Cricket Blog

Excellent fight back by Australia in the second session as the morning session belonged to Virender Sehwag. Dhoni and Bhajji saved India some blushes with what could be a match-saving partnership. Ricky Ponting lost the plot after tea when he brought on part-time spinners instead of Watson who had bowled superbly. Australia finished the day needing 369 to win the fourth test and draw the series.

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If the first three days were anything to go by, this match was going to be won by one team only. But cricket and maths don’t go well together. There is always hope for the unexpected, a quick fire 50, a match-winning spell of bowling, a run-out against the run of play. There are so many things that could go wrong, or right depending on how things happen. The champions, however, do not let their opposition take control. And if Australia are champions, then they need some serious contemplation to do as India dominated their 4th consecutive day in this test match.

Resuming at 100/0 and already in front by 301, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir kept scoring at a belligerent pace regardless of what field placements Ricky Ponting could conjure up. Despite having 4 men at the boundary, he was unable to stem the flow of runs. Gambhir reached his 50 during the day, and the two now have become the most dangerous opening pair in the game. Both Gambhir and Sehwag score freely and have a wide array of shots. They can easily manufacture shots depending on the situation and it is their aggressive attitude to dominate the bowling that sets them apart from other opening pairs.

Sehwag, however, was the first to depart edging Peter Siddle to Brad Haddin. Siddle picked up his first wicket of the innings and so did Australia. Dhoni came in at one-down, a rather unusual position for him in tests, although he has played a few match-winning knocks at that position in the shorter format of the game. He was quickly into his stride as he saw Gambhir score just his second test century, which was also his first against Australia.

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What a day and what a match. Intriguing so far. Perfect to up the ante. Australia under pressure, yet come back strongly in the final session. Indian bowlers kept the pressure pretty much for the while day, however, it seemed that the energy was completely drained out of the Indian bodies in the final session as two Aussies, with not much test experience, fought the pressure and came out on top.

India looked aggressive and the fielders were attacking when they started their second innings. Perhaps they were buoyed by the performance of the tail enders. Perhaps it was Dhoni’s aggressive tactics (yes Kumble was did not come in for about an hour and a half due to a sore shoulder). Indian bowlers made the first move by picking up Hayden and Ponting early. Zak and Ishant have been a revelation in this series, as a pace combination.

Harbhajan finally got his sting back, more so because of the assistance he got from the pitch. But whenever he bowled, he looked like getting a wicket. Dhoni made all the moves initially to get wickets. I think that Anil Kumble has lost the plot. His tactics are not aggressive and he is way too by-the-book. Perhaps the reason why he has failed to grab a wicket in this test match. Definitely a cause for concern for him and the selectors. India, fortunately, have a couple of talented, yet inexperienced, leg spinners in Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla, the latter already made life miserable for the tourists in their tour game.

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Australia were in complete control even before Day 3 ’s play started and only a miracle could bring India back. Hayden and Jacques ensured that this was not going to happen. Both continued on their fine form with the bat and had put on 83 runs before Harbhajan Singh struck for the first time in this match. As if to prove a point Bhajji struck again and Ponting was dismissed for another cheap innings. Australia were suddenly 89/2 and India had a spring in their steps. Could they repeat their first innings heroics.

The runs, however, were coming at a brisk pace. Jacques scored his second consecutive 50 in as many innings before he was dismissed by Kumble. Hussey fell shortly after and Australia were 161-4. India could sense an opening here, although that was quickly shut down by Clarke and Symonds who counter-attacked the two spinners. Symonds was bowled by Zaheer off a no-ball and that proved costly as he went on to make a quick fire 44 from only 52 balls. Michael Clarke got a well paced 73 as Gilchrist was finding it difficult yet again. Australia declared the second innings at 351/7 setting India a total of 499 to get for a win in the first match.

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