The men from down under are here. Always been a big fan. Never been much of a fan of Indian cricket. The past decade has given us lots of contests. The initial part of the decade saw some high octane cricket, but as Oz's waned, contests were more fractious, the contest were intense, but quality of cricket sadly quite pathetic.
Both the teams, are in a rebuilding phase. Oz;s will be hurt bt the retirement of Mr. Cricket. India, depsite all their tropubles, should start favourites. Oz's will give a fight, do they ever not?
My analysis of Series.
The player to watch out for will be Pup. Skipper has been in Bradmenesque form. Oz's need him to fire big time if they have to stand any chance of winning. He has to start scoring in second innings. Big first innings score will perhaps not suffice. He has to bat #3 or #4 nothing less. Watson is not a #4. I would use him to be a Sehwag style opener. That's the best chance Oz's have of stunning India. It's going to be a big test for Warner, their explosive opener. He blew away India in a session in Perth. But will be hard pressed for pace. Pace is Oz's strength. They have a talented but inexpereinced attack. Their best strategy would be to attack the stumps all the time. They might get hit. But at their pace, and given the calibre of Indian batsmen, they stand a better chance of picking wicket. Their is no Wall or Lakshman to flick them of the off stump all day. Pujara and Sehwag are going to be their main threats. Kohli will lead a supporting hand, but, I still have my reservations on him as a test batsmen. Mr. Tendulkar was hard pressed for runs in his hey days, when Dravid and the openers did not give a start. If he gets any runs he should consider it as manna from heaven, and retire quietly. If he still wants to play cricket, please sir, Ranji trophy is all yours.
India will have to slightly tweak the strategy, that led him to the top. They are never going to be a top flight test team. They were, but, for a total of around 15 years of their 80 year history, a decent test side. They are not going to unearth a Test quality bowling attack any time soon. India's record at home is misleading. Some of it has been a contribution of the poor economic conditions, and, teams not sending their full strength squads to India. WI and Oz's hardly played India once in 8 yrs.Windia cancelled a tour, when Mr. Gavaskar was not available
Coming back to their strategy, India should try to build their squad around their batsmen. A test lasts around 450 overs. India should prepare tracks which will last 5 days and 450 overs. A decent bowling side needs 500 runs in a match to win. India will need 700 runs. They need to target that in around 200 overs. But this side is not capable of batting such huge number of overs. 130 is the most likely figure you will get. So the strategy has to be to get around 450 in the first dig and 250 in the second dig. India needs to field like tigers. But like the national animal, fieliding as a skill is nearing extinction. They don't have wicket taking bowlers. But they posses very steady bowlers. India should bowl the most negative line possible and strangle the opponents. Field with vigor and grab any opportunity that comes their way. Mr. Tendulkar has to go out. Given India's weakness there is no way he is going to be of much use. He is useless on the field. Unless he can somehow miraculously find the form of 2011. Struggling 160 ball 50's wont do. 50 runs should not take more than 80 balls.
This will be a closely fought series, but mostly boring. Probably a good cure for my insomnia.
My take 2-1 India.
