I'm very much looking forward to this match but more in the sense that I think it's important for India to beat Aus and draw 2-2 because it'll give them the perfect psychological preparation to win the series in India in Oct 08. And all curators must be looking to give India the best chance of winning. It's high time they started thinking of our bowlers when preparing wickets and prepared good cricketing wickets and not these flat pancake disgraceful ones like the Pak series. We know from this series Aussies struggle against 2 types of bowling: Good swing bowling and good spin bowling. India have both. None of the other teams do. It's either one or the other. And if they get good cricket wickets they will bowl Aus out twice in Oct and win the series. Curators have to prepare pitches with some bounce and lateral movement initially (for swingers) which flatten out for batting and then deteriorate and offer turn & bounce for Kumble and Bhajji. So right now instead of fighting with selectors and the ICL the BCCI should do routine checks on grounds for that series and if a pitch isn't coming along as required then penalise the state association.
Ian Chappell has said that Ponting is a better captain than Steve Waugh and is more agressive. What cricket fans know is that Steve was a fighter to the core and is the one to achieve a sequence of 16 wins earlier.
Hayden is challenging India to repeat their Perth performance at Adelaide. One doesn't remember any Aussie player challenging either South Africa or England, their more fancied rivals at any time before this, but often mauled these two quietly.
Phil Jaques is reportedly pleased to have Hayden back in the team. But what is unreported that he is perhaps getting free of butterflies, not really becoming confident.
Shane Warne says that Aussies lost Perth test because they did not exhibit their usual aggression.
Ponting himself is not sure that Aussie domination is at crossroads.
All these talks by ex and present Aussie players clearly and unmistakably point out one thing. After their ODI tour of India recently, jitters sent in. After the first day of Melbourne test, the discomfort increased. After scraping through Melbourne, the quest for repeating 16 win records degraded them to their worst behaviour ever in Sydney.
And now, make no mistake, Perth defeat has surely put them in disarray. Seldom do barking dogs bite.
Team India and Kumble should take full advantage of this fear factor in the minds of Aussies at Adelaide and play for a majestic win.
"I would say there is no other side in the world that comes close to us when we are playing our best," said Hayden.
On any given day, the team playing at their best always wins. This is a fact that every one knows, even Bangladesh....I hope Hayden remembers. It's time Australians accept the fact that they are not invincible. On a given day even the Kenyans when playing at their best could upset their opponent. Best of luck to the Indian team for the 4th Test.
there is no 3 umpire which will support u and win the test match. u have to prove with good sportmanship spirit then only say we are number one team. because u r cheaters than any other team in the world. We all prople can prove it. Australians are cheatersssssssssss. nothing else.
