Australia v India 2024-2025 : Border-Gavaskar Trophy Preview

[00:00:08] Hello and welcome to this week's episode of the Edges & Sledges Cricket Podcast. I'm your host Ashwin. I'm joined by DJ. We're trying to go YouTube live and DJ is in India right now, doesn't have his whole mic setup so forgive us in advance for not having our normal setup. But we are here, DJ, four days out from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having just won an overseas series in South Africa. We've forgotten about this New Zealand stuff, right? Whatever happened? It's all in the past now, right?

[00:00:38] Yeah, what happened? Did India play some test matches or something?

[00:00:42] I'm not sure. I don't really recall.

[00:00:43] Because the game of the game, baby.

[00:00:47] How are you feeling, man? The objective of this episode is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but of course we're going to start a little bit about the two T20s that happened since you and I last recorded.

[00:00:58] So let's start there. How did you feel about that? Do you guys start to record that? I mean, would you have bet one player named made century duck duck century?

[00:01:08] Another made two back-to-back centuries, despite arguably not being the first name or one of the first couple of names on the team sheet ongoing.

[00:01:17] And I'm talking force of Sanjur Samson and Tilakvarma. But how are you feeling about that series, man?

[00:01:22] I mean, it is a series win in South Africa, which is kind of amazing.

[00:01:25] Yeah, it's great. I mean, India has won all five bilateral T20 series that it's played today.

[00:01:30] So bilateral kings as well as world champions. Let's not forget.

[00:01:35] Only lost one T20 this calendar year, and I think we're done now.

[00:01:38] So that's going to end. The year is going to end with that stat.

[00:01:41] Incredible. Is it just one?

[00:01:43] I think it's two because we lost one in this series.

[00:01:46] And I think we lost another one somewhere.

[00:01:49] Maybe one. It was one before the start of the series.

[00:01:51] So maybe it's two now, but it's like 24 out of 26 this year or something insane like that.

[00:01:55] That's a crazy stat. Crazy stat. And I mean, they've been redefining batting in T20 cricket for years.

[00:02:01] We've been saying we need more intent. We need people who can hit the ball.

[00:02:05] We need people who can do more than one thing.

[00:02:08] Man, it's been one exhibition.

[00:02:12] Tilakvarma, I mean, Sanjur Samson.

[00:02:14] And I think you were the one sending us those kind of scoreboard or scorecards before the fifth game where you showed his hundred, his duck, his duck.

[00:02:26] And then you're like, guess what he's going to come up with today?

[00:02:29] And of course, it was a crazy hundred in like 51 balls, I think.

[00:02:34] Crazy knock.

[00:02:35] And then Tilakvarma, man, like great celebrations.

[00:02:38] Not to be outdone, right? Tilakvarma, even faster.

[00:02:42] It was just incredible. Yeah.

[00:02:43] Yeah, it was great.

[00:02:44] And I mean, there was a moment at which it looked like they may go past the 297, I think, that they set against Bangladesh.

[00:02:51] Was it a month or month and a half ago?

[00:02:54] Yeah.

[00:02:55] Sky gave Tilakvarma the opportunity to bat at number three.

[00:02:59] And man, Varma grabbed it with both hands.

[00:03:03] And you could see Sky was doing the celebrations, the Samson bicep curl.

[00:03:07] He was, I think he got a flying kiss from Tilakvarma for allowing him to bat at three.

[00:03:13] The T20 side is a pretty happy side at the moment.

[00:03:15] Yeah, they just seem like they're clicking, even though it's not the exact side, obviously, that won the World Cup.

[00:03:20] It just feels like under Sky's leadership, they're clicking.

[00:03:23] And it's easy to say that when results are good.

[00:03:25] So I'm not just falling prey to this recency bias that, oh, we won an overseas series, things look good.

[00:03:31] But it does look like they're having fun out there.

[00:03:32] It looks like people want to bring their best for Sky, right?

[00:03:35] And one of my favorite things about Sky, I mean, we should talk about Arsadip and his great spell out, out, in, and just doing the South African bowl batters everywhere.

[00:03:46] But one of the great things about Sky's captaincy is his referral.

[00:03:49] Because he just waits.

[00:03:51] And he knows the whole ground is watching him.

[00:03:54] He just waits.

[00:03:55] I don't know, he's quite funny, but I quite enjoy his DRS system.

[00:04:00] Man, I think he likes the moment.

[00:04:02] He likes being the center of attention.

[00:04:03] You know, you see that a little when he bats, too.

[00:04:05] He's not overly, he doesn't overly taunt the opposition.

[00:04:09] It's not about the other guys.

[00:04:10] He can use his gum a bit quicker when he hits a six over, like, his head.

[00:04:16] There's something, right?

[00:04:17] There's some moment that's happening out there.

[00:04:19] But, yeah, he just, he loves being there, being a presence on the field in that you're never sure, honestly, if that'll translate into captaincy.

[00:04:26] You knew that from him as a batter.

[00:04:28] Not sure if it'll translate, but clearly it did.

[00:04:30] And it has.

[00:04:31] And I think there's something to be said for him being a little bit older when he started his international career, the amount of IPL and domestic experience he had.

[00:04:39] And he just came and kind of slotted in, at least to this format.

[00:04:43] Now, I've been vocally critical of the fact that we tried him in tests, and that's a different discussion for a different day.

[00:04:47] But he belongs here, and I love the kind of direction.

[00:04:51] Yeah, and just on that note, actually, he suggested Tilak Verma will be playing all three formats soon.

[00:04:57] So, make of that what I would.

[00:05:00] You talked about Jarrell and his technique and liking to watch him play.

[00:05:04] Just spare a thought, or give me a quick moment as an accomplished cricketer yourself at a lower level.

[00:05:09] But still, Tilak, there's very little I would call out as wrong about his game or shortcomings.

[00:05:16] You know, even the greats have had clear shortcomings, and they find a way to work around him.

[00:05:20] But they're like, when I watch him, that just looks, and I've said this during the IPL before too, but just looks magnificent out there.

[00:05:27] So, do you think he could be playing all three formats?

[00:05:30] He's got that kind of language, Yuvrad, saying extension of the arms, you know, when he hits straight or he hits over mid-wicket.

[00:05:38] The true test of these players is on difficult test match tracks.

[00:05:44] Sure.

[00:05:44] And we'll come to that soon, because we're going to talk about the bird test match.

[00:05:48] I mean, your guess is as good as mine whether he's going to be good enough to play on those dust bowls of India,

[00:05:55] and the kind of hard, bouncy ball flying through at neck level tracks in Australia and South Africa.

[00:06:04] Sure.

[00:06:05] I actually quite like people specializing in particular formats.

[00:06:09] I like that you focus and you develop your skill set.

[00:06:12] It's unfair because you have long breaks between kind of games and like you...

[00:06:19] Now, I don't know when the next T20 game is, actually.

[00:06:22] I have no idea because it's all BGT.

[00:06:24] But if you're just a T20 player at this point, you might start to think, when am I going to play next?

[00:06:29] Are people going to remember me?

[00:06:32] Because, of course, recency bias is a thing as well, right?

[00:06:35] Yeah, but I think that all is operating under the assumption that international cricket is the only cricket.

[00:06:41] And if you're a T20 player, go back.

[00:06:43] Now, Syed Mushtaq Ali starts now, right?

[00:06:46] Go back, play that, then play the IPL.

[00:06:49] And then there's...

[00:06:51] Oh, sorry.

[00:06:51] Play the Mushtaq Ali first.

[00:06:53] Then there's England T20s.

[00:06:54] England is coming to India for some T20s.

[00:06:57] And then there's the IPL.

[00:06:59] And then you get into the summer season where there's...

[00:07:02] You know, India goes to England for tests.

[00:07:05] And I'm sure there'll be T20s around that.

[00:07:06] So my point is, I'm 100% with you.

[00:07:08] I don't think we should be measuring Tillich's success or prowess.

[00:07:11] But can he play on the WACA or in Perth under...

[00:07:15] Or in Adelaide under lights with a big ball?

[00:07:17] No, it's a different, completely different skill set.

[00:07:19] But, Lijay, before we wrap, because I don't want to fall prey to this...

[00:07:22] To being too much about batters.

[00:07:25] Talk to me about Archdeep.

[00:07:26] I think a phenomenal spell.

[00:07:29] And Varun, 12 wickets, I think, in the series.

[00:07:32] Just a great, great series for them.

[00:07:34] I mean, you've known their front and center on the selection card when it comes to T20 cricket.

[00:07:39] But they just stamped their authority in this difficult series, right?

[00:07:42] Yeah, and it was...

[00:07:43] I mean, Archdeep, I think, reduced South Africa to 10 for 4 at one stage.

[00:07:48] Chasing, what was it, 280-odd?

[00:07:51] And he had the ball on a string.

[00:07:53] I mean, where Tilak and Samson were just hitting sixes at will.

[00:07:57] Because I think India only lost one wicket in that 20 overs.

[00:08:01] Not helped by South Africa's fielding.

[00:08:04] They weren't helped by...

[00:08:05] I mean, India were helped.

[00:08:06] South Africa weren't.

[00:08:07] But Archdeep, he bowled some absolute peaches.

[00:08:11] And the ball was swinging around.

[00:08:13] It was great to see.

[00:08:14] And I think he's...

[00:08:16] He has really specialized in that format as well.

[00:08:18] We haven't made the mistake of trying to play him in test matches.

[00:08:22] Or I don't think he's played many one days.

[00:08:24] Maybe he's played one or two.

[00:08:25] But he has become a T20 specialist.

[00:08:28] And that's great to see.

[00:08:30] That skill set really being honed.

[00:08:31] And he's grown as well.

[00:08:33] Because he was a death bowler, if you remember, for Kings XI Punjab when he started.

[00:08:37] And that was pretty much all he did.

[00:08:38] But to be able to swing the new ball like that and outbowl the South African bowlers in their own conditions, man, that was some spell in the fourth T20.

[00:08:48] Yeah, absolutely incredible.

[00:08:50] And then Varun seems to have gone through this journey.

[00:08:53] Varun Chakravarti, not our Varun.

[00:08:55] Not our Varun.

[00:08:56] Who's off sick, by the way.

[00:08:57] Poor guy.

[00:08:58] I hope he gets...

[00:08:58] When are we going to get...

[00:08:59] Yeah, I know he's struggling.

[00:09:01] But he is actually traveling to Perth for the first test match.

[00:09:04] So he's going to be there in the stadium.

[00:09:05] So hopefully he recovers soon.

[00:09:07] When are we going to get an Indian cricketer named DJ, man?

[00:09:09] There was a point when Varun and Ashur were both able to bowl at the same time in different formats.

[00:09:15] So we've got to get one name DJ so that all three of us have some skill at the game.

[00:09:18] DJ Bravo can be the coach.

[00:09:20] There it is.

[00:09:21] All right.

[00:09:22] People are tuned in to listen about test cricket and we're talking about this.

[00:09:25] But I mean, very quickly to wrap.

[00:09:27] Varun Chakravarti, also just a tremendous series.

[00:09:29] He started being this mystery bowler, couldn't be picked, then went through probably a two-year

[00:09:33] patch when it was like, actually, never mind.

[00:09:34] We figured him out.

[00:09:35] The world of cricket has.

[00:09:37] And it became tough.

[00:09:38] And he just disciplined bowling.

[00:09:40] Really, really smart.

[00:09:41] You know, T20s is not really the easiest format to deliver three off breaks and then bowl your

[00:09:46] change up.

[00:09:47] And he was disciplined at doing that.

[00:09:49] And that made all the difference.

[00:09:51] So tight spells.

[00:09:52] Good wicket taking bowling.

[00:09:53] 3-1 against South Africa.

[00:09:55] Needed it.

[00:09:56] And hopefully it raises a little bit of the pain of 0-3 versus New Zealand.

[00:10:01] So congratulations to Sky and the boys.

[00:10:03] Doesn't erase the pain.

[00:10:06] DJ, we are four days away from heading to Australia to play the first match at the new

[00:10:12] Optus Optum, whatever it's called, stadium in Perth.

[00:10:15] Not the WACA.

[00:10:16] The practice match was played at the WACA, which I think is very interesting.

[00:10:19] And the inter-squad match, which no spectators allowed, etc.

[00:10:24] You know, clearly Gambhir and team management are trying to make sure they're very clear

[00:10:29] on their final selections.

[00:10:31] I'm going to run down some of the news that has happened.

[00:10:33] And then we're going to talk a little bit about the squad and preview, etc.

[00:10:37] So first off, skipper Rohit Sharma is, as expected to an extent, I think they've already

[00:10:42] welcomed their second child.

[00:10:43] So congratulations to them.

[00:10:45] And he's going to stay back in India and will be available, from what I read, for the

[00:10:50] two-day match that they're playing in between the Perth test and the Adelaide test, which

[00:10:56] is a pink ball test match.

[00:10:57] So that'll be some good practice for him.

[00:10:58] And he'll be back from the second test onwards.

[00:11:00] Shubman Gill, on Sunday, I think, or Saturday, whatever day it is, injured his elbow in the

[00:11:06] net and is now officially out of the first test.

[00:11:09] I think those are the best...

[00:11:11] And the last only big squad news is Mohamed Shami, who we've been watching.

[00:11:14] In domestic, etc.

[00:11:16] Is not being rushed back, which is important.

[00:11:19] I mean, I think from the few clips I saw, he bowled great, but he didn't necessarily

[00:11:24] yet look like he has the longevity to be able to bowl a whole test match, especially under

[00:11:29] trying conditions in Australia, which I think is the right call to not rush him back.

[00:11:33] So DJ, let me start by asking you, we're going to go through the squad and what we think

[00:11:37] is going to happen.

[00:11:39] Two of your top three starters, that's Gill and Rohit, are out.

[00:11:43] I mean, we've lived through this before when Natarajan and Sundar got called back as net

[00:11:48] players and things like that.

[00:11:50] But this is a tough spot to start with for Team India, right?

[00:11:53] Before we get into who's going to play instead.

[00:11:55] It is tough.

[00:11:58] I wouldn't have worried so much about it if we hadn't lost at home 3-0.

[00:12:04] There's a lot at stake in this Bordogavaskar trophy.

[00:12:06] Other than the pride of having won the last two test series down under, there's a World

[00:12:13] Test Championship spot at stake.

[00:12:17] Rohit is captaining for the first time in Australia.

[00:12:22] And of course, you have a new captain for that first test match.

[00:12:25] Well, new captain.

[00:12:26] He's captained once before.

[00:12:27] Not new.

[00:12:28] Yeah, but he's lost that test match.

[00:12:29] Do you remember when he captained once before?

[00:12:31] Yeah, it was the fifth test against England.

[00:12:35] Yeah, Rohit had COVID that time, man.

[00:12:38] Yeah.

[00:12:40] So yeah, I mean, it's a tough, tough spot to start.

[00:12:43] One of your best batters, your captain.

[00:12:44] You're coming off an unexpected shock disastrous result against New Zealand.

[00:12:52] And the other guy that scored some runs at the top of the order that could have taken

[00:12:55] your spot with Yasha Swi.

[00:12:58] He's gone out as well.

[00:13:00] There were some injury concerns around KL as well.

[00:13:02] But thankfully, that's not an issue.

[00:13:04] It feels a little bit like deja vu.

[00:13:07] I mean, like you already start seeing the squad starting to reduce.

[00:13:12] But luckily, we've got the India A squad there as well.

[00:13:15] I think Dave Di Padikal was probably asked to stay back as covered.

[00:13:18] He was confirmed, yeah.

[00:13:20] But no, we should talk about who we think the XI is going to be because it's such an interesting

[00:13:28] question this time, isn't it?

[00:13:31] Yeah.

[00:13:31] So before we just get into that, we have a question coming in.

[00:13:35] If you're on YouTube live, hit that like button, hit that subscribe button and leave us your

[00:13:39] comments.

[00:13:39] And I'm watching some of these comments come in.

[00:13:41] And the first comment that came in was, if Gil is out from the first test, then who is

[00:13:45] playing in place of Gil?

[00:13:46] And the person who asked that comment was named Rahul.

[00:13:50] DJ, is that prescient?

[00:13:52] Is that a prediction that's going to happen?

[00:13:57] So let's go through the lineup.

[00:13:58] I want to see who bats where as well.

[00:14:01] Because I'm not, and we discussed this straight after the New Zealand series.

[00:14:06] I'm not a fan of saying KL Rahul is going to be accommodated in the middle order.

[00:14:10] We're going to get goalie to bat at three to do that.

[00:14:12] And then suddenly you have a couple of injuries and KL is going to open.

[00:14:16] So I would rather have...

[00:14:18] So I think the strategic question is, the strategic question is, do you pick a couple

[00:14:23] of core players and adjust your lineup and make sure they're not out of position and you

[00:14:30] bat, bat, bowl, et cetera, around them?

[00:14:33] Or do you adjust everybody a little bit?

[00:14:36] You know, if you say I want to lock in Kohli at four and then I'm going to make all the

[00:14:40] necessary adjustments around them, then you have guys playing a lot out of position.

[00:14:44] If you say I want to make everybody play a little bit out of position, maybe Kohli plays three,

[00:14:49] there's a few different ways to do that.

[00:14:51] Then everybody's suboptimal, but by less.

[00:14:55] So with that thought, DJ, we're going to take a very quick break.

[00:14:58] And then when we come back, we will run down the playing 11 and talk a little bit about

[00:15:02] the rest of the series.

[00:15:03] Hit that like button.

[00:15:04] Hit that subscribe button if you are on YouTube.

[00:15:15] Welcome back to the Edges and Sledges Cricket Podcast.

[00:15:19] Right, DJ, folks are watching on YouTube.

[00:15:22] This is great.

[00:15:23] It's nice to kind of get through it live, et cetera.

[00:15:25] Let's run down the batting order.

[00:15:27] And there are questions I want to ask you because there's a lot of rumors lower in the order

[00:15:30] about Nitish Reddy potentially playing and he gives you a good batting option and a solid

[00:15:35] faster bowling option.

[00:15:37] I'm not going to call him quick.

[00:15:38] There's some questions about the role of the keeper, Rishabh Jarrell.

[00:15:41] And then there's really serious questions about the three spinning options we have in this

[00:15:46] squad, which are all, I don't think we have a full-time spinner.

[00:15:49] All three of our spinners are really solid batters, which is kind of saying something,

[00:15:52] but Ashtoreja and Akshar.

[00:15:54] So how about we start by going through the kind of fixed players in the squad, if you will,

[00:15:59] right?

[00:16:00] No question that Jaswal will open.

[00:16:02] Even if there was any in a full-strength squad, there isn't in one where the top two were

[00:16:06] Rohit and Gilara.

[00:16:07] Correct?

[00:16:07] Fair?

[00:16:08] 100%.

[00:16:09] I mean, he's been the best batter that India has had in the last year.

[00:16:13] Yeah, you said that in our last answer.

[00:16:15] Okay.

[00:16:15] No question, obviously, that Kohli will be...

[00:16:17] Number four.

[00:16:19] Somewhere three or four.

[00:16:20] I think there may be a question on where.

[00:16:22] He may be pushing, but fair.

[00:16:25] Who else are you guaranteeing?

[00:16:26] And then arguably...

[00:16:29] Punt at five.

[00:16:30] I guess Punt at five is the number of questions.

[00:16:33] So you've got the three guys in that top order.

[00:16:35] Starting from the bottom then, at 11 essentially is Bumrah.

[00:16:39] No question, because he's captaining.

[00:16:41] Yeah.

[00:16:41] And I don't think they're going to mess up or change up Siraj.

[00:16:44] I think Siraj has to play.

[00:16:46] He has to play.

[00:16:47] He's the most experienced.

[00:16:48] He's played in Australia before.

[00:16:50] Yeah.

[00:16:51] He has to play.

[00:16:53] So no question.

[00:16:53] Okay.

[00:16:54] So now you've got...

[00:16:55] But Bumrah might be upset if Siraj bats above him.

[00:16:57] That's your opinion.

[00:16:58] I mean, fine.

[00:16:58] I'm not picking who he was with.

[00:17:01] But Siraj might go above him if there's a night watchman situation like we had just

[00:17:06] through.

[00:17:06] I would never do.

[00:17:08] I would never forget that scenario.

[00:17:10] The fact that he came in, got out first of all and wasted review and then just watched

[00:17:13] it.

[00:17:14] Okay.

[00:17:15] So one, four, five, 10, 11, let's say, are the only real six spots.

[00:17:19] Now you've got six spots up for grab.

[00:17:21] DJ, let's start with that second opener.

[00:17:23] Sort of in the consideration set.

[00:17:24] I mean, I'm putting...

[00:17:25] I might put Padikala aside for now, even though he may be a realistic shot, because he's not

[00:17:30] actually technically been drafted into the squad.

[00:17:32] Your options are really...

[00:17:34] Your only real option is Ishwaran.

[00:17:37] Never played a test match.

[00:17:38] He's never played a test match, has he?

[00:17:40] No.

[00:17:40] Yeah, certainly.

[00:17:42] Pretty hard place to make your debut.

[00:17:44] So what do you think you do in a world where there's no Rohit?

[00:17:47] Do you bring him in or do you try to make some more funky changes in the batting order?

[00:17:50] And there are a lot of interesting thoughts coming in in the YouTube comments as well

[00:17:53] about who could open.

[00:17:54] But yeah, what do you think?

[00:17:56] KL or Ishwaran to open?

[00:17:58] So for me, I would get Ishwaran to open the batting.

[00:18:02] Okay.

[00:18:03] He's played over 100 first-class games.

[00:18:06] He averages close to 50.

[00:18:08] Yes, he hasn't played at Perth before.

[00:18:10] Yes, he hasn't played a test match before.

[00:18:12] But you've picked him as a backup opener off the back of his domestic form, right?

[00:18:16] So when else are you going to play him when your first choice captain and opener is not playing?

[00:18:22] Gil, who could have done the job, is also now injured.

[00:18:25] It would be a pretty bad indictment of the selectors if they didn't pick the guy that's literally designed to fill this slot.

[00:18:33] So I would play Ishwaran.

[00:18:37] It's in his...

[00:18:38] He's in the slot.

[00:18:40] He opens the batting.

[00:18:41] He comes out when it's 0 for 0.

[00:18:43] The only thing I think that might go against him is that he's left-handed like...

[00:18:48] So he's right-handed.

[00:18:49] He's not left-handed.

[00:18:51] He's right-handed.

[00:18:52] So that actually doesn't go against him either.

[00:18:55] For some reason, I thought it was confusing with Abhinav Mukundul.

[00:18:58] I don't think plays anymore.

[00:19:00] But Abhimundul Ishwaran is right-handed.

[00:19:04] And yeah, he got 190-odd recently as well in a domestic game from what I remember.

[00:19:11] Yeah, he should play.

[00:19:14] And why play people out of position if you have a guy to fill that spot?

[00:19:20] Tough, very tough.

[00:19:21] Fiery, Perth, wicket.

[00:19:23] It's not the Wackers, the stadium.

[00:19:25] I think Kohli is the only one that's got 100 there for India.

[00:19:27] I got 123 in 2018.

[00:19:31] Controversial dismissal at slip.

[00:19:34] So let me just ask you then,

[00:19:37] the looming question around everything you just said,

[00:19:39] which I actually personally agree with,

[00:19:40] but let's put that aside.

[00:19:41] The looming question is KL Rahul.

[00:19:43] Yeah.

[00:19:44] If you have your 4 and 5 set,

[00:19:46] I don't know if you pick Rahul as your 6 in a world where your options are Jharel,

[00:19:50] potentially even Reddy,

[00:19:52] potentially Sarfraz.

[00:19:54] Like, are you really putting Rahul at 6?

[00:19:57] In which case, do you maybe play him at 3?

[00:19:59] Does Rahul walk in because of the unexpected loss of Bodro and Gail?

[00:20:05] Or do you change other things?

[00:20:06] That is really the biggest question.

[00:20:08] And if you are going to play him,

[00:20:11] do you play him as an opener?

[00:20:12] Does it make more sense to play him as an opener

[00:20:14] and prioritize the Sarfraz Jharel at 3 or 6

[00:20:17] and leave out Ishwaran given that he's never played test cricket before?

[00:20:20] Or do you play Rahul at 6, essentially?

[00:20:25] I don't know.

[00:20:25] I'm really struggling even as I think about this out loud.

[00:20:28] So the point is,

[00:20:30] we are talking about what would make sense to do, right?

[00:20:34] We're not saying this is actually going to happen,

[00:20:36] because what will happen,

[00:20:37] I'll tell you,

[00:20:37] is that KL Rahul will open the batting at work.

[00:20:40] Okay.

[00:20:41] So you think what will happen is Rahul and Jaswal?

[00:20:44] Rahul and Jaswal will open the batting

[00:20:45] because Rahul has done the job before.

[00:20:46] He's an experienced player.

[00:20:47] He's got good technique.

[00:20:49] I mean, even the amount of news coverage.

[00:20:52] They will go with experience and don't give him a guy debut.

[00:20:52] So I think that's what's going to happen.

[00:20:55] Ideally, what I would have liked to have...

[00:20:56] And who plays 3 in that scenario?

[00:20:59] In the KL Rahul opening the batting scenario?

[00:21:02] Let's go through both.

[00:21:03] Let's say Ishwaran opens in your preferred scenario,

[00:21:06] but also in your more likely to happen scenario,

[00:21:09] Rahul opens.

[00:21:10] Who plays 3?

[00:21:11] Your options essentially are you push...

[00:21:14] I play Jurel at 3.

[00:21:15] You're playing Jurel at 3.

[00:21:17] He's probably not batted in that position,

[00:21:20] but I just...

[00:21:21] I'm such a big fan of the guy.

[00:21:23] I just feel that he can play...

[00:21:25] He doesn't need to be protected at 6.

[00:21:29] He doesn't need it.

[00:21:30] He's got a great technique.

[00:21:32] He's got a great temperament.

[00:21:33] He can bat time.

[00:21:36] It's tough though.

[00:21:38] Like giving a guy a game in Australia at Perth

[00:21:42] with four fire-breathing dragons of fast bowlers.

[00:21:45] It's an awful place to be.

[00:21:47] But of all those batters,

[00:21:50] even, and I dare say, even Kohli,

[00:21:52] I actually think the most technically best equipped

[00:21:56] to deal with that is actually Dhruv Jurel.

[00:22:00] And I only see that from an eye test.

[00:22:01] There's no analysis that I've done

[00:22:04] about him against the short ballers.

[00:22:06] Purely from what you see a guy,

[00:22:07] how he bats.

[00:22:09] Yeah.

[00:22:10] I mean, what I will tell you is,

[00:22:11] I don't disagree with you about how much of a fan I am.

[00:22:14] I do disagree with the statement that

[00:22:16] batting somebody at 6,

[00:22:17] you're protecting him down there.

[00:22:18] I don't think that's the case.

[00:22:19] I think it's a specialized position.

[00:22:21] So it's not about easier, harder.

[00:22:23] Yeah, I mean, you can argue new ball and all that stuff,

[00:22:25] but 6 is an important role.

[00:22:27] And Jurel has shown his ability to play

[00:22:30] middle, lower order, to bat with the tail.

[00:22:32] So I don't think pushing up to 3 is saying,

[00:22:35] yeah, we trust you.

[00:22:35] Now go play a totally different role.

[00:22:37] It's almost the equivalent of saying,

[00:22:39] hey, you're an awesome defender.

[00:22:40] So, but because you're such a great defender

[00:22:42] in football or soccer,

[00:22:43] we're going to make you play striker.

[00:22:45] It's like, that's not my role, man.

[00:22:46] I'm a fantastic defender.

[00:22:48] Let me play the defender.

[00:22:49] So all that to say,

[00:22:50] I don't actually know if Jurel has played

[00:22:51] early in his career or domestically a lot

[00:22:54] at 2 or 3.

[00:22:54] But I don't see it as...

[00:22:56] But I think what will happen is

[00:22:58] they will push Kohli up to 3

[00:22:59] and they'll get KL to bat at 4.

[00:23:01] Which is,

[00:23:04] if Ishwaran plays and opens the batting,

[00:23:07] then KL will bat at 4.

[00:23:09] I think.

[00:23:11] Okay, so your options,

[00:23:12] let me just summarize,

[00:23:13] are either Ishwaran,

[00:23:15] Jaeswal,

[00:23:16] Kohli,

[00:23:17] KL is the top 4.

[00:23:18] Top 4.

[00:23:19] Or,

[00:23:21] or you said Rahul,

[00:23:22] Jaeswal,

[00:23:24] Jurel at 3,

[00:23:25] and Kohli 4, obviously.

[00:23:27] Interesting.

[00:23:28] Okay.

[00:23:28] I'm betting Rahul opens.

[00:23:31] I'm betting

[00:23:33] the...

[00:23:35] Sorry, man.

[00:23:35] I don't know what they do at 3,

[00:23:36] but I think you're probably right.

[00:23:37] I think Kohli will probably come in at 3.

[00:23:39] Which then means

[00:23:40] your 4, 5, 6,

[00:23:42] obviously Rishabh becomes one of them.

[00:23:44] And then the questions are,

[00:23:46] who plays,

[00:23:46] who plays that other last batting spot in your scenario?

[00:23:48] Is it Sarfraz?

[00:23:49] Is it,

[00:23:50] or I guess you have Jurel.

[00:23:51] I play Jurel.

[00:23:52] You're playing,

[00:23:52] your 5 batters will be

[00:23:55] Ishwaran,

[00:23:57] Ishwaran,

[00:23:57] sorry,

[00:23:58] now I'm losing track.

[00:23:59] Ishwaran,

[00:23:59] Jaeswal,

[00:23:59] Kohli,

[00:24:00] Jurel,

[00:24:01] Pant.

[00:24:02] Is your 5 guaranteed batters?

[00:24:06] I would like that.

[00:24:07] Very, very interesting.

[00:24:08] But I think what will happen is

[00:24:10] KL will play.

[00:24:12] So,

[00:24:12] so I think Sarfraz potentially

[00:24:14] is what you were saying

[00:24:15] will play at 6.

[00:24:16] Now we start getting into the...

[00:24:17] And we've already said

[00:24:18] Bumrah and Siraj

[00:24:20] are your

[00:24:21] guaranteed quick bowlers

[00:24:23] in the squad.

[00:24:24] So now your question comes to

[00:24:25] how many spinners

[00:24:26] play at Perth?

[00:24:28] How many of the spinners

[00:24:29] walk into the side

[00:24:30] just for their batting

[00:24:31] and can happen to spin

[00:24:33] a little bit?

[00:24:34] And then do you play

[00:24:35] Nitish Kumar already?

[00:24:36] All the indications seem to be

[00:24:37] you do.

[00:24:38] Because it's now,

[00:24:39] who knows how.

[00:24:40] So we've had all kinds of

[00:24:41] rumors in the past

[00:24:42] with Indian media

[00:24:42] and Indian cricket

[00:24:43] and they've proven to be wrong.

[00:24:44] But indications seem to be

[00:24:45] heading there.

[00:24:46] So DJ,

[00:24:46] if you're back now with me,

[00:24:47] walk me through how you think

[00:24:48] about that composition

[00:24:50] and what is that mix of

[00:24:52] fast and spin bowlers

[00:24:54] and all-rounders

[00:24:55] who can bat and ball.

[00:24:56] So how many spots

[00:24:57] have we now got left?

[00:24:59] We've got six batters

[00:25:00] in good spots.

[00:25:00] We have five spots left.

[00:25:02] Yep.

[00:25:03] Right?

[00:25:04] Do you know who the most

[00:25:05] successful bowler

[00:25:06] at the Optus Stadium is?

[00:25:08] It's going to be Ash.

[00:25:09] It's Nathan Lyon.

[00:25:11] Is it Jadeja?

[00:25:13] No, it's Nathan Lyon.

[00:25:14] Okay.

[00:25:14] There you go.

[00:25:15] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:25:16] So not playing

[00:25:17] Ravi Chandran Ashwin

[00:25:18] in this test match

[00:25:19] would be foolish.

[00:25:21] So I would give him a spot.

[00:25:23] Okay.

[00:25:25] So we've got seven,

[00:25:26] up to seven.

[00:25:28] Nitish Reddy

[00:25:29] is an interesting one.

[00:25:30] He can bat.

[00:25:31] He can bowl quick.

[00:25:33] I kind of like that pick.

[00:25:36] I just wonder whether

[00:25:38] because Washington

[00:25:39] has taken wickets recently.

[00:25:41] So I think Nitish will play.

[00:25:43] I wonder whether

[00:25:44] Washington's taken

[00:25:45] wickets recently.

[00:25:46] He will play instead of Ash

[00:25:47] because he's a better bat

[00:25:48] than Ashwin.

[00:25:49] And he's got

[00:25:50] runs in Australia before.

[00:25:52] So we will play

[00:25:53] one-off spinner.

[00:25:54] So really,

[00:25:55] I think the fundamental

[00:25:56] question,

[00:25:56] and again,

[00:25:57] I apologize to our listeners.

[00:25:58] The tech is failing us

[00:25:59] a little bit.

[00:26:00] I know the internet

[00:26:00] speeds that DJ has

[00:26:02] are not necessarily working.

[00:26:03] But I think

[00:26:05] the fundamental question is

[00:26:05] if Boomerant Saraj

[00:26:06] are your two quicks

[00:26:07] and you're going to play,

[00:26:09] call it at least

[00:26:10] one spinning all-rounder,

[00:26:11] whether that's Ash

[00:26:12] or Sundar can wait.

[00:26:13] The question is,

[00:26:14] do you have,

[00:26:14] and there's two more slots.

[00:26:16] You pick a third quick

[00:26:17] because the indications

[00:26:18] do seem to be that

[00:26:18] Harshit Rana is

[00:26:19] gearing up to play.

[00:26:21] Prasidd played really well

[00:26:22] in the intra-squad match

[00:26:23] and Akash Deep has

[00:26:24] a ton of props as well.

[00:26:26] They're all very,

[00:26:27] very fair and valid picks.

[00:26:28] But then if you play

[00:26:29] those three quicks,

[00:26:30] does Nitish slot in

[00:26:31] as a fourth quick bowling option

[00:26:32] and you play one spinner?

[00:26:34] And that's your entirety

[00:26:35] of your bowling options?

[00:26:36] Or you play three

[00:26:37] full-time quicks

[00:26:38] and two spinning all-rounders

[00:26:39] like the Ash Jareja model?

[00:26:41] Or do you play

[00:26:42] two full-time quicks?

[00:26:44] Nitish Reddy

[00:26:45] playing a big role

[00:26:46] to be that third

[00:26:46] quick bowling option

[00:26:47] on potentially

[00:26:48] seeming conditions

[00:26:49] and then two spins.

[00:26:50] I'm not sure that last one

[00:26:51] will happen,

[00:26:51] but go ahead, DJ.

[00:26:52] So I think Akash Deep

[00:26:54] will be the third seamer.

[00:26:55] Nitish will be

[00:26:56] the fourth seamer

[00:26:57] and will play Washi.

[00:26:59] I think both Jareja

[00:27:00] and Ashwin will sit up.

[00:27:01] Akash Deep.

[00:27:02] So no Ash,

[00:27:03] no Jareja in Australia?

[00:27:06] It's Perth.

[00:27:07] It's going to be quick.

[00:27:09] He's going to fly.

[00:27:11] And Jareja didn't

[00:27:12] start the last series

[00:27:13] either.

[00:27:13] Even just from a pure...

[00:27:15] Neither Ashwin nor Jareja

[00:27:17] started the last...

[00:27:17] Even just from a pure

[00:27:18] batting standpoint,

[00:27:20] Jareja walks into

[00:27:21] this side, man,

[00:27:22] I think.

[00:27:22] I think it's...

[00:27:22] And we're getting a comment

[00:27:23] on YouTube from Shashwat

[00:27:25] that says,

[00:27:26] being realistic,

[00:27:27] Ash doesn't play

[00:27:28] ahead of Jareja

[00:27:29] in SENA,

[00:27:30] which I think is fair.

[00:27:31] And I think

[00:27:32] this is what makes it

[00:27:33] so hard, actually.

[00:27:34] Weirdly,

[00:27:34] similar to what we've

[00:27:35] lived before at the GABA

[00:27:36] in similar situations,

[00:27:38] there's not that many

[00:27:39] batting options

[00:27:40] you have anymore.

[00:27:40] So yeah,

[00:27:40] we're arguing a little

[00:27:41] about Jarell,

[00:27:43] Sarfraz,

[00:27:43] and who bats where

[00:27:44] in the order,

[00:27:45] etc.

[00:27:45] But there's not that

[00:27:46] many options.

[00:27:47] You have seven options

[00:27:48] and you've got to pick

[00:27:48] six essentially.

[00:27:49] So one of the guys

[00:27:50] will miss out.

[00:27:50] But man,

[00:27:51] with this bowling setup,

[00:27:53] and you can argue...

[00:27:54] We can spend one episode

[00:27:56] each arguing the merits

[00:27:57] of playing Jareja

[00:27:58] because of his left arm

[00:27:59] spin and his ability

[00:28:01] with the bat

[00:28:01] and his results

[00:28:02] with the bat.

[00:28:03] You could equally have

[00:28:04] a great story to back Ash

[00:28:05] because of the Nathan Lyon

[00:28:07] data you just shared

[00:28:08] and of course his

[00:28:09] incredible results.

[00:28:10] And Washington

[00:28:11] Sundar coming up

[00:28:12] arguably the best

[00:28:13] of the three

[00:28:13] and can bat

[00:28:14] and is taller,

[00:28:15] gets a little more

[00:28:16] purchase off the deck,

[00:28:17] a little more bounce.

[00:28:20] I mean,

[00:28:20] that is going to be wild

[00:28:21] actually if only one

[00:28:22] of them plays

[00:28:22] and I don't actually

[00:28:23] have any realistic idea

[00:28:25] which one is going

[00:28:26] to make the cut.

[00:28:27] I think one of them

[00:28:28] will play and Nitish

[00:28:28] will play.

[00:28:29] You have to play Nitish

[00:28:30] because you've got him

[00:28:32] on this.

[00:28:33] This is the only place

[00:28:33] that caters for

[00:28:35] those many seamers,

[00:28:37] man.

[00:28:38] You have to have

[00:28:39] the quicks in Perth.

[00:28:41] It's going to be steamy.

[00:28:43] It's going to be hot.

[00:28:44] It's going to be fast.

[00:28:46] It's going to be at your throat

[00:28:47] and you've got to have

[00:28:47] the firepower to hit back.

[00:28:50] Yeah, very interesting.

[00:28:51] Again, my apologies

[00:28:53] to our listeners

[00:28:53] who are tuned in live.

[00:28:54] We're having some

[00:28:55] technology challenges

[00:28:56] but DJ, I caught most

[00:28:57] of what you said.

[00:28:57] Hopefully by the time

[00:28:58] this gets uploaded

[00:28:59] we're able to fix all of that.

[00:29:00] But I think that's

[00:29:01] very interesting.

[00:29:01] I think as we come

[00:29:02] to a wrap here,

[00:29:03] DJ's point of view

[00:29:04] largely was

[00:29:04] three dedicated quicks,

[00:29:07] one quick bowling all-rounder

[00:29:09] and then just the one

[00:29:10] spinning option.

[00:29:11] And I think

[00:29:12] from my head,

[00:29:13] if that is true,

[00:29:14] which it very well could be,

[00:29:15] who is that spin

[00:29:16] bowling all-rounder

[00:29:17] that can

[00:29:19] lock down one end

[00:29:21] and bowl

[00:29:22] 30 overs

[00:29:23] if you need to,

[00:29:23] if you need to rotate

[00:29:24] through the other quicks

[00:29:25] to give them a rest

[00:29:26] and pick up wickets

[00:29:27] and tighten up the batsmen.

[00:29:29] And I think

[00:29:30] strangely enough

[00:29:31] there is a very realistic world

[00:29:32] in which that becomes Jadeja.

[00:29:34] And I see the merits

[00:29:35] of Sundar and Ash

[00:29:36] but I think Jadeja,

[00:29:37] that role he plays,

[00:29:38] get through his overs quickly,

[00:29:39] very, very disciplined,

[00:29:41] make it hard to score runs.

[00:29:42] But again,

[00:29:42] it comes down to role, right?

[00:29:44] Do I think he's as much

[00:29:45] of a wicket-taking option

[00:29:46] as a Sundar?

[00:29:49] Probably not.

[00:29:49] Do I think he has

[00:29:51] this is a harsh comment,

[00:29:52] but do I think he's as solid

[00:29:53] a batting option

[00:29:54] as a Sundar?

[00:29:55] I think they're probably

[00:29:56] equal.

[00:29:58] Maybe Jadeja's experience

[00:29:59] gives him more of an edge,

[00:30:00] Sundar's technically

[00:30:01] more solid.

[00:30:02] Jadeja has two triples,

[00:30:04] obviously,

[00:30:04] which Sundar doesn't have.

[00:30:05] But

[00:30:06] it's going to be fascinating.

[00:30:08] I mean,

[00:30:08] we are four days out

[00:30:09] from this first test match.

[00:30:11] DJ,

[00:30:11] before we wrap

[00:30:12] and hopefully I can

[00:30:13] hear you okay now,

[00:30:14] what are the predictions

[00:30:16] for this series,

[00:30:17] right,

[00:30:17] as we wrap up?

[00:30:18] Five tests,

[00:30:19] India versus Australia.

[00:30:20] We all predicted

[00:30:21] some variant of 2-0

[00:30:22] or 2-1

[00:30:23] in India's favor

[00:30:24] or 3-0

[00:30:25] against New Zealand

[00:30:26] and we were all

[00:30:28] drastically wrong.

[00:30:29] Before you wrap,

[00:30:30] I'm going to say

[00:30:30] one quickly there.

[00:30:31] A comment is coming

[00:30:33] on YouTube

[00:30:33] from Ramkumar Aiyangar

[00:30:34] which says,

[00:30:35] Jaswal was turning

[00:30:36] his arm over

[00:30:37] in practice,

[00:30:38] which could be

[00:30:39] really interesting.

[00:30:40] And back your

[00:30:41] one spinner theory

[00:30:42] that if you've got

[00:30:42] a second guy

[00:30:43] who can spin

[00:30:44] if needed.

[00:30:44] Now,

[00:30:45] I don't want to rely on him

[00:30:46] if you're the skipper,

[00:30:47] you don't want to be

[00:30:47] relying on him

[00:30:48] but it's an interesting idea.

[00:30:49] And then we're getting

[00:30:50] a comment from Shashvat

[00:30:51] that says,

[00:30:51] 99% sure

[00:30:52] this will be our 11.

[00:30:54] Jaswal Rahul opening.

[00:30:55] Sarfraz at 3

[00:30:56] is what he's calling

[00:30:57] which neither of us

[00:30:58] really discussed.

[00:30:59] Kohli 4,

[00:31:00] Pant 5,

[00:31:00] Jharal 6,

[00:31:02] Jadeja 7,

[00:31:03] which is what I said

[00:31:04] as the once-win.

[00:31:05] Nitish 8,

[00:31:06] Harshit Bumrasaraj

[00:31:07] is your 3.

[00:31:08] So the bottom half

[00:31:09] is pretty similar

[00:31:10] but you're in vehement

[00:31:11] disagreement

[00:31:12] that Sarfraz

[00:31:12] is at 3

[00:31:13] and Jharal 6.

[00:31:14] So I guess time will tell.

[00:31:16] You could do Kohli 3,

[00:31:17] Sarfraz 4 maybe,

[00:31:19] I don't know.

[00:31:20] Yeah.

[00:31:22] Look,

[00:31:23] you have to be realistic.

[00:31:26] Last time

[00:31:27] Tuta da Gabaka Ghamand

[00:31:28] and it was the Australian

[00:31:30] Ghamand that had broken.

[00:31:31] We've had that Ghamand

[00:31:33] for the last four years.

[00:31:34] Right?

[00:31:35] A lot has changed

[00:31:36] since then.

[00:31:38] I think Australia

[00:31:39] are going to take this.

[00:31:41] Did he catch that?

[00:31:42] I think Australia

[00:31:43] are going to take it.

[00:31:44] They're going to take it

[00:31:44] 4-1.

[00:31:46] I think Australia

[00:31:47] are going to win it 4-1.

[00:31:48] 4-1.

[00:31:48] Okay.

[00:31:49] Okay.

[00:31:50] I think we're really

[00:31:51] going to struggle.

[00:31:53] I hope I'm massively wrong

[00:31:56] but we've been through

[00:31:57] periods of transition before.

[00:32:00] I hope I'm wrong, man.

[00:32:01] And I hope

[00:32:02] I believe my hat

[00:32:05] very happily

[00:32:05] but

[00:32:06] that Australian team

[00:32:09] they'll get the runs.

[00:32:10] They'll take the wickets.

[00:32:12] And we have lost

[00:32:14] at home

[00:32:16] and that has not

[00:32:17] gone down well.

[00:32:19] Yeah.

[00:32:19] Yeah.

[00:32:20] No, I believe.

[00:32:21] Sorry.

[00:32:21] I'm with you.

[00:32:22] I'm going to

[00:32:22] as we wrap this up

[00:32:23] there's some in the comments

[00:32:24] we're getting a 2-2

[00:32:25] we retained the border

[00:32:26] Gavaskar trophy

[00:32:27] but failed to make it

[00:32:28] to the World Championship

[00:32:28] final.

[00:32:29] That would be classic India

[00:32:30] if we managed to retain

[00:32:31] the trophy

[00:32:32] and celebrate it

[00:32:33] but still not make the finals.

[00:32:34] I will

[00:32:35] I'm going to predict

[00:32:36] 3-1 in favor of Australia.

[00:32:38] I get the sense

[00:32:39] this year

[00:32:39] for some reason

[00:32:41] either Melbourne

[00:32:42] or Sydney

[00:32:42] are just going to be

[00:32:43] a road

[00:32:44] and it's going to go

[00:32:44] the five days

[00:32:45] and you're going to see

[00:32:46] huge totals

[00:32:47] so we're going to have

[00:32:48] one draw.

[00:32:50] So I'm predicting 3-1

[00:32:51] which is

[00:32:52] listen

[00:32:53] I think we've just

[00:32:54] we're swinging the pendulum

[00:32:56] a little

[00:32:56] we've just come off

[00:32:57] predicting 3-0

[00:32:58] against New Zealand

[00:32:59] and getting burned

[00:33:00] so hopefully

[00:33:02] we're subconsciously

[00:33:03] predicting losses

[00:33:04] both you and I

[00:33:05] so that

[00:33:06] we're

[00:33:07] we're

[00:33:07] pleasantly surprised

[00:33:08] if we've managed

[00:33:08] to put up a good fight.

[00:33:10] I think it will be

[00:33:10] a great series

[00:33:11] both incredible teams

[00:33:12] I think India

[00:33:13] will want to come back

[00:33:14] fighting

[00:33:14] and really

[00:33:15] showing up

[00:33:16] really really strongly

[00:33:17] and come back

[00:33:18] swinging essentially

[00:33:19] and

[00:33:20] I think the Aussies

[00:33:21] are going to

[00:33:21] sense that this is

[00:33:22] their opportunity

[00:33:23] to get a win

[00:33:23] I'm not even saying

[00:33:25] over Team India

[00:33:25] but over Kohli

[00:33:26] because you know

[00:33:27] they want to defeat Kohli

[00:33:28] in Australia.

[00:33:29] Go ahead.

[00:33:29] Do we think Prasad Krishna

[00:33:31] will play because of his height?

[00:33:33] That's a great question

[00:33:33] actually from Harish

[00:33:36] PSGCT.

[00:33:37] I think he's a reasonable option

[00:33:38] I really actually do think

[00:33:39] that third

[00:33:40] Seamer spot

[00:33:41] in Perth is up for grabs

[00:33:42] and I think unfortunately

[00:33:44] as much as I don't like it

[00:33:45] they're going to get one test

[00:33:46] and

[00:33:46] if they don't have

[00:33:48] whoever that is

[00:33:48] Prasad Akash or Harshit

[00:33:50] if they don't have a good test

[00:33:50] they're going to be rotating

[00:33:51] through at that point

[00:33:53] maybe they'll fly in Neshamie

[00:33:54] probably not for the second test

[00:33:56] but for the last three

[00:33:56] or something

[00:33:57] so

[00:33:58] all that to say

[00:34:00] I don't actually have

[00:34:01] any good guesses

[00:34:01] to Prasad, Harshit or Akash

[00:34:03] I could see it being Harshit

[00:34:04] based on the media

[00:34:07] speculation

[00:34:07] but I think Prasad

[00:34:09] was able to get a lot of bounce

[00:34:11] in the practice match

[00:34:12] that's unfortunate

[00:34:13] the practice match

[00:34:13] was at the WACA

[00:34:14] and not

[00:34:15] not at the

[00:34:16] the Optus

[00:34:16] yeah

[00:34:17] I'm going to change my prediction

[00:34:18] to 3-2

[00:34:19] because 4-1 is too depressing

[00:34:20] and I want to be optimistic

[00:34:22] but Australia will still win

[00:34:23] 3-2

[00:34:24] but we won't lose

[00:34:26] that badly

[00:34:27] the last kind of

[00:34:28] out of left field question

[00:34:29] that came in

[00:34:30] which I think is fair

[00:34:31] and

[00:34:32] Harish is sending this

[00:34:33] in the chat

[00:34:33] is what about Washington

[00:34:35] at 3

[00:34:36] and that is really interesting

[00:34:38] I don't think it's going to happen

[00:34:39] this series

[00:34:39] I think it is a potential

[00:34:40] ongoing

[00:34:42] Soledeev does play Ranji

[00:34:43] at number 3

[00:34:43] and he goes in as a bowler

[00:34:45] but I think

[00:34:46] I think this team management

[00:34:48] has

[00:34:49] settled on him

[00:34:50] as a bowler

[00:34:51] who can

[00:34:51] who's an excellent batter

[00:34:53] not as a

[00:34:54] top order batter yet

[00:34:55] and so we didn't see that

[00:34:57] in any of the warm up

[00:34:58] or practice

[00:34:58] we didn't see that

[00:34:59] we haven't seen any real

[00:35:00] real indications there

[00:35:01] beyond the fact that

[00:35:02] he does it in Ranji

[00:35:02] so I love the idea

[00:35:03] I think it gives you

[00:35:04] a lot of options ongoing

[00:35:06] but I think

[00:35:06] if they're playing him

[00:35:08] as the lone spinner

[00:35:09] or even the second spinner

[00:35:10] you're betting on 15

[00:35:11] 20

[00:35:11] 25 overs

[00:35:12] and

[00:35:13] gosh there's just not

[00:35:14] a lot of guys

[00:35:15] who can bowl that many overs

[00:35:16] and bat so high up

[00:35:17] in the order

[00:35:18] and that's what made

[00:35:19] the Jacques Calluses

[00:35:19] of the world

[00:35:20] so special

[00:35:21] that they could do

[00:35:22] those in long

[00:35:24] enduring

[00:35:25] trying test matches

[00:35:26] so

[00:35:26] how long before

[00:35:27] we send an SOS

[00:35:28] to Shark or Thakur

[00:35:30] your favorite

[00:35:31] cricketer

[00:35:32] that is probably

[00:35:33] as good a line

[00:35:34] as I can think of

[00:35:35] to wrap up this week's episode

[00:35:36] because I have

[00:35:36] absolutely no comment

[00:35:37] nothing to add

[00:35:38] nothing to say

[00:35:40] but it is going to be great

[00:35:42] I'm fired up man

[00:35:42] test season

[00:35:43] almost here

[00:35:44] I get to watch

[00:35:45] one game

[00:35:46] one session fully

[00:35:47] the second session

[00:35:48] as I'm kind of

[00:35:48] going to sleep

[00:35:49] and then I watch highlights

[00:35:50] of the replay

[00:35:50] of the third session

[00:35:51] as I wake up

[00:35:54] the next day

[00:35:54] very very exciting

[00:35:55] thank you for those

[00:35:56] who joined

[00:35:56] a lot of people

[00:35:57] joined us on live

[00:35:58] great discussion

[00:35:58] good to kind of

[00:35:59] live through it

[00:36:00] with you all

[00:36:01] if you're on

[00:36:02] YouTube live

[00:36:03] hit the like button

[00:36:03] hit the subscribe button

[00:36:05] apologies for the last time

[00:36:06] for our technical issues

[00:36:07] I'm hopeful we can get

[00:36:08] those sorted out

[00:36:08] before this gets uploaded

[00:36:09] and we are

[00:36:11] excited for test cricket

[00:36:12] to begin

[00:36:13] we'll be back

[00:36:13] potentially next week

[00:36:15] at the normal time

[00:36:16] because the test match

[00:36:17] might be over

[00:36:17] in three days

[00:36:18] but we will see

[00:36:20] more to come

[00:36:21] but obviously

[00:36:21] we'll be back

[00:36:22] after the first test

[00:36:23] in Perth

[00:36:23] and relive

[00:36:25] what worked

[00:36:25] what didn't

[00:36:26] what of which

[00:36:26] of our predictions

[00:36:27] were right

[00:36:28] which were absolutely

[00:36:28] absurd

[00:36:29] and that is the beauty

[00:36:31] of test cricket

[00:36:31] DJ thank you for joining me

[00:36:33] even though I know

[00:36:33] you're traveling

[00:36:34] and didn't have

[00:36:34] all your equipment

[00:36:36] thank you everybody

[00:36:36] for tuning in

[00:36:37] this has been

[00:36:38] the Edges

[00:36:38] and Sledges Cricket Podcast

[00:36:39] we will see you next