Melbourne: Despite being aggressive, India trail Australia by 0-2 in the 4-test series as the two sides get ready to clash in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India came close in Adelaide and held the edge in Brisbane for a bit but mistakes at crucial times pulled them back from a rare win and also the chance of leveling the series.
The game is very well evenly poised. India should not let the current partnership flourish and they should also not allow the likes of Johnson or Hazlewood to settle down. They can score quickly and take the game away. If they can restrict Australia to 300 or below then they have a great chance of putting some pressure on them.
Riding on the unbeaten 72 from Smith, Australia will walk away the more contended of the two sides at the end of day 1. The scoring has been slow and Australia lost wickets at crucial times.
Umesh enjoyed a brilliant start, getting rid of the in-form Warner for a duck. However, Rogers and Watson added 115 for the second wicket to steady the ship. Just when the duo were looking to open up their wings, India bounced back, striking twice in two overs in the middle session. Then, Shaun Marsh and debutant Joe Burns failed. Ashwin plugged away at one end, choking the flow of runs, from which the likes of Umesh and Shami benefitted.
31 overs bowled in the session and Australia scored just 85 runs and lost 2 wickets of Marsh and Burns.
STUMPS DAY 1
Australia 259/5 after 90 overs
Smith 72 (158), Haddin 23 (53)
Both the batsmen played very safe and defensive in the last 5 overs of the day scoring just 6 runs. Haddin had been troubled outside off and Australia managed without losing more wickets on the day. They walk off the field happily and the session shared by both the teams after the two batsmen survived till stumps.
Australia 253/5 after 85 overs
Smith 69 (141), Haddin 20 (40)
Ishant and Umesh started the proceedings with the second new ball which was taken two overs late. Steven Smith and Brad Haddin have started building a decent partnership slowly. Haddin is being troubled by the fast bowlers with outside off deliveries while Smith is playing safe on the other end. They cannot afford to lose another wicket just before the close of today's play.
After couple of overs by Vijay and Ashwin, India finally takes the second new ball. Ishant Sharma to bowl the first over and hopes for his first wicket of the match.
India have not taken the new ball and Vijay continues with the old one.
Australia 237/5 after 80 overs
Smith 63 (124), Haddin 10 (27)
Steven Smith becomes the 7th batsman in the year and the 2nd Australian to reach 1000 test runs in the year 2014. Only 13 runs have been scored in last 5 overs. Mohammad Shami looked in some discomfort during fielding and goes off the field.
India would look to pick up 2 or more wickets in the remaining hour of the game left and if these two batsmen remain not out till the end, Australia will be a happy side.
DRINKS BREAK
Australia 224/5 after 75 overs
Smith 58 (106), Haddin 2 (15)
Bowlers are piling on the pressure on Aussie batsmen with regular strikes. The first hour after tea has belonged to India. They got rid of Marsh early and sent back the debutant Burns cheaply. Smith has held one end up getting his 4th half century of the series despite falling short of partners, but they are targeting Haddin with short pitch stuff. Debutant Joe Burns didn't showed any heroics in his debut innings and was caught behind by Dhoni off Umesh Yadav who picked his second wicket of the match.
Brad Haddin is in at no. 7 and Umesh welcomed with a good bouncer on the body from round the wicket.
Australia 216/5
Joe Burns c Dhoni b Yadav 13 (27)
OUT! Umesh Yadav gets his second wicket. Burns tried to pull but gets a bottom edge and Dhoni takes another. Young Joe Burns makes his way back to the pavilion in his debut innings.
Australia 211/4 after 70 overs
Smith 49 (93), Burns 13 (25)
Joe Burns soon after his arrival smashed both Ashwin and Ishant for a boundary each while Smith on the other end is close to his another half century in the series.
Australia 195/4 after 65 overs
Smith 40 (79), Burns 4 (9)
India started well after the break. Mohammad Shami managed to dismiss Shaun Marsh in second over after tea and break the stand between him and Smith to get India another breakthrough. As soon as Australia look settled, a wicket falls. As soon as India look like taking control, a partnership happens. Burns gets off the mark in Test cricket with a neat push through covers for three runs off Shami.
Debutant Joe Burns walks in to bat no. 6 but he will be off strike.
Australia 184/4
Shaun Marsh c Dhoni b Shami 32 (83)
OUT! Another edge and another wicket for Shami. This time its Shaun Marsh who wanted to play it on the off side but finds an edge to the keeper.
Smith takes the guard and Ashwin to start the proceedings for India.
The third session will be underway shortly.
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After fifties from Rogers and Watson, India hit back taking out the duo in 2 overs to restore parity. While the left-hander was out nicking off to Dhoni, Watson was pinned plumb in front by Ashwin. Since then, Marsh and Smith have dug in to keep the much improved Indian bowlers at bay with a partnership of 59, guiding Australia to 174/3.
Run-scoring has slowed down a bit, with 82 runs coming in the 31 overs bowled in this session.
TEA BREAK
Australia 174/3 after 59 overs
Smith 23 (58), Marsh 32 (77)
Ashwin replaced the part time spinner Murali Vijay 57 overs giving away just three while Mohammad Shami conceded two boundaries in two overs before tea break. But the swing he is getting in the air is helping him a lot.
Australia 159/3 after 55 overs
Smith 16 (48), Marsh 24 (63)
Smith and Marsh have now put on 42 run partnership but the good thing is that the bowlers made them struggle to get these runs. Some good show of athletics were shown by the batsmen when they ran four runs in the last ball of 52nd over bowled by Ashwin.
Australia 142/3 after 50 overs
Smith 7 (33), Marsh 16 (48)
Its the first time in this series that Australia's run-rate is under control for such a long time. India are bowling well and Ashwin deserves a lot of credit for slowing down the scoring rate. Ishant Sharma on the other end is complimenting him well.
Australia 126/3 after 45 overs
Smith 2 (24), Marsh 5 (27)
India have managed to pull things back with the wickets of Rogers and Watson. Shami seems to have improved in this session and Ashwin is holding one end up. There was a huge appeal for Marsh's caught behind dismissal. Umpire declined as the ball goes past touching the shirt. They need to keep going if they have to restrict Australia to a decent first innings total.
Australia 118/3 after 40 overs
Smith 0 (13), Marsh 1 (7)
India are back in the game with two wickets in two overs. Opener Rogers got an outside edge to Dhoni off Shami while Ashwin dimissed Watson plumbed before the stumps. Bowling has been really tight by the bowlers after lunch. Only 3 runs scored in last 5 overs with three maiden overs. India should not let the game slip away from here.
Shaun Marsh is the next batsman in
Australia 115/3
Shane Watson lbw b Ashwin 52 (89)
OUT! Another set batsmen departs! Ashwin gets his man. It was pitched straight. Watson tried to sweep and was plumbed, umpire had no doubt in his mind to raise the finger. Two wickets in two overs as India gets another breakthrough.
Steven Smith walks in to bat at no. 4
Australia 115/2
Chris Rogers c Dhoni b Shami 57 (126)
OUT! Shami strikes. Rogers gets an outside edge and Dhoni does the rest. The big man goes and Shami might be relieved a bit.
Australia 115/1 after 35 overs
Rogers 57 (124), Watson 52 (81)
Chris Rogers completed his 3rd half century in three innings of the series while Shane Watson who was criticized for his recent form too gets his fifty. This was his 5th at the venue and also first since the boxing day last year. Both the batsmen are settled for single and doubles every over but the run rate is slighly down as it was before. A cautious start by the Aussies after the lunch.
Australia 100/1 after 30 overs
Rogers 49 (109), Watson 46 (65)
Ishant started off with a maiden but Umesh Yadav conceded a boundary in second over after lunch to bring up 100 for Australia and so the century partnership between the two.
Chris Rogers takes the guard and Ishant Sharma will get the ball to resume.
Second session is about to begin. India are in the huddle and the two batsmen Rogers, Watson are walking upto the middle.
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The session was almost 65-35 for Australia and India. Superb recovery by the hosts after losing the wicket of Warner in the second over the morning. Rogers and Watson did not look comfortable initially but grew in confidence as India's bowlers lost their lines and lengths. Mohammed Shami, who came in for Varun Aaron, sprayed the ball around and when he actually bowled a good one, Dhawan dropped a catch at second slip.
Sloppy fielding also costs India many runs.
LUNCH BREAK
Australia 92/1 after 28 overs
Rogers 46 (101), Watson 41 (61)
Aussies started off badly but recovered well later. Rogers scored a beautiful four off Shami at point and now is just 4 short of his another half century before Ashwin bowled the maiden over to finish the first session at lunch. The session goes to Australia yet again. They will go in happy.
Australia 85/1 after 25 overs
Rogers 41 (90), Watson 39 (54)
Rogers' struggle continues with the spinners as he is still not able to play Ashwin properly. On the other end Umesh Yadav has lost his line and Watson is striking very well. Last year on boxing day these two put on 136, Australia will be hoping for the same again. Watson had a big outside edge to Dhawan at slip who dropped the chance diving to his left. The ball popped out of Dhawan's hand. He got two chances but couldn't hold on. Disappointment for the bowler as well.
Australia 74/1 after 20 overs
Rogers 39 (70), Watson 34 (44)
Runs are coming and the things are slowly turning around in favor of Australia. Shane Watson is in aggressive mode and scoring at a decent strike rate. He seems to be in no trouble unlike Rogers who is having some problem with outside off deliveries. He is on the right path to fulfill his christmas wish of scoring a ton in Boxing Day test.
Australia 61/1 after 15 overs
Rogers 35 (53), Watson 25 (31)
India started off well with three maiden overs and the wicket of Warner, but slowly Chris Rogers and Watson have settled down to bring up the half century partnership. Rogers looks in good touch with his punchy punches and lovely drives straight down the ground. Shami has been very disappointing so far in his 4-over spell. There is a bit for the faster bowlers but they have been erratic after a good first half hour.
Australia 39/1 after 10 overs
Rogers 22 (37), Watson 16 (17)
Australian batsmen continue to struggle at the middle. Runs are coming mostly in form of singles and doubles but that too through edges which are not carried well enough to the fielders. Mohammad Shami was introduced in 9th over and conceded two boundaries to Chris Rogers off poor short deliveries outside off. He struck his third four in 10th over of the innings bowled by Umesh Yadav.
Australia 8/1 after 5 overs
Rogers 4 (20), Watson 3 (4)
That was a start India wanted and needed as well after they were torn apart in the first test at Adelaide. After three maidens in a row by Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav but due to some fumbles by the Indian fielders conceded some runs. Ishant started the attack keeping the line tight at just outside off for Rogers who is standing much inside in the crease and making him very comfortable. Umesh Yadav got India its first major breakthrough after dismissing David Warner for a duck in an extra bounce delivery which got an edge to slips.
The last time India picked the first wicket overseas without conceding a run was against New Zealand in their home way back in 2009 and India won that match.
Shane Watson is in at no. 3
Australia 0/1
David Warner c Dhawan b Yadav 0 (6)
OUT! Early strike for India and its the big man. Outside edge and Dhawan takes another good catch at third slip. Warner out for duck. India had their first major breakthrough.
Ishant Sharma to start the proceedings and Rogers has the strike.
Indians have already taken their position in the field while Aussie openers David Warner and Chris Rogers are walking upto the middle.
The first session of the Boxing Day test will be underway in the moments.
India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Lokesh Rahul, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Steven Smith(c), Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin(wk), Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood.
For Australia Joe Burns and Ryan Harris comes in for Starc and Mitch Marsh.
And as expected Lokesh Rahul will make his test debut and replaces Rohit Sharma in the squad. No Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the playing XI while Mohammad Shami comes back in place of Varun Aaron.
Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first.
India haven't won a Test at the MCG since 1981. The odds are more even when it comes to the weather - there is a 50 percent chance of rain.
Also, Lokesh Rahul will make his debut for India and Joe Burns for Australia.
The good news for the Indians is that Bhuvneshwar's recovery has progressed well and he might play this Boxing Day Test at the MCG. His comeback will add heft to both batting and bowling.
India failed to grab the initiative at the Gabba when Australia were 247 for six, and allowed the tail to wag doggedly, missing a wonderful opportunity to set Australia a more imposing fourth innings target.
But despite the ominous stare at another humiliation and the lopsidedness of the contest that the 2-0 scoreline suggests, it hasn't been all too easy for the hosts.
Having lost the first two Tests, India would be aware that another loss would help Australia reclaim the coveted trophy they are competing for.
India have an unenviable task of avoiding the prospect of relinquishing their grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
