Aussies are in a bit of trouble. But I would still expect them to win this test quite comfortably.

Swami1, that explanation of yours, on the reason for Irfan Pathan not finding a place in the team, is not correct. There is no cap on any community's representation; there might have been regional quotas (even that is highly doubtful).

marklatahm, India won the last test played at the WACA

Sagar, what is f365

ArrogantOz, surprised that you have rated Ponting ahead of Border. He (Border) built the empire; Australian team was rubbish when Border took over the captaincy - he made them into the best team in the world.I do agree that Ponting is the most successful among the current test captains and therefore (currently) the best, but I think Border, Taylor and Waugh were better.

England bowled out for 90 in a warmup match.

Pom, good that you are flying down to Mumbai for the second test. Appreciate the fact that you make it a point to be there to support your team. Wish I could do that!

That was an excellent post HowWasThat. Completely agree.

Well done India! Agree with heboric. India needs to win consistently, in overseas conditions, to become the best team in the world. Tame end to what started of as an exciting day of cricket. Australia are still the best team in the world, though they might not win that easily away from home. The SA and Ashes series should be interesting.

ArrogantOz, the way Dravid has been struggling in the last two years, I wouldn't be surprised if he retires at the end of the England series. Though I feel that he should play in the New Zealand tour.

Saman, thanks for your input on the legal aspects.

Pom, "..there is no fundamental right to have an appeal heard" - under bizarre ICC rules which were changed in 2007.I am not a lawyer, but am sure that courts round the world do not follow this kind of system. And what about the divine rights bestowed upon the aussie cricketers to relentlessly abuse (verbally) opposing players. Gambhir was provoked and he may have reacted - I do not condone Gambhir's actions but penalise the players who provoked him. ICC should be fair in dispensing justice.

Kurtkz, it seems verbal abuse by the aussies is ok with the ICC.

Pom, why have an appeals process if you are not going to hear the defendant! Goes against all norms of natural justice. Now what Gambhir would say in the hearing is something I don't know, but give the guy a chance to defend himself. And what about Watson and Katich - got away lightly after all that verbal abuse. This episode does show that some of the ICC officials might have an anti-India bias.

Poochandi, I still think that Gambhir should have been given a chance to state his case. That is what the appeals process is for. The treatment meted out to Gambhir is grossly unfair especially when you consider how lightly Watson and Katich got off.

Poochandi, I wouldn't agree with you on this. ICC has hit a new low with this affair and BCCI is right in protesting. Why would a judge pass a judgement without a hearing? What's the point of an appeal if its not heard? The fact that Watson starts a confrontation and that the evidence doesn't really show it was an intentional jab undermines the punishment given out. 10% of Watson's match fee for starting the whole thing and a match ban for what could just as easily have been accidental contact. Ridiculous!

Kumble has been India's greatest matchwinner. He will be difficult to replace.

MasterG, Indian players are generally well behaved - they generally do not sledge, only react to sledging. In this case too Gambhir was repeatedly verbally abused by Watson - I am not condoning Gambhir's reaction though. Even in the earlier case (Harbhajan), Singh was provoked by Symonds. ICC match referees' repeated failure in acknowledging the initial act of provocation by the other teams makes us wonder whether there is an element of bias in there.

Congratulations to the team from the West Indies for their emphatic victory over England. Hope cricket in West Indies gets a boost with this victory.

I was shocked to read in some newspaper today that Stanford openly leered at some of the wives/girlfriends of England players (made some of them sit on his lap) and this was telecast on TV. I guess he has apologised too, but I think the affected players should have walked out of the tournament.

Will Tendulkar get a big 100 today? Come on Sachin, go for it!

Agree with Prophet. It was one man's word against another. There was no evidence to indict Harbhajan. Had he said those words, his racism cannot be denied.

Prophet/Cricket4ever, agreed that mob behaviour is a worldwide phenomenon. But that was the first time I was seeing such behaviour in India. There might have been other incidents, I am not aware. Poochandi, what did Inzimam do? (are you referring to the incident in Toronto?)

ArrogantOz, the conduct of a section of the crowd in Mumbai, during Australia's visit last year, was shameful (referring to the monkey incident). That was a major embarrassment for the Indian cricket fans and the establishment.

ArrogantOz -"we abused the only black player in the Australian side" - you make it sound like Harbhajan singled out Symonds for abuse. You will recollect that Symonds needlessly provoked Harbhajan with some harsh words. This sorry episode could have been averted had Symonds kept his mouth shut.

buttsy, you should be glad that the season is over! Australia were thrashed in the one-day series by India. Invite Bangladesh, Kenya etc. so that Australia can run over them and continue to call themselves world champions

The IPL is purely a domestic event. Its success or failure would depend on the response it gets from the Indian public. I don't see how this can reach out to a global audience or how this is going to change the game of cricket.