***Official Australia in India***

[social]

The pitch looks to become a ripper on Day 5. Unless the spinners put up an extremely bad show, India has got a good winning chance. However given Kumble's defensive captaincy, and conservatism, plus his lack of confidence in his own bowling, he might just want to make it a target of 350+ even if that means batting till stumps tomorrow.

BTW all that can change if India manages to get the remaining 6 wickets for less than 60-65 runs. Looks improbable.

Given that the wicket is already turning a lot and at very good speed, I wouldnt bet against it

 

[krkode]

Damn, Kumble is injured? WTF! All India should/can do is to play out a draw.

Unfortunately sounds like it was a fairly serious injury. Meaning India is probably reduced to 3 specialist bowlers for the rest of the game.

Which sucks... good thing Sehwag is rising to the occasion, though. Hopefully more awesomeness from him tomorrow!

 

[pup11]

Lol at Clarke, did his best to get out on the last ball. Will ton up tomorrow now.
Great day for Aus, relative to the past 7 days of Test cricket. Sounds like India bowled well esp Ishant and Sehwag but a dead pitch plus good batting = not much luck. Will be pretty disappointed if we lose this one from here, although not out of the woods yet.

Now why did you have to say that, now probably he would just end up getting out in the first over tomorrow morning...

As you said Aussie are not out of the woods yet and a collapse here still could ruin all the good work done by the Aussie top order, so they need to bat for as long as possible and score as many runs as they can, and Clarke would be the key, he is the vc and a senior batsman in the side now so he better start taking a lot more responsibility on himself.

 

[sirdj]

Damn, Kumble is injured? WTF! All India should/can do is to play out a draw.

That leaves Dhoni in charge of things

 

[Precambrian]

Unfortunately sounds like it was a fairly serious injury. Meaning India is probably reduced to 3 specialist bowlers for the rest of the game.

Which sucks... good thing Sehwag is rising to the occasion, though. Hopefully more awesomeness from him tomorrow!

Seems like Tendulkar will also have to put in some bowling tomorrow. Expect Mishy to occuppy one end, and while Kumble's injury is unfortunate, he has done nothing to warrant test place in the next match. Sad really see him struggle, should be knowing his tiime's past.

I wont be changing my opinion even if somehow he comes back and probably ends up with a fifer in the last innings.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

There's no way there'll be an aggressive declaration from Dhoni. Absolutely no motivation for it at all.

Yes the wicket is turning but 3 an over for 100 overs is well within the realms of possibility, especially given how much Australia have to play for.

Imagine for example if Hayden goes nuts and hits a run a ball 50 or so to start the innings, chasing 300 off 100 overs? Australia could easily graft for a couple of sessions from that point and have a comfortable chase. No, if India get a first innings lead of 100-150ish they will bat until the game is out of Australia's reach before they declare. In order to win, India basically have to have Australia close to all out by lunch tomorrow, to give themselves a good 150-200 run lead and the rest of the day to bat and ensure Australia can't win, then a full day to bowl, or close to it.

If Australia bat until tea and get within 100 runs it's going to be a draw, barring a ridiculous batting collapse along the lines of Englands in Adelaide in 2006.

 

[Precambrian]

That leaves Dhoni in charge of things

But we can't expect to dismiss the Aussies with just a regular spinner and two quickies!

Whatever you call it, luck or fluke or good captaincy, Dhoni seems to have the knack of getting the best out of the players. Aus were 188-1 when Kumble went off, and from that position, with just 3 specialists, he has managed to get them 4 down at stumps, That means 52 overs, 146-3. Not bad at all!

 

[stephen]

There's no way there'll be an aggressive declaration from Dhoni. Absolutely no motivation for it at all.

Yes the wicket is turning but 3 an over for 100 overs is well within the realms of possibility, especially given how much Australia have to play for.

Imagine for example if Hayden goes nuts and hits a run a ball 50 or so to start the innings, chasing 300 off 100 overs? Australia could easily graft for a couple of sessions from that point and have a comfortable chase. No, if India get a first innings lead of 100-150ish they will bat until the game is out of Australia's reach before they declare. In order to win, India basically have to have Australia close to all out by lunch tomorrow, to give themselves a good 150-200 run lead and the rest of the day to bat and ensure Australia can't win, then a full day to bowl, or close to it.

If Australia bat until tea and get within 100 runs it's going to be a draw, barring a ridiculous batting collapse along the lines of Englands in Adelaide in 2006.

No Warne

 

[pup11]

Unfortunately sounds like it was a fairly serious injury. Meaning India is probably reduced to 3 specialist bowlers for the rest of the game.

Which sucks... good thing Sehwag is rising to the occasion, though. Hopefully more awesomeness from him tomorrow!

I doubt that would keep him off the field for the rest of the test, he has come onto the field and played for India with even worse injuries, i think he just has a split webbing on his left hand so with a few stitches he should be ready to go, Lee split his webbing on the right hand in the last test, but that didn't keep him off the field for too long.

 

[Precambrian]

There's no way there'll be an aggressive declaration from Dhoni. Absolutely no motivation for it at all.

Yes the wicket is turning but 3 an over for 100 overs is well within the realms of possibility, especially given how much Australia have to play for.

Imagine for example if Hayden goes nuts and hits a run a ball 50 or so to start the innings, chasing 300 off 100 overs? Australia could easily graft for a couple of sessions from that point and have a comfortable chase. No, if India get a first innings lead of 100-150ish they will bat until the game is out of Australia's reach before they declare. In order to win, India basically have to have Australia close to all out by lunch tomorrow, to give themselves a good 150-200 run lead and the rest of the day to bat and ensure Australia can't win, then a full day to bowl, or close to it.

If Australia bat until tea and get within 100 runs it's going to be a draw, barring a ridiculous batting collapse along the lines of Englands in Adelaide in 2006.

AWTA. Now with Kumble injured, and unlikely to take further part in the test, India will be batting out for draw, unless there is a batting collapse by Aus, and they get dismissed before the follow on, at around lunch. Then India would be looking to get another 200 on the board overnight tomorrow, and set a 400+ target for Aussies in 90 overs. That will take some doing, but can't see India taking 10 wickets again, in a day, without Kumble.

A draw mostly. And will likely see a road at Nagpur.

 

[Precambrian]

I doubt that would keep him off the field for the rest of the test, he has come onto the field and played for India with even worse injuries, i think he just has a split webbing on his left hand so with a few stitches he should be ready to go, Lee split his webbing on the right hand in the last test, but that didn't keep him off the field for too long.

Can he resume bowling duties at the earliest tomorrow? Or will he have to wait to make p for the time he was absent? This being an injury sustained during the match, I don't think he will have to wait. But someone can elaborate on this.

BTW, going through the commentary and see that Ponting was given a hard time by the seamers, but kudos to him to hae hung there and saw the team through. Bad, he didnt get a 100.

 

[Ikki]

I guess that means every batsman looks destined for a 100 until he gets out.

Hardly. No batsman will go through an innings where they haven't played and missed or they've hit a shot just short of a fielder. However, my point was even though that has happened for the batsmen in question, it didn't happen enough to suggest that India were close to getting them out or that they were under any real pressure. As far as I am concerned, besides Hussey, the batsmen just gave themselves away - which often happens, but it is unusual for Ponting and Hayden, especially, to do so when they are so close to a 100. That's why I was disappointed.

I don't consider someone set for a hundred if they're getting beaten multiple times. Being set for a hundred means that you don't even look like getting out, and how can that happen if you're getting beaten regularly?

Hayden didn't look like getting out until that Sehwag over. So to say based on that over that Hayden was looking iffy is ridiculous IMO. The wickets of Hayden, Katich and Ponting all came when they each looked like a 100 was an inevitability. When Katich got out he was batting better than Hayden. I reiterate: brainfarts.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

The only one I could buy being a bit scratchy before getting out is Ponting. He did have a bit more trouble, but batting was tougher than in the morning.

Both Hayden and Katich looked really good until they got out, even though I'd say Ponting's innings was the best of the day.

 

[Precambrian]

Hardly. No batsman will go through an innings where they haven't played and missed or they've hit a shot just short of a fielder. However, my point was even though that has happened for the batsmen in question, it didn't happen enough to suggest that India were close to getting them out or that they were under any real pressure. As far as I am concerned, besides Hussey, the batsmen just gave themselves away - which often happens, but it is unusual for Ponting and Hayden, especially, to do so when they are so close to a 100. That's why I was disappointed.

Hayden didn't look like getting out until that Sehwag over. So to say based on that over that Hayden was looking iffy is ridiculous IMO. The wickets of Hayden, Katich and Ponting all came when they each looked like a 100 was an inevitability. When Katich got out he was batting better than Hayden. I reiterate: brainfarts.

To quote from Cricinfo's bulletin,

It was a difficult day for Australia and the stumps scorecard did not fully reflect the gripping nature of the contest.

Even without Anil Kumble for one and a half sessions - he went to hospital for treatment on a cut finger after getting his hands to a fierce Hayden stroke at short midwicket - the attack was constantly threatening.

They were frustrated that Ponting had survived a super spell of reverse-swing bowling from Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan, who tested his focus more rigorously than a pair of optometrists. As expected, Ishant troubled Ponting with deliveries that bounced and jagged back in sharply. Zaheer's swing was also a challenge. Despite a couple of indecisive and almost fatal leave-play-leave moments, Ponting somehow survived.

There were some genuinely good strokes from Ponting, who was desperate not to stagnate.But for a man who usually makes batting look so simple, this innings was as fluent as his Hindi.

Hayden had survived a few close calls, including an edge off Sehwag that landed centimetres short of Rahul Dravid at first slip, before his fortune ran out. Playing back to a Sehwag delivery that held its line,

Doesnt seem that the two had a party time out there. But to their credit, they survived to get to their scores.

 

[Precambrian]

The only one I could buy being a bit scratchy before getting out is Ponting. He did have a bit more trouble, but batting was tougher than in the morning.

Both Hayden and Katich looked really good until they got out, even though I'd say Ponting's innings was the best of the day.

Yeah, to the great batsman's credit, he didn't try to play like his noral free self, but adapted well. Absence of Harby surely helped him, but that doesnt take away any credit from his performance. Should've got to 100 given he got so close.

 

[social]

To quote from Cricinfo's bulletin,



Doesnt seem that the two had a party time out there. But to their credit, they survived to get to their scores.

Cricinfo's commentary is a tiny bit one-sided though

When an Indian hits the ball through gully it's "lovely, soft hands"

When it's an Australian, it's "oooooh, there's an edge"

That being said, the wicket got a lot worse today (when Sehwag nearly hits Ponting in the head, you know it's not great) and Aus did well to get to where they are today considering that they were confronted by a steady, confident attack operating in home conditions

 

[Precambrian]

Cricinfo's commentary is a tiny bit one-sided though

When an Indian hits the ball through gully it's "lovely, soft hands"

When it's an Australian, it's "oooooh, there's an edge"

That being said, the wicket got a lot worse today (when Sehwag nearly hits Ponting in the head, you know it's not great) and Aus did well to get to where they are today considering that they were confronted by a steady, confident attack operating in home conditions

Nah, this one's the bulletin by Brydon Coverdale. I'll reserve my personal judgement till seeing the match's replay tonight.

http://content-gulf.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/current/story/376228.html

 

[Precambrian]

Nah, this one's the bulletin by Brydon Coverdale. I'll reserve my personal judgement till seeing the match's replay tonight.

http://content-gulf.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/current/story/376228.html

Can't say it's a full-fledged attack given their most effective bowler on such conditions was out for a session and half. And why you despise the bounce obtained by Sehwag? That's the inherent beauty of cricket in a typical subcontinental pitch.

 

[social]

Can't say it's a full-fledged attack given their most effective bowler on such conditions was out for a session and half. And why you despise the bounce obtained by Sehwag? That's the inherent beauty of cricket in a typical subcontinental pitch.

A spinner, and a slow one at that, getting balls to jump at the throat is not indicative of "beautiful" cricket conditions ANYWHERE

 

[Vroomfondel]

A spinner, and a slow one at that, getting balls to jump at the throat is not indicative of "beautiful" cricket conditions ANYWHERE

I think you're underestimating Sehwag's skill with the ball. He has always managed to get extra bounce and turn on wickets. Fine, the pitch was gripping, but not any muppet can get the ball to jump like that. Just ask Cam White...

I remember sehwag bowling between 85-90 at times, which is not slow by any means (about harbhajan pace). And he was putting serious revolutions on the ball.

For most (partisans or not), this was a great, great day of high-pressure test cricket. Some gritty batting and some great bowling. It seems that your definition of "beautiful" cricket has a large overlap with 'cricket that the touring party finds convenient' -- I'm quite happy that this is not the norm.