India vs Australia - Test Series {R}

[ScouseCat]

Warne break rules him out of Mumbai Test

Shane Warne will miss the fourth Test against India after breaking his right thumb during an eve-of-match net session at Mumbai today.

http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/NOV/092816_AUS_02NOV2004.html

[ScouseCat]

Most of the first day was lost due to rain, but we did get 11 overs play and it was enough for Australia to have India struggling at 2 for 22, with one wicket each to McGrath and Gillespie. Dravid and Tendulkar are the not out batsman for India.

[ScouseCat]

The pitch is an absolute shocker... hard to see this game lasting for much longer.

India 1st Innings: 104 all out
Dravid 31 not out
Gillespie 4 for 29, Hauritz 3 for 16

Australia 1st Innings: 203 all out
Martyn 55, Hayden 35
Kumble 5 for 90, Kartik 4 for 44

India 2nd Innings: 0 for 5 (trail by 94)
Sehwag 4 not out, Gambhir 1 not out

[OldFanatic]

OK, so I'm back from my silence. I wouldn't have expected Australia to collapse like this for 93. But anyway, it's merely a consolation. I'm still furious about the weather robbing India of its win in Chennai. That was the best contested test match.

[Andy TAUS]

OK, so I'm back from my silence. :eek: You've read my post on rain as a miracle.

Perhaps we should put the 4th test pitch down to another miracle (that it lasted a full two days before it deteriorated). :D

[ScouseCat]

I'm still furious about the weather robbing India of its win in Chennai. That was the best contested test match.
Who's to say India would have won in Chennai? They still needed 210 runs on the last day and Australia with McGrath, Gillespie and Warne needed 10 wickets.

[ScouseCat]

Perhaps we should put the 4th test pitch down to another miracle (that it lasted a full two days before it deteriorated). :D
But that was the whole point... it didn't deteriorate at all, it was turning square from the start! I don't think it's right that wickets like this one are prepared for test match cricket, and am glad the series result wasn't hinging on the outcome of this test.

-----

Ponting slams disappointing pitch

The pitch was obviously the focus of attention in the post-match press conference. Rahul Dravid labelled it a "tough wicket", but Ricky Ponting was far more scathing.

Here's what both captains had to say:

http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/NOV/096591_AUS_05NOV2004.html

[Caesar]

Indian pitches have vastly improved in recent years. It may not be nice, but these sorts of wickets are par for the course on the subcontinent. It's part of the challenge of touring, and the expectation is that whoever wins, wins under the conditions in which the match takes place. If you lose - bad luck, you didn't cope with the playing conditions and that's you're own fault.

[OldFanatic]

Who's to say India would have won in Chennai?
Me. :D

They still needed 210 runs on the last day and Australia with McGrath, Gillespie and Warne needed 10 wickets.
Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm sure the Australian team was more relieved with the rain than upset.

[ScouseCat]

Indian pitches have vastly improved in recent years. It may not be nice, but these sorts of wickets are par for the course on the subcontinent. It's part of the challenge of touring, and the expectation is that whoever wins, wins under the conditions in which the match takes place. If you lose - bad luck, you didn't cope with the playing conditions and that's you're own fault.
I have no problems with that, it's just disappointing to see a test match between 2 of the best teams over in 2 days because the pitch wasn't up to scratch.

[ScouseCat]

Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm sure the Australian team was more relieved with the rain than upset.
We had the runs on the board mate, you guys still had to get them on the last day! ;)