Yes England are very very poor at the moment and it was embarrising seeing them getting bowled out for 81. They need me batting out there i think. Bobara for me is not good enough at Test standard yet and should be dropped and Strauss should get another chance. KP is just too arrogant and expects to score runs wherever he goes instead of grafting. Huge Talent he has but needs to knuckle down. Glad to see Tendulkar and Dhoni back. India will do well in Australia and i think the series will be drawn. Merry Christmas to you all.

Dear Russ,
I have no doubt your inclusion will make a major difference to the English side - at least you will be able to give then the ideal start that they have been missing out on. Looking at the positive side of the team - its full of youngsters and some very experienced players and with time I am sure the mix will pay off - just as it has with the Indian side. I would not blame England for all getting all out for 81 as finally at the end of the day - they managed a draw - even if it was thanks to the weather. I think its now time to make some harsh desecions and decide on not to let any of the players take it for granted that they have a permanent seat in the team. KP - with all his arrogance has still managed to score a 1000 runs plus in the 31 or 32 matches he has played in this calender year - for which one will have to overlook his arrogance . As I mentioned earlier the pacers somehow, are not quite upto what they damage they can do if they went all out. Monty too seems to have lost a bit of his confidence with the likes of Murali keeping the English batsmen busy. All in all its been a lousy series for England.
Coming to Down Under - the land of OZ - I liked Sachins remarks about him wanting to leave Australia with a win on thier grounds and he is very determined to play out his heart and the same applies to Saurav, VVs, Dhoni, Rahul, Katick and Sehwag ( who better do something or he is def. a goner!). The bowling too has been upto its mark with the two spinners - Kumble and Bajji going great guns and I hardly find it a surprise when I see Zaheer or Irfan pick up a wicket or two before one can even settle down to start watching the match.
I have managed to get the paid channel for the cricket and have NDTV and Star crisket to keep me updated and as usual people here find me wierd, watching eleven players on the field trying to get two with their bats out and finally when they get all the eleven with bats out, the men who had the bats enter the field to get the team that was getting them out to bat!!! I dont even bother explaining the addiction one develops for the game and in any case they are least interested.
Gary Kirtsen - the new coach - I wonder how he will shape up. Everyone fear are that he may get a bit overawed with all the senior players in the Indian side even though he himself has an enviable record.
My only desire this time is thet in the first instance it does not rain and secondly India gets the Aussies to rub their noses and cry that they have had enough. I love the way Hogg is so confident. He does not realise how sachin means what he said or rather wrote - "Never again"!! The master was Shanes nightmare and will now be Hoggs. I pity him.
Any bets Russs?
Love,
Ananth

Ananth/Russ


England never really recovered from losing a decent position in the first test.After that it was their bowlers who let them down.They never came to grips with Sri Lanka's key batsmen.

Also its probably one of the worst England fielding sides I have ever seen.Plus points for England were Cooke,Bell ,Harmison.

As for Aussie vs India ,even the Aussie media are saying their team is to arrogant.Good luck India.

Robert

Hi Robert,
From what I have read, I think Gilchrist for the first time has overstepped the line and so has Pointing and Symonds has had a hair cut!. One only steps across when one know the chances of geting thrashed are a relaity. I admit one thing - the Indian pace attack is nothing much to write home about - but both zaheer and Pathan have been bowling at 130/135 km - which is not bad. The new additon ( I dont remeber his name) can go upto 140 plus and so can RP Singh. The only one who beats these guys is Bret lee and it will be worth watching how they use him and in how many bursts at a time.
Sachin, Saurav, Laxman, Rahul, Dhoni, Irfan are all in great batting form and not to gorget Karticj - who had a bad time against the Pakis but made up in the last test. These matches are going to be worth every peseta I have spent on it!!
Take care of Robert Lorraine - as I ned him to discuss the days play!!
Lots of love to both of you and warm hugs,
Ananth

Hi Russ,Robert and all thos who like /love cricket.
Tomorrow is the D day - when The Boxing Day match starts off. The days of reckoning is finally here and let us see if India can do it and give the Aussies something to think about.
Contemplating about playing Hogg and he seeming so sure about his abilities, I do hope he does not disapoint or else he will go into an all time depression. Even the sledging will be great to watch as both are sides that do not back off any more. India used to be the timid guys - but that is used to be and we are now- no timidness - give as hard as you get.

Another few hours (about 12 odd hours to go ) and I will be glued to the TV!!!

All the best - Aussies as Down Under India is thunder!!!
Love,
Ananth

Hi! Ananth,
I hope there is plenty of room in the Depression Wards in India as they will need it, cause we don't need to worry about the Boys from the Indian Playing Fields as we can beat anybody.
Love Trev from Down Under & Proud

Dear Trev,
I refused to sleep and have not had a wink since the match began. Now that I know there is so much of space in the depression wards - the Aussies - especially need it.Hussy, Pointing, clark and now Hayden all leaving the on the first day on the field at 264 for five!!! They will go or have already fone into shock as this is peanuts for the Indian batting line up and its even if the Aussies score (manage to reach 300 + ) - they will have to get India out and will have to bat again as any target they set up is a days job for the men in blue.
Come on Trev - I know its tough to watch the Men in Blue rub the Aussie noses against the pitch ( remember Ruldoph??)buts its show time and in your own back yard and India is set to finish the Aussie supremacy.
Lots of love and hugs,
Ananth

Great recovery from India , but for Hayden India would be in a dominant position.India need to finish off the job in the morning then bat boringly for two days.If they can do that then I think some of the Aussie batsmen look short of confidence and may crack.There is no Warne or McGrath to worry about!!!

Robert

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lorraine E,

Dear Trev,
Have the Aussies checked in to the depression wards? The fun starts tomorrow when the last pair get knocked over and India gets to bat. With the kind of form they are in - I do not think they will be any mood to let the Aussies off the hook.
This is just the start and there are still matches to go. Lets see what the ides of December and January bring for us as afr as Cricket is concerned.
Love,
Ananth

Dear Robert,
I had this feeling about the innings and the Boys in blue did not let down India in anyway. The way they pulled the match back was just what the doctor ordered. The idea should be now to bat sensibly over the next two days and build up a mamoth score - which will either mean the Aussies will have two days to catch up or loose their wickets again and let India take the lead.
Though one can still never be sure as far as cricket is concerned - the chances of the Aussies winning this test are almost nil. Both Zaheer and RP Singh are getting massive swing and I wonder if Australia will be able to match that, keeping Bret Lee in mind - he is pure pace and is now very predictable. Hogg is in for some massive punishment and so is Symonds. What are the options does Ricky have? I had mentioned it earlier that India has the fire power in both pace and spin as both the opening bowlers were generating speed between 130/135 and when one is facing that kind of a ball - I really would not find so much of a diference between Bret Lees pace and those of these two. As far as the Spinners are concerned - ever since Shane Warne decided to quit - Hogg has not quite been able to take over the mantle and there is no proper replacement for McGarth (I do hope his wife gets better soon).
Well, I will be there once again wide awake to watch every ball and when India bat every hit to the boundry ropes - either in terms of boundries or sixers. I am keeping my fingers crossed as its hightime someone upset the great Aussie cart. What say?
Lots of love,
Ananth

Howzat Ananth,
India 1 for 4

Hi Trev,
So India is now all out and trail by about 160 odd runs. Its a fine gesture on part of the Indians to let the hosts play or think the are in the rivers seat. Even the players who were not out accepted gracely and quietly walked out. The second innings has begun and now let us where we are headed. The biggest mistake I think India made was the opeing pair - It should have been eiher Sachin or Saurav with Jaffer. Rahul has never been comfortable as an opener and when he comes down even after the first wicket falls at zero - he is a different player altogether.
Lets see what the second innings has to bring - as India is not going to be that forgiving as it was in the first innings.
Lots of love,
Ananth

Hi Trev and all you cricket fans,

I have no answers for the way the Indians batted and have lost the first test at Melbourne by a solid margin. I eat my words on the "greatness" of the Indain players. One never actully feels the Indians were serious about the test - but were treating as some kind of a club game!
Well done to the Aussies - they deserved the win and win with the fantastic magrin they won.
love and hugs,
Ananth

Hi guys

What can you say other than some very poor batting decisions by Indian batsmen who should know better.No fault is with the Indian bowlers in my opinion.As for Australia ,they truly are a great side and look to be in a position to dominate world cricket for many years to come

Robert

Hi Robert,
You are completely right on the batting bit as far as the Indians are concerned. There was no reason to have Rahul open the innings and Ian Chappel commented - if Sehwag had been taken along for the tour -it was because of the opening slot. I know Rahul is not the kind to refuse opening but one can see he is clearly unhappy and has been going through some turmoil as of late. Why dont they let him remain where he normally bats and let Sehwag in to replace Jafer and open the innings with Saurav. One extra seamer would have also helped the clause as the ball was swinging and Irfan can make the ball swing both ways. Add to this his batting skills he is a gret guy to have in your final eleven.
The problem is, however,which two players does India drop -one is Jafer and the second??? Yuvraj is in the groove and I am sure he will do really well, Harbajan - bowling well but not many wickets to his name. Zaheer and RP - both have been bowling very well and there is no question of droppping them but adding Irfan to their armoury. As spinners are concerned - Sachin, Yuvraj and Sehwag do bowl pretty regularly and for a spell in between Saurav (the partnersip breaker) can be called in. I really do feel that both Jaffer and Hrbajan should war the seats in the Sydney test and hand over the bat and ball to Sehwag and Irfan.

Any suggestions?
love,
Ananth