Its Only Cricket

Filed under IndvAus Adelaide 2008

Not often in recent times has Aussie top order batting consumed full days play and scored only 260 runs. from 90 overs at runrate of 2.89.

Day 3 being a national holiday in both countries (Republic Day in India, Australia Day in Australia), fans around the world were looking forward to some exiting test cricket which wasn't to be. Mathew Hayden proved he's in exceptional form and Ishant Sharma (nick named - lamboo) showed he's a quick learner & real discovery for India on this Australian tour.

Struggling to time & find gaps, captain Ponting's plan was to bat at the non strikers end. First Hayden, then Hussey & then Michael Clarke (to some extent) took most of the strike. Ricky always took singles iff he was on strike whereas other batsman played out the overs. Result - Ponting remained not out, in spite of failing to a single confident boundary.

Rudra Pratap had not taken the field after straining his hamstring yesterday - and although India didn't look sort of bowling resources (8 bowlers used by Kumble) but fire-power was certainly missing. Adelaide pitch has started to offer spin and awkward bounce but visitors bowled didn't manage to penetrate!

All three batsmen dismissed today were left handers and were all bowled!

Another important aspect of Day 3 of this 4th Ind v Aus test match was that Indian team bowled 106 overs with one ball before taking the second new ball in last 5 overs of the day. This, of course, was a calculated decision by kumble as his team were already one fast bowler short. More over, in this test series, I've noticed batsman going for runs whenever new ball is taken & field brought into slips.. while they block off the softer balls. same did Aussies as Ponting collected some easy runs in last 5 overs of the day.

India vs Australia : 4th test match Adelaide Oval : End of Day 3 scores
India 1st Inn : 526/10 in 152.5 overs	Australia 1st Inn : 322 for 3 in 111 overs
Sehwag 63(90), Pathan 9, Dravid 18	Jaques bowled Kumble 60 (159b, 3x4)
Tendulkar 153 (205, 13x4, 3x6)	Hayden b Sharma 103(200b, 10x4, 1x6)
Ganguly 7, Laxman 51, Dhoni 16,	Hussey bowled Pathan 22 (66b, 1x4)
Kumble 87, Harbhajan 63, Ishant 14.	Clarke 37* & Ponting 79* at crease
Australia 204 runs behind on 1st inn with 2 days to remaining

Notes Day 3
**I'd mentioned this in previous posts that drinks breaks are taken in this India vs Australia test series after every 40 mins, not 1 hour. today - first drinks break was called in only after 28 minutes. Reason : Crackers were busting somewhere very close to Adelaide oval cricket ground which was troubling Hayden-Jaques from concentrating!
**Hat-trick of centuries for Mathew Hayden. 30th test century in career, he scored his 3rd century in 3 test matches in this series and went past Sir Don Bradman who scored 29 centuries. Now Steve Waugh (32) and Ricky Ponting (33) are ahead of Hayden as Aussie test century makers.. Hayden is 14th in all time list of most runs in test career and 4th Australian (behind Border, Waugh & Ponting). **News just coming in says Adam Gilchrist will be retiring from all form of cricket and this Adelaide test match will be his last. Coming Commonwealth Bank triseries will be last for Adam Gilchrist but news is not confirmed as yet.. so, if Gilly do announce retirement - another long articles coming up on itsonlycricket.

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