

Now Sri Lanka has a real chance of winning this series and gets full 120 points kind of a bummer for Rank 2 Kiwis.  


Edit : 1

Ind vs WI

I completely forgot to add that. India look to maintain 17-year unbeaten streak in Test cricket against West Indies

HIGHLIGHTS
India have not lost a Test series against West Indies since 2002
West Indies lead India 12-9 in the head-to-head Test series record
India have won 4 Test series in the West Indies so far since 1948-49

[vella85]

England have won the toss and elected to bowl first which is an interesting decision. There is a rain delay which was forecast for the morning session which is most likely why Root decided to bowl first however if Australia can get through the first few hours it could become a good batting pitch as it looked a little dry and good to bat on. Hopefully we see some play soon and not get washed out like we saw on day 1 in the last test match. The English summer has been strange this year with a lot of rain which played a factor in the World Cup and now in the Ashes.

[Haunebu]

England have won the toss and elected to bowl first which is an interesting decision. There is a rain delay which was forecast for the morning session which is most likely why Root decided to bowl first however if Australia can get through the first few hours it could become a good batting pitch as it looked a little dry and good to bat on.

This was clearly a great decision so far since Archer got Harris out very quickly and this does not bode well for Australia at the moment. Warner is taking his time, but the pressure will continue mounting on him if he doesn't begin accelerating.

Khawaja, Wade and Paine need to support him with a big partnership if they wish to build a big score. Things are going England's way at the moment.

[Little Mouse]

England have won the toss and elected to bowl first which is an interesting decision. There is a rain delay which was forecast for the morning session which is most likely why Root decided to bowl first however if Australia can get through the first few hours it could become a good batting pitch as it looked a little dry and good to bat on.

This was clearly a great decision so far since Archer got Harris out very quickly and this does not bode well for Australia at the moment. Warner is taking his time, but the pressure will continue mounting on him if he doesn't begin accelerating.

This was expected, I'm expecting an early collapse of Australian batsman in the first innings. Both rain and their batsman's performance are saying so. Warner and Khawaja must be played a long partnership to get a big.

[JSRAW]

Rain again playing a big part in all matches and ruining all the fun. Not sure, What ICC can do in this case, but it's not a favorable situation for Test Championship or Test cricket.  

1. SL vs NZ day 1 wrapped up after only 36 overs.
2. Aus Vs Eng game already delayed and we saw only 4 over so far.
3. Ind Vs WI  Again rain can ruin all the fun, as of now all good.

PS : RIP


Windies Won the Toss and they are going to bowl.

Ashwin sitting out 

[onrise]

Rain again playing a big part in all matches and ruining all the fun. Not sure, What ICC can do in this case, but it's not a favorable situation for Test Championship or Test cricket.  

1. SL vs NZ day 1 wrapped up after only 36 overs.
2. Aus Vs Eng game already delayed and we saw only 4 over so far.
3. Ind Vs WI  Again rain can ruin all the fun, as of now all good.

PS : RIP

Finally the match resume between OZ and England. Not the good start that OZ would have anticipated as they have lost 2 quick wickets on a score of just 30 runs. But good thing for them is that Warner is on the crease and batting carefully to get back his much desired form in this test match as even Smith is out. Archer and broad are bowling at good pace and unsettling at the batsman at times.

[onrise]

Inda vs WI - WI winning the toss and elected to field. They are able to break the opening partnership qucikly just on the score of 5 runs. Mayank got out at 5

NZ vs SL - Matched started though was delay due to rain. Day has ended with SL at 85/2 after winning the toss decided to bat. Dimuth is playing well and batting at 49. Though rain has actually effected a lot of play on the day 1 itself.

[Indymoney]

Rain again playing a big part in all matches and ruining all the fun. Not sure, What ICC can do in this case, but it's not a favorable situation for Test Championship or Test cricket.  

1. SL vs NZ day 1 wrapped up after only 36 overs.
2. Aus Vs Eng game already delayed and we saw only 4 over so far.
3. Ind Vs WI  Again rain can ruin all the fun, as of now all good.

PS : RIP


Windies Won the Toss and they are going to bowl.

Ashwin sitting out 

Rain is creating problems for Indian batting line up as they already lost two top order batsmen in first 5 overs now Rahul and Kohli on and Pujara and Agarwal gone lets see what happen in next few hours as I am watching this is going to be some tough firs hour for visitors.

[akhjob]

Roach on fire! India lost 2 wickets in 1 over. India shouldn't take the Windies lightly. Just because they were able to washout the ODIs and T20. India have to be keen on batting efficiently, because the host wrapped up the last test series with England.
I hope Rahul, Kohli and Rahane to give a good stand and push the game forward.

[JSRAW]

~Snip~

Rain is creating problems for Indian batting line up as they already lost two top order batsmen in first 5 overs now Rahul and Kohli on and Pujara and Agarwal gone lets see what happen in next few hours as I am watching this is going to be some tough firs hour for visitors.

Felt bad for Mayank but that's fine because Windies seamers doing good job and i was expecting KL to get out cheaply, guess not but he's struggling so far.

Kohli is gone as well.

@Akhjob : Almost everybody were taking Windies bowling line-up lighly in this board. to name a few Royse, Haunebu, Indy, Little mouse etc etc  

Having said that, Windies don't have much firepower after fast bowling.

[eaLiTy]

Felt bad for Mayank but that's fine because Windies seamers doing good job and i was expecting KL to get out cheaply but he's struggling so far.
Kohli is gone as well.

The toss was crucial and all the Indian batsmen has to do is to survive the first two hours and then the pitch will ease up, India does have a formidable bowling line up which will trouble this West Indies team and i am sure Jadeja, Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Bumrah could trouble any batsman in world cricket and if there is any assistance from the pitch then they will be deadly for any batsman. I hope Rahane and Rahul could play a long innings to save the team from this situation.

[JSRAW]

~snip~
India does have a formidable bowling line up which will trouble this West Indies team and i am sure Jadeja, Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Bumrah could trouble any batsman in world cricket and if there is any assistance from the pitch then they will be deadly for any batsman.

0% doubt. they are the only reason India is at top of ICC test Ranking.

[erikalui]

Just checked the score and already they are three wickets down? Virat also gone for 9, Pujara 2, Agarwal 9...Now only hope is Pant and Jadeja. Looks like the first innings will end for 150 runs or less today and we may see WI chasing them down too. WI did good choosing to field first.

[Little Mouse]

Just checked the score and already they are three wickets down? Virat also gone for 9, Pujara 2, Agarwal 9...Now only hope is Pant and Jadeja. Looks like the first innings will end for 150 runs or less today and we may see WI chasing them down too. WI did good choosing to field first.

Pant and Jadeja? If Rahane and KL Rahul got out, rest of the player will not be able to get 100 nore run to the score unless miracle happen. I don't know much about Hanuma Biahri though.

[erikalui]

Most believed that Warner should be replaced but today he seems to be in full form with the bat. Harris lost his wicket early on and now he and Las are building the crucial partnership. They should aim for atleast 150 run partnership so that the score could be 300+. Without Smith it looks tough. Both Eng and Wi chose the field first. Looks like they can't trust the weather or must have taken advise from each other lol

Pant and Jadeja? If Rahane and KL Rahul got out, rest of the player will not be able to get 100 nore run to the score unless miracle happen. I don't know much about Hanuma Biahri though.

I trust Jadeja in case Rahul or Pant fail and even Ashwin can bat well but more I trust Jadeja as he can make quick runs which are needed currently. They need atleast a 150 partnership if they want to score 200+ runs.

[Haunebu]

Almost everybody were taking Windies bowling line-up lighly in this board. to name a few Royse, Haunebu, Indy, Little mouse etc etc  

I am a bit surprised by the manner in which Pujara and the others got out, but this is still a test match and there is a long way to go before deciding on who the winner will be. Am still confident in the Indian batsmen and bowlers and I am still expecting an easy win.

Most believed that Warner should be replaced but today he seems to be in full form with the bat. Harris lost his wicket early on and now he and Las are building the crucial partnership.

Underestimating a lion like Warner is laughable in my opinion. This man and Smith comprise of 60% of the Australian batsmen in my eyes and they will probably never be replaced until they retire.

[Little Mouse]

I trust Jadeja in case Rahul or Pant fail and even Ashwin can bat well but more I trust Jadeja as he can make quick runs which are needed currently. They need atleast a 150 partnership if they want to score 200+ runs.

Rahul is doing good job, seems to have a longer innings today. Unless this partnership go longer, the hope for big score is nearly zero. Jadeja can have some faster score but that will not be longer.
Jadeja, with batting, is more suitable for one day and t20, for test, I don't think he is a good batsman.