But don't like 2 Lefties opening the Innings.

Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer

Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook.

What's not to like about it???

I heard that they both might have made 12 but not sure of the time frame WJ

The 774 radio team said since 2008. They did go onto to say one has average over 50 and the other player has average 2.3 in that time.

Hussey was undone by a great piece of bowling. Notwithstanding his misfortune, he was in an uncomfortable tangle. His batting was good in SL but has slipped since the SA tour and NZ. I think he is one more bad innings away from being dropped.

Great day's cricket regardless.

Great days cricket indeed. I'm a wrap for Cowan's innings. Over 5 hours at the crease and showed a great deal of determination and concentration. Just what the doctor ordered for the Aussies at the top order. A bloke willing to occupy the crease and hold one end and create partnerships that enabled the Aussies to bat out the day. It may be Boycott or Atherton like but it was just the tonic for Australian team. Ponting looked good, Warner looked set to cream a fast century. Exciting to watch and today's play could enable 5 days of an enthralling Test Match. Looking forward to seeing Day 3 at the G.

Yes Cowan played the old style opener today. Thank god he did. Brilliant job, he was a rock.

Must also say Haddin played well right when it was needed, albeit lucky DRS was not there! Bowlers will be ripping to get stuck in hopefully after lunch.

What are the experts' comments about the pitch?

It's hard to tell on the tv but it seems that it might become a perfect wicket for batting and, given what we're going to be up against, a big indian first innings score beckons.

What are the experts' comments about the pitch?

It's hard to tell on the tv but it seems that it might become a perfect wicket for batting and, given what we're going to be up against, a big indian first innings score beckons.

Not so sure about that Indian big first innings score WJ . They're not the batting team they used to be . The extra bounce will sort a few of them out . Some good short stuff ( wisely used ) wouldn't hurt either . And there's a bit of sideways movement in the deck as well .

We'll win this Test though they might get 300 in their 1st innings .

Edit - I am , however , unusually optomistic when it comes to the Test side ! Ditto for the Demons !

Edited December 27, 201113 yr by Macca

Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer

Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook.

What's not to like about it???

The 774 radio team said since 2008. They did go onto to say one has average over 50 and the other player has average 2.3 in that time.

Hussey was undone by a great piece of bowling. Notwithstanding his misfortune, he was in an uncomfortable tangle. His batting was good in SL but has slipped since the SA tour and NZ. I think he is one more bad innings away from being dropped.

Great day's cricket regardless.

There's more left handed bowlers these days, who move the ball about. So I don't like it compared to a combo of Watson and Cowan.

Pity you struggle with the concept of someone disliking something.

If everyone just posted their own opinion and nobody ever challenged anyone elses, this'd be the boring-est place anywhere.

What was this then? And what was Rhino's, if not their Opinion??? You, & your mates seem to be blinded by your righteous attitude & power over the sight? That is those with more an attacking method with educated writing wins your mind everytime??? Blinded. By desire to be on the side of the 'right',,, or those 'In control'. A groupy of sorts? But your right, thats just an opinion, isn't it. Maybe you can tell me whats correct? PS: I suppose the difference is the 'Banned' button. Those that have it to wield, have a percieved 'Power' over the rest. Is that your attraction? You just load? And others ????

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about or what any of this means, nor do I know what I did to deserve what I think (but can't be quite sure) is an attack on my character.

Edit: Just so we're clear, all I said was that disagreements were healthy and made the place interesting. I'm not quite sure how we got from there to "I'm a power tripping groupy who has to be right all the time and in control".

Edited December 27, 201113 yr by Nasher

We might have a chance if we can take a catch !

We might have a chance if we can take a catch !

Pattinson just demonstrated how to get around that problem :-) As my colleague at work noted, "can't drop that one"!

Hilfenhaus bowled well to Gambhir, but he looked his usual, Ashes 2010/11, self, to the right handers. There was talk, either on Cricinfo or in the papers, that he had worked on bowling from wider on the crease, but he hasn't done that today at all. Disappointed in that, but his pace was up which was nice. Pattinson and Siddle are also bowling well. Lyon wasn't bad but Sehwag always takes spinners apart (e.g. Krejza in 2008).

Neither of yesterday's umpiring mistakes were howlers, I don't think. The ball did miss Hussey's bat by a bit, but it wasn't clear cut, and there was a clear sound with Cowan. DRS would have overturned both but that doesn't mean they were howlers. Not giving Haddin out was as bad if not worse.

Having said that, if Hussey doesn't make runs in the second innings and Watson is fit for Sydney, that could be the end of Mr Cricket. With Warner and Cowan at the top, surely Watson goes to 6 as an all rounder, bowling more. That would balance our side well I think.

How come Clarke himself rarely bowls? He's just let Warner toss a few down, given Hussey several overs this game and occasionally calls on Ponting to bowl; why not himself? He's a better bowler than all four of those blokes.

There's more left handed bowlers these days, who move the ball about. So I don't like it compared to a combo of Watson and Cowan.

And there are more left handed batsman...

I cant see why left handed batsman cant play left handed bowlers as well as right handers. The two left handed opening pairs I gave demonstrate that issue.

How come Clarke himself rarely bowls? He's just let Warner toss a few down, given Hussey several overs this game and occasionally calls on Ponting to bowl; why not himself? He's a better bowler than all four of those blokes.

Another player with a back injury.

On the radio they said Watson wont be back soon...

If Hussey does not score big in the 2nd dig, I would play Christian. We looked exposed with only 4 bowlers today.

Pattinson clearly the pick of the bowlers... Bowled well on a flat deck... Better batting tomorrow.

Won't happen for the second test but it's only a matter of time before James Faulkner gets the all rounder's spot. I personally would have had him in this test ahead of Hussey, promoting Haddin to 6 and batting him at 7.

I think Faulkner has more penetration as a bowler and is more solid in his batting.

Won't happen for the second test but it's only a matter of time before James Faulkner gets the all rounder's spot. I personally would have had him in this test ahead of Hussey, promoting Haddin to 6 and batting him at 7. I think Faulkner has more penetration as a bowler and is more solid in his batting.

I pushed for Faulkner a while ago, but gave up when it seemed nobody else had heard of him. In time I expect he could bat at 6 as well.

Won't happen for the second test but it's only a matter of time before James Faulkner gets the all rounder's spot. I personally would have had him in this test ahead of Hussey, promoting Haddin to 6 and batting him at 7.

I think Faulkner has more penetration as a bowler and is more solid in his batting.

He might be in the pecking order behind Christian. If not then why the selectors choosing Christian at all. If India gets more than 100 runs in front on the 1st innings the lack of a true 5th bowler is going to hurt and I reckon Hussey's spot is in danger.

Watson was confirmed as likely to be out for the rest of the series.

Faulkner is a good prospect, but he's not at test level yet. He's just not quite there as a batsman or as a bowler yet, but he's well on his way. Certainly his batting has only started to show some form of production this year. Has a career (and season) average of less than 30 with the bat, which isn't good enough for Tests. But he has improved a lot this year and he'll get there eventually.

Christian is averaging about 60 with the bat this year, which is why he's being put up as an option. His bowling is handy, and probably not as good as Faulkner, but his batting is clearly better which is why he's there. Probably a poor man's Watson.

Selecting HIlfenhaus is just ridiculous ..... Hilfy is just rubbish. I have no idea what the selectors see in him, he's shown repeatedly that he is limited and just really not that good.

..................

He's never taken a 5-for.

He has now.

Ben Hilfenhaus take a bow!.

Refound his mojo and his swing. Well done and great stuff!

Haddin five catches.

Got to love Test cricket. On a day when the Indians were poised to build on their overnight score on a good batting strip, excellent bowling prevailed.

The remaining days are going to be absolutely absorbing.

Well done Hilfo and the other bowlers . It's a pity that a lot of the cricket writers often don't seem to know much about Shield cricket . I'm wondering if any of them trot along to the games at all . They don't quote stats or have much to say at all .

The general public seem to know very little about all these new players coming through . I go to cricket.com a lot these days to read match reports etc because you won't find much in the online daily's ( re Shield cricket ) .

Hilfo has apparently been bowling well in Shield ranks but most folk wouldn't be getting this information . Therefore some opinions on Hilfo can only be based on last years Ashes series .

Just on those Shield stats - if you asked the average punter about Jayde Herrick , Michael Hogan or Peter Forrest you'd get blank looks . Herrick and Hogan lead the aggregates in wickets taken ( 32 each ) and Forrest leads the batting aggregate ( 500 plus ) I had to look up these figures btw .

Edited December 28, 201113 yr by Macca

Another brilliant performance from the Captain!

31 and 1

Glad we are not depending on him to get us out of a hole.

I doubt he will make it to the next ashes series

Second rate player from NSW

Whilst I like and prefer the DRS , I don't reckon we will see too many "sus" LBW decisions given . Batsmen on the front foot will probably get the benefit of the doubt . I can live with that .

What we might see is a 1 or 2 LBW decisions where the batsman gets a thin inside edge . These ones are the toughest to adjudicate on .

So far , India haven't been on the wrong end of a clanger . But it will happen . And can you imagine if it's Sachin ? ( in the 90's )

Ponting and Hussey bring up the 100 run partnership... who would have thought?

I don't often say it, but the selectors have been bang on the money for this test match. Marsh has failed, but Hilfenhaus, Cowan, Ponting and Hussey have all made solid contributions.

Cracking Test match. One more partnership to rest the bowlers. C'mon!!! Peter Siddle become an MCG Hero.