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Starts tonight US time. I'm quite excited as the last series Australia were missing Warner and Smith. Its really heating up between NZ and India as to wo qualifies for the WTC Final.

Kohli will only be playing the first game as he will be on paternity leave. Massive blow for India with the Final potentially hanging in the balance.

India wins the toss and elects to bat, they've never lost a Test when King Kohli wins the toss 22 wins 4 draws

India XI
Shaw
Agarwal
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Vihari
Saha
Ashwin
Umesh
Shami
Bumrah

I think India have taken the safe option with Saha over Pant, I know the Aussies are happy about that. Also no Hardik will make them happy as well, he's a match winner. I think India will struggle without a 5th bowler, especially if Australia goes after Ashwin like they usually do here in Oz.

Australia XI

Wade
Burns
Marnus
Smith
Head
Green
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

The Aussie opening pair are walking ducks here, if they can get the total to 20 without a loss it will be an achievement, India will have to know that a couple of early wickets is the key, getting Marnus & Smith in early is key, otherwise Australia will pile on the runs.

Very excited to see Cameron Green play, so much hype around him he looks like he will be a star for decades to come

Fascinating contest so far. In 29 overs, India have only hit 2 boundaries...Pujara hasn't hit any in 101 balls at the crease so far.

The pitch seems a tad slow, with some tennis ball bounce. It doesn't look unplayable, but India going at just 1.5 an over so far!

Excellent day of Test cricket. Is there really no one else from ZC watching this match?

Kohli's run out potentially a game-changing thing cuz it certainly shaves 50-100 or even more runs off India's likely total. Middle order wobble happened right after Kohli got out.

Burns & Wade both playing for their Test careers here in this match, you'd think who ever is replaced by Warner for the boxing day test will have played their last test for Australia considering their ages and with the talent coming through.

Where is Zimmdoggy with his odds, I reckon a run-out would be short price

Umesh Yadav looks like he's changed his action a bit, very Waqar Younis now

jaybro wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 18, 2020 5:11 am

Umesh Yadav looks like he's changed his action a bit, very Waqar Younis now

He's always had kind of a Waqar-ish action. I didn't notice anything vastly different. But bowlers are constantly tweaking their actions. Taijul Islam bowls like Vettori now that he's our spin bowling coach.

Australia batting too slowly. RR of less than 2. The bowling is good, but its not that good. AUS in some trouble here. They will need the tail to wag, and Labuschagne to get a score and see if they can keep India's lead down to 20-40 runs. If India can bundle AUS out under 200, they will be in the driver's seat.

India collapsing big time 5-15

6-19 now Kohli gone too

CraY crazy first session