Cricket Test Series 2014: Australia v India

[QF WP]

5/415, Rahul dropped the ball before by Siddle but thankfully out to a shocking shot. Lyon with both wickets

 

[TheBOSman]

First ball by Rahul was a bit nervous

But he didn't go too far after that . Tried to do way too much on that to be honest. A couple of quick wickets for Australia.

 

[TheBOSman]

QF WP, you just need me to go to the grocery store during tea like I did before . I get back and suddenly Australia is bowling all of them over, Harris makes a catch more difficult than almost any of the drops that have occurred.

 

[JohnK]

India is making Australia look good again.

Australia's last 5 wickets scored 300+ runs and India were 3/409 and will be lucky to make 500. We have got away with poor bowling where as we punished their poor bowling.

A few of the passengers out there need to go to make way for some youngsters. Now is not the time to hang on to them.

 

[Justinf]

Hazelwood looks pedestrian on a flat deck. He needs to be moving the ball to trouble batsmen.
Johnston back to bowling what he was two years ago.
Harris is awesome, but is 35 and injury prone.
I'd love to see Behrendorf given a go soon. I don't rate Starc whatsoever and I hope he is left in Shield cricket where he belongs.

 

[QF WP]

End is Day 3 was like this:



Have to think that our fielding let down our bowlers. We could have had them for a lot less. Back to practice nets

 

[QF WP]

Just logged in for the first time since getting to work and looks like we got the last 2 wickets very cheaply. All out 465

Just looked at Warners balls faced and run . That's better [currently 33 runs off 20 balls]

Currently 0/40

 

[Awesom Andy]

Just looked at Warners balls faced and run . That's better [currently 33 runs off 20 balls]

The good lad making up for his first innings mishap.

 

[QF WP]

Nothing like a quick 50 partnership - from 72 balls. As the flow of runs has slowed, seems like either Warner is taking a rest (or his forearm is sore), or India's bowlers are remembering how to bowl.

 

[JohnK]

From 3/409 to all out for 465. India is flattering our bowlers. Apart from 2 great catches from Haddin a lot of cheap wickets from poor bowling. Johnson's figures look good now but they were awful before knocking over the tail.

Oh and another dubious LBW decision that turns a test match.

My original prediction of 4-0 looking good.

 

[QF WP]

Indeed, Warner misjudged:

14.2Ashwin to Warner, OUT, loud appeal and this time the umpire raises the finger! This was tossed up on the off and middle line, Warner comes forward to defend but plays outside the line of the delivery, the drift bringing it in more than the batsman anitcipated, it hits him on the back leg right in front of the middle

DA Warner lbw b Ashwin 40 (42b 6x4 0x6) SR: 95.23

1/57.

 

[QF WP]

Lunch and Australia 1/90 (Rogers 33 and Watson 15). Watto need a big score if he wants to hold his place in the side...

 

[QF WP]

Start after lunch delayed due to weather:

1.08 pm We might have to wait for a bit for the game to start again as the covers are on. The wind picked up during the break and looks like brought a little bit of rain along. The ground staff are pitching a proper tent over the pitch, digging those nails hard into the ground to keep the covers intact. It's more to do with the wind rather than rain.

Makes sense when one looks at the weather radar: http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR023.loop.shtml

 

[QF WP]

Should be on again soon - but I wonder how this changes Steve Smiths' decision - do we bat like a 50 over match until we lose too many top order wickets, then play for a draw?

2.05 pm The umpires are walking down towards the middle for an inspection five minutes after the big cover came off, which was five minutes after It stopped raining. That is definitely good news.

Only looks like one small area of shower activity to pass the MCG, then a clear afternoon

Maybe I spoke too soon

2.10 pm Bad news follows. The covers are coming back on as it has started drizzling again.

 

[QF WP]

This time maybe we'll get somewhere:

2.25 pm Alright people, get ready for a restart in 10 minutes. The green signal has been given. That means we would have lost an hour and 25 minutes to rain.

 

[QF WP]

Watson gone and I think his chances of keeping his Test spot:

24.1Sharma to Watson, OUT, edged and this time it's gone! Ishant Sharma finally gets a wicket in the game. This is on a good channel outside off, it draws the batsman forward and Watson can only manage a thick outside edge. Dhoni does well to swoop this low effort on to his right. The umpires check for a no-ball but Ishant can happily keep this wicket.

SR Watson c †Dhoni b Sharma 17 (41m 34b 1x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

2/98 and Smith comes to the pitch

 

[QF WP]

Whereas Rogers creams two 4's from the next over (Shami) and moves to 46. 2/108

 

[JohnK]

Watto need a big score if he wants to hold his place in the side...

Have you jinxed him?

 

[QF WP]

Nope, just telling it as I see it. He has a suspect everything (hamstring, back and calf); he's getting older (33), his bowling is pedestrian (only got 3 wickets in last 9 innings he's bowled) and fielding...well, dropped catches...shall I then mention his batting - a measly 341 in his last 13 innings (with only two 50's)

Meanwhile, Rogers hits his second 50 of the match and his fourth of the series (55, 55, 57 and 53 n.o. in his last 4 innings). He's safe

27.4
Mohammed Shami to Rogers, FOUR, comes nicely behind the line of this length delivery, punches it smartly through cover and finds the boundary. He has a second fifty in the game. That was a fantastic shot to reach the landmark. It wasn't a bad delivery at all

 

[QF WP]

Whoops, the skipper has a failure

33.3Yadav to Smith, OUT, would you believe that! A catch at leg slip. This was a poor delivery, it was going down the leg side and Smith looks to flick it fine to the boundary again, but Rahane is standing really fine at the position and dives to his right to intercept that beautifully. There you go.. Leg-slip. Where's Vijay?

SPD Smith c Rahane b Yadav 14 (47m 27b 2x4 0x6) SR: 51.85

3/131 with Marsh the next batsman.