Good day of cricket.

India bowled well, Smith continued his amazing form, Haddin fought hard, Rogers made three 50's on the trot, Watson found some needed form, Burns looked alright for his brief stay and Shaun Marsh continued to do what Shaun Marsh does........

Good to see Maxy Klinger getting among the runs in the BBL, just knocked 105 n.o off 60 balls against the Renegades.

I used to play school cricket with Klinger.

I was in year 12, and he in grade 6, but he had special permission to miss class and play with the senior team on a Wednesday afternoon in the inter-school competition.

The rules stipulated that you had to retire at 50 - Klinger went through the entire comp without losing his wicket, even though he was barely taller than the stumps at that stage. It would take him about 20 minutes to reach his 50 and then he'd go back to class.

No surprise that we were premiers that year!

  On 26/12/2014 at 09:45, Grapeviney said:

Good to see Maxy Klinger getting among the runs in the BBL, just knocked 105 n.o off 60 balls against the Renegades.

I used to play school cricket with Klinger.

I was in year 12, and he in grade 6, but he had special permission to miss class and play with the senior team on a Wednesday afternoon in the inter-school competition.

The rules stipulated that you had to retire at 50 - Klinger went through the entire comp without losing his wicket, even though he was barely taller than the stumps at that stage. It would take him about 20 minutes to reach his 50 and then he'd go back to class.

No surprise that we were premiers that year!

Not enamoured with the BBL but congratulations to Klinger (105no) - and he got his ton with a 6 off the last ball of the innings AND he's a big Demon fan!!!

As TD said really interesting day and series so far. If it wasn't for fielding the Indians would potentially be clearly in front today.

Most of the Aus made a start and looked totally comfortable but besides the new captain none seem to be able to go on fir a big score. Indians bowled better as the day went on, all square but we need close to 500 I'd think as it will really flatten out in the next 2 days.

  On 26/12/2014 at 10:15, Cards13 said:

As TD said really interesting day and series so far. If it wasn't for fielding the Indians would potentially be clearly in front today.

Most of the Aus made a start and looked totally comfortable but besides the new captain none seem to be able to go on fir a big score. Indians bowled better as the day went on, all square but we need close to 500 I'd think as it will really flatten out in the next 2 days.

There's a bit of life in this track Cards and it might even quicken up tomorrow ... I can see our bowlers creating a bit of havoc if we can get it in the right areas. In fact, the wicket is a beaut - coming on to the bat nicely. As you said, India did bowl well but so too can we.

Watch for Johnno to get amongst them ... Harris & Hazlewood the same. If we can get an 80+ lead on the 1st innings the match should be ours.

  On 26/12/2014 at 09:46, Whispering_Jack said:

Not enamoured with the BBL but congratulations to Klinger (105no) - and he got his ton with a 6 off the last ball of the innings AND he's a big Demon fan!!!

Was having a watch of the Klinger innings last night also.

Is he becoming the next Simon Katich.?????

  On 26/12/2014 at 20:30, jazza said:

Was having a watch of the Klinger innings last night also.

Is he becoming the next Simon Katich.?????

No, Simon only played for two States

Steve Smith has turned in to a phenomenal player. Doesn't feel like that long ago when he was a 21 year old not-quite-batsman-not-quite-bowler selected early, that had everyone going "bloody NSW bias".

Just another case of mugs on the outer thinking they know more about the blokes paid to select the team, really. His early selection was an investment in the future that has definitely paid off.

Follow on imposed against Sri Lanka on day 2 at Christchurch. Could be over early tomorrow.

Perhaps we could exchange opponents and play the last test against NZ?

Looks pretty flat Macca. Going to be tough for either side to win this one, the Indians are looking comfortable now the shine is off it. Here is looking at Lyon to get some bounce.

  On 27/12/2014 at 02:55, Whispering_Jack said:

Follow on imposed against Sri Lanka on day 2 at Christchurch. Could be over early tomorrow.

Perhaps we could exchange opponents and play the last test against NZ?

In that match McCullum made 195 off only 134 balls and NZ made over 400 on day 1.

Since giving up the keeping he's turned himself into a world class batsman and is really leading NZ well. They're certainly a smoky for the World Cup and after the 2015 Ashes series they'll probably prove to be our most interesting opponents over the 14 Tests that follow, given apart from the 6 (return series) against them, we have 3 at home to the Windies, 3 away to Sri Lanka & 2 away to Bangladesh.

  On 27/12/2014 at 06:05, Cards13 said:

Looks pretty flat Macca. Going to be tough for either side to win this one, the Indians are looking comfortable now the shine is off it. Here is looking at Lyon to get some bounce.

Yep, unless Mitch can crank it up to 150km plus ... he's likely to have one 5/6 over ferocious spell in him all the same - that's all it will take to push home our advantage.

... and you were right about the 500 target - I thought it was out of reach to be perfectly honest. As Nasher said, Smith has been and is phenomenal. Nice return to form for Haddin too.

  On 27/12/2014 at 06:06, Tall Defence said:

In that match McCullum made 195 off only 134 balls and NZ made over 400 on day 1.

Since giving up the keeping he's turned himself into a world class batsman and is really leading NZ well. They're certainly a smoky for the World Cup and after the 2015 Ashes series they'll probably prove to be our most interesting opponents over the 14 Tests that follow, given apart from the 6 (return series) against them, we have 3 at home to the Windies, 3 away to Sri Lanka & 2 away to Bangladesh.

The state of test cricket is appalling at the moment,the standard of fielding is terrible,they are dropping catches that most park cricketers would be ashamed to say they dropped.

The kiwis are building thier team very nicely for the last 3 years,McCullum just the icing on the cake .

  On 27/12/2014 at 06:14, jazza said:

The state of test cricket is appalling at the moment,the standard of fielding is terrible,they are dropping catches that most park cricketers would be ashamed to say they dropped.

The kiwis are building thier team very nicely for the last 3 years,McCullum just the icing on the cake .

But across the country your girls are stroking it beautifully while I watch on T.V outside Colac.

  On 27/12/2014 at 02:55, Whispering_Jack said:

Follow on imposed against Sri Lanka on day 2 at Christchurch. Could be over early tomorrow.

Perhaps we could exchange opponents and play the last test against NZ?

The world team X1 we picked .

My team was unbeatable as we must now all agree.

  On 27/12/2014 at 06:13, Macca said:

Yep, unless Mitch can crank it up to 150km plus ... he's likely to have one 5/6 over ferocious spell in him all the same - that's all it will take to push home our advantage.

... and you were right about the 500 target - I thought it was out of reach to be perfectly honest. As Nasher said, Smith has been and is phenomenal. Nice return to form for Haddin too.

Lets hope Haddin putting down a regulation chance off Pujara won't come back to haunt us.

  On 27/12/2014 at 09:31, Tall Defence said:

Lets hope Haddin putting down a regulation chance off Pujara won't come back to haunt us.

We're 2 nil up in a 4 game series and we're in no danger of losing this test ...

What the hell are you worried about TD?

I swear you must worry about getting worried

  On 27/12/2014 at 09:36, Macca said:

We're 2 nil up in a 4 game series and we're in no danger of losing this test ...

What the hell are you worried about TD?

I swear you must worry about getting worried

Haha,

2nd Test Australia v India @ Adelaide Oval 2003 Macca, Test cricket can produce strange results from nowhere. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64060.html

Once we've either won or drawn this Test then I won't be concerned about what goes down in Sydney.

  On 27/12/2014 at 09:48, Tall Defence said:

Haha,

2nd Test Australia v India @ Adelaide Oval 2003 Macca, Test cricket can produce strange results from nowhere. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64060.html

Once we've either won or drawn this Test then I won't be concerned about what goes down in Sydney.

Bloody hell ... trust you to pull that result out!

Now you've got me worried ... thanks!

  On 27/12/2014 at 09:56, Macca said:

Bloody hell ... trust you to pull that result out!

Now you've got me worried ... thanks!

Haha, sorry Macca.

To be fair that was an unusal series (which ended in a 1-1 result)

Steve Waugh's final series and our bowling line up at the time (McGrath, Gillespie, Lee & Warne) was significantly effected. McGrath was injured, Warne suspended, Lee missed the first two tests of the series & Gillespie the 3rd. Add to that Bichel was out of favour for some reason (only playing 1 test) and not sure what was going on with Kasporwicz, so MacGill played the whole series & the likes of Bracken & Brad Williams played several Tests each that series.

Still I'll be more comfortable once India's first innings is over and we have a lead of 100+.

  On 27/12/2014 at 10:46, Tall Defence said:

Haha, sorry Macca.

To be fair that was an unusal series (which ended in a 1-1 result)

Steve Waugh's final series and our bowling line up at the time (McGrath, Gillespie, Lee & Warne) was significantly effected. McGrath was injured, Warne suspended, Lee missed the first two tests of the series & Gillespie the 3rd. Add to that Bichel was out of favour for some reason (only playing 1 test) and not sure what was going on with Kasporwicz, so MacGill played the whole series & the likes of Bracken & Brad Williams played several Tests each that series.

Still I'll be more comfortable once India's first innings is over and we have a lead of 100+.

Still a good get all the same TD ... I'd completely blocked that result from my memory somehow (much like once our Demons start winning then all those putrid results from 2012/13 will be forgotten) ... it really was a remarkable scoreline.

It's funny how we can easily remember England scoring 500+ in their first innings a few years later in Adelaide and subsequently losing ... Aust vs Eng 2006/07 (2nd test)

  On 27/12/2014 at 09:31, Tall Defence said:

Lets hope Haddin putting down a regulation chance off Pujara won't come back to haunt us.

Like Pujara's style on indian wickets,hoping to see it transfer to our pacey roads we produce.

Would be wonderful to see him adjust and make a big innings.genuine class.

  On 27/12/2014 at 10:46, Tall Defence said:

Haha, sorry Macca.

To be fair that was an unusal series (which ended in a 1-1 result)

Steve Waugh's final series and our bowling line up at the time (McGrath, Gillespie, Lee & Warne) was significantly effected. McGrath was injured, Warne suspended, Lee missed the first two tests of the series & Gillespie the 3rd. Add to that Bichel was out of favour for some reason (only playing 1 test) and not sure what was going on with Kasporwicz, so MacGill played the whole series & the likes of Bracken & Brad Williams played several Tests each that series.

Still I'll be more comfortable once India's first innings is over and we have a lead of 100+.

I'm trying my best to grab any memory of Brad Williams and can't find one. I vaguely remember the name but that's it. Can't even remember his feats at Shield level, though admittedly I wasn't paying stacks of attention to it during that time.

I always thought Bracken was a handy bowler who was unlucky not to get more opportunity at Test level.

  On 27/12/2014 at 22:38, Nasher said:

I'm trying my best to grab any memory of Brad Williams and can't find one. I vaguely remember the name but that's it. Can't even remember his feats at Shield level, though admittedly I wasn't paying stacks of attention to it during that time.

I always thought Bracken was a handy bowler who was unlucky not to get more opportunity at Test level.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8231.html

Orig played for Victoria but had a falling out with Darren Berry is what I'm led to believe (stand to be corrected) and headed to WA. Had a decent season or two but was never good enough for test level and am amazed he ever got a game.

Agree re: Bracken. One of the best ODI bowlers we've had in the last 25 years IMO. And deserved more of a go at Test level.

  On 27/12/2014 at 09:31, Tall Defence said:

Lets hope Haddin putting down a regulation chance off Pujara won't come back to haunt us.

To be fair, the catch Brad took this morning was an absolute ripper and that catch may end up swinging things back our way.

India are marching on though (2/116 off 29 overs in that morning session) At this rate, the match could be at a very interesting stage by lunchtime tomorrow.

Edit: ... and Haddin takes another fantastic catch to finish off the day. He's more than made up for the one he dropped.

Edited December 28, 201410 yr by Macca