**Official** 4th Test at Melbourne, 26-30 Dec 2024

[Starfighter]

Are Aussie fans out here not confident enough in the score already to push for a win?

Yes

 

[Qlder]

I just have the feeling that if Aus miss this win opportunity will be hard to claw back in Sydney.

Nah, Jhye Richardson will get a 10fer while Bumrah is using a walking frame after being bowled into the ground here

 

[Niall]

I just have the feeling that if Aus miss this win opportunity will be hard to claw back in Sydney.

That's fair, but India will also feel they have given way to much to the Aussie lower order and the drops from Jaiswal were terrible for morale.

Neither side should be really happy with the state of the affairs going into the final day even if all have compelling reasons how they can.

 

[Gob]

Are Aussie fans out here not confident enough in the score already to push for a win?

Wicket is not particularly difficult to bat on and this bowling attack has massive mental scars when it comes to finishing off clutch games

 

[cascade]

I'm fine with the current score, but I'm also fine if Aus think the extra buffer will help their plans tomorrow. I don't think a few extra overs from a tired attack will make much of a difference - we saw how that worked out for India today. Ultimately just depends what the bowlers think they can do on this deck.

 

[Coronis]

Both lower orders really pulling their weight this game. Is 350 chaseable? Possible but I’d be impressed. Jaiswal and Pant are the kind of guys who could do it though.

 

[Spark]

Very good point, but given that the Sydney Test is rained out 100% of the time (awful climate for an awful city), a draw here essentially guarantees a drawn series

If you can believe it, the forecast for Sydney looks really good

 

[Gob]

Both lower orders really pulling their weight this game. Is 350 chaseable? Possible.

Can't see that happening unless there is a Jaiswal/ Pant partnership

 

[Spark]

Listening to Marnus's interview after stumps, it's pretty clear they're very wary of India's lower order and will always err on the side of a bigger target as a result - sounds like they were only going to declare with a 360+ run lead

 

[Coronis]

Can't see that happening unless there is a Jaiswal/ Pant partnership

Yeah closing interrupted but that was gonna be my quick edit re: those two in particular.

 

[Spark]

Wicket is not particularly difficult to bat on and this bowling attack has massive mental scars when it comes to finishing off clutch games

I don't think anyone really knows what the wicket will do any more tbh. It's certainly gotten lower and lower as the game has gone on but the amount of seam movement is flip a coin stuff it seems.

Obviously no minefield given that the last four pairs have put on 130 though

 

[JBMAC]

This game is Test Cricket at it's best..

 

[Spark]

I didn't really see it properly live but holy hell that Carey ball decked back a mile. I actually dunno what you're meant to do with that bh.

 

[Gob]

I don't think anyone really knows what the wicket will do any more tbh. It's certainly gotten lower and lower as the game has gone on but the amount of seam movement is flip a coin stuff it seems.

Obviously no minefield given that the last four pairs have put on 130 though

Can't really judge the pitch based on what Bumrah extracts from it though because the bloke can make pre drop in Adelaide pitches look like mine fields

Siraj got some to deck back from memory so that will be a positive for Aus. Either way they should have a go for 30 minutes or so to push this pass 350 and go full out attack with the new ball

 

[halba]

Both lower orders really pulling their weight this game. Is 350 chaseable? Possible but I’d be impressed. Jaiswal and Pant are the kind of guys who could do it though.

LAst day will be tough. 350.

 

[Spark]

Can't really judge the pitch based on what Bumrah extracts from it though because the bloke can make pre drop in Adelaide pitches look like mine fields

Siraj got some to deck back from memory so that will be a positive for Aus. Either way they should have a go for 30 minutes or so to push this pass 350 and go full out attack with the new ball

All the quicks got movement today, Akash looked close to unplayable at times too. Insanely unlucky bowler

Probably the main difference is the psychological hold Bumrah has is quite real, which forces mistakes, and he also bowls straighter which on a dying pitch produces wickets

 

[Daemon]

I didn't really see it properly live but holy hell that Carey ball decked back a mile. I actually dunno what you're meant to do with that bh.

The best he could’ve done was have his pad in the way. Unplayable.

 

[Prince EWS]

I didn't really see it properly live but holy hell that Carey ball decked back a mile. I actually dunno what you're meant to do with that bh.

He missed it by a mile too.

 

[Spark]

That's fair, but India will also feel they have given way to much to the Aussie lower order and the drops from Jaiswal were terrible for morale.

Neither side should be really happy with the state of the affairs going into the final day even if all have compelling reasons how they can.

I mean at 6/90 the game is basically in their hands. They'd have absolutely backed themselves to chase down anything under 250 and it certainly would bite at them that they couldn't take that opportunity - probably why Rohit cut an even more frustrated figure than usual in that last hour of play.

 

[Sunil1z]

I mean at 6/90 the game is basically in their hands. They'd have absolutely backed themselves to chase down anything under 250 and it certainly would bite at them that they couldn't take that opportunity - probably why Rohit cut an even more frustrated figure than usual in that last hour of play.

Not with this batting line up . We failed to chase 150 in 4th innings at home . Very brittle batting line up .