Cricket Test Series 2014: Australia v India

[JohnK]

Honours look to be even. Looks to be good pitch if you wait for right ball. New ball could change that though.

 

[QF WP]

Have to agree with your assessment, JohnK. Hopefully the new ball gives us a return...probably will be taken in 3 overs.

 

[QF WP]

Smith has brought himself on to bowl the final over with the old ball...

 

[QF WP]

It was such a good toss to win:

Blessen Varghes: "Mohandas Menon tweets: India now the only 2nd visiting team since 1931# (after W Indies in Dec 1960) to score 300+ on opening day of a Test match at Gabba ."

#1931 was the date they transferred games from the old Royal Exhibition ground to the Gabba

 

[QF WP]

Now this is never a good sign on Day 1 of a 5 day Test match....hope its minor

The physio's come on again. Looks like Hazlewood's going off the ground again. Watson will continue the over.

Maxi: "Bet its been about 10 years since Watson saw a new ball from anywhere but first slip!"

 

[QF WP]

Just noticed this means Smith has bowled 8 players - only Shaun Marsh, Rogers and Haddin haven't bowled...

 

[rainbowgirl]

Just noticed this means Smith has bowled 8 players - only Shaun Marsh, Rogers and Haddin haven't bowled...

I'm guessing this was due to the heat and humidity. It could also have something to do with the injuries. I think it's good to share the ball in situations like this.

 

[QF WP]

Correct. 4/311 at stumps.

5.30pm And that, ladies and gentlemen, is stumps. Half an hour extra but Australia still seven overs short. Partly explained by how sapping the conditions were and how often the physios came on to deal with cramps and other niggles. In the end, a close to dominant display from India, led by a century from M Vijay, who had a few lucky breaks and made full use of them, blossoming quite brilliantly after tea to race to his hundred. Rahane, after a nervy start pre-tea, has been smooth as silk in the final session, and Rohit's looked quite comfortable too, in this fifth-wicket partnership that is now worth exactly 50. Two half-century partnerships and a century stand between Vijay and Rahane.
Apart from one stretch during the middle session, Australia's bowlers never applied consistent pressure on the batsmen. An excellent cricket pitch too - always offered a bit of help while coming on to the bat beautifully and allowing the batsmen to play their shots.

Time to head home.

 

[JohnK]

It was such a good toss to win:

I got the impression Australia would have wanted to bowl if they had won the toss.

A couple of quick wickets in the morning and into the tail again.

 

[Pushka]

It was a good toss to lose if you had planned to bowl which I'd heard too.

 

[Awesom Andy]

If 1 team wanted to bat, the other to bowl, then the toss wouldn't make much of a difference, apart from the winning side feeling that they have a bit more luck than the other. Although given the conditions, I think we really needed to have had created some damage in the first session, and then with the new ball as well, ending the day with may be 7 or 8 down and make use of the 2nd day pitch as much as possible to bat, which at this stage looks like it will be offering quite a few runs.

 

[ketsuzei]

I'll be surprised if they get anything close to a full day's play tomorrow.

At least that's what I'm telling myself as I plan my work schedule.

 

[QF WP]

Well there are some loud thunderstorms (but no rain yet) going through Brisbane now and a huge cell down near Boonah & Beaudesert is the most concerning as it appears to be tracking north east

 

[Pushka]

If 1 team wanted to bat, the other to bowl, then the toss wouldn't make much of a difference, apart from the winning side feeling that they have a bit more luck than the other. Although given the conditions, I think we really needed to have had created some damage in the first session, and then with the new ball as well, ending the day with may be 7 or 8 down and make use of the 2nd day pitch as much as possible to bat, which at this stage looks like it will be offering quite a few runs.

Except the media somehow manage to convey that it is a Captains skill to determine whether they win the toss. The concept of chance and probability seems to elude them.

Then if they do win and events somehow transpire against that decision, or its a difficult and not obvious "correct decision" then it is also their poor form.

 

[QF WP]

10.00am Out come the players. It's Josh Hazlewood to bowl the first over of the morning. He went off the field in the middle of his 16th over close to stumps yesterday.

And we're off

83.1
Hazlewood to Rahane, no run, full, wide outswinger. Left alone

 

[QF WP]

Yes, first wicket!

85.4 Hazlewood to Rahane, OUT, that is the best ball of the Test match. Lovely length, caught Rahane on the crease, angling in towards off stump and curling away late. Rahane had to play at it, and it kissed his edge through to Haddin, who takes his fifth catch of the innings
AM Rahane c †Haddin b Hazlewood 81 (189m 132b 8x4 0x6) SR: 61.36

That's what we wanted . Haddin has a Michelle for catches

5/321 with MS Dhoni joining Sharma (who is 30 n.o.)

 

[QF WP]

Here we go

91.2Watson to RG Sharma, OUT, got him, Smith's taken a beauty! Watson's struck with a good ball, but Rohit will wonder if he needed to play that shot. It was the wide outswinger, not quite up there for the drive. Rohit drove on the up, it curled away and took his outside edge, and Smith took a super catch diving low to his right at second slip

RG Sharma c Smith b Watson 32 (94m 55b 3x4 1x6) SR: 58.18

6/328. A quick wrap up of the tail is now in order...

Ashwin joins Dhoni (5 n.o.) at the crease

 

[QF WP]

First bowling change - Watson and Starc replacing Hazlewood and Johnson. Expect 4-5 over stints as it's oppressive heat & humidity again today (but not as bad as yesterday).

 

[QF WP]

Given their lack of batting talent in the tail, looks like Dhoni an Ashwin are throwing the bat. Partnership already 20 off 22 balls with Dhoni hitting consecutive 4's off Starc.

 

[QF WP]

Threatening batting has been dealt a beautiful ball:

102.3 Hazlewood to Ashwin, OUT, got him! That was a beautiful length outside off, a bit of movement away off the pitch. Ashwin's bat comes down at an angle as he looks for the drive, and Watson takes a waist-high catch at first slip

R Ashwin c Watson b Hazlewood 35 (41b 6x4 0x6) SR: 85.36

7/391. Will Hazlewood get a Michelle?