Aussies v India - VB. Perth

[Donny]

Tendulkar returns

Fox

Sachin Tendulkar is expected to return from injury to strengthen India's side for Sunday's game.

Tendulkar hasn't played since hurting his ankle while making a stylish 86 to help India beat Australia by 19 runs in Brisbane on January 18.

Speaking shortly after the Indians arrived at Perth airport yesterday, Indian physiotherapist Andrew Lupis confirmed Tendulkar, the only man to have scored more than 10,000 one-day international runs, was ready to resume his rivalry with the Australian bowlers.

"He's progressing well with his rehab," Lupis said.

"He'll be fine for the next match."

In a further boost to the formidable Indian batting line-up on the eve of the tri-series finals, dashing opener Virender Sehwag is also likely to be available for Sunday's game despite some lingering shoulder soreness.

Sehwag, who made 90 in his last appearance on January 14, fielded during Wednesday's win over the Steve Waugh-led Prime Minister's XI in Canberra.

"He said he felt okay and he's had a few nets as well," Lupis said of Sehwag.

"He said he's feeling better, he's still got a bit of pain but nothing that should be a problem."

However, veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble continues to be troubled by a slight rotator cuff injury and is unlikely to play before the finals.

After playing the Australians on Sunday, the Indians round out their preparations for the tri-series finals with a clash against Zimbabwe at the same venue on Tuesday.

In-form Indian batsman VVS Laxman, who is on the verge of creating one-day cricket history after three centuries in his past four innings, said he didn't know whether the Indians would field their strongest team in their final two round-robin matches.

But Laxman, who is looking to become the first batsman to score four centuries in a single one-day tournament, said it was crucial the Indians maintained their momentum despite having already booked a place in the finals.

"Every match is important for us and it doesn't matter that we have qualified for the finals," Laxman said. "It is an on-going process of becoming the best team in the world.

"We want to improve on our consistency and keep the winning streak going, so it is important that we play to our potential."

[Collies4Eva]

I reckon we'll do it tough for this...

[Donny]

Referring to what, Collies ? Tendulkar ? Contrary to what some think, he's just a human.

Starts at 1.30.

India won the toss and batted. They are 0/19 after 3 overs.
----------------------------------------------------

Brett Lee claims Tendulkar - caught by Hayden - for 5.
----------------------------------------------------

Sehwag is motoring along in his usual fashion and has had a few chances already. He's 22 n.o. from 19 balls

Lee (2/11) is really turning it on. He's beaten the bat often and just got the edge from Laxman (1). 2/38 after 7 overs.
------------------------------------------------------

After 16 overs, it's 4/69. Gillespie got Sehwag for 32 and Bichel snared Ganguly for 1.
------------------------------------------

19 overs gone and India is 0n 5/79. Williams dismissed Dravid for 13.

[Donny]

Lee comes back and strikes with his first ball. Gavaskar out for 6, bowled.
---------------------------

7/121 as Agarkar is run out. 31 overs gone.
--------------------------------------------------------------
9/200 with 2 overs to come.

All out. 31 from the last pair. 204 to win.

[Collies4Eva]

OZ struggling at 2/16, hayden out for a duck and stupid marto out for 2 lamely chasing a wide delivery to second slip, what a moron

[Donny]

The top of this thread should really have said, "Gilchrist returns" as he's the REAL excitement machine in one day cricket.

Australia has raced to 106 in 13 overs. Gilly is 49 from 31 balls and Symonds is 44 from 31.
---------------------------------------------

Gilly cruises to 54 from 34 balls with 9 fours and a six.

Hey Collies, is Hayden a moron too ? He drove a ball straight to the cover fieldsman and was out for a duck. That's 380 less than his last dig here.

[Collies4Eva]

Gilly just made the fifty, what an onslaught in the last 10 overs!!!!! Run rate around 8 at the moment, just hope they dont lose any more wickets

[Donny]

Gilly and Symmo have slammed on 77 from 59 balls. The overall run rate is 7.6 r.p.o.
-------------------------------------------

Symmo goes to 52 from 41 balls. Gilly moves on to 67 from 51. 3/133.
--------------------------------

Symonds puts one into the carpark ! The commentators are talking more than 100 metres.

Another six (on the grandstand roof) from Symmo and he overtakes Gilly. 72 from 54.

The partnership is 121 from 94 balls. 3/159.

Symonds is cramped as he heaves one out to Laxman at square leg. Out.

[Collies4Eva]

Symonds finally got out for 73 getting a bit too excited but what an awsum knock!!!!!!

[Donny]

Gilly out. Caught in the outfield for 75 from 65 balls.

5/165 after 28 overs.

[Donny]

Lee and Gilchrist power Australia to big win

The Wisden Bulletin by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan


Brett Lee's searing spell in the morning set the tone and the Adam Gilchrist-Andrew Symonds pair completed the dominance as Australia walloped India by five wickets with 18 overs to spare at the WACA in Perth. India had their moments.

After Lee had caused all sort of problems, India recovered well to get 203. They also sniffed a chance when Australia lost three early wickets. But that was when a whirlwind partnership between Symonds (73) and Gilchrist (75) left them bereft of ideas and completely battered.

The two came together when Micheal Clarke (2) had attempted to drive through the covers and edged a simple catch to Virender Sehwag at first slip (37 for 3). Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn had already departed to acrobatic catches; Rohan Gavaskar pulling off a reflex catch diving to his right and VVS Laxman stretching full-length at second slip (16 for 2).

Gilchrist was dropped in the second over of the match, slashing wildly at a wide ball from Ajit Agarkar, and what a costly miss that proved for the Indians. In the next over from Irfan Pathan he pierced the field with a similar slash and followed it up with a rollicking six over backward square leg.

Agarkar and Pathan served him with wide half-volleys and he blitzed a few sizzling square-drives. Going down on one knee, he used the full arc of the swing and pounded the fence with regularity.

Once Symonds came in, India were bombarded from both ends. Barring Lakshmipathy Balaji, who bowled a very accurate spell in the face of brutal hitting, the rest sprayed it around and played into the batsmen's hands. Symonds received half-volleys with plenty of width and swung them freely through cover.

Neither batsmen ducked when the ball was pitched short, and just swivelled back and swatted it away. Symonds took a special liking for Murali Kartik and deposited one of his flighted balls to the rooftop at midwicket.

122 runs had came in 15.1 overs when Symonds pulled Pathan to midwicket and Laxman completed a sharp chance (159 for 4). Gilchrist fell soon after, top-edging a cut to Balaji at third man (165 for 5), but Michael Hussey (17), on debut, and Simon Katich (1 ensured that the target was reached without further alarms.

Earlier in the day, India had been restricted to 203 largely due to a blistering spell of fast bowling from Lee (3 for 22). Clearing the 150 kmph mark with ease, Lee troubled all the batsmen by mixing up his length while maintaining an accurate line. A few perished trying to jab and flirt with deliveries probing on the off stump line.

Sachin Tendulkar (5) got a peach of a ball that pitched on off and just seamed away a bit to clip the edge of the bat (20 for 1). Laxman (1) didn't have too much of a clue in his short stay at the crease and edged a short ball fishing outside off (32 for 2).

Sourav Ganguly, who might have regretted his decision to bat first, resorted to some blustery swinging when he was peppered with the short stuff but fell victim as he poked at one bouncing steeply (57 for 4).

Sehwag's breezy 32, including some ferocious driving, and Yuvraj Singh's 47 were primarily responsible for India posting a modest total. Yuvraj's shot selection was near perfect and he showed that the pitch wasn't a vicious track by any means.

He didn't flinch when hit high on the arm by Brad Williams and answered in the very next ball with a glorious square-drive. He pasted Symonds to midwicket with a pull but fell soon after to the same bowler. He chased a wide ball and handed Gilchrist an easy chance (142 for .

Before this dismissal, Gavaskar's (6) off stump was cleaned up by a screaming straight ball from Lee and Agarkar (9) was run-out after a 39-ball struggle. The total was shored up due to Kartik (32) and Pathan (20) eking out some valuable runs and Balaji (11) providing some good support in the end.

Gilchrist and Symonds ensured that the total wasn't even close to enough. No arguments about which team won the psychological brownie points.

[piedys]

Gilchrist and Symonds. Gee, these boys go alright when they've got their eye in!

Quick move both finals to Perth!!

dyso

[JLC]

Interesting to see the "liability" in Brett Lee back in form. I still dont see why people would have wanted him dropped from the one day team as last year he did very well.

Australia must be regretting their decision not to play a test match in Perth as they would have done very well.

Another little "cameo" from Damien. He loves to tease us then get out....lol That was a sparkling two runs he made but he fell once again giving slip catches....lol But eventually he will score a big total when it matters.....it just a pity players like Hodge who piles on century after century in the one dayers does not get rewarded.

jlc

[commonwombat]

The answer to yr final point JLC is the simple fact that your darling beloved little Bradley is frankly NOT GOOD ENOUGH, end of story.

He has been around for @ 10 years so cannot be seen as young talent and this season is the first and only time he's been within spitting distance of full intl honours. He has been given a number of opportunities for Australia A and has not taken advantage of them.

[JLC]