Tassietigersrule
Member
2nd Test: Australia vs. India in Sydney
Okay guys, the 1st test is over and Australia is 1-0 up. Now the second test starts in Sydney on the traditional start of 2nd January (they call it the new year's test). Before I start talking about this one, I'll give a player rating out of 10 for each player for the boxing day test.
Australia
Phil Jaques: Surely his question in the line-up is not a question now. 2 half-centuries on a pitch that wasn't the easiest by any means to bat on. Rating: 8/10
Matthew Hayden: Simply sensational. Superb century in the 1st innings. Only mistake he made was the soft way he got out in the 2nd innings 3 short of another half-century. Deserved man of the match. Rating: 9.5/10
Ricky Ponting: Rare, rare double failure from the skipper, showed he is a mortal. I'm predicting he'll hit back hard in the 2nd test, which won't be a good sign for India. For his captaincy in Melbourne, deosn't quite get a nought Rating 1/10
Mike Hussey: A low score in the 1st innings and a start but didn't quite go on with it. Brilliant in the field though, saving at least a couple of boundaries and running out Harbahjan Singh in near the end. Rating: 4.5/10
Michael Clarke: Set up Australia to declare with a monster lead in the 2nd innings after looking uncomfortable in the 1st. His excellent fielding at cover to keep Laxman on strike led to his dismissal and a catch to himself in the 2nd innings. Rating: 7.5/10
Andrew Symonds: A couple of starts in both innings, will be disappionted he didn't go on with it. Very good with the ball in the 2nd innings, especially when he changed to spin bowling to trap Dravid in front and could have had a couple more with more luck. Rating: 6.5/10
Adam Gilchrist: Like Symonds, a couple of starts without going on to a big score, but magnificent with the pink gloves. His awesome batting overlooks the fact he is also a brilliant keeper. Rating: 7/10
Brad Hogg: I was 1 who for at least this test called for 4 quicks, but the spinner had a solid test return. The Indians looked completely baffled, especially with his wrong un and the flipper, it's nice to see the old flipper, not too many people have it in their armoury these days. Contributed with the bat in the 2nd innings and expect him to do more of that as well if he's in the side. Rating: 7/10
Brett Lee: Since he's become the spearhead of the side, he has shown he is the total package. Enough said. Rating: 8.5/10
Mitchell Johnson: Some wickets in "junk time" has almost certainly saved him from a possible (though I wouldn't say probable) demotion in Sydney. Needs to continue his form from late in the 2nd innings, Shaun Tait is breathing down his neck. Rating: 5/10
Stuart Clark: Continues to astonish everyone. Just slips under the guard and I'll rate him just slightly ahead of Lee in Melbourne. Also did well with the bat as a no.11 in the 1st innings. His place was under scrutiny, but here's a question, can you have Lee, Tait and Johnson in the same side? Aren't they just a bit too similar? Clark's completely different. Rating: 9/10
Okay guys, the 1st test is over and Australia is 1-0 up. Now the second test starts in Sydney on the traditional start of 2nd January (they call it the new year's test). Before I start talking about this one, I'll give a player rating out of 10 for each player for the boxing day test.
Australia
Phil Jaques: Surely his question in the line-up is not a question now. 2 half-centuries on a pitch that wasn't the easiest by any means to bat on. Rating: 8/10
Matthew Hayden: Simply sensational. Superb century in the 1st innings. Only mistake he made was the soft way he got out in the 2nd innings 3 short of another half-century. Deserved man of the match. Rating: 9.5/10
Ricky Ponting: Rare, rare double failure from the skipper, showed he is a mortal. I'm predicting he'll hit back hard in the 2nd test, which won't be a good sign for India. For his captaincy in Melbourne, deosn't quite get a nought Rating 1/10
Mike Hussey: A low score in the 1st innings and a start but didn't quite go on with it. Brilliant in the field though, saving at least a couple of boundaries and running out Harbahjan Singh in near the end. Rating: 4.5/10
Michael Clarke: Set up Australia to declare with a monster lead in the 2nd innings after looking uncomfortable in the 1st. His excellent fielding at cover to keep Laxman on strike led to his dismissal and a catch to himself in the 2nd innings. Rating: 7.5/10
Andrew Symonds: A couple of starts in both innings, will be disappionted he didn't go on with it. Very good with the ball in the 2nd innings, especially when he changed to spin bowling to trap Dravid in front and could have had a couple more with more luck. Rating: 6.5/10
Adam Gilchrist: Like Symonds, a couple of starts without going on to a big score, but magnificent with the pink gloves. His awesome batting overlooks the fact he is also a brilliant keeper. Rating: 7/10
Brad Hogg: I was 1 who for at least this test called for 4 quicks, but the spinner had a solid test return. The Indians looked completely baffled, especially with his wrong un and the flipper, it's nice to see the old flipper, not too many people have it in their armoury these days. Contributed with the bat in the 2nd innings and expect him to do more of that as well if he's in the side. Rating: 7/10
Brett Lee: Since he's become the spearhead of the side, he has shown he is the total package. Enough said. Rating: 8.5/10
Mitchell Johnson: Some wickets in "junk time" has almost certainly saved him from a possible (though I wouldn't say probable) demotion in Sydney. Needs to continue his form from late in the 2nd innings, Shaun Tait is breathing down his neck. Rating: 5/10
Stuart Clark: Continues to astonish everyone. Just slips under the guard and I'll rate him just slightly ahead of Lee in Melbourne. Also did well with the bat as a no.11 in the 1st innings. His place was under scrutiny, but here's a question, can you have Lee, Tait and Johnson in the same side? Aren't they just a bit too similar? Clark's completely different. Rating: 9/10