What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

[The Bloop]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

Last week, Tim Paine told Ashwin he couldn't wait to see him play at the Gabba. Aged well...

India with probably the best series win in the modern era. Beats 2005 Ashes. No Kohli, no front line bowlers, incredible stuff. Rishabh Pant is a star, too. Fearless cricketer.

Even with all the flamboyant batting in their lineup, I do love the gritty stubbornness of Pujara.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

Even with all the flamboyant batting in their lineup, I do love the gritty stubbornness of Pujara.

He's batted for 3 full days of the last two tests . Had a strike rate of 5 before lunch!

[MacAdder]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

Watched the highlights this afternoon.
Fantastic entertainment and test match cricket at its very best.

There are quite a few DVDs knocking about regarding Great Test series but this one has to rank alongside any of them.

To hit 300 plus on the final day with still plenty to do not to lose it in the last session, the Indians deserve great credit.
It doesn't seem that long ago that achieving over 300 in a test match was considered highly unlikely and the batting side would be very often trying to bat all day for the draw.
Nobody would have blamed them had they abandoned the chase half way through the day after losing a few, many past England captains would have.

Great to see cricket fans witness it too.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

Watched the highlights this afternoon.
Fantastic entertainment and test match cricket at its very best.

There are quite a few DVDs knocking about regarding Great Test series but this one has to rank alongside any of them.

To hit 300 plus on the final day with still plenty to do not to lose it in the last session, the Indians deserve great credit.
It doesn't seem that long ago that achieving over 300 in a test match was considered highly unlikely and the batting side would be very often trying to bat all day for the draw.
Nobody would have blamed them had they abandoned the chase half way through the day after losing a few, many past England captains would have.

Great to see cricket fans witness it too.

I think that if Pant had got out early on, then you may have seen India shut up shop. You're right about fourth innings totals - historically, 200 was considered a big score to chase, but the records show that in the last twenty years or so, bigger totals have been reached quite often. This can partly be explained by the fact that there are much more test matches being played today, but I'd say a bigger cause of the change is that pitches have changed - they always used to deteriorate as the days went by, but now it's not unusual to see pitches at their worst for batting on the first day and then gradually flatten out into something that gets easier and easier for the batsman.

[Hilts]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

I think that if Pant had got out early on, then you may have seen India shut up shop. You're right about fourth innings totals - historically, 200 was considered a big score to chase, but the records show that in the last twenty years or so, bigger totals have been reached quite often. This can partly be explained by the fact that there are much more test matches being played today, but I'd say a bigger cause of the change is that pitches have changed - they always used to deteriorate as the days went by, but now it's not unusual to see pitches at their worst for batting on the first day and then gradually flatten out into something that gets easier and easier for the batsman.

That can be evened out now though with lbw coming more into play with VAR. Batsmen are now have to be far more wary of lbw against the spinners.

[MacAdder]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

I think that if Pant had got out early on, then you may have seen India shut up shop. You're right about fourth innings totals - historically, 200 was considered a big score to chase, but the records show that in the last twenty years or so, bigger totals have been reached quite often. This can partly be explained by the fact that there are much more test matches being played today, but I'd say a bigger cause of the change is that pitches have changed - they always used to deteriorate as the days went by, but now it's not unusual to see pitches at their worst for batting on the first day and then gradually flatten out into something that gets easier and easier for the batsman.

I would agree that pitches are cared for much better these days (I wonder if the groundsman is under fire after yesterday).

The skill of the modern day batsmen must be a big factor though.

I've been critical of batsmen getting out to "one day shots" in test matches as tests going the full five days seemed to be getting less and less.
Some of the shots played by India, the like of which I don't think I'd seen in test cricket in the 70's and 80's, probably 90's too, were superb tho had India lost that game, I'm sure we would be calling into question their wisdom.
The Twenty 20 form, which I wasn't a huge fan of initially but has grown on me, must have had an influence.

Whether it was the flat pitch, poor bowling or perfect batting conditions, the huge run total still had to be got and what a way to get them.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

I would agree that pitches are cared for much better these days (I wonder if the groundsman is under fire after yesterday).

The skill of the modern day batsmen must be a big factor though.

I've been critical of batsmen getting out to "one day shots" in test matches as tests going the full five days seemed to be getting less and less.
Some of the shots played by India, the like of which I don't think I'd seen in test cricket in the 70's and 80's, probably 90's too, were superb tho had India lost that game, I'm sure we would be calling into question their wisdom.
The Twenty 20 form, which I wasn't a huge fan of initially but has grown on me, must have had an influence.

Whether it was the flat pitch, poor bowling or perfect batting conditions, the huge run total still had to be got and what a way to get them.

I'm still not a fan of 20/20 cricket, but I am watching a lot more of the Big Bash in Australia this year and you have to appreciate the new shots which would never have appeared if it wasn't for the 20/20 game. When you look back at all of the flak Mike Gatting received for getting out playing a reverse sweep in the 1987 World Cup Final and compare it to now, the difference is astonishing - the reverse sweep is now a legitimate shot in test cricket, in fact, someone like Keaton Jennings would probably have never played test cricket without it.

[MacAdder]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

I'm still not a fan of 20/20 cricket, but I am watching a lot more of the Big Bash in Australia this year and you have to appreciate the new shots which would never have appeared if it wasn't for the 20/20 game. When you look back at all of the flak Mike Gatting received for getting out playing a reverse sweep in the 1987 World Cup Final and compare it to now, the difference is astonishing - the reverse sweep is now a legitimate shot in test cricket, in fact, someone like Keaton Jennings would probably have never played test cricket without it.

I remember when Matthew Maynard broke into the England test side and taking a lot of criticism for playing flamboyant shots not considered to be proper test match shots and consequently his caps were minimal.
He was born 20 years too early!

[fugsyphil]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

There is a great documentary called The Test on Amazon Prime that is a very good watch and includes a Test Series against India.

Basically covers the period from the cheating scandal through to the World Cup and Ashes after it. Recommend it.

Just finished watching this after your recommendation

Slightly worried that I ended up quite liking most of the Aussie side though. They came across fairly well after the ball tampering was swept under the carpet!

[Majorblue]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

I'm still not a fan of 20/20 cricket, but I am watching a lot more of the Big Bash in Australia this year and you have to appreciate the new shots which would never have appeared if it wasn't for the 20/20 game. When you look back at all of the flak Mike Gatting received for getting out playing a reverse sweep in the 1987 World Cup Final and compare it to now, the difference is astonishing - the reverse sweep is now a legitimate shot in test cricket, in fact, someone like Keaton Jennings would probably have never played test cricket without it.

I was against the concept of 20/20 at first but was badly wrong. It has changed the game for the better in terms or technical skills, fitness and tactics which has translated into the longer game.
Additionally it has brought big crowds back to the game with the likes of Middx, Surrey, Lancs and Yorkshire selling out as ticket prices are cheap and the counties making an effort to be family friendly.
That said I want nothing to do with the Hundred which is just pointless when we have now established 20/20.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: What a performance by the Indian cricket team!

I was against the concept of 20/20 at first but was badly wrong. It has changed the game for the better in terms or technical skills, fitness and tactics which has translated into the longer game.
Additionally it has brought big crowds back to the game with the likes of Middx, Surrey, Lancs and Yorkshire selling out as ticket prices are cheap and the counties making an effort to be family friendly.
That said I want nothing to do with the Hundred which is just pointless when we have now established 20/20.

Despite my misgivings, I've always thought the 20/20 version of the game was invented by cricket men and women - the 100, on the other hand, looks like the brainchild of a bunch of marketing men and women and consultants.