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[keep-it-cool]

Yes, I have a lot of free time on my hands ... so, decided to start this one .. especially, since we have the first official word on the pitch.

Pitch curator thinks it will be a great batting pitch with good bounce and help for SWING and SPIN bowlers.

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Adelaide Oval groundsman confident of result

'Pitch will take turn'

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan in Adelaide

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/332736.html

January 22, 2008

As Brian Lara readied himself for his final Test match in Australia, needing 214 more runs to go past Allan Border's record mark of 11,174 runs, a friendly voice popped up to say, "There are enough runs in here, go for it." Sure enough he carved out a splendid 226 to end on a high. He was to later walk up to the man who urged him to score the runs and buy him a beer. Les Burdett has been at the ground for close to 40 years and picks this out as his favourite.

The Adelaide Oval is famous for it's 'Burdett Belters', pitches that batsmen usually feast on. The surface tended to favour draws in the late eighties, with six consecutive stalemates, but has produced just one since the Indiaa Test in 1992. "For me it's about a pitch that will go the way so that the match finishes in the last session of the final day," Burdett said two days before the final Test in Adelaide. "It's a myth that Adelaide produces only draws. Since 1992 we've had only one draw here, that too a thrilling one against South Africa in 1993."

India's previous visit here saw them win on the final day and Australia wrapped up a turnaround victory in the Ashes last year, one that ended in the final session of the match. "The win ratio in the Adelaide Oval is far better than any other state in Australia. It tends to favour the batsman but that doesn't mean there are draws. The pitch here doesn't break apart but it has more bounce. In fact it's so good that we played a soccer match on December 28, a cricket game on 30 and another soccer game on January 1. It didn't get affected at all."

India's Perth win was engineered by a bunch of swing bowlers and Burdett thinks they could get some advantage here on the first two days. Rain is forecast but Burdett is confident that the drainage facilities at the ground will ensure they get some play. "It swings if there's cloud. Thursday and Friday have cloudy conditions forecast. But otherwise Adelaide is like Delhi. South Australia is supposed to be the driest state in the world. When the weather is cool it means the south westerly is blowing across and could help swing. The north wind comes off the desert. That's very hot and won't help that much."

Burdett thinks India should contemplate playing two spinners on this track, only because the track offers spin and bounce. "The pitch will take turn. The important thing is there will be bounce and carry. Tim May played for South Australia and he always spoke about better angles he got here compared to Sydney, where it turns slow. Anil Kumble is a class player and will do well. He bowled beautifully in Perth on a pitch not supposed to turn."

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

[keep-it-cool]

Jaques promises all-out aggression

Jenny Thompson in Adelaide

January 22, 2008

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/332723.html

Phil Jaques will put his first taste of Test defeat to positive use, declaring that Australia will be "fiercely competitive" and "as aggressive as possible" in a bid to ram home the series win. Jaques said being the senior opener in Perth in his just his fifth Test, with Chris Rogers making his debut, did not unduly burden him but he is boosted by Matthew Hayden's expected return in Adelaide on Thursday.

"We will approach it how we always approach it," said Jaques, "which is fiercely competitive and play the game the right way but play the game hard. We will be trying to be as aggressive as possible without crossing that line."

Hayden, meanwhile, should come back from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the third Test and Jaques, for one, can't wait. "Matt coming back into the side will make a difference to our team and give us a whole lot of confidence," said Jaques. "He's a fine player, with a fine record.

"He's fantastic, a wealth of knowledge. My mindset didn't change too much not having Matt there, but having him there will give the side what we need at the top of the order."

He was confident Rogers would make a big score in his next Test opportunity, but for the meantime it's set to be the Hayden and Jaques show with the latter having ensured his spot for a while with good scores against Sri Lanka and now India; Perth was a rare double failure.

His partnership with Hayden is developing well, too. "Every Test we get a little more understanding of the way the other plays," said Jaques. "We are starting to work out when we're having our low periods and our high periods. It's definitely good to have a regular player there that's for sure but it's good to have Chris as well. He did his best last week and I'm sure next time round he'll make a big score."

Having struggled against the seamers - and Irfan Pathan in particular, who bagged him twice - Jaques said there would be some adjustments. "We will be looking at revising some plans and going from there. Everyone's entitled to a bad game every now and then. [Pathan] bowled really tight lines, really nicely. He bowled me a couple of good balls. That happens in cricket, hopefully I can get him next time."

He also promised his foot movement would be better and that the approach would not to be too much different if they had two spinners or one. Speaking of spin, he backed Brad Hogg to get the nod ahead of Shaun Tait's pace, which would deny Tait a home Test. "Usually we do play spinners here, it's one of those wickets that does spin. Personally I think Hogg might play but we will have to look at the wicket."

It will be all eyes on the pitch in the next day or so, as this will affect India's line-up also, with suggestions that they may play five bowlers, bringing back two spinners. The weather may also come into play, as showers are forecast for the first two days at least. But with Australia's top order promising to put up a fight, and India with the desire to level the series, where top-quality cricket is concerned, the outlook is sunny.

[keep-it-cool]

http://www.newindpress.com/sports/cricket/aussietour2007/News.asp?Topic=-520&Title=Reports&ID=IES20080121125353&nDate=&Sub=

Adelaide curator wants a ton from Sachin

Monday January 21 2008 23:15

ADELAIDE: Ricky Ponting might have blundered, but this man certainly gets it right. When he hands over the pitch to the players, Les Burdett knows exactly how it will play.

At 27, he was the youngest curator to manage a Test match wicket. Now at 57, he is regarded as the world’s best. Burdett’s first love is Test cricket, and he derives extreme pleasure from the fact that the world’s finest will be in action on a stage set up by him.

So Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid will play, for all practical purposes, their last Test on Australian soil on an Adelaide wicket that he calls an “honest cricket wicket.”

“It’s so humbling for me that world’s greatest players will show themselves on a wicket of my liking. I have always prepared wickets where there can be good cricket. This Adelaide wicket is the best I have seen in my whole lifetime.

Glenn McGrath took a look at the wicket on Monday morning, and he called it a belter. I have watered it a bit in the evening. “There is a bit of grass and will pack it a bit tight with the roller. It’s flat and even throughout, so the batsman can have a go, the bowlers can have go, and the wicket here always assists turn from the third day.

So there’s everything in it for everyone. “The Adelaide wicket has always produced a result in Tests since 1991. Last time India played here, they won. Personally, I don’t like many runs to be scored; I would like to see scores of 350 on an average, but I never want the wicket to be the cause for any dismissal,” said Burdett.

But Burdett admitted that he is very fond of Tendulkar, and wants the maestro to score a hundred here, just as he had the privilege of watching Brian Lara score a big ton in his last Test in Australia here. “That would be great, if Sachin gets a hundred. He’s a fantastic batsman, I enjoy watching him bat,” he said.

With 30 years of experience, and handling 15 hectares of turf which includes five cricket pitch squares and ovals, two bowling lawns, 65 practice cricket pitches and six tennis grass courts, Burdett has seen it all. Burdett is sure that this Test will be a cracker of a match and a befitting finale for this series.

[LosingNow]

Toss in 10 minutes...

Looks like KKD is coming in for WJ .. or will it be HS

[LosingNow]

India Win Toss and batting..

HS in for WJ.. IKP to opn

[LosingNow]

Hogg in for Tait and Hayden for Rogers

[Shukla]

I am really nervous about this team selection. HS should have come in for IS.

[ruchir]

IND going at nearly 5 RPO.... good going!!!

[LosingNow]

34/1.. IKP gone

[teamindia]

Pathan gone. We need at least 2 big centuries from fab4+VS. Pitch looks good for batting. Get 600.

[ganavk]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

[LosingNow]

RD plumb not given by Rauf .. due to 2 noises.. and the Aussie commies right away get on the case of the umpire and facetiously exhort the "scribes" to look at this decision

[Shukla]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

Well Akram could have helped but GC didnt let him, did he?

[Shukla]

Dravid is making even Viru sleepy.

[kban1]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

I always find it funny when people attribute IKP's batting to GC.

Fact of the matter is he was a reasonable bat before.

And his improvement in batting started under JW-SG -- 2 half centuries, 1 49, being sent up the order as night watchman against Aus, asked to hit out prior to declaration --all of these happened under the prior regime.

perfect example of net credit theory -- talk about it as much as you can, so people with short memories attribute it as your success.

[Shukla]

RD should REALLY give more strike to Viru. He should just keep playing while he is in the rthym. He is getting frustrated and will sooner or later play a shot in frustration that will get him out.

[dextrous]

RD gone...

[ganavk]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

I always find it funny when people attribute IKP's batting to GC.

Fact of the matter is he was a reasonable bat before.

And his improvement in batting started under JW-SG -- 2 half centuries, 1 49, being sent up the order as night watchman against Aus, asked to hit out prior to declaration --all of these happened under the prior regime.

perfect example of net credit theory -- talk about it as much as you can, so people with short memories attribute it as your success.

True Kban. that means we should not blame GC or whoever behind it for promoting IKP up the order or asking IKP to further concentrate on batting.

[WicketView]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

I always find it funny when people attribute IKP's batting to GC.

Fact of the matter is he was a reasonable bat before.

And his improvement in batting started under JW-SG -- 2 half centuries, 1 49, being sent up the order as night watchman against Aus, asked to hit out prior to declaration --all of these happened under the prior regime.

perfect example of net credit theory -- talk about it as much as you can, so people with short memories attribute it as your success.

True Kban. that means we should not blame GC or whoever behind it for promoting IKP up the order or asking IKP to further concentrate on batting.

ganavk, you made a comment about a missed catch by SG in the previous test in the thread five wise men. Could you confirm that you are talking about the one Kban/Broadbat are talking about? Or could you find the one you were talking about?

[ruchir]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

I always find it funny when people attribute IKP's batting to GC.

Fact of the matter is he was a reasonable bat before.

And his improvement in batting started under JW-SG -- 2 half centuries, 1 49, being sent up the order as night watchman against Aus, asked to hit out prior to declaration --all of these happened under the prior regime.

perfect example of net credit theory -- talk about it as much as you can, so people with short memories attribute it as your success.

True Kban. that means we should not blame GC or whoever behind it for promoting IKP up the order or asking IKP to further concentrate on batting.

ganavk, you made a comment about a missed catch by SG in the previous test in the thread five wise men. Could you confirm that you are talking about the one Kban/Broadbat are talking about? Or could you find the one you were talking about?

  Now this would be an example of 'hounding', FL style.

[WicketView]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

I always find it funny when people attribute IKP's batting to GC.

Fact of the matter is he was a reasonable bat before.

And his improvement in batting started under JW-SG -- 2 half centuries, 1 49, being sent up the order as night watchman against Aus, asked to hit out prior to declaration --all of these happened under the prior regime.

perfect example of net credit theory -- talk about it as much as you can, so people with short memories attribute it as your success.

True Kban. that means we should not blame GC or whoever behind it for promoting IKP up the order or asking IKP to further concentrate on batting.

ganavk, you made a comment about a missed catch by SG in the previous test in the thread five wise men. Could you confirm that you are talking about the one Kban/Broadbat are talking about? Or could you find the one you were talking about?

  Now this would be an example of 'hounding', FL style.

Why? Is it not entirely possible that he was talking about something else, and has forgotten to respond?

[colonel]

Veeru gone.

[Shukla]

We are a batsman short. really stupid team selection.

[teamindia]

From Cricbuzz...

Virender Sehwag would consider himself very very unlucky. Once again, the umpiring error proves to be fatal. The delivery on which he got out is a no ball. Replays confirm and this is certainly a huge setback to the Indians!

anyone watching?

[Cover Point]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

Well Akram could have helped but GC didnt let him, did he?

In this DG we only accept written quotes from reputable sources or from LP Sahi. Can u find one which says that GC refused Akram's hellp?

[kingcool1432]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

Well Akram could have helped but GC didnt let him, did he?

In this DG we only accept written quotes from reputable sources or from LP Sahi. Can u find one which says that GC refused Akram's hellp?

Here you go

http://www.cricketvoice.com/cricketforum2/index.php/topic,7056.0.html
http://www.cricketvoice.com/cricketforum2/index.php/topic,7092.0.html

[Cover Point]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

Well Akram could have helped but GC didnt let him, did he?

In this DG we only accept written quotes from reputable sources or from LP Sahi. Can u find one which says that GC refused Akram's hellp?

Here you go

http://www.cricketvoice.com/cricketforum2/index.php/topic,7056.0.html
http://www.cricketvoice.com/cricketforum2/index.php/topic,7092.0.html

there is a comprehension problem here ... where does it say that GC did not let him?

[kingcool1432]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

Well Akram could have helped but GC didnt let him, did he?

In this DG we only accept written quotes from reputable sources or from LP Sahi. Can u find one which says that GC refused Akram's hellp?

Here you go

http://www.cricketvoice.com/cricketforum2/index.php/topic,7056.0.html
http://www.cricketvoice.com/cricketforum2/index.php/topic,7092.0.html

there is a comprehension problem here ... where does it say that GC did not let him?

  Knew there had to be a catch to your request.

[Cover Point]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

Well Akram could have helped but GC didnt let him, did he?

In this DG we only accept written quotes from reputable sources or from LP Sahi. Can u find one which says that GC refused Akram's hellp?

Here you go

http://www.cricketvoice.com/cricketforum2/index.php/topic,7056.0.html
http://www.cricketvoice.com/cricketforum2/index.php/topic,7092.0.html

there is a comprehension problem here ... where does it say that GC did not let him?

  Knew there had to be a catch to your request.

but isnt that a valid question? Maulana Shuklaji claimed that GC did not let him .... his words not mine .... so I just want to see when he did not let him?

[Cover Point]

Ho hum ... Ganguly fails again .... plumb in front .... and falls again to the chinese bowler!!!

[broadbat]

Hope India can bat a full day otherwise 5 bowlers will be bowling with only thin air behind them.

[Cover Point]

ouch ... poor decision against sg..... ball barely hitting the top of the stumps. time for more effigies

[hastalavistababy]

ouch ... poor decision against sg..... ball barely hitting the top of the stumps. time for more effigies

[dextrous]

ouch ... poor decision against sg..... ball barely hitting the top of the stumps. time for more effigies

you must be in a good mood, gcs..i'd have gone with

[ganavk]

ganavk, you made a comment about a missed catch by SG in the previous test in the thread five wise men. Could you confirm that you are talking about the one Kban/Broadbat are talking about? Or could you find the one you were talking about?

OK...Here it is.
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ausvind/engine/current/match/291353.html?innings=4;view=commentary
5.6     Pathan to Jaques, FOUR, dropped! A squeak of a chance at point, Jaques flashing hard at a short and wide one off the back foot, and the ball carries on
8.3     Singh to Ponting, 1 run, turned round off the legs through the 45
Ganguly, to confirm, was the man who dropped the catch last over

[feverpitch]

so..GC was right all along for pushing IKP to improve his batting. It is stupid blaming GC for IKP losing sting in his bowling but sure he could have helped IKP more, everyone could have!

I always find it funny when people attribute IKP's batting to GC.

Fact of the matter is he was a reasonable bat before.

And his improvement in batting started under JW-SG -- 2 half centuries, 1 49, being sent up the order as night watchman against Aus, asked to hit out prior to declaration --all of these happened under the prior regime.

perfect example of net credit theory -- talk about it as much as you can, so people with short memories attribute it as your success.

True Kban. that means we should not blame GC or whoever behind it for promoting IKP up the order or asking IKP to further concentrate on batting.

GC was blamed for pushing IKP toomuch and esp for confusing him about his role in the side: bowler who can bat, batsman who can bowl, top order, middle order, lower order, pinch hitter... ... ... all in pursuit of his goal of creating a side full of androids...

could someone inform our good minister that he was tampering with gods plan?

[feverpitch]

Ho hum ... Ganguly fails again .... plumb in front .... and falls again to the chinese bowler!!!

that was palpably not out... rauf doing a bucknorrrrrrr...

[hastalavistababy]

ganavk, you made a comment about a missed catch by SG in the previous test in the thread five wise men. Could you confirm that you are talking about the one Kban/Broadbat are talking about? Or could you find the one you were talking about?

OK...Here it is.
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ausvind/engine/current/match/291353.html?innings=4;view=commentary
5.6     Pathan to Jaques, FOUR, dropped! A squeak of a chance at point, Jaques flashing hard at a short and wide one off the back foot, and the ball carries on
8.3     Singh to Ponting, 1 run, turned round off the legs through the 45
Ganguly, to confirm, was the man who dropped the catch last over

ghost reader

[Cover Point]

ouch ... poor decision against sg..... ball barely hitting the top of the stumps. time for more effigies

you must be in a good mood, gcs..i'd have gone with

dexy is scared!!! his picture did not show up!!! Dar gaya!

[keep-it-cool]

I think the SG decision was fine .. hawkeye shows it hitting top of off .. Rauf gives those which go over the stumps ... I'm sure we'll get those as well. India should bowl Kumble and IKP from Rauf's end as far as possible.