Peter Siddle counterattacked with his second consecutive half-century, after Ravindra Jadeja completed his maiden five-wicket haul to fire out Australia for a lead of 154.
It will be up to Australia to produce an extraordinary finish with the ball to deny India a clean sweep.
Contrary to his defensive 51 in the first innings, Siddle attacked the Indian spinners with a series of lofted drives over mid off to finish with an even 50 from 44 balls.
It was the first time in the history of Test cricket that a No. 9 batsman had top-scored in both innings, testament both to Siddle’s determination and fine play, and the lamentable standard of his top order teammates.
Jadeja had earlier run through the top order as the Aussies and the pitch crumbled in Delhi.
Australia’s decision to promote Glenn Maxwell to opener (yes, really) backfired, with he and David Warner dismissed within seven overs.
Shane Watson’s first Test as captain saw the decision to promote Maxwell in favour of Ed Cowan, who nonetheless was soon out on the pitch at No. 3 as Maxwell missed a straight ball from Jadeja to be bowled.
The next over, Warner stepped back on his stumps and missed a flip across the line to be plumb lbw to the same bowler, seeing Phil Hughes come to the crease at No. 4.
Hughes was given another terrible lbw call in favour of Ravi Ashwin, Shane Watson played a worse shot to be bowled by Pragyan Ohja, and Jadeja picked up Cowan, Smith and Johnson. Cowan’s 24 was the second best score.
Australia earlier closed out the Indian innings for just 272, after Nathan Lyon produced the performance of his career in the fourth Test in Delhi.
The oft-criticised Australian spinner took 5/94 from 22 overs yesterday, an exceptional day’s work that accounted for Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, debutant Ajinkya Rahane, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Along with wickets to James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, and Glenn Maxwell, a combative Australian side reduced India to 8/268 at stumps, with Ashwin dramatically falling from the last ball of the day.
It was a lead of just six. Lyon returned again to make short work of India’s tail today, bowling Ishant Sharma for 0 and then trapping Pragyan Ohja first ball. The off spinner will be on a hat-trick when he comes on in India’s second innings.
India’s first innings lead was just 10 runs over Australia, meaning an improved reply from Australia could see them threaten for a win for the time on this tour.
You can listen to the call with us live on Roar Radio via the player below, and leave us any comments here on this page, or via Twitter at @Roarlive.
Richard
Guest
At least someone in the team respects what it means to bat for Australia!
Richard
Guest
So you would prefer the total losers we have now! We have to start blooding young players early. He is young throw him in, back him and see if he can adaptt. Geez he has done it in the shield. Our top order is defunct we need radical surgery
Richard
Guest
I disagree. We have no talent at the moment and failed no talent at that. I reckon he would do just as well as the current lot. Geez we could do with a player who plays a long innings without losing their head!. Throw him in there like Tassie did and back him. Whats he got to lose hes a young kid with a head on his shoulders, he has played a huge part in Tassie(almost) winning the shield. Just get him in there!!!
Siddle in my mind is the gutsiest and mentally toughest cricketer OZ has, he would be my captain if I was the coach.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Couldn't agree more, Kaushik, Warner was a fifth column for the last two Tests with his ability to start a collapse, his inspiring of the opposition, and his handy overthrows.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Terrific to hear that TB, and thanks for letting us know. Those of us on the call really enjoyed putting it together. We'll be looking at our options at what else to call, there could even be some options before the Ashes. Watch this space. Or more importantly, our Roar Radio page at www.theroar.com.au/live
Geoff Lemon
Expert
At this rate I think we could do with them both in the side, Kev.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Great to see that from Siddle. His application was an indictment on the top order though, with all those cross-bat monstrosities.
Red Kev
Guest
Brendon is right about that - Silk needs minimum 2 full seasons after this one in the Shield before he is called up.
Red Kev
Guest
Who said anything about keeping Watson? I wrote an entire article on why he shouldn't be in the test side. Warner, Watson, Maxwell, Henriques, Johnson and Doherty should all be dropped. I would expect Warner adn possibly even Henriques to come back. Starc should be left out of the Ashes to recover and play more first class cricket and learn to bowl tightly rather than loosely.
Brendon
Guest
So why not drop Watson? At least Warmer scored runs this summer, he was going ok until he was rotated.
Brendon
Guest
Silk's been on the scene for two minutes and you want to throw him to the wolves? It's not like he scored a double ton on debut, it was a 108 off 350+ balls. Not a chance, I'd even prefer the team we have now to putting a total rookie in there?
Kaushik
Roar Rookie
Postpone the Ashes. Looks like its going to be two tired and disorientd teams battling it out to see who can play worse.
Kaushik
Roar Rookie
As an Indian, I'd love to have Warner on the team until Oz's next tour to India :) His mind seems to take a short nap every now and then while he is batting. Add to that his ability to fire up the opposition with his banter, he seems to be the 12th player for the opponents.
buddha9
Guest
Red Kev your point about warner building an innings is a good one. The thing i notice about him and i don't rate him much, but to be fair he has made runs, is that he looks exhausted after batting for a session -- if you compare him to cook for instance cook can bat for a day and a half and his hands aren't even perspiring . He's a exception and its harsh to judge Warner against him but my point is some sportsmen have low metabolisms Bjorn Borg for instance and usually these guys are great -- in cricket you have to bat a long time and warner to me uses up too much nervous energy batting for only a short time i wonder if that's why he wants to belt everything out of the ground, if that's why that's his 'natural' game. i don't see him as a big hundred man. He uses a lot of energy for not much reward.
Richard
Guest
Ok who is your sixth batsmen then? Ok maybe Cowan could remain in the side as an opener and Warner could drop down. I just think after this debacle we need new batting talent at the top of the order, hence my Silk inclusion. If I was going to take a punt he is as good as any at the moment and he has youth on his side. I would take one of my selected all founders over Smith any day of the week to England
Red Kev
Guest
No, no, no ,no, no. Not more bloody allrounders. Six batsman, one keeper, three quicks and a spinner. Simple.
Richard
Guest
Smith should not be in the side for England, he is not anywhere near good enough. Think Hopes, Faulkner or Butterworth . Silk should open with Warner, Cowan just isn't good enough, its time to give youth a go if we are ever going to rebuild this team. No 3 Hughes, he deserves a crack against England at least for the first couple of tests at no3. Clarke 4 if his back is ok, if not then Bailey(or Hopes) as replacement captain(no one else in the side is experienced or has a captains brain), Bailey also has a habit of stepping up to the plate when asked and performing. Khawaja at 5 and leave him there for an extended period. Wade for the immediate time being at 6 but he has a question mark hovering over him. 7 Butterworth/Hopes/Faulkner(toss a coin) 8 Siddle 9 Pattinson 10 Bird/Starc 11 Lyon. Thats the line up for the first Ashes test for me. Watson should be jettisoned
Red Kev
Guest
Lol, that should read "are NOT significantly more..." Rogers' 43.0 over 5 summers (2.5 years) compared to Khawaja 41.0 over the same period, the difference is Usman played tour matches and test matches but fewer games overall.
Red Kev
Guest
The law of averages says he hasn't played enough first class matches for his average to settle. Fewer than half the number of matches Khawaja has played with an average only 3 higher and trending down.