Australia vs India SCG ODI: cricket live scores, blog
Columnist By Geoff Lemon, 26 Feb 2012 Geoff Lemon is a Roar Expert
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Australia v India SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND, FEBRUARY 26, 2012 Match 10 - AUS v IND |
|---|
| Australia 1st Inn | 9/252 |
| India 1st Inn | 165 All Out |
| Australia won the toss and elected to bat | |
| Australia won by 87 runs | |
| India | RR:4.18 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batsmen | Runs | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| PS Kumar* | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| U Yadav | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Australia | |||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Econ |
| XJ Doherty* | 7.3 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 3.47 |
| B Lee | 8.0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 3.25 |
| Recent Overs: | ||
| . 2 . 1 1 1 | | 1 1 1 3 1 . | | 4 1 . 4 . . | |
| Last Wicket: | Kumar, 1 (BWD:Doherty) |
| Current Partnership: | 2 runs, 6 balls, RR:33.33 |
Australia take on India today, looking to cement their spot in the Commonwealth Bank One Day Finals Series. Join us for live scores and our live blog from 2:20pm ADST.
Australia continue life after Ricky Ponting, with Shane Watson to captain in Michael Clarke’s absence. Clarke failed to recover from a back strain.
India must win this match to stay in contention for the finals, but whether they can shrug off their indifferent recent form is another matter. They will welcome to return of MS Dhoni, who was crucial in scoring them a win over Australia and a tie with Sri Lanka at the death of two run chases.
India will also play all three senior batsmen, relying on their power rather than the somewhat unimpressive younger brigade. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag are yet to fire this series. Gautam Gambhir has scored two 90s.
Australia’s revelation Peter Forrest will continue in Ponting’s recently vacated number three spot, after making a century from there last start against Sri Lanka. He will be looking forward to another hit against marquee opposition.
David Warner will open the batting with Watson, with wicketkeeper Matthew Wade continuing his game of batting order pinball and ending up at number four.
Dan Christian remains at seven, with the now first-choice bowling line-up of Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, Clint Mackay and Ben Hilfenhaus.
Should be a cracker of a game – scroll down for the live blog below.
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.
The Crowd Says (245) | Page 1 of Comments
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10:04pm
Geoff Lemon said | 10:04pm | Report comment
Thanks for being with me tonight, and do join myself or Suneer for the last few matches of this CB ODI series.
Goodnight, all.
10:56pm
Ben Carter said | 10:56pm | Report comment
Have now seen both the Hussey and Tendulkar incidents at real speed. Verdict? Hussey is NOT out. There’s enough leeway within the laws as they are written at present for an umpire to consider Huss to be protecting himself. It’s hard to judge his intent as being to deliberately deny India a run-out. Tendulkar verdict? He is NOT out. Lee was not actively attempting to field the ball by the time Tendulkar met him down the pitch. The batsman should have – on appeal – been recalled.
9:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:54pm | Report comment
So where to from here? India have essentially a dead rubber, then they can get to the departure lounge they’ve been thinking of for weeks.
And Australia? Who goes out of the side when Michael Clarke comes back? Warner got runs, Watson is on the comeback and took wickets. Does Dan Christian go out with Watson to bowl? I think that’s how it’ll pan out.
10:05pm
Oracle said | 10:05pm | Report comment
India will make 300 and win becauseit doesn’t matter. Last chance for Tony Greig to get rid of his100 100′s memorabilia that he has wanted to flog all summer. If I was a betting man, this will be the day, with nothing hanging on it. Maybe a forfeit would be a better contest as they are clearly not interested.
9:44pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:44pm | Report comment
And that is the end of India’s finals aspiration. They could maybe make the finals but they would need to utterly pulverise Sri Lanka in Hobart, and they won’t. You don’t really need me to tell you that that was a pathetic performance by India tonight, and a professional performance by an Australian side that wouldn’t give their opposition any sort of break.
The bowling was tight, and India had the old rabbit-in-the-headlights look for a large part of this innings, after their top order departed in what has become an all-too-familiar story this summer.
No Australian bowler finished his ten overs, and the wickets were shared around, with only David Hussey missing out. Two each for Watson, Doherty, and Hilfenhaus, one for Lee, McKay, and Christian. Watson had the pick of the figures – 5 overs, 2 maidens, 2 wickets for 9.
Australia also had a spread of contributors with the bat: 68 the top score from Dave Warner, 56 from keeper Matthew Wade, and 54 from David Hussey, who is the lead run-scorer in the series. India bowled well and kept things tight in their first innings, but the batsmen let the bowlers down, with a bit of help from Tendulkar’s dubious dismissal when his path between the wickets was blocked by Lee. For me, that should have been not out, especially given David Hussey’s not out of earlier, but inevitably others disagree.
10:09pm
Oracle said | 10:09pm | Report comment
Could D Hussey pay the same price as one G Dyer did from a different age?
9:38pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:38pm | Report comment
OUT!
Game over. Praveen Kumar, facing his third ball, has a big heave-ho at Doherty, bottom edges into his stumps, and is bowled for 1. Yadav left 0 not out.
India bowled out for 165 after 39.3 overs.
9:36pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:36pm | Report comment
Ouch. Beamer. No ball from Lee. Hit Yadav on the body, too. His one to Pathan was close to too high as well. Lee often has problems with the beam ball.
9/165 (38.5)
9:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:33pm | Report comment
OUT!
And you didn’t think it would last that long. Pathan goes the cross-bat slog at a high full toss, not high enough to be a no-ball though, and it skied very very high, extremely hard catch for Mike Hussey staring into the lights and the night sky. Could have done better with a full bunger, could Pathan. Hussey coming in off the square leg fence and Lee comes back with a wicket.
9/163 (38.3)
9:31pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:31pm | Report comment
SIX!
Ho, what did I tell you? That was bewwwdiful. Brett Lee’s first ball of the over, it was in the slot, and Pathan just went elbow high, through the line of the ball, clean straight drive that ended up just to the onside of straight, several rows back. Nice high arc, that was pure cricket to watch there.
Second 6 for Pathan.
8/162 (38.1)
9:29pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:29pm | Report comment
OUT!
And the story of India’s day, India’s summer – nothing goes their way for very long. Ashwin reached for that Doherty ball, got a leading edge, popped it up in the air, and Watson took the simplest catch he’ll ever take at mid-on.
97 needed from 72, India can’t win, but let’s hope Pathan goes for a few and lands some hits to entertain this crowd. Helmets on.
8/156 now, 37.6 overs.
9:33pm
Oracle said | 9:33pm | Report comment
Come on Geoff, they have hardly helped themselves when the going has got remotely near tough. The Indians have left a lot to be desired.
9:34pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:34pm | Report comment
Don’t worry Oracle, we’re in agreement – I’ve no doubt where the culpability lies. Just frustrating watching a team who can’t put good passages of play together.
9:39pm
Oracle said | 9:39pm | Report comment
Agreed. They have been very frustrating. At least we don’t have 11 “Gods” playing for us who don’t have to answer to anyone.
4:57am
kindrob said | 4:57am | Report comment
Frustrating? not a great comment!! Playing bad does not mean it is frustrating..then it would have been the same when aussies played on spinning tracks. Frustrating because of ‘God’ in the team…well then it also should be frustrating when a team plays with 14 men against 11! Not just in this series..last one played in Aus too! Who complains, right?
9:27pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:27pm | Report comment
FOUR!
A single to Pathan, then Ashwin goes inside out over cover to a full toss. A high one too. That deserved putting away. 9 in 3 balls, much better stuff from India.
7/156 (37.4)
9:26pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:26pm | Report comment
Dropped!
FOUR!
Pathan smashes one down the ground from the first ball of Doherty’s next over, Peter Forrest comes round from long-on, he dived forward at it but it was low to the ground, couldn’t quite get to the pitch of it, and it went through him for four runs.
7/152 (37.2)
9:25pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:25pm | Report comment
Managed to get 7 from that Lee over – four singles and that 3. That’s better. They need 8 an over now. MS Dhoni has to wear a fair bit of it.
9:23pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:23pm | Report comment
Lofted pull over midwicket by Ashwin for three more, as Brett Lee has come back on.
110 required.
9:19pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:19pm | Report comment
Juicy full toss there that Pathan could only bunt to Christian. That could have followed the other one into the crowd.
9:16pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:16pm | Report comment
SIX!
Can that wake India up? What a monster! That was simply immense, it went into the top deck of the O’Reilly stand. He knew he had the free hit coming, and he launched that on the golf-swing-pull over midwicket. It went about ten rows into the top deck.
That was giant. Giant.
7/136 (34.6)
9:24pm
Oracle said | 9:24pm | Report comment
Why wasn’t Pathan in the Test squad. He is a very good player. Unlike Ghambir, and unfortunately the Tendulkar of now whose relfexes look to be gone against real quick bowling, and he knows it
9:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:31pm | Report comment
Pathan was in reckoning for the tour of Australia but he was returning from loss of form, injuries and absolutely no pace. Don’t think he deserved a place in the first five Indian speedsters who were chosen but then two of them got injured and Pathan still did not make it to the Tests. That was bit of a surprise to me.
Anyway, his issue is his pace…at best, he is at 132-133 but it drops off as the game progresses and without too as much swing as Praveen Kumar gets, it is a bit of a concern.
9:51pm
Oracle said | 9:51pm | Report comment
Suneer, simply the are bankrupt of quality bowlers?
The IPL helping? What happened to RP Singh and the like. Sharma is obviously in danger of being burnt out by the age of 25. Praveen Kumar is not a Test bowler.
9:14pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:14pm | Report comment
Dropped!
Cheeky little dropped catch there, caught and bowled. Pathan pushing at it, and it was similar to the Sehwag one, staying very low.
Hilfy had nearly bowled a maiden, but his next ball, the last of the over, was a no-ball, so there’s a run and a free hit.
9:13pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:13pm | Report comment
Pathan wants to see out Hilfenhaus. Straight bat.
9:09pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:09pm | Report comment
Irfan Pathan is the next batsman. Not sure if he was pushed down the order due to that injury earlier when he was collected by Raina while fielding. Would he generally bat beneath Jadeja and Ashwin?
9:07pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:07pm | Report comment
OUT!
And there’s the risk in Dhoni’s painful play. Hilfenhaus has tormented India this summer. He gave him the inswinger, the in-cutter, got Dhoni on the crease, cut in, got him on the knee, well back on his stumps. Out lbw.
How is this for a waste of an innings. 14, from 49 balls. He had an idea of consolidating and then attacking, I suppose, but just ended up wasting nearly six overs of dot balls. Ludicrous.
Game over, India.
7/126
9:04pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:04pm | Report comment
FOUR!
And a big edge, nearly gone was Ashwin. Hilfenhaus back to bowl, got the edge, Ashwin sent it through third man for four as he tried to steer, it was like the Test series all over again.
6/125 now. (32.2)
9:02pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:02pm | Report comment
DhoniWatch: 14 from 48.
Strike rate of 29.18.
Geoff Boycott played more exciting digs than this.
9:08pm
Oracle said | 9:08pm | Report comment
Tavare-esque knock. Boycott did make a ton in a one day game in Sydney once I can recall watching
9:02pm
Geoff Lemon said | 9:02pm | Report comment
Doherty bowling nicely. He’s seen as a dart bowler, but he’s using some nice flight and drop in this spell.
31.3 overs down.
8:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:54pm | Report comment
Ashwin not afraid to use his feet again, not looking to smash Doherty, just placing singles. You’d rather have Ashwin keeping the strike at this stage, if Dhoni is just going to block out dots.
30 overs gone. 120 balls left. India now need 138. Dhoni has wasted about 30 deliveries. He has 11 from 41. I want to quote John MacEnroe at those figures.
6/115
8:49pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:49pm | Report comment
“Doing it ones at the moment, not nearly enough,” says Mr Commentator.
The required run rate is 6.6. Dunce.
8:48pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:48pm | Report comment
Ashwin nudging one from Christian to third man. This is good. India need to keep the singles ticking. Plenty of gaps.
8:52pm
Oracle said | 8:52pm | Report comment
Geoff, when the Indian tour is over ,I am very interested in your no holds barred assessment of India’s effort, or lack thereof. Personally I can hardly see a pass mark for any of them.
8:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:56pm | Report comment
I was thinking about this earlier actually, Oracle. Was thinking, who of the Indians would be personally satisfied with their efforts? Kohli got his maiden Test hundred and a couple of other good scores in that series, but didn’t do much in the one-dayers.Gambhir was a Test failure with a couple of nice one-day knocks. Umesh Yadav has been impressive, I think. That’s about it though.
8:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:46pm | Report comment
Ashwin is batting, and at least showing some intent. Down the pitch to Doherty comes the tall batsman, and drives through midwicket for one.
6/108 (27.6)
8:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:42pm | Report comment
Dhoni has 7 from 35. I know he’s trying to consolidate, but that doesn’t mean he can’t look for singles. If he’d knocked off 20 more runs from the total by now, his batting partners would be feeling a bit more comfortable.
8:44pm
Oracle said | 8:44pm | Report comment
Probably more worried about keeping his average above 50 than winning the game
8:47pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:47pm | Report comment
He left his run very late in Adelaide and still pulled off this win. But this kind of dawdling is just inviting trouble, surely?
8:57pm
Oracle said | 8:57pm | Report comment
He didn’t get them over the line against the Sri Lankans.
8:41pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:41pm | Report comment
OUT!
And another one. Christian strikes, Jadeja this time, he was pushing away from his ribs, trying to force through cover, it bounced high, took the diagonal upper edge and went to slip, where this time Watson made no mistake. Jadeja gone for 8.
6/104 (26.3)
8:39pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:39pm | Report comment
A couple of singles in McKay’s over, then two from Doherty’s first over. It took until the 26th before he finally got a trundle.
104/5
8:32pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:32pm | Report comment
FOUR
Finally. I was starting to calcify. Jadeja slashes one away through point for four, and raises the hundred. 5/100 after 24.1 overs. The runscoring is still well within reach. 153 more needed with 155 deliveries left. When will someone play an innings for India?
5/100
8:27pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:27pm | Report comment
Jadeja: 2 from 8.
Dhoni: 3 from 23.
These two are crawling. C r a w l i n g . . .
8:24pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:24pm | Report comment
Dropped!
Watson gives Dhoni a life, captain to captain. McKay got the edge, it was dying on Watson at slip, but he got a hand under it just above the turf, then saw it slip out, bounce on the ground, and he snatched it on the rebound. He lay on his back cursing himself.
5/94, still.
8:23pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:23pm | Report comment
Lee goes for three, then Watson bowls a maiden.
India’s required rate is still on 5.75. Well within reach. Are they consolidating, or have they given it away?
5/92. 22 overs gone.
8:16pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:16pm | Report comment
India’s last ten overs have gone, in reverse order:
wicket maiden, 1, 5, 4, 2, 3, 3, 6, 4, 1.
Torpid stuff.
8:26pm
Oracle said | 8:26pm | Report comment
I don’t think they really care. More worried about their ridiculous salaries they get from the meaningless IPL Cam White will somehow get by with his vault full of cash again this year from the IPL and who can blame him
8:29pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:29pm | Report comment
Very lucky, the players of this era. Those who retired six or eight years ago must be spewing.
8:30pm
Oracle said | 8:30pm | Report comment
One third of Steve Austin is a perfect example. How is he worth $2m for 2 months………….
8:42pm
Oracle said | 8:42pm | Report comment
And out he goes to a marshmallow shot. I don’t think he will really care about it later. He has his trucklaod of rupees and hometown hero worship to look forward to in the IPL. They have been disgraceful.
8:10pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:10pm | Report comment
OUT!
Watson gets a second, and he’ll be feeling much happier after scoring 1 run with the bat. Raina is his victim, caught behind, it was again an innocuous ball, an innocuous shot, he was just driving, not going too hard, but didn’t execute the shot right and gave a wide edge that Matthew Wade nonetheless took comfortably. Raina made 8.
India crashing. Can they dig their way out of this?
5/89 now. Only the 20th over.
8:04pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:04pm | Report comment
Brett Lee starting a new spell in the 19th over.
8:11pm
Oracle said | 8:11pm | Report comment
India are nothing but an overpaid and certainly over-rated pack of pea hearts.
They have been an embarrassment this summer
8:01pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:01pm | Report comment
Watson causing a few issues with his innocuous looking pace. He never looks threatening, but he fools batsmen, even very good ones, and he does it regularly. It’s a bit of a mystery to me, but more power to him.
4/88, we’re in the 18th over now.
7:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:56pm | Report comment
OUT!
But he doesn’t lift it. He plays onto his stumps from McKay, pretty ordinary shot, just poked at it, and India are starting to slump here. MS Dhoni has been their main source of starch in this one-day series. Can he do it again?
4/83
8:02pm
Oracle said | 8:02pm | Report comment
Gambhir is like Guiness. But he is soft
8:05pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:05pm | Report comment
Like Guinness, Oracle? I’m intrigued.
8:13pm
Oracle said | 8:13pm | Report comment
Doesn’t travel.
He has been extremely ordinary this summer
10:02pm
Geoff Lemon said | 10:02pm | Report comment
Very good.
7:55pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:55pm | Report comment
Suresh Raina at the crease. Two left-handers now. Both batsmen milking singles from McKay.
Gambhir seems to have been out there forever, but he’s still only on 23. 47 balls to get them, he needs to pick that rate up a bit.
3/82
7:49pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:49pm | Report comment
OUT!
There’s a captain’s breakthrough! Good bowling change, brought himself on, bowled just outside off to Kohli, he tried to whip through the line, but the line wasn’t quite right, and Kohli flicks it straight to midwicket. He’s out for 21, and that’s a key blow.
3/79
7:50pm
Oracle said | 7:50pm | Report comment
Kohli can shake his head til he concusses himself, but it was simply an ordinary shot
7:52pm
Red Kev said | 7:52pm | Report comment
Yeah Kohli and Gambhir needed to take India as far as 150 at least, Australia back on top.
7:47pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:47pm | Report comment
They’re on track, India. Run rate is 5.03. Required rate is 5.07.
7:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:46pm | Report comment
And now Watson is on. All the extra bowlers having a go. Watson is the captain tonight, remember. It’ll be interesting to see what he does with his bowlers. Already he’s doing things a bit differently to Clarke. No Doherty as yet, though Hussey has bowled two during the Powerplay.
7:45pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:45pm | Report comment
Now it’s Dan Christian getting through a cheap, innocuous over for three runs.
2/77 (14.6)
7:42pm
Johnno said | 7:42pm | Report comment
The calls are coming out all over Australia like the bring back Kevin Rudd for PM. We need to look back not forwad and bring back Punter. The man is in form right now he played a top innings for Tassie last night in the Ryobi cup, almost won them the state ODI title, that is a pro levels ODI cup the great Punter played an almost winning innings in. The ryobi cup must be held in high esteem if you achieve well in the Ryobi cup, where is the deep respect for the state ODI cup, by the national selectors .
And they would prefer Watson who has played no cricket and got 1, what a joke these selectors are coming, doesn’t Ryobi cup form mean anything tot he highest levels of ODI cricket to the selectors. Punter must be returned to the national ODI team right now next match, there are many fans out there who think punter must be returned as he is back in form the great Punter.
How could the selectors do that to a man who is our leading ODI runscorer, and captianed 2 winning ODI World cup wins. And maybe our 2nd best batsmen since the Don. People like Punter and the little master Tendulkar are untouchable type batsmen and it should stay that way. The Indian selectors would never dare cross Tendulkar and drop him.
The cricket selectors in Australia should of shown Punter the same respect.
How unaustralian the current selectors are in there treatment of our great punter. They should all resign or be sacked for dropping punter. And Micheal Clarke should be sacked too as he is on the selection panel and believed it was the right call. How unaustralian too from our Test captain that he would dare question our Punter. Punter has done so much for cricket in this nation he deserves more respect form the selectors, just as the Indian selectors treat the little master Sachin Tendulkar .
The Indians selectors give Sachin almost untouchable status, and he is a hero to the billion Indian population and is treated without he appropriate respect. I feel sad that our Punter has not been shown the same level of respect. How unaustralian by the selectors which pup is one of them.
7:47pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:47pm | Report comment
Is that a troll under that bridge, Johnno?
8:13pm
Johnno said | 8:13pm | Report comment
Never Geoff never lol.
7:48pm
Red Kev said | 7:48pm | Report comment
I’d have Ponting for PM, but he was rightly dropped from the ODI side and should not be recalled.
8:18pm
Geoff Lemon said | 8:18pm | Report comment
Let’s see if K-Rudd can win the Allan Border Medal tomorrow.
7:41pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:41pm | Report comment
And Hussey races through another over for three runs. These are gold, these cheap overs from Australia’s seventh-string bowler.
7:38pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:38pm | Report comment
FOUR
That was close. Gambhir edged that just by Watson at first slip. McKay had dried him up, lured the edge, but gave up four runs.
2/72 (12.6)
7:36pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:36pm | Report comment
So Hussey was bowling as early as the 13th over. Interesting. Looks like they want quite a few overs from him tonight.
7:35pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:35pm | Report comment
So after Hilfy went for 10, McKay bowled a one-run over, and David Hussey has come to bowl an over for… four singles.
2/67
7:26pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:26pm | Report comment
FOUR
And again. Two in two balls from Gambhir vs Hilfenhaus, who has been expensive today. 34 from 5 overs… and one of those was a maiden. So he’s taken some stick in his last couple.
Square drive this time from Gambhir, clouted away. He’s been the form batsman of this one-day series, hasn’t he?
2/60 (9.6)
7:24pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:24pm | Report comment
FOUR
Oh, lovely cut shot from Gambhir. A Test match cut, that was. All along the carpet.
2/56
7:19pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:19pm | Report comment
FOUR
Clint McKay on. Bowls a no-ball, and Kohli smashes the free hit over square leg on the pull for four.
2/50, first milestone up for India, and 8 from McKay’s first over.
7:18pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:18pm | Report comment
What do you think about the run-out? For mine, Lee had no business going to that side of pitch as though he were following the ball. Warner was only a few metres from it, Lee was far more distant, so there’s no way he was going to field it himself. But by running to that side he ran through Gambhir’s path, then stopped directly in Tendulkar’s, crouched down like he was over the stumps waiting for the ball. But he was halfway down the pitch.
Surely Lee should have been going for the stumps to receive a throw, if anything, not going to the side of the pitch in the batsmen’s path?
7:19pm
Red Kev said | 7:19pm | Report comment
Yep, Lee would have been fine if he had continued towards the ball, instead he stopped directly in front of the batsman, Tendulkar should have been called back.
7:24pm
Ben Carter said | 7:24pm | Report comment
Good grief, this is getting ridiculous. The ICC’s lawbook is certainly getting a thumbing-through. Again it sounds like it’s partly intent. But judging by the commentary here, Lee wasn’t actually in the process of fielding the ball, therefore it could be considered an obstruction. Can’t wait for Dhoni’s post-match press conference.
7:25pm
Ben Carter said | 7:25pm | Report comment
Tony Grieg on Twitter: “Tendulkar was out – it was a bad call compounded by his not running wide of Lee and diving for his crease”. How can you dive for your crease with a spread-legged Brett Lee in the way?
7:28pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:28pm | Report comment
Not to mention that he didn’t need to run wide of Lee until Lee suddenly appeared in his path.
7:29pm
Red Kev said | 7:29pm | Report comment
Yeah if the law favours India in that incident, Dhoni has a case to put to the ICC for incompetence if not corruption regarding obscure laws, D.Hussey was definitely out, as was Thiri… the guy who got Mankaded last game (although that was India’s fault for not pressing the issue).
7:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:31pm | Report comment
Out, as out as Thirimanne and Hussey. Badly judged single and he paid the price.
Lee, as much as it was surprising that he changed direction, did not deviate too much as it is and Tendulkar, had he been a diver or quicker between the wickets, could have still made it despite the misjudgement.
I hope this dismissal helps him realise that recalling batsmen should not be his prerogative. Umpires are paid to do a job and there isn’t too much point in interfering with it, even if it is to withdraw appeals.
On another note, Dhoni could slightly be pleased – the heat will be off his issues with Sehwag as the press will look to focus on the Hussey and Tendulkar issue.
7:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:42pm | Report comment
You don’t think it’s dubious that Lee changed direction for no discernible purpose, then happened to stop directly in the batsmen’s path, and push his knees apart as wide as he could to take up more room?
8:03pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:03pm | Report comment
Don’t think one can fault the bowler for changing direction towards where the ball has gone. Lee, I can recall, has done that on numerous occasions to get to the ball himself, slide and throw it back to the wicket-keeper (from around square-leg sometimes) and this rushing towards the ball, does seem to be his basic instinct.
About the stopping: He had to stop because the fielder was going to get the ball. The batsman needs to take account of this fact and that he has to run around the bowler.
The issue was a debatable one but personally, Lee did what most bowlers would have done in the circumstances. It looked like Tendulkar looked surprised when he saw Lee and gave up on the idea of either diving or going around him.
8:31pm
Red Kev said | 8:31pm | Report comment
No Suneer one cannot fault the bowler for changing direction, but one can fault him for stopping directly in Tendulkar’s path … as soon as Lee ceased trying to field the ball he gave up all rights to be anywhere near the batsmen … and he definitely obstructed Tendulkar as he forced the batsman to change his running line twice.
7:15pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:15pm | Report comment
FOUR
Welcome Virat Kohli. Drives Hilfenhaus through mid-off for four. Clean as a whistle.
2/46
7:09pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:09pm | Report comment
OUT!
Tendulkar run out controversially. The umpires chatting but they don’t call him back. Gambhir called him for a single, he was running, but Brett Lee moved across into his path as he ran. Lee had his back to the batsman, but would have known he was in the running path. Not sure what Lee was trying to do, he wasn’t anywhere near the stumps. In the meantime, David Warner came in with a top piece of fielding, grabbing the ball at point, charging in and picking up on the dive, releasing while still diving, and hitting the stumps directly. Great work from Warner, but did Lee block Tendulkar from making his ground. On that replay he would definitely have made his ground if not for the obstruction.
2/36
7:18pm
Red Kev said | 7:18pm | Report comment
I cannot believe the complete crap coming out of the Channel 9 commentator’s mouths. Healy is contending that Lee tried to get out of Tendulkar’s way – absolute crap.
It is as clear as day that Lee obstructed the batsman’s running line.
Tendulkar starts running dead straight on a line.
He sees Lee who is within his rights and running towards the ball to try and field it, Lee is ahead of Tendulkar, Tendulkar realises this and adjusts his line towards the pitch so that he will run inside Lee as the bowler keeps running towards the stumps.
Lee then stops directly in the line of the batsman with his legs apart to take up a lot of space and Tendulkar has to adjust and go around the outside of him.
Clear obstruction.
However, Ian Chappell is right that Tendulkar should have run flat chat into Lee’s back.
I should point out I have no idea of the law or what it says regarding interfering with the batsman’s running line. But to me, watching it live, that should not have been out.
7:31pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:31pm | Report comment
The law is that the fieldsman has the right to field with no regard to the batsmen. But he must be fielding in the fashion in which he would otherwise have fielded. If he’s going for the ball or trying to get over the stumps, or running to back up a throw, that’s legit. If his intent is interference, then it’s not out.
Lee stopped, then crouched to put his legs wide apart and take up more space. Crouching like a keeper behind the stumps, except he was halfway down the pitch. Looking at those replays, I’m convinced he knew what he was doing,
7:38pm
Red Kev said | 7:38pm | Report comment
I do not think his intent was interference, he was originaly running to field the ball, however he did not complete the field and planted himself directly (and I agree that he knew exactly what he was doing and where he was in relation to the batsmen) in Tendulkar’s running line. As soon as he stopped trying to field the ball it became interference / obstruction.
7:53pm
Oracle said | 7:53pm | Report comment
Correct
7:07pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:07pm | Report comment
That was awkward. A sharp bouncer, there was some heat on that, second ball of Lee’s over after Tendulkar took a single on the first. Gambhir got that short ball, it came off the glove but Billy Bowden thought it came off the helmet, as it went at Gambhir’s face. It went over Matthew Wade, he went up and got a glove on it, couldn’t get high enough, and it went for four.
It didn’t matter that he didn’t catch it, because Bowden thought it hadn’t hit Gambhir’s glove, and didn’t give it as runs. So Gambhir lost four runs, but saved his wicket. Should be happy with that trade.
1/35 (6.2)
8:00pm
Oracle said | 8:00pm | Report comment
Gambhir is no good when it bounces above his big toe
7:05pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:05pm | Report comment
More runs from this Hilfenhaus over, three more as Tendulkar drives classically through mid off. And that’s what you want to see from him – drives, cuts, straight cricket shots. That’s when he looks most convincing. Well played. 12 from the over.
1/30 (5.6)
7:03pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:03pm | Report comment
FOUR
Two in the over! A front foot cross-bat square drive, if that makes any sense. It worked though. Tendulkar has 10.
1/27 (5.4)
7:02pm
Geoff Lemon said | 7:02pm | Report comment
FOUR
There’s the classic Tendulkar uppercut – not the big sabre-flourish one, but the one close to his body where he just holds the bat against his chest and turns the face at an angle toward the clouds. Such economy of movement in that shot, and so precise, And away it goes over slip for a boundary.
1/23. Tendulkar has 6. Over 5.1
6:59pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:59pm | Report comment
A lot of Lee deliveries being left alone here. He’s bowled 3 overs for 5 runs.
1/18 (4.6)
6:57pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:57pm | Report comment
Tendulkar getting the Calypso sway happening to a lot of Lee deliveries. Lee bowling fast and short, in his classic style.
6:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:54pm | Report comment
Gambhir looking more likely than Sehwag did.
6:51pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:51pm | Report comment
And now four leg byes. Lee was bowling to Gambhir after Tendulkar had taken a single. Swung into him toward leg, clipped the pad, went to the rope.
1/16
6:50pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:50pm | Report comment
Whoa. That one from Lee started outside off, then swung late, so far that it beat Matthew Wade easily, well to the leg side. It went away for four byes.
6:47pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:47pm | Report comment
OUT!
Yet another caught and bowled for Sehwag. I didn’t think he’d last long. Full ball, he got a good piece of it driving straight, but the bat twisted slightly in his hand so it didn’t go with full power, that was right between Hilfenhaus’ feet, but somehow, the fast bowler got down and dived forward to just get his fingers under it. Bad luck Virender, that was a truly sensational catch.
1/7
6:44pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:44pm | Report comment
FOUR!
And Viru is away! Again reaching for that, again with the bat face almost point upward rather than to the ball, and he lifted it at catchable height through the gap at cover for four.
6 for none in the second over. A wide, a single, and a boundary.
6:43pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:43pm | Report comment
Hilfenhaus, the Indians’ collective nemesis, taking up the attack from the other end.
6:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:42pm | Report comment
Looking back to Australia’s innings, David Hussey was averaging 112.66 for the series before he was dismissed. With that dismissal his average plummeted to a meagre 84.50.
That’s built on 338 runs from 7 innings with 3 not outs. Sensational stuff.
6:41pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:41pm | Report comment
Short to Tendulkar, he sways back like a bamboo grove in a strong breeze and watches it pass by. End of the over.
6:41pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:41pm | Report comment
Off the mark, Sehwag. Reached for a short wide ball with the bat face facing the sky, and lifted it over backward point to third man for a single.
6:39pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:39pm | Report comment
Aw, a peach from Lee. Moved into him, jagged away off the seam. Sehwag poked tentatively at it, missed, missed the edge and the stump but not by much.
6:38pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:38pm | Report comment
Sehwag plays and misses off the back foot here. He’s had a miserable summer, and that shot didn’t look promising for today. Timing is shot.
6:37pm
Geoff Lemon said | 6:37pm | Report comment
SECOND INNINGS
We’re away here. Lee bowls a Harmison ball at first slip to start with. Sehwag is facing, Tendulkar at the non-striker’s end.
5:58pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:58pm | Report comment
So Sehwag gets a third wicket, but the important thing was the 13 runs he conceded from that last over. Australia got past 250, which will be important for them as a landmark. The default par score in ODI cricket is reached.
9 for 252 in the end. India will chase 253 to win. Australia have a strong bowling attack, India’s batting has been unexceptional. They should in theory be able to chase this, but whether they can is another question.
Australia total built on good half centuries to David Warner, Matthew Wade, and David Hussey. Can India deliver some strong innings in return?
Join us in half an hour or so after the break to learn more.
5:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:56pm | Report comment
OUT!
Had to go after that. He lofted Sehwag down to long on, did Christian, and was cleanly caught by Jadeja. 24 from 32 in the end, Christian. Doherty 13 not out from 9.
5:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:54pm | Report comment
Much better over. Doherty gets a single off the fourth. Then some great running to get 2 from the fifth. Just made it. One ball left.
5:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:54pm | Report comment
SIX!
Things are looking up! What a pie, and Doherty slog swept that into the O’Reilly stand.
8/248
5:53pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:53pm | Report comment
Great shot! Great save. Brilliant cricket all round. Doherty drove through cover with power, along the ground. That ball was past Kohli, but he dived after it and hauled it back 2 runs.
8.241
5:52pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:52pm | Report comment
Last over bowled by Sehwag. Doherty cross-bats the first to long-on for 2.
8.239
5:51pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:51pm | Report comment
Doherty gets a single from the 5th. Christian gets fancy from the 6th ball, tries the ramp shot, gets two over fine leg.
8/239. Sub-par total. One over left.
5:49pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:49pm | Report comment
Two more singles from Praveen’s third and fourth deliveries…
5:48pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:48pm | Report comment
Still tight. A single edged into the pad from Christian, a swing and a miss from Doherty.
5:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:46pm | Report comment
Praveen Kumar has one over left. He’ll bowl it now in the 49th.
5:45pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:45pm | Report comment
Good close from Sehwag! A single to Christian, two dots to Doherty. 2 runs from that over, 3 runs from Sehwag’s previous over.
5:44pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:44pm | Report comment
2/29 so far from Sehwag, in his 8th over. He’s been good.
5:46pm
Rhys said | 5:46pm | Report comment
India will be hoping he can be good with the bat for a change.
5:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:46pm | Report comment
It’d be nice to see one Sehwag special this summer.
5:43pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:43pm | Report comment
Well. He soaked up 15 balls to score 4 runs, Brett Lee. Not great. Doherty to the crease.
8/232 (47.3)
5:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:42pm | Report comment
OUT!
And Sehwag gets his second. Brett Lee has never been as strong against spin as pace, he finds it hard to make the pace on the ball when he strikes it. He clouted that one from Sehwag off his pads out to deep square leg, where the catch was safely taken by Virat Kohli. The Sehwag fill-in paying off so far.
5:41pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:41pm | Report comment
Sehwag continuing. Options limited with Pathan not bowling. Pathan is back on the field though.
5:40pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:40pm | Report comment
FOUR!
That’s better for Australia. Whipped through midwicket by Christian for a boundary. 6 runs from Yadav. Still not as many as Australia would like from the over.
7/231
5:39pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:39pm | Report comment
That was sharp. Christian absolutely murdered that ball straight back at Yadav, who couldn’t hang on. That had serious heat on it, nearly killed the bowler.
5:37pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:37pm | Report comment
Sehwag bowls the 46th for 3 runs. Turning the screws, India. 7 for 224.
5:36pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:36pm | Report comment
Ad break. Ricky Ponting doesn’t look good in a V-neck T-shirt.
5:31pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:31pm | Report comment
So India closing down the scoring. Sehwag’s over conceded only 2. Yadav bowling the 45th has given up 1 from 4 balls.
5:27pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:27pm | Report comment
OUT!
Wow-wee. That was quick. So quick. Sehwag was bowling to Clint Mackay, a fast one got past the outside edge, Mackay lost his balance and lifted his back foot, and Dhoni had the bails off so fast you could hear a snap as the air rushed in to fill the space where his gloves had been. Sensational wicketkeeping. Just magic.
7/217 now. Can Australia clout their way to a good total? Brett Lee coming out, he belts a few.
5:25pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:25pm | Report comment
FOUR
Christian gets his first boundary, got a short ball, good pace from Yadav, but he swung if off the front foot through midwicket.
6/217
5:21pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:21pm | Report comment
OUT!
You know what happens every time you talk someone up. David Hussey goes to pull a ball from Yadav, and the young man’s comeback continues. First ball of the over, Hussey got a nick through to Dhoni, not his best shot, even if he had connected, it looked awkward and rushed.
Hussey gone for 54 from 64, was still a great knock though in the circumstances.
6/212 (42.1)
5:17pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:17pm | Report comment
Big fan of David Hussey. He’s so good in these situations – such a clean finisher. Changes the pace of his innings. Milks the bowling, then he’s a prodigious six-hitter when it comes time to clear a few fences. Runs between the wickets sensationally, finds gaps, works well with the tail. His brother is quite similar. Couldn’t ask for better options at 5 or 6 in a limited-overs side.
5:19pm
Rhys said | 5:19pm | Report comment
It would be great if both could hang on until the next World Cup, but given their respective ages that’s probably a long shot.
Geoff, I’ve noticed Watson has been sitting next to one J. Langer for most of the Australian innings. I do hope they’re not discussing batting techniques.
5:23pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:23pm | Report comment
“Just play your natural game, Shane. Back your ability.”
5:36pm
Rhys said | 5:36pm | Report comment
Haha, yep I can hear the mantra now.
5:15pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:15pm | Report comment
So that was a good comeback over from Yadav – four runs and the wicket of Matthew Wade. Then Jadeja bowled an over for one run and a leg bye.
5/207. Nine overs left. Should still be looking 280, these two.
5:12pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:12pm | Report comment
Half century!
David Hussey works a single, and gets to 50, from 58 balls. He was lucky to be reprieved on 17 with that obstructing the field appeal, but he’s made the most of it.
5/204
5:09pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:09pm | Report comment
OUT!
Wade is gone. Umesh Yadav came back on – he had to come back on, really, though he’d gone for 20 from 2 overs. Wade out limply, prodding at a ball outside off to run it to the third man, open face, didn’t get enough on it, and nicked to Dhoni.
My thoughts of 300 have probably departed with Wade. But he made a lovely 56 and took Australia on to 201 from their position of 107 when he came to the crease. Five wickets down.
5:04pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:04pm | Report comment
Trouble for India. Praveen Kumar, their best today, is bowling his 9th over. Pathan is off injured. Yadav has been carted and only bowled 2 overs.
5:00pm
Geoff Lemon said | 5:00pm | Report comment
SIX!
Wade wins the race to the half century with a big back-foot pull from Ashwin over midwicket. Goes to 51. That was hefty.
4/194. Looking good.
4:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:56pm | Report comment
Not sure that Irfan Pathan has come back on the ground after that collision with Raina. Will India have to pull some makeshift overs together?
4:55pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:55pm | Report comment
Wade looking to have great intent here. He has 44, David Hussey 45.
4:55pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:55pm | Report comment
Slower ball, Wade drops it into the onside, and they get two. That’s clever play and good running.
4:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:54pm | Report comment
Praveen Kumar back for the Powerplay. He’s a tight bowler. Couple of dots to start.
4/182
4:51pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:51pm | Report comment
So 12 from the first Powerplay over from Jadeja. Ashwin bowling the second.
4:47pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:47pm | Report comment
FOUR
And another one – Wade edges this time through third man. Jadeja going for plenty, slow left arm spinner.
4/172
4:50pm
Rhys said | 4:50pm | Report comment
Wade and D. Hussey have a good combination going. No surprise given the number of times they’ve batted together for the Vics. With Watson back at the top of the order I hope they let Wade settle in at #6.
4:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:54pm | Report comment
But will Watson stay when Clarke comes back? Can’t drop Warner after 68 today. Can’t drop Forrest after two fifties and a hundred. Can’t drop David Hussey, the batsman of the series. Can’t drop Wade, the wicketkeeper.
So either Mike Hussey goes (not recommended), or Watson goes, or Watson bowls more and the No. 7 all-rounder goes.
5:04pm
Rhys said | 5:04pm | Report comment
I agree that Watson isn’t a walk up start. Christian may be the player to go, though as you point out that puts more pressure on Watson to bowl.
4:47pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:47pm | Report comment
FOUR
The batting Powerplay is taken. Hussey pulls the first ball for four, then glances the second for three. Jadeja bowling.
4/169
4:46pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:46pm | Report comment
165 from 34. So where are they heading? They could threaten 300 if these two can go most of the distance, or fall to 220 if some wickets clatter.
4:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:42pm | Report comment
FOUR
David Hussey gets a short ball from Sehwag, and pulls it heartily away for a boundary.
4/165, 34 overs gone now.
4:38pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:38pm | Report comment
David Hussey this series now has 312 from 295 balls, with four not outs from his seven innings, to give an average of 104 per dismissal. Nice work.
4:43pm
Rhys said | 4:43pm | Report comment
I think this tournament D. Hussey has finally arrived as an ODI player, and moved out of the shadow of brother Mike.
4:49pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:49pm | Report comment
G’day Rhys. I think he’s a chronically underrated player in the Australian set-up. Could well have played Test cricket too.
4:37pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:37pm | Report comment
Not sure why commentators bitch about decisions taking so long. Something like the Hussey decision took a few minutes, but it was fascinating viewing, watching replays, discussing the permutations and possibilities, and it’s got everyone talking. Those moments of contention are often the most interesting parts of cricket.
4:34pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:34pm | Report comment
FOUR!
Wade finally has enough of this bunting around. Down the track to Sehwag, heaves agriculturally over cow corner for four.
4/151 (31.1)
4:24pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:24pm | Report comment
The large Indian contingent is still furious about that not-out. Some sections of the crowd are booing Hussey’s subsequent runs. Not too sure about that. I guess it’s good to see some fire from the spectators though – there’s an intensity to this match which is missing from most ODIs.
4:32pm
Red Kev said | 4:32pm | Report comment
Yeah good to see Dhoni back, I bet he wouldn’t have withdrawn the Mankad appeal.
4:36pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:36pm | Report comment
Nor should he. The batsman knows the rules. Mankad all the buggers.
In fact Sehwag says that Ashwin had already warned the batsman, yet they still withdrew the appeal to avoid criticism. Seems ludicrous to me that a guy can’t get out when he’s doing something that could get him out.
4:38pm
Beeps said | 4:38pm | Report comment
Not lucky – The umpire has read the rule (Law 33 in The Laws of Cricket) and seen that he is protecting himself. It’s quite clear.
4:24pm
Wazzi Akrim said | 4:24pm | Report comment
At first I thought D Hussey shouldn’t have been given out but after listening to hear what Mark Taylor said I changed my mind. If you a run and the ball is coming your way you just can’t stop it with your hand. If you are taking a short single you are taking a risk that the ball might hit you and if it hits you thats bad luck. He should have been given out.
4:20pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:20pm | Report comment
Three singles from that Sehwag over.
4/128 (25.6)
4:18pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:18pm | Report comment
Sehwag will have a bowl now.
4:17pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:17pm | Report comment
From my reading, it shouldn’t matter what the batsman’s intention is. The fact is he deliberately handled the ball, which the batsman never has the right to do. And he was potentially diverting a ball that could have run him out.
4:18pm
Rhys said | 4:18pm | Report comment
Agreed Geoff, Hussey is lucky to still be there.
4:20pm
Tristan Rayner said | 4:20pm | Report comment
Seems fairly open and shut – he’s out, no matter how justified protecting himself might be. There’s no grey Mankad areas for me here, Geoff!
4:23pm
Ben Carter said | 4:23pm | Report comment
Fair enough guys. So the key here is an addition of “handled the ball” as much as it could be “obstructing the fielding team from effecting a dismissal”…..
4:27pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:27pm | Report comment
I think on either reading he should be out. Handled the ball can apply at any time, really – the ball belongs to the bowling side. And given he was looking at the ball and reached for it, the obstruction was clearly deliberate. In cricketing terms he should have been head down, looking at his crease, and running hard to get there.
4:26pm
Beeps said | 4:26pm | Report comment
“No grey area” – Law 33. It’s clearly to protect batsmen from injury. It’s up to the umpire, and I can see him protecting himself.
4:27pm
Wazzi Akrim said | 4:27pm | Report comment
My first thoughts is that D hussey should not have been given out but after listening to Mark Taylor I changed my mind. You can’t just handle the ball even if its coming you way in a short single. He should have been given out.
4:16pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:16pm | Report comment
Well. That was a long over.
4:18pm
Beeps said | 4:18pm | Report comment
A batsman is not out ‘handled the ball’ if: (i) He handles the ball in order to avoid injury. Rule 33 i think. They must have adjudged Hussey avoiding injury.
4:15pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:15pm | Report comment
Dhoni still pursuing Bowden. He’s livid. What does everyone else think?
4:18pm
Red Kev said | 4:18pm | Report comment
Yeah it was out, had it hit his leg or side or bat no problem, but he stuck his hand at the ball, out.
4:21pm
Ben Carter said | 4:21pm | Report comment
Haven’t seen the TV but am assuming that it was the umpires’ interpretation on whether Huss was preserving himself or the stumps. If it is himself – does it matter whether with hand or not? Or, to use the world game analogy, was the last-man when taken down absolutely denied a definite goal-scoring opportunity? (so to speak) . It’s a judgment on Hussey’s mindset really, more than anything…
4:29pm
Red Kev said | 4:29pm | Report comment
The wording of the law makes both the batsman’s intent and whether he was likely to be dismissed irrelevant.
4:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:33pm | Report comment
Even if he was preserving himself, he by extension knocked away a ball that was heading toward his stumps. It wouldn’t have hit them, but he could perhaps have been run out by Dhoni standing over the stumps.
I would also have thought that handling the ball would apply, at least while the ball is live. You can knock a rebound away from your stumps with your bat, but not your hand, as Steve Waugh learned to his cost. (Though I recall you can technically be out for hitting the ball twice, so, not sure what you’d have to do to be susceptible under that law. Anyone know?)
4:43pm
Ben Carter said | 4:43pm | Report comment
As far as I can recall, the “hit ball twice” applies, on appeal, only if the batsman is not in the direct action of defending the stumps after having already made one attempt to hit (and presumably missed!) a delivery bowled to him. So he can have a second swipe at something that is definitely going to bounce back and absolutely hit the woodwork. However, one would think that by the time intercepting a run-out throw has come into it, he’s obviously hit the ball well enough to play a shot worth taking a run on. Hence it would probably not apply. Perhaps Dhoni asked the wrong question of the umpires – if it had been “handled bal” (a la S. Waugh) maybe it would have been clearer? Hussey’s hand touches ball – out. Hussey’s hand is part of his body that gets in the way of a run-out throw?… Hmm…
4:45pm
Ben Carter said | 4:45pm | Report comment
Typo! “ball”
4:50pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:50pm | Report comment
Yep. Just did some research into the law. Hitting the ball twice is specifically allowed in defending your wicket, and is essentially only outlawed if it’s an attempt to score runs by hitting the ball twice.
4:14pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:14pm | Report comment
He’s been given not out. Dhoni is furious. I think he’s right. Hussey’s action was innocent, it was self preservation rather than an attempt to block the run out, but the batsman has no right to handle the ball, even during a run. Hussey did.
4:12pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:12pm | Report comment
Fascinating on the replay! The fieldsman threw, David Hussey was looking at him over his shoulder, and the ball was coming at Hussey, who was between it and the stumps. It was going towards his head or chest, and he put his hand out, palm open, to fend the ball away.
It was a genuine flinch reaction to stop it hitting him, but it’s technically interference. He deliberately handled the ball and was looking at it onto his hand instead of running. The Indians are confident. Never seen one like this before.
4:10pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:10pm | Report comment
The umpires are conferring. David Hussey is rubbing his arm, his hand…
4:10pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:10pm | Report comment
Oh, this is interesting. The Indians are appealing for interference, as David Hussey was struck by the ball during a run-out attempt.
4:09pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:09pm | Report comment
So what happens presuming Clarke comes back fit for the finals? Does today’s captain Watson get dumped? Can they drop Warner instead, or is he too valuable?
4:04pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:04pm | Report comment
A slip, and two covers, as Wade faces Ashwin.
4:03pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:03pm | Report comment
Is this advantage India? Think so. Still a reasonably solid base for Australia though if the middle to lower order can flourish.
4:02pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:02pm | Report comment
Matthew Wade in at 6. He was listed at four earlier today, but the Hussey brothers came in before him.
4:01pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:01pm | Report comment
Pathan is coming off the field for some treatment, or to regain his composure. Hopefully he’s just winded.
4:00pm
Geoff Lemon said | 4:00pm | Report comment
OUT!
Well, I jinxed Warner there. Dramatic. There’s a catch in the deep, and there’s a heavy collision as well, but the catch is taken. Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan were both going for the top edge behind square leg. Raina took it running backwards, then smashed into Pathan’s chest. They were both lying on the ground winded, though Raina found strength to grin ruefully. I think he was just relieved that he held onto the ball.
Warner gone for 68 from 66 balls. Australia 4/107. Over 20.6. Jadeja defied my mocking to take the wicket.
3:57pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:57pm | Report comment
Ravindra Jadeja was born to be milked for six an over between overs 18 and 42.
3:55pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:55pm | Report comment
Warner looks immoveable at the moment. Very solid, very confident. 66 from 59.
3:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:54pm | Report comment
Wow. A dot ball to David Hussey. That’s rare enough to comment on.
3:54pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:54pm | Report comment
FOUR
Again, Warner just placing the ball, he got on the back foot to a short one from Ashwin and forced it through cover. Close to his body, but he managed to get enough power on it.
The hundred is up. 3/102 (19.1)
3:52pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:52pm | Report comment
Gee, they milked Jadeja well there. Five singles in a row, then a three for Warner from the last ball. He now has 61 from 57.
3:51pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:51pm | Report comment
So it’s the 19th over. Australia are 93 for 3. Starting to make a recovery. These two are looking good. Warner has 57 from 55. David Hussey has 11 from 10.
3:50pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:50pm | Report comment
Jadeja on for a bowl now. The Inexplicably Two Million Dollar Man.
3:49pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:49pm | Report comment
The really impressive thing about Warner’s innings is that he’s maintained this terrific pace, strike rate of over a hundred, but hasn’t really gone after a single shot. All of his boundaries have been placed, rather than clouted.
3:45pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:45pm | Report comment
FOUR
And another one from Warner, with an awful misfield by Gambhir. Dhoni said the fielding of his senior batsmen would cost 20 runs. There’s four of them. Ran that ball to third man, Gambhir coming around just let it miss his hand and hit the rope.
3/85 (16.5)
3:44pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:44pm | Report comment
FOUR
Half century
Warner gets that Yadav delivery through cover point on the square drive, and finally gets to fifty in this series. 50 even from 48 balls, and he’s enjoying Yadav’s pace.
3/81 (16.3)
3:39pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:39pm | Report comment
Ashwin is bowling tightly too. In his third over, has conceded 8 runs.
3/72 (15.1)
3:35pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:35pm | Report comment
David Hussey’ series so far: 7 innings, 284 runs, 4 not outs, at an average of 94.66. That’s some patch of form as a finisher.
3:34pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:34pm | Report comment
FOUR
Warner finally gets one away. 40 from 38. Pulls through square.
3/71 (14.4)
3:32pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:32pm | Report comment
Yadav is on for a bowl, and D Hussey is working runs well. He has 6 already from 4 balls.
3:29pm
Ben Carter said | 3:29pm | Report comment
Hi Geoff – just wanted to say hello and again re-state my firmness of belief in the ability of one-day cricket to deliver some matches of excellent quality (albeit badly-scheduled) in the past month.
ODI doesn’t mean Obsolete, Dull and Inferior it seems. I’ve seen a bit of every World Series game this summer on the telly, and at least half of them have gone within 18 deliveries of the full distance, with just one utter white-wash (game one from memory) and two solid batting-inspired victories (one was Sri Lanka thrashing us) that weren’t exactly uninteresting viewing either.
Then we get a tie between India and Sri Lanka and another tie in the Ryobi Cup final between South Australia and Tasmania. Brilliant stuff. And people keep calling for the life-support system to be switched off for 50-over contests, eh?
3:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:42pm | Report comment
Absolutely with you, Mr Carter. The length of the format lends itself to far more twisting and turning contests than T20 can offer, yet is still compact enough to be done in an afternoon and evening.
3:29pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:29pm | Report comment
Now an appeal as a ball from Ashwin pops up from David Hussey, but nothing doing.
D Hussey has been the form man of this series. He’ll be needed again here.
3:26pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:26pm | Report comment
OUT!
Terrible mix-up, a run out at the non-striker’s end, Hussey was sent back after the first run, he wanted a second, or was responding to the call, and was then sent back. Big wicket.
3/57 (13.2)
3:24pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:24pm | Report comment
So they managed to get 8 runs from Kumar’s over there, just in ones and twos. Nicely played.
2/55 (12.6)
3:23pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:23pm | Report comment
Warner seems to have been out there forever, but he’s got 32 from 33 balls. Lots of singles, has looked for runs cleverly, not smashing at all.
3:21pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:21pm | Report comment
I was wrong about Kumar, he’s continuing. Dhoni looking for one more wicket while the ball is fresh.
2/51 (12.1)
3:20pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:20pm | Report comment
Ashwin breaks up the seam bowling, replacing Pathan, and concedes just one single to Warner in his opening over. Good start.
3:17pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:17pm | Report comment
Kumar has gone well here. That’s probably the end of his spell. 6 overs, 1 maiden, 2 for 14.
2/46 (10.6 overs)
3:13pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:13pm | Report comment
FOUR
That wakes it up. Hussey square drives through point for his first boundary.
3:12pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:12pm | Report comment
This game is moving very slowly…
3:10pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:10pm | Report comment
So, does this side look better without Ponting in it? The results to date haven’t looked too impressive. Ponting made 75 not out from 78 in the domestic one-day final last night.
3:07pm
Geoff Lemon said | 3:07pm | Report comment
An absurdly long break here for drinks or something. What was that about? Dhoni wants another suspension?
2:57pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:57pm | Report comment
FOUR
And again! Consecutive boundaries for Warner now, as he pulls a not particularly short ball through midwicket. That was barely even waist height. He has 23 from 17.
2:56pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:56pm | Report comment
FOUR
Pathan giving up runs again. Warner got some width, he really reached for that, it was a long way from him, but he slashed it through cover for four.
2:55pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:55pm | Report comment
So despite the slow start, Warner is going at a good cilp. He has 15 from 14 balls at present. He’s now batting with Mike Hussey, after Vinay Kumar got rid of Watson and Forrest.
2:50pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:50pm | Report comment
OUT!
Forrest gone for 7, inside edge to Kumar. Trouble here.
2:48pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:48pm | Report comment
Now four leg byes, and the shackles break with an expensive Pathan over. 12 from it in total.
2:45pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:45pm | Report comment
FOUR
Finally the scoring starts. Warner got a three, then Forrest glanced a boundary. That’s better.
2:44pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:44pm | Report comment
A few singles in that fifth over take Australia to double figures.
2:42pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:42pm | Report comment
A wide from Kumar in the fifth is the first poor delivery. Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan bowling beautifully.
2:39pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:39pm | Report comment
India right on top here. Fourth over, six runs conceded.
2:33pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:33pm | Report comment
Three slips for Forrest. Fierce.
2:31pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:31pm | Report comment
OUT!
Watson is gone, top edge to Kumar caught at mid on. Yadav takes the catch, Watson gone for 1 in the third over. Was always going to be tough for Watson coming back from such a long break.
2:33pm
Red Kev said | 2:33pm | Report comment
Well who couldn’t see that coming. Three months off, two innings of 21 & 31 on a pitch where a batsman in form hit 300 … why the hell did the selectors rush him back (and make him captain at that).
2:40pm
lopati said | 2:40pm | Report comment
Agreed, they should have stuck with players that have experience in this series, but once again based on a few good performances (but never consistent) in the past they bring this guy back. Watson needs a full year back in the local camp, and for the selectors well past time to stop picking one-hit wonders and find true consistent performers, even if the averages are a little low far better to find someone to build on regular stats, not flukes.
2:28pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:28pm | Report comment
A run! At long last. Watson cuts for one. Second over.
2:26pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:26pm | Report comment
Pathan opening from the other end.
2:24pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:24pm | Report comment
Maiden first up to Warner!
2:23pm
Geoff Lemon said | 2:23pm | Report comment
Kumar opening here and Warner is playing defensively.