India vs Australia First Test Day four: Cricket live scores, updates
Roar Guru By Suneer Chowdhary, 25 Feb 2013 Suneer Chowdhary is a Roar Guru
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- CHennai Test, Cricket, india v australia, live blog, MS Dhoni, R Ashwin
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India's Harbhajan Singh, left, celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's captain Ricky Ponting, right, for 1 run at the Sydney Cricket Ground Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008, on the fourth day of their second cricket test. India made 532 in reply to Australia's 463 in their first innings. AP Photo/Rick Rycroft
Live Scores
Scores updated each minute. REFRESH NOW
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India v Australia MA CHIDAMBARAM STADIUM, FEBRUARY 22-26, 2013 1st Test - IND v AUS |
|---|
| Australia 1st Inn | 380 All Out |
| India 1st Inn | 572 All Out |
| Australia 2nd Inn | 241 All Out |
| India 2nd Inn | 2/50 |
| Australia won the toss and elected to bat | |
| India won by 8 wickets | |
| India | Over:11.3 RR:4.35 | ||||
| Batsmen | Runs | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR Tendulkar | 13 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 130.00 |
| CA Pujara* | 8 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Australia | |||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Econ |
| NM Lyon* | 5.3 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 5.27 |
| PM Siddle | 3.0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1.33 |
| Recent Overs: | ||
| . . 6 6 . 1 | | . . . . . . | | . . 1 | |
| Last Wicket: | Sehwag, 19 (c:Clarke b:Lyon) |
| Current Partnership: | 14 runs, 13 balls, RR:107.69 |
MS Dhoni’s inspirational double-century and his hundred-run stands with Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped India take control of the Chennai Test against Australia. We’ll have live coverage of day four from 3.00pm AEDT.
Strategies will need to change for Australia next game but their immediate concern will be to come back into this Test match after losing the initiative.
Sachin Tendulkar’s early dismissal would have raised the Australian hopes but Virat Kohli raced to his own century and Dhoni produced a counter-attacking innings against the second new ball to take the advantage.
Difficult pitch or not, India got themselves a score of more than 500 and ensured that Australia will need to do all the catching up over the next couple of days.
With a lead of 135 under their belt India will consider themselves favourites on a fast deteriorating Chennai pitch. R Ashwin will look to build on his seven-wicket haul from the first innings and could do a lot of bowling from the word go.
What Dhoni will hope is for Harbhajan Singh to find some of his rhythm that had made him the world-beater in the early 2000s with Ravindra Jadeja looking to stifle the run flow.
Australia will first need to bowl India out quickly. Dhoni hasn’t given them too many chances but what will worry captain Michael Clarke is that even number 10 batsman Bhuvneshwar Kumar came nowhere close to getting out after an early dropped opportunity.
The last thing Clarke will want is for India to bat up to the lunch break, in effect batting them out of the game.
Later when Australia get their chance to bat again, it will definitely be a test by spin. Given how the track has behaved for Nathan Lyon over the third day, likes of Ashwin and Harbhajan will be licking their fingers.
It will be interesting to see if the Australian top-order gained anything out of watching how the Indians batted against Lyon and even some of the pace bowlers – they were not allowed to settle down and attacked hard.
India hold all the aces with an Australian fightback a real possibility. For that though, they will have to play out of their skins from here on.
Live coverage of the game begins from 3.00pm AEDT on Monday, don’t hesitate add your opinion in the comments section below.
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The Crowd Says (365) | Page 1 of Comments
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- CHennai Test, Cricket, india v australia, live blog, MS Dhoni, R Ashwin
4:44pm
abdulhai said | 4:44pm | Report comment
i think Australia is a very strong team but now this time is India.so india
10:22am
fadida said | 10:22am | Report comment
Ed Cowan = John Dyson. Takes ages to get to 30, gets tired and gets out
12:10am
JGK said | 12:10am | Report comment
That drop by Cowan is looking like the crucial point in the match now.
10:44pm
jamesb said | 10:44pm | Report comment
No surprises where this game was headed after day 3.
India 8/406, and managed to get 572, an extra 166 runs is the real tell tale difference in this game thanks to Dhonis 224.
A real pity that Patto didn’t have any support. 5/96 does prove that fast bowlers can be successful in India.
Australia has made it to day 5 thanks to Moises, who is having a terrific debut. A lead of 40 with 1 wicket remaining is not enough. Australia need to add another 100 odd to make this match any interesting!
If only it was 5 or 6 wickets remaining.
Well played India.
10:24pm
Matt said | 10:24pm | Report comment
If you think Australia has problems:
Too bad for the bowlers actually trying, half a dozen missed outs a game.
10:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:07pm | Report comment
Just a single from the Ishant over but that’s that for the day. No extra half hour taken and the game will be pushed to the fifth day.
Australia are 40 ahead and will now be aiming to carry on from here and take the partnership up from its current 57 runs. Henriques has been the star of the Australian batting and is now looking good to get to a maiden Test century, unbeaten on 75.
India did almost everything right to push Australia to the brink of defeat before this last-wicket stand. Ashwin scalped another five wickets as Australia struggled on an admittedly treacherous pitch.
Back tomorrow with the final day’s play of the Test and despite all that has happened, cannot see India not take a 1-0 lead from here. Ciao!
10:09pm
Lukeling said | 10:09pm | Report comment
I like your optimism Suneer, would love to see Moises score a century. Thanks for the commentary!
10:13pm
Praveen said | 10:13pm | Report comment
Thanks Suneer
10:04pm
Red Kev said | 10:04pm | Report comment
I can’t believe we lasted to a fifth day – that’s a momentum shift in my opinion. Poor work from Dhoni, Australia will take some positives from that. Now we just need the selectors to come to the party with some sense.
10:14pm
Praveen said | 10:14pm | Report comment
Get Khawaja in for starters, very impressed by muses
10:49pm
Richard said | 10:49pm | Report comment
Why can’t the selectors pick a team for the conditions. We have this problem that if a team won the last test then that is the team that goes forward regardless (excepting injuries). Apart from injuries and bowler rotations to protect them from injuries we have no other plan. If we took Doherty why didn’t we play him? He did ok in the warm ups like Henriques, who got a gig. We didn’t play Xavier? Because it would have upset the dogma. Its crazy, the Poms showed you have to play 2 spinners, the selectors must be brain dead, all of them!
10:58pm
Richard said | 10:58pm | Report comment
Momentum shift? That is Rose colored glasses my friend. Worst of all is the limp capitulation in the second innings. If Henriques could tough it out, then we should have expected much more from the top order. Big questions to be asked there and Clarke shouldn’t be immune. Time to toughen up in the brain Australia and that includes the selectors.
5:46am
Red Kev said | 5:46am | Report comment
Not really. For us to force a fifth day is a positive we can take to the next test. We’ll still lose this but there was some fight.
10:03pm
Aduardo said | 10:03pm | Report comment
Shades of Haddin in Sth Africa in Wade’s batting?
10:00pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:00pm | Report comment
Ishant Sharma will bowl the 84th over of the innings. There is an option to play an extra half hour but not sure if India will want to continue playing right now.
9/213 in 83
9:57pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:57pm | Report comment
The 50-run stand for the last wicket has been brought up with a six off the last ball of the Ashwin over! Outside the off and flat, MH goes for it and connects! Six more to the number seven…
…74 for him and Australia are 37 ahead.
Will this help MH get a promotion to number six for the second Test?
10:00pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 10:00pm | Report comment
Should do. He seems to actually have a clue against spinners. Wade doesn’t.
9:56pm
Amith said | 9:56pm | Report comment
I don’t want to jinx him but Moses can get a century here, how good would that be
9:53pm
Lukeling said | 9:53pm | Report comment
I think Aussie fans would be satisfied if the team showed some grit & played a tough draw. I can’t remember the last time we saved a match.
9:59pm
langou said | 9:59pm | Report comment
Haha if they can pull off a draw from here they will get a heros welcome
10:03pm
Lukeling said | 10:03pm | Report comment
haha not in this match just in general. Where’s Johnno? Need the stats on the last time Australia clung on to a draw.
9:20am
Duppers said | 9:20am | Report comment
Taking nothing away from India & the two magnificent innings from Kholi & Dhoni. What hope does Australia really have when you get deliveries spitting at & shooting through low in a manner that you would never see in 10 seasons of cricket on home soil. The Indian pitches are a joke & are so heavily in favour of their spinners I wonder if its a really fair contest.
10:03pm
Amith said | 10:03pm | Report comment
Grit is the key, otherwise its hard to digest
9:53pm
langou said | 9:53pm | Report comment
Selecrors have done really well picking Henriques
9:53pm
Lukeling said | 9:53pm | Report comment
Yep gotta give them a thumbs up for that.
10:01pm
Richard said | 10:01pm | Report comment
Thank god he performed in the warm ups!
9:52pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:52pm | Report comment
Very short from Jadeja and easily pulled away to the square-leg fence for a four! Lead moves on to 28…
…good fight this from MH.
9:51pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:51pm | Report comment
New ball has been taken by the Indians and Jadeja will continue to bowl.
9:50pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:50pm | Report comment
Two successive appeals for lbw against Lyon but the umpire’s not having any of it. Both were close but good enough decision to give the batsman not-out. Ashwin’s not amused.
9/216 in 80.
9:48pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:48pm | Report comment
Short ball from Ashwin and Henriques has pulled it away well, past a diving Harbhajan to get a four!
The one is short too and punched down the ground for a single.
Lead’s up to 24 now.
9:47pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:47pm | Report comment
Two overs from Ishant and he’s off. Ashwin comes on now. Henriques has moved on to 56.
9:44pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:44pm | Report comment
A single off the last ball of the Ishant Sharma but it could well have been out, run-out. Tapped to the covers and ran off, with Jadeja missing a direct hit.
9/208 and now Jadeja has the ball against MH
9:40pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:40pm | Report comment
The last wicket stand is worth 32 already. The last Aussie to score at least a 50 each innings on debut was Bruce Laird and that happened way back in 1979.
9:55pm
pope paul v11 said | 9:55pm | Report comment
I
9:58pm
pope paul v11 said | 9:58pm | Report comment
think you mean 1979 Suneer vs West Indies . Old Brucie’s defiance was somewhat more hazardous than young Moises’.
10:08pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 10:08pm | Report comment
1979 it is, thanks pope!
10:04pm
Richard said | 10:04pm | Report comment
Very interesting statistic! Thanks
9:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:36pm | Report comment
What-a-shot! Six over the long-on fence as Henriques gets to his second half-century in as many innings!
Lead swells to 14.
9:35pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:35pm | Report comment
Another maiden as Ishant is defended out by Lyon.
9/200 in 76
9:34pm
Johnno said | 9:34pm | Report comment
Wow you’d think it was Dhawalli right now in India,, the first fireworks of pace have been lit all innings fast bowler, Ishant Sharma has come on.
9:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:31pm | Report comment
Ishant Sharma, that tall, lanky fast bowler from India will take up the bowling now. First over from a quick bowler in 75 overs!
Lyon to face.
9:29pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:29pm | Report comment
Maiden from Harbhajan allows Lyon to take strike first up next over.
9:29pm
Niall Carey said | 9:29pm | Report comment
Unfortunate to watch the aussies go down here. Wasn’t too surprised to see this when the team was announced. Can’t believe aussies went into this match with only one spinner …
9:28pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:28pm | Report comment
The one thing that Henriques has done here is to get Dhoni to spread the field. And MH is refusing early singles as well!
9/200 in the 75th
9:25pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:25pm | Report comment
Short from Jadeja and that’s cut away by Henriques to the fence! Dhoni’s not happy and says as much to Jadeja in Hindi. “Chhota daal raha hai” – you are bowling too short.
9:24pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:24pm | Report comment
And now India will have to bat again as Dhoni gives away four byes. A lead of three for the visitors. So far.
9:20pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:20pm | Report comment
Henriques taps the ball to the off side to get a single.
9/190 in the 72nd over
9:18pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:18pm | Report comment
Lyon’s batting on the off-stump and has had a couple of frivolous lbw appeals turned down.
9/189 in 71. Three more to get now.
9:17pm
Ken Hambling said | 9:17pm | Report comment
Henriques has now got the top score, he has been impressve
9:24pm
Rhys said | 9:24pm | Report comment
Considering how big a loss it will be for Australia, Henriques’ debut has been outstanding. Now let’s watch the selection panel mess with his career for no good reason.
9:16pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:16pm | Report comment
Henriques has slapped another four over mid-on off Jadeja that takes him on to 38. Not off the middle of the bat but helps the deficit reduce to 5.
9/187
9:14pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:14pm | Report comment
Lyon’s driven Harbhajan down the ground for a four. At first it looked like a mere push but goes all the way.
Incidentally, at the other end Henriques has gotten himself to 34, which means that he’s got 100 runs in the Test. And if he remains not-out this innings, he will have end the game with a career average of more than 100!
Nine short of making India bat again.
9:13pm
Johnno said | 9:13pm | Report comment
Chennai is such a tough place to get a win, very few away team beat India in Chennai, so hot, and so local the conditions, a hostile gladiator collesueum.
9:23pm
Richard said | 9:23pm | Report comment
We could start by playing 2 spinners! Did you select them in your team Johnno?
9:25pm
Johnno said | 9:25pm | Report comment
Yes sure did.
9:59pm
Richard said | 9:59pm | Report comment
Sorry I thought you didn’t. I had Doherty Bird Pattinson Lyon Henriques… probably wouldn’t have done worse. I cannot understand the conservatism of our selectors. They claim to want to preserve the health of our fast bowlers and then bowl them into the dust in India, absolutely bonkers!
10:05pm
Felix said | 10:05pm | Report comment
I think you’ll find their thoughts were that a bad day out for one of our quicks is better than a good day out for Doherty, Smith or Maxwell.
9:11pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:11pm | Report comment
Harbhajan comes in to replace Jadeja. Lyon will take strike against him.
9:12pm
Scuba said | 9:12pm | Report comment
Trying to get him the last wicket so that he can “retire” on a high and be replaced by Ojha?
9:22pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:22pm | Report comment
I think Australia can create a few problems for India by getting out to Harbhajan – will lead to all sorts of selection muddles over Ojha v Harbhajan!
9:07pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 9:07pm | Report comment
Might have been a more competitive game without Ashwin.
9:10pm
Rhys said | 9:10pm | Report comment
The scary thought is that Ohja didn’t play.
9:05pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:05pm | Report comment
Nathan Lyon is at 11. And almost immediately there is a loud shout for lbw against Henriques but it seemed like it was drifting down the leg-side.
9:04pm
Johnno said | 9:04pm | Report comment
In our top 5 worst losses since 2002. Last 10 years, as bad as our 4th test loss at the MCG ASHES 2010.
Humiliating loss vs the supposed worst Indian team in 20 years, and there best spinner Ohja is not even playing.
9:01pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:01pm | Report comment
And now Ashwin bags his second five-for of the game! Starc’s gone!
It was flighted up and Starc goes for a chip shot over mid-on. Thought he hit it well to carry it over mid-on but the fielder had been pushed back half-way back to the fence and Tendulkar takes a simple catch at mid-on.
Nine down and 17 short of making India bat again.
9:03pm
Red Kev said | 9:03pm | Report comment
So Ashwin or Dhoni for MoM?
9:06pm
Rhys said | 9:06pm | Report comment
Dhoni for mine. Ashwin has turned in a first class spinner’s performance, but any decent spinner could clean up on that surface. Dhoni single handedly took the game away from Australia, and allowed his team to bowl with attacking fields throughout Australia’s second innings.
9:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:07pm | Report comment
Tough choice to make but it might go to Dhoni.
9:14pm
Renegade said | 9:14pm | Report comment
Gotta be Dhoni mate.
That innings was as dominant as i’ve seen in recent times.
9:31pm
Lukeling said | 9:31pm | Report comment
Gotta be Dhoni, he took the game away.
9:00pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 9:00pm | Report comment
Ashwin continues and a short one from him has been spanked from Henriques to the deep square-leg fence for a four.
He’s done a good job with the bat, as can be seen from the next delivery that scoots through, almost flat and MH manages to keep it out.
8/174 in the 66th
8:57pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:57pm | Report comment
Starc has shown his potential with the bat in previous Tests and he comes in and hits a couple of them to the fence from Ashwin.
Ashwin now has figures of 4/68 to go with his seven-wicket haul first innings.
8/169 in the 65th
8:51pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:51pm | Report comment
Number four for Ashwin as Pattinson edges it to Sehwag!
It was too close to cut and that’s what Pattinson went for, probably expecting it to turn a little more. In the end he was hanging his bat out and the edge carries to slip. Sehwag takes a decent catch.
Eight down and the end is nigh.
8:47pm
Red Kev said | 8:47pm | Report comment
Test Match Sofa keeps playing McVities Jaffa Cakes radio ads … it’s giving me a craving
8:48pm
Lukeling said | 8:48pm | Report comment
I’m sure they have gone through a few packs of Rizla papers.
8:44pm
Johnno said | 8:44pm | Report comment
Embarrsing T20 circuit players Shane Warne, Stuart Mcgill, Brad Hogg, would do better than the pace attack we got on this pitch. As would Greg Matthews, who didn’t retire that long ago the evergreen cricketer.
8:47pm
Lukeling said | 8:47pm | Report comment
Send the team bus around to Coogee & pick up Richie- surely he has a couple of overs left in him.
8:49pm
Johnno said | 8:49pm | Report comment
lol he might.
8:44pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:44pm | Report comment
A single off the Harbhajan over which sees him send one down at 100 km/hr. Beats Pattinson but is pitching outside the leg-stump.
7/154 in 61
8:39pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:39pm | Report comment
I must say that of all the batsmen on display today, Moises Henriques has looked the most comfortable. He’s defending well, getting across for singles too and all this while not attempting any of those airy-fairy strokes that some of the others did.
8:36pm
Shchi said | 8:36pm | Report comment
Interesting if aus can beat an innings loss.
8:35pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:35pm | Report comment
Pattinson’s come out playing like his captain. He averages around 40, so it is no surprise to see him get some runs.
A full-toss driven down the ground for a four off Ashwin.
7/150 in the 59th
8:33pm
langou said | 8:33pm | Report comment
imteresting to see if Henriques can beat the top score from Cowan
8:26pm
Johnno said | 8:26pm | Report comment
The Portugese Prince , Moses Henriques has had a good game gonna be hard to drop him, I’d have him maybe instead of Glen Maxwell touch and go.
More spinners must come into the team.
Sack Iver’s too, his blunders are fair dinky making him on par with Andrew Hildtich former chairman of selectors, and Teflon Tim as a coach.
Iver’s is out of touch format he modern game is quite old now, he is from the 70′s era of Chappell brothers and Denniss Lillee, along time ago, and has been working a lot of his time as a headmaster, so hasn’t been at the forefront of national cricket for a while, and is starting to show he is outdated and out of touch, a lot of blunders.
I hope he is basing choices based on cricket, not on personalty or who he thinks will blend in the dressing room.
And Brad Hodge declared himself available for the ASHES 2013, only to be hosed down by Ivers just when his comeback bid took place. Hodge is one of our best players of spin, he’d be handy now.
Heck Trevor Hohns had some blunders, but not as bad these 2,. At least Scott Muller and Simon Cook took wickets.
Trevor Hohns is starting to resemble a half decent national selector. And Hohns got a lot of flack during the golden era, so maybe he is worse as the other 2 just had such a great team , yet still couldn’t win, he got badgered from pillar to post right across the country, from Weipa to Double Bay, to Devonport, to Mt Gambier , and Fremantle.
8:28pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 8:28pm | Report comment
That curry you had for dinner’s got you fired hasn’t it Johnno…:)
8:31pm
Johnno said | 8:31pm | Report comment
Very flaming hot it was, very spicy, Christo the daddyo.
8:38pm
Brett McKay said | 8:38pm | Report comment
It’s probably worth mentioning that Hodge’s Ashes hopes were hosed down – extinguished, actually – by Victoria too….
8:39pm
Richard said | 8:39pm | Report comment
I don’t think you picked 2 spinners for this test Johnno so that makes you as bad as the selectors I guess. As I said we had to go into this test match with 2 spinners Lyon and Doherty. What the hell is the point of coming to India where they roll out the welcome matt with rolled mud and we rock up with with a bunch of fast seamers. We really are completely bonkers and I would put the majority of the so called experts on this site in the bonkers catagory. When yu aren’t slapping each other on the back you coming up with oh so predictable selections.
8:24pm
Red Kev said | 8:24pm | Report comment
Well all over tonight. Hopefully we can accomplish an English-style comeback this series.
8:28pm
Rob from Brumby Country said | 8:28pm | Report comment
You know England started their series with only one spinner and lost that first match – and that was the only match that they lost. After that they recalled Monty Panesar and the rest is history.
So you see, RK, all we need to do is call up our second spinner, and we’ll cruise to a series victory!
Right! So where’s Steve O’Keefe?
Oh.
Bugger.
9:18pm
Richard said | 9:18pm | Report comment
I doubt it, England has brains in the selection room. If we couldn’t learn from their experience then we must have at least a couple of planks in there. At least our fast men won’t have to bowl through another innings on this wicket.
8:23pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:23pm | Report comment
Bowled him! Jadeja’s taken the seventh!
Siddle’s poor Test match is done and dusted here. It was on the middle stump and much like Wade, he went for a slog across the line too. Missed. Bowled.
The deed was done off the previous couple of balls which whizzed across the bat. This one did not turn too much.
7/137 in the 56th
8:22pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:22pm | Report comment
The seventh wicket resistance is almost six overs old and they have added five, have Henriques and Siddle.
6/136 in 55
8:17pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:17pm | Report comment
Jadeja comes on to replace Ashwin now that he’s got his 10-for.
8:16pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:16pm | Report comment
Couple of close ones. A run-out missed and a well-taken taken catch but the umpire rightfully reckons it’s off the pads.
6/133 in 53
8:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:07pm | Report comment
Harbhajan Singh to share the attack with Ashwin. India will be looking to finish this off tonight. Australia need inspiration from Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
8:02pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:02pm | Report comment
Clarke’s dismissed first over after tea!
That’s 10 wickets in the match for Ashwin as he gets one to turn prodigiously. It was way outside the off and on most days it deserved the shot that Clarke leashed out – a cut through the covers. Except that the turn was so massive that Clarke’s bat got nowhere near the ball, it hits the pads in front of the stumps and the umpire gives it out!
Clarke had a bemused expression on his face, needed a truck to get him off the field.
8:01pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:01pm | Report comment
The tea break is done but spin continues. Ashwin takes up the attack and will bowl to Henriques.
8:00pm
Johnno said | 8:00pm | Report comment
My 2nd test team
Warner (spinner)
Watto
Khawaja
Pup (spinner)
Henriques (pace)
Maxwell (spinner)
Wade
Nathan Lyon (spinner)
Shaun O’feefe (spinner)
Ashton Agar (spinner)
James Pattison( (pace)
12th Man Phil Hughes, . In these conditons I’d back Henriques to do just as well as Phil Hughes, and he will only bowl short spells anyway when he bowls, rest will be spin.
8:02pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:02pm | Report comment
As far as I know, Agar’s back in Australia.
8:10pm
Behold said | 8:10pm | Report comment
Yeah Agar is back in Australia hit a beautiful 70 odd to win WA a Shield match the other day.
8:04pm
Lukeling said | 8:04pm | Report comment
Are you gonna chip in for a couple of air fares Johnno? Whats the go with that? Can Australia just fly anyone over or do they have to be from the initial squad?
8:08pm
Johnno said | 8:08pm | Report comment
I spent all my money on Indian take away tonight. Got no spare change for airfares. Can shout you a pappadum, form tonight’s delicious Indian banquet, but no Air-india business class airfare’s, i’m spent mate.
8:08pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:08pm | Report comment
There’s no official rule that you cannot have players from outside the squad. But to do that without players injured would only mean that the selectors admit that they have made a huge mistake in the first place and that usually does not happen.
8:18pm
Lukeling said | 8:18pm | Report comment
Yes it would be terrible if the selectors had to admit that they don’t know who our best eleven are.
8:09pm
Ken Hambling said | 8:09pm | Report comment
I like the side but SOA is not in India neither is Agar. I would have it Warner, Watson, Hughes, Pup, Khawaja, Henriques, Wade, Lyon, Patt, Starc, Doherty – we have to pick based on who is in the squad and this is the best we have.
8:09pm
boes said | 8:09pm | Report comment
Shaun O’feefe would be first picked in my team.
8:11pm
Behold said | 8:11pm | Report comment
SOF is a class act.
8:17pm
cuzza said | 8:17pm | Report comment
RE U CRAZY?
9:15pm
Amith said | 9:15pm | Report comment
I thought his nickname was SOS
8:18pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:18pm | Report comment
One other thing. Your team is based on the pitch at Chennai but there is a good chance that the Hyderabad track is different from this one, not as helpful to the spinners.
8:20pm
Disco said | 8:20pm | Report comment
Maxwell is rubbish. A spinner? Do me a favour.
8:23pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 8:23pm | Report comment
I dunno, the amount of spin about his ‘talent’ has got to be worth something, surely?
8:20pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 8:20pm | Report comment
Who’s Shaun O’feefe?
9:11pm
Renegade said | 9:11pm | Report comment
Nah too many batsmen in that side mate…..maybe cut Watto and Khawaja and bring Siddle and Bird in instead.
Geez Johnno
WTF
7:44pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:44pm | Report comment
End of the second session then and Australia have gotten themselves to 5/128 in 49 overs. 33 overs bowled this session.
The tourists lost four in this session – Cowan survived a couple of close calls but survived almost 100 balls on a difficult pitch. His wicket was followed by Hughes’ for a duck before Wade missed a sweep off Harbhajan and was bowled.
Australia are 64 behind India and need to get there before five more wickets fall to make India bat again. Clarke’s still at the crease – though he might have got another life like he did in the first innings. Other than that, he’s looked the most confident of the lot.
Back in 15.
7:42pm
Johnno said | 7:42pm | Report comment
This match will be over by tonight, and Clarke must bat up at 4, he has batted at 4 plenty of times, his country needs our help. And Usman Khawaja, would know spin of the back of his feet he has Pakistan heritage born there, so he will be at home.
Never underestimate India in India.
8:10pm
Ken Hambling said | 8:10pm | Report comment
Khawaja’s mum is Indian, dad is Pakistani so spin should be in his blood. but key with him is to give him the full series, don’t just bring him in for 1 game expecting him to get 100.
8:20pm
Johnno said | 8:20pm | Report comment
100% agreed, well said.
8:24pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 8:24pm | Report comment
If only the selectors thought that way…
9:16pm
Amith said | 9:16pm | Report comment
I think they will, he is after all the next best batsman in the squad
7:38pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:38pm | Report comment
Right so with Moises Henriques at seven, it is the first time that there are two right-handed batsmen at the crease.
7:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:36pm | Report comment
A single off the Jadeja over, who has come on as expected. The one run that did come to Henriques, it was a near run-our with Jadeja missing a direct hit from the short mid-on region.
5/124 in 47
7:30pm
Red Kev said | 7:30pm | Report comment
In India do we need Clarke coming in at no.3? I wouldn’t suggest it against England or South Africa, but on these dust bowls and against spin heavy attacks, surely Clarke at first drop gives him the best chance to score some runs and help Australia’s totals.
7:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:31pm | Report comment
If not three, no lower than four. He’s wasted at five on tracks where spinners are going to get so much help.
Even on these pitches, slow bowlers need time to get settled – if Clarke can come in earlier and unsettle them, nothing like it.
7:33pm
Amith said | 7:33pm | Report comment
Yes Red Kev the earlier he comes in this series the better, he will provide more stability and Watson should open with Warner
7:29pm
Praveen said | 7:29pm | Report comment
Wade gone, this is why it’s hard to understand why mike hussey has been replaced with a keeper, even the great man himself endorsed khawaja as his replacement
7:32pm
Ken Hambling said | 7:32pm | Report comment
Yes i felt the same, but I also said that i would rather make this mistake in this series then the ashes, we are seeing why we need 6 specialist batsman. I know its tough batting conditions but it gives us the best chance to get the most amount of runs.
7:34pm
Amith said | 7:34pm | Report comment
I think we will some shakeups to the batting after this test
8:21pm
Disco said | 8:21pm | Report comment
Wade’s got a lot of chirp – not much else.
8:23pm
cuzza said | 8:23pm | Report comment
wade needs to pull his head in, he has a lot to say for a keeper who cant keep.
7:26pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:26pm | Report comment
Bowled him, Harbhajan’s got his second!
He was never comfortable, Wade wasn’t and he goes for a slog sweep here. It keeps really low and escapes through and it’s timber!
Australia have now lost five and are 71 behind India.
7:26pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:26pm | Report comment
Outside the off and it keeps so low from Harbhajan that it beats Dhoni too and goes for three byes.
There have been 19 byes today so far. Does not say as much about the keeping as it does about the pitch.
7:22pm
Johnno said | 7:22pm | Report comment
I’ve just done my order at my local Indian take away.
Johnno’s Indian order:
Entree
Tandorri Lamb cutlets
2 Vegatable Samosas
Main
Butter chicken
Lamb Rogan Josh
Allo mattar vegetable curry
Dhal tarka
rice
1 serving papadums
2 garlic Naans
1 Mango Lasse
Delicous, can’t wait to tuck in
7:28pm
biltongbek said | 7:28pm | Report comment
Must be rather hungry, eh Johnno?
7:40pm
Johnno said | 7:40pm | Report comment
yep starving mate, if i don’t finsih it all, I
ll have it for lunch tomorrow.
7:28pm
Amith said | 7:28pm | Report comment
Sounds great
7:30pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:30pm | Report comment
Butter chicken, garlic naan and plain lassi, with some onions…that is all you need to enjoy a stomachful, sleep-inducing Indian lunch!
7:40pm
Johnno said | 7:40pm | Report comment
Yes will sleep well tonight, Suneer very filling.
7:22pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:22pm | Report comment
R Ashwin comes on now, replacing Jadeja. We may see another shuffle from the other end.
7:21pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:21pm | Report comment
A better over for Australia with Wade sweeping one from Harbhajan to the square-leg fence. Eight off it.
4/118 in 43.
7:18pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:18pm | Report comment
Not getting easier for the new left-hander Matthew Wade, who looks like he’s on a hot tin roof. Every now and then he’s attempting those sweeps but he might as well prefer to be that cat instead.
4/110 in 42
7:16pm
Praveen said | 7:16pm | Report comment
Usman koala khawaja, get him in for the next test
7:20pm
Ken Hambling said | 7:20pm | Report comment
He can’t be too far away, either we get 6 batsman in or take Cowan out and get Khawaja in. My preference is still for 6 batsman, Wade coming in at 6 already is too early, we need more batting depth. What we must avoid is getting Khawaja in for a game or 2 and then taking him out, Cowan has had 14 tests in a row, give Khawaja at least 4 in a row to show his stuff. Our greatest mistake is not playing Rafael Nadal, as he is so good on clay! Can we have a little, just a little, grass next time? Even Pakistan have some good pace bowlers. Otherwise India will face white wash after white wash overseas, unless they play all matches at home
7:27pm
Amith said | 7:27pm | Report comment
UTK is a great talent but even he will struggle to score in these conditions, his strength is pace so i see him doing very well in the ashes but he will have his work cut out here. Give the kid the rest of the series to establish himself and he will do well.
7:09pm
langou said | 7:09pm | Report comment
Johnno, What about Kallis, how does he shape up in India?
7:14pm
Johnno said | 7:14pm | Report comment
Kallis magnificent langou, the 2nd best batsmen since Bradman, best all rounder ever, 3rd best cricketer ever. Imran Khan is no 1, coz he also was a brilliant captain, 3 strings to his bow-tie.
2000-2011 16 2 1585 runs 201* 72.04 batting average 6 hundreds 5 fifties
7:16pm
langou said | 7:16pm | Report comment
Thanks Johnno, what an amazing cricketer. Simply brilliant
7:09pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:09pm | Report comment
Wade’s at six and the second ball he faces he tries to slog sweep it away. Jadeja will be licking his fingers here.
4/104 in the 40th
7:06pm
Johnno said | 7:06pm | Report comment
So much for the worst India side in 20 years since 1991/2. And Ohja there best spinner, is not even playing, when he should be.
All those confident aussy fans, and in the press underestimating India in India. Underestimate India in India, and you pay more than eating a spicy hot curry , you lose the test match in convincing fashion.
7:05pm
Ken Hambling said | 7:05pm | Report comment
Love to hear what Brett thinks about Hughes performance so far on tour given the warm up game and first match. I know you are a big fan of the young man which is why i ask.
7:24pm
Brett McKay said | 7:24pm | Report comment
I’ll clear up one thing straight away Ken. You’re mistaken in your assertions that Hughes is “my man”, for starters. One article compliementing the way he built a on-day hundred should be read as an article compliementing the way he built a on-day hundred, and that’s it.
What I think is the Hughes is struggling deluxe with the spin and boucnce – not a new revelation – and that if Khawaja does indeed play the Second Test, I can’t see how it would be at the expense of Cowan.
Right now, Cowan’s 32 each innings is starting to look quite useful..
8:13pm
Amith said | 8:13pm | Report comment
Brett not sure how Cowan averaging 32 after 14 tests get can your approval. Surely he has had enough chances, perhsps give Khawaja the remaining 3 matches, that’s not asking too much given how many games Cowan has had in a row. And i am not mocking Hughes, like you i am a big fan of his as well.
8:21pm
Brett McKay said | 8:21pm | Report comment
Because right now, in this series, 32 in each innings is worth more to the team than 6 and 0. Now is not the time for long term thinking it’s about trying to be competitive in the Second Test.
And it’s a big call to drop Hughes, considering his form in Australia, but you’ve seen him batting in this Test, tell me where he’s going to score runs when he’s clearly watching the ball off the wicket??
8:29pm
Amith said | 8:29pm | Report comment
Brett take it easy mate, i never said to drop Hughes, like a few of the guys on this forum i think Cowan needs to go, how many more chances will he get, he has had 14 tests in a row, do we give him another 5 tests, Ian Chappell, Mark Waugh, Brett Lee, Allan Border,David Boon have all come out publicly stating that Watson should open with Warner, i am no expert but these guys are and perhaps there is a reason why they are saying this.
8:33pm
Ken Hambling said | 8:33pm | Report comment
Amith i knew Chappelli and Waugh came out in support of the Watson Warner opening combination, didn’t know the other experts were on it, makes sense, lets hope the selection panel bites the bullet on Cowan we can’t hold a passenger in the team, and as Praveen pointed out his dropped catch really cost us yeseterday. And what would you know about Indian wickets? I’ve been following this sport for 20 years now, and have watched plenty of tests in Australia. I still don’t claim to know the nature of Australian pitches. The match should’ve been wrapped up by now had Cowan, Warner and Clarke been given out by the umpires when they legitimately were. And Clarke batted very well but we can’t always expect him to rescue us.
8:34pm
Brett McKay said | 8:34pm | Report comment
You’re missing my point, Amith. I’M saying drop Hughes…
8:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:31pm | Report comment
Look I am not comparing but after 14 Tests, Hashim Amla averaged 26. His average did not touch 40 till his 40th Test match.
8:41pm
Ken Hambling said | 8:41pm | Report comment
Suneer its good that you started by saying thatyou are not comparing(hehe), because as Chappell pointed out in his article players picked after 30 don’t really improve and if they get dropped they don’t come back, Amla was very young when he was picked and we all know how good he is. I respect your view Suneer as you are clearly very knowledgeable but i am tired of folks(not referrrig to yourself) comparing Cowan to Langer, Hayden and saying that thoes guys took time to get going so should Cowan, those guys had solid shield backgrounds unlike Cowan, its time for Cowan to go.
8:55pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:55pm | Report comment
The point about having a solid Shield career is a fair one and when Cowan came into the side the first time, the selection did surprise me. That said, any selector has a catch-22 going for them – do you back a cricketer and hope he delivers that one or two defining innings that changes things around for him or do you drop him forever and repeat the process with another cricketer, hoping that the second cricketer will deliver, in turn giving him another handful of Tests to fail?
In this case, the problem seems even further accentuated by the fact that there are no Haydens or Langers waiting in the domestic circuit. Of course, Khawaja needs to be given his chances but all I am saying is that it is not always easy for selectors to drop someone who has been neither excellent nor bad.
8:17pm
Praveen said | 8:17pm | Report comment
Cowan gets double the chances other batsman get, and let’s not forget that his dropped catch of kumar when their lead was 20 has cost us this match as that partnership took the lead to nearly 200
8:21pm
cuzza said | 8:21pm | Report comment
that article was embarrassing, any article written on hughes has to mention his inability to make runs against any quality. not to mention the fact he was HIDDEN from sth africa.
8:35pm
Brett McKay said | 8:35pm | Report comment
Did you actually read it? Summarise it for me. I’ll even take dot points….
8:38pm
Amith said | 8:38pm | Report comment
Sorry Brett, i missed your point, that’s a big call, lets see what the selectors do, i still think that Cowan will get dropped not Hughes, and i would be happy with that.
8:41pm
Brett McKay said | 8:41pm | Report comment
Shock me very little, Amith.
I just can’t see team dropping Cowan on what he’s done in this Test, not when veiwed alongside his colleagues..
8:57pm
Praveen said | 8:57pm | Report comment
Brett my knowledge is not as good as you bud, but the fact that Cowan got a start in both innings and didn’t capitalize makes him worse then Hughes who never really got going, this is what Clarke said as well in that those who get a start must go on and Cowan failed twice in this regard, so he had to be the gutter who gets dropped, not Hughes
9:04pm
Brett McKay said | 9:04pm | Report comment
Thats all very fine Praveen, but runs on the board are runs on the board. I know he didn’t go on, I know he should’ve done more by now, but if I had to pick Cowan or Hughes to bat for my life in the second Test, I’m not living long with Hughes, am I.
I’d prefer they played 6 bats in truth, but that’s obviously not going to happen…
9:29pm
Praveen said | 9:29pm | Report comment
Fair points Brett, thanks for your response
7:03pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:03pm | Report comment
Gone! LBW! Warner’s been given!
That’s not turned too much from Harbhajan and Warner, it seemed, like he was confused whether to play forward or back. In the end he was looking to defend by taking his foot out but was beaten by the lack of turn and the pace of the ball. It hits the pad and while there was some doubt over whether it took the bat on its way, looks like a decent decision.
4/101
7:23pm
Barge Arse said | 7:23pm | Report comment
That is 6 out of 14 wickets gone to India LBW. Yet Australia were given none. Nothing changed on the subcontinent, then.
8:33pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 8:33pm | Report comment
If you are referring to poor umpiring then I must say that so far the umpiring has been quite brilliant. If at all, India have been at the receiving end of a couple of genuine mistakes from the umpires.
7:00pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:00pm | Report comment
Quicker from Jadeja and hits the captain on his pads! That seemed quite out but Erasmus continues to have his fingers firmly in his pockets.
Wow! Clarke’s got some lives this Test match.
Couple of balls later, Clarke sends him away to mid-wicket for a four!
3/101 in 38
6:59pm
Johnno said | 6:59pm | Report comment
Ricky Ponting’s record in India
1996-2010 14 25 0 662 runs 123 H/S 26.48 batting average
Brian Lara record in India
1994-2006 17 29 0 1002 120H/S 34.55 average 2 hundred’s
So 3 hundred’s between them in 31 tests. So that at least 55 innings maximums of 62 innings, hardly inspiring figures from all time great batsmen.
7:01pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 7:01pm | Report comment
And if you check Ponting’s record in his first 8-10 Tests in India, it will be even more appalling. Lara was average in India but excellent in Sri Lanka.
7:05pm
Johnno said | 7:05pm | Report comment
Yep I’ll check it out some time. I remember he was awful.
6:58pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:58pm | Report comment
It is a flow of runs here as Clarke goes after jadeja. Does not really go down the track but smacks it straight over the bowler’s head for a four!
3/97 in the 38th
6:58pm
Lukeling said | 6:58pm | Report comment
So we picked a team where the batsmen (except Clarke) are known to not play spin well & take in 1 spinner who it’s got to be said has never looked like turning a game around for us. Not very surprising that this is the result.
7:01pm
cuzza said | 7:01pm | Report comment
actually the sad part is there is not much better at home. do we have a better spinner or another batsman, and david hussey is not the answer at over 33 years of age.
7:06pm
Red Kev said | 7:06pm | Report comment
Shaun Marsh is a good man for the subcontinent. Khawaja is the man for Australia/Eng/SA
7:17pm
cuzza said | 7:17pm | Report comment
fair enough, but that is one, anyone else? im still not sure if he has right mindset
7:52pm
Red Kev said | 7:52pm | Report comment
I like George Bailey and Joe Burns too. But neither is convincingly better than the current test team.
8:20pm
cuzza said | 8:20pm | Report comment
exactly, no-one is convincingly better, there is our problem
6:57pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:57pm | Report comment
And again! Warner’s gone against the turn and smoked Ashwin over mid-wicket for a four! Where was this Warner all this while.
3/93 in 37
6:58pm
cuzza said | 6:58pm | Report comment
just a slogger
6:56pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:56pm | Report comment
Bad ball from Ashwin, short and wide and Warner’s disdainfully pulled it through mid-wicket for a four!
Cannot help but feel that rare loose ball from Ashwin was brought about by the aggression shown by Clarke, who’s not averse to going down the pitch.
3/89 in the 37th
6:53pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:53pm | Report comment
And now an appeal for an lbw against Clarke but Erasmus shakes his head. Could have missed the leg-stump.
Follows that with a jump down the ticket and flicked through mid-wicket for a four! Clarke’s not going to miss out on doing that…
3/85 in 36
6:51pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:51pm | Report comment
For a change Clarke’s gone to his back foot to play the cut but misses.
3/81 in the 36th
6:49pm
Praveen said | 6:49pm | Report comment
Surely this has to be cowans last chance, why do we keep giving him so many opps
6:54pm
langou said | 6:54pm | Report comment
He may end up with the top score this innings
6:57pm
Ken Hambling said | 6:57pm | Report comment
No he won’t Clarke wil or maybe Warner.Cowan will i am sure write an article on how he got a bad decision.
6:46pm
The Bush said | 6:46pm | Report comment
I don’t think it’ll ever get as grim as the ’80s again, but, my parents did used to have a fun saying “Australia scores 100 plus Border”. Insert Clarke and it can feel a bit like that with this team some times.
7:18pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 7:18pm | Report comment
Yeah, this side reminds me a lot of Australia in the 1980s.
6:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:45pm | Report comment
Clarke’s not holding back here! He’s gone down the wicket yet again and smacked Ashwin for a six!
Follows it up with a pull off one that is very short from Ashwin and smashes it to deep square-leg for a four!
Not too surprising from the captain, what is surprising is that the other batsmen have done nothing of this sort to displace the spinners’ lines and lengths.
3/78 in 33
6:45pm
Johnno said | 6:45pm | Report comment
Suneer growing up you must of played on a lot of spinning tracks, and slow dustbowls. The aussies look so lost , compared to the indian batsmen, on the slow tracks of Asia.
Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting only 1 made century between them and only average in the high 20′s or very early 30′s on the slow dustbowls flat tracks of Asia.
6:47pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:47pm | Report comment
Brian Lara made only one century? Mate, he scored 600 plus runs in a three-Test series in Sri Lanka against Muthiah Muralitharan. To tell you how woeful the other West Indians batted, the tourists lost the series 3-0!
6:52pm
Johnno said | 6:52pm | Report comment
Well maybe it’s Pomting, one of them has a really bad record on the sub-continent, i am going to find out which one, it seems not Lara mate. Yes most of the windies were woeful back then vs spin.
6:52pm
Ken Hambling said | 6:52pm | Report comment
The guys most guilty are those who get starts but don’t go on, Hughes never got a start neither did Watson, but Cowan did and once again he got in the 30s and got out, that is where we lose the game. And Lara smashed it in the Windies so much so that Murali nominated him as the best batsman he has bowled to
6:54pm
Praveen said | 6:54pm | Report comment
Yes agree ken, those that get starts and gain to go on get most blame, but It’s Cowan we are talking about so I am sure he will get another game despite his failures
6:44pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:44pm | Report comment
And now Clarke’s almost nicked it to leg-slip! He was going down the track but did not get to the pitch of the ball. The flick went straight to Kohli there who has dropped it!
Life for Clarke!
6:43pm
Johnno said | 6:43pm | Report comment
And David Hussey is one of our best if not our best player of spin. Gets you thinking.
6:59pm
Ken Hambling said | 6:59pm | Report comment
But he is averaging 15 in shield this year
6:41pm
langou said | 6:41pm | Report comment
one thing I have noticed is that Australian batsman, with the exception of Clarke, like to wait for the ball to bounce rather then using their feet to get to the ball. There has been a few times where Warner could have taken one step down the pitch and got to the ball on the full but let it hit the dust.
6:38pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:38pm | Report comment
It’s an incident-a-ball here. Jadeja’s making the ball to talk and it does look like it could be a matter of time for Warner to give a chance.
3/66 in the 32nd
6:37pm
Johnno said | 6:37pm | Report comment
Australia should set up a spin academy, to learn how to play spin better, . Some spin pitches at the academy. All that talk, about how we would smash India. For what we failed to see it India is so vastly different, these guys eat spin bowling for breakfast,lunch,dinner.
England did well, because there new academy at Lord’s has spin bowing pitches to train in, and acclimatise in.
6:38pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 6:38pm | Report comment
Yep, not a bad suggestion Johnno. We do look all at sea on this sort of pitch.
6:39pm
Amith said | 6:39pm | Report comment
Our 2 worst players of spin are Cowan and Hughes, Hughes is a gun batsman so i have no issues with him but how many more chances do you give him.
6:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:36pm | Report comment
A decent over from Ashwin yet again with Warner getting all tied up deciding whether to attack or defend. A single off a misfield.
3/66 in 31
6:34pm
Red Kev said | 6:34pm | Report comment
The boys on TestMatchSofa with the call of the test: “Well Australia have one batsmen out there, and the other guy is Phil Hughes”.
6:38pm
Amith said | 6:38pm | Report comment
This is where having Wade at 6 will backfire, we need 6 specialist batsman, next guy in is Wade and that for me is not good enough when we know batting is our weakness.
6:40pm
Red Kev said | 6:40pm | Report comment
Very interesting insight into how the English view Hughes – they want him and Johnson in the Ashes.
7:04pm
Praveen said | 7:04pm | Report comment
I have a bad feeling for Hughes, this won’t be a good series for him, he has serious issues with spin
6:32pm
Amith said | 6:32pm | Report comment
Very dissapointing to see my man Hughes get out, he is clearly struggling against spin and no amount of protection can save him.
6:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:31pm | Report comment
Gone this time! Three down! Hughes walks back!
The previous ball, Hughes had gloved it to the leg-slip but was given not-out. Survives no further, gets out next delivery!
It was a
shorter one from Jadeja and Hughes was looking to duck under the bouncerflatter one, that turned back and bounced a lot. Hughes had to play at it and it hits the shoulder of the bat, flies to the first slip where Sehwag takes a simple catch.Three down.
6:32pm
Cuzza said | 6:32pm | Report comment
Maybe he can go to the rooms and just remember all his soft centuries! Not as easy against India! Or Seth Africa!
6:35pm
Ken Hambling said | 6:35pm | Report comment
I wont bag Hughes, clearly he got soft runs against Sri Lanka and this will test him but i would take Cowan out for the next test, he can’t keep getting starts and get out. Hughes never got his eye in so you can’t blame him. Cowan got another start and got out again, time to have Watson, Warner, Hughes, Clarke, Khawaja, Henriques. Watson should open, Clarke our best batsman should be at 4 and time to give a go to Khawaja, how many more chances will Cowan get.
6:30pm
Cuzza said | 6:30pm | Report comment
Warner will not last, just a park cricketer slogger. Spends more time mouthing off than working on his technique!
6:31pm
Cuzza said | 6:31pm | Report comment
Here comes another FIGJAM! Warner Hughes and Watson all love telling us how good they are
6:30pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:30pm | Report comment
Phl Hughes at four out there to face the music. This should be interesting, what with his back-lift and the amount of turn.
6:26pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:26pm | Report comment
Oh dear, what have I just said? Cowan’s gone now!
Just as I said that the visitors have done well to lose one, Ashwin’s bagged the wicket of Cowan. It was on the middle stump and Cowan was looking to defend at it. The bat hit the boot and missed the ball and it goes straight on. A typically loud appeal followed and the umpire gave it a good thought before declaring it out, lbw.
There was a catch at silly point too but it was officially given out lbw. No inside-edge for sure.
2/64
6:28pm
Amith said | 6:28pm | Report comment
That was plumb, that’s not going to help his critics go away
6:30pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:30pm | Report comment
Pretty much plumb but he survived almost 100 balls on this minefield. Got to give it to him.
7:05pm
Red Kev said | 7:05pm | Report comment
It doesn’t matter the condition of the pitch, Cowan scores 32 off 100 on a road or a minefield. Consistently mediocre is still mediocre.
6:31pm
Ken Hambling said | 6:31pm | Report comment
Amith you said it below,Cowan gets 30 and gets out, why do we keep giving him more chances, its time for watto to open
6:33pm
Jayden said | 6:33pm | Report comment
Watson got 17… Chances aren’t exactly boosted by that
6:26pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:26pm | Report comment
For all the has gone by so far, Australia have done well to get to 64 for the loss of only Watson. It’s 1/3rd the way away from making India bat again.
6:24pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:24pm | Report comment
Couple of aggressive sweeps off the bowling of Jadeja signalling the intention – go after the bowling if and when possible.
Trouble with that shot is that it’s easy to get a top-edge given the amount of turn and zing on the pitch.
6:20pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:20pm | Report comment
This is excellent bowling from Ashwin and it’s a surprise he’s not got a wicket yet.
The first one is floated up above the eye-line and Warner is almost beaten in the flight. The next one is a carrom ball that comes into the right-hander sharply before he rips one across the left-hander next ball.
A single off the last ball of the Ashwin over.
1/56 in 27
6:17pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:17pm | Report comment
Change in bowling as Ashwin comes in from round the stumps to Warner.
1/55 in the 27th
6:15pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:15pm | Report comment
Jadeja continues and Warner’s tapped it to the off side for a single. Last ball last over there was an outside chance of a run-out as they tried to go for a very sharp single.
1/55 in the 26th
6:12pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:12pm | Report comment
Appeal for a run-out against Cowan after he had swept it to short fine-leg and the throw came in quickly. But by the time Dhoni had flicked it on to the stumps, Cowan was well in. That was a very cool effort from the captain.
1/52 in the 25th
6:09pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:09pm | Report comment
Wow! Spin and more importantly there is huge bounce. That’s just taken off and Warner was ducking/trying to evade it, takes the handle or something and runs off for another couple.
This isn’t easy and definitely not for the faint-hearted.
1/52 in 24.
6:08pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:08pm | Report comment
And Warner’s finally off the mark! Outside the off and driven through the covers for a couple. More of a push but with the field so attacking there were going to be gaps.
6:06pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:06pm | Report comment
Ashwin’s off from the attack and Ravindra Jadeja will take up the bowling. It is 23 overs into the innings and yet to see a fast bowler take up the bowling.
1/45 in 23
6:04pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:04pm | Report comment
And now it’s swept away to the fence for a four! Cowan’s finally for something going for him…
…what it also does is to push a fielder out to short fine-leg.
1/44 in the 23rd
6:03pm
Ken Hambling said | 6:03pm | Report comment
Cown shaking his head after that appeal to let the umpire know he is not out, he should leave the decision to the umpire.
6:03pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:03pm | Report comment
Whoa! That’s taken off from length and it takes something on the way to the silly point fielder. Loud, loud appeal but given not-out…
…it came off the Cowan shoulder! Yep, Harbhajan’s delivery bounced so much that it’s hit him on his shoulder! Top class decision from Dharmasena.
6:00pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 6:00pm | Report comment
For now, it’s almost as if Cowan’s ‘shielding’ Warner. A single off the fourth or the fifth ball and Warner patting a couple away to finish the over.
1/40 in 22.
Warner’s on 0 off 15.
6:00pm
Ken Hambling said | 6:00pm | Report comment
Laxman is a very good commentator, he gives a good insight into Indian cricket.
5:56pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:56pm | Report comment
Dropped! It was a tough one but could well have been out.
It was pitched up and Cowan jams into it, the ball goes quickly to the silly point fielder, Murali Vijay. Vijay gets his left hand low, but it hits his boot. Life for Cowan, another one!
1/38 in the 21st
5:55pm
Ken Hambling said | 5:55pm | Report comment
Cowan dropped again, this his lucky test match, if he doesn’t capitalise now then there is something wrong
5:54pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:54pm | Report comment
VVS Laxman on Star Cricket commentary: Duncan Fletcher has been a great influence as a coach.
I wonder if he was referring to his stint as the English coach.
5:52pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:52pm | Report comment
Warner’s played 11 balls for nothing so far. It’s a bit of a surprise, I thought he would be a lot more positive than what’s been on display so far.
1/38 in the 20th
5:49pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:49pm | Report comment
That lbw appeal, Warner had an inside edge to it.
1/37 in the 19th
5:47pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:47pm | Report comment
Slow turn for Ashwin…
Harbhajan bowled that first over and wanted to go off the field and the sub fielder Ajinkya Rahane was out on the field with an orange jersey over his white flannels! Took some time to realise he was not in the right uniform!
1/36 in 18 including an appeal for lbw against Warner, given not-out.
5:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:45pm | Report comment
Harbhajan starts off proceedings and concedes one to Cowan off a very short one. It could have been hit in the gap but all that spin before lunch seems to have made Cowan dizzy too.
5:40pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:40pm | Report comment
Back on after the break and the good news for Australia is that Dave Warner’s come out to bat.
5:35pm
Atawhai Drive said | 5:35pm | Report comment
Warner to bat at 3 after lunch, tweets Chris Barrett of SMH.
5:07pm
dcnz said | 5:07pm | Report comment
Watto departs close to a break period….again….test match temperament #fail ..
5:16pm
Red Kev said | 5:16pm | Report comment
I’m not sure that was it, I think it was just a bloody good ball from Ashwin. Flight, dip, spin and bounce.
5:44pm
Amith said | 5:44pm | Report comment
Agree Red Kev, keep in mind Cowan should have been lbw and almost got caught at short leg, so luck going with him so far
5:06pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:06pm | Report comment
So at lunch Australia are 1/34 and will be ruing that late wicket of Watson. This, after they conceded 192 runs in the first innings.
Warner did not open the innings and Cowan was joined by Watson. Cowan looked very uncomfortable for the time he was there at the crease while Watson was at home.
Back in 35.
5:04pm
Johnno said | 5:04pm | Report comment
Watto is finished as an opener.
5:05pm
Lukeling said | 5:05pm | Report comment
haha at least he got a go ; )
5:10pm
langou said | 5:10pm | Report comment
It was only one innings but my gut feel is that Watto having a better record opening has more to do with the fact he happened to open during his peak period of form.
5:25pm
Renegade said | 5:25pm | Report comment
Did you actually see the dismissal??
I don’t think it’s got anything to do with the fact Watto was opening…
5:35pm
The Bush said | 5:35pm | Report comment
Why do you guys respond to him. It’s either baiting/trolling or he is bi-polar.
5:44pm
Amith said | 5:44pm | Report comment
Agree Bush, he knows full well Watson is a better opener, lets see how Cowan goes as his recent form hasn’t been encouraging.(Not counting warm up games)
5:43pm
Ken Hambling said | 5:43pm | Report comment
Watson is a better opener then Cowan, i don’t think even Clarke disagrees with that, its all up to Cowan today to get a big one otherwise its over for him.
5:04pm
JGK said | 5:04pm | Report comment
FFS Watto.
5:01pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:01pm | Report comment
…or has he?
Watson’s gone last ball before lunch, caught in the slips!
That’s a huge wicket for India and it’s Ashwin who’s done the damage yet again. It was fuller and on the off stump, Watson had to play at it. He brought his front foot out to defend but the ball takes the outside edge and flies up for the first slipper to move to his right and take a dolly.
1/34 in 16 at lunch
5:08pm
jameswm said | 5:08pm | Report comment
Last ball before lunch?
Give me a break.
5:00pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 5:00pm | Report comment
Shot for a four! Goes down the track and smacks Ashwin over mid-off for a boundary! Watson’s looked very good…
4:59pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:59pm | Report comment
Last over before lunch and Ashwin comes on to bowl He took six of his seven wickets from this end first innings.
4:58pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:58pm | Report comment
Almost! Turned, bounced and Cowan was playing off the front foot. Gets the inside edge of the bat and goes quickly in that small gap between short-leg and backward short-leg!
4:57pm
Ken Hambling said | 4:57pm | Report comment
Watson looks like he belongs at opener, Cowan doesn’t look comfortable at all. Almost caught out again.
4:56pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:56pm | Report comment
A fifth fielder brought in close for Cowan facing Jadeja. Almost flicks it straight to backward short-leg.
0/28 in the 15th
4:55pm
Johnno said | 4:55pm | Report comment
Cowan and Watto, having a cook off too win a date with Warner, as his opening partner.
4:54pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:54pm | Report comment
Six for Watson! Shorter from Harbhajan and Watson’s gone back, clears his front leg and bang, deposited over mid-wicket for a six!
0/28 in the 14th
4:53pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:53pm | Report comment
Gone through for four byes. It was fuller on the middle and leg stump and it turned further down the leg-side. Left alone by the batsman and beats the keeper.
4:52pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:52pm | Report comment
Four players close in for Cowan against Jadeja. Leg-slip, a short-leg and a forward short-leg along with a slip.
An excellent over from Jadeja with some going straight on and a few turning back into Cowan.
On a not so difficult track, Jadeja isn’t one of those who turns the ball too much with the straighter, quicker one being his stock ball. It’s on these tracks he becomes a tad dangerous because of his ability to bowl those that don’t turn.
0/18 in 13
4:49pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:49pm | Report comment
Given where the rough is, Jadeja will be a handful and especially against the left-hander. Will bowl to Cowan now.
0/18 in 12
4:48pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:48pm | Report comment
Harbhajan’s not able to get Watson out, some are far too flat from him to trouble the right-hander.
0/18 in the 12th
4:46pm
Lukeling said | 4:46pm | Report comment
So is Watson opening because he chucked a hissy fit & Warner just said ” you can go in, I will have a few minutes extra rest”?
4:51pm
Amith said | 4:51pm | Report comment
Yeah there might be more to this then we are being told, Warner fielded so he was ok earlier today, perhaps Watson made a stand and said he will only open and not bat at 4.
4:53pm
B.A Sports said | 4:53pm | Report comment
Well all we have ever heard from Watson is “I want to do this” and “I want to do that”, its never been, “i’ll do whats best for the team”…
4:58pm
Ken Hambling said | 4:58pm | Report comment
Guys no conspiracy here, Watto has been asked to open and that’s what the team need from him today.
5:03pm
Matt said | 5:03pm | Report comment
Considering his opening record is better than both of them, it IS better for the team for him to play there.
5:04pm
Lukeling said | 5:04pm | Report comment
Yes heaps better, at least Warner has the lunch break to get out of the toilet.
5:07pm
Matt said | 5:07pm | Report comment
Yes well now I said it he’s out a minute later, but his record is better, almost 50 I believe vs about 30 for the others.
5:07pm
jameswm said | 5:07pm | Report comment
Give it a rest guys, maybe Warner really does have the runs.
Sheesh.
4:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:45pm | Report comment
Jadeja’s into the attack and whoa! That’s turned and bounced from round the stumps and away from the batsman!
This will not be easy for the right-hander, coming from the angle that Jadeja is.
0/17 in 11.
4:38pm
dadiggle said | 4:38pm | Report comment
The other game SA vs Pakistan day 5 start at 10 o’clock with Graeme Smith teeing off at the Pretoria golf course
4:38pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:38pm | Report comment
A four for Cowan! It was a poor delivery, full-toss, and flicked it away through mid-wicket for a four.
Ashwin was attempting his carrom-ball and it came out totally wrong.
0/16 in the 10th
4:34pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:34pm | Report comment
Watson’s playing Harbhajan off the back-foot. And so far, he’s looked quite comfortable doing that.
0/12 in 8.
4:31pm
langou said | 4:31pm | Report comment
I hope Ed makes a ton and sticks it up the ‘fans’ hoping he fails
4:33pm
Amith said | 4:33pm | Report comment
He seems to get to 20 and 30 regularly, its pushng past that mark thats his issue
9:32pm
Ken Hambling said | 9:32pm | Report comment
Amith your prediction was spot on mate.
4:46pm
Johnno said | 4:46pm | Report comment
langou i hope he fails, and he fails, the guy is overrated, Chris Rogers is the dude, or Watto to open.
4:31pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:31pm | Report comment
Off what we have seen so far in these six or so overs, Ashwin’s not spun them too much while Harbhajan’s getting them to turn. But Ashwin’s doing a good job getting a few degrees on the spin and then bowling some very straight…
…one nearly goes to short-leg from Cowan.
0/12 in 7
4:31pm
dadiggle said | 4:31pm | Report comment
When Ashwin came out to bat, they counted the number of logos on his pad straps, and reported him duly for breaching the ICC code of conduct, and fined him 10 per cent of the match fee. Go figure.
4:32pm
langou said | 4:32pm | Report comment
Typical Indians trying to cheat (smiley face)
4:35pm
dadiggle said | 4:35pm | Report comment
Seriously? Who counts the logo’s on a T shirt and its better than to look like the yellow pages than getting extra cash from bookies
4:40pm
langou said | 4:40pm | Report comment
.
4:28pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:28pm | Report comment
Finally a four! Cowan’s been trying his best to cut it through but not been able to needle it away but this time it’s a sweep. Down to fine-leg for a boundary.
0/11 in 6.
4:26pm
dadiggle said | 4:26pm | Report comment
Indian Pace attack consist of Ashwin and Singh no wonder Indian cricket is dying a slow horrible death
4:30pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 4:30pm | Report comment
It is? Check out the scoreboard…
If we had any quality spin bowlers we’d be doing the same on that wicket.
4:32pm
dadiggle said | 4:32pm | Report comment
No your bowlers bowled poorly. Shane Warne was a quality spinner how did he do against India over there?
4:41pm
langou said | 4:41pm | Report comment
What a baffling response
Almost Johnno-esque
4:47pm
Johnno said | 4:47pm | Report comment
Close. But dadiggle does have a point.
5:04pm
Barge Arse said | 5:04pm | Report comment
India got four LBWs, we got none. just sayin…
4:24pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:24pm | Report comment
After that initial brouhaha with those appeals, things have settled down a little. Picking up the singles and defending intermittently.
0/6 in the fifth.
4:25pm
jameswm said | 4:25pm | Report comment
This is going to be a long day, then.
4:18pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:18pm | Report comment
Huge lbw appeal now and given not-out! That seemed very out!
The ball did not turn from Ashwin and went straight on to Cowan, hits his pad but there was nothing coming from the umpire.
0/2 in 3
4:20pm
Amith said | 4:20pm | Report comment
That was out, lucky break for Cowan, he needed that.
4:23pm
jameswm said | 4:23pm | Report comment
So did Australia.
If the Aussies can otherwise do ok, and Cowan isn’t up to it, I’d rather he go. Having said that, Hughes at 3 in India doesn’t exactly inspire me with confidence.
4:23pm
Red Kev said | 4:23pm | Report comment
Quality commentary from ESPN:
“The umpires might be getting quite a few of these lbw calls wrong, but I tell you what, they have been alert with one thing: when Ashwin came out to bat, they counted the number of logos on his pad straps, and reported him duly for breaching the ICC code of conduct, and fined him 10 per cent of the match fee.”
I love it!
4:25pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:25pm | Report comment
Haha, yep well put that. I was reading the paper this morning and I wondered the same – how on earth did they count the number of logos on his pad straps? Boggles me.
4:15pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:15pm | Report comment
Huge appeal for a caught at slip and the umpire gives it not-out!
Tell you what, there no edge. Nothing. But let me also tell you that the ball was pitching on the off and it turned enough to beat the batsman and keeper and flew to the first slip!
4:31pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 4:31pm | Report comment
If I were one of the umpires I’d be putting in some earplugs…
4:37pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:37pm | Report comment
The appeals apart there is a lot of chatter around – encouraging the bowling, exclaiming at ones gripping and probably a few at the batsmen too.
4:13pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:13pm | Report comment
Harbhajan Singh will open the attack with Ashwin. Not surprising although there were talks that Jadeja might take up the attack.
4:11pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:11pm | Report comment
Alright, so the intent is going to be to play very positively. It is the first over and Cowan’s already gone for a smashing cut and Watson’s down the pitch twice.
0/1 in 1.
4:09pm
The Runt said | 4:09pm | Report comment
Last time we played in India a bloke on Debut had similar figures to Lyon only he got 8 then the flick from the selectors Lyon has had plenty of tests and still cant work it out maybe if they had of stuck to the bloke that can actually spin the ball he would be better and be confident enough to actually make his state side. How many of the spinners that have been tried have the confidence that badly dented that they cant get a regular run in the shield. I can think of at least 3 without even trying
4:12pm
josh said | 4:12pm | Report comment
Lyon can spin the ball. For some odd reason he doesn’t do it any more.
4:21pm
mick the clown said | 4:21pm | Report comment
Why would he bother doing the hard yards? – He gets selected even when he does not perform.
4:08pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:08pm | Report comment
I will have to take back my words, it is not Warner opening but Watson walking out with Cowan. A word about Warner suffering from a bout of gastro. Bad news that!
Ashwin to start off.
4:15pm
Brett McKay said | 4:15pm | Report comment
Not the kind of runs Australia needs right now…
4:21pm
jameswm said | 4:21pm | Report comment
A few of the Aussies have been damaging the Dalton all night after eating a dodgy vindaloo for dinner…
4:29pm
Christo the Daddyo said | 4:29pm | Report comment
Number two in the batting lineup now?
4:34pm
Amith said | 4:34pm | Report comment
Brett i notice you are back as soon as the Aussies are batting hehe
5:16pm
Brett McKay said | 5:16pm | Report comment
I was waiting for “my man Hughes”, apparently…
4:44pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:44pm | Report comment
Haha Brett, well put. Hopefully, he will do a Ranatunga and ‘walk’ most of ‘em.
4:02pm
Cantab said | 4:02pm | Report comment
A good chance day 5 won’t be needed.
4:02pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 4:02pm | Report comment
Be back in 10 minutes with Australia’s second innings as they look to first erase that huge lead India has garnered.
Warner and Cowan should open and it will be interesting to see if there is any shuffle in the batting order or change in the batting approach. Expect spinners to start off proceedings for India.
3:58pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:58pm | Report comment
And that is the end of that, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s dismissed by Siddle!
End of a very effective innings, one that was probably the difference between a 20-run lead and a near-200 one.
It was a slower one and BK was beaten by it, played an early shot and it loops up to mid-off for Clarke to take a simple catch. 38 for the number 10 and off 97 balls.
India bowled out for 572 which means that they lead by 192.
3:58pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:58pm | Report comment
Four singles off the Lyon over and a misfield from Maxwell allows Ishant to get off strike to Siddle.
3:54pm
mick the clown said | 3:54pm | Report comment
3x Questions
1) Pattinson with figures 5/96 – Is he due to be rested for the next game?
2) Why is Clarke not bowling Wade? – Previously lots of people exclaimed it was master captaincy (even though it was completely ineffectual)
3) How many runs until N Lyon is taken off (Permanently)
3:51pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:51pm | Report comment
Slower one and tapped away for a single, but there is an appeal for a run-out. Umpire calls for the third umpire and it was in, but poor running from Ishant who had his bat in the air for a long time before he grounded it.
9/567 in the 153rd. The lead is 187.
3:50pm
dadiggle said | 3:50pm | Report comment
Harold and Kumar Indian special live in Hydrabad
3:49pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:49pm | Report comment
It’s been ordinary stuff from Peter Siddle this innings and he’s dished out a short and wide delivery that BK smashes through point for a couple of runs.
9/566 in 152.2
3:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:45pm | Report comment
Superb shot against the turn! Bhuvneshwar Kumar uses his feet, goes down the track to Lyon and smacks it over mid-off for a four!
He now has 33 to his name, highest score by an Indian number 10 on debut!
9/563 in the 152nd
3:59pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 3:59pm | Report comment
Looks like one spinner in India was a mistake. Who would have thunk it ?
3:41pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:41pm | Report comment
Peter Siddle comes into the attack now. He’s bowled 22 wicketless overs for 61 runs.
3:40pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:40pm | Report comment
No signs of declaration and neither batsman has attempted to slog like how you would expect the numbers 10 and 11 to do.
9/558 in 150 overs.
3:36pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:36pm | Report comment
Four more byes! That’s 12 today itself and again not much that the keeper could have done.
Pattinson’s trying to get them right up to the bat but in doing so he’s pushing them down the leg-side.
9/555 in 149…the grind continues.
3:35pm
dadiggle said | 3:35pm | Report comment
Who who would have guessed it a Indian that is suspect to the bouncer. Taken them over 200 runs to realize it though
3:32pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:32pm | Report comment
And suddenly, number 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken up the role of the senior partner. He’s defended out the good balls from Lyon and got a couple to fine-leg before taking a single off the last ball. That’s what you can expect out of someone who’s batted in a 140-run stand for the ninth wicket.
9/549 in 148.
3:25pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:25pm | Report comment
Gone this time! Dhoni’s finally out!
Very good ball, a bouncer that comes out perfectly – Dhoni could have tried to go down but given his mood, he was always going to go for the pull. He does exactly that but was slow on it and nicks it to the keeper.
Wicket number five for Pattinson, 224 for Dhoni.
3:22pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:22pm | Report comment
Length ball and Dhoni has played through the line and over mid-off for a four!
Smashed away to the fence, takes Dhoni to 224 and India to 8/546
3:21pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:21pm | Report comment
And again! Almost gets another!
Lyon’s varying his pace this over and this was too good for the number 10. It was tossed up and did not turn, the batsman was playing for it. Goes straight on and beats the keeper as well for the second set of four byes today!
Lot of bounce too.
8/542 in 146.
3:26pm
jameswm said | 3:26pm | Report comment
So Wade missed a stumping?
Who’d have guessed it.
if so, with his simple drops off the quicks, he must be playing himself out of the test team.
3:27pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:27pm | Report comment
No, that wasn’t a stumping. It almost bounced over him and I don’t even think the batsman was outside the crease.
3:28pm
jameswm said | 3:28pm | Report comment
OK thanks. I had the rope ready…
3:20pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:20pm | Report comment
Almost a wicket!
Dhoni was looking to charge and dispatch, but was beaten in the flight. He still went ahead with the shot and the mistimed stroke just falls short of the long-on fielder!
8/538
3:18pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:18pm | Report comment
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has successfully negotiated the last five balls from Pattinson. He did present a straight bat but Pattinson has some zing going for him today – there’s good pace and some reverse.
8/537
3:17pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:17pm | Report comment
Dhoni’s 219 is the highest score by a keeper-captain in Test match cricket.
Alec Stewart’s 164 is the next best.
3:14pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:14pm | Report comment
Dhoni gets a single, cut through the point but to the third-man fielder. This gives Pattinson a chance at Bhuvneshwar Kumar, potentially five balls at him.
8/537
3:13pm
goodbye nathan said | 3:13pm | Report comment
Can’t blame Lyon’s horrendous performance on Wade, time to go lyon you are a disgrace
3:12pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:12pm | Report comment
It’s resumed. The shimmy down the wicket. Getting to the pitch of the ball. Hitting straight. And over the fence for a six.
Sixth six of the innings for the Indian captain, as India get to 8/536 in 144.
The lead’s up to more than 150.
3:10pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:10pm | Report comment
Edged and four! This is Bhuvneshwar Kumar getting beaten by Nathan Lyon but the edge falls well short of the first slip Michael Clarke and is slightly away from him too…
…runs away to the fence for a four.
8/528 in the 144th
3:08pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:08pm | Report comment
Shocking delivery from Pattinson…
…four byes as Pattinson sends it down the leg-side, so wide down that there was no way Wade was going to get close to it. Bit of reverse as well.
8/524 in the 143rd.
3:07pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:07pm | Report comment
Loud shout for an lbw as Dhoni was skipping down the pitch. Was quicker than he expected and keeps low too but the umpire gives it not-out because it was hitting him outside the line of off-stump.
3:04pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:04pm | Report comment
4/89 from 26 overs for James Pattinson. And he’s going to be taking up the attack.
3:03pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:03pm | Report comment
Dhoni gets a single off the fifth ball of the first over and while Bhuvneshwar Kumar could have added to the total off the final ball, the captain plays it safe – refuses that run.
8/520 in 142
3:02pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:02pm | Report comment
Dhoni refuses a single first ball! He’s in for a long haul here it seems…
…or, he’s looking to score a few! Reverse swept for a four! No slip and not too many around the covers and that gets Dhoni playing the reverse, gets a boundary.
8/519
3:00pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 3:00pm | Report comment
Nathan Lyon will begin proceedings today. MS Dhoni, first double-century under belt, on strike.
No slip, only a short-leg in place.
2:54pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:54pm | Report comment
Here we are on the fourth day with not even the second innings of the match completed. On a pitch which many said may not see the fourth day!
For all the talks of a difficult pitch, here’s an interesting stat. Seven wickets fell on the first day, six on the second and only five on the third day!
2:52pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:52pm | Report comment
The worry from Australia’s point of view will not be restricted to the lead alone. There are two other issues; one, barring Pattinson and to a slight extent Lyon, all the other bowlers have looked ordinary. Secondly, there were clear signs of wilting away in the third session, a trait not quite associated with the Australian cricket team.
Can they turn things around today?
2:45pm
Suneer Chowdhary said | 2:45pm | Report comment
Hello everyone and welcome to the fourth day’s play at Chennai. India are in a very good position and Australia will need something special out of their batsmen second innings.
First things first though and what Australia need to do is bowl India out quickly today. The lead’s already 135 and looking very dangerous.
1:32pm
Matt said | 1:32pm | Report comment
Here is a photo showing the poor condition of the pitch (man, and I thought our school pitches were average…) https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BD6oLsJCAAA0Y6q.jpg:large
Sad part? They still scored 500 and aren’t even out yet.
1:46pm
Lancey5times said | 1:46pm | Report comment
That’s incredible! (and how much did you have to pay the BCCI for that image
)
2:03pm
Chui said | 2:03pm | Report comment
Jim Maxwell MMS’d it from the ground. :O
3:41pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 3:41pm | Report comment
It was still good enough to score 900 runs on … and the tragedy, that a pitch will start to become a minefield on the fourth and fifth days !
5:06pm
Matt said | 5:06pm | Report comment
Guy who took it is probably in jail by now, lost royalties of about $100 million.
9:14pm
JGK said | 9:14pm | Report comment
When Hussey announced his retirement I said at the time that it felt like 1985 all over again with Clarke playing the role of Border.
And so it is turning out.