Michael Clarke will have his eye on a number of records today, as he resumes on 251 not out, with a friendly pitch and a battle weary Indian attack at his mercy. Join us for live cricket scores and commentary of Day 3 of the Australia vs India SCG Test match
Mike Hussey is on 55 overnight. The Indians desperately need wickets, and some vulnerability by the batsmen as they start the day is the best chance.
Clarke was immense yesterday, batting all three sessions and scoring over 200 runs, after his 47 late on the first day averted a potential Australian disaster at 3/37. Ricky Ponting added 288 runs with Clarke, finally scoring his breakthrough century after nearly two years without one. He was eventually out, the only wicket to fall in the day, for 134.
Clarke pressed on with Hussey, and far from tiring, the two attacked as the day wore on. They added 157 by stumps at nearly five an over, and despite having batted all day, Clarke’s contribution outstripped Hussey’s 55 to 97. Both batsmen found the boundary repeatedly, as India’s lines looked innocuous and MS Dhoni retreated in the field. Australia closed at 4/482.
Today, the ground records at the SCG are at Clarke’s mercy. The only innings ahead of him yet are Brian Lara’s opus of 277, and Tip Foster’s ground-high score of 287. Foster’s mark has stood apparently inviolable for 99 years, since the Englishman travelled here in 1903, but it could fall at long last today.
After that, Clarke could eye off a triple-century. His highest score before yesterday stood at 168, but he looked invincible yesterday. Hussey’s innings was also a gem, attacking from the first ball and looking completely at ease at the crease. He too would love a hundred here to put Australia in an unassailable position.
Already 291 runs behind, India have no hope of anything bar batting for a draw. Even that would be a phenomenal effort for their batting order, already looking frail and dispirited in this series, who will be exhausted after a couple of days in the field.
Will Australia press on towards tea or further today, or can India hit back and run through their lower order? Only one way to find out. Channel the game from your chosen source, and tune in here for our live commentary and conversation. Your contributions are welcomed and encouraged – join Geoff Lemon for a chat about the game from about 10.20 am Australian eastern standard time.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Confidence always helps.
Luke
Guest
Haddin won't be dropped. He could drop Sehwag, Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman and make a king pair and he will still keep his place. The highly overrated Tim Paine has been annointed the next keeper for Australia by the Cricket Australia marketing gurus. And until he gets back from injury then good old Brad Haddit can continue to miss as many chances as he likes because his position is safe. Matthew Wade might as well go over and play County Cricket and wait four years to qualify for England. He has more chance of playing for them after Prior retires than for us.
sai teja
Guest
india will win the match,gambhir will have his double century
Harry
Guest
Agree with your final 2 para's on the magnificence of Clarke's innings and I also congratulate him on his team-oriented, positive captaincy. Such a contrast to Dhoni in essentially the same conditions. However no, won't "lay off" Haddin. It just wasn't good enough for the Australian cricket team.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Brendon, Because six destroyed slow bowlers arent enough. If you had been running things, "Shane Warne" would have been the answer to the pub quiz question "What ex-St Kilda player had a Test average of 150 after playing a single test"
jamesb
Guest
Look This is Michael Clarkes day. On a day where it was "Jane Mcgrath Day" which everyone was supporting a cause which is far more important than the result of this test match. In other words, would you guys lay off Haddin for the time been, at least 24 or 48 hours and wait the outcome of this test match. In my prevoius post, I was mild and measured as far as Haddin is concerned, but also positve that our bowlers are still creating chances. In the mean time, give credit to Michael Clarkes outstanding knock of 329* not out, the 13th highest individual score of all time! He could've bat on, but he declared so that his team had enough time to bowl out India, which was a noble act. Also big applause the the SCG trust, cricket Australia, channel 9 for putting on outstanding day as far as "Jane McGrath Day" is concerned. .............so much good happened today, yet people worry about a drop catch late in a day.
JVGO
Guest
It was great day. Shock declaration really. At the ground the crowd would have loved him to have a lash at the WR for 40 minutes to see how it went. They were completely behind him. But he was smarter than everyone and showed clearly that he believes the captaincy is about more than just fun for everyone. I thought 3 wickets would have been what he was hoping for by the close and they almost got it. They should still win anyway. The bowlers were impressive.
Walt
Guest
She went on Star Sports with Ravi Shastri and sounded very polished. Very Strine, but spoke well and never missed a beat. Nothing to do with cricket but she said what needed to be said and was all over the Pink Day. Good on her./
Brendon
Guest
But you know the drill: "dont change a winning team" crap. Same reason Lyon was picked even though not only does he not take wickets he gets hit out of the attack within a few over rendering him completely and utterly useless. If Australia wins then Haddin will most likely be picked for the 3rd test. If India manage a draw then Haddin might get dropped. Haddin might get dropped regardless ... I hope I am wrong. But Australian cricket is a slave to its past.
Harry
Guest
Final thought - grat decalaration by Clarke. gee he's come of age this test as a captain. Strategy derailed by Haddin's incompetence.
Oracle
Guest
Richie and the channel 9 commentators were promoting Haddin's book this arvo, as if they are going to call his incompetence behind the stumps when they have such a conflict of interest.
Harry
Guest
Just returned, via the pub, from another great day and pleased to see my sentiments shared below. The Roar is good like that ...
Harry
Guest
Get Haddin OUT of the test team. He's never been of adequate standard for the Australian test team wicketkeeper.
Oracle
Guest
Surely Haddin must be dropped now. That "effort" this arvo was embarrassing, like his solo appeal in the first innings.
jamesb
Guest
The postive thing for Australia is they were creating chances towards the end with tendulkar almost chopping on, and of course Haddins dropped catch. The Australian team did look a little down when they left the field, despite the fact that Australia still lead by 354 runs. Haddin, geez, he is not making it easier on himself to be selected in the future. Rod Marsh always said, "i'm a keeper first, batsman second". Which means dropping simple catches is far more important than not scoring runs if you know what I mean. I still think Australia will go on with it as we enter day 4. Whether Haddin goes on with it beyond this test or series remains to be seen.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Well. The end of an extraordinary day of Test cricket. Michael Clarke recorded the 13th-highest individual Test score of all time, going to 329 not out in an attacking innings before declaring the innings closed. He waited on declaring until Mike Hussey had raised his 150, but didn't appear to give any thought to passing Don Bradman's 334, or chasing Matthew Hayden's Australian record of 380, or Brian Lara's world record of 400. Clarke had the highest score at the SCG by the time he was done. Hussey was 150 not out. Ponting had made 134 the previous day. It was an extraordinary recovery from 3/37. They ended up at 4/659 declared, with a lead of 468 over India. The declaration came midway through the second session, and India were sent in to bat after drinks. They needed, quite simply, long innings. Virender Sehwag is a man who can play them - Clarke had passed two of his triple-century scores earlier in the day. But he slapped lazily in the air through gully to be caught by a flying David Warner for 4. It was a poor shot with a packed field. Dravid is another man who can play the long game, but he was beaten by an absolute beauty, a ball that shaped like an outswinger but cut back in to take off stump. Hilfenhaus got both wickets to fall. Gautam Gambhir, though, shrugged off recent indifferent form to attack confidently. He hit a lot of boundaries early, and had raced to a half century with his team's score only in the 60s. As Tendulkar joined him, late in the day, the two were bogged down playing for stumps, and batted out about eight successive maidens. Gambhir should have succumbed to the pressure in the shadows of stumps, but Brad Haddin spilled a regulation catch behind the wicket. So, Australia's advantage, well and truly. But the deficit has been cut down to 354, and India will place their hopes in Gambhir and Tendulkar coming out for a big partnership tomorrow. With the pitch playing in a fairly placid fashion, Laxman could follow Gambhir in shrugging off his indifferent form. Needing to bat at least a day and a half to hope to save the Test, India are against the odds, but we will see if Australia can press home their advantage, or if India can keep the dreams of escape alive, when we recommence tomorrow. Join me on The Roar from 10.30 AEST for the start of play.
MrKistic
Guest
Looks like he showboated that one a little. A big leap only to have it seemingly go through his arms after the gloves have already passed the ball. He's like that.
Rhys
Guest
Dunno if you noticed Ponting shake Haddin's hand as the players were leaving the field. "Why?" I asked myself. Was it to congratulate him on finding yet another way to botch a straight forward catch?
Red Kev
Guest
I was just thinking that - that is two dropped chances in the last couple of tests and both have been relatively easy ones he has made look hard. Coupled with his batting surely Matthew Wade should be getting a phone call for the last two tests.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Just a single off the last over, Tendulkar finally took a run, and they make it safely to stumps against Hilfenhaus, who has taken the wickets. Day's wrap to follow shortly.