ASHES BERTH FAR FROM VOGES MIND

Adam Voges has dismissed claims he could be one of the candidates to play a part in the Ashes starting next month. The Western Australian was backed by former Australian leg spinner, Stuart MacGill recently while discussing the ongoing ODI series against India in an online discussion. 

MacGill speaking alongside former ABC grandstand cricket commentator, Glenn Mitchell was asked about the players he believed would have a significant impact in the ODI series to which he replied

"I would like to see some fringe Australian players push for test honours. I think someone like Adam Voges will look really good in the middle order for Australia in the Test matches. "I really really want Adam Voges to do big things and I think he should be playing the first test"

Since the start of the India series, Bailey has firmed as the likely candidate to bat at number six given his outstanding form in India. But with selectors stating the Indian ODI series to be a benchmark for selection, Voges calm and mature innings of 73 not out in the 3^rd ODI would not have escaped the selectors minds either. 

Voges ODI figures are nearly as impressive as Bailey’s averaging 48 in his 28 matches for Australia and his first class average is higher than Bailey.

MacGill also believed Voges ability to bowl will also hold him in good shape. “He can bowl a little bit of left arm spin. I have my fingers crossed he can do some things and be part of the test team”.

Despite MacGill’ push for Voges to be Australia’s number six for the first test, Voges stated to the press the Ashes was an unrealistic goal.

No, not really to be honest, I haven’t played any red ball cricket for couple of months now and my focus is to play only ODI cricket as I can and play each game as the best as i possible can and at the end of the ODI, we get to play a bit of shield cricket and I will see what can happen from there”

One of the aspects that are likely to be held against Voges is that he is already 34 years of age. But as Chris Rogers has shown, age is simply a number.  With still 4 matches to be played in India and couple of shield matches Voges could well be a surprise selection in couple of week’s time.

Australia’s last minute gamble to Bowl First Pays off

Only few days ago despite India chasing down 360, Australia’s coach Steve Rixon made it clear Australia would still looking to bat first, pile on a huge score and then defend the runs commendably.  But whatever theories and strategies Rixon discussed only couple of days ago were altered when Bailey informed his team about the change of plans only moments before the toss.  

 “I asked George 10minutes before the toss I obviously thought we were batting first.  He changed his mind in the last 10 minutes, I’m sure it would have been due to the dew factor, but it didn’t really dew up as much and fortunately it paid off” said Adam Voges.

It was a gamble considering Australia had never chased down a total in excess of 250 in India. Add to it the placidness nature of the wickets, along with Indian batting; there was a real chance India would post a total around close to the 300 mark.  History was clearly not on Bailey side either.  It was in 1986, the last time Australia side that won the toss, elected to field and won the match in India.

 Bailey certainly had the backing of the man that turned the match. James Faulkner an experienced campaigner in the IPL certain believed the dew factor will play a huge role in Indian most Northern cricketing venue.

Faulkner said he was asked by the captain he’s preference before the game. “I was asked by George and I said lets chase because of the dew factor and try putting them under early pressure which we did and I thought we bowled well at the start and we created a few chances”

Australia has India at 6/154 before what is becoming a customary innings from Dhoni at the end propelled India over the 300 mark.  It was perhaps 25 runs too many given Dhoni was dropped by rival Bailey with 12 balls to ago. Dhoni made the most of it scoring 32 off the next 11 balls. If the imposing total of 303 didn’t make Bailey nervous then surely the Australian skipper would have had second thoughts about brave decision to chase with Australia needed nearly over 12 runs an over with only four wickets in hand.

After the match Bailey would have breathe a sigh of relief thanks to calmness of Voges and the belligerent Faulkner.  Voges revealed after the match “We discussed it constantly during the chase we wanted to take it as deep as we could and that was our best chance”.

The pair certainly planned it perfectly with Faulkner finally deciding in the 48^th over to launch an attack on India’s most expensive bowler in the series.

Faulkner sensed Ishant Sharma confidence was low once he has hit the first ball to the boundary.  “Yes, you can sense it I suppose there is a fair bit of pressure doesn’t matter who is bowling at the end and I know that from when I have bowled at the end for Australia. I’m glad it paid off today”.

Australia’s next two games are scheduled in East India where the dew factor becomes even more of a factor because the sun sets almost an hour earlier than Northern or the Western India.  Bailey now has the confidence of knowing Australia is capable of executing a chase despite a late change in the usual strategy.

Australia’s last minute gamble to Bowl First Pays off

Only few days ago despite India chasing down 360, Australia’s coach Steve Rixon made it clear Australia would still looking to bat first, pile on a huge score and then defend the runs commendably.  But whatever theories and strategies Rixon discussed only couple of days ago were altered when Bailey informed his team about the change of plans only moments before the toss.  

 “I asked George 10minutes before the toss I obviously thought we were batting first.  He changed his mind in the last 10 minutes, I’m sure it would have been due to the dew factor, but it didn’t really dew up as much and fortunately it paid off” said Adam Voges.

It was a gamble considering Australia had never chased down a total in excess of 250 in India. Add to it the placidness nature of the wickets, along with Indian batting; there was a real chance India would post a total around close to the 300 mark.  History was clearly not on Bailey side either.  It was in 1986, the last time Australia side that won the toss, elected to field and won the match in India.

 Bailey certainly had the backing of the man that turned the match. James Faulkner an experienced campaigner in the IPL certain believed the dew factor will play a huge role in Indian most Northern cricketing venue.

Faulkner said he was asked by the captain he’s preference before the game. “I was asked by George and I said lets chase because of the dew factor and try putting them under early pressure which we did and I thought we bowled well at the start and we created a few chances”

Australia has India at 6/154 before what is becoming a customary innings from Dhoni at the end propelled India over the 300 mark.  It was perhaps 25 runs too many given Dhoni was dropped by rival Bailey with 12 balls to ago. Dhoni made the most of it scoring 32 off the next 11 balls. If the imposing total of 303 didn’t make Bailey nervous then surely the Australian skipper would have had second thoughts about brave decision to chase with Australia needed nearly over 12 runs an over with only four wickets in hand.

After the match Bailey would have breathe a sigh of relief thanks to calmness of Voges and the belligerent Faulkner.  Voges revealed after the match “We discussed it constantly during the chase we wanted to take it as deep as we could and that was our best chance”.

The pair certainly planned it perfectly with Faulkner finally deciding in the 48^th over to launch an attack on India’s most expensive bowler in the series.

Faulkner sensed Ishant Sharma confidence was low once he has hit the first ball to the boundary.  “Yes, you can sense it I suppose there is a fair bit of pressure doesn’t matter who is bowling at the end and I know that from when I have bowled at the end for Australia. I’m glad it paid off today”.

Australia’s next two games are scheduled in East India where the dew factor becomes even more of a factor because the sun sets almost an hour earlier than Northern or the Western India.  Bailey now has the confidence of knowing Australia is capable of executing a chase despite a late change in the usual strategy.

Time for Specialist Coaches for each format of the Game : Rixon

Steve Rixon, Australia’s coach on the ongoing ODI tour of India feels the time has come for Australia to have specialist coaches for each format of the game.  

Earlier this week, Cricket Australia announced Craig McDermott as Test bowling coach and Ali De Winter as the ODI bowling coach. 

Rixon was asked if time has come for Australia to have specialist coaches in each of the format. Rixon replied “I’ve been saying that for some years now its happening more now, as you can see I’m here giving Darren a break and you do need a break, doesn’t matter how much you think you don’t but you do need a break.”

With Rixon taking over as the coach for the ongoing series, it allows Darren Lehmann to refresh before the highly anticipated Ashes series commences on the November 21^st in Brisbane. 

Apart from just the hectic scheduling Rixon also felt the strategies required in the ODI format and the Test cricket were completely different.“They are 2 different games and they need to different view points and theT20 sits alone as a different item all together, I see that is way of the future”

England was amongst the first nation to employ different coaches and the Rixon feels the appointment of McDermott as a specialised Test bowling coach is a move in the right direction.

England have done that quite successfully.  We have made moves in that direction and started the ball rolling. Falling in line with that that is why Craig has been bought on board”

Rixon a former keeper also felt the evolution of the shorter format of the game and the emphasis put on batting has meant the upcoming wicket keepers are spending less time mastering their wicket keeping techniques. 

Two examples Rixon gave were of Brad Haddin and Ms Dhoni. “Brad spends a much time on his keeping than any other keeper in world cricket. But working with MS Dhoni in the IPL , I haven’t hit a ball to him in the 4 years of the IPL so he doesn’t need a lot of keeping and he gets his keeping in middle and that’s the way he operates and he plays a lot of cricket.  Seem’s to work pretty well for him.”

With the schedules likely to get even tighter the chances are Australia could have specialist coaches in each of the format of the game over the next year or two.

We can chase anything : Rohit

Indian centurion Rohit Sharma has sent a warning to Australia declaring India is confident of chasing anything.

Sharma struck his 3^rd ODI century; his first in three years said “With the new rules it allows only 4 fielders to be outside the circle, it becomes really tough for the bowling team so it always gives us confidence to chasing anything if we apply ourselves”

Sharma, Kholi and Dhawan thrashed the Australian bowlers into submission as India recorded its highest ever run chase in ODI history.  Needing 360 to win, India reached the target with 39 balls to spare and only managed to lose one wicket.

While the Indian bowlers were pummelled once again by the Australia batsmen, Sharma defended his bowlers stating “It is just not our bowlers, Australia bowlers conceded 200 in the T20 and then tonight they failed to defend 360 odd”.

More than 700 runs were scored on pitch that was nightmare for the bowlers. India’s man of the match had no sympathy when asked if felt sorry for bowlers on such wickets “No, you have to be ruthless, we are playing a sport and there are times when the conditions will favour the bowlers, so we have to make the most of it when the conditions are in our favour”.

Sharma also went on to state he had never been frustrated despite not converting the starts, since moving into the opening role. “It is the [media] that get frustrated, for me it is about winning and not individual performances. But it is nice to see so many smiles because I have scored a century”

The man from Mumbai was not getting too ahead of himself and stated there was still a long way to go in the series but the win of such manner will certainly give India enormous confident.  India travel to Chandigarh have grabbed the ascendency and denting Australia’s bowler’s confidence.