- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Australia ended the penultimate day of the Melbourne with 326 runs in their kitty but they could be looking at scoring a few more runs before India get a shot at their target on the final day of the match. You can follow the live scores of this fifth day of this third Test from the the MCG starting 10:00am local time.
After picking the last two Indian wickets cheaply, Australia overcame one of the rare spells of good pace bowling in partnership between Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami to reach 261 for seven at stumps.
This was thanks to fighting fifties from Chris Rogers and Shaun Marsh, after David Warner had slugged his way to 40 and Steven Smith had been bizarrely caught by a leg-slip fielder without even getting to 20.
At one stage, India did have an outside chance of restricting Australia to less than 300 in lead, but Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris came up with small but important contributions to thwart their hopes.
However, on a ground where the only previous occasion any team has ever chased down more than 300 came in 1928, Australia could be gunning for a few more runs come the final day, according to Warner.
Warner said in his press conference Australia were a few runs short of where they needed and admitted to having the Adelaide game at the back of their mind.
With the pitch still playing reasonably well for the batsmen, only if being a tad slower, Warner noted: “We saw in the Adelaide Test how well they fought there and luckily we got the breakthrough because it could have been a different story. They would have gone one-nil up. We know what their batting line up is like: Kohli and Rahane put on a great partnership.”
Warner also said: “It’s still a very good batting wicket. There’s not much sideways movement with the new ball but when the ball gets older and a bit softer there’s a bit of reverse swing and I think that is going to be the key when we take the field, to try to get that ball going a bit, dry up the runs and get ten opportunities.”
The swashbuckling opening batsman said Australia will look to take advantage of the new ball but the one factor that will be more crucial based on the way things have gone in the last two days is reverse swing.
On the third day, when India collapsed yet again, there were clear signs of the older ball going the other way and making it slightly tougher for even the well-set Kohli and Rahane.
Even when Australia batted on day four, the quick bowlers were able to keep the batsmen quiet because of the way it swung and seamed after tea.
Also, a delay of more than one and a half hour on the fourth day because of rain means play on the final day will begin 30 minute earlier than normal. That will allow, weather permitting, a total of 98 overs and Australia will look to give their own bowlers around 80-85 overs to bowl India out.
With India having already announced they will go after whatever the set target will be, it could make for some attractive cricket. Australia will start favourites on the day but if India can be smarter about the chase than they have been over the previous five innings, they could yet come out with a draw.
You can follow the live score of the fifth day of this third Australia v India Test from 10.00 am local time on Tuesday and post your comments in the section below.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.