The baggy greens are only 326 runs ahead with 96 overs to be bowled on this final day of the third Test at the MCG against India, and there are seven damn good reasons why Australian captain Steve Smith should bat on this morning.
First and foremost, India must win to keep the series alive, and it doesn’t matter what target Smith sets, India must have a crack at it, so make it difficult.
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On day two of this Test, India added 354 runs off 89.2 overs with Virat Kohli (169), and Ajinkya Rahane (147) running riot, treating the Australian attack with contempt.
So 326 runs off 96 overs should be a breeze for India if Smith closes before play starts, and you never “give a mug an even break”.
The next four reasons will be forever cemented in the Australian’s memory of those who toured the sub-continent in February-March this year.
India won the first Test at Chennai by eight wickets.
They won the second Test at Hyderabad by an innings and 135 runs.
And completed the series whitewash in the third and fourth at Mohali and Delhi by winning both by six wickets to waltz away with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
This series will not erase the memories of that disaster tour, but at least silverware eases the pain.
And to complete the picture is Shaun Marsh, unbeaten on 62 with Ryan Harris in tow, plus Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood, still to come.
It would do Marsh, and the Australian team the world of good if the Western Australian went on to post his first Test ton on Australian soil, to go with his debut 141 against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in September 2011, and his 148 against South Africa at Centurion in February this year.
That being the case, with Harris, Lyon, and Hazlewood no rabbits, that would give the Indians a target of roughly 380 with around 85 overs to go.
Now that’s the sensible way to go, repeating India must win to keep the series alive.
And I’m tired of hearing what Michael Clarke did, or would do, if he wasn’t injured.
In his one-on-one with Bill Lawry yesterday on Channel Nine during the rain break after lunch. Clarke made it crystal clear he’s the man in charge, and Steve Smith is only a caretaker.
Clarke even referred to Brad Haddin as his vice-captain.
I’ve got to give Clarke the credit for being masterful when it comes to self-promotion. He has been on Channel Nine all four days, and will be on air again today, and right through the Sydney Test.
So there are six more days of Clarke’s self-promotion, while Steve Smith proves to the national selectors he’s far more than a caretaker captain, thoroughly deserving permanency for two reasons.
He’s won the dressing room in just on two Tests, every one of the team who has been interviewed has spoken in glowing terms of his leadership, and Clarke’s injury record is woeful at best.
Time will tell how the selectors will go, and time will tell how regular Clarke can be available before he breaks down again.
Two factors stand out, Clarke has no divine right to the captaincy, and in the meantime he can show Steve Smith respect for the great job he’s doing.
While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
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