The Fourth (Vodaphone) Test of the Australia v India summer of 2020/21 commences tomorrow at the Gabba. With the series still locked at 1-1 after the drawn Sydney Test, there’s everything to play for in this final clash. Australia must win to take the Border/Gavaskar Trophy while India needs only to draw the game to retain it. Australia hasn’t lost at the Gabba since the last millennium; India has never won there.
Questions abound. Will there be a last minute Covid hitch to complicate matters even more or, worse still, as the match progresses? Does India have 11 fit players? Will it be Pant or Saha? How is Vihari’s hammy? Will Pucovski’s shoulder be ok? Can Matthew Wade hold his spot? Are the Australian quicks ‘cooked’? Will we see Michael Neser make his debut? Has Paine attended compulsory etiquette and diplomacy classes during the week? Can we hope for a good, old fashioned thunderstorm to hit the ground at some stage? (Saturday is the best bet at the moment!)
Policies, premiers, politics and the pandemic preclude The Footy Almanac’s ‘Citrus’ Bob Utber from being there in person so he’ll be watching from The Den in Mildura yet again. But, as we saw this week, that doesn’t limit CB’s capacity to sense the ebb and flow of the game as well as read ‘vibe’ as the game unfolds.
We would be delighted if Almanackers, either at the Gabba, perhaps at The Pineapple or Lord Stanley hotels, at the Vulture Street or Stanley Street ends, or wherever their vantage point may be, can join CB and complement his daily reports.
CB’s report will be the first written word emanating from the Gabba happenings, so why not join him for cricket tragics out there across the sporting landscape of Australia and beyond to read about the game first here at The Footy Almanac.
Just put your name down in comments box or email [email protected] if you would like to join Citrus Bob reporting on any day or all days at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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I’m a bit hopeful that Michael Neser might get a run on his home turf, probably at the expense of Starc who, I thought, looked ‘off’ in Sydney. To be fair, his very last spell at the death was probably his best – and then the chance went down. It just may have rejuvenated him. Perhaps there might be more swing in Brisbane’s humidity which would suit him. Bear in mind that Neser is no slouch with the bat. And keep an eye out for that thunderstorm late on Saturday!
Really looking forward to this one. Much interest in the final line ups for both teams with injuries rampant. Hope their are no racial slurs his game although so far there hasn’t been any proven from Sydney as yet. Also I must say I have been most disappointed at the way some people have got on the bandwagon criticizing Steve Smith’s “shadow boxing” in Sydney. What a storm in a tea cup.All in all, so far a most enthralling series.
Well (Will) Pucovski is not there. Let’s hope Marcus Harris seizes his third chance to consolidate a spot in the team.
Like Fisho i’m intrigued about the allegations of racism. I’ve noticed social media is ‘ablaze’ with different people talking about the racism of the Australian team !?! As it is it’s not yet been proven the abuse from the crowd was racist. If it’s proven action needs taking.
Yes, Steve Smith’s ‘shadow boxing’ is copping similar attention, from the same grouping in the social media world who i mentioned in the previous paragraph. None seem to have raised Ravi Ashwin’s propensity to pull away from the crease as the bowler comes in to bowl.
Anyhow it’ll be intriguing seeing the starting 11’s, Looking forward to five days of good,test cricket.
Glen!
It was almost one of those cases where the odds were stacked so heavily against one team that there could only be one winner – the downtrodden and afflicted! Nothing else could possibly go wrong for them. And so it unfolded. India deserved their win; the Gabba streak is over; the Australians have a lot of soul searching to do. This loss might do them more favours than they are feeling at the moment. Full marks to India – guts, determination, grit, a positive approach. Apart from a couple sessions in Adelaide, they had by far the best of the series. From Shastri and Rahane right through to the complete squad and staff – mission accomplished after great planning and execution.
And the other winner is cricket – an enthralling series that went down to the last 3 overs on Day 5 of the last Test.