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[bigboy]

Unfortunately no, not now. Should have played more tests but sadly he never made it on to Pontings xmas card list.

[Vic Nicholas]

It is easy to see why both batting line ups disintegrated against the English bowling in their last series.

Both top orders cannot control their urge to go after balls outside of off stump.

The discipline of leaving is a dying art.

[Joe]

I think in 3 or 4 years time India will be shot and hanging around with Sri Lanka etc., and England will be 1st in rankings with Australia and SA battling it out for 2nd. Ultimately, Australia will be better than SA but to weak batting to really get anywhere, even when they inevitably do bowl England out cheaply in the Ashes they won't be able to get a good score to back it up.

[PedalsMcgrew]

With India having so many players to choose from and a country so mental about the game (albeit only the batting part of it  ) it would be a brave soul to back against them in the next few years...

I am surprised though, I really thought we would see the best of this Indian side in this series but they just look like a bunch of players killing time until the next IPL.....and that's no one's fault but theirs.......

[Vic Nicholas]

I think in 3 or 4 years time India will be shot and hanging around with Sri Lanka etc., and England will be 1st in rankings with Australia and SA battling it out for 2nd. Ultimately, Australia will be better than SA but to weak batting to really get anywhere, even when they inevitably do bowl England out cheaply in the Ashes they won't be able to get a good score to back it up.

The next two Ashes series maybe, but I will back it in that Australia will mould a strong top six in 4-5 years time.

This top six it ain't, but other, better technically accomplished players will rise up.

Let's face it, this time last year there is no way in a million years you would have given thrupence on a wager that Australia's fast bowling stocks improving in such a short period of time. Pattinson was just a name and Cummins was a 17 year old grade cricketer that no one even in Australia had heard of.

Things change quickly...even for India.

Add Rohit Sharma, Pujara and Vijay to this line up and it would look a whole lot better already. India have players, it is a question whether the regional rivalries, ethnic discrimination and corruption allow them to select a truly representative team.

[thedon]

Has anyone seen hilfenhaus' walk?

[The_Bird]

Mince?

[langer17]

Just saw this on cricinfo about James Pattinson's wickets:

Of the 24 wickets that James Pattinson has taken in four Tests so far, 17 have been of batsmen in the top five, and four of those 17 have been dismissed for ducks.

Hopefully he can keep this up and become one of the best bowlers in the world.

[imogzyboy]

i dont know if its been mentioned so if it has i do apologise, is watson injured? or just not selected?

[The_Bird]

Just saw this on cricinfo about James Pattinson's wickets:

Of the 24 wickets that James Pattinson has taken in four Tests so far, 17 have been of batsmen in the top five, and four of those 17 have been dismissed for ducks.

Hopefully he can keep this up and become one of the best bowlers in the world.

He ticks all the boxes for the perfect replacement for McGrath, Strong Action that seems effortless and to put little strain on the body, great attitude not too nice but not too arrogant and great accuracy for a young lad tbh he looks a class act, hard to drop hilfenhaus after his performance in he first innings as well so when Pat Cummins is fit the Aussie attack looks impressive...... Unfortunately

[Manormanic]

Ultimately, Australia will be better than SA but to weak batting to really get anywhere, even when they inevitably do bowl England out cheaply in the Ashes they won't be able to get a good score to back it up.

Our antipodean friends will hate me for saying this, but the biggets problem their younger batsmen face is that they have not been schooled and seasoned in County cricket the way that younger generations were.  I am not saying necessarily that the standard was better but the variety of conditions and frequency with which they faced the moving ball honed tenchniques and mindsets in a way in which a few biff bash games in various countries will never do. 

[Number4]

Our antipodean friends will hate me for saying this, but the biggets problem their younger batsmen face is that they have not been schooled and seasoned in County cricket the way that younger generations were.  I am not saying necessarily that the standard was better but the variety of conditions and frequency with which they faced the moving ball honed tenchniques and mindsets in a way in which a few biff bash games in various countries will never do.

I think the biggest problem is being brought up in the T20 era. It takes away the patients of an innings with wild slashing at all balls. No room for leaving outside off stump in that game. I do agree a little but it's not County cricket or shield cricket it's the fact that there is a form of cricket which I think has and is ruining the patients of test cricket

A comment was made by the commentators in the last test about Cowan saying that he needed to score faster.... Hang on don't they need someone who a hang around and grind a innings out... I thought he did exactly what was needed in his first innings

[Number4]

Ponting and Clarke seem to be picking Indian bowlers off with ease at the moment

[langer17]

First sweep shot I have ever seen Ponting play.

[Manormanic]

Valid point, but I think the advantage of playing in alien conditions is that it teaches adaptability, and that would reduce the potential issues with T20 - think about the most adaptable batsmen in the modern game, and the names you'll come up with (Ponting apart) had a stint in county cricket before their 25th birthday - indeed, for some it was arguably the making of them (Mike Hussey being an obvious candidate)