India can definitely win this one. Make some quick runs tomorrow morning, get past 200. Then use the pitch to the max. They can do it even without Bumrah
Extremely unlikely. Can’t see the Aussies being bowled out by Siraj and Co for less than 250.
Going to be hot tomorrow apparently.
If we were a further day into the test I would agree, but with it being the close of day 2, I think it is still in Australia’s favour.
India need a really big score, but are already 6 down, so chances are Australia will have more than 2 full days to chase down whatever score India set which is a hell of a long time to just plod along picking off runs here and there without the pressure of rushing to reach the target.
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Bumrah Will likely get painkiller injections, bowl 5 overs in two spells and take a fifer. I’m certainly not ruling out him playing through the pain.
Regardless of JB, the game is in the balance and much will depend on the two batsmen in at the moment and whether they can push the target up.
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They are the last capable batters, and it’s not even clear whether Bumrah will even be able to bat.
Aus will probably be chasing 170-80 or so and that’s eminently gettable even if the bowling was at full strength.
Anything other than a home win from here would be a major upset.
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Did tell you Australia are going to win this series.
India fought hard. Weren’t helped by carrying two passengers in Kohli and Sharma.
If India were playing St Trinian’s Under-11s, you’d be saying the latter would win.
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Honestly, if Bumrah can’t bowl, the target is under 200 and we fail to chase that on a flattening pitch then a lot of fucking hard questions need to be had of the Aussie batsman.
Once this series is over, every Aussie batter is going to be going on and on about how Bumrah is unplayable, so there’ll be no excuses if he’s absent.
Not an easy chase ball jagging sideways still.
And Bumrah will still be unplayable even with a dodge back.
Seriously? 162? Piece of piss.
Shame it’s ended like this. A fired up Bumrah on this pitch would have made this chase interesting.
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So, what now for India?
Obviously, there are a few important players who are reaching the end of their careers. Rohit, Ashwin and Jadeja will all need replacing very soon. The bowling looks pretty toothless without Bumrah and Shami. Only Jaiswal looks like a real prospect in the batting. Gill seems to have fallen off a cliff. I can imagine Kohli will want one last series in England, but he’s aging and out of form. They have the largest pool of players in the world, but there’s a serious rebuilding job needed.
I’m not going to lie: I’m loving the selection dilemma that Webster is going to bring to the table for the Aus selectors.
Cameron Green is one of the first picked when he’s available, and if Webster has a good tour in Sri Lanka, I hope the selectors are brave and choose Green and Webster at the cost of a dedicated batsman. Marny might be in trouble.
Labuschagne hasn’t looked at all convincing this summer, but, as you say, there are plenty of options. Khwaja has been ever dependable, but he can’t go on forever. The Aussies have a couple of questions, but are in a far better place than any other Test team at the moment.
England are going to be mauled next tour unless they miraculously find a couple of bowlers.
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Aussie batsmen are a worry though. The only cricket that matters for the next year is the test final and the Ashes. If Wood and Archer are fit well who knows. I said pre tournament Uzzie is done and he is.
Only batter safe is Head. Webster was an inspired selection and will probably be around for a while. Who knows with the kid opening but what an interesting approach. Youthful exuberance or pull your head in.
But last time I checked you need 20 wickets to win a test and we have that ability at the moment.
Fantastic series one of the very best. Can’t wait for the Ashes now to check these star pommy batsmen.
But we should be world test champs again beforehand……just bragging.
Relax. The chances of Wood and Archer both being fit at the same time are next to none.
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I personally don’t have a problem with any of the batsmen still in the side. We’ve come up against the world’s best bowler and all our batsmen have come off second best. Khawaja IMO isn’t in bad form. He came into the series on the back of lots of runs. Scored runs in the innings not featuring Bumrah. He is just shit scared of Bumrah. He’s as much a Bumrah Bunny as Tendulkar was to McGrath.
I feel Usman is a good partner for Konstas. I also think he’ll score runs in SL.
The only player that didn’t at least fight back into batting form across the series was Marsh and he’s now gone for good.
Khwaja is 38 and can’t go on forever. There needs to be some succession planning.
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We are the champs of every bilateral test series against every country, including holding the WTC. I’m not sure how many times that’s happened in Australia’s history.
Loads probably 