Tasmania lost 3 in their chase as well
Tasmania lost 3 in their chase as well
India are now 70-4 against NZ
Did it rain and the covers not get put down?
Given the lack of eyes on Sheffield Shield these days it would be absolute ripe pickings for Sub-Continent bookmakers.
Whilst he should absolutely be the next allrounder in, the momentum seems to be with Konstas or Inglis (despite never opening in FC) as the next one in.
And India’s 12 year streak of winning series at home comes to an end losing to NZ with Santner taking 13 wickets. Always the risk of serving up a huge turner and losing the toss- you get someone like Santner whos had an mediocre test career dominate.
And tour before they were in Sri Lanka and got utterly outplayed
And Pakistan beat England.
India stay just ahead of Aus in the WTC rankings, but the whole summer will determine it.
Thats a wonderful series too. England posting 832/7d seems a long long time ago. Got thoroughly outplayed by Noman Ali and Sajid Kahn, who at one point bowled 89.5 overs on the trot across the two tests. Both did handy with the bat too.
Hopefully the Indians learn and start turning up fairer pitches rather than assuming the opposition can’t take advantage of rank turners.
Shock horror home team serves up pitch that suits their strengths. If anything India have the pace attack to show up on decks that favour the quicks.
In terms of Aussie opener selection, seeing a lot of hype for Nathan McSweeney. 25, averages 37 in 32 shield games. Does have 3 hundreds in his last 6 games across formats. Nothing too impressive numbers wise or is this a Marnus-like “hes got the right vibes” type of selection if it happens
Konstas went for a 3-ball duck against India-A.
With the ball, Brendan Doggett had a fair day out, ended with 6/15.
The ball is doing quite a lot out there.
Bancroft with a 14 ball duck, Harris for 17. McSweeney, batting from 4, currently 29*(110). Getting the impression the current pecking order was Konstas/McSweeney, Bancroft, Harris so its a chance for McSweeney to pull ahead if he can make a decent score. That said still the second game and another shield game before the squad is picked
And Sweeeney goes for 39(141). Means no one really put a strong case forward. Beau Webster also made 33(44).
Surprising such a bowlers pitch
And McSweeney’s on 53* in the second dig
Konstas 0 + 16
Harris 17+ 36
Bancroft 0 + 16
McSweeney 39+ 53*
Only one coming out of this game with enhanced odds. Still two games to go. Despite this game, it feels like its gonna be one big century from someone to settle it
Surely they go with McSweeney, he’s the only one regularly getting runs.
The others may all have one or 2 big innings behind them but take those outliers out and are they really in the same kind of form as McSweeney?
And NZ have beaten India 3-0
Absolutely insane finish to that test. Love a good small 4th innings run chase on a pitch full of demons. Superb knock from Pant- really deserved to win the match. But 11fer in the game for Patel
And Harris (and Bancroft) go for golden ducks. Feel like Harris making 74 in the first dig probably locks him in as the back up. McSweeney opens. Bancroft unfortunately cant convert bieng the best shield run scorer of recent years. Konstas probably goes back to Shield knowing hes probably leading to be Khawaja’s replacement.
And rather unfortuntely Neser’s torn a hamstring right after running through India A’s top order. Not sure if we learnt from last BGT and planning any bowler rotation, and even if we were Boland’s probably ahead (ironically despite bowling poorly this game), but that tear probably ends any faint hope Neser had of getting a third test.
I think I would still prefer a specialist opener going in the spot rather than McSweeney, a middle order bat who has just come into a little better form than the rest.
Hes usually a 3 so it is a small move but, that said, not at all ideal for him to be opening for the second time in first class cricket (after this A game) and doing so at the WACA against Bumrah.