Australia’s cricketers fought back to force the first Test against India into a fifth day and Moises Henriques says the tourists haven’t given up hope of scoring a remarkable victory.
Australia will resume on Tuesday’s final day on 9-232 with an overall lead of just 40.
Henriques is unbeaten on 75 alongside his first-innings score of 68 in a tremendous performance on debut in Chennai.
No.11 Nathan Lyon is on eight and they have added 57 for the 10th wicket after Australia appeared headed for an innings defeat at 9-175.
Offspinner Ravi Ashwin has claimed 5-90 after his seven-wicket haul in Australia’s first innings.
Australia’s 84-over second innings has included only three overs of pace bowling from Ishant Sharma as Ashwin and fellow spinners Ravindra Jadeja (2-68) and Harbhajan Singh (2-55) exploit the crumbling red-clay pitch.
The tourists have only one frontline spinner and offspinner Lyon had a difficult first innings, conceding 3-215.
But Henriques says Lyon and Australia’s pace attack are confident they can put India’s batsmen under pressure, even with only a small total to defend.
“MS Dhoni was able to put on 100 or 150 (140) with the guy batting at 10, so if we come out tomorrow you just never know, especially on a day-five wicket,” Henriques said.
“Our backs are up against the wall.
“We know that especially on a wearing wicket, it’s only going to get tougher to start (for India’s batsmen).
“It’s that type of wicket where you almost have to concentrate as if every ball is your first one because you have to stay sharp and make sure you’re alert for that one that does act a little differently.
“Sometimes you will get one that you just can’t do anything about.”
India had resumed on 8-515 and were all out for 572, boosted by Dhoni’s 224, a record for an India captain.
He was one of five victims for Aussie quick James Pattinson (5-96).
Australia’s top order of Ed Cowan (32), Shane Watson (17) and David Warner (23) failed to capitalise on their starts while Phil Hughes (0) at No.4 and Michael Clarke (31) were victims of a couple of sharp-turning deliveries.
Opener Warner batted at No.3 after a bout of gastro.
Matthew Wade (eight) was bowled attempting a slog-sweep shot against Harbhajan and Peter Siddle (two), Pattinson (11) and Mitchell Starc (eight) went cheaply before Australia’s fightback late on Monday.
Meanwhile, team doctor Peter Brukner announced that reserve quick Jackson Bird would be sent home for precautionary scans on a back injury.
Bearfax
Guest
errr Its called lack of competition over there. Who do you replace him with?
mick the clown
Guest
James W. Why are you keeping the bowler with figures of 3/210? What does he need to do to be axed?
mick the clown
Guest
It went out with the current NSP. The NSP do not pick on merit but pick based upon: Where in the rotation/player management cycle we are (but noone will be told how it works How much they are "building" for the future Form from 2 years ago Potential into the future Even though there may be better players, they know the limits of the current players.
mick the clown
Guest
Is thsi a side effect of the Peptides?
Sunil
Guest
Agree 100% Bearfax, Khawaja for Cowen and moving Watson to open with Doherty for Siddle is the right way to go. Siddle is my favorite bowler but not for this tracks
Sunil
Guest
Lets hope you are wrong Red Kev, as Cowan should not play the next test with Khawaja coming in, but as much as i hate to say it you may be right
Sunil
Guest
jamesw very good team mate, agree 100%
Sunil
Guest
Its very easy to fix the top order, move Watson to opener with Warner, Hughes, Khawaja and Clarke as the other batsman, problem solved.
Sunil
Guest
I like Bailey but he is averaging in the mid 20s in shield this year, so its hard to pick him on that form. Hopefully he gets solid shield runs next season which will make a case for him. I agree with you that the likes of BUrns and Khawaja are the future
Lukeling
Guest
Really? Hmmm might start up a back scan clinic in India. With a population of 1.2 billion I reckon I would get a few customers !
Bearfax
Guest
I know a lot of people are impressed with Bailey's recent form. But lets get it is perspective. Bailey is an excellent One Day Player and averages 45 in that game. But his performances are not reflected in the longer form of the game where he in fact has a slightly poorer average than Cowan (39.55 compared to Cowan's 39.93). And he has played a lot of first class cricket. Further he is over 30 years old. At test level a batsman's average tends to be less than their first class average. Cowan test average for example is under 33. This is especially the case when a batsman reaches their optimum age, usually between 30-35. I would suspect selecting Bailey for Cowan would result in not too dissimilar results. You're far better going for the younger batsman, unles you've got a batsman in their early forties with a 45-55 average at first class level. Both Maxwell and Steve Smith have first class batting averages around 42, though Maxwell has only played 15 first class matches so he's not yet really tested. Burns has an average around 42-43, Cosgrove at age 28 has an average around 46. The Australia selectors constant mistake is bringing players into test cricket after a few good scores, yet over 30 years old with averages under 40 at first class level. That's banking on what they think is safe mediocrity. You've got to get the younger blokes with potential in there. If they fail over a series, drop them and send them back to correct their problems...you can do that with them but not with those over 30. That way you are giving a number of young batsmen test cricket experience and helping them to correct issues that hamper their performances. No way would I have chosen Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Quiney, Christian etc from the start. They should be picking Burns, Khawaja, even Cosgrove (get him into a strict diet and training). they are right to pick Henriques, Maxwell and Steve Smith because they and kids still developing and have talent, but in the latter two its still not yet test level but will be. They seem to have the right idea with the young fast bowlers. giving Cummings, Starc, Pattison, Bird etc a taste of test cricket. In other areas they dont seem to be following that rule.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I read somewhere that an Indian player, Yadav I think, went to Hong Kong or Singapore for treatment.
JGK
Roar Guru
He's got a cool nickname.
Renegade
Guest
If that's true....then how the hell did Maxwell get picked?
JGK
Roar Guru
Actually, Warner's problem at the moment is not misfiring - it is not converting. 5 times to 50 in his last 7 innings but not once to 100.
Lukeling
Guest
It's ridiculous Bird is flying back for scans. They are saying if the scans are ok he will fly back to India. Those flights aren't going to help any issue he does have. Are there no hospitals in India??! Seems crazy that there is not somewhere that can do a scan? How do Indian cricketers let alone the general public deal with it? I love a good conspiracy & this to me looks like a way the selectors can rush over O'Keefe without looking like they made the wrong decision with their bits & pieces squad.
Paul S
Guest
Unfortunately, we just don't have a very good top 4. Watson, Hughes and Cowan all average low-mid thirties, hardly world beating stuff. Warner's a match winner on his day but with his style he's always going to miss-fire more than once during a series. If Australia is going to continue playing Wade or an all rounder at 6 I would suggest we can only afford 2 of the current top 4. That leaves somebody else, maybe Khawaja, maybe Bailey (I know he's not in the squad) to fill out the middle order and hopefully provide some backbone and support to Clarke... Obviously won't happen next test though...
Red Kev
Guest
I hope the doctor he sees in Sydney is one educated in a Mumbai or Hydrabad Medical College who moved to Australia – that would just crack me up.
planko
Guest
It is not over yet ? Glimmer of hope is all I need.
planko
Guest
Bring the big show into the game I say.