A Virat Kohli century helped India get to within touching distance of Australia‘s score, but the dismissal of the Indian captain afforded the hosts an opening. Follow the live blog of the fourth day of the first Test from the Adelaide Oval starting 10:30am (AEDT).
India batted incredibly positively on day three. Led by a determined Kohli ton, the innings had Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane topping the half-century mark and it was done at a remarkably aggressive 3.8 runs an over.
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When play was called off India were only 148 runs behind Australia, but the late wicket of Kohli meant Australia have a good chance of running through the second half of the innings in a jiffy.
India have Rohit Sharma at the crease, and it will be interesting to see how he goes about batting in the same role that VVS Laxman did for many years for India.
Laxman was a number five or six batsman who was often shepherded the admirably. Rohit could take a leaf out of his book but given his relative lack of experience in Tests, he may allow Australia to sneak in.
The other flip is the longish Indian tail.
In England, India had often played Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar instead of Rohit, Kan Sharma and Varun Aaron. While Rohit is a far superior batsman to the other five, the absence of Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar could hurt the Indian batting at such a crucial stage in the game.
Karn hasn’t had too much experience and while he showed he can hold his own, playing at this level and against a bowling side of this class will be a difficult job. The rest of the three Indian bowlers can bat at 9, 10 and jack and no-one will know the difference – which makes it even tougher.
That is why the partnership of Rohit and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha – who is himself only in his third Test – is a crucial one.
If they can bring India closer to the Australian score and the tail can wag enough to get to at least 475, then we might have an exciting match on our hands – especially now that the ball has begun to turn and bounce a tad more.
If, on the other hand, India capitulate to allow Australia a lead of 100 or more, the Aussies will go into the third innings knowing they have a huge advantage. A quick-fire half-century from any of the top-order batsmen could help set a daunting final innings chase for India in enough number of overs to bowl them out too.
What must be noted, however, is that Australia did not bowl as well as they could have. Mitchell Johnson picked up a couple of wickets but went for 90 in his 18. Peter Siddle conceded 63 from his 13 and went off the field later in the day, while Mitchell Marsh, Shane Watson and Steven Smith never looked like they would pick a wicket.
The rest of the Indian batsmen will hope to feed off this, try and keep Johnson’s spells out, and bat long into the day.
Join me for the fourth day of this first Test between Australia and India. You can follow the live score of this game from 10:30am (AEDT) and post your comments below.
Ravi
Guest
Always should be positive
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
A very good match. The Indians have had some bad umpiring calls, and could have been in a slightly better position if hings had gone their way. A couple of minor incidents have been blown up by the media, but both sides seem respectful of the other. Both teams are playing with spirit and resolve, and have continued to concentrate even after long stints in the field. India is not out of the competition by any means, and could pull off a win, here.
Sandy
Guest
That's pretty impressive Suneer. I always enjoy your comments and opinions.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
The South African commentators droned on and on about Marsh's "levers" while he was flaying the Proteas in Zim earlier this year.
Craig Watson
Guest
I was glad Clarke did not declare before stumps and have about six overs at the Indians. Those extra overs where Smith and Marsh, in particular, plundered 50 late runs may well be be crucial in the final washup. The 'baggies' must take early wickets tomorrow morning and not allow the Indian top order to settle in on what is still a pretty good batting deck..Lyon and Smith will relish bowling on the last day as the bowler footmarks provide more and more assistance.
Mac
Guest
I'm going to assume that Australia will take the declaration first thing in the morning. For India, they'll need to get the result of the game out of their mind as hard as it sounds. The Indian batting line up is full of fluid and naturally aggressive batsman. So instead of thinking too defensively, each batsman needs to try and play their natural game tempered with some sensibility; respect the good ball, put away the bad ones. Their advantage is the docile Adelaide wicket we're they might need only need pay extra attention to Lyon. For Australia, early wickets are key. Australia need to find a way to dismantle the top and middle order before the end of the second session, knowing that the Indian lower order is weak. I think it was 50/50 whether Clarke would declare today or tomorrow but the extra 60 or so runs and 8 overs tomorrow is handy. Lyon needs to continue to hit the areas which made him so dangerous but at least one of the other pacemen need to carry more weight as well. Definitely going down to the wire. Keen.
jamesb
Guest
Id bat 4 overs tomorrow. Get another 30-40 more. Loss of two overs due to change of innings, then Australia has 92 overs to bowl them out. I
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
I am not sure how many overs did India bowl short because both teams bowled today and needed to send down 98 in all. In all there were seven less overs sent down, of which there is a reasonable chance Australia bowled about two less (because they were going at 13 overs/hour too) and India bowled about four short. One thing that needs to be taken into consideration is the number of stoppages because of on-field incidents, third-ump calls, injuries etc, all of which the match ref. looks at before arriving at the final figure. One way or the other, to bowl seven overs short after taking the extra half hour is not great going.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The day's belonged to Australia again and it will now be on their bowlers to carve out a win. The declaration hasn't come from Australia but it might come first thing in the morning tomorrow, allowing India 98 overs to survive/chase down 363. I was mildly surprised Clarke did not put the Indian openers in for about 20-30 minutes today though. Another century for Warner, his second in the game and his second set of two centuries in the game. Warner needed three lives to get there and he was helped by Shane Watson and Steven Smith with the latter getting to his second score of more than 50 in the game. He is yet to be dismissed in the match. Earlier the Indian lower-order fell away quickly as one had expected - that's an area that they will need to address for the next match. For now though, the question is whether this set of 11 can bat out tomorrow. With regards to the two incidents that happened today - Warner-Aaron and Smith-Rohit one - I must say that it could be a prelude to what we might see tomorrow and for the rest of the series. Especially tomorrow if things get really intense in terms of the match situation. That's all she wrote for today then, ta ta!
JGK
Roar Guru
I think Aust were 1 over short yesterday.
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
Indeed!
nanda
Guest
Did the Aussie bowlers complete the quota yesterday !! Just curious
nanda
Guest
Suneer. With reference to slow over rate, how many overs should India have bowled and how many did they actually bowl. With Karn, Rohit and Vijay bowling a fair bit I would be surprised if they end up short..
JGK
Roar Guru
7 overs short in a day. Disgraceful.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
So that is that then, end of the day's play with Australia ending on 5/290. Lead's 363.
Shortfineleg
Guest
Dinner for two.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And a four for Haddin. On his pads and he's glanced it away to fine-leg for a four off Shami. Lead creeps up to 360.
ajay
Guest
Pup's pet tactic is to declare about 15 minutes before the start of play. That means the Indian bowlers have to strap up and warm up in the nets, and the opening batsmen will still be unsure of when they'll be batting. I expect he'll do it again tomorrow. read it somewhere ! no respect hahahhahaha
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Ooh, almost a run-out. Haddin was backing up too far and the shot hit the non-striker's stumps. Shami had to grab the ball and needed to uproot the stumps but the stump just did not come out! Ha! 5/283 in the 69th, lead's 356.
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
They wont last for 69