Aussie879903, India batted brilliantly in SCG. You may think that they have played slowly, but really if you see carefully Laxman and Sachin both played fours. I don't think, in Tests, people hit the ball in the air too often.

India have scored 650 RUNS ! Patel is playing on 43 and Sachin on 220. Do you honestly believe that Australia can score 450 to first avoid the follow-on, and STILL win the match ? I must salute you then, I love your optimism for the Australian win.

(May I add that this post got me really steamed up, and I declined posting a few remarks which I normally don't)

The only way Australia can win this test is to be forced to follow on, essentially do what India did to them a few years ago. This aint gonna happen though. India will bat Australia out of the test, they only need a draw to retain the trophy after all.
Kudos to the Indians they have shown a great deal of backbone in this series, something I suspect the Australians, players AND selectors did not expect. Despite the bad press Ganguly gets he seems to have instilled a team spirit in the Indian side which we have come not to expect in subcontinental sides.
And though I dont like seeing the Aussies lose I think if they go down in this test, and they may well, it will do noend of good to world cricket and for that matter australian cricket. Which seems to have grown fat and complacent, spending more time building up their image as true blue aussie heroes (hey guys you hit a ball around and make bucket loads of cash) than playing cricket. And as for the selectors....!!!!!!!

India have no chance at all of winning this match. I don't know what you are smoking, whatever it is keeps your hopes up. I will also refrain from posting any thoughts I would usually not say, because I don't want to seem like a gloater.

True blue Aussie here, but I know when the bridges are burned..

I doubt (but fervently wish) that we can win one for Tugger

I'm too young to smoke, OK ?

All right, maybe I'm mad thinking that India can win the match, but tell me, why do you think Australia can win the match ? India have scored 705/7, Australia are struggling on 342/6, still 164 short of avoiding the follow-on, and still trailing by 363 runs. India have got two whole days to get Australia out.

Another thing, a team has scored 700 + cannot lose the match unless they play very badly. That has not been shown by India. who have already got 6 wkts. How do you think Australia can win the match ? Will they score 500 + runs in the 4th day and then win the match ? I eagerly await your views.

Don't worry about aussie879903, you two - just another one that has gone through the Shane Warne School of Arrogance.

Kudos to India, the display they are showing is the best thing that can happen to world cricket that we've seen for many years. They are putting it to us, I can't see us avoiding the follow on and if the Indians keep their bowling tight they have every chance of winning - although right now a draw seems more than likely.

If anyone considers this an argument then you have problems. Just because I believe one country will win over another is no way to think I am arrogant about a topic rather than calling it an "issue". I will not be apoligising for something I believe in. To those "Australians" who have no faith go ahead and praise "India" because it will do no good.

[ the remainder of your post has been deleted .. send me a PM if you can't figure out why ]

aussie879903, I don't think anyone is blaming you for thinking a certain country will win, I think it's your way of posting. Your posts are arrogant and rude, and that's why people are calling you a rude. You asked me what I was smoking, which I do not like to be asked, as I disapprove of smoking. This is not about a country, it's your way of posting which is getting me angry.

If you look through some threads, you will see that even if other members support a team, they don't just jump in and say "This team played very badly, like old ladies and such...". They put in a touch of fun and facts which I have not seen from you.

And I do not care if you apologise or not.

hmmm..another Indian speaking here.

Have a look at the scenario on the fourth day(today) of the match, and I daresay, there is no need to tell which team is playing better. Australia could not fulfil the requirements needed to avoid follow-on. India is in the driver seat. And as a cricket fan, may I add that pure entertainment may be expected tomorrow.

[I think even if I hadn't mention my country above, that'd not have made any difference; mine would perhaps be the opinion of a third party]

As a Pom its great seeing Aussies getting a whupping

You lost your Rugby Crown....now the Indian team are playing cricket of beautiful quality.

Yes Australia have been awesome in the cricket world in recent years but to be honest the way Australia plays cricket is just sooooo suffocating. India however, have shown what a wonderful group of technically gifted talents they have. Tendulker was magnificent at last in this series and it was a joy to see him play at his imperious best. May India win this series and may India become the new force, because in Ganguly they have a master.

Ok i cant let that pass, the way Australia plays cricket is suffocating!!!!! How so the quality spinners, the world class fast bowlers, the 400 runs a day innings. The always playing for a win. What exactly is it that makes them suffocating? I can think of only one thing and thats Australia's horrific commentators!!

Oz has set the standards in a lot of sports. I think Australia with it's varies sporting institutes lifted the bar to world sport 15-20 years ago. It was inevitable that other nations would eventually rise to the standard, as India have in this current test series. I for one think it's tremendous. What does disappoint me on this fifth day of the Sydney test is Australia never looked like they were seriously chasing the runs. I'd prefer to see us lose and go down swinging than this defence style of batting. Perhaps I'm not giving enough credit to the Indian bowlers. Let's see what Gilchrist can produce.

..and so the match ended in a draw.

That's the perfect result, I feel. Both teams played excellent cricket and a draw is a very fair result. Australia batted superbly in the last day and made a honest attempt to win.

Steve Waugh's farewell Test. Steve Waugh was my 2nd favourite cricketer in Test cricket. The scenes after the match, were full of emotion. The prize-distributing ceremony was emotional, everyone said goodbye to him, and he himself responded. Then after that, came the lap. That was the best. I had tears in my eyes, seeing, him carry the Australian flag, being cheered on by the whole Sydney crowd, his meeting with his family, it was great. It was a great career and it had a fine ending.

Hear! Hear! Well said Angi!

This test series was an enjoyable one and it seems the cricket between these two nations gets better with time. At the start of the series it was predicted that Australia would be the favourites to win back the trophy, but the series ended up being an even better one than that of 2000 in Australia,with India once again claiming honours. Unfortunately the weather decided the first test, yet every match in this series lasted the whole five days which is a first in Australia for a while. I thought Kumble was unlucky not to be named man of the match with his 10 wkt haul. Steve Waugh was sent out in style and will never be forgotten for his dedication he gave to cricket. Rahul Dravid was also appropriately named man of the series and I hope he keeps his good form for the upcoming one dayers. I can't wait for the VB series, hopefully Zimbabwe will put up a fight and give the others a run for their money.

Am i to believe Kumnble will be playing for my beloved Middlesex this English summer?

As for my comments on suffocating....well err..lol ok you go tme, im on a Pom wind up...not much to bleat about on English Cricket

A few points to remember:

1) Great end to a great series.
2) Sachin was, is and will remain the best batsman ever after Sir Don. No questions please in the future.
3) The Ricky Pointing era may not be as glorious for Australian Test Cricket with the Men in Blue around.
4) As for Steve Waugh. He became the first ever Non-Indian cricketer to be given a standing ovation in the cafeteria at my college. Need I say more?
5)The Border Gavaskar Trophy is in Ganguly's hotel room.

There are no great batsman besides Bradman and there will never be a better batsman. Tendulkar does not really stand out as the best with the likes of Dravid, Lara, S Waugh, Hayden, Gilchrist etc just as good.

While there may never be a better batsmen the Bradman, I agree to some extent that not much separate the top echelon of batsmen. Tendulkar is one of the best batsmen I've ever seen with his stroke play, Gilchrist the most exciting. Laxman in his knock of 178, looked as good as any.

What I really wanted to comment on was how sick I am of the Steve Waugh stuff ALREADY! Everywhere I look there's a new headline 'GREATEST CAPTAIN EVER' or 'A HERO RETIRES'. Give me a break! Anyone who didn't follow cricket must think he knocked out an entire Panzer Division armed only with a basket of fruit. Don’t get me wrong, Waugh is a fine player and was a good captain. I loved the fact that he would never accommodate a draw. He always aggressively went for the win. However, what did he actually do that was so remarkable? Kept form for 20 years? Maybe. A win in the West Indies? He has always had brilliant players at his disposal, M. Waugh, Gilchrist, Warne, McGrath, Ponting..You’d expect to win a lot of cricket with those players, even if the captain was Mr Magoo. Perhaps I’m just overly cynical.

Give me A. Border any day.

Lets see how things go in the one-day series - that must be quite interesting, I hope - With Indian new-found vigor and all.
Well, I guess, like many Jingoistic Indians, I would trade off a VB series win for the Pakistani Tour win.
One thing for sure - that series will surely set up a lot of explosions....

As to the batsman, moi is another one of retards, who believe that Tendulkar IS the best batsman in the world (All-time) . (Look at his Consistency over the years...)


Nothing like serving the Aussies a hot cup of Pepper and Chilly Soup...

No, sorry, I may be an Indian, but I don't feel Sachin is the best. I'm in a hurry so my reasons will be coming tomorrow or today.

Now, I'm ready.

I feel Sachin is not the best batsman in modern times. On the other hand, I don't feel any other batsman of this era can be called the best. Ace, you were talking about consitency, but I feel, that he isn't really consistent. 2003 was a lean year for him. Of course, each batsman has a lean patch. But (correct me if I am wrong), I don't think Bradman went through a long patch.

Let me echo Angi's words. Sachin plays for himself, not the team(it looks to me). I've seen him slow down when nearing his century, even when India's in difficult situations. Course, there aren't many batsmen who don't do this; but then, they are not called great. Anyways, his total always adds to India's, and that's what covers up all(in audience's eyes).