The Mohali Test has reached an exciting stage with the last 98 overs to decide if India or Australia will grab a victory – or if the draw will play out.
We’ll bring you the live coverage of the action throughout the fifth day from 2.30 pm AEDT on Monday.
A draw is also a feasible possibility but for that Australia will need to bat long and hard into the final day at Mohali.
India collapsed for the second time in as many innings this series but were still left with a lead of 91 runs thanks to Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay’s big hundreds.
Peter Siddle can take a lot of credit for reducing the Indian lead even as Mitchell Starc got the new ball to swing and grabbed a couple of wickets in his very first over of his new spell.
While Australia will be happier than they were at the end of the third day, the loss of three wickets when they batted made survival more difficult for the visitors.
With Australia still 16 behind and 98 overs to be bowled in the day it will need an unlikely second innings hero in Phil Hughes and captain Michael Clarke to bat deep into the fifth day.
Hughes got to his first half-century on the tour after having batted five innings with an average of less than six. He was in cracking mood and will hope to continue his positive intent on the final day.
Clarke injured his back while fielding and was off the field for many overs, handing over the reins to Brad Haddin in the process.
He did not come out to bat at three – the position he had batted in the first essay – or at four or five and it remains to be seen how much of that issue affects his batting.
The Australian middle and lower-middle order showed a lot of fight in the first innings but batting on what is effectively a fourth day Indian track won’t be the easiest.
Their realistic aim will be to bat at least 50 overs in the day, which will make chasing difficult for India in the remaining 40-45 overs.
R Ashwin has picked up scores of wickets this series already and he looks like he could be the most dangerous of the Indian bowlers.
The Clarke versus Jadeja battle will be an interesting one to watch out while India could bring in Ishant Sharma as the old ball shows signs of reversing.
Live coverage of the game begins from 2.30 pm AEST, half hour before usual time and you can add your opinion in the comments section below.
Homer
Guest
@mampara, with respect, the South African team took over the mantle of #1 in England, with Gary Kirsten as coach, unless you want to count that one series in 2008 when they were #1 for 2 months after beating Australia in Australia,with Mickey Arthur as coach. And fwiw, they conceded the title back to Oz in the return series, played in South Africa.
Behold
Roar Rookie
When Langer went to WA, he came out swinging at the decline in WACA culture and now over a year into Mickey Arthur's tenure as Australian coach Australian cricket has a culture problem. Is this a coincidence?
mampara
Guest
If you lot think your current situation is due to coaching or because of this ridiculous homework business as you so ignorantly put it you are on the gear for sure. Yes, I would suggest Arthur is not the best fit for the team and there is an element of foreign psychy which does not seem to gel, much like Deans and the Wallabies...but the truth is...Aus does not have the cattle right now. But to call Arthur a joke is more a reflection of you than him.
Richard
Guest
I know it doesn't make much sense, but we will have to find a replacement. He has great qualities as a cricketer but a leader of men he is not.
SandBox
Roar Guru
well said Phil. Jake White's doing an excellent job with the Brumbies, and we talk him up. Arthur not so good. Performance matters, not homework
Richard
Guest
Ignoring the usual spin, there are no positives to be taken out of this match for Australia. The captain and coach drew a line in the sand and we got worse. There was no fight in this team at all and not much skill. How low can we go is the real question. I guess we will find out sooner rather than later.
Phil
Guest
This was a terrible performance by our boys? There was no grit in here at all. A Last wicket rear-guard action to put the result slightly in dispute is not gallant. Gallant would have been saving the match. Look at that score sheet. From positions 1 to 6: Openers out for single figures, 1x69 from "the Crab" and the most under 30. Do you not think that some of those might have batted say the three more overs to save the match? That's all it would have taken. 3 paltry overs from 7 players..thats just under 4 balls each. To be good in test cricket, you first have to be hard to beat. You need to be able to grind out draws so all opponents know you will always be there or there-abouts. From that foundation, you can go on to start winning. I saw nothing gallant, as it was a loss and I might point out, a loss in under 4 days! Do you forget the first day was rained out? Pathetic from us. If we don't make changes then there is something wrong, Pattinson and Khawaja must come in.
Phil
Guest
mampara Arthur is a joke, he used the homework saga to put blame on the players when its his job to coach. Not only have we lost we have been smashed in this series. Unlike our players we have better options for coaches(i.e Langer, Lehman) and we need to consider them after this series.
mampara
Guest
Red Kev...Arthur coached SA to number 1...ever thought you don't have the players...the current crop just aren't as good as the opposition...no we're the best...just blame the saffa...baboon.
Nihar
Guest
The others didn't but of course the loss will be put in a positive mode by Arthur so they can justify the same team for the final test
Nihar
Guest
Lehman would be the best choice for coach, he is going for 3 titles in the 3 different formats this weekend
Rohit das
Guest
Thanks suneer for all the updates...
Red Kev
Guest
Starc tried hard, not sure anyone else did.
Red Kev
Guest
No. George Bailey is the only candidate that comes to mind and he's never played a test match. I know Khawaja has some captaincy experience at age-group and tour level but he's on the fringe. Watson and Warner are very untried and of the two only Warner should keep his spot in the side on merit. Tim Paine was touted but he's fallen down the pecking order since his injuries. Honestly, Brad Haddin is the most experienced and likely, which is very worrying.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Does Australia have a replacement captain, not a stop-gap one but a serious long-term successor on an immediate basis to Clarke? If no, then not too much sense in giving him the boot.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
India have never won a series 4-0 I think and that's exactly what they will be gunning for going into the Delhi Test. Jokes aside and no puns intended, Australia have a bit of homework to do but things won't change overnight. James Pattinson's presence will help, and the hope is that Watson's will too. There will be changes in the side. I suspect Pattinson will come in for one of the spinners and Mitchell Starc might retain his spot in the team. Moises Henriques' poor form could see him lose his spot to either Watson or Glenn Maxwell but all in all it's a selection headache for the side - especially after Hughes' positive half-century in the second innings. India could get in Ajinkya Rahane for Dhawan. No other change for me. Unless it is an out and out turner at the Kotla come Friday, in which case I wouldn't mind getting in Harbhajan Singh as well, for Ishant Sharma. That's it from me then, hope you enjoyed the coverage. Ciao!
Lukeling
Guest
Did Australia really fight hard on the fifth day? Seemed like capitulation to me.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yep, and that's been my point about his ODI inclusion as well, he needs to be treated like a bowler who can hold the bat. Much like a Yuvraj Singh who's a batsman who can bowl a little. Expecting him to do an all-rounder's job is ridiculous, he's not cut out for it, yet.
Johnno
Guest
This Sux, full credit to India, and a big put the boot in to Australia. Pathetic, how hard can it be, my old mates Blinky down the road at there local team just have a slog and and have a good and Bob's your Uncle. Seet how hard can it be. I loved listening to Alan Jones when he itnerviewed Shane Watson, so knowledgable on cricket is Alan. Heck Alan Jones for Aussy head cricket coach, he displayed more knowledge than Arthur did Alan. Cricket Australia have to get back to the drawing board. Sack Inver's, Micky Arthur, ex-wallaby Pat Howard would be a start.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shikhar Dhawan gets the man of the match: I thank god, my family, friends for all their blessings. When I entered I was nervous to start with but once I got my rhythm it clicked. M Vijay played a good knock, and did a great job and that helped. I was thinking of staying at the crease and not to go after the bowling, and tried to make it as big as I could. It's a dream for me and I hope to continue. Finger's bad and it could take time. Will take time to recover. Happens, part and parcel of life. Does not talk about the pressure of performance like Pujara, which is not such a bad thing.