http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 – 4th Test – Match Preview
The Indian road to recovery takes centre stage as the hosts, Australia, look set to punish a dispirited Men In Blue in the final match of the Border-Gavaskar trophy, played at the Adelaide Oval, tomorrow January 24, 2012.
A lot was expected from the visitors before the start of the series, with many pundits giving the Men In Blue more than an outside chance of emerging victorious against the Kangaroos, still finding their feet under the leadership of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978.
As it turned out, the Indians, who again flattered to deceive, displayed quality but again fell flat for finding the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Neil-Killeen-c79132 instinct, despite possessing one of the strongest batting lineups in World Cricket. It was the usual story for the sub-continent giants as they could not make the grade in bouncy, fast-paced conditions again.
The only respite remains the last bout at Adelaide, hoping to finally end their away hoodoo, while also saving their blushes from a second consecutive clean sweep. Their charge will be hindered due to the loss of influential skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 after he was banned for one game following India’s slow over rate in the Perth Test.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737 finally showed promise in the previous game.
However, the clash also remains their safest bet on coming to terms Down Under, with the pitch expected to be a on the drier side. The Indians will relish such an opportunity, especially when expectations from their fans are at a bare minimum.
Having to pick one from the under fire tourist’s camp, the clash holds greater significance for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120, to have any possibility of receiving an extension.
In hindsight, the hosts have taken a huge leap under the captaincy of Clarke and displayed the same tenacity which led them to dominate a best part of the last decade. Even their biggest admirers could not have visualize such a drastic improvement only a month after the Aussies conceded their first ever Test defeat to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 in 20 years.
The trump card has been the bowling lineup in the shape of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-Aaron-Starc-c76392.
Lyon, who will be playing on his home ground, expected the game to go to the final day after the previous matches ended earlier than anticipated.
His words provide a fair reflection of the track, which will assist the fast bowlers in the initial phase but will see spinners playing a much significant role than they had in previous weeks. The temperatures are expected to remain in the high 30s for all five days.
After almost a month, the consolation win remains India’s best chance in a series that again promised a lot but delivered little.
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