Filed under Ind v Aus-Melbourne test

Fact : Today was first real batting day for Indian team on this 2008 tour to Australia, as their warm-up match was 80% rained off!
Hope : few Indian batsmen, Laxman Tendulkar & Ganguly, looked in good form.

Fact : Srilanka reached 410 in 4th innings of Hobart test vs Australia 37 days ago.
Hope : Indian batsmen might put up similar fight when they bat 4th in this Melbourne test match.

Because HOPE, as quoted by Tim Robins at the end of "The Shawshank Redemption", is a good word! and after conceding a lead of 147, Indian batsmen have already spoiled the dream work done by their bowlers on Day 1 and nothing more than HOPE remains for visitors from this Melbourne test match.

Story started with Rahul Dravid opening with Wasim Jaffer who got a "Jaffa" from Brett Lee early on. Laxman joined in, but Dravid's inability to rotate strike meant Indian innings couldn't gather the momentum. After being dropped at gully by Phil Jaques and caught in slips off a no-ball - Dravid again played a half-hearted drive to edge another and got out! Tendulkar then joined Laxman, played some handsome shots before Hyderabadi batsman got into an awkward position to a short-pitched delivery & catch went to Captain Ponting.

Ganguly-Tendulkar partnership was the only plus point for Indian fans at MCG, but heavy outfield didn't allow well-timed shots go past the boundary ropes. Age is fast catching up upon these two Indian batting stalwarts, so Aussies were able to cut 3s into 2s and 2s into 1s.

Some "Cockrochy resilience" was shown by Indian tailenders, adding some respectability to the score but not quite enough.. Aussie openers then came out, scored 32 runs at 4 runs per over to rub it into Indian bowlers who lacked motivation for the last 8 overs of the day.. wondering how could they be bowling again on the same day!

India vs Australia : 1st test Melbourne 26-30 Dec, 2007-08 series
Australia 1st Inn : 343 all out in 93 overs	India 1st Inn : 196 all out in 71.5 overs
Jaques 66, Hayden 124, Ponting 4,	Jaffer 4, Dravid 5(66 balls), Laxman 26
Clarke 20, Hussey 2, Symonds 35	Tendulkar 62(77), Ganguly 43 (79)
Gilchrist 23, Kumble 5/85, Khan 5/94	Yuvraj 0, Dhoni 0, Kumble 27, Zaheer 11
Australia 2nd Inn : 32/0 in 8 overs	S. Clark 15-4-28-4 & B. Lee 20-6-46-4
Australia 179 runs ahead with 10 wickets & 3 days to go

Day 2 notes
** : There were at least 3 decisions that went against Indian batsman, raising question marks over umpiring standards of Billy Bowden of New Zealand. Sadly, Channel 9's " hot spot" technology is not available with ESPN/Starcricket channel who are showing the matches in India, which would have helped us know whether Yuvraj, Kumble and others really edged the ball or not!

** : Adam Gilchrist has now equaled Ian Healy's record of most catches by an Australian wicket-keeper.. 395 dismissals each!

One last test of Dhoni's abilities!

Preview : It's time India wakes up, & early.

Not another brick, but the WALL himself

Day 1 : In-form Indians gallop first 9 wickets

Day 2 : Great Indian batting collapse, revisits..

Day 3 : Aus bets famous Indian bats - Target 499.

Indians blown away at Melbourne, series 1-0.