Test cricket between Australia and India at the SCG continues today. Join our live commentary from 10.30 am AEST, as Sachin Tendulkar and India face a momentous fourth-day challenge to avert an Australian victory.
Tendulkar is still at the crease, having battled through the final hour yesterday to finish on 8 not out. He will be the key, as India need to bat for at least five sessions to deny Australia a 2-0 lead in the series. India overnight were 2/114, still 354 runs behind Australia’s massive 4/658 declared. At present, the result could still be in the balance, with an easy batting pitch raising hopes of a long Tendulkar innings.
However, the job can’t be left to Tendulkar alone. Gautam Gambhir is still with him on 68, and his highest Test score was a double-century against Australia. VVS Laxman is still to come, the man who put on an immense 353-run partnership with Tendulkar in 2004. Something emulating these efforts will need to be produced if India are to bat far enough into the fifth day to have a chance of saving the Test.
Australia’s lead yesterday was built on Michael Clarke’s epic and aggressive 329 not out, the 13th-highest individual score in 135 years of Test cricket, and the fourth-highest Australian score behind Bradman, Taylor, and Hayden. Michael Hussey made 150 not out as the pair put on over 300 together, then declared an hour after lunch to send a tired and demoralised India in.
Nonetheless, Gambhir put aside recent form woes to attack, even as Virender Sehwag slapped lazily to point, and Rahul Dravid was bowled by a beauty from Ben Hilfenaus. Gambhir, though, was dropped by Brad Haddin late in the day, as he tried to defend his way to stumps. Tendulkar also played for stumps, his 8 runs coming off 42 balls.
India can’t afford to retreat tomorrow and merely bat for the draw. Australia’s bowlers looked taken aback yesterday as Gambhir and Dravid attacked, and Clarke’s field placings tended to the conservative. Being assertive against the bowling is the only way India can stop Australia simply tightening the noose. No bowler likes going for runs, whatever the lead. If India can score consistently, it will start to put pressure back on Australia.
And if they can bat out the day, they would at least be getting close to erasing the Australian lead, meaning any further runs would add an Australian chase, however small, to the equation.
All that is a long way off, however, and the far more likely result is an Australian victory today. If a wicket falls early, which it is likely to do, the match tilts substantially Australia’s way. If two wickets fall, it’s game over.
Can the impossible happen? Or will the likely prevail? Join Geoff Lemon for our live commentary from 10.30 am AEST by scrolling down to the Comments section, and feel welcome to join him in conversation.
Patrick Angel
Roar Guru
Great call Red Kev, they never have time to settle.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Not saying someone should be dropped on the basis of those scores - it's only three innings, and I'd encourage patience. But if an established player returns, someone has to make way, so it's liable to be a guy with a short record who hasn't contributed recently. If Watson doesn't return, Marsh should get a decent run, though I think Khawaja is much more likely to make a Test batsman.
sai teja
Guest
greaat play by the gauti,sachin,laxman,ashwin. india will be back on thier third test
Jason Cave
Guest
Consider this bowling attack come the Ashes 2013-James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Pat Cummis, Nathan Lyon, with either Shane Watson or Michael Clarke to provide the back-up if necessary...it's going to be a really good bowling attack in England. All we need to do between now and England 2013 is to find some decent batsmen.
Oracle
Guest
Can someone please explain how Haddin holds his spot. Certainly got nothing to do with performances which have been woeful for a long time.
Brett McKay
Expert
guys, the only change for Perth is Mitchell Starc comes into the 12 for James Pattinson, who is now out for the series with a foot injury. It seems he was going to be rested for Perth anyway, but he's picked up some bone soreness. From the CA release: Australian Physiotherapist Alex Kountouris, said: “James Pattinson reported some left foot pain after the second innings of the Sydney Test match. Whilst he was able to bowl unrestricted in the game he did have pain towards the end of the match. As such, he had x-rays and scans after the game that have cleared him of a stress fracture but have demonstrated early stage bone stress injury of the metatarsal bone of the left foot. He will be managed carefully over the next few weeks and will not be available for selection for the remainder of the Vodafone Test series against India. ” Watson wasn't mentioned at all, for what it's worth...
Red Kev
Guest
They're not doing Khawaja and Marsh (assuming he's dropped for Watson) any favours by moving them in and out of the team all the time.
Chaos
Guest
Pattinson ruled out.
Chaos
Guest
Hussey had three golden ducks in 7 digs. Then flourished. Maybe Marsh needs a little faith? I'll leave Invers to make the right choice.
Chaos
Guest
Haddin should go but he won't.... Selectors hate making changes to a winning team. Haddin has been awful with the gloves since his first series after taking over from Gilly. West Indies? He let too many byes through then, but did more with the bat. However the twitter feed is hilarious. Haddin doesn't do himself any favors when Healy gives spot on criticism and he gets upset about it. Keepers like Emery, Berry and Barry Jarman must wonder if they where born in a different era....
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Not sure you could retain Marsh ahead of anyone after 0, 3, and 0. Not to mention that he'd be another slightly makeshift opener. I'd like to see the openers open.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
It would. Though I think the first innings collapse had a lot more to do with Indian uncertainty than any demons in the pitch.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
It would be a big achievement, yes. Largely it's due to the development in the bowling side - that seemed the weaker spot until very recently. Australia's batting is still a question mark, and one monster innings on a friendly pitch shouldn't paper over the cracks of the past couple of years. Had Clarke nicked one of his many play-and-miss cover drives on the first evening, this could all have been a very different story. Thus are the margins...
Geoff Lemon
Expert
A pleasure, Rhys, and always good to get your contributions.
jamesb
Guest
well 12 months ago, it was no fun England flogging Australia
rl
Guest
Yep, Haddin should go. Let some byes through as well. Watto fit again should make things interesting - Warner stays, so who out of Cowan and Marsh get the bullet? I agree about Pattinson looking tired - while I'm sure he could recover in time for Perth , why not rotate him out for a spell and bring Harris in? No sense setting ourselves up to flog another great young quick.
Danny
Guest
It would be fun to wind time backwards and replay it with India sending the Aussies in to bat first.
Red Kev
Guest
Couldn't agree more.
Jason Cave
Guest
If Australia wins the series against India, it will show that Michael Clarke has come of age as a Test captain. To beat a team consisting 4 of the best batsmen in world cricket over the previous 10 years would give the Australians an enormous boost in confidence. And it would give England something to be concerned about as we head into the 2013 Ashes series. By the time the Ashes series come around Australia will be well placed to bring the Ashes home.
Harry
Guest
They'll cop a flogging from their press and supporters. Richly deserved. Their attitude and approach on Day's 2 and 3 as Clarke, Hussey and Ponting put them to the sword was lamentable.