- Live updates from day two of the third Test at the MCG
- Join the conversation: via email or tweet @JPHowcroft
- India declare at 443/7
3.2 over: Australia 5-0 (Harris 3, Finch 2) Bumrah comes around the wicket to Harris and beats him with a beauty that seams away. The follow up is very slippery, short and chasing Harris, and it smashes the opener flush on the helmet. Once again, as we saw with India early in their innings, a batsman ended up in bother ducking into a delivery that didn’t get up all that high. Harris doesn’t look too concerned but the Australian medical team are out there conducting a concussion test. That was a firm blow, and not the first one Harris has worn from Bumrah this series. While clearly the priority is Harris’s wellbeing, Australia won’t be disappointed watching the minutes tick by towards 6pm and the close of play.
Harris being seen to by the team doctor. He has been struck on the helmet by a Jasprit Bumrah bouncer
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3rd over: Australia 5-0 (Harris 3, Finch 2) Ishant is getting the ball to swing a long way into the right-handed Finch, eager to find the gap between bat and pad or provoke an inside-edge. His radar is off though, only troubling the Victorian with one ball and wasting the other five. However, despite some of those five being rank duds, the inconsistent bounce is noticeable. You can see a few pea-rollers coming our way before the end of this Test.
This pitch is starting to bounce unevenly. They have enough runs.
2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Harris 3, Finch 2) Bumrah shares the new ball and he is in good areas, hitting the deck hard from wide on the crease, angling the ball into Finch. The batsman doesn’t know whether to stick or twist, first attempting to pull, then looking simply to ride the bounce, then almost allowing a fuller delivery to slip through his gate. Harris looks far more controlled and picks up a couple with a checked drive.
Ishant Sharma's opening over found 1.5° of swing, the most from any bowler since the third over this morning. #AUSvIND
1st over: Australia 2-0 (Harris 1, Finch 1) Ishant begins with a beauty, sending the new ball screaming past Harris’ nervous defensive prod. His second delivery is on the left-hander’s pads allowing Harris to rotate the strike and breathe a sigh of relief. Finch negotiates a well placed delivery first up and then enjoys watching a couple of loose wide ones fly outside off before Ishant finds prodigious inswing to force an awkward jammed jab just wide of short leg.
The Indian innings was the longest played at the MCG since Aus scored 555 off 189.3 overs against Pakistan in 1983. #AusvInd
Ishant Sharma has the ball, Virat Kohli has a stack of close fielders, Marcus Harris on strike, 25 minutes to go.
Bracing myself for this switch to be flipped. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/4QmWNQsnhn
So, how will Australia fare in this tricky spell before the close? Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris will be knackered after fielding in oppressive conditions for two days. This will be a huge test of their mental strength.
@JPHowcroft right move by India. Why expose your bowlers to a new ball barrage and possible injury. Nice thinking
Agreed. But if the plan was to declare at this stage all along, why not accelerate earlier, especially against the old ball?
Jadeja’s dismissal heralds the end of India’s peculiar innings. 165 overs of occupation, 20 minutes of thrash, and now Australia have a (cliche alert) testing half-hour to negotiate.
Sighter? What’s a sighter? Asks Jadeja after smashing his first delivery over long-off for four. Hazlewood responds superbly, beating the outside edge then sending down a bouncer that India’s number eight can only glove tamely to Tim Paine.
169th over: India 438-6 (Rohit 62, Jadeja 0) Ten overs or 38 minutes remaining. Are India going to declare tonight?
Woof! This pair have clearly been given license to open their shoulders now. Rohit drills a lovely four then Pant bullies Starc straight past the non-striker for four. And then the keeper’s innings comes to a premature conclusion, aiming one long handle too many at Starc sending the ball spiralling high towards point where Khawaja pouches a far from straightforward catch.
@JPHowcroft re: the lack of intent on both sides. Christmas truce? #ausvind
168th over: India 428-5 (Rohit 56, Pant 35) Hazlewood shares the new ball and he has the misfortune of bowling to an Indian pair who are now finally looking to up the tempo. Four runs come from an over featuring plenty of intent from both batsmen.
“Hi Jonathan,” hi Tim Hare. “The Black Caps handily placed after two days. Lead by 300 with eight second innings wickets left. A wonderfully dominant day of Test cricket from NZ. Sorry.” No need to apologise Tim, I only wish this match was offering the same excitement.
167th over: India 424-5 (Rohit 53, Pant 34) Hooray! The game moves on finally with Australia taking the third new ball. Mitchell Starc has it and he concedes eight runs and gets fired up (unnecessarily?) by Pant running into his personal space with the batsman turning for two. Starc is very very cranky, which you would be at the end of s second consecutive day in the field, but it all seems a bit unnecessary.
“I had a big thing for Joan Collins when I was younger,” emails Jonathan McKinley. “Before that my favourite member of the family was the lad who drove the Apollo 11 uber whilst Buzz and Neil were hopping about on the moon. Michael Collins.” Your man Mickey C got his guernsey earlier today (see the Tea interval handover post).
166th over: India 415-5 (Rohit 52, Pant 26) Finch gets a second over. There are no close catchers, the ball is doing nothing in the air or off the pitch, the batsmen are playing from the crease with little intent, like sensitive fathers not trying to embarrass their offspring in a dads v lads practice match. Forgive the whinge, but this is dross Test cricket. Neither team seems to be trying to win this match at the moment.
165th over: India 410-5 (Rohit 50, Pant 23) Lyon rattles through another over of minimum excitement. One hour or 14 overs left in the day.
164th over: India 409-5 (Rohit 50, Pant 22) *Funky captaincy klaxon*. Aaron Finch is having a bowl. The Victorian whirls over his slow left-arm darts in an over that sees Rohit bring up his 50. Finch is a handy part-timer and despite Pant’s intent he proves difficult to get away. Still, this all now has the air of a match being played under duress, like all the participants out there are going through the motions under fear of punishment, not to accomplish anything meaningful.
In this Test so far, Australia have found 0.54° of seam, and 0.48° of swing.
Since 2006, Australia have found less seam than in 15 home Tests, and they've found less swing in 12.
They've never done both. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/aiTmmGzU64
163rd over: India 406-5 (Rohit 49, Pant 20) Lyon persists with ball two and his 47th over is respected by India who work three singles to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
40-over splits in India's innings:
1. 1-86
2. 1-107
3. 0-91
4. 3-113
Little acceleration...#ausvind
162nd over: India 403-5 (Rohit 48, Pant 18) India bring up the 400 during Mitch Marsh’s latest over. It features a couple of singles and one lusty pull for four from Rohit that dribbles to the midwicket boundary.
The third new ball is now due.
Kiss Cam has made the MCG crowd happier than at any other moment through the last two days. #AUSvIND
Epic kiss cam today... boy-girl refusing to kiss (probably cos brother-sister given how she hugged him instead) ... two indian guys refusing to kiss, because well... another couple not interested with the guy flipping camera off! #AusvInd
161st over: India 397-5 (Rohit 43, Pant 17) Three singles from a rare unthreatening Lyon over. India continue to occupy the crease without any indication they’re interested in hurrying things along. Genius or madness?
“Afternoon Jonathan,” afternoon Phil Withall. “Playing catch up, so here we go. I have sympathy for Siddle, can’t be easy coming on and adjusting to the change in light etc. Robovac’s are evil and slightly challenged, ours would attempt to eat standard lamps and chairs. Best Collins, apart from Adam, either the English dictionary or Tom. Both of which I have found essential at one time or another.” Cheers, Phil, have a drink or a hundred on me.
160th over: India 394-5 (Rohit 41, Pant 16) Marsh continues, with Paine now standing up to the stumps. Not a lot else to report.
India taking full advantage of consigning Aus to the field for so long. Concentration drops off, and fielding sharpness declines....
159th over: India 393-5 (Rohit 40, Pant 16) Noooooooooooooooo! Another dolly dropped by Australia. Pat Cummins the latest to disappoint Nathan Lyon. Pant finally caved in after batting with so much patience and sashayed down the pitch, mistiming a lofted drive straight down long-on’s throat but Cummins shelled the opportunity. Two days and 160 overs in the field in 30C heat will take its toll.
Dropped. Cummins can't hold on in the deep #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/kEvtzhQ3yR
158th over: India 391-5 (Rohit 39, Pant 15) Aye aye! Pant goes the long handle to wallop Marsh over midwicket for four. That was a sort of front-foot pull, but really one of those slaps the modern era of batsmen with mad hand-eye coordination are happy to execute at will in white ball cricket. As with the previous Marsh over a boundary is followed up by a wafty play and miss. That’s Pant in a nutshell I guess.
157th over: India 386-5 (Rohit 40, Pant 10) A single from Rohit brings up the century... for Nathan Lyon. Australia’s spinner now has figures of 1/101 from 44 overs.
156th over: India 384-5 (Rohit 38, Pant 9) Mitch Marsh curtails Hazlewood’s short forgettable spell and the allrounder’s arrival at the crease is met with the flashing blade of Rishabh Pant who flails a drive through the cover for four. He goes for the big drive again next ball but it’s wider and he fails to connect - or does he? Paine is adamant there’s a catch behind but umpire Erasmus is unmoved. There was a nicky noise, for sure. Paine chooses not to review and snicko reveals that was a good call. I wonder what that noise was?
C'mon JP surely you mean ACDC!!!! https://t.co/lDF51pawfl
155th over: India 380-5 (Rohit 38, Pant 5) Lyon is bowling around the wicket to Pant and the batsman remains uncharacteristically patient, blocking a couple then accepting the single to long on. The bowler moves over the wicket to Rohit and though there’s little cause for alarm there is again evidence of the ball keeping low.
India are in no rush. In the last 10 overs they've attacked 11.4% of the balls bowled to them, only slightly more than the 9% they recorded in the 10 overs before that. No declaration batting from Pant and Rohit - yet. #AUSvIND
154th over: India 379-5 (Rohit 38, Pant 4) Another Hazlewood over begins with Rohit taking him for runs, this time a delicate late cut for four to the vacant third-man region, then a dabbed two into the off side, before finally a controlled pull for a single. Pant is again watchful but opts to pull the final ball of the over for a single.
Most overs for Nathan Lyon to take a wkt in an inngs:
42.2 vs Ind, Ranchi, 2017
39.6 vs Ind, MCG, 2018 *
36.4 vs Eng, SCG, 2018#AUSvIND
153rd over: India 371-5 (Rohit 31, Pant 3) Lyon is mixing up his line and pace to Pant to try and coax a rash shot out of the number seven, but India’s keeper remains resolute in defence. India certainly are not in declaration mode yet. As this post from Cricinfo’s Dan Brettig highlights, perhaps India were confident this pitch would begin to keep low as the match wore on and play to Jadeja’s strengths? He certainly looks to be a valuable weapon the way this surface is beginning to behave.
Shastri, day 5: "It was all part of the plan. We saved Jadeja for Melbourne because we knew he would get lbws here through our many spies. I was happy he got angry in Perth because it showed he was hungry. It is very easy to fire blanks from a million miles away!" #AusvInd
152nd over: India 369-5 (Rohit 30, Pant 2) Cummins has a breather which allows Hazlewood an opportunity but he begins with a floaty half-volley that Rohit drills through the covers for three. Pant is happy to show he’s not all wallop with five calm defensive strokes, one of which becomes a run when it lands into an unguarded space on the legside.
“‘Who is your favourite Collins?’ often comes up as a question at this time of year,” emails Ian Forth, in relation to my handover post from Adam ‘Collo’ Collins. “For me, it’s between Wilkie and Edwyn. However you have to respect Phil. Not only was he the only man to appear at both Live Aids (drumming for Led Zep on the disastrous Stairway to Heaven in the US leg) but he also divorced his wife by fax. How 80s can one man be?” Marvellous correspondence Mr Forth, and an excuse to play this most 80s of video clips. This song is also featured in one of television’s most brilliant needle drops during season two of Mr Robot.
151st over: India 365-5 (Rohit 27, Pant 1) Lyon vs Pant sounds like a ripping YouTube video and it has been a highlight of this Test series so far. However, the latest instalment is surprisingly sedate with the Indian keeper happy to play out a maiden from his crease.
Rishabh Pant has played a false shot to 26% of the deliveries he's faced on this tour. Aaron Finch is the only top-order batsman to play more on either side. #AUSvIND
150th over: India 365-5 (Rohit 27, Pant 1) Rohit accepts an early single which gives Cummins plenty of time to line up Pant. He starts by softening him up with some looseners outside off then hammering down an accurate bouncer. Pant handles it well then gets off the mark with a dab into the covers.
“Curious how the Seven analysts commented so harshly today on the Bancroft/Smith interviews whilst the Fox guys yesterday were much more positive,” emails Ian Bannatyne. “Unpicking the fake comments around the fake news is quite complex!” Indeed Ian. I’d like to direct you to the Twitter feeds of our own Geoff Lemon and Russell Jackson (formerly of this parish) who have both added their considerable insight to this very issue in recent days.
149th over: India 361-5 (Rohit 23, Pant 0) Lyon has been probing since tea and a more intuitive short leg (*cough* *cough* Keaton Jennings) might have turned a bat-pad into a chance before that Rahane dismissal but Travis Head is not an intuitive short leg. Replays also show the chance I brushed over following Siddle’s drop was also very catchable but Head made a meal of things.
“Hi Adam,” well, it’s Jonathan on deck now, but let’s skip over that for now Brian Withington. “It’s just gone 4am in the UK and I can’t stream the game for the moment. Have I been getting more entertainment unleashing the Robo vacuum, I wonder? He’s certainly a plucky little bugger ...” Until that last Lyon over, yes, you probably have.
Another excellent Lyon over finally has its reward. After landing the ball loopily outside off the GOAT fires one quicker and straighter that keeps low and beats Rahane’s bat. Umpire Gould has a simple job raising his finger. Just reward for Lyon in his 40th over, but another worrying sign this pitch is keeping unpredictably low.
The strikes!
Rahane LBW, India 5/361 #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/ekFAo9DWt4
148th over: India 359-4 (Rahane 33, Rohit 23) The MCG remains stunned by that Siddle drop. Rohit capitalises, taking Cummins for eight, including a guided thick edge to the third-man fence and a pulled three through midwicket. Endure Siddle’s agony in perpetuity here:
DROPPED! Peter Siddle with a missed opportunity for Australia.
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147th over: India 350-4 (Rahane 32, Rohit 15) Lyon is now looking as dangerous as he has all Test, throwing the ball outside the right-handed pair’s off stump and getting some purchase off the pitch back in. Rohit is beaten on the outside first then on the inside, Australia up in unison for a very handy LBW shout. That might have been worth a referral. No need though because two balls later Rohit top-edges a sweep that Siddle
snaffles oh no no no no no no no that is about as poor a drop as you could ever wish to see. And by a Victorian at the MCG. In the Boxing Day Test. Fielding at backward square leg the ball lobbed to the sub fielder - who was only on for that one over while Cummins was being re-strapped - but instead of calmly accepting the dismissal he leapt like a centre-half back taking an intercept mark and the ball spilled from his grasp. Agony for Lyon. He then sees the final ball of his over whistle in the air past short leg.
146th over: India 350-4 (Rahane 32, Rohit 15) Still no noticeable change in intent from India, and against Cummins it’s probably understandable. The big quick is once again on the spot every delivery, occasionally finding a hint of in-swing, occasionally getting one to stay low.
145th over: India 349-4 (Rahane 32, Rohit 14) An excellent testing maiden from Lyon, tossing the ball up into the rough outside Rahane’s off-stump. Here’s some visual proof of Rohit’s escape from the previous over, snapper Collo on the spot.
A gap left in the cordon, you know what comes next. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/WsEkI32yMs
144th over: India 349-4 (Rahane 32, Rohit 14) Cummins resumes his Sisyphean task after the tea interval. This is his 31st over and his figures of 3/59 are testament to his ability to keep India honest throughout two arduous days in the field. It was nearly a four-for but Rohit’s nothing prod outside off resulted in an edge that perfectly bisected the widest slip and gully. Rahane then does well to get some bat on one that keeps worryingly low. From that stabbed stroke a single is run and the 50 partnership celebrated.
subscribing to Foxtel so that I never have to hear Brayshaw say the word “banter” ever again
Before play resumes, feel free to check in on the yotting.
Nick Vindin with this report, fresh off the printers.
Related: Sydney to Hobart 2018 set for closest four-way tussle in race history
36 overs are scheduled for this final session which means once again we will be using the extra half-hour and we’re probably not going to see 90 overs in the day.
Please keep me company, either on Twitter: @JPHowcroft, or by email: jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com. Left to my own devices things can go off piste pretty quickly.
Thank you very much Adam, my favourite Mr Collins since Michael, that astronaut everyone forgets about.
143rd over: India 346-4 (Rahane 30, Rohit 13) Rohit won’t be tempted, lunging at Lyon to defend his over from start to end, making it to tea with red ink by his name. All told, a session worth 69 runs for the visitors. They were briefly vulnerable (sort of) when losing Kohli on 82, uppercutting Starc to third man, then Pujara on 106 shortly thereafter, bowled by a Cummins cutter that kept low. But Rahane and Rohit were chanceless through the second hour, their stand already worth 47. Can Australia do as the did after lunch and get a couple of quick ones to enliven the Melbourne crowd once more? Stick with JP Howcroft to find out. I’ll catch you tomorrow, bye for now.
142nd over: India 346-4 (Rahane 30, Rohit 13) Two overs until tea, Marsh to take the one from the southern end. He’s offline early in the over to Rahane, who misses the ball but gets some of his thigh pad onto it, which is more than enough to claim four leg byes with the wicketkeeper Paine up to the pegs. How frustrating for Australia, who looked half a chance to have that vital, big session when claiming Pujara then Johli in a hurry.
141st over: India 340-4 (Rahane 28, Rohit 13) Rahane deals with the bulk of the Lyon over here, only one from it. Ben Jones from CricViz tells me that the Australian offie has never bowled this many balls in an innings without having taken a wicket. Good stat. Andrew Samson on SEN adds that Lyon has only had two 0/100s in his career, both of those coming in Perth against South Africa. Another good stat. He now has 36-4-93-0.
140th over: India 339-4 (Rahane 27, Rohit 13) Paine is up to the stumps for Marsh when Rahane gives Rohit the strike after the first ball, the all-rounder keeping him honest with a straight line and a ring field. The Richies are singing the national anthem between overs. Anthony Hudson on SEN asks Mel Jones if he knows the second verse - she says she does. In Harare this year for the T20 tri-series, they did play the second verse for their opening match against Pakistan. The players didn’t quite know what to do but I embraced the chance to give it a big sing from the press box. No regrets.
139th over: India 338-4 (Rahane 26, Rohit 13) Marsh might have only been on to help swing Lyon around to the members’ end, the off-spinner now throwing it up at Rohit but he can’t inspire a big swipe. Tim Paine on stump mic is urging him to hit a six, and that if he does he will support Rohit’s Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Whatever it takes.
138th over: India 337-4 (Rahane 25, Rohit 13) On comes Mitch Marsh and cue the boos. They’re nowhere near as potent as yesterday but I suspect the strong comments repudiating the nonsense would have only encouraged those who were back for another pop today. It’s a fairly pedestrian start to his new spell, causing no concerns for India.
137th over: India 335-4 (Rahane 25, Rohit 12) Rohit is moving in the right direction now, driving Starc’s first ball for three through cover along the carpet. When the attack-leader goes a touch shorter to Rahane later in the over, he’s cutting again for a couple.
This is very good batting from the vice-captain, who would given anything to find his way to three figures for the first time in 2018 during this final Test of the year.
“Love organic fandom,” Ian Forth says. “West Indian steel bands, The Richies, The Barmy Army. Can’t stand the infantile corporatisation of Fanatics and Buckethead Armies. As we’ve seen over the last 24 hours, it’s pretty clear marketing departments and PR gurus are absolutely clueless, so perhaps they could clear out of the way and leave the game with the people.” Nice whack!
136th over: India 330-4 (Rahane 23, Rohit 9) Another excellent cut from Rahane off Lyon, enough on it this time to make it to the rope out in front of the Indian supporters waving their flags in the Ponsford Stand. Happy with that, Rahane safely defends the rest. This is turning into a handy partnership ahead of tea, the break due in 25 minutes.
135th over: India 326-4 (Rahane 19, Rohit 9) Starc is back, recognition of how good he was just after lunch when opening India up with the short ball. It is the stumps he is going for with Rohit though, hitting the seam a couple of times to cause a bit of concern. The final delivery moves back a long way to the right-hander, lucky not to chop on.
134th over: India 326-4 (Rahane 19, Rohit 9) Singles for Rahane down the ground then Rohit through cover. There’s no evidence of Rohit looking to really take Lyon on, which might be wise given the way he gave his wicket away to him in Adelaide.
133rd over: India 324-4 (Rahane 18, Rohit 8) After taking a few balls to ready himself, Rohit climbs into the Hazlewood short ball and smashes it to the rope at midwicket! Have that, he says.
In his Test career, Rohit Sharma averages 23% attacking strokes - so far today, he's played 7%. It will be a question of when he goes harder, rather than if he will, but Australia will be pleased to have kept him quiet so far. #AUSvIND
132nd over: India 320-4 (Rahane 18, Rohit 4) Lyon keeps Rohit at home here, the number six in defence until the final ball, which he helps down the ground for one.
131st over: India 319-4 (Rahane 18, Rohit 3) Rahane off strike again from the first ball of the new Cummins overs. Rohit is fortunate not to edge a good’un later in the over, zipping away from a good length, but makes contact behind square next up, getting the strike back for Lyon. When will he unleash? This side of tea?
The Richies are doing their thing at the city end of the ground. They have just given ‘I Am Australian’ a burst. It’s the first time I can remember hearing that at this ground since the 1994 Grand Final when The Seekers performed it in the pre-game show.
130th over: India 317-4 (Rahane 17, Rohit 2) Lyon is now on from the southern end, Rohit turning his first ball through the legside for one. Rahane dances and defends before going back to cut against the spin, and doing it really well to pick up a couple. Lyon is going to be more important by the over this afternoon.
This graphic shows Australia's seam bowling performances at home in the past five years. It illustrates that no Test has seen them find both less seam and less swing than they've found in Melbourne over the last two days. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/PLoTr7h54Y
129th over: India 313-4 (Rahane 14, Rohit 1) Hazlewood directs a bumper on the helmet of Rohit to begin, the new man getting out of the way just in time. He’s off the mark from the penultimate ball, pulling one behind square. Rahane has one delivery to face to finish the hour and he strokes it beautifully behind point for four. That’s the Indian vice-captain at his most pristine. On that, they grab a drink.
128th over: India 308-4 (Rahane 10, Rohit 0) This contest a lot more to it now, Rahane’s leading edge found by Cummins but not going to a fielder. The Australian smiles, knowing he is very much a chance of picking up the home side’s third in a hurry. But much like it was in Perth, the Indian vice-captain is not mucking around out there either, driving two past cover then pulling two more to finish.
The flurry of wickets in Melbourne has still only moved the draw down to 63%. The tough conditions for the bowlers, and the lack of false shots - despite the occasional variable bounce - suggest that taking 20 wickets will take too long for either side to grab the win. #AUSvINDhttps://t.co/ZBq1jQfeCp
127th over: India 304-4 (Rahane 6, Rohit 0) It was a nice bit of seam from Cummins away from Pujara, it must be said. But the ball did go under the bat, as this CricViz graphic illustrates quite clearly. Hazlewood now gets his chance for the first time time lunch, replacing Starc. Blimey, and he gets one to take off at Rahane, missing his bat and clearing Paine’s gloves, four byes added. Later on he pulls a single, Rohit then happy enough to defend. It won’t be long before he gets busy - or dies trying.
The ball from Cummins which dismissed Pujara bounced roughly 70cm less than other deliveries from Cummins on the same length. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/QOLLwOlJAJ
126th over: India 299-4 (Rahane 5, Rohit 0) Rohit, back into this side to land knock-out blows in situations just like this, walks out and defends the two remaining deliveries in the successful Cummins set.
Big fan of the Cummins non-celebration and grin at Pujara there. The anti-Brett Lee #AUSvIND
Just like that, they’re both gone! Pujara bowled by a ball that keeps low! Cummins’ celebration - or lack thereof - says it all: this could get nasty to bat on for all the wrong reasons. But the good news as far as the contest today is concerned is that two new man are at the crease with the local bowlers back in the game. That’s worth watching!
BOWLED.
Pujara goes, to one that kept a little low... #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/JShDIC6kcK
125th over: India 298-3 (Pujara 106, Rahane 4) Shot. Rahane out of the blocks with a forceful slap through cover, a ball short of a length that never got up. Pujara did as he does best for the rest of the set, doing his best to exhaust Starc as soon as possible.
Miss any of Dennis Lillee's interview with Bruce? You can watch it in full on our:
• Facebook: https://t.co/5DuUTFJ4MR
• 7sport app: https://t.co/EDCKwVt2RW#AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/3a8GooBzld
124th over: India 295-3 (Pujara 106, Rahane 1) Very good over from Cummins to back up Starc, attacking the stumps of Rahane then Pujara. Going back to that Kohli wicket, it was a fine set up by Starc, really getting his radar right on the short ball on a handful of occasions since lunch before the wicket ball arrived.
123rd over: India 293-3 (Pujara 105, Rahane 0) Finch didn’t miss his moment either, showing the ball to the Bay 13 loyalists. With one ball to face, Rahane copped a nasty one on the hip from Starc that he just managed to keep down. Life in this, at last!
A WICKET!
Starc gets Kohli caught in the deep! #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/gBUwbzVNki
The short ball gets the wicket! Kohli uppercuts to third man to Aaron Finch, taking the catch in front of Bay 13! The ball after pulling another short one with authority to the rope. The crowd are now chanting “Finchy”, the Victorian making his first major impression on his home ground as a Test player a very good one.
122nd over: India 285-2 (Pujara 104, Kohli 75) What is that you say? A bat beaten? You bet it is, Pujara nearly undone by a Cummins off-cutter that never really cuts. It even gets to Paine’s gloves at a catchable height, unlike a ball earlier in the over that evaded the ‘keeper on the bounce, spilling away for a bye.
121st over: India 284-2 (Pujara 104, Kohli 75) Starc resumes his short-pitched attack, Kohli taking the bait from the second ball but he doesn’t get it off the square. His pull later in the over is much more convincing, keeping the strike with the single. Is that “boring” that I can hear the crowd chanting between balls? Or Warnie? Anyone sitting in the outer with better hearing than me?
120th over: India 283-2 (Pujara 104, Kohli 74) Kohli leaves, defends then clips Cummins with complete ease for three forward of square, pulling up just before the rope. It’s hot out there but the captain is racing between the wickets; an all-run four could easily have been achieved had he been running with himself rather than Pujara.
“Pathetic individual I am,” begins Dominic Piper. “Despite living in Australia for more than 20 years, having an Australian wife and Australian kids I still enjoy nothing more than seeing their attack blunted and out of luck at the MCG. It’s taking all my efforts not to put my 2010/11 Ashes DVD on during the session breaks.”
Related: Warner and Bancroft relationship 'untenable', warns former great
119th over: India 280-2 (Pujara 104, Kohli 71) A couple out behind square for Kohli so Starc goes straight upstairs to begin his fresh spell. It’s a touch interesting that he’s only bowled 20 of the 119 overs sent down in this innings. It nearly works at Pujara after the captain gets off strike, his glove struck flush with the ball ballooning to backward square leg... but there is nobody there. “It is the first time they have used that strategy against Pujara,” Isa Guha notes on the telly. “And he’s on 104.” Well said. To finish the over, he nearly gloves one to Paine down the legside, lucky not to make contact. And there it is, the end of the most eventful over of the day.
Some more DK here on Seven’s twitter. I can’t wait to watch it all.
Did you know Dennis Lillee's iconic dismissal of Viv Richards on Boxing Day had its roots years earlier in a state game? #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/abaiqP4fjp
118th over: India 277-2 (Pujara 103, Kohli 69) It can only be disheartening for Cummins when bowling at Pujara’s big blade, defending the full offerings then turning off the hip when trying to give it some bite. So much for having to play himself back in.
“Scott Morrison begins to turn around polling numbers after announcing a royal commission into the Boxing Day pitch,” jokes Tom Middleton. I’ve heard crazier.
The players are back on the field. Pujara (103) and Kohli (69) returning to do their thing with India 277-2. Pat Cummins has the ball in his hand from the Great Southern Stand End. PLAY!
“Greetings, Adam.” Hello there, Seventh Horcrux. “So far, it’s been a good match to follow as an Indian supporter. However, I’d like to mention that people around me saying that we have lesser runs on the board than ideal reminds me of a phrase fellow Liverpool loyals repeat often: Never Unclench. 6 points clear at the halfway stage? Doesn’t matter. 2 down in the first innings at lunch on Day 2? Doesn’t matter.”
“The Dennis Lillee interview,” writes Tom Middleton, “was the most enjoyable part of the cricket broadcast over the last 27 hours.” He was on Seven with Bruce during the break. Here is a taste of it from their feed. I’ll post more as they do.
"The greatest player I've ever seen."
- Dennis Lillee on his battles with Sir Garry Sobers #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/Fl6th6QRMN
There was a bit going on in Kevin Roberts’ chat on SEN earlier. He’s pretty good at not giving a grab that’s overly problematic but it is quite clear that he would rather Smith and Bancroft avoided Boxing Day for their big Foxtel interviews.
Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts has admitted there is a "sense of urgency" relating to the regeneration of the MCG pitch | https://t.co/BwF2OrfYfj | #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/o1WpoBiIUl
Very, very strong opinions from Michael Slater & Ricky Ponting on Cameron Bancroft's interview #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/14f5P3vtbc
G’day from the ‘G. Thanks, Geoffers. That may have been the least attacking of Pujara’s tons (so CricViz tells me, in terms of strokes played) but it didn’t detract from it one bit. His powers of concentration really are up there with anyone to play the modern game. Along with Kohli, they are preparing to drive the hosts into the dirt as the day matures.
We all know that the mighty OBO works best when you tell me what you think along the way. You can do that through the usual channels via email or the idiot machine. Yes, this might end up being a long and tiring day. But let’s experience it together.
Flash-forward to the Percy Beames Bar in three days time. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/3PtMO6XsBb
If you’re going off the scoreboard alone, 62 runs added in the session is pretty painful. It was entertaining for the first hour though, as a good duel developed between Cummins and Starc and the batsmen. It got a bit more attritional, if I dare, afterwards. That works for India, as mentioned – the longer they bat, the harder it’ll be for Australia. But as crazy as it sounds, the visiting side still need runs. Collapses can happen any time, and if they suddenly found themselves out for 350 by tea, they’d be in a fairly weak position given the conditions. Hopefully things can go up a gear or two after the break.
Adam Collins will be your escort for that session, and from me until tomorrow it’s adios.
117th over: India 2-277 (Pujara 103, Kohli 69) Nearly a catch! Mitchell Marsh can only grin and shake his head. He’s got a curious fielding position, with Aaron Finch right on the paint at point, about fifteen paces from the bat, wearing a helmet. Kohli stretched forward at a ball, gets a thick edge with the aid of a bit of away swing, it looked like, and the edge flies just to the right of Finch. He dived across but couldn’t reach it. Kohli gets a single to move to 69, but it did not look comfortable. Finch asks Marsh if he wants the field moved a bit, but Marsh shakes his head. That would have been a highly unusual dismissal in that position. Also unusual is a wide called for a ball outside off that looked fine, and a no-ball called on the front foot, which basically never happens. So four runs from the over in the end, and that is sandwich time.
116th over: India 2-273 (Pujara 102, Kohli 68) Pujara happy to be equally circumspect against Lyon, except for glancing a couple of runs away fine. Three minutes till lunch.
115th over: India 2-271 (Pujara 100, Kohli 68) Kohli keeps up his python routine. Squeeze the life out of them. Keep them out there in this heat all day. Lunch is approaching, too. So he blocks out another over of Mitchell Marsh.
114th over: India 2-271 (Pujara 100, Kohli 68) He’s only bloody gone and done it, hasn’t he?! Two centuries in the series for Cheteshwar Pujara. He hasn’t had the happiest career away from home, but now he has seven centuries in away Tests, and two of them in three matches here. Friendly conditions to do it in, sure, but you’ve still got to do it. I can’t imagine you or I would last very long out there against Australia’s bowlers.
He raises this one with a slightly uncultured whack down the ground – straight bat but a real thwack of the ball as Lyon pitched full. It worked, and that’s all that matters for the batsman. Lyon threw back his head in frustration at having conceded the milestone runs, probably hoping to bring pressure to bear by denying them for as long as possible.
113th over: India 2-267 (Pujara 96, Kohli 68) Marsh, to Kohli, who plays a kind of wristy slap, as though he were punishing the ball for being too wide. Naughty ball. Only gets a single, because they have a deep point out for him. And a third man. I don’t quite get it, he hasn’t played an aggressive stroke to this point all day. One slip, one gully, two covers, mid off, mid on, long leg. Pujara glances a single in that direction to move to 96.
112th over: India 2-265 (Pujara 95, Kohli 67) Kohli drives to long on again, he’s done that repeatedly against Lyon today. Singles each time. Pujara sees out the rest. He’s in no hurry to try for his hundred.
111th over: India 2-264 (Pujara 95, Kohli 66) Time for the relief bowler. Mitchell Marsh begins his heavy-footed tread to the bowling crease. Imagine being Mitch Marsh’s housemate if he had the room upstairs. Thud, whack, crash. You’d have to sleep when he was at training. His first over is on the money, straight and direct and blocked away by Pujara, the only score a brace into the gap at cover.
110th over: India 2-262 (Pujara 93, Kohli 66) Down the pitch again, and this time Pujara drives Lyon through the on side to pick up three.
Bad news for Australia: Pujara has reached the 90s on 18 occasions in Tests. He’s only been out once, against Australia last year on that goat track in Bangalore where his 92 was worth double.
109th over: India 2-259 (Pujara 90, Kohli 66) Officially confirmed: Kohli is in for the long haul. He wants to bat for three days, and either ensure the draw or leave Australia 700 behind and see if they fall over. This over from Hazlewood is met entirely with leaves.
108th over: India 2-259 (Pujara 90, Kohli 66) Pujara doesn’t let the outfield cost him this time, as he comes down the pitch to Lyon again and drives harder this time, out through cover for four. He’s been the dominant partner today, and he’s looked terrific doing it. Now he’s into the 90s.
107th over: India 2-255 (Pujara 86, Kohli 66) A cry of exultation goes up, involuntarily, from those around me as Kohli plays a straight drive. The sound was something like “Cawwwwrrrr!” The shot deserved it. Hazlewood bowls a bit too straight, a bit too full, scrambling the seam, the ball maybe sticking a touch in his hand. Kohli sends it past his batting partner and the umpire with the straightest of blades. Four.
106th over: India 2-251 (Pujara 86, Kohli 62) Down the track comes Pujara and drives Lyon through cover. The outfield has been pretty slow all match, and the batsmen run three. Kohli takes another run with his release shot to long on. Another little team milestone ticks by.
105th over: India 2-247 (Pujara 83, Kohli 61) Hazlewood to Kohli, another maiden to a watchful batsman.
If you want something to listen to while you read about this gently meandering match, you can try this interview that your OBO companions for today did with Harsha Bhogle, the celebrated Indian commentator. An in-depth talk about his life in broadcasting, and how he pulled it off, starting with taking the bus across town to a cricket match at the age of 19 and asking for a job.
104th over: India 2-247 (Pujara 83, Kohli 61) We’ve had 31 runs in the hour so far, and now another single from Lyon’s over. It’s not racing along, I’ll grant you.
“Meanwhile the impeccable Trent Boult has taken 6 for 4 this morning to clean up Sri Lanka. That’s twenty wickets in less than four sessions in Christchurch. Best wishes,” emails Tim Hare. Yes, it’s fast forward cricket over there – first innings scores of 178 and 104 between the teams, and now NZ is batting again. Not just that, but Tim Southee is one lusty blow away from equalling Sachin Tendulkar for sixes hit in Test cricket. Tendulkar smashed 69. Nice indeed.
103rd over: India 2-246 (Pujara 83, Kohli 60) Incongruous, is Pujara. He’ll play the most patient, careful, watchful innings, but give him shortness and width and he’ll try to uppercut over the cordon every time. Hazlewood does so, but the ball climbs too steeply and Pujara is off his feet, leaping, trying to get his bat up to shoulder height, and failing to make contact. That’s bounce again, as Ian Forth notes in an email.
“The pitch has got plenty of bounce, hasn’t it? Is some of the hand wringing a product of India having the old school skills to come through the first day which opposition sides have traditionally failed to do?” Perhaps, and also hand-wringing from having been burned in the past. Viv Richards being knocked off the MCG wall by Ali Cook will take a long time to heal.
102nd over: India 2-246 (Pujara 83, Kohli 60) Pujara blocks out most of the Lyon over before taking a late single.
101st over: India 2-245 (Pujara 82, Kohli 60) The Indian captain is living a charmed life – he was dropped by Paine off Starc yesterday, and now he edges another ball, this one from Hazlewood, just past second slip. Gets his first boundary of the day for it.
Lee Henderson gives a cheerful good morning on email and has sent me this reverie. It’s rather delightful, even if I don’t think it’s core premise holds true for the compelling contest of this session.
He sent it as regular paragraphs, but I think we can break this into blank verse.
100th over: India 2-241 (Pujara 82, Kohli 56) Now comes that cheer from the most populated corner of the Southern Stand again, as the unlikely local here, Nathan Lyon, is announced to bowl. Cummins has a well-earned rest at backward square leg. Harris is at deep square leg. Kohli gets off strike to long-on. The bat-pad catcher is on the off side for Pujara. There are two midwickets and a deeper set mid-on to stop Che playing with the spin to work a single.
99th over: India 2-240 (Pujara 82, Kohli 55) Finally a bowling change after nearly 45 minutes this morning, and it’s Josh Hazlewood to begin. Interesting, and a good move I thought, that Cummins was preferred to start off this morning. Could easily have brought a wicket. Pujara is happy to see off Long Tall Josh’s first effort.
98th over: India 2-240 (Pujara 82, Kohli 55) A patience game now from Cummins. Hangs four balls out in the channel and Kohli leaves them all. The following bouncer is straight and too high and this time Kohli is under it easy and early and casually. Defends the last ball.
97th over: India 2-240 (Pujara 82, Kohli 55) A boundary from Pujara, he has a couple today where Kohli has none. Opens the face to Starc deliberately I fancy, and slices the drive along the ground through the gully gap, reaching for a wider ball. Starc zings a bouncer past his gloves.
Gary’s on the tweets. And fair call here. It’s all so vague, isn’t it? So undefined.
Pitches!! Why are there no proper metrics @GeoffLemonSport? Unless you can name something and then measure it, you can't evaluate it. And if you can't evaluate it, it's very hard to effect change with certainty.
96th over: India 2-236 (Pujara 78, Kohli 55) For the third time, hello. I’m starting to feel like Lionel Richie here. There is enough juice in the pitch to give Cummins a decent bouncer. It was too high to threaten Kohli in the end, but he was very ungainly in going under it, there was a hint of flinch in that. This after Cummins had beaten his edge yet again. Lyon may have dismissed Kohli more than anyone, but Cummins is the bowler who makes him look uncomfortable.
95th over: India 2-235 (Pujara 77, Kohli 55) On goes Starc. Pujara leaves where he can, defends the shorter balls when he must. Looks so in control even when batting isn’t fun. Another ball that over takes off through to Paine. If a bowler can get one of those to go at a batsman’s gloves... Pujara works a single fine from the last ball.
“Is it still a cat sick pitch?” emails Andrew Benton. “A wombat wee pitch? A platypus poo pitch? A koala krap pitch? Maybe a dingo doo pitch? It’s important to know these things you know, brings it all to life... natural life.”
94th over: India 2-234 (Pujara 76, Kohli 55) The perils of speaking too soon. About comfortable batsmen I mean. Cummins draws another false shot from Kohli who gets an edged single, then rushes through Pujara and hits him on the hip for a leg bye. And to follow beats Kohli with a beauty. Lovely stuff, but it doesn’t mean much if it doesn’t get him out. Kohli is the type who’s happy to weather the storm, however long it lasts. He collects another couple of leg byes to close the over.
“Can you explain to me why the MCG wicket is continually like this?” asks Ruth Purdue. “It feels like every year now.” Mainly because it’s a very old wicket square, and the soil is old and tired. They’re laying a new square after this summer. But I don’t think this pitch is anywhere near as bad as last year. There has been some life for the bowlers.
93rd over: India 2-230 (Pujara 76, Kohli 54) Hello again! Starc gets some swing away from Kohli, who plays an airy drive that ends up missing by a margin. The ball then takes off again, as one did from a fuller length yesterday, and Paine catches it above his head, startled and falling backwards with the take. Starc tries the same again, but a bit closer to the stumps, and Kohli drives. “Shot!” say various people around me, which is obligatory from a spectator when the ball goes through cover, but it wasn’t that good a shot. It made a clunky tinny sound off the bat, mistimed off the outside half, and dribbled away for three without ever threatening the boundary.
92nd over: India 2-227 (Pujara 76, Kohli 51) Cummins settles into another lovely bit of work. Draws a couple of defensive shots from Pujara, sends him downstairs with a bouncer, then beats his edge. Classy stuff, maybe his first over was a matter of getting warmed up.
91st over: India 2-227 (Pujara 76, Kohli 51) Hello, Starc is getting the new(ish) ball to swing. So it’s not all a batsman’s paradise out there. Pujara gets a fat edge into the ground and through the cordon for a lucky four, then another ball hooping at his legs that he gets enough bat on to find three through a leg-side gap. Runs coming, but on the bowler’s terms.
90th over: India 2-219 (Pujara 69, Kohli 50) And it will be Cummins to begin, bowling from the Great Southern Stand end of the MCG. No milestone dramas for the Indian captain, as Kohli drives fluently through midwicket for three to raise his fifty. Pujara gave him the opportunity by handing him strike with a single to take his own score to 69. Nice. Ominously for Australia, India’s batsmen already look very settled on this surface.
Pat Cummins was the only one to extract success from the pitch yesterday, and he did so with sheer brute force. Slammed in his short deliveries and got something, though I suspect both his wickets came from batsmen expecting the short ball to get up higher than it did, and being caught halfway through evasion when the ball stayed a bit lower. Still, Cummins has quickly become Australia’s mainstay when things get really tough. He’s the one who just keeps bashing away and often finds a way through.
Here’s the take from one Vic quick. But then, they are going to scrap it and start again, as of next year with an entirely relaid wicket square.
"We need to scrap it and start again." John Hastings gives his take on the MCG wicket. Join us on Fox Sports News for all the build up to day two between Australia and India. @johnhastings194pic.twitter.com/R9DPJYXME6
Now then. The pitch. A lot of people have been piling in already, saying that it’s dull and dead and dross. Maybe it is, but I’d like to wait a couple more days before drawing that conclusion. It’s certainly a bit slow, but Mayank Agarwal said it was doing a bit early, to coin a phrase, on day one, and perhaps it has a few tricks in store.
Stinker. Scorcher. (Sailor, Spy?) Not quite, just describing the day here in Melbourne. It’s going to be a hot, hot, hot one. India have the opportunity to keep Australia in the field for most of it, if Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli can take advantage of the conditions and bat on. And on. And on. The track looked flat yesterday but there were a few unpredictable deliveries, so perhaps they’ll play a part as we go on.
That said, Virat Kohli is a monster when resuming an innings from an overnight break. Here are some compelling numbers.
Ref my previous Tweet, this is what @imVkohli has done when he's resumed overnight in recent times. #AUSvIND@7Cricketpic.twitter.com/Cgryvi2bxV
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