Australia vs India SCG Test: live scores and commentary, Day 3
Columnist By Geoff Lemon, 5 Jan 2012 Geoff Lemon is a Roar Expert
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Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Live Scores
Scores updated each minute. REFRESH NOW
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Australia v India SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND, JANUARY 3-7, 2012 2nd Test - AUS v IND |
|---|
| India 1st Inn | 191 All Out |
| Australia 1st Inn | 4/659 |
| India 2nd Inn | 400 All Out |
| India won the toss and elected to bat | |
| Australia won by an innings and 68 runs | |
| India | RR:3.61 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batsmen | Runs | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| R Ashwin* | 62 | 76 | 9 | 1 | 81.58 |
| U Yadav | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Australia | |||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Econ |
| BW Hilfenhaus* | 32.5 | 8 | 106 | 5 | 3.23 |
| NM Lyon | 20.0 | 2 | 64 | 1 | 3.20 |
| Last Wicket: | Ashwin, 62 (c:Lyon b:Hilfenhaus) |
| Current Partnership: | 16 runs, 34 balls, RR:47.06 |
Michael Clarke will have his eye on a number of records today, as he resumes on 251 not out, with a friendly pitch and a battle weary Indian attack at his mercy. Join us for live cricket scores and commentary of Day 3 of the Australia vs India SCG Test match
Mike Hussey is on 55 overnight. The Indians desperately need wickets, and some vulnerability by the batsmen as they start the day is the best chance.
Clarke was immense yesterday, batting all three sessions and scoring over 200 runs, after his 47 late on the first day averted a potential Australian disaster at 3/37. Ricky Ponting added 288 runs with Clarke, finally scoring his breakthrough century after nearly two years without one. He was eventually out, the only wicket to fall in the day, for 134.
Clarke pressed on with Hussey, and far from tiring, the two attacked as the day wore on. They added 157 by stumps at nearly five an over, and despite having batted all day, Clarke’s contribution outstripped Hussey’s 55 to 97. Both batsmen found the boundary repeatedly, as India’s lines looked innocuous and MS Dhoni retreated in the field. Australia closed at 4/482.
Today, the ground records at the SCG are at Clarke’s mercy. The only innings ahead of him yet are Brian Lara’s opus of 277, and Tip Foster’s ground-high score of 287. Foster’s mark has stood apparently inviolable for 99 years, since the Englishman travelled here in 1903, but it could fall at long last today.
After that, Clarke could eye off a triple-century. His highest score before yesterday stood at 168, but he looked invincible yesterday. Hussey’s innings was also a gem, attacking from the first ball and looking completely at ease at the crease. He too would love a hundred here to put Australia in an unassailable position.
Already 291 runs behind, India have no hope of anything bar batting for a draw. Even that would be a phenomenal effort for their batting order, already looking frail and dispirited in this series, who will be exhausted after a couple of days in the field.
Will Australia press on towards tea or further today, or can India hit back and run through their lower order? Only one way to find out. Channel the game from your chosen source, and tune in here for our live commentary and conversation. Your contributions are welcomed and encouraged – join Geoff Lemon for a chat about the game from about 10.20 am Australian eastern standard time.
Follow Day Four’s commentary here.
Geoff Lemon is a writer and radio broadcaster. He joined The Roar as an expert columnist in 2010, writes the satirical blog Heathen Scripture, and tweets from @GeoffLemonSport.
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11:15pm
Luke said | 11:15pm | Report comment
Haddin won’t be dropped. He could drop Sehwag, Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman and make a king pair and he will still keep his place.
The highly overrated Tim Paine has been annointed the next keeper for Australia by the Cricket Australia marketing gurus. And until he gets back from injury then good old Brad Haddit can continue to miss as many chances as he likes because his position is safe.
Matthew Wade might as well go over and play County Cricket and wait four years to qualify for England. He has more chance of playing for them after Prior retires than for us.
9:49pm
sai teja said | 9:49pm | Report comment
india will win the match,gambhir will have his double century
10:55am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:55am | Report comment
Confidence always helps.
8:59pm
jamesb said | 8:59pm | Report comment
Look
This is Michael Clarkes day. On a day where it was “Jane Mcgrath Day” which everyone was supporting a cause which is far more important than the result of this test match.
In other words, would you guys lay off Haddin for the time been, at least 24 or 48 hours and wait the outcome of this test match. In my prevoius post, I was mild and measured as far as Haddin is concerned, but also positve that our bowlers are still creating chances.
In the mean time, give credit to Michael Clarkes outstanding knock of 329* not out, the 13th highest individual score of all time!
He could’ve bat on, but he declared so that his team had enough time to bowl out India, which was a noble act. Also big applause the the SCG trust, cricket Australia, channel 9 for putting on outstanding day as far as “Jane McGrath Day” is concerned.
………….so much good happened today, yet people worry about a drop catch late in a day.
9:21pm
Harry said | 9:21pm | Report comment
Agree with your final 2 para’s on the magnificence of Clarke’s innings and I also congratulate him on his team-oriented, positive captaincy. Such a contrast to Dhoni in essentially the same conditions.
However no, won’t “lay off” Haddin. It just wasn’t good enough for the Australian cricket team.
8:12pm
Harry said | 8:12pm | Report comment
Final thought – grat decalaration by Clarke. gee he’s come of age this test as a captain.
Strategy derailed by Haddin’s incompetence.
8:37pm
JVGO said | 8:37pm | Report comment
It was great day. Shock declaration really. At the ground the crowd would have loved him to have a lash at the WR for 40 minutes to see how it went. They were completely behind him. But he was smarter than everyone and showed clearly that he believes the captaincy is about more than just fun for everyone.
I thought 3 wickets would have been what he was hoping for by the close and they almost got it. They should still win anyway. The bowlers were impressive.
6:18pm
jamesb said | 6:18pm | Report comment
The postive thing for Australia is they were creating chances towards the end with tendulkar almost chopping on, and of course Haddins dropped catch.
The Australian team did look a little down when they left the field, despite the fact that Australia still lead by 354 runs.
Haddin, geez, he is not making it easier on himself to be selected in the future. Rod Marsh always said, “i’m a keeper first, batsman second”.
Which means dropping simple catches is far more important than not scoring runs if you know what I mean.
I still think Australia will go on with it as we enter day 4. Whether Haddin goes on with it beyond this test or series remains to be seen.
8:13pm
Brendon said | 8:13pm | Report comment
But you know the drill: “dont change a winning team” crap. Same reason Lyon was picked even though not only does he not take wickets he gets hit out of the attack within a few over rendering him completely and utterly useless.
If Australia wins then Haddin will most likely be picked for the 3rd test. If India manage a draw then Haddin might get dropped.
Haddin might get dropped regardless … I hope I am wrong.
But Australian cricket is a slave to its past.
9:09pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 9:09pm | Report comment
Brendon,
Because six destroyed slow bowlers arent enough.
If you had been running things, “Shane Warne” would have been the answer to the pub quiz question “What ex-St Kilda player had a Test average of 150 after playing a single test”
6:18pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:18pm | Report comment
Well. The end of an extraordinary day of Test cricket. Michael Clarke recorded the 13th-highest individual Test score of all time, going to 329 not out in an attacking innings before declaring the innings closed. He waited on declaring until Mike Hussey had raised his 150, but didn’t appear to give any thought to passing Don Bradman’s 334, or chasing Matthew Hayden’s Australian record of 380, or Brian Lara’s world record of 400.
Clarke had the highest score at the SCG by the time he was done. Hussey was 150 not out. Ponting had made 134 the previous day. It was an extraordinary recovery from 3/37. They ended up at 4/659 declared, with a lead of 468 over India.
The declaration came midway through the second session, and India were sent in to bat after drinks. They needed, quite simply, long innings. Virender Sehwag is a man who can play them – Clarke had passed two of his triple-century scores earlier in the day. But he slapped lazily in the air through gully to be caught by a flying David Warner for 4. It was a poor shot with a packed field.
Dravid is another man who can play the long game, but he was beaten by an absolute beauty, a ball that shaped like an outswinger but cut back in to take off stump. Hilfenhaus got both wickets to fall.
Gautam Gambhir, though, shrugged off recent indifferent form to attack confidently. He hit a lot of boundaries early, and had raced to a half century with his team’s score only in the 60s. As Tendulkar joined him, late in the day, the two were bogged down playing for stumps, and batted out about eight successive maidens. Gambhir should have succumbed to the pressure in the shadows of stumps, but Brad Haddin spilled a regulation catch behind the wicket.
So, Australia’s advantage, well and truly. But the deficit has been cut down to 354, and India will place their hopes in Gambhir and Tendulkar coming out for a big partnership tomorrow. With the pitch playing in a fairly placid fashion, Laxman could follow Gambhir in shrugging off his indifferent form. Needing to bat at least a day and a half to hope to save the Test, India are against the odds, but we will see if Australia can press home their advantage, or if India can keep the dreams of escape alive, when we recommence tomorrow.
Join me on The Roar from 10.30 AEST for the start of play.
8:04pm
Harry said | 8:04pm | Report comment
Get Haddin OUT of the test team.
He’s never been of adequate standard for the Australian test team wicketkeeper.
5:44pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:44pm | Report comment
Just a single off the last over, Tendulkar finally took a run, and they make it safely to stumps against Hilfenhaus, who has taken the wickets. Day’s wrap to follow shortly.
5:38pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:38pm | Report comment
Dropped!
Gambhir dropped by Haddin from the bowling of Pattinson. Movement, shoulder of the bat, and Haddin moved too far to his left. Gloves together for the take, but it ended up missing his gloves and going between his arms. It bounced away for two runs.
Gambhir 68. India 2/113.
5:41pm
Rhys said | 5:41pm | Report comment
For someone who can on occasion make the game look so easy, Haddin takes on the appearance of a bumbling buffoon all too often. Add that one to the buffoon reel.
5:43pm
Ian said | 5:43pm | Report comment
Must be dropped now. Seriously has to be the last straw. Doesn’t help that Slater and Healy continually find excuses for him in the commentary box.
5:48pm
Red Kev said | 5:48pm | Report comment
I was just thinking that – that is two dropped chances in the last couple of tests and both have been relatively easy ones he has made look hard. Coupled with his batting surely Matthew Wade should be getting a phone call for the last two tests.
5:51pm
Rhys said | 5:51pm | Report comment
Dunno if you noticed Ponting shake Haddin’s hand as the players were leaving the field. “Why?” I asked myself. Was it to congratulate him on finding yet another way to botch a straight forward catch?
8:09pm
Oracle said | 8:09pm | Report comment
Richie and the channel 9 commentators were promoting Haddin’s book this arvo, as if they are going to call his incompetence behind the stumps when they have such a conflict of interest.
6:00pm
MrKistic said | 6:00pm | Report comment
Looks like he showboated that one a little. A big leap only to have it seemingly go through his arms after the gloves have already passed the ball. He’s like that.
7:36pm
Oracle said | 7:36pm | Report comment
Surely Haddin must be dropped now.
That “effort” this arvo was embarrassing, like his solo appeal in the first innings.
8:06pm
Harry said | 8:06pm | Report comment
Just returned, via the pub, from another great day and pleased to see my sentiments shared below. The Roar is good like that …
5:36pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:36pm | Report comment
Nearly gone!
Inside edge from Tendulkar. He’d made 3 from 37 balls before that. Then he edged that ball past his leg stump for four. Dravid did something similar just before he got out. Hilfenhaus has got both the wickets to fall, and nearly had that one too. Can Sachin concentrate? Can he relax? He got out worrying about stumps in Melbourne. What about Sydney?
He’s got 7 now, from 38 balls.
India Nelson – 2/111.
5:34pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:34pm | Report comment
RUNS!
A single! A run! Off the bat!
Gambhir glanced to fine leg and went to 66.
107/2. Wowee. New numbers.
5:31pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:31pm | Report comment
So there was a no ball this over. It was the first score in about eight overs. The score finally moves on to 2/106.
5:28pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:28pm | Report comment
Pattinson’s having a bowl now, and he’s still bowling very wide of off stump. Not too cerebral from big Pat.
5:25pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:25pm | Report comment
4 overs to go…
5:28pm
Rhys said | 5:28pm | Report comment
On a slightly unrelated matter, geez Shaun Marsh looks like his old man. I’m half expecting Boony to waddle into frame.
5:30pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:30pm | Report comment
Ha! I miss Boony.
5:35pm
Rhys said | 5:35pm | Report comment
Yep me too. There aren’t enough beer guts and handlebar moustaches in the modern game.
5:23pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:23pm | Report comment
Seven maidens in a row now. The over before those seven conceded one. The over before that conceded two. The over before that saw Dravid’s dismissal.
It’s really seen India’s innings grind to a halt.
Tendulkar on 3, as he has been for a long time. He’s faced 30 balls.
5:21pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:21pm | Report comment
Terrific bouncer from Siddle! Tendulkar nearly owed his chiropractor a lot of money there, as he jerked his neck away from the ball at the very last second.
Still maidens! 2/105. They’ve been on that score forever.
5:14pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:14pm | Report comment
I’ve just counted 34 dot balls in a row. India are making themselves vulnerable here, by getting bogged down. Siddle really worked Tendulkar over in that last over, working just outside off, tempting him, then nearly getting a nick off the last ball.
5:04pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:04pm | Report comment
Pressure aside, this pitch is staying very true. So, reader poll. Does Tendulkar make it to stumps, or does he fall late today?
And if he stays, what’s his final score tomorrow?
5:08pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 5:08pm | Report comment
Ah, a chance for redemption! Let me try that feeling the waters thing you were talking about the other day…
Nothing’s coming to me.
I’ll say he survives the day and gets 143.
5:10pm
Rhys said | 5:10pm | Report comment
The fact that the pitch appears to be so true makes the fact that they’ve become so tentative in the last 45 minutes all the more perplexing. It has to be a mindset thing.
If Tendulkar adopts that same tentative mindset I can’t see him making it to stumps. If he wrestles some initiative back from the Aussie bowlers he’ll make it through. Out for 93 just after lunch tomorrow.
5:17pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:17pm | Report comment
Ok. I’m saying he’ll make it, though that’s more out of hope of seeing a good knock than confidence in all these maidens he’s blocking out.
Presuming he does make it, I’ll tip he gets the hundred, and goes 163 tomorrow.
5:24pm
Stam said | 5:24pm | Report comment
63
5:01pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:01pm | Report comment
At least ten overs remaining, you wonder if these two are thinking too much about stumps already. Very quiet. 1 run from the last Hilfenaus over, a maiden from Siddle, then five dots from Hilfy to Gambhir… make that six. Couple of maidens strung together. Tension starting to creep in a little.
2/105.
5:04pm
Rhys said | 5:04pm | Report comment
Yeah I’m not sure why they’ve gone so much into their shell. When Gambhir and Dravid were motoring along with boundaries it was the best India have looked all series.
5:17pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:17pm | Report comment
Agree completely. And Australia’s bowlers looked their least confident and effective.
4:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:56pm | Report comment
Siddle, like a car with the handbrake off rolling down the drive, is gradually gathering pace. Momentum. Looking heavier and more dangerous.
4:53pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:53pm | Report comment
Edged! Gambhir nicks that just short of Clarke at a wide slip. He’s the only slip in the cordon. Bounced on the ground and into his hands at the same time. He didn’t try to claim it.
2/105 India.
4:52pm
Cricket lover said | 4:52pm | Report comment
As you can see in the link I’ve pasted below, there was an occasion where one of the Indian cricketer was ‘shaking’ the umpire in frustration. Does anyone know any more about htis?
http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/live-event-blog/live-and-interactive-coverage-of-day-three-of-the-second-test-between-australia-and-india-from-the-scg/story-fn5k3evy-1226237119348
4:55pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:55pm | Report comment
Where’s the comment, CL? Can you copy and paste?
5:01pm
Cricket lover said | 5:01pm | Report comment
heres the link, off fox sports:
http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/live-event-blog/live-and-interactive-coverage-of-day-three-of-the-second-test-between-australia-and-india-from-the-scg/story-fn5k3evy-1226237119348
all you see is a quick moment near the start of the video where khan is shaking the umpire. no sound
5:08pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:08pm | Report comment
Yeah, that’s a bit bizarre, isn’t it? That’s Sharma. Mind you, they’ve done that trick where they run it in slow motion so it looks worse than it was. Was it some sort of a joke between the two being misinterpreted, or a moment of hot temper? Not sure. Haven’t heard anything else about it though. Didn’t notice it happening live.
4:59pm
Red Kev said | 4:59pm | Report comment
I remember seeing that – it was Sharma and umpire Gould following a delivery that Clarke had played and missed at. The impression I got from the two men’s faces was that it looked like a private joke as if Sharma was saying “can you please just give him out”.
5:03pm
Cricket lover said | 5:03pm | Report comment
Ahhh i assumed it was out of frustration and I was curious as to how he managed to stay in the game after ‘shaking’ the umpire
Your impression definitely makes better sense than mine
5:07pm
Red Kev said | 5:07pm | Report comment
Yeah I guess we’ll find out overnight – if Sharma gets fined by the match umpire I am definitely wrong heh heh.
5:12pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:12pm | Report comment
It does look like he’s smiling in the video. Still a bit odd though.
4:48pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:48pm | Report comment
Well, it was a good partnership for India, 82 runs. But that sort of scope has to be a bare minimum from here in. This and the next are the crucial ones, Tendulkar-Gambhir and Tendulkar-Laxman (or Gambhir-Laxman if the unthinkable happens). India need something big, something 200-plus.
These two must be there at stumps, or it’s an Indian slide.
2/102.
4:45pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:45pm | Report comment
Tendulkar off the mark already. That was a corking delivery from Hilfenhaus, just seeing that replay, it was very attractive. He came in holding the ball for the away-swinging, but rolled his fingers slightly over the seam. Dravid didn’t pick that the ball was actually an off-cutter. He came forward at it, on the line, and it jagged back just a touch, beat the inside edge, and nicked the top of off stump.
Gorgeous delivery. Hilfy has developed a lot as a bowler, if that’s any indication.
4:40pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:40pm | Report comment
OUT!
Dravid bowled, third time in three innings! Hilfenhaus gets the breakthrough.
2/100. Tendulkar to the crease.
4:42pm
Red Kev said | 4:42pm | Report comment
I was about to post something about him being bowled as well. For a guy who’s called “The Wall” he seems to have let a lot of balls through the gate this series so far.
4:43pm
Rhys said | 4:43pm | Report comment
Lights go out, walls come tumbling down!
4:36pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:36pm | Report comment
Oooohahhh strangled noises and so on…
Dravid nearly plays on. I was just writing a post about how Siddle is the late-day bowler, the guy who can come on in the last hour or half hour when everyone is tired and make something happen.
Next thing I know, Dravid is edging just past… and I meant just, just past… his off stump. It might even have grazed the stump. That ball moved a fair way, I think, took the edge, and went down to fine leg for four.
Dravid 29, India 1/99
4:34pm
Aerious said | 4:34pm | Report comment
Seems like this innings is going to be a good test of character for the aussie bowlers. Will be interesting to see how it turns out and how they handle it.
4:38pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:38pm | Report comment
Very much. Will be intrigued.
I’ve got money on Siddle, within 20 minutes of stumps, to do something.
4:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:33pm | Report comment
So the Indian batsmen have calmed down these last four overs. They were smacking the fence with regularity earlier. It’s interesting. By counterattacking, they’ve made it look like the Australians are not on top. You don’t get the feeling that these bowlers are dominating, or applying intense pressure. India, as far behind as they are, have taken a bit of the momentum back.
What does everyone think is going to happen here? Is this pitch just a bit too good at the moment? Are there lots of runs here for India? Will the new Aussie attack get shown up a bit? Or is it just a matter of time?
4:27pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 4:27pm | Report comment
If this were the Boxing Day Test, now would be a great time to nod off on the couch surrounded by a pile of empties. Alas, I’m at work.
4:29pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:29pm | Report comment
Me too, Rhialto, me too.
4:31pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 4:31pm | Report comment
Be interesting to see how your commentary would change during a day of drinking.
4:34pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:34pm | Report comment
Good point. Ok, testing starts at 10.30 am tomorrow.
Are my editors reading this?
4:43pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 4:43pm | Report comment
Why would they? You can’t edit a live blog. That’s censorship man!
4:35pm
Rhys said | 4:35pm | Report comment
This illustrates the point that for all the improvements in work place conditions over the last 100 years, we still have a long journey ahead of us to reach that work place Shangri-La we all dream about.
4:24pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:24pm | Report comment
On the replay, Pattinson did actually appeal five separate times for a big inside edge lbw. Marais Erasmus had a quiet word with him at the end of the over, with a bit of a smile.
4:22pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:22pm | Report comment
Big appeal by Pattinson on Gambhir, Harsha Bhogle called it in classic manner:
“He made one appeal, three representations, and now he’s going to the appelate tribunal. He believes he should be in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. I saw eighteen appeals from James Pattinson.”
Replays shows huge inside edge, and hit him outside the line I think. Ah well.
Another couple of runs from Gambhir, and he’s got 61.
4:14pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:14pm | Report comment
This is bizarre. Siddle is bowling, 22nd over of a Test match, newish ball. We have one slip and one gully.
There’s a short cover and a short midwicket, there’s a mid on and a mid off. Australia started here 468 in front, and they’re trading one slip for protection at mid on? Honestly.
4:17pm
Rhys said | 4:17pm | Report comment
If I didn’t know better I’d swear Ponting was still captain.
4:11pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:11pm | Report comment
FOUR!
It’s all in fours at the moment. Really wide that, really full too, and Gambhir stretched out, cover drove, smashed that with perfect timing for four.
Get more slips in, he’ll nick one sooner or later.
Gambir 59 from 65, that’s his ninth boundary.
Dravid 24, India 1/90 at a good clip, 21 overs, so 4.1 an over.
4:06pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:06pm | Report comment
FOUR!
And again! Too cool, Rahul. Front foot, off leg stump, flicked through midwicket for four more.
He’s gone briskly to 24. India 1/86.
4:05pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:05pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Gorgeous! Rahul Dravid is saying, “The Wall? Not any more.” He’s trying to transform himself into something more dynamic. A water feature, perhaps?
We’ll ask Jamie Durie. Anyway, he drives off the back foot through cover for four.
4:06pm
Rhys said | 4:06pm | Report comment
I’d say he’s still ‘The Wall’, just with a nice little decorative mosaic.
4:08pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:08pm | Report comment
Maybe some flashing Christmas lights, yet to be taken down?
4:10pm
Rhys said | 4:10pm | Report comment
Could be. If he’s left a bit of mistletoe hanging as well, he’ll be hoping Big Merv isn’t lurking in one of the stands
4:04pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:04pm | Report comment
Pattinson bowling very wide of off stump here. Have to disagree with my Roar colleague David Lord, who wrote about Pattinson always attacking the stumps on day one… he actually goes wide a lot, searching for swing, and has done so in both innings here.
4:03pm
Will said | 4:03pm | Report comment
interesting to see how the Australian attack will shape up in this context
4:06pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:06pm | Report comment
I think the weight of the lead will tell in the end, Will, but these two batsmen are good to watch just at the moment.
4:02pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:02pm | Report comment
Dravid is playing all the shots today… picturesque one-knee cover drive, lovely shot for nought, as Siddle stops it at mid-off.
4:00pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:00pm | Report comment
Nice, effortless on-drive for Gambhir there, gets three. On to 54. Is it the pitch? Suddenly he looks so at ease, after three woeful innings in this series.
3:57pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:57pm | Report comment
Classic line via Twitter, on the Aussie skipper declining to shoot for the world record of 400.
“It wouldn’t be the first time Clarke has given up chasing Lara.”
3:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:56pm | Report comment
FOUR!
FOUR!
Whoah! Dravid heard me, and cracks successive boundaries from Hilfy. The Tasmanian trying to rough him up with short stuff, so he pulled through backward square for four, then played a back foot drive to a ball outside off for another. Nicely done, Rahul.
Dravid has 16. India 1/74.
3:55pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:55pm | Report comment
Half century!
In unconvincing style. A leading edge through cover for two, Marsh dived, nearly got to it, might have got a hand to it, but didn’t. It ran away for two, Gambhir went to 51, off 54 balls, with 8 fours.
Seems that fifty has come up in no time at all. It’s good for him, though with no contributions from anyone else as yet, it wouldn’t help his team much if he got out now. He’s got 51, and the side is only 1/66. Huge percentage of the side’s runs at present!
3:52pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:52pm | Report comment
Two to fine leg, and that’s the first really good running I’ve seen from India… in the match, let alone the innings. Glanced that, and ran well, pushing, taking on the throw with confidence for two.
He’s got 49.
3:51pm
asif zameer said | 3:51pm | Report comment
Australia needed 150 runs more to be more on the safer side because Indian batting can click at any time and above all, it’s the cricket. Anything can happen. Nobody can predict it.
3:53pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:53pm | Report comment
At 1/64, I wouldn’t be worrying about the Australian total yet.
We’ll come back to this conversation around the 400 mark
3:54pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 3:54pm | Report comment
Clarke’s innings pretty much killed India’s few remaining delusions about being the best side in the world.
3:54pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 3:54pm | Report comment
I like your gumption
3:50pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:50pm | Report comment
FOUR!
That was a soft one from Pattinson. Short and wide and sat up, rather than pinging through, and Gambhir flipped that through gully for four. But it’s still a risky shot. Test match, and he’s playing uppishly through and over the cordon deliberately. What’s the problem with playing that shot along the ground? Sehwag got out on it, and it was a stupid way to go, when someone like Warner is waiting at gully to snaffle the chance.
1/62, Gambhir 47.
3:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:46pm | Report comment
Interesting to watch Dravid. He starts a little bit wide of off stump, bat quite high in the backlift, so that his stumps are mostly exposed to the bowler. Then as the bowler delivers, Dravid moves across a little, less than half a step, shifts across and forward slightly, and the bat comes down. Is that how he gets to the pitch of the ball so well, moving his weight as the bowler’s arm comes over?
3:43pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:43pm | Report comment
Pattinson on here. One suspects he’s the key.
3:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:42pm | Report comment
Back after tea, and Gambhir and Hilfenhaus are reprising their little dance from the first innings. Hilf charging in, Gambhir looks up, decides he’s not ready, and pulls away. Happened a couple of times in the first dig, and annoyed Hilfy.
He worked a couple of twos from that over, Gambhir, to go to 43. Seems to have been in no time. Guess we’ve seen a lot of runs today.
1/57
3:39pm
asif zameer said | 3:39pm | Report comment
Australians are habitually veryyyyyy much mentally tough.very difficult task ahead for Indians to come back in this innings. MS Dhoni should have come up in the order as he is bit mentally tough to stay on the wicket.
3:15pm
Cricket lover said | 3:15pm | Report comment
Who thinks that Australia declared too early? At first I thought they declared right on time but I’m having second thoughts… There’s as many cricket legends on the Indian side as there are on the Australian side
3:25pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 3:25pm | Report comment
The only thing that’ll save India now is a draw I wouldn’ve thought. In which case declarding early, is better. Then again, what the heck to I know? I called Ponting out for 37. The internets have shunned me ever since.
3:40pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:40pm | Report comment
Oh ye who draws the wrath of the Nets, Rhialto…
Cricket Lover, no, I don’t think there’s any problem with the declaration. They need time to get India out, and there’s a chance of rain tomorrow. 468 in front is what you would have to call a pretty handy lead.
3:13pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:13pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Clever. Having put off Lyon by charging him, he got a shorter ball, rocked back, and cut that away for four more.
1/53, India, and Gambhir 39, Dravid 7, and that’s tea.
3:12pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:12pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Don’t want to jinx him, but Gambhir is looking great. He just shuffled a pace and a half down the pitch to Lyon, and drove through cover for four.
3:08pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:08pm | Report comment
Vote of confidence in Clarke aside, I’m wondering why the field isn’t a bit more attacking. Clarke has all the runs in the world to play with, but there are a couple of relatively conservative positions.
3:04pm
asif zameer said | 3:04pm | Report comment
Gautham Gambir needs the half century necessarily as what I think he will be replaced by someone more talented than him
3:05pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:05pm | Report comment
He needs more than a half century, Asif. He needs to bat large and long.
3:12pm
Hooseini said | 3:12pm | Report comment
he needs more than 100 to save match as well as his career
3:04pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:04pm | Report comment
Lyon’s on early. This is interesting! And a reason why I like Clarke’s captaincy. He’s taking initiative, says let’s have a look at the spinner, see how the pitch plays, see if there’s anything to put a few questions in the minds of the batsmen.
3:17pm
Cricket lover said | 3:17pm | Report comment
Lyon hasn’t been doing too well against India lately, especially in comparison to Pattinson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus
3:37pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:37pm | Report comment
To be fair, he hasn’t really been required against India. First innings MCG was never really the place for a spinner. In the two innings since, India has been rolled for less than 200, and the quicks have done the damage.
3:44pm
Cricket lover said | 3:44pm | Report comment
That’s a fair point. Hopefully it won’t cost him his position in the team though
3:48pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:48pm | Report comment
No danger of that. While his returns have been modest, that’s because he hasn’t bowled much. So he hasn’t been required. Where he has been required, in previous Tests, he’s performed quite well. There’s certainly no-one in state cricket who is threatening to take his place, we don’t have any spinners at all, really. So he’ll stay unless there seems to be a better option. Wouldn’t bet on it being any time soon. And good to have a spinner being given a good, long run.
3:02pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:02pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Nice shot! Gambhir pings a straight drive, dead straight that one. Siddle pitching up, looking for nicks, may get one yet, but not that time.
1/42, Gambhir’s fifth boundary, and he suddenly has 31.
2:59pm
Ranger said | 2:59pm | Report comment
Interesting day. Nobody is talking about cricket in the office (in Bangalore). This is a first.
3:04pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:04pm | Report comment
Heheh. Suddenly the English Premier League has become of intense interest, Ranger?
2:58pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:58pm | Report comment
Jesus, this Prime Ministerial interview is about as comfortable as a mystery finger up the date on a crowded train.
2:59pm
Rhys said | 2:59pm | Report comment
The only thing more embarassing would be if she was wearing a Western Bulldogs scarf.
3:01pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:01pm | Report comment
Morphett was glad to get rid of her, wasn’t he? “Now I can become a cricket commentator again.”
8:21pm
Walt said | 8:21pm | Report comment
She went on Star Sports with Ravi Shastri and sounded very polished. Very Strine, but spoke well and never missed a beat. Nothing to do with cricket but she said what needed to be said and was all over the Pink Day. Good on her./
2:57pm
wisey_9 said | 2:57pm | Report comment
what’s the odds on Sachin scoring a ton on this road of a wicket?? could be some smart money there…
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2:59pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:59pm | Report comment
I don’t think there’s smart money on him getting a ton in any match. Until the 100th is done, there’ll be bets on him, any match, any time. The prices would stabilise once the 100th ton and the hype are out of the way.
2:57pm
asif zameer said | 2:57pm | Report comment
There is a feeling across the world that Australia is going to have downfall in the bowling department. McGrath comment about Pattinson are very encouraging for him as the return of form to Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle are a boost to Australia too.I think Australia should bring fast bowlers of the younger age so that they can retain in the team for at least 5 to 8 years performing consistently.
2:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:56pm | Report comment
Personal hates. Prime Ministers on the radio. Or on the TV. John Howard used to do it all the time, now Julia Gillard is. And they all do the same things, talking for two long and not letting the ball-by-ball man call the match.
2:53pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:53pm | Report comment
FOUR!
FOUR!
Double dose from Gambhir. His first convincing shots of the tour. Two strong cover drives, planting the foot, going wide through cover, looking like Justin Langer shots off the bat.
Nice to see him get some runs, but he might just nick one of these pretty soon.
1/36. They’re getting on with the scoring, at least.
2:50pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:50pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Driven through wide midwicket by Dravid, he’s away.
2:46pm
asif zameer said | 2:46pm | Report comment
Can Virendar Sehwag save India and play memorable innings?
2:51pm
Ben Carter said | 2:51pm | Report comment
Not now that he’s already out!
2:51pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:51pm | Report comment
Not from back in the pavilion, I don’t think. It’s all on Dravid, Sachin, Laxman.
2:55pm
Will said | 2:55pm | Report comment
and Gambhir after that over
2:38pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:38pm | Report comment
OUT!
Hate to say it, but, what did I tell you? Sehwag caught at gully. Got the cut shot a bit toe-ended, but still went swiftly to Warner’s left, he had to get airborne to snare it, but he’ll do that. Don’t play in the air around David Warner. He’s a Venus fly trap. Not a great ball from Hilfenhaus, but Sehwag gives his wicket away a lot these days.
India 1/18, Sehwag out c Warner b Hilfenhaus for 4.
2:37pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:37pm | Report comment
Here’s Clarke in the top-scorers list.
BC Lara 400*
ML Hayden 380
BC Lara 375
DPMD Jayawardene 374
GS Sobers 365*
L Hutton 364
ST Jayasuriya 340
Hanif Mohammad 337
WR Hammond 336* 318
MA Taylor 334*
DG Bradman 334
GA Gooch 333
CH Gayle 333
Michael Clarke 329*
Inzamam-ul-Haq 329
Clarke faced 468 balls. He batted from a good part of the final session on the first day, through to mid-way through the second session on the third day. More than five sessions all up.
He hit 39 fours and one six.
2:34pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:34pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Lovvverly shot for Sehwag… did Michael Clarke go back out there in a blue helmet? Got that one on his toes from Pattinson, and flicked it beautifully away through square leg for four.
0/17
2:36pm
Rhys said | 2:36pm | Report comment
If this second innings offers India nothing else, it may be a chance for one or two of their top order to find a bit of form.
2:42pm
Rhys said | 2:42pm | Report comment
Or maybe not.
2:29pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:29pm | Report comment
Hilfenhaus bowling to Gambhir now.
2:28pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:28pm | Report comment
Well, Gambhir was doing his best Sehwag impersonation in that over. Will Sehwag prod awkwardly to slip?
Kinda Gambhir-like. Tangled leg bye to square leg.
2:30pm
Rhys said | 2:30pm | Report comment
I’m pretty sure Sehwag was born without the prod chromosome
2:25pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:25pm | Report comment
FOUR!
FOUR!
Consecutive boundaries from Gambhir, two slashes over slips. Intentional, risky.
This could be over in no time. They were well enough struck, but he’s playing flips and uppercuts with about nine in the slip cordon.
2:24pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:24pm | Report comment
And we’re bowling already! Gambhir defends the first from Pattinson. How the hell are these guys going to switch to a batting mindset after seven sessions chasing the ball around?
I predict early wickets here.
2:36pm
Matt F said | 2:36pm | Report comment
That’s probably the very reason why we declared when we did. Nobody saw it coming and Sehwag had been doing a bit of bowling. It was probably always the plan to declare at drinks, no matter what scores Clarke and Hussey were on at the time.
2:38pm
Matt F said | 2:38pm | Report comment
Speaking of which. Sehwag gone!
2:22pm
Jimbo said | 2:22pm | Report comment
Good declaration. Possibility of rain tomorrow, and the Indians are hardly likely to get any more demoralised.
2:23pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:23pm | Report comment
I’m with you, Jim.
2:31pm
MrKistic said | 2:31pm | Report comment
Plus when we knock them over tomorrow Clarke gets to spend Saturday with the missus.
2:43pm
Matt F said | 2:43pm | Report comment
Who wouldn’t? Declaration looks smarter by the minute!
2:20pm
MrKistic said | 2:20pm | Report comment
Why oh why oh why oh why oh why?? He went a session too early. At least he’s not greedy I guess.
What are the odds of Sachin knocking up that century now?
2:19pm
B.A Sports said | 2:19pm | Report comment
great decleration. No thought of his personal milestones of getting to 334 or beyond. declared when his team mate hit a milestone and (you would assume) when his bowlers were finished warming up out back. Well done skipper.
2:14pm
AdamS said | 2:14pm | Report comment
Wow, way too soon.
2:13pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:13pm | Report comment
Declared!
Well, we’d got to drinks, we didn’t notice for a second, but then we realised the Australian batsmen were heading off the field, raising their bats to the crowd.
Amazing decision. No hint of personal preoccupation for Clarke, declaring with his own score on 329, remaining five short of Bradman and Taylor.
He’s level with Inzamam on the all-time scorers list, and that’s equal 12th overall, behind those players listed a few posts further down the page.
The partnership also notched the Bradman number – 334 scored between Clarke and Hussey, the latter finishing unbeaten on 150.
Astonishing innings, astonishing play, and astonishing selflessness by the Australian captain. He wanted to give himself time to bowl India out, aware that it’s a very good batting pitch, and wanting to take no chances.
India, though, will be mentally shot after a rough two days in the field, and physically worn from those hours in the sun. While conditions could allow them to bat for a very long time, and maybe even for the two and a bit days they would need to draw, one suspects they could just as easily fold quickly and lose by an immense margin.
India will come out to bat at a massive 468 runs behind on the first innings, meaning that a win is out of the question, while a draw is at this stage a very remote possibility. It will take something along the lines of their 2004 innings of 705 to save India here. The only consolation? That the two architects of that total – Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman – are in this side today.
2:15pm
Red Kev said | 2:15pm | Report comment
I am a little surprised … maybe he is just tired.
2:18pm
Rhys said | 2:18pm | Report comment
I’m surprised too by the call. Well, regardless, I think we’ve just witnessed one of the best knocks of the modern era.
2:16pm
Ben Carter said | 2:16pm | Report comment
Awww….shame, really.
2:18pm
Johnno said | 2:18pm | Report comment
Pup should of overtaken bradman’s score but i don’t think eh would of been aware of it.
I don’t think when pup started today he would of contemplated a triple century.
2:22pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:22pm | Report comment
Pretty sure he’d have to know 334. A bit hard to grow up around cricket and not. He’d have been a kid for Taylor’s innings.
2:45pm
Red Kev said | 2:45pm | Report comment
I reckon Clarke didn’t want an idiot media story calling him selfish Gen-Y captain. He was probably right and that is sad.
2:26pm
Rhys said | 2:26pm | Report comment
Geoff, there is one other similar scenario in recent history to that of 2004. The 2001 Test in Kolkata. Australia led by 274 on the first innings and enforced the follow on. That man Laxman (281) and Dravid (180) notched up a 376 run partnership to lead India to 657/7d. They then knocked Australia over for 212 in the 2nd dig to win by 171 runs.
My money is on another abject capitulation from India in the 2nd innings, but the above examples just go to show the unexpected can happen.
2:32pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:32pm | Report comment
Oh, I’m well aware of Eden Gardens – my favourite Test match of all time. But this lead is getting towards double the lead conceded there. It’s different territory. Even if they had a similar partnership, they’d be going a lot further to set a lead, and wouldn’t have time to bowl anyone out.
Best they can do is an epic partnership, a la 2004, for a draw.
2:12pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:12pm | Report comment
150!
Hussey raises the in-between landmark with a clip to the on-side for two, gets a warm hug from Clarke.
4/659.
2:10pm
Kenny said | 2:10pm | Report comment
Loving this site in the absence of watching it – but are there any cricket-loving expats based in the States have any tips on how to tune into this historical, legendary stuff? Much appreciated.
2:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:42pm | Report comment
G’day Kenny. I’m guessing you can’t get ABC Grandstand streaming overseas? Sometimes I’ve been able to get it overseas, sometimes it won’t let overseas IPs access it.
One idea is try the TuneIn Radio app, if you have an iPhone or similar. Otherwise, I know there are radio streaming sites that will give audio of Grandstand via third party sites. There are also video streaming sites, usually taking Indian cable coverage, but I don’t have a URL handy.
If anyone does know a good streaming site, let Kenny know.
2:07pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:07pm | Report comment
Interesting how despite Hayden’s 380, and despite the scores of various overseas batsmen, that 334 number is still the one that really matters for Australians.
2:13pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 2:13pm | Report comment
Why?
2:18pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 2:18pm | Report comment
Never mind…
2:21pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:21pm | Report comment
It was Bradman’s score. The world record for a time, then Mark Taylor famously declared on 334 rather than electing to pass the Don’s mark. When Hayden went on to 380, I think some people thought it… a little gauche.
2:23pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 2:23pm | Report comment
Amazing.
2:20pm
Will said | 2:20pm | Report comment
Hayden got his against Zimbabwe.
2:02pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:02pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Delicate, timed, late cut from Hussey. Whisked that away. There’s a gully, there’s a third man, but he places it perfectly.
Huss 144.
2:01pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:01pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Leg glance, very fine, there was a leg slip there, not sure if it went in the air, but it got just inside him and ran away for four.
He’ll bat till tea for sure… is Clarke going to go really big here? Like, really REALLY big?
2:03pm
Will said | 2:03pm | Report comment
how about declaring on 334? It’s a classic move.
2:08pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:08pm | Report comment
I think Hayden kind of ruined that one.
2:11pm
Rhys said | 2:11pm | Report comment
Not only are there some huge scoring milestone’s on the horizon for Clarke as an individual, but from a team perspective, this innings is entering some rarefied atmosphere in terms of highest Test totals for Australia. If Clarke opts to bat on until say an hour after tea, they should eclipse the record of 758/8d v. West Indies from ’55.
1:59pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:59pm | Report comment
A couple more… Hussey 140, Clarke 319.
4/639.
1:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:56pm | Report comment
Just seeing some vision on the TV of Mark Taylor’s 334* against Pakistan. When he got the triple and when he declared, he was at the crease with a very young and baby-faced Ricky Ponting.
Now Ponting is here today, a big part of getting Michael Clarke on the way to this score, that may yet break Taylor’s record.
1:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:54pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Gee, he whomped that. Like trying to knock out a wombat with a star picket. Ran down the pitch, Hussey, and clouted Ashwin through cover for four. All along the ground.
He’s got 138. Big hundred for Huss beckoning.
4/637.
2:00pm
Red Kev said | 2:00pm | Report comment
Well that is 600 for the loss of one wicket. I wonder how often someone would score a very good 134 and only be third best score for the innings.
1:53pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:53pm | Report comment
Highest Test scores that remain in front of Michael Clarke’s 319.
BC Lara 400*
ML Hayden 380
BC Lara 375
DPMD Jayawardene 374
GS Sobers 365*
L Hutton 364
ST Jayasuriya 340
Hanif Mohammad 337
WR Hammond 336* 318
MA Taylor 334*
DG Bradman 334
GA Gooch 333
CH Gayle 333
Inzamam-ul-Haq 329
A Sandham 325
1:50pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:50pm | Report comment
Clarke is definitely batting for a declaration. He charged Yadav and tried to heave over midwicket. Inside edge, thick one, into ground, no run.
It’s impressively selfless batting from Clarke. We’re all talking about the records he could break. He’s thinking about quick runs so he can send India in for an hour tonight.
1:55pm
Rhys said | 1:55pm | Report comment
Another tick in the ‘this guy has real character’ column for Clarke.
If Australia is looking for quick runs before a declaration, at least Haddin will be able to play his ‘natural game’ without fear of looking like a complete goose if he gets out doing it.
1:58pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:58pm | Report comment
Ha. You could hand Haddin a Ming vase and he’d try to whomp it through midwicket for four.
1:49pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:49pm | Report comment
Yadav is back on for a bowl. Did well in Melbourne, hasn’t been effective here.
1:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:46pm | Report comment
Sehwag is still bowling. It’s limp captaincy from Dhoni. Why not try alternatives? Why not try Tendulkar’s leg spin? He’s taken crucial wickets a few times in his career, and actually has pretty decent stats. Try something else from someone else. You’re 600 and change. Come on, skip.
1:49pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 1:49pm | Report comment
Sounds like he might be sulking a bit. I sort of got that impression after some of his comments about their poor batting in the first test.
1:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:42pm | Report comment
There are now 16 batsmen ahead of Clarke’s score on the all-time list, as he draws level with Chris Gayle’s 317.
1:45pm
Rhys said | 1:45pm | Report comment
Geoff, of the top ten most prolific run scorers in Test history, only two (Lara and Jayawardene) have passed the magic 300 mark. Just puts it into perspective what a remarkable feat it is by any batsman.
1:48pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:48pm | Report comment
Interesting stat, Rhys. Mind you, a lot of the guys who did score triples were playing before the days when we played so many Tests. The top runscorers are all modern players these days.
But yes. Considering someone like Kallis had never made a double until recently, and someone like Steve Waugh had a highest of 200*, only once approaching that mark…
Huge achievement.
1:38pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:38pm | Report comment
The important thing isn’t the runs they’re scoring now, but the minutes they’re keeping the Indian batsmen in the field. Try walking in from two days of chasing boundaries and squatting at slip, then having ten minutes to stretch your hamstrings before you go out to face a well fresh pace attack.
4/620
Clarke 315
Hussey 125
1:40pm
Rhys said | 1:40pm | Report comment
Especially at an average age of mid 30s.
1:42pm
Matt said | 1:42pm | Report comment
When do they declare?
Im thinking about 40 minutes before the close of play today. Give them a good half an hour of tearing into the openers after a long day
1:45pm
JohnB said | 1:45pm | Report comment
So when do we think the declaration will come? I’m a bit of a kick em while they’re down man, so would aim to have about an hour to bowl tonight – meaning a lead of 550/600. Of course, they could be bowled out by then – and Clarke could just about get to 400.
That depends on the weather forecast showing the next 2 days play will be uninterrupted. If that’s not the case, declare any time from now!
1:37pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:37pm | Report comment
Honestly. These two have been out there hours, Clarke has batted five sessions. Yet they’re running like it’s the fifth over of a one-dayer. Sharp, aware, pressure running. Taking two where there should generally be one.
1:35pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:35pm | Report comment
Can’t help but recall Kerry’s comment from Melbourne: “Ishant Sharma looks like he missed his calling as an evil Vizier in a kids’ cartoon somewhere.”
1:32pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:32pm | Report comment
And even as I type, he clips two behind point, goes to 312.
The only Australian batsmen ahead of him now are the cosy pair of Don Bradman and Mark Taylor, and then off in the distance, Matthew Hayden.
1:34pm
Red Kev said | 1:34pm | Report comment
Funny comments from M Taylor on the TV “must be time to declare” … gold.
1:43pm
BennO said | 1:43pm | Report comment
I was thinking earlier that Clarke might declare when he gets to 334. But you’d have to say he has time to bat all day and eclipse Lara’s score if he can get there.
1:38pm
Rhys said | 1:38pm | Report comment
I shouldn’t I know, but in my mind I can’t help having an asterix next to that innings from Hayden.
1:47pm
Ben Carter said | 1:47pm | Report comment
Regardless – even if the opposition were Outer Mongollia (so to metaphorically speak), he’d still have to be out there for that length of time, in those weather conditions, and make sure he struck the ball properly with the bat often enough to get the runs!…
I think the same thing when people decry a Sri Lankan paceman snaring 8/2 or somesuch against Bermuda in an ODI and everyone’s tearing their Wisden alamacks in anguish because it’s now the best bowling performance by a left-armer with darker-than-tan hair wearing a watch on his right wrist since Lord Kenneth Banningstoke in 1876 or whatever. History is great, but either the sport continues into the future (and allows new records to be written) or it doesn’t.
1:49pm
Rhys said | 1:49pm | Report comment
Yep, fair point there Ben.
2:03pm
Chris said | 2:03pm | Report comment
Hayden hit 11 sixes in that innings. Clarke has hit one. Speaks volumes I think…
1:31pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:31pm | Report comment
Going to 310, he’s moved past Bob Cowper’s 307 for records by an Australian batsman. Bob Simpson is next with 311.
1:30pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:30pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Wide mid-on, and smashed. Slogged. Really muscled it. Ugly, but effective. I think Clarke is starting to bat for a declaration here.
1:23pm
adam said | 1:23pm | Report comment
Australia have scored 1/560 since the loss of Cowan on Tuesday afternoon. Unbelievable. Not bad for two old blokes that should have been dropped before the series and a capitan that no-one respects.
1:26pm
Johnno said | 1:26pm | Report comment
Unbeleivable statistics you’d think the test match as being played on a typical sub continent dust bowl.
1:29pm
JohnB said | 1:29pm | Report comment
Or in Brisbane in late 2010!
1:31pm
Ben Carter said | 1:31pm | Report comment
Well put Adam. WOO-HOO!!!!! Absolutely stunning stuff from Clarke – happened to catch the ’300 hit’ on a cafe telly while out on lunch break. Really it’s all about Clarke. Not the state of the match (grinding India into the dust, a taste of their own medicine on a few occasions over the past decade…) but Clarkie almost needed this big score as a seal of authority on his captaincy AND as a batsman. No more too-young jibes or we-don’t-have-anyone-decent-or-experienced-to-give-our-batting-some-spine, etc. Simply brilliant. Well done skipper!
1:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:33pm | Report comment
I’m just waiting for the “Yeah, but it was an easy track” brigade…
1:36pm
BennO said | 1:36pm | Report comment
Well he’s yet to score 300 when the team really needed a captain’s knock. Punter and Hussey did the hard yards for him in this test. If he’d managed to do this when the team really needed it, well that might be something to talk about. Until then…
1:43pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:43pm | Report comment
Yeah, plus he made it on pink day at the SCG, which is a bit of a girls’ day, to be honest.
1:45pm
BennO said | 1:45pm | Report comment
hahaha! Classic!
1:44pm
Ben Carter said | 1:44pm | Report comment
Er, wasn’t it three-fa when Clarke came in?
1:45pm
The Bush said | 1:45pm | Report comment
Classic.
1:22pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:22pm | Report comment
TRIPLE CENTURY!
He got that on his pads, clipped it elegantly through midwicket, it went away for four, and Michael Clarke is 303 not out. The first triple century on this ground in 100 Test matches. Magnificent effort, magnificent innings.
Just by the by, that shot also raises the Australian 600.
4/601.
1:23pm
BennO said | 1:23pm | Report comment
I dips me lid to Michael Clarke. Fantastic effort!
And I am drafting a complaint to Sprint Mobile for dropping out their coverage when the skipper was on 299.
1:24pm
Andre said | 1:24pm | Report comment
Does each century count towards one’s career total of centuries?
1:26pm
The Bush said | 1:26pm | Report comment
No.
1:24pm
Johnno said | 1:24pm | Report comment
I sure hope Clarke can do that in the ASHES at lord’s in 2013.
1:30pm
Big Steve said | 1:30pm | Report comment
congrats to clarke, great effort. only needs another 30 or so to double his previous high score in tests!
1:30pm
Rhys said | 1:30pm | Report comment
There’s something about seeing a triple hundred next to an individual batsman’s name that almost seems surreal. For one player to score as much as most team’s would be content to score in total. Stands out all the more when the opposition actually totalled 191.
1:22pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:22pm | Report comment
Clarke defends the first ball…
1:20pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:20pm | Report comment
FOUR!
And another! On the pull. He was leaning back and tugged that away for a boundary. Hussey to 119.
1:20pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:20pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Smashed that one, Hussey. Sehwag is not threatening. Huss pulled out the old slog sweep, but did it stylishly. Midwicket fence. Four.
Goes to 115.
4/593
1:18pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:18pm | Report comment
Clarke only defended that last ball from Ishant, ending the over, and he’s going to have to wait on 299. Hussey to face… Sehwag.
Last Australian to get a 300 was Matthew Hayden, when he scored the then-world-record 380 against Zimbabwe.
1:17pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:17pm | Report comment
Anticipation.
1:16pm
Geoff Lemon said | 1:16pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Welcome back after lunch, says Mick Clarke. He worked a two from Ishant Sharma to go to 295, then drove classically down the ground for four for 299.
1:19pm
BennO said | 1:19pm | Report comment
d’oh! My stream through my phone is showing the first session again and I didn’t notice!!! Dammit!!
1:13pm
Johnno said | 1:13pm | Report comment
No one seems to talk about Teflon Tim anymore he seems long forgotten, I thought I would just remind everyone about Teflon Tim.
1:16pm
Rhys said | 1:16pm | Report comment
He’s appearing on the Home Shopping Network these days isn’t he?
1:24pm
Johnno said | 1:24pm | Report comment
yes i think so , teflon is very popular in the home shopping World.
12:39pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:39pm | Report comment
Well, that’s lunch. Afterwards we’ll have to see if Clarke can move his 293 into the rarified air of the 300+ range. Hussey is with him on Nelson – 111.
Clarke looked dicier this morning than yesterday, had a few false shots, but luck is with him. The shots he’s played have been high quality though, and Hussey’s have probably been a little bit better. His form looks terrific.
4/583.
See you at 13:10.
12:47pm
WoobliesFan said | 12:47pm | Report comment
Pains me to say it, but an incredible score by Clarke…..really well done to him. If he can keep this up and lead Australia to greater heights, then we’ll just have to deal with his self-infatuated and fabriacted ways.
12:35pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:35pm | Report comment
Tip Foster – 287
And now to what was the ground’s high score for 99 years. Australia versus England, naturally enough. Australia were in trouble at 3/12, until Monty Noble’s 133 took them to a reasonable 285.
England in response were 3/73 when Reginald ‘Tip’ Foster came to the wicket. He was the last man out with the score at 577. In the meantime he scored 287, with support from Len Braund with 102, and the best of the No 11 batsmen, Wilfred Rhodes, with 40 not out.
Australia responded well, with 485, including a magnificent 185 not out from Victor Trumper batting at five. It meant they set England 194 to win, and despite losing Foster stumped for 19, and at one point being 4/82, England got home five wickets down.
That record innings has stood ever since, until today. Well done Michael Clarke.
12:27pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:27pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Oh, lucky! Very wide ball, Sharma is trying to bore him out, and he swung at it, Clarke, and edged just in front of Laxman and bounced wide of him for four.
He’s on to 293. Hussey 109.
Aus 4/581.
12:32pm
Ben Carter said | 12:32pm | Report comment
Looks like Clarkie’s triple ton will have to wait another 40 minutes at least. Time for some lunch!
12:26pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:26pm | Report comment
Brian Lara – 277
Let’s have a look at Brian Lara’s 277, that Clarke passed not long ago. It was 1992/93. Australia racked up 9/503 declared, with Steve Waugh’s even 100 being the only century scored, but three scores in the 70s and one in the 50s.
The West Indies were under enormous pressure in reply, and even moreso when they slumped to 2/31, with Haynes and Simmons gone cheaply. Lara then joined Richie Richardson for a 293-run stand, before Richie left for 109. He then added 124 with Keith Arthurton, before Lara was run out – the only way he was going to leave – with the score on 481. It was one of those magical, match-saving innings, 38 fours in all, and seeing off an attack of McDermott, Merv Hughes, Shane Warne, and Greg Matthews, with the Waugh twins in support.
Jimmy Adams carried on where Lara left off, grafting 77 to take the West Indies total to 606, and make the match secure.
The match ended in one of those carnival day atmospheres, with nine West Indian players trying their bowling arms in the 47 overs they sent Australia before the draw was declared.
12:25pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:25pm | Report comment
FOUR!
And that is the highest score at the SCG!
Michael Clarke goes to 289, passing Tip Foster’s 287 from 1903. I’ll be looking at that and Lara’s innings shortly.
4/577.
12:28pm
Ben Carter said | 12:28pm | Report comment
A-maazin!
12:22pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:22pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Lofted shot from Hussey, he is so unafraid of anything today. Lifted it over mid-off, down to the boundary.
4/573
12:17pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:17pm | Report comment
Another stat – Clarke going to 282 passes the highest score in Australia-India Tests, passing Laxman’s magical 281 from Eden Gardens in 2001.
12:19pm
Red Kev said | 12:19pm | Report comment
He’s batting in the cap again too I see – great look. It was crazy to see footage of Lawry and Simpson opening the batting without helmets in the pre-match telecast.
12:54pm
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 12:54pm | Report comment
I agree. I was stoked to see him wearing it yesterday.
12:15pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:15pm | Report comment
Well. It’s comeback time. Though as I argued a few days ago in this article
http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/30/hussey-comes-good-against-the-power-of-public-ignorance/
Hussey never really went away. But he’s got what he needs to quiet the doubters, as has Ponting for now. Though if he’d made those three Lankan hundreds in Australia instead, no-one would have had a word to say against him for about a year.
4/561.
12:12pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:12pm | Report comment
Century!
Hussey works a single, and is saluting the crowd.
12:11pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:11pm | Report comment
Hussey to 99! Works another two through square leg.
12:09pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:09pm | Report comment
Another single from the last ball for Huss. Keeps Clarke from the record a little longer, but goes to 97 himself.
4/556.
12:06pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:06pm | Report comment
Two more for Hussey… Sehwag bowling now. He’s got 95, Mr Cricket. Wouldn’t he love to stick a ton up a few pundits?
12:03pm
Geoff Lemon said | 12:03pm | Report comment
SIX!
Slog sweep for Clarke! Goes to 280. Seven runs shy of the ground record.
12:02pm
AdamS said | 12:02pm | Report comment
How often and how badly is Pup’s last bat sponsor kicking himself right now?
11:55am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:55am | Report comment
And past Lara with a two. 274 not out.
11:53am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:53am | Report comment
FOUR!
Off his pads from Clarke, he’s on to 272. Equalled Lara!
11:52am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:52am | Report comment
FOUR!
Square drive from Hussey off Yadav, down to third man, it was fielded but the fielder’s leg touched the rope. Four signalled.
They milked six runs from Ashwin’s over before that, in ones and twos, risk free.
Clarke 268
Hussey 93
11:45am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:45am | Report comment
FOUR!
Of course, as I type about restricting runs, Hussey clips Yadav, newly introduced, away for four. He’s on to 84 now. Century beckons!
11:52am
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 11:52am | Report comment
Anyone know what highest team score is for one innings at the SCG?
11:54am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:54am | Report comment
Well, India made 700-plus in that 2004 draw, when Sachin got the double.
11:58am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:58am | Report comment
Just checked it – that was indeed the record. 7/705 declared, India.
Tendulkar 241
Laxman 178
Sehwag 72
Patel 68
Brett Lee 4/201
Next was Australia’s 8/659 declared.
SG Barnes c Ikin b Bedser 234
AR Morris b Edrich 5
IWG Johnson c Washbrook b Edrich 7
AL Hassett c Compton b Edrich 34
KR Miller c †Evans b Smith 40
DG Bradman* lbw b Yardley 234
At 4/552, this innings is currently 13th on the all-time list.
12:42pm
Matt F said | 12:42pm | Report comment
It’s not test cricket but NSW racked up 918 against SA in 1900-01. Amazingly that’s dwarfed as highest ever Shield innings total by Victoria’s 1107(!!!) against NSW in 1926-27 season at the MCG.
11:44am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:44am | Report comment
Three runs in the last two overs… Ashwin at least keeping the run rate down. What can they do? Just delay the Aussie declaration as long as they can?
11:43am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:43am | Report comment
We’re having a conversation below re The Age/SMH and their attempts to beat up feelings of ill will between these two sides.
I’d like to point out that at stumps last night, every Indian player I saw on the field trotted over to Michael Clarke to shake his hand and congratulate him on an innings well played. In Melbourne, when Sharma’s shot hit Cowan in the grille at short leg, the Indian bowler was clearly concerned and attentive. And when the last wicket fell, rather than wandering off toward the rooms, the last Indian pair waited patiently on the pitch, bats under their arms, to shake hands with the Australians when they had finished their celebrations.
It seems to me this series has been played in an excellent spirit.
12:38pm
tony said | 12:38pm | Report comment
Your onto it , so typical of the Age SMH , good to hear it called like it is .
11:41am
Johnno said | 11:41am | Report comment
i was reading int he newspapers today about Duncan Fletcher’s awful record in Australia. If they don win a test after sydney I think the knives may be out for Duncan Fletcher, surley a country like cricket mad India would not be enjoying this SCG thrashing, or the weak MCG surrender surely not, would India define this team’s effort as acceptable.
11:34am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:34am | Report comment
So, slow going here after a brisk start. The last few overs have gone for 2, 2, 1, and 1. Are these two just trying to consolidate? One notices at times that players can lose their way a bit once huge scores mount up, like they’re not sure what their aim is from here.
Not the worst problem in the world to have, though.
11:39am
TomC said | 11:39am | Report comment
Warwick Todd once noted that Sachin Tendulkar’s biggest flaw was that he tended to lose concentration approaching a double century.
11:44am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:44am | Report comment
Ah, Warwick Todd. A sadly missed talent.
12:13pm
Red Kev said | 12:13pm | Report comment
Yeah I particularly liked his dubbing of Shane Watson as Mr ‘subject to fitness’.
11:30am
TomC said | 11:30am | Report comment
Sharma looking good this morning. Seems very determined. Clarke needs to be careful here.
11:25am
Johnno said | 11:25am | Report comment
That old saying don’t know what you got till it’s gone rings true with the world’ spinners right now.
The 90′s and early 2000′s the world was blessed with the beginning of so many talented spinners careers.
Shane Warne
Kumble
Murali
Stuart Mcgill
Saqlain Mushtaq
Mushtaq Ahmed
Dan Vettori
Habarjan singh
Phil Tufnell
Now the world seems empty of talented spinners.
For mine only 2 or 3 are world class
Graham swann, Vettori, sajeed Ajmal.
ANd not many coming through.
It amazes me without he size of india’s population 1 billion plus, where cricket is so popular that the best spinner the indian cricket system can produce is Ashwin.
Tall like Kumble but the ability factor, well they are different class massive advantage Kumble.
But World cricket is in a spin decline. And I am not sold on Lyon either, he is not as good as Shane Warne, and can’t do impact a match like Shane Warne could, and that’s a bad thing.
11:28am
Vas Venkatramani said | 11:28am | Report comment
“And I’m not sold on Lyon either, he is not as good as Shane Warne”
And that my friend, is the Andrew Hilditch mentality. If we have anyone in world cricket who is as good as Shane Warne, we will be EXTREMELY lucky.
Lyon’s a good prospect, and he looks like he’s got a fantastic temparement and can take some stick and come back from it.
11:36am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:36am | Report comment
Exactly. Warne was in the top few spinners of all time. No-one will ever be as good as Shane Warne for us, or at least we can’t expect them to be. If one comes along it might be in 20 years. It might be in 50. Who knows.
11:38am
Johnno said | 11:38am | Report comment
Vas good point but Warney is special he did so much, great physical prescence, good tactician, condfeidnt, handy lower order batter, an ice man like steve waugh, and a wicket taker, lyon has not yet shown to be as talented as shane warne and that is annoying for the aussie team and fans as we have had to lower our expectations, .
But australian cricket i think should still try and search or the next Shane Warne as he made such a difference to the aussie side , and got paid well but vas my friend he sure repaid every dollar he was paid and more i think, he got people in Australia really into cricket in the 90′s when there were rumblings about test crickets popularity and the decline of leg spin bowling, what a star Shane Warne was Vas all aussie fans miss not having a spinner like Warney Vas,.
11:39am
The Bush said | 11:39am | Report comment
“And I am not sold on Lyon either, he is not as good as Shane Warne, and can’t do impact a match like Shane Warne could, and that’s a bad thing.”
What, so we should only pick players that are as good as Shane Warne? That is one of the most insane comments ever… It is almost a certainty that you won’t see another Australian bowler, let alone spinner, as good as Warne in your lifetime.
11:44am
Johnno said | 11:44am | Report comment
The Bush I am speaking the truth stating the obvious.
it is a bad thing Lyon not being as talented as Shane Warne, as he makes less impact in winning test matches for Australia and the goal in sport is to win as much as possible.
I never said we should only pick bowlers as good as Warney, it’s like saying the west indies should only pick batsman as good as Viv Richards, and Lara, but it is obvious how much Warney’s bowling ability, and general all round prescence have been missed by the aussie test and ODI team and the results prove that.
11:54am
The Bush said | 11:54am | Report comment
Johnno,
I think everyone is in agreement that Lyon is not as good as Warnie. No one is suggesting otherwise.
And yes, it would be lovely to have a production line of Warnies. But you have to be realistic, we’re not going to find another one in a long, long time. In the meantime we need to persist with the talent we do have and Lyon has been the best spinner we’ve have since Warnie.
11:22am
Vas Venkatramani said | 11:22am | Report comment
Have to put a good word about Ishant Sharma. He might have his length slightly wrong, but I can’t question his effort and his willingness to toil. He hared around the field yesterday trying to chase down balls, and he was the only bowler who at least made an attempt to intimidate yesterday.
All this after doubts over his fitness. Hopefully better days lie ahead for him…
11:22am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:22am | Report comment
They’re being careful with Sharma here. Clarke got a single, then five dots from Hussey.
11:21am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:21am | Report comment
Good times on ABC Radio. Harsha Bhogle just ate a bit of an extremely hot chilli on air, being dared by Kerry O’Keeffe. He had to try to do the ball-by-ball call while choking and spluttering on capsicain.
11:23am
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 11:23am | Report comment
The hilarity!
11:15am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:15am | Report comment
And finally something… Clarke plays and misses at Sharma. He hasn’t looked so fluent this morning. Sharma has been the one to produce the odd ball that has troubled batsmen in these two Tests so far. But his good balls don’t take wickets. He’s like Peter Siddle was last summer.
11:18am
Ben Carter said | 11:18am | Report comment
Just read on CricInfo that Kohli was fined 50% of his match fee for giving the finger to the crowd yesterday.
11:21am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:21am | Report comment
There’s a beat-up if ever I saw one. The Age were calling it a “crisis”. Clowns.
11:25am
Ben Carter said | 11:25am | Report comment
According to one online newspaper in Australia, Kohli was summoned by the match referee and pleaded guilty. Plain and simple. His actions have been dealt with. Nuff said. It would, of course, be interesting to know (and it’s unfortunately probably impossible to) whether his own claim of any verbal abuse regarding members of his family did indeed come from anyone in the SCG crowd yesterday. Two wrongs don’t make a right (if there was provocation involved).
11:24am
BennO said | 11:24am | Report comment
Is it just me or is the SMH trying to generate ill will towards the Indian team? I think it’s been great the way the two teams have put aside the anger from a few years back but the herald ran the beat up about the Indians being outraged by being made to wait outside Kirribilli and now this. I realise Kohli was fined but the Herald ran with a pretty inflammatory photo and it just seems like they are trying to generate negative feeling toward the Indians to sell a few papers. I sportsman gave the crowd the finger after they sledged him – it’s not the first time and sure it probably deserved a fine but not much coverage I don’t think.
11:29am
Andre said | 11:29am | Report comment
The Age is calling it “Fingergate”…
11:30am
Ben Carter said | 11:30am | Report comment
Hmmm…hardly a surprise that someone would think of that…
11:39am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:39am | Report comment
Yes, I saw that. As I said – opening that paper was like ripping the roof off a clown car.
They’re definitely looking to beat it up. I don’t think anyone in the Indian camp was worried about Kirribilli. They went to the gates early, got told it wasn’t ready, and hopped back on their bus. It was less than 15 minutes all up. Uh… so what?
The SMH sold a lot of papers on the back of the acrimonious series last time, so they’re trying to generate some semblance of that.
11:53am
BennO said | 11:53am | Report comment
Yeah that was exactly how it read to me.
11:13am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:13am | Report comment
Interesting with Hussey. His timing has looked absolutely perfect for this entire innings. It was similar when he started in the second innings in Melbourne. When he came out the next morning there he was scratchy, and started getting lucky calls. But this innings, from the first ball, has had the same kind of conviction. I can’t remember him mis-hitting a shot in this innings. All the cover drives have scorched from the bat. The pulls have been crisp and connected cleanly. It has been remarkable.
11:12am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:12am | Report comment
Another couple. Clarke has added 7 this morning, cautiously on to 258. Hussey has zoomed on to 75, adding 20.
11:07am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:07am | Report comment
FOUR!
Classic cover drive from Huss, absolute 1930s vintage. He’s got to 73 in quick time.
11:04am
Andre said | 11:04am | Report comment
Hi Geoff – just wanted to say I was at work yesterday following your commentary discreetly when I had to ask my boss a question and walked into her office to find her streaming the match on her computer! Still, I think I prefer this to Channel Nine + endless KFC ads…
11:23am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:23am | Report comment
Ha! Great to hear. I’m pretty sure half the country is discreetly following the match at work, however they can manage it.
Set of headphones and streaming the radio definitely helps. But glad we can provide some info.
11:03am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:03am | Report comment
The 500 is up! Hussey whips through midwicket for two.
11:01am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:01am | Report comment
So – absolutely zero scares yet this morning. They’ve added 13 runs, Clake on 255, Hussey moving along to 64.
11:04am
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 11:04am | Report comment
What changed in the Indian bowling from the MCG test to this one? Or is it simply the batting?
11:26am
Geoff Lemon said | 11:26am | Report comment
I reckon partly it’s just being tired. Zaheer and Sharma were both well underdone before Melbourne. If they’d got Clarke nicking on day one and run through the Aussies, they’d be alright. The length they’ve bowled now… they just look spent.
10:57am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:57am | Report comment
Ashwin is bowling early on the third day. Was astounding to see Dhoni throw Sehwag the new-ish ball after only 19 or 20 overs last night. Not that his pace bowlers looked likely, but still…
10:54am
Jay said | 10:54am | Report comment
Geoff – what’s the word with Clarke not having stickers on his bat? Surely slazenger haven’t withdrawn their sponsorship..
10:58am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:58am | Report comment
Word is that he’s looking for a new sponsor. Don’t know if that means his deal ran out and he didn’t renew it, or they didn’t. They’d be feeling a bit silly if it’s the latter…
Maybe they can superimpose a logo on his bat in the highlights. Retrospective.
11:20am
Brett McKay said | 11:20am | Report comment
Slazenger expired 31 December, and options are being considered apparently. He’d been with Slazenger since he was 16, but I don’t think there’ll be any shortage of companies lining up..
10:59am
Vas Venkatramani said | 10:59am | Report comment
Clarke changed management teams a few weeks ago, and I think they’ve instructed Clarke not to re-sign with Slazenger as the deal must have been up at the end of 2011 anyway.
Regardless, his pulling power has just grown tenfold after this knock. Although I must say I like the cleanskin look.
1:28pm
Johnno said | 1:28pm | Report comment
A pup 300 bat has a good marketing brand/sound to it.
The viv richards V100 that sold big time that, and the gray nicholls scoop, and double scoop were of fascination to me growing up, as was Alan Borders duncan Fearnley’s bats.
10:53am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:53am | Report comment
FOUR!
Hussey is away, with a nice cover drive to the boundary. Picking up where he left off.
10:50am
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 10:50am | Report comment
I don’t think Geoff has had a coffee yet.
10:54am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:54am | Report comment
Oy! I was trying to compose a thoughtful reply about breast cancer awareness. Not my fault if they keep playing cricket in the meantime.
10:56am
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 10:56am | Report comment
My bad.
10:40am
Fake ex-AFL fan said | 10:40am | Report comment
OK I’m going to say it, shoot me down if you must, but I’m starting to feel that the whole McGrath foundation / pink test thing is getting just a little out of hand. Yes breast cancer research, treatment and screening is a worthy cause, but do we really need giant banners of Jane McGrath displayed on the ground and pink cap presentation ceremonies, it just strikes me as a little mawkish.
10:42am
Ben Carter said | 10:42am | Report comment
see my post below mate…
10:46am
Rhialto the Marvellous said | 10:46am | Report comment
As an aside, nice use of the word mawkish.
10:52am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:52am | Report comment
Another poster made a similar comment below – I don’t agree. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in this country. Something like one in nine women will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime. That’s a lot of people’s mothers, sisters, and daughters. It’s something that should be kept in people’s line of sight.
Whether all the pink stuff is a bit gimmicky – and perhaps it is – at least it makes the problem very visible (a simple visual cue) and widely discussed. And it means this disease which mostly affects women is given prominence in a masculine-dominated pursuit like cricket, which I think is also important acknowledgement.
10:59am
Andre said | 10:59am | Report comment
Hear, hear!
11:09am
Jimbo said | 11:09am | Report comment
Yes, Geoff, but the problem is that I don’t think there is a lack of awareness of breast cancer in Australia. Prostate cancer kills a very similar number of people to breast cancer, and yet, I get the impression that many people wouldn’t know this. It is undoubtedly a worthy cause, but amongst the medical community it is frequently floated as an issue that breast cancer, as a somewhat fashionable cause, seemingly steals the thunder of other medical conditions which cause similar or greater levels of mortality or morbidity.
10:39am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:39am | Report comment
Well, a fairly uneventful start, with three singles worked. What is of note is that one of them went to Clarke, which took him to 252, past Wally Hammond’s score and into second place in his own right on the list of highest SCG scores.
10:36am
Aware said | 10:36am | Report comment
Personally, I’m getting a bit tired of Glen McGrath’s pink hat parade. It was ok for a while but is wearing a bit thin now. He’s made his point well enough, so now it’s time to gracefully retire the pink day imo.
10:38am
Ben Carter said | 10:38am | Report comment
Am not so sure… Whether we need McGrath’s own personal involvement/appearance is another matter, plus the pink caps themselves. But the pink stumps and a general awareness/opportunity for charity support collection in relation to the breast cancer issue isn’t a bad thing (in my opinion anyway). If the cause is worthy enough, it should be able to stand (and flourish) into the future on its own, with or without McGrath’s specific input.
10:45am
Aware said | 10:45am | Report comment
Where do you draw the line though? I can think of a hundred worthy causes worth supporting where lives are at stake.
10:47am
Ben Carter said | 10:47am | Report comment
Me, too, point taken, but I’d rather the public is made aware of something rather than nothing at all I suppose.
10:56am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:56am | Report comment
As mentioned above, breast and lung cancer are about equal as the deadliest cancers in Australia. Seems reasonable to give it some prominence.
11:14am
Jimbo said | 11:14am | Report comment
Don’t know where you got those figures from, Geoff. Cancers of the digestive organs (e.g. bowels, stomach, pancreas) killed 11 539 people in 2009, respiratory cancers killed 8074, and breast cancer killed 2772 people (source: http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/5FDB7E9311DD7AD3CA25788400127B47?opendocument)
9:24am
Ben Carter said | 9:24am | Report comment
Hi Geoff – just wanted to say that was insanely brilliant stuff yesterday (and I was at work!). Top notch from Ponting and Clarke. And sincere apologies to anyone I spoke to regarding any suggestion that Slicky Ricky should’ve farewelled with a post-match press conference in Hobart. If Clarke and Hussey can stick around, keep going I say! Perhaps not more than another 45 overs’ worth, then declare.
9:44am
Vas Venkatramani said | 9:44am | Report comment
Quick runs this morning is the order of the day. A lead of 400 will be plenty, but maybe we’ll take another 100 after that to nullify any counterattack from the Indians (Kolkata style).
Rain’s scheduled for tomorrow, so Clarke will have that in mind.
And credit to Clarke for how he is conducting himself in all aspects. Dignity, humour but also a tight ship. Proof of that is when Mark Nicholas asked him whether the dream was to get a triple ton and a big win, his response was that the dream was a win.
Shows he still has one eye on the wider game beyond his own success…
10:43am
Geoff Lemon said | 10:43am | Report comment
Hello Ben! Yes, was an exciting day yesterday. I don’t necessarily agree that it means Ponting is “back” – there’s a fairly black and white view of form that the media tend to have. There was never any doubt that Ponting could eventually make another hundred if he played long enough. The question is whether, talking 2013, 2014, he’s going to be of value in trickier conditions.
Australia’s Shield batsmen need to be playing more first-class country cricket and learning how to combat the damp pitch and the swinging ball. Such a glaring weakness at present.