Its Only Cricket

Filed under IndvAus Adelaide 2008

Overnight & last recognized batting pair - Tendulkar & Dhoni - added just 27 more runs before being separated. Tendulkar continued, looking more aggressive than yesterday and brought up his 1+1/2 century to raise bat once again. Ricky tossed the ball to his number one bowler - Brett Lee - who maintained perfect line 'short outside off stump' to the genius batsman. Tendulkar tried to cut over the slips, then a hook & then dragged one delivery onto his left knee..

That, you bet, hurt! Some treatment & he was out the next ball. mistimed pull short.

Day 2 script started to unfold Ausstralian way and they were just one good spell away from wrapping up the tail - probably from spinner Brad Hogg, but Indian mind-set right from start of this India vs Australia test series has been to attack Aussie spinner - and Harbhajan Singh did exactly that. in partnership with captain Anil Kumble, off-spinner took the role of aggressor and kept the boundaries coming. Ricky Ponting ran out of confidence on his left arm chinaman bowler & defensive field setting allowed Kumble-Harbhajan partnership to grow taller & taller. 107 they put together & India looked good for a 400 total.

Then, Ishant Sharma, joined the party with Kumble who got to his 3rd best test score (see notes). Indian tail batted until last 25 overs of the day & built a first innings score which will keep them in this match for a long time as we approach Day 4 and 5 of this fourth test match at Adelaide Oval.

Australian batting, out of 21 overs they played : looked comfortable after the adjustment both openers - Hayden & Jaques - had made since the swing they were served by Indian left arm pacers in Perth test match. Both lefties tried to sweep spin duo of Kumble and Harbhajan for not much success as they intelligently bowled an off stump line instead of middle or middle-leg.

Note that last 10 test matches played at Adelaide Oval, in past 5 years, have a first innings average score of 486. 2nd innings = 453, 3rd innings = 165 & 4th innings = 208.

India vs Australia : 3rd test, Adelaide : End of Day 2 score card
India 1st Inn 526 all out in 152.5 overs (electing to bat)
Sehwag 63(90, 6x4), Pathan 9(21), Dravid 18(55),
Sachin Tendulkar 153 (205b, 13x4, 3x6)
Ganguly 7(29), Laxman 51(102, 5x4), Dhoni 16(64),
Kumble 87(205, 9x4), Harbhajan 63(103, 7x4),
Rudra 0, Ishant 14. Extras 45 (8-b, lb-21, w-3, nb-13).
Australia 1st Inn 62 for 0 in 21 overs.
Jaques 21*(71, 2x4) Hayden 36(57, 3x4).

Two few notes on Day 2
**Not all but all New South Wales players in Australian team - Brett Lee, Phil Jaques, Stuart Clark & Michael Clarke were wearing black arm band to pay tribute to their state side's Physio's Mother who died the day before. 'Pat Farhat' has been a long time Physiotherapist for the NSW team in Australian first class cricket.
**Why I see Gary Kirsten always standing whenever camera flashes the Indian dressing room?... sit down coach, have patience!
-Venkaest Prasad - former India fast bowler and now bowling coach of Indian team - had climbed upto the top of old stand at Adelaide Oval with his long lens camera. Ian Chappell in commentary said he would not do the same, which means Venky still maintains the fitness his was known for in playing days. Ventakesh Prasad is a avid photographer along with Anil Kumble who capture all Indian victories & moments as the team travel around the world!
**Anil Kumble made his third best test match score - 87. his second best is 88 along with the century (110*) he made at Lords vs England in 2007. Kumble had made a partnership of 107 with Harbhajan Singh, who also reached his second best test score, equaling the 63 he had made in that sad second test at sydney... no wonder 526 in this match is India's highest score at Adelaide Oval from 10 matches here.
**Adam Gilchrist - Australian wicketkeeper has now broken (overtaken) Mark Boucher's record for most victims or dismissals as keeper in test match - 414 scalps, when he caught Anil Kumble off Mitchell Johnson.

Masha-allah : what a cricketer

Preview : Who's best in tests, Adelaide to test

Day 1 : Century No. 39 for Sachin Tendulkar

Day 2 : India put substantial total on board

Day 3 : India pushes : Australia resists : Draw pops up!

Day 4 - India : Australia : Draw = 2:8:90.

Australia win series, India win hearts