- Updates from the fourth day of play at Perth Stadium
- Any thoughts? Email or tweet @GeoffLemonSport
59th over: Australia 145-4 (Khawaja 45, Paine 16) Another dicey over goes by for Australia without cost. Umesh to Khawaja, beat the outside edge once, then beat a half-hearted pull shot that was nowhere near the ball. A real get-out shot there. There’s a single off the last ball.
58th over: Australia 144-4 (Khawaja 44, Paine 16) Ishant on in a double change. A wild one down leg at first, then a nasty one that whacks Paine in the hip. Those hurt where there’s no padding, artificial or otherwise. Khawaja leaves the rest in the channel.
57th over: Australia 143-4 (Khawaja 44, Paine 16) Umesh Yadav on to replace Bumrah, so another little victory for the batting pair. The forecast isn’t predicting high temperatures but it’s still very hot out there in direct sun. So far it looks a decent time to bat and a tricky one to bowl. Last night in the dim light under clouds the bowling seemed a lot more menacing.
“What happened to Aussie machismo?” asks Simon. “Didn’t Steve Waugh once bat one-handed with his fractured left arm in a sling ? Man up Finchy! (Seriously though, glad he wasn’t hurt too badly – fun player to watch).”
56th over: Australia 142-4 (Khawaja 44, Paine 15) They’re hanging in and building the lead ever so slowly. A couple of singles in Shami’s over, and the most dangerous overs of the morning have been negotiated, the freshest ones from rested bowlers while the batsmen are getting set.
55th over: Australia 140-4 (Khawaja 43, Paine 14) Should have been run out! Crazy run from the Australians, Khawaja chops Bumrah just to the leg side of the pitch and went for it. Bumrah picks up and throws on the spin, falling over. Never easy. But had he hit, Khawaja would have been short. Those near things have to fall your way in these close situations. The Aussie lead is out to 183.
54th over: Australia 139-4 (Khawaja 42, Paine 14) Another maiden for Shami, though a bit lucky when Paine’s drive hit Khawaja. A bit unlucky when Paine misses a waft outside off stump.
53rd over: Australia 139-4 (Khawaja 42, Paine 14) Paine off strike first ball. Booming swing from Bumrah in this over. But it came after the ball passed the batsman, hooping away towards slip. He brings the line back in tighter, striking the pad! But via the inside edge. Right in front of off stump, that could have been trouble.
52nd over: Australia 138-4 (Khawaja 42, Paine 13) Shami to Khawaja, another maiden. Beats the edge once, then takes an edge that bounces just in front of slip. Good start from both ends for India.
51st over: Australia 138-4 (Khawaja 42, Paine 13) Bumrah looking good, getting the ball to zing through now. A couple of false shots from Paine, one of which earns him four runs as the edge bounces through the cordon gap.
AP emails in: “Video evidence suggests if the on-field decision had been not out, the 3rd umpire couldn’t have found conclusive evidence to overturn that either, Yes? Did the onfield umpires unwittingly influence this Test at a crucial point, by not giving the batsman benefit of the doubt?”
50th over: Australia 134-4 (Khawaja 42, Paine 9) Shami from the other end, his first ball keeps low but is wide of Usman’s off stump. So is most of the over, which is duly left alone.
49th over: Australia 134-4 (Khawaja 42, Paine 9) Bumrah to start the day, which is a good move. He was so good yesterday, and a bit unlucky – caused a lot of false shots and appeals. Each batsman squeezes out a single at one stage in the over.
Right then. Australia 175 in front. Four wickets down. Khawaja on 41 and Paine on 8. India need wickets. Sun is shining. Let’s go.
The news just in is that Aaron Finch has been cleared to bat today. Presumably he’ll come out at the fall of the next wicket. And may just try to clear the pickets and swell the lead fast. That could be fun.
Alright, let’s do this. Might as well put my cards on the table. First, these kind of catches will never meet agreement. I’ve already had people emailing saying that you can clearly see that it bounced, and clearly see that it didn’t. There are still images on Twitter that make it look dodgy, because literally every close low catch has a couple of frames that can make it look dodgy. If they didn’t, then the batsmen would walk and the umpires wouldn’t check it. All low catches look a bit dubious, at best, on television screens, and even worse in still images.
I think it was out. And I wrote an article last night (scroll down for the link) rhapsodising over Kohli’s innnings. I would have loved to see him go on. So there’s no bias one way or the other, which is the absurd thing that a lot of fans will say. Check out Harsha Bhogle’s Twitter, for instance – he’s being attacked by self-appointed ‘patriots’ because he had the temerity to explain how the decision-making process currently works in international cricket. Now he’s apparently a fifth columnist. (Most newspapers these days can’t afford one columnist.)
One other thing I can tell you – the overnight intrigue has not translated into interest at the ground. Perth Stadium is deserted. I walked in only a few minutes ago and the footpaths and ticket gates had the merest handful of people using them. Inside the ground, it’s nt quite the MCG during a Shield game, but it’s not much better. A smattering of people at the members’ end across a few tiers, but the population on the arena – camera crews and players warming up and groundsmen and hangers-on – are in danger of outnumbering them. There are massed empty banks of seating through the other three quarters of the giant continguous grandstand. I know it’s a Monday morning, but it’s also a week shy of Christmas at the debut of a top-class venue, and the fourth day of a gripping contest.
Something ain’t right.
I’d like it formally entered on the record that I was a Lemon for decades before Liz was even invented. Other than that, thanks JP. Big day yesterday alright for the news faff that surrounds the cricket. I thought that Tim Paine was shrewd enough to use the less brusque appellation ‘big head’, knowing that he was close enough to the stump mic to risk being picked up. But Howcroft hears ‘dickhead’. I suppose it’s the insult version of the Handscomb catch. All that faff aside, we had a brilliant day’s Test cricket yesteday. India’s pace bowlers were outstanding. Finch looked in great touch, suddenly, until his injury. Khawaja battled hard. Kohli was supreme. R. Pant was exciting. For a day, we actually did have it all.
Right, that’s enough from me for the time being, over to the maestro Geoff Lemon, my second favourite of all the Lemons (sorry mate, Liz Lemon 4 eva). Reporting from the Perth press box I’m sure there will be some juicy updates on all the overnight drama.
One story you might have missed during yesterday’s action was the reopening of the Monkeygate controversy. In an interview with Adam Gilchrist for Fox Sports, to be aired tonight, Andrew Symonds indicates Harbhajan Singh later apologised to him for the diplomatic crisis, apparently going so far as to break down in tears.
“He actually broke down crying, and I could just see that was a huge weight off his shoulders,” Symonds says. “He had to get rid of it. We shook hands and I gave him a hug and said: ‘Mate, it’s all good. It’s dealt with’.”
WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN ??? BROKE DOWN ???? WHAT FOR ??? Harbhajan broke down when apologising for 'monkeygate' - Symondshttps://t.co/eQFeETVChy
I thought he was a very good cricketer but Symonds has turned out to be a good fiction writer - he sold a story then (2008) and he is ‘selling a story’ now (2018). Mate, the world has come of age in these 10 years and it’s time you also grew up
Related: Andrew Symonds: Why I hated playing international cricket
Waiting for Godot it is not, but the stump mic picked up an entertaining exchange between competing skippers yesterday evening.
Kohli: “If you mess up it’s two-nil.”
However, this analysis from @CricProf suggests Harris’ leave, while obviously a bad one, perhaps wasn’t that gross a miscalculation.
Not a good leave from Marcus Harris, but he can be forgiven when you look at similar deliveries Bumrah bowled to him today. Of course, it's still a gamble, but it was the only ball that pitched in that area that would have hit the stumps. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/O9ADCf1s7T
An excellent point has been raised by email from David Marshall. “Any discussion on Harris’ disastrous leave yesterday, and whether there was any concussion from the earlier knock on the helmet? I didn’t hear much discussion on 7 about it when the wicket fell.”
I think this is definitely an issue that requires following up. Are cricket’s concussion protocols adequate? We know it’s a major issue in contact sports around the world - is cricket doing enough? It doesn’t seem too wild a theory to suggest Harris’ judgement could have been impaired by the fierce blow he received earlier in his knock.
WATCH: Australian opener Marcus Harris is felled by a brutal Bumrah bouncer.
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Finch’s injury has diverted attention from what promises to be a thrilling couple of days of Test cricket. All results remain possible with the prospect of a nail-biting fifth day conclusion.
That Australia hold the upper hand owes a lot to the contentious dismissal of Virat Kohli, caught by Peter Handscomb off the bowling of Pat Cummins. There is far from unanimous agreement about the cleanliness of the catch but once the soft signal indicated it was out, replays failed to prove conclusively that the decision should be overturned.
Doesn't get much closer than that! Kohli has to go... #CloseMatters#AUSvIND | @GilletteAUpic.twitter.com/v6luCLWez1
Finch’s retirement yesterday curtailed a promising opening partnership with Marcus Harris and opened the door for India to regain a foothold in a match that was sliding out of their control.
Here’s Geoff Lemon’s report from Perth on yesterday’s action, putting Finch’s misfortune in context.
Related: Australia build lead despite imperious Virat Kohli century in second Test
Here’s the second of those two net session scares. It would seem more work is required on that swivel-pull against some friendlier bowlers before it’s next unfurled against Test-calibre opponents.
"Bit of mayo"? We don't blame you @AaronFinch5!
Good to see the Aussie opener given the all clear after this nasty one from @mstarc56#AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/T8eFrtpIme
An aspect of the concern for Finch is due to this not being the first time this summer the ODI skipper has been struck on that part of his body. Mitchell Starc has injured him twice before in net practice, almost preventing Finch from appearing in the pre-Test ODI series.
Here’s vision of one of those incidents and Finch discussing his recovery and injury management.
Skipper Aaron Finch provides an update on his injured finger ahead of the first Gillette ODI on Sunday and reveals whether he's a heads or tails man at the toss (hint - he's neither!) #AUSvSApic.twitter.com/Slkn6g8WJF
So, to the first order of business, how is Aaron Finch’s right index finger? Not as bad as first feared.
Following the conclusion of play yesterday Australia’s coach, Justin Langer, explained that x-rays revealed there is no fracture and Finch could bat today if required. “It’s not fractured, which is really positive for us,” Langer told SEN Radio. “He was playing so well. It’s nice to have Finchy being able to bat, hopefully, in the second dig. Every run here is very important.”
WATCH: Aaron Finch is struck on the finger and is forced to retire hurt.
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Good morning everyone and welcome to live coverage of day four of the second Test from Perth. We’re firing up slightly earlier than usual to allow plenty of time to get through all the talking points from yesterday’s action.
What talking points, you might be asking? Well, there’s Aaron Finch’s dodgy digit and Virat Kohli’s dubious dismissal for a start, and we could venture into the reopening of old wounds once thought securely locked away in a safe marked Monkeygate: do not touch.
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