Australia – 268 all out & 141/5 ( Bhajji 3/23, Ishant 2/29)
It ain’t over till the fat lady sings, that is the advice to the Indian team today. We are on the verge of victory but we haven’t won so let the celebrations wait.
The sight of day 4 was pleasing to the eye, India dominated and it has in the past won against the Australians but never, I repeat never have the two teams looked such a class apart. On a flat pitch the way the Indian bowlers have bowled has been the
main reason why India is in this position. Australia in the first innings were not getting out but they were dismissed by a bowling side that bowled with vigor, heart, method and unrelentless accuracy. These traits were always associated always with the Australian bowlers not the Indians.
The day begin with Ricky Ponting again putting up a placard that you can take singles I wont give you boundaries and I am definitely not trying to get you out. In the first hour as many as 13 overs were bowled and 65 runs scored as the two quickest runners between the wickets in the team kept running, at times impossible singles, one couldn’t help but wonder why the fastest bowler in Australia wasn’t called to bowl. The targets were missed by the Aussies everytime there was a run out possible. Quite a turn around this, but negative cricket never pays. When you are not trying to get the opposition out you cannot get wickets.
Gambhir got to a century eventually, he has missed out on many in between. Sehwag missed out on another on his 30th birthday. Dhoni promoted himself and ran like crazy to take India’s lead to 515 before declaring.
Australia began their innings in bizarre fashion, it seemed Mathew Hayden the champion that he is, seemed more angry on his captain’s defensive tactics and wanted to prove a point. How can you explain the way he started, they scored 49 quick runs in the first 8 overs, hitting over the field and across the line with disdain. It seemed they wanted to hit a few and disperse the close in fielders and relieve the pressure, but it didn’t work there were simply too many shots played and they paid the price for it. Bhajji got two in his first over and Hussey soon. Hussey was unlucky as the bowl kept low but India aren’t complaining. Ponting was castled by an ever improving Ishant Sharma and when he got Shane Watson lbw Australia had lost 5 wickets for 9 runs on this flat pitch which is hard to understand. The best batsman as the aussies like to call him is really unable to stamp his class in this country. Well lets not discuss novices for the moment.
However sanity prevailed and atleast two Aussie batsmen applied themselves. The pitch is as good a 5th day track you can hope for. If the batsman decides to dig in it is not impossible. But the fact that they have lost 5 wickets today will hurt them tomorrow when Clarke & Haddin will try and get a draw.
The mindless batting of Hayden & Katich yesterday and the quick wickets there after have left Australia high and dry. Still India are should ensure that we finish the job as quickly as possible and celebrate only after winning.
The day begin with Ricky Ponting again putting up a placard that you can take singles I wont give you boundaries and I am definitely not trying to get you out. In the first hour as many as 13 overs were bowled and 65 runs scored as the two quickest runners between the wickets in the team kept running, at times impossible singles, one couldn’t help but wonder why the fastest bowler in Australia wasn’t called to bowl. The targets were missed by the Aussies everytime there was a run out possible. Quite a turn around this, but negative cricket never pays. When you are not trying to get the opposition out you cannot get wickets.
Gambhir got to a century eventually, he has missed out on many in between. Sehwag missed out on another on his 30th birthday. Dhoni promoted himself and ran like crazy to take India’s lead to 515 before declaring.
Australia began their innings in bizarre fashion, it seemed Mathew Hayden the champion that he is, seemed more angry on his captain’s defensive tactics and wanted to prove a point. How can you explain the way he started, they scored 49 quick runs in the first 8 overs, hitting over the field and across the line with disdain. It seemed they wanted to hit a few and disperse the close in fielders and relieve the pressure, but it didn’t work there were simply too many shots played and they paid the price for it. Bhajji got two in his first over and Hussey soon. Hussey was unlucky as the bowl kept low but India aren’t complaining. Ponting was castled by an ever improving Ishant Sharma and when he got Shane Watson lbw Australia had lost 5 wickets for 9 runs on this flat pitch which is hard to understand. The best batsman as the aussies like to call him is really unable to stamp his class in this country. Well lets not discuss novices for the moment.
However sanity prevailed and atleast two Aussie batsmen applied themselves. The pitch is as good a 5th day track you can hope for. If the batsman decides to dig in it is not impossible. But the fact that they have lost 5 wickets today will hurt them tomorrow when Clarke & Haddin will try and get a draw.
The mindless batting of Hayden & Katich yesterday and the quick wickets there after have left Australia high and dry. Still India are should ensure that we finish the job as quickly as possible and celebrate only after winning.
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