Bowling at Perth - India battles the Aussies

I have been watching the first days' cricket at the on-going India V Australia test match at Perth and would like to make a remark. I believe Australia did not bowl enough balls in the right area today. There is a key to bowling at Perth, its the bounce. Bounce can be very encouraging for a Fast bowler however it can also bring about their downfall.

I feel the right line to bowl on a wicket like Perth is a foot (12") outside Off-stump. This is because it becomes difficult to handle the bounce when you are playing away from your body. Most of the dismissals will be in the form of Catches to Keeper, slips or Gully. With the bounce, the bowler can get carried away and start bowling short and fast, trying to hit the Rib-cage of the batsman. That is all fine and can/should be used as distracting tactics. That's how Bret Lee bowled today, beautifully setting up the batsman for the wicket taking delivery. His wickets don't come in one ball they come as a result of well thought of overs.

India can learn from Lee who puts the ball in the right areas consistently and looks to take wickets every over. He is always working on a plan. Sometimes Indian bowlers especially, RP Singh, who is a magnificent swing bowler bowls too many balls doing the text-book things. He needs to read the conditions and use them to his advantage more often. I would love to see an Indian quick pick up 5 wicket haul here in Perth in the first innings, that would help the team immensely and also lend experience to the side, more importantly, it will tell the Australians, We have got what it takes to get you out twice and on the last day of test match.

How can India reach T20 finals going through big Aussies

This young Indian team has surprised and amused a lot of people at T20 worldcup, none more than South African captain, Greme Smith. Come a situation where you need to win all games to win the World-cup and India responds brillantly, raising their game by a margin to stun England and then South Africa. India now faces mighty Australia in the semi-finals and beating them wont be easy, then again, who's looking for easy wins ?? So here's how I believe India can defeat Australia.

FOCUS ON THEIR STRENGTHS: India should focus on their strength - batting. Win the toss bat first should be the order of the day. I have no doubt in my mind Australia will do the same thing. Batting first India should look to capitalize of the powerplay - first 5 overs. During this series when India have batted first they have had good starts averaging around 30 - 40 in first 5 overs. What India should do is stun Australia in this little 5 over period. Key to get this done is to prepare thier top 3 (Sehwag, Gambhir & Uthappa) just before the game to play shot of the length balls by moving down the leg side and spanking them over cover/point/long off/long on/square leg. Forget about keeping it down, have good hand eye coordination and hit it hard. India can get atleast 60-65 runs this way in first 5 overs. Loose a wicket or two never mind... they have a long batting line up. What this will do is take Australia by surprise, they don't like opposition dominating and when someone does they look quite ordinary.

Looking at Australia's bowlers Lee, Bracken, Watson, Johnson, Clark, Symonds. No spin here! Bracken is always going to be economical if you dont move around in the crease and confuse him. Symonds in my opinion should be taken to cleaners from the first ball he bowls. Stuart Clark can be a smart bowler but if you come down the wicket to him than slower balls would be easier to counter.

Bowling wise India must bowl with discpline, NO EXTRAS. Bowl with a plan and stick to it. Have a grip on their emotions as with batting team like Australia good deliveries are going to go for runs. Hayden and Gilchrist are not going to be easy to bowl at but here is how I would like to bowl to them.

Gilchrist: About a foot and a half short of driving length and just outside offstump (moving away if there is swing) . There is a good chance of him edging one to keeper or getting a leading edge trying to play it on the on side.

Hayden: Halfway down the pitch, slow loopy bouncers angling across him (anticipating he will walk down the pitch toward the bowler) or short of the length angling across to this off side. For leftarmer's they should look to bowl straight swinging in to Hayden (from outside offstump) cramp him for room. Any width and he will capitalize.

I think the bowler who can trouble both of them is RP Singh. Singh has improved leaps and bounds during this England tour, he is high on confidence having picked up 4 wickets against South Africa and has an ability to come back after bowling a bad ball. Shreesanth is a mixed-bag stuff but can bowl at lively pace and get it to swing both ways. He does bowl an unplayable delivery every now and then. Good young fast bowler for India. Harbhajan Singh is another bowler India will want to come good against Australia. Especially if new bowlers can't break the partnership of the two left handers, Harbhajan should bowl in early in the innings.

India will have to bowl Irfan Pathan and Joginder Sharma (if he plays) with caution. Aussies will target both these bowlers. 8 overs between them if go for less than 50 it should be job well done. Any wickets ofcourse would be huge bonus, Pathan can get some wickets as he is an intelligent bowler.

Fielding is going to be the deciding factor as well. India are really getting better at fielding, and thats what they showed the world when the out-fielded SA (according to Nasser Hussain :)). They need to keep doing the hard work and believe in themselves to match or better Australia at its fielding.

These are my view and thoughts how India can beat Australia tomorrow. Lets wait and watch !!