Murali Vijay hit a chancy but brilliant 144 as India were aided by under-catching and Australian injury issues going into the second day of the second Test at the Gabba. You can follow the live blog of the second day’s play of the second Test from the Gabba in Brisbane starting 11.00am (AEDT).
A hot and humid first day’s weather was often compared with the conditions often found in a city like Chennai and India took full advantage of the resulting difficulties for the fielding team.
AUSTRALIA VS INDIA: DAY FOUR LIVE SCORES
Australia bowled just 83 overs despite taking the extra half hour on the first day and that was a result of the many injury problems they suffered and the numerous drinks breaks that both teams took.
India started quickly in the first session, then slowed down as they lost a couple of wickets in the session before going on an overdrive yet again in the final to pile up 311 for four. And if some of the Australian bowlers fail to make it back to the field, it could get a lot worse for the home team.
First things first and as was expected, the Gabba track was no different from how it was expected to play. There was bounce and after the first session, the ball began to zip through from length as well.
It was this extra bounce that accounted for the first three Indian wickets to fall.
Shikhar Dhawan failed to keep down a cut to a short and wide delivery from Shaun Marsh and was easily taken behind.
Cheteshwar Pujara was surprised by a ball that reared up from just short of good length but what stunned him even more was the decision to give him out, caught behind, when the ball came off just the helmet.
And then the confident Virat Kohli fell attempting to cut one quite close to the body when he failed to gauge that bounce.
At that stage not only had India lost their best batsman from the previous game but also gone back into the shell. Ajinkya Rahane had joined Vijay and looked as comfortable as a cat on a hot tin roof and they looked vulnerable enough to go four down.
Fortunately for them, they saw off the session and went into the tea break three wickets lost. And they came back after the break all guns blazing.
It was almost like a switch had been turned on. Vijay began to take the Australian bowlers on and hit a flurry of boundaries while Rahane seemed to have overcome his initial edginess to give his more senior partner a lot more support.
Vijay brought up his sixth Test century with a couple of blows to the fence and never stopped peppering the fence till he fell for 144. Even that was a wicket thrown away as he attempted a hoick off Nathan Lyon but came cropper.
However, by then, he had already been given a couple of lives by Shaun Marsh – who dropped him at 35 in the slips and then again when he has passed a century at short-cover – on his way to 144. And he had become quite weary from batting all those overs in those conditions.
Rahane completed his half-century as well and in the company of his Mumbai teammate Rohit Sharma, took the side through to close with 311 on the board.
By this time, Australia had already lost Mitchell Marsh to a hamstring problem and Josh Hazlewood to what looked like a cramp. Even Mitchell Starc had problems with his fitness while Mitchell Johnson was seen clutching his side on occasions.
According to the latest, Marsh has been ruled out from bowling while physiotherapist Alex Kountouris was hopeful that Hazlewood and Starc will recover enough from a good night’s rest to be able to bowl. What the think-tank will also hope for is that they can get their radar right and the pace up to what’s needed to get India on the back-foot.
India will have taken the position they are in after winning the toss but now will hope to bat long into the second day to get themselves really ahead in the Test match. A score of 450 is the bare minimum they would want while Australia will hope they can perform a repeat of the first Test when the bottom half of the Indian innings fell away rather cheaply both times.
Rain is predicted for Thursday so we might be looking at a few delays on the second day of the Test match that should suit the Aussie bowlers.
Join me for the scond day of this second Test between Australia and India on Thursday here and you can follow the live score of this game from 11.00am (AEDT) and post your comments in the section below.
ramana
Guest
I like it
Bobbo7
Guest
Haddin has to go. Offers nothing with the bat and is an aversge keeper at best. There are better options
Bobbo7
Guest
An embarrassing stat is that Daniel Vettori who bats like a determined moonwalking crab has more test centuries than a Watson
Sandy
Guest
I just watched a filler (for want of a better word) with Richie Benaud on "What cricket means to Australians", it was only about 10 mins but it really made me feel homesick. Sun, sand, sea, cricket, lazy days...and your kids at their first game of cricket...they're special days.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Great punters can still watch KP bat. Good innings this.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Good man! I remember the first game with my old man. Looks like KP's doing well tonight. Wright's looking very good.
Nudge
Guest
Agree mate. I've always believed the team batting second in the match needs to lead by around 60 after the first innings for the game to be about even. Still if we fall 50 or so short we are still in it. Just got me kids at their first game of Cricket at the big bash
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Yeah mate. I think Aus's bowling was much better today. I think we need a lead to win though. Ravi Ashwin is bowling really well and will be a handful in the 4th innings (is now in the second!).
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
The dismissals of Watson and Shaun Marsh were particularly soft. Enough has been said about how exasperating Watson is. Four centuries from almost 100 innings in test cricket speaks for itself. He looks a million dollars for about 20 minutes and then finds new ways to get himself out. He reminds me of batsman that looks good in the nets but when they go out to bat for some reason they are mentally lacking. Marsh looked almost embarrassed to be there after being dropped. But instead of cashing in on his good fortune he hung out his bat to a wide one and in the same movement was walking to the pavilion. So much depends upon Steve Smith and whether he gets good support from Mitchell Marsh, Haddin and the tail.
Nudge
Guest
"But we are closer than I'd thought we would be" spot on Tom. I actually feel that that was an awesome day from Australia. India certainly still in front, but we were gone at stumps last night.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Marsh may well miss the Boxing Day Test. He's going to need to bat in this match and that will exacerbate his already sore hamstring. Starc is gone unless he pulls off something spectacular in the second innings and will make way for Harris, if he's fit. I don't see any other changes being made.
Jo M
Guest
I'm with you. I hope he can score some runs and they will be needed. Johnson and Starc both know which end of the bat to hold and are more than capable. Johnson has had plenty of good scores and Starc scored 99 in India during that disastrous tour so the only thing that will stop him is his confidence level tomorrow.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Haddin is there to keep. Enough with batting focus. His keeping is prime and he does have the potential to get a good fifty here or there. We might need it this time, but nor should we rely on him that far down the order.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Aggressive with the ball, but, in Warne's highly publicised phrase, 'soft' with the bat.
Jo M
Guest
Do you think they will though? Rogers won't be dropped for the next one anyway. Starc would have been dropped for the MCG anyway with Harris coming back in even if he had bowled well because Harris has to be there. Haddin equalling the wicket keeping record won't have hurt him. Hazlewood and Lyon will be there. Johnson will be there, unless they decide to give him a rest but I doubt it. So that leaves Watson and Marsh (Shaun). Mitch Marsh will be there unless his hamstring doesn't recover or he does further damage to it while he is batting.
jamesb
Guest
Not a bad day for Australia. India resumed at 4/311 and were bowled out for 408. The way Australia bowled yesterday, India looked good things to reach 450 or 500. With the bat, Australia just hanging in there at 4/221, trailing India by 187 runs with 6 wickets in hand. Vital morning session coming up tomorrow. Australia just pegged back India on day 2.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
"For now, the second scenario looks most likely to me". Me too mate. Shame Brad Haddin's out of form and Hazlewood can't bat like Harris. Starc's inclusion could be pivotal, he's one of the best batting strike bowlers going around. We'll need every run to win this test now. But we're closer than I thought we'd be after yesterday, particularly given Warner failed. 200 from Smith and 100 from Marsh, Haddin and Johnson combined and we'll be a good chance of winning. Can't wait for tomorrow's play! Thanks buddy.
Craig Watson
Guest
If we lose this test match will the selectors wield the axe? Warner, Mitch Marsh and Smith deserve to stay..with Rogers perhaps saving himself from the chop with a good fifty. Mitchell Starc should be dropped. Harris will come in for him.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Don't know yet and I don't think so. The number of overs lost today, given that there was just another half hour to go (and they don't take into account poor over-rates I suppose) was about six or seven, which can be made up by having 10 extra minutes daily. Again, these regulations keep changing...
Craig Watson
Guest
How long does Steve Smith have to keep propping up this misfiring batting outfit? Three of our blokes got starts and were unable to go on. Watson was the chief culprit throwing his wicket away once again,while the two lefties Warner and Rogers were unlucky...'strangled' down the legside. SOS played a poor shot after getting a reprieve. We need Hads and Mitch to stay with Smithy otherwise we could be handing the Indians the test match.