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Showing posts with label India v Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India v Australia. Show all posts

Sunday 27 March 2016

WT20 - Hunt for Fourth Semifinalist - Ind v Aus

#Ind v #Aus
#WT20, Group 2 Match
#Mohali

New Zealand, West Indies, England - 3 semi final spots booked.
Fourth spot = ??? India or Australia?

Its all come down to this last game in Group 2 to decide who would take that fourth spot in #WT20 2016. The script couldn't have been better. Expect another cracker of a game between these two fierce opponents (almost like two bulls locking horns to show who's the boss?) whose cricketing rivalry has reached unparalleled levels over the last few years in the limited over formats.

On paper, India will have the upper hand in this game.
India is currently ranked #1 in T20, Australia are at #6.
Playing at home will give India an immense advantage with the pitch, conditions, crowds. Their spinners' strength will test out the fragile-to-spin Australian batting.

But, you count out Australia at your own peril.
Their batting is exemplary in most conditions and having played #IPL most of their players are fairly adapted to these Indian conditions. (by the way ... IPL starts a week after this #WT20 so fasten your seat belts for that one too!)

Their bowlers, though inexperienced, always show true Aussie grit and aggression when bowling against any side or situation. Their fielding is world class and way ahead of their Indian counterparts.

Will it be a pure cricketing skill contest when they meet today? 
Not sure ... both teams have had a history of going at each other verbally on the field and therefore expect a #Sledgefest at Mohali. One thing is for sure, Ind v Aus games are not for the faint hearted or purists. They are more like a brawl... and that's what we can expect today.

May the best team win. I dare predict that winner of this match will eventually go and claim the #WT20 trophy as well!

India strengths: MS Dhoni's superlative brain and cool in tight situations, Virat Kohli's superlative form, Ashwin and Jadeja's spin exploits, Bumrah's death bowling.

India weaknesses: Fragile top order - none of Rohit, Dhawan or Raina have got going, Even more fragile middle order after Kohli - Yuvraj, Dhoni, Pandya and Jadeja haven't been too consistent to invoke confidence, Fifth bowler options look limited.

Australia strengths: Top order looks solid - Khawaja's form, Finch's reliability and Warner's destructive nature, Firepower down the line - Big Show Maxwell, Watson and Faulkner can provide fireworks towards end of their innings, Steady bowling attack

Australia weaknesses: Fragile against spin in this conditions, no batsman has runaway with games on his own - its been fits and starts, inexperienced spinners and seamers in a huge crunch match will need a lot nerves and mental strength.  

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Monday 11 January 2016

India v Australia 2016 Cricket Rivalry Renews

#Ind v #Aus #ODI #Series #2016

The fierce (in the literal sense) rivalry between India and Australia #Cricket teams is all set to renew starting 12th Jan 2016 with a 5 ODI and 3 T20 series. India tour Australia and the series kicks off with the first #ODI at the #WACA #Perth.

Over the last few years, series between these two teams have been hotly contested mostly due to on-field verbal spats, ugly sledging and controversies. It all started with that infamous #MoneyGate scandal in #Sydney in 2008 when Harbhajan and Symonds got into an altercation that threw the sport into a great abyss (suspensions, threats from BCCI, fines, etc).

Australia brought fierce gamesmanship in the game under Steve Waugh and play their game very aggressively. The young Indian brigade has tried to match them word for word over the past few years. Although performances show Australia have an upper hand in terms of results, the Indian team has laid to rest its soft target image of the 90s and 80s.

So, how does it look this time around?

India is being led by the old veteran #MSDhoni (probably his last hurrah will be the #T20 #WorldCup to be played in Mar 2016 in India). With fading form and age, he has one last chance to show he is still the wily old fox who can inspire his team to win in Australia again (remember .. it was under his leadership that India beat Australia 2-0 in the Tri series of 2008). 

His deputy #ViratKohli is hot on his heels if he fails to perform and deliver results. Virat has taken the new India team by the storm with his win-at-all-costs and aggressive attitude. Youngsters want to follow him and his attitude seems to be rubbing on his young team.

So, how with Captain Cool handle this young brigade? remains to be seen.

Australia on the other hand are rebuilding a team again under the young #SteveSmith. A lot of their bowling strength is depleted since retirement of #MitchellJohnson last year and #MitchellStarc out with a hamstring problem. How are their young bowlers going to cope with international matches will determine Australia's outcome in the series.

There are dangerous players on both sides who can turn games on their own. Warner and Maxwell for Australia alongside Smith and Marsh' while Jadeja and Raina can turn it on for India apart from Dhoni, Kohli and Rahane. India's #RaviAshwin will be the huge difference between these two team's bowling departments. 

All in all, it looks like a humdinger of a contest between these two sides over the next two weeks. May the best "cricket" team win (not the worst behaving one)!

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