It's time for cricket's greatest rivals (until the Ashes) to face off once again.
Many of the world's best cricketers will take the field opposite each other in a battle that goes beyond rankings (India's # 1 though).
Expect swearing, tantrums, hissy fits, cheerful jousting, and delightfully synchronized dance-swimming.
But enough about the Aussies.
Some great cricket is to be played over the course of five... what's that? Only two tests? What? There weren't even supposed to be tests? ODI's?
Just be glad we're getting something that isn't T20 or Sri Lanka, especially if it's making sure the Aussies are as poorly prepared for the Ashes as possible.
I'd prefer India to be playing 5 bowlers, because the top 5 batsmen + Dhoni are more than adequate for anything served to them. The bowlers are the rusty weak link, probably except Ojha. Much as I hate to admit it, Ishant Sharma should play, if only for Ponting. Sreesanth had a good outing in the tour game too. But the likely line-up is:
Sehwag
Gambhir
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Raina
Dhoni (c)(wk)
Harbhajan
Zaheer
Ishant
Ojha
It doesn't matter which of Hauritz or Smith plays for the Aussies, though since Smith can bat, Hauritz is better for us. Cannon fodder. And now that I've underestimated him, he's probably going to take a five-fer. For 200.
As long as India doesn't lose many wickets in the first session, it's pretty safe to say we won't be losing this game.
The inevitable has happened
So India's squad for the home tests against Australia has been picked. Most of it is as expected:
MS Dhoni (capt. & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, M Vijay, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Sreesanth and Amit Mishra.
Gambhir walks back into the opening role, Zaheer is back as the spearhead, and Mithun is out despite showing promise.
The big inclusion, though, is the one I have cleverly italicized, followed by the italicization of 'italicized' for no reason at all.
Cheteshwar Pujara has finally made the cut, by "sheer weight of performance", as Srikkanth puts it. No shit, Holmes. He's still behind Raina and Vijay in the pecking order, but the big 3 aren't going to be around forever. Or maybe they are, if cricketing Botox becomes available soon. Crictox. Bocket.
Anyway, Yuvraj has now been dropped from the Test squad, where most people will agree that he never really belonged. Sure, he's had a couple of decent knocks. But so does Raina, his replacement, in only his debut series.
The Prince (of nothing) was also recently dropped from the ODI squad, though we know it was only rest. So does he, for that matter. First clue? Selectors calling him "India's trump card at the World Cup". He's just. That. Important.
Harbhajan is also back, inspiring me to bring out a new blog feature called "Terrible Metaphor".
If Harbhajan was milk, he is now Curd. The Curdinator. Something to do with expiry dates, I don't know.
Ojha is the second spinner, or is it Mishra? Who knows - they certainly don't.
Sreesanth is back again. This is a selection I'm pleased about - he still has his original skill set, and is only found wanting in the accuracy department. I'd open with him and Zaheer, definitely. Ishant Sharma is also around, probably just for Ponting. Venkatesh Prasad says he has a great work rate. Yeah, in your pants, Venky. (Inappropriate joke #1)
Heavy batting, thin bowling. Same as ever.
MS Dhoni (capt. & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, M Vijay, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Sreesanth and Amit Mishra.
Gambhir walks back into the opening role, Zaheer is back as the spearhead, and Mithun is out despite showing promise.
The big inclusion, though, is the one I have cleverly italicized, followed by the italicization of 'italicized' for no reason at all.
Cheteshwar Pujara has finally made the cut, by "sheer weight of performance", as Srikkanth puts it. No shit, Holmes. He's still behind Raina and Vijay in the pecking order, but the big 3 aren't going to be around forever. Or maybe they are, if cricketing Botox becomes available soon. Crictox. Bocket.
Anyway, Yuvraj has now been dropped from the Test squad, where most people will agree that he never really belonged. Sure, he's had a couple of decent knocks. But so does Raina, his replacement, in only his debut series.
The Prince (of nothing) was also recently dropped from the ODI squad, though we know it was only rest. So does he, for that matter. First clue? Selectors calling him "India's trump card at the World Cup". He's just. That. Important.
Harbhajan is also back, inspiring me to bring out a new blog feature called "Terrible Metaphor".
Terrible Metaphor
If Harbhajan was milk, he is now Curd. The Curdinator. Something to do with expiry dates, I don't know.
End of Terrible Metaphor
Ojha is the second spinner, or is it Mishra? Who knows - they certainly don't.
Sreesanth is back again. This is a selection I'm pleased about - he still has his original skill set, and is only found wanting in the accuracy department. I'd open with him and Zaheer, definitely. Ishant Sharma is also around, probably just for Ponting. Venkatesh Prasad says he has a great work rate. Yeah, in your pants, Venky. (Inappropriate joke #1)
Heavy batting, thin bowling. Same as ever.
The ultimate "stupid, stupid me" moment
Today, Pollard was, for once, allowed to bat higher up the order.
Result? He had twice as long to wreak havoc than he usually does.
His promotion was probably a combination of several reasons, like
Which brings up an important question: Is his thought-voice as thin as his speaking voice?
Anyway, I doubt he's thinking what we think he's thinking. Think.
Even with Pollard out of the cage at #3, the total was 184. Around the same as the other games.
MI won this because of their bowling. And Guyana's batting sucks. Like a straw.
Result? He had twice as long to wreak havoc than he usually does.
His promotion was probably a combination of several reasons, like
- MI was playing a team from the Carribean
- MI is almost out anyway
- The team management thought, "What the heck, we've tried everything else anyway" (they haven't)
- Everyone else was too full from breakfast
Which brings up an important question: Is his thought-voice as thin as his speaking voice?
Anyway, I doubt he's thinking what we think he's thinking. Think.
Even with Pollard out of the cage at #3, the total was 184. Around the same as the other games.
MI won this because of their bowling. And Guyana's batting sucks. Like a straw.