Story The Dominators - Global Challenge

[MWaugh]

Pre Match Analysis and Coin Toss - Richie Benaud

Benaud - Good morning and welcome to a sun baked indian day here in Kolkata. We are brought live here to the viewers back home thanks to "TenSports". What a cracking game we have here today, Australia, one of the most successful teams in the last decade, against an India team that has proven extremely hard to beat on home soil. With me I have Indian great Sunil Gavaskar. Sunil good morning and welcome.

Gavaskar - Hello Richie, hello viewers. And let me say welcome to sunny Kolkata

Benaud - Yes sunny indeed. It is very hot and dry here in India, probably the worst conditions possible for an Australian team coming off overcast games against Zimbabwe and then New Zealand. Sunil, with your local knowledge of these pitches, how do you think this one will play today?

Gavaskar - Well as you said earlier Richie this wicket will turn alot. I think we can see that from the selections in both teams. India are going in with Anil Kumble as the legspinner and Harbijan Singh bowling off spin. They can also be backed up by tendulkar and shewag if necessary but Kumble and Singh will cause plenty of trouble. And then australia have Warne and MacGill, two of the best legspinners, then Symonds bowling off spin and Clarke with left armers if need be. It should be a great match.

Benaud - Indeed it will be Sunil. Well in news just in, Australia have won the toss and have elected to bat. Mark Taylor is down there now with the two captains.

Taylor - Thank you Richie and Sunil. Well i have with me here Ricky Ponting, Ricky talk us through your decision to bad first.

Ponting - Well quite simply tubby this is going to turn a long way. We hope to get first use, make some good runs and then bowl last on this wicket. Warne and Macgill should be difficult to bat against on day 4.

Taylor - And Surav Ganguly, the Indian captain, happy with the toss?

Ganguly - Well to be honest we would have liked to have had a bat also. The same reasons, we have two of the best spinners in the world, i would have liked to have seen them bowl last to this australian team.

Benaud - Now here are the lineups for both teams

 

[The Champ]

Its going to be a cracker here Mwaugh

 

[MWaugh]

Its going to be a cracker here Mwaugh

It sure is. I am using boss's version 3 along with sam's new patch and it is very difficult. It is turning and bouncing so much for kumble and singh. Possibly too much but its still difficult none the less. Not much there for pathan and balaji, i think the spinners will decide this match. Hopefully i get the same turn and bounce with warne and macgill and maybe Symonds can star again with the ball like against New Zealand.
Match updates should be posted soon or tomorrow. Stay tuned. Keep posting everyone

 

[The Champ]

Mate why cant use channel nine as it is official one in AUS and it is also a complete patch

 

[qwert]

Looks we r going to have a great match i kolkata

 

[m_vaughan]

Yes very excited about this game. How on earth is Parthiv Patel in the squad??

 

[SaiSrini]

What Indian line up is this? Chopra and Patel??? Yuck!!!

Anyway, all the best MWaugh!!

 

[gold639]

What Indian line up is this? Chopra and Patel??? Yuck!!!

LOL

I think he's giving them a last chance,just the way you've recalled Jadeja and Gavaskar to your squad

 

[The Champ]

LOL

I think he's giving them a last chance,just the way you've recalled Jadeja and Gavaskar to your squad

I think our guys are more generous than our selectors well done sai and mwaugh

 

[jazz]

should be a exciting match

ill put my money on australia

 

[The Champ]

Mwaugh buddy who is the coach u have fixed for the Indian team

 

[MWaugh]

as for my selection issues:

i picked chopra and patel because i havent seen a lot of the indian team appart from games in australia. ive always liked patel, he wasnt an overly good keeper but as for his batting he has proved hes more than capable. plus hes a left hander which adds another dimension as you look down the list-
shewag
chopra
dravid
tendulkar
laxman
and they are all right handers.

ive picked chopra because i dont think i have the current opener for india. i also dont mind chopra when batting with shewag because he seems to control the innings if he can stay in while shewag goes for his shots.

as for the coaching issue champ - i haven thought alot about it, ive been more focused on the match. what i will do is keep john wright on as coach for this game. if anybody would like to put some nominations up for the next coach they will be appointed then.

champ - would you be able to send the channel 9 tv patch for me? the last one i had stuffed up and thats why im using sky sports. but im using the tensports one here because its very good and i reckon it looks great

 

[MWaugh]

Match Update - Lunch Day 1

The first session of the test match between red hot Australia and the always dangerous India proved to be the tight and even contest many had expected. On a typically turning Kolkata pitch, spin proved to be the most dangerous form of attack for the home side as they restricted Australia to 1/62 at lunch.

Pressure is again mounting on struggling opener Matthew Hayden after the Queenslander again struggled, falling for 15 after being bowled from a superb inswinging delivery from paceman Irfan Pathan. However fortune favoured fellow opener Justin Langer, who survived a difficult session of cricket to remain unbeaten on 34 along with captain Ricky Ponting, who scrapped hard to be 8* from 47 balls.

Below - Images from the first session of play - day 1
- The Indian team emerge infront of a packed home crowd
- Matthew Hayden continues his poor form, bowled by Pathan for 15
- Justin Langers sweeps in an attemt to get on top of the spin from Singh

 

[MWaugh]

Scorecards

Scorecards from the first session - day 1

 

[The Champ]

Great start by India, AUS just 62 runs at lunch