- Live updates from day four of the third Test at the MCG
- Join the conversation: via email or tweet @JPHowcroft
80th over: Australia 234-8 (Cummins 43, Lyon 3) Jadeja continues but his line outside Lyon’s leg stump from both over and around the wicket is poor cricket. India have really let this eventual victory drift in the past hour or so. Now, will they take the new ball? Yes! What will this mean for the light?
79th over: Australia 233-8 (Cummins 42, Lyon 3) India do stick with pace but it does them no good. Cummins places Bumrah through the covers for one, then Lyon repeats the stroke with a little more elevation for two. Again the slower ball yorker comes out of the star paceman’s bag of tricks but Lyon defends solidly.
Total attendance 163,342 #AUSvIND
78th over: Australia 230-8 (Cummins 41, Lyon 1) The first over of extra time is unthreatening from Jadeja. Cummins defends four, steals a single from the fifth, and Lyon keeps the partnership going with the solitary delivery he is required to face.
Plenty of chat going on out there now. Lyon is unhappy with the light, India are considering whether to risk a paceman in the gloom.
77th over: Australia 229-8 (Cummins 40, Lyon 1) Bumrah returns as Kohli shuffles his pack in search of the final two wickets. He almost delivers immediately with Cummins perilously close to chopping on and Lyon requiring smart reflexes to dig out a yorker. Bumrah does beat the batsman with his slower ball but unlike the pearler to Marsh this one is a whisper wide of off stump.
The extra half hour is now underway, much to the chagrin of Cummins and Lyon. With the light worsening there is a risk India will be forced to bowl spin from both ends during this extended spell.
Love the shout out for the darts @JPHowcroft The hours I've spent arguing that, yes, of course it's a sport. If archery... etc.
76th over: Australia 228-8 (Cummins 39, Lyon 1) Jadeja returns to the attack for his 29th over but he is as unthreatening as the seamers. Word is coming through that the extra half hour has been requested and that request has been granted. Perhaps the added spice of the new ball that will be due during that mini-session will be enough to bring this match to an end tonight?
75th over: Australia 227-8 (Cummins 38, Lyon 1) India have looked a tad weary this evening session and their inability to pressurise Australia’s tail continues in another innocuous Shami over.
Now it all makes sense! Cummins’ super-heroic status is the product of a youth feasting on peanut butter.
74th over: Australia 226-8 (Cummins 37, Lyon 1) Ishant has Lyon on strike at the start of the over but it’s not his best effort and after a couple of nondescript deliveries Lyon rotates strike via a leg-bye. Cummins then executes his role to perfection, defending a couple then running three to retain the strike. What a bloke. Three overs remaining, plus the extra eight if the umpires fancy a round of golf tomorrow.
It’s been a massive year for Tim Paine, thrust into the Test captaincy at a time of crisis. He finishes the year as his team’s 2nd-highest run scorer (493 runs at 35) behind Khawaja (732 at 41) and has greatly helped restore the team’s image. Well played #AUSvIND
73rd over: Australia 222-8 (Cummins 34, Lyon 1) Another masterclass from Cummins, clipping Shami for two, defending resolutely, then offering Lyon just two deliveries to survive. Lyon does better than that, flicking a single to get off the mark.
72nd over: Australia 218-8 (Cummins 31, Lyon 0) Ishant replaces Jadeja but he has the misfortune of bowling to Cummins who is now battling like a top order natural. Some excellent balls are defended with ease, one ropey delivery is hit for two, and a single is pinched from the final ball of the over to farm the strike. Textbook stuff.
Can we stop paying any attention to what Warnie says with regards to team selections? #AusvInd
71st over: Australia 215-8 (Cummins 28, Lyon 0) Lyon survives, just, after Shami sends down a superb yorker. Six overs left in the day. India may yet be offered an extra half-hour on top of that to wrap this up.
Ed Cowan on Finch: "Basically - set up to fail. An accomplished middle order player who opens batting in one day cricket and all of a sudden pops up at the top of the order. It's a crazy selection. Do we ever hear from Trevor Hohns saying I got that wrong? No." #AUSvIND
More oohs and ahs for Shami, Starc this time drilling the ball just beyond the paceman in his follow through at catchable height. The batsman compounds the bowler’s frustration by thick edging for four. This partnership is now worth 39, and that is where it will end, Starc missing a massive long-handled mow and the ball smashing into his stumps.
WICKET: Starc goes for 18.
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70th over: Australia 209-7 (Cummins 28, Starc 12) Another rapid Jadeja over. Another set of six safely navigated by Australia’s tail. The weather forecast is not that bad tomorrow, by the way. There may be rain, especially early on, but it shouldn’t be persistent, and we know how incredibly the MCG handles precipitation.
69th over: Australia 208-7 (Cummins 28, Starc 11) Shami continues and he endures a luckless over. First Starc hits uppishly in the general vicinity of a couple of fielders before Cummins slashes hard to send the ball flying high through the vacant fourth slip area and down to the third-man fence.
“I agree with Ian Higgins (63rd)” emails Ian Forth, “although of course it’s always easier to support a winning side. One depressing aspect of a day at the cricket is the tired formula off the field: Aussie Aussie Aussie; the beach ball; You are a wan*er; the Mexican wave. All unchanged this century. The Richies have offered something new. Could I put out a plea as part of a reset for Australian cricket that they assemble their beige, taupe and ecru jackets to agree a new set of witty chants?”
68th over: Australia 201-7 (Cummins 24, Starc 8) Jadeja is now coming around the wicket to Cummins, firing the ball down to bounce and clip the top of off stump, cramping the batsman for room. Cummins is up to the task though, playing out a maiden.
Cummins is such a good cricketer he not only makes opposition batsmen look bad but accentuates the haplessness of his own batsmen as well. #AUSvIND
67th over: Australia 201-7 (Cummins 24, Starc 8) The old ball fourth-innings specialist Shami replaces Bumrah but he arrives with Pat Cummins in rare form. After that confident six against Jadeja he shows even more class, sending a back foot drive whistling through point for four glorious runs. Ten overs to go today.
Returning to Alastair Cook’s knighthood, is he the first knight of the realm to occupy the oche at Ally Pally? In case you weren’t aware, we’re at the business end of the PDC World Darts again right now. Watch it. It is as good a demonstration of elite sport as you will find on TV. (p.s. don’t @ me that darts isn’t a sport.)
66th over: Australia 196-7 (Cummins 19, Starc 8) Now it’s Cummins’ turn to go downtown, nailing a lovely seven iron over long off from an overpitched Jadeja delivery.
65th over: Australia 189-7 (Cummins 12, Starc 8) Starc reined in his natural instincts for six deliveries but some length from Bumrah sees a full flow of the bat and he ball arcing towards long-on, bouncing once and then into the advertising boards. Bumrah responds with a well-directed bouncer that Starc fends at nervously, popping a leading edge agonisingly wide of short leg. That particular delivery aside India’s pacemen haven’t executed their plans to Australia’s lower order. As is so often the case the instinct to inflict pain appears to have distracted from the primary objective.
Most dismissals by an Indian WK in a series:
19 Naren Tamhane vs Pak, 1954/55
19 Syed Kirmani vs Pak, 1979/80
19*RISHABH PANT vs Aus, 2018/19#AUSvIND
64th over: Australia 183-7 (Cummins 11, Starc 3) One run to Starc from a speedy Jadeja over. 13 overs left in the day.
Tim Paine finishes 2018 as Australia's second-highest Test scorer of the year (493 runs at 35.21), behind only Usman Khawaja (732 at 40.66). #AUSvIND
63rd over: Australia 182-7 (Cummins 11, Starc 2) Bumrah continues to pepper Australia’s bowlers with short balls and one of them smashes into Starc’s bowling hand. Cummins is much more at ease in the face of the barrage and he even has the presence of mind to drive confidently through the covers.
Australian fans could learn a lot from these Indian supporters. Playing music all day, laughing, singing, smiling, standing all day and supporting their team.
So far we’ve got beer snakes and “show us your visa” chat
62nd over: Australia 178-7 (Cummins 8, Starc 1) Another over further reinforcing India’s tactical masterplan here in Melbourne. They got things wrong in Perth, but they have redeemed themselves here.
Head is now the only member of the Aust top SEVEN to average better than 29 - Paine dismissal leaves him about 28, though it is not his full-time job
Yes, I think I can take credit for that dismissal. Inch perfect commentator’s curse. Jadeja replaces Vihari and his third delivery skids across Paine who attempts to cut but can only skim the slightest edge into Pant’s waiting gloves. So what if it rains tomorrow?
Tim Paine OUT.
The bowling change does the trick, and Jadeja has his third #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/nvqLIHKKII
61st over: Australia 176-6 (Paine 26, Cummins 7) Bumrah persists with his chin music but he isn’t finding the right notes so far, leaking down the leg side or landing much too short to trouble Tim Paine. The slower-ball variation makes a rare appearance but it comes out as a loopy full toss outside off that Paine bunts away for a single. 16 overs remaining in the day. I reckon we might be back tomorrow after all.
60th over: Australia 175-6 (Paine 25, Cummins 7) Cummins continues to upstage Australia’s top-order, handling another Vihari over with ease. With this pair digging in it might soon be time to start looking at tomorrow’s forecast.
It wouldn’t be a pun bonanza without Ian Forth now, would it? “Afternoon, Jonathan,” he begins. “Sir Alastair Cook generally had trouble nailing down an opening partner, but the Chess Cricket XI offers more options. Nick Knight is the orthodox selection, but more left field options are available, with Gautham Gambit and Zugzwang Khawaja.” Don’t forget David Castle who appeared in one first-class match for Tasmania in 1992-3.
59th over: Australia 173-6 (Paine 25, Cummins 5) Bumrah reprises Ishant’s length to Cummins, sending a flurry of deliveries in the direction of the Australian’s throat. Coming from so wide on the crease they are not the easiest to evade but the batsman does well to retain his composure. India probably not varying their length enough, enabling Cummins to hang back in expectation of the bouncer.
“Maybe these batsmen should be cut some slack,” emails Chris Mcconville. “They are batting pretty much in line with their first-class averages. No point waiting for someone (really any one of the Aust batsmen) with a long-term mid-30s average to elevate that in Test matches. Average outcomes from average inputs.” Indeed Chris, it is increasingly obvious this problem goes deep.
58th over: Australia 171-6 (Paine 25, Cummins 4) Vihari is not as swift as Jadeja in getting through his over but he’s not far off. He finds Paine in increasingly confident form though with the Aussie skipper drilling a full toss square for four.
57th over: Australia 166-6 (Paine 21, Cummins 3) Bumrah replaces Ishant which sends a buzz fizzing around the MCG. Paine handles the paceman confidently through, off front foot and back, accumulating a couple of twos in the process.
You guys are outdoing yourselves today. Here’s some more chess-cricket gold from OB Jato.
The pitch was as flat as the computer engine’s evaluation of Carslen-Caruana’s position.
Like the inventive Tal, Kohli tried to be innovative and took a unique position.
56th over: Australia 162-6 (Paine 17, Cummins 3) Vihari replaces Jadeja, aiming for the small patch of rough outside the right-hander’s off stump from over the wicket. Cummins survives a maiden over but is beaten once by a delivery that bounces more than he expected.
55th over: Australia 162-6 (Paine 17, Cummins 3) Paine is on strike for the first four balls of Ishant’s over which frustrates the Indian paceman. A single allows Cummins back to accept more punishment but the bowler goes the double bluff, sending one full and straight that the batsman safely nudges around the corner to return to the non-striker’s end.
This probably isn’t the worst Australian all-round batting performing in my lifetime but it is definitely in the semis. #AUSvIND
54th over: Australia 160-6 (Paine 16, Cummins 2) C’mon Jadeja, give me a break! Another over delivered at breakneck speed. It featured a scampered single, five dots, and lots of lustrous hair stroking.
53rd over: Australia 159-6 (Paine 15, Cummins 2) Ishant continues his bombardment of Cummins, returning fire to Australia’s enforcer. Cummins handles it well enough, riding some, ducking others, failing to uppercut a couple more. He does it all while retaining that steely Gregory Peck stare through the grille.
Phil Withall is in town: “The dictionary describes Marsh as something that is waterlogged at all times, this comfortably describes Mitch Marsh’s shot selection.” You could say you know him well. Ahem...
52nd over: Australia 157-6 (Paine 15, Cummins 0) The TV informs me there hasn’t been a home series without an Australian centurion since 1882-83. That record could well be broken in Sydney. Jadeja rattles through another maiden, this time to the defensive Paine.
51st over: Australia 157-6 (Paine 14, Cummins 0) Cummins’ arrival to the crease is greeted by plenty of noise from Virat Kohli and a barrage of short balls from Ishant. India are revelling in their dominance.
Just as Travis Head was looking set for a big score he chops on a routine Ishant delivery onto his stumps. The line was wide of off stump angling across the left-hander from around the wicket and a lack of foot movement did for the batsman.
BOWLED. Head goes for 34, and India has a 6th #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/kJqRkVJIwv
50th over: Australia 156-5 (Head 34, Paine 14) Jadeja bowls too quickly for us poor overworked OBO goblins. His latest maiden to Head happens before I can complete my YouTube search for more cricket-chess puns.
49th over: Australia 156-5 (Head 34, Paine 14) Ishant replaces Shami from the Members’ End and he begins around the wicket to Head, trying to find some swing away from the left hander but it’s one that creeps past the inside edge that causes the batsman the most discomfort. While I’m on a Tim Vine roll, clearly I forgot Ian Bishop.
@JPHowcroft About time those lazy bowlers came on to score some runs, no?
48th over: Australia 155-5 (Head 33, Paine 14) This pair are keeping the scoreboard ticking over, playing Jadeja confidently from the crease, driving the ball into gaps and pinching singles.
Staying with the chess-cricket theme, earlier this Test I described the standing umpires, Erasmus and Gould, as resembling a pair of rooks. To that we can now add a knight, Alastair Cook, King Kohli, and, um, Shane Pawn. Sorry.
47th over: Australia 153-5 (Head 32, Paine 13) Shami continuing from around the wicket, swinging the ball into the left-handed Head. The South Australian is up to the task this over and earns two with a closed bat face drive into the onside. Now, back to the chess-cricket chat.
“Hello Jonathan,” hi Richard Woods. “I’ve been rubbish at chess for over fifty years and still love playing the game. While I was never a player able to reach the dizzy heights of being rubbish at cricket, I still am totally in love with that game too, albeit as spectator only. I would like to add to Abhijato’s wonderful missive that, no matter how hard the boffins try, I truly believe that technology will never take over from the sheer human beauty, brilliance and fallibility of either game, and that is to be celebrated.”
46th over: Australia 150-5 (Head 29, Paine 13) Another super quick over from Jadeja. The bowler is on top in that duel but Head survives and even manages a single from the final ball of the over.
Another belting email. Where have all you dedicated essayists been hiding all this time?
45rd over: Australia 150-5 (Head 29, Paine 13) It’s been a while since a batsman ducked into a bouncer but Paine chalks another one up, making a mess of a skiddy delivery from Shami that cannons into his side. He almost perishes a couple of balls later but his uncontrolled slash flies a fraction wide of the diving gully. Two balls after that a thick edge flies through the vacant second slip region and Australia’s deficit slips beneath 250. Quite why India had no fielder waiting for that opportunity is beyond me.
44th over: Australia 142-5 (Head 29, Paine 5) Jadeja’s absurdly quick overs are going to pass without much comment I’m afraid. The latest is a series of darts from over the wicket, defended by the left-handed Head.
43rd over: Australia 142-5 (Head 29, Paine 5) Play resumes after Tea with Paine gleefully accepting Shami’s gift of a leg-stump half-volley, clipping firmly to fine-leg for a boundary. He almost returns the seasonal spirit a couple of deliveries later, coming within a whisker of gloving a catch to Pant after failing to time a hook shot.
Ok, so this user email is far from the norm, but nuff respect to Abhijato Sensarma for taking the time.
“I have started following chess passionately ever since the commencement of the World Chess Championship, thanks to the OBO-style coverage of the event on the Guardian. Now, cricket and chess are the two games I feel close too.
So, plenty to talk about while the last rites are being read at the MCG. Join in the conversation on Twitter - @JPHowcroft- or by email - jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com. It may well be the last chance you get this Test.
This is going to be the final session of the match, right? 35 overs remaining in the day, five Australian wickets left for India to take.
Thoughts are already beginning to turn to the final Test of the series and what Australia can do to address the glaring issues with their batting. It already seems Aaron Finch is under threat - at least as an opener - while Mitchell Marsh has done his chances of an extended recall little good following a poor match with bat in hand.
Katich on Mitch Marsh: "I am absolutely lost for words watching that. That's just done him absolutely no good whatsoever in terms of his learning, when he had a golden opportunity to learn something. He's squandered it. He'll probably be joining Finch on the sidelines in my book"
Thank you very much Adam, my favourite Mr Collins since Steve, Celtic Warrior cum Hollywood hardman.
42nd over: Australia 138-5 (Head 29, Paine 1) Head has to see off Jadeja and he does so positively, pushing solidly off the front and back foot to safely reach the break. It ends a session that went pretty much as expected, Australia losing the Marsh brothers and Khawaja along the way. Shaun’s demise was unlucky, Mitch’s unnecessary. Can the hosts drag this match to a fifth day? Find out with JP Howcroft. Bye for now!
41st over: Australia 138-5 (Head 29, Paine 1) Head and Paine exchange singles to start the Shami over, the captain off the mark to midwicket. Head gives the strike back and Pant is really at it again. So much so that the umpires bring them together at the end of the over to tell them to give it a break, by the looks. One over left until tea.
"We've got a special guest today"
Stump mic is on!
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40th over: Australia 135-5 (Head 27, Paine 0) Paine once again walking out to the middle in a terrible situation, once again having to work miracles to keep his side from defeat. Twitter says that Pant has given Paine a nice old welcome, I look forward to seeing the social media clips of this. “Temporary captain” and so on.
After hitting Jadeja for six from the final ball of his previous over, he leant back and tried to muscle him through cover for another boundary from the first ball of his next. But instead, he plucked out Kohli 20m from the bat. There’s a song about this dismissal, too.
39th over: Australia 135-4 (Head 27, M Marsh 10) Head takes one off Shami then Marsh does the same to finish the over, but I have to hurry up and post this, because...
38th over: Australia 133-4 (Head 26, M Marsh 9) Bad drop! Pant has been a revelation with the bat this year but his keeping against spin, still has some way to go. With Jadeja back on, he finds Head’s outside edge straight away but the young stumper can’t adjust in time. He then misses another hard-spun delivery that beats both the bat and his gloves, giving Marsh the strike, who duly smacks the tweaker over midwicket for six!
37th over: Australia 126-4 (Head 26, M Marsh 3) Shami is back for Bumrah, who has a certain reputation to uphold about his day 4/5 performances and he has Head slashing at one he probably shouldn’t before locating his inside edge. Good start. He then beats Marsh with one that shapes nicely. Look out, here comes Second Innings Shami.
26% of the deliveries Mohammed Shami has bowled in this Test would have hit the stumps. No other bowler has managed more. #AUSvIND
36th over: Australia 123-4 (Head 23, M Marsh 3) Head gets off strike to cover before Mitch Marsh gets his big old front leg out to set up in defence for each of the remaining Ishant deliveries. For those not familiar with my torrid history on the OBO, I am not allowed to say anything too positive about Mitch as it guarantees he’ll get out instantly.
35th over: Australia 122-4 (Head 22, M Marsh 3) Marsh off strike first ball of the over, taking one to square leg, Head doing likewise later in the over. Since he got rid of Shaun Marsh, Bumrah hasn’t caused this pair any major concerns. Oh, scratch that: a big inswinger hits Marsh on the front pad last ball, the leg before appeal turned down.
“Hello Adam.” Hi, Ian Swan. “Sadly, I’m at an age when my connection with new music is tenuous at best. However, a current artist who I do love interminably, Laura Veirs, delivered this during the year.” Looks right in my space, thank you. “For all those who have been dropped, or about to be.”
34th over: Australia 120-4 (Head 21, M Marsh 2) Ishant is back, which I like a lot. Head too, as it turns out, crunching a pristine straight drive to the boundary from the first ball of his new small. The rest of the over was also dealt with easily enough.
“That Barnett number is rather special, and I felt a similar Obama thrill when I saw he also loved Shoplifters as one of his films of the year,” emails James Walsh. “But nothing tops Art Brut this year. How can you not start an awkward mosh in some deathless suburban town to *this?*
33rd over: Australia 116-4 (Head 17, M Marsh 2) There were boos as one Marsh left and another entered, a combination of annoyance at the DRS for the former and enduring antipathy that the younger man was picked ahead of Peter Handscomb. Mitch is off the mark with a couple first ball to midwicket, a useful way to get underway.
Oooh, that’s stiff as the system comes. Marsh was given lbw by Umpire Erasmus to a delivery he missed on the inside edge, Bumrah coming round the wicket. It did plenty on the way, so he sent it up to the DRS, which showed the smallest portion of the ball making contact with leg stump. He really was in wonderful touch. That could, and maybe should, be the name of his autobiography one day.
32nd over: Australia 114-3 (S Marsh 44, Head 17)Shooooooot! Shaun Marsh at his best, driving through extra cover first ball, a stroke with all the trimmings. He dances at the final Jadeja ball of the over, adjusting mid-stroke to cut through more. Here we go!
31st over: Australia 105-3 (S Marsh 36, Head 16) Shaun Marsh has Bumrah’s measure for now as well, defending then ducking and digging a yorker out for a single that keeps the board ticking over for the hosts.
30th over: Australia 104-3 (S Marsh 35, Head 16) The 100 is up! Just 300 to go! Sorry, I won’t keep doing that. Marsh brings up the team milestone with a beautiful lofted drive from the first ball, into the southern stand! Nice. With the fielder now back he takes the single on offer there with ease. He’s playing Jadeja perfectly.
29th over: Australia 95-3 (S Marsh 26, Head 16) Head is getting out the way of these Bumrah short balls but only just. The slower one comes but it isn’t on the mark, tucked away for one. Marsh has two balls to see off and they are up for caught behind from the first of them, down the legside. The ump, Erasmus, isn’t interested and the review doesn’t come. A single to cover means he keeps the strike as they take a drink.
Travis Head versus India short balls makes Steve Waugh's handling of them look totally comfortable by comparison #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/F2ME9vVdpk
28th over: Australia 93-3 (S Marsh 25, Head 15) Head for the third time in as many overs takes a run from Jadeja to third man, albeit along the ground. Marsh does the rest.
27th over: Australia 92-3 (S Marsh 25, Head 14) Bumrah’s back and you’re gonna get in trouble, Hey-la-day-la Jas Bumrah’s back. The whole game changes with the big dog back from the MCC end, causing Head some serious concerns with a pair of nasty short balls. But the SA captain holds his nerve, clipping three to end the interrogation.
“I know TV needs ad-money but in the UK every break is Ray bloody Winstone and bet365,” SImon Richards informs us. “Snooker ball in sock and “Who’s the Daddy now?” for the ad-bookers ! (“Scum” film 1979). Good test match though.”
26th over: Australia 89-3 (S Marsh 25, Head 11) Head with soft hands picks up two from the outside half of the bat to begin, moving into double figures. He then finishes with a single out to cover. Jadeja is galloping through his overs, as he always does.
25th over: Australia 86-3 (S Marsh 25, Head 8) Three good overs in a row, Marsh ticking going really well here both in defence and then with a wonderful straight drive that races away for four. Virat, mate, get Ishant on right now. Shami is tired.
A bit of news to hand, Cam Bancroft has been named in the Scorchers squad tomorrow night against the Hurricanes at York Park.
24th over: Australia 82-3 (S Marsh 21, Head 8) Big overs back to back, Jadeja this time feasted on by the southpaw pair to the tune of ten runs. Granted, it began with a Head edge but it was followed by Marsh pushing nicely down the ground for three, the South Australian picking the gap at cover for a couple then slapping a lovely boundary in the same direction to finish. I haven’t got the TV commentary on now but I bet they are absolutely talking up the MCG miracle as I type.
“Chuck your hypothetical selector’s hat on,” suggests Matt Harris. “Do they wear hats? I don’t know.” They bloody do as far as I am concerned. Please continue. “If Nathan Lyon were to retire tomorrow, who do you think is the most likely next permanent spinner in the Australian team? Ahmed too old? Ssschwepson? Zampa? Agar? Maxwell?”
23rd over: Australia 72-3 (S Marsh 18, Head 1) Shami way off the mark this time around, Marsh clipping three, Head tucking one then Marsh glancing four. Time for a blow.
How about this?! President Obama ON MY WAVELENGTH! (see earlier post)
Courtney Barnett’s Need a Little Time makes Barack Obama’s favourite songs of 2018! https://t.co/ojd2iuHdDK
22nd over: Australia 64-3 (S Marsh 11, Head 0) Marsh takes Jadeja’s first ball to mid on and the race is on for Head to get down to the danger end in time, but the direct hit isn’t on. BIG SHOUT for caught behind, but the South Australian has played and missed at the one that doesn’t turn. An important hand for him after what happened yesterday.
Late addition to Boxing Day Test drinking game: any time Warney says "rissoled" #AUSvIND
Oh, that’s very out. Beautiful bowling from Shami, round the wicket angling in then straightening at Khawaja, beating his squared-up blade. Hit on the back pad, there was little doubt where that ball was going: into middle and off. Australia are in more trouble than the early settlers. And they’ve blown a review.
21st over: Australia 63-3 (S Marsh 10)
IS KHAWAJA LBW TO SHAMI? Umpire Erasmus says yes, but he’s sending it upstairs. Stand by.
20th over: Australia 63-2 (Khawaja 33, S Marsh 10) Khawaja sweeps the first of Jadeja’s new over, taking one. Marsh is looking alright in defence against the spin early in this session, using his feet to get to the pitch a couple of times.
“Afternoon, Adam.” Hello Ian Forth. “Kohli has now declared twice in this match. Only two other captains have declared twice and lost: Graeme Smith at the SCG in 2008 and Garry Sobers against England in 1968, when he set an enigmatically low last innings target. The fact it was chased down by Geoff Boycott might tell you exactly how generous it was.”
19th over: Australia 62-2 (Khawaja 32, S Marsh 10) Shami gets one to take off at Khawaja early in the over, but he plays it well with a hand off the bat before turning a a single around the corner later in the set. Marsh has one ball to deal with but it is a misdirected bumper.
18th over: Australia 61-2 (Khawaja 31, S Marsh 10) Jadeja to Marsh is a match up that he will fancy but he can’t break through his defence here, the left-hander picking up a couple to midwicket along the way to pop him into double figures! That’s not usually a big deal but for Marsh, getting out in single digits as often as he does, it should prompt a wave of the bat. But it won’t matter unless he’s there at tea and beyond.
17th over: Australia 59-2 (Khawaja 31, S Marsh 8) Lovely cut from Khawaja, slamming Shami’s shorter ball past point and to the rope. Sure enough, India’s second innings specialist hits back with a lovely little away swinger from round the wicket, beating the outside edge. That’s not an easy ball to execute. To finish, he nearly finds a way under the number three’s blade with a fuller ball. Technology is suggesting on the replay that the ball that Khawaja missed might actually have been tickled. Lucky.
16th over: Australia 55-2 (Khawaja 27, Marsh 8) OUCH! Khawaja sweeps hard on the bounce to bad pad, hitting the turf and bouncing straight into Agarwal’s neck. The Indian physio spends a couple of minutes in the middle before taking the opener from the field for further inspection. There’s a shout for lbw after the resumption, Khawaja missing his reverse sweep, but Umpire Gould wants none of it. He keeps the strike with a push to midwicket.
Mayank Agarwal is making his way from the field after this nasty blow fielding in close.
Hopefully nothing serious #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/tE1aCQqhwl
15th over: Australia 54-2 (Khawaja 26, Marsh 8) Shami’s radar is off to begin, Marsh deflecting four leg byes off his hip then pulling a couple off the middle of the bat to bring up the Australian 50. That’ll do. Oooh, then one from Shaun’s top shelf, leaning into a stunning cover drive, “as good as we’ve seen in this Test” says Tim Lane on telly. The Indian quick finishes with an accurate bouncer but after ten runs have been taken.
“My song of the year is this irresistible slice of pure funk,” writes Neil Weatherston Sharma. I’ll give it a blast. Thanks.
Explained: Australia pinged for ‘negative tactics’: https://t.co/qtEA1RNdVVpic.twitter.com/MwB4EgUoo1
The players are back on the field. I guess this could be Shaun Marsh’s final Test innings? I think he’ll be safe for Sydney but you never know. By contrast, how about a little bit of Usmania? The six he hit off Jadeja before lunch was delicious. He resumes on 26. Shami will start the Indian session from the Members End. PLAY!
Sir Alastair Cook. I’m not much one for honours, but go you good thing. A note too for my old club chairman at Hampstead CC, Jim Carter. Despite being a bloody big deal on the TV/big screen, he was forever the last person on deck doing all the dirty work that makes a cricket club function. He’s picked up an OBE gong for his services to drama.
Related: New Year honours list rewards terror attack responders
Ending today, isn’t it? After batting for nearly two days, then having a second pop for a little bit, India are every chance to get this done in four. Let that sink in. When Australia were turned over by South Africa and England on this ground in 2008 and 2010, the response was close to a full-blown national catastrophe (we’re mad like that). This won’t necessarily prompt that, but it will mean WHOLESALE CHANGES for Sydney.
To start at the top, Aaron Finch. He has played one late cut in his Test career and it landed in the hands of Virat Kohli. When the @CricProf tweeted that factoid, every other reply was “and it’ll be the last he plays” or jibes along those lines. I’m genuinely sad that it hasn’t worked out for him as he’s exactly the sort of personality they need in that dressing room in this prolonged state of flux, but that’s probably that for him.
Yes, that’s a distant victory target. And an equally distant five sessions to bat for a draw. As is often the case in these scenarios, you’d imagine that if they batted five sessions they would probably get those runs. But they’re unlikely to do either. Really it’s a matter of how much fight this Australian batting side can put up. Both openers are gone, the two senior players in Khawaja and Marsh are at the crease, and there’s not much to come. Khawaja is going hard and not seeming too bothered, which may only work for so long, and Marsh has poked tentatively as he does.
Plenty of discussion around about what should happen with this dysfunctional Australian side for Sydney, in terms of selections. I’m sure Adam Collins will have no shortage of material on that. I’ll leave you with him, and if the Aussies can take us that far, will see you for the first session tomorrow.
14th over: Australia 44-2 (Khawaja 26, S Marsh 2) Jadeja races through one last over before lunch. But instead of getting out from the last ball, Shaun Marsh taps a single through square leg, and survives. The task lies ahead of him after the sandwiches.
13th over: Australia 43-2 (Khawaja 26, S Marsh 1) Lunch is approaching, so maybe Khawaja is going to chilllll, Winston. He blocks out a few against Shami.
“Compelling match to follow from sleepy, ominously mild south east London,” writes James Walsh. “What’s the verdict over there on the attempted rehabilitation of Smith and co? Feels like the soft interviews and cell phone ads have raised more questions than answers, particularly as they have distracted from a really engaging, insomnia-inducing series.”
12th over: Australia 43-2 (Khawaja 26, S Marsh 1) When you’re 360 behind on a failing track, do you want your first drop to be skipping down the track to punt sixes in the 12th over? I guess it doesn’t really matter, it’s the cricket version of partying while the asteroid approaches. Khawaja gives Jadeja a ride over long-off. Then a big outside edge to third man. There’s not much calming about this innings, but it’s interesting. I seem to remember Glenn Maxwell taking some tap for batting like this at No3 in the UAE back in 2014...
11th over: Australia 34-2 (Khawaja 18, S Marsh 0) Shami on for a bowl, and Khawaja drops a single first ball to give Marsh the strike. There ya go, champ. Marsh tries to resume the pattern of leaving the ball that he’d instituted before Bumrah foxed him in the first innings.
10th over: Australia 33-2 (Khawaja 17, S Marsh 0) Shaun Marsh needing a score, as he seemingly always does as he comes to the middle. Beaten by Jadeja immediately.
And that’s exactly what he doesn’t do. Goes hard at Jadeja, gets the fast edge, and Agarwal at short leg parries it up, then snaffles the rebound.
9th over: Australia 32-1 (Harris 13, Khawaja 16) Bumrah with a maiden to a watchful Harris, who’s made a few starts in his short career but has to go on.
8th over: Australia 32-1 (Harris 13, Khawaja 16) Khawaja pulls out the reverse sweep against Jadeja, who was not just being used to facilitate bowling changes. It worked well for Khawaja in the UAE against Yasir Shah, the Pakistan leg-spinner. He nails it this time and gets four. Australia 367 behind, this is easy right?
7th over: Australia 28-1 (Harris 13, Khawaja 12) Was that Jadeja over just so Bumrah could change ends? He does, and overpitches, and Harris drives four. But Harris closes the over giving a worried look at the pitch after another low ball creeps through. Surely any batsman is going to get bowled or lbw eventually if facing enough straight ones.
6th over: Australia 24-1 (Harris 9, Khawaja 12) Jadeja on early with his left-arm spin, or lack of spin sometimes. Harris squeezes a single. Khawaja charges and whacks four down the ground. He’s got four catchers around the bat and wants to push them back, I fancy. He sweeps next ball and misses, nearly leg before but the ball probably hit outside the line. Then the ball balloons to slip and all of the Indian fieldsmen appeal for a catch. The ruling is not out, but Kohli sends it to Richard Kettleborough in the third umpire’s box. Khawaja walked at it, missed it, and it lobbed off the pad to slip. Not out. Busy over. Also the only way you can get a slow over from Jadeja.
5th over: Australia 19-1 (Harris 8, Khawaja 8) Ishant continuing, and Harris drives past the bowler nicely. This time he’ll pick up three, without Jadeja chasing that ball.
Speaking of which, a good time for this pearler from Ruth Purdue.
This is understated but ouch-ful from the CricViz analysts. And if this is their take on Australia, what chance Finch in England?
Aaron Finch struggles hugely against the seaming ball. He averages just 11.50 against deliveries moving more than 0.75° off the pitch. Given that in Australia, 32% of balls move that much, it's a failing that could be fatal to his chances of succeeding as a Test opener. #AUSvIND
4th over: Australia 16-1 (Harris 5, Khawaja 8) Bumrah draws the edge, because of course he does. Khawaja playing across the ball and getting a leading edge through gully for a lucky boundary. That after clipping a brace off his pads. The deficit is a mere 383.
3rd over: Australia 10-1 (Harris 5, Khawaja 2) Harris now wants to settle things down. Those early wickets must just rattle a team so much. Ishant to Harris, who leaves, and blocks, and leaves. Eventually he drives the last ball through cover. The outfield being slow means it won’t be four. Jadeja being fast means it won’t be three.
2nd over: Australia 8-1 (Harris 3, Khawaja 2) Talk about starting well. The first ball of Bumrah’s over crashes into Finch’s thigh pad and Kohli takes a long time deciding not to review. Then is vindicated by taking the catch to dismiss Finch from the second ball. Khawaja then creams a shot straight at short leg, where Agarwal can’t help but get a hand on it, but the ball hit his hand rather than vice versa. He had no chance of holding onto it, and instead he’s holding onto his hand in pain as the ball has left a hefty bruise in his palm. More accurately there’s a fringe of palm around his bruise. Khawaja shovels past Agarwal for a couple of runs to get off the mark.
Awwwwwww, come on. A one-day shot, not a Test opener’s shot when the ball’s new and in the hands of one of the best bowlers in the world. Finch has a little prod as though trying to run a single to third man. In one-dayers, you have a third man. You also don’t have a stacked slip cordon. Finch gives up the catch to Kohli, and rightly or wrongly there’ll now be huge pressure for a new opener in Sydney.
1st over: Australia 6-0 (Finch 3, Harris 3) Classic styles from each opener, Finch with a booming drive for three, Harris with a wafty drop through gully for two. This after tapping a single into the covers. Both starting brightly enough against Ishant Sharma, who’s been excellent all series despite earning fewer of the wickets and plaudits.
Excellent email from Meizu that I saved for the break.
“You and the other Guardian cricket writers choose your team of the year earlier. Why everyone picks these teams before the year actually ends I’d a bit odd - it’s the same for teams of the tournament that come out before the final is played. Anyway, anything you have seen from this and the two other Boxing Day tests change who made your team? Cummins, Bumrah, Latham, Nicholls, etc?”
Ian Forth must be sipping a cup of Earl Grey while he types this. “Pat Cummins has been a breath of mild-mannered air in this test. Misbah-ul-Haq, VVS Laxman, Colin Cowdrey and Hashim Amla would form an excellent batting nucleus in any Mild Mannered Eleven.”
Which is the more likely? Which is the less likely? The Australian commentators will no doubt be talking double-centuries from somebody, so here’s your regular reminder that only four teams have ever chased more than 400 in the fourth innings to win. And that’s in about 2300 Test matches played.
The more relevant question is whether Australia can bat out the day.
37.3 overs: India 106-7 (Shami 0) Hazlewood, to Pant, and the batsman winds up and sends it soaring over long on. He loves a fast 33, doesn’t he? And that’s all he’ll get, as he tries another big shot and only finds the gloves of the Australian wicketkeeper.
Kohli calls his batsmen in with the lead at 398, which is close enough to the 400 he must have wanted.
37th over: India 100-7 (Pant 27, Shami 0) India will bat on. Not sure why they would bother risking their bowlers’ heads and feet and fingers, when none of the three quicks is likely to add many runs. They’d have to be one of the weakest final threes we’ve seen. For Cummins, though, he’ll never have a better chance to get nine in an innings. As we speak, there’s a DRS review against Shami for another leg-side ball, but there’s nothing conclusive to show glove through to the keeper.
Cummins has six! One ball after Jadeja slogs him over midwicket for four, Cummins produces a better bouncer, beelining at the batsman. Jadeja fends and flinches and gets a leading edge into the gully for a simple take.
36th over: India 95-6 (Pant 26, Jadeja 1) They get Jadeja on strike soon enough, with a single. It’s not like he can’t bat, folks. He can’t make contact with the Hazlewood ball he faces though, missing a slog and running a bye as Paine gets an awkward bounce. Pant chops a single.
“Re. the seemingly inevitable return of Smith, Warner, and Bancroft,” emails Trevor Bond, “I agree that whilst to varying degrees morally dubious it shall likely come to pass. But what is the likely timescale, as desperate as the need may be? Is there even enough first class cricket for them to get up to scratch between the expiration of the respective bans and the Ashes, for example?”
35th over: India 92-6 (Pant 24, Jadeja 1) Ok, this is weird. After Pant has punched a boundary through cover, Paine decides he wants Jadeja on strike to start the next over. He asks Cummins to bowl wide down leg side, and Paine sets up his own position wider to receive it. Umpire Erasmus is wise to the ploy, and not only calls it a wide, but calls Paine down for a scolding. Cummins bowls a normal delivery and Pant pulls a single to keep strike. Again, this defensiveness. Your most dangerous bowler, on a five-for, against an attacking young No7, and you don’t back him to get the kid out? What a waste.
@geofflemonsport what’s this tactic called? Nobodyline?
34th over: India 84-6 (Pant 18, Jadeja 0) Josh Hazlewood with the ball replacing Lyon. No Starc as yet, who could be useful with the ball keeping low. Perhaps he’s sore, perhaps Paine wants control ahead of menace. Cummins gives him both. Hazlewood hangs the ball outside Pant’s off stump hoping for something ridiculous, but Pant waits five balls then knocks a single.
33rd over: India 83-6 (Pant 17) Cummins bowling, and this ball is through everyone. Bursts through everyone, serious lift from a fuller length, through the gate, over Agarwal’s stumps, over and wide of Paine down the leg side for four byes. That’s not reassuring for anyone batting after this. Agarwal jams another ball into the gully, staying lower that time. A couple of blocks, the the last ball of the over keeps low again and is through onto the stumps! Agarwal tried to jam down, got the toe of the bat onto it but couldn’t stop it hitting timber.
And Pat Cummins has a five-wicket haul. In trying circumstances, he has 5 for 14 so far.
With all the excitement, what about Agarwal and the #bannerman?
32nd over: India 78-5 (Agarwal 42, Pant 16) Lyon drops short, and Pant produces a cut shot to take full toll. Then a single. The lead moves to 370.
On Twitter, Exhibit A is borne out by Exhibit B.
Fox comms are doing their best to pump up Australia as a chance. India already has about 280 more than required
England is the only side to win a Test at the MCG while chasing a target of 300+
Made 332/7 in the fourth innings to beat Australia on 5 January 1929, nearly 90 years ago!#AusvInd#AusvsInd
31st over: India 73-5 (Agarwal 42, Pant 11) Loud appeal as Cummins beats the glove down leg side. He had some success that way yesterday, but Agarwal misses a touch. This after a ball that cut in savagely to Agarwal and hit the pad, angling down leg. Another spell from the bowler that makes you marvel at what he can produce, and how he keeps producing it. Agarwal plays out a maiden after the early scares.
I agree wholeheartedly with your rationale for not enforcing the follow-on @GeoffLemonSport. I'd just add that "enthusiastically" setting off for a run in spikes is always a handy third innings ruse - especially if you get sent back.
30th over: India 73-5 (Agarwal 42, Pant 11) Five in the deep still, but no one at long off. So Agarwal goes that way and lifts Lyon for six. There must be some orders from the Indian camp to get things moving then. No run from the next ball, but the next sees Agarwal shuffle down and play the short-arm jab into the sightscreen for six more. Then turns a single.
Agarwal scored the most runs of any batsman in the match yesterday. He was 28 not out by stumps.
Readers may sympathise.
Me when someone tries to explain the rules of cricket pic.twitter.com/ar8sFoH8sT
29th over: India 59-5 (Agarwal 29, Pant 10) Cummins to start from the other end. As he should, the Magic Man in this innings. Bowling to Pant, and... he’s dropped! Second ball of the day from Cummins. Big inside edge after the ball cut back at the Indian keeper. The Australian keeper was going the wrong way, and had to try to fling himself back towards the leg side. Got a fingertip to it but the very tough chance goes unclaimed. And concedes a couple of runs.
28th over: India 56-5 (Agarwal 29, Pant 7) Resuming this morning, the opener on debut in Mayank Agarwal, and the feisty wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. It was exactly such a combination that deflated Australia in Abu Dhabi a few weeks ago after Nathan Lyon crashed through the first five wickets there. Fakhar Zaman on debut and Sarfraz Ahmed put on a massive partnership and took back control of the match there. Mind you, that was on day one, so Pakistan were at risk of losing control. India has no chance of losing control here, even if they lost five for none in the next over.
Lyon concedes a couple of singles, but there are four... five fielders back on the fence. Paine trying to defend and drag the game out rather than trying to bowl India out, it seems.
An email from Scott Lowe. “I know I’m not the first to say this but the batting display yesterday is going to be reason number one why Smith and Warner, and to a lesser extent Bancroft, are going to be welcomed back with open arms. Forget any personal agendas or viewpoints - all of the executives and coaches will want the only two guys averaging over 50 playing ahead of the Ashes.”
Can’t say you’re wrong, even if I can’t say it’s right. Being welcomed back should be contingent on coming clean about every unanswered question, instead of doing weak PR opps with friendly interviewers.
Remember you can email me or hit me up on Twitter if you want to send a question or comment or contribution to the Grand Old OBO. Here’s one from SH:
“Morning greetings, Geoff. I wanted to ask: what did you make of not enforcing the follow-on? With 67 overs in the first innings, surely workload wasn’t an issue. Do India not think they’re capable of knocking twenty back-to-back? Or did they just not want to bat last? Was the forecast a factor? I see nothing wrong with this approach, mind, but I cannot figure out why this team is reluctant to ask others to bat again. Thoughts?”
So to conclude the recapping, India declared on 443 for 7 after batting the first two days. Australia subsided rather than collapsing, with all of the top eight facing at least 30 balls, but the highest score was 22 and the total 154. India decided to bat again anyway, and reached 54 for 5 by stumps, but are miles ahead regardless. Now we wait to see what the fourth day brings, and whether Australia’s batsmen can produce something worthwhile at their second chance. You’d think they’ll have to bat at least five sessions whether there’s a declaration or not.
Let’s not forget the other outstanding fast bowling performance from yesterday. Jasprit Bumrah, he of the gentle approach and wind-up bird bowling action. Trots in like he’s circling the bridle yard, then unleashes a Thor arm calling lightning down from the heavens. Serious pace, serious accuracy, preying on Australia’s weaknesses to clean up 6 for 33 on a pitch that on day one everyone thought would yield six wickets total in the match. But his piece de resistance was the slower ball to Shaun Marsh, sixth ball of the over before lunch, after setting him up with five fast balls in the channel just outside off. Five leaves, then a seductive, confusing yorker that hovered in the air and dipped late under the bat. What on earth.
Jasprit Bumrah with a slower ball...one of the great balls!pic.twitter.com/sxm3aTl7v5
The Cummins spell was something special, especially considering that he’d already shouldered a huge workload in the first innings, then does his part with the bat, and been out bowling again before even really having a chance to put his feet up for five minutes. This is a consistent pattern in the struggling current Australian team, and to get you going for the day, here’s my piece on it.
Related: Cummins strikes, but Australia's bowlers are at breaking point
Day four, and an hour before play the covers were on at the MCG. It’s raining a little bit, but not much, and the forecast was only for a few scattered showers totally 2 millimetres (and for fans of imperial measurements that’s a great time to use them). Rain won’t save Australia, therefore, from a position of 346 runs behind, with India batting in the third innings, and two full days to play. It’s really a matter of when India decide to declare, and for my money I’d say Virat Kohli might do so this morning, a few minutes before play, believing they’ve already got enough with this pitch playing some tricks with consistency of bounce.
That said, Australia will have got a bit of an emotional charge from the spell last night where Pat Cummins blew away India’s main batting. Vihari the makeshift opener was a good start, but then he added Cheteshwar Pujara for a duck, then Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in consecutive balls. Four wickets in 19 deliveries, and it was a thrill to watch.