Heck of a Test, and that’s before you even begin to contemplate the events that preceded it; the tragic death of Phillip Hughes and the shroud of grief that threw over the Australian and international cricket community. Hughes’ death reminded us that cricket is just a game, but at the same time this Test has shown us what a game it is and why Hughes and the rest of us were and are enamoured with it.
As expected Nathan Lyon has been named man-of-the-match for his match-winning 12 wicket haul. Virat Kohli and David Warner, with centuries in both innings, were outstanding and it’s a treat to think there’s three more Tests to come, starting in Brisbane on December 17.
Thanks for reading and your contributions and the Guardian OBO team looks forward to having you back. Cheers.
AUSTRALIA WIN THE FIRST TEST BY 48 RUNS
Australia needed to take eight wickets in 37 overs in one session to win the match and they pulled it out just when it seemed India might escape with a draw or even manufacture an incredible win on the back of Kohli’s heroics and Vijay’s steel.
WICKET! Ishant st Haddin b Lyon 1 (India 315 all out)
Can he what! That’s it, sportsfans! Ishant uncoils his long frame down the track but it beats the outside of his bat and, with Ishant out of his crease, Haddin keeps his head for a nice stumping! Lyon has seven for the innings and 12 for the match. Can he do it the final innings to win a Test match? Yes he can, he’s just gone and done it.
87th over: India 315-9 (Sharma 4, Ishant 1)
Rohit Singh writes in to lament the absence of two great India finishers, Dhoni and Jadeja, as Johnson looks for the wicket that will win this Test when, for a while there, it was looking like India might just pull off a miracle. Just a single from the over. Can Lyon finish them off, and write the best chapter of his cricketing career?
WICKET! Aaron lbw Johnson 1 (India 314-9)
Mitchell Johnson takes the new cherry and with his first delivery swings one in to the right-hander from over the wicket and snags Aaron on the back pad! He’s plumb! Australia are almost home as India have lost 7 for 72.
86th over India 314-8 (Sharma 4, Aaron 1)
Four runs off the over and it’s 50 needed for India. Do they go for it? Why not? But obviously they should try to do it without swinging like dunny doors in a gale.
85th over: India 310-8 (Sharma 1, Aaron 0)
That was a well-deserved wicket for Harris and it brings young firebrand Aaron to the crease... but he won’t face the music as Sharma crossed during Shami’s flight of fancy. Aaron will also escape facing the first ball of the next over as Sharma clips a yorker to leg for a single.
WICKET! Shami c Johnson b Harris 5 (India 309-8)
And there’s another one! Shami, showing little faith in himself and Sharma, looks to tonk when, really, there’s no need for it. It wasn’t there to drive and he just scoops it to Johnson at mid-off.
84th over: India 309-7 (Shami 5, Sharma 0)
Lyon goes up as Sharma, leaning forward to pat one back, is beaten. But there was no edge and I’d say Lyon knew that, it was more of a cry of anguish than an appeal. With a lot of men around the bat he does it again, as it turns a millimetre too far.
A reader, ‘Disco’, phrases a question without delicacy: “Will Lyon finally lose his virginity and bowl Australia to victory?” He’s certainly on his way, and whatever happens now his effort —and ability— cannot be questioned.
83rd over: India 309-7 (Shami 5, Sharma 0)
The over begins with 59 runs needed for India, and three wickets for Australia. The draw is now at long odds. How about Test cricket, ay? Harris beats Shami twice outside off stump before Shami goes for a whack and slices for a fortuitous four just past a diving gully!
82nd over: India 305-7 (Sharma 0, Shami 1)
A slice through covers gets Shami off the mark but let’s hear it for Nathan Lyon: 6 for 148 off 132 over and counting.
WICKET! Kohli c Marsh b Lyon 141 (India 304-7)
One ball after sweeping Lyon for four, Kohli looks to clear deep midwicket but he didn’t get enough under it and Mitchell Marsh has an age to contemplate the winning or losing of a Test match. As it happens he has to drop to his knees to catch it, but he holds it and the Australians are cock-a-hoop. What an innings from Kohli, who trudges off, devastated.
Updated
81st over: India 300-6 (Kohli 137, Sharma 0)
A leg bye from Siddle. That’s all. But it edges India ever closer.
80th over: India 299-6 (Kohli 137, Sharma 0)
That Lyon over went for 15 before the wicket. Kohli cover drove Lyons’ opening ball for four and after a single Saha cleared the pickets with a mighty six over long-off! He then added another four to the square leg boundary.
Yes, somewhere I’ve lost the 79th over! There’s too much happening I’m afraid to squeeze it in. But it did happen! And it was 284/5 when it ended. This would never happen to Russell Jackson!
WICKET! Saha b Lyon 13 (India 299-6)
After taking some stick, Lyon draws Saha out of his crease as the new batsman looks to whack the stuffing out of Lyon’s final ball of the over. He reckless swing misses with room to spare and it hits the top of middle stump! Great response from Lyon after getting pasted that over and that’s 10 wickets to Lyon in the Test. Well done, son.
78th over: India 279-5 (Kohli 129, Saha 2)
After negotiating his first ball, Lyon’s fifth of the over, Saha bravely drives against the spin for two and thus ends another eventful over. Australia have their noses in front again, don’t they? Let’s hear your thoughts: paul.connolly@theguardian.com
WICKET! Sharma c Warner b Lyon 6 (India 277-5)
It’s not Kohli but Australia don’t care! Beautiful bowling by Lyon who tosses it up like a fresh salad coaxing Sharma into a drive. But it catches the rough and then his glove and pops up to Warner at leg slip. Warner leaps about three metres in the air such is his delight.
77th over: India 275-7 (Kohli 127, Sharma 5)
And Kohli passes his previous best Test score with a boundary cooly slid off the face and past gully. He follows with a wristy pull shot to the deep square leg boundary! Is Johnson rattled? Well, his next delivery bounces about an inch in front of his leading boot as if it got stuck in his hand, reluctant as it was to venture anywhere near Kohli’s blade. Those two boundaries, and a double off the last, mean it’s now 89 to win for India with 21 over remaining. As long as Kohli remains it’s on.
76th over: India 264-4 (Kohli 117, Sharma 5)
Another one of those wristy, bottom-hand, convince it through mid-on shots that are made in India, and it earns Kohli a boundary. Lovely. He adds a single before he pads up to Lyon and there’s a long, plaintive appeal that is dismissed by the umpire.
75th over: India 259-4 (Kohli 112, Sharma 5)
The second new ball is still six overs away but Mitch Johnson is back on nevertheless to spell Harris, and Sharma almost gets himself into trouble when he tries to pull a short ball. As shaky as he looks he buys himself an oasis of calm with he latches onto a full toss and guides it to the cover boundary. Kohli comes in to pat him on the chest with a “Well done, my son, keep your head”... or something along those lines.
74th over: India 254-4 (Kohli 111, Sharma 1)
A regulation midwicket would have caught Sharma’s top edged sweep with ease but there was no-one there, much to the consternation of Tubby Taylor. And the single is enough to get Sharma off the mark and bring Kohli back on strike. And Lyon almost yorks him with his fifth delivery, the appeal catching in his throat when his brain catches up with the inside edge Kohli got on it. That was close.
73rd over: India 252-4 (Kohli 110, Sharma 0)
After a drinks break Harris continues his excellent spell, and Kohli guides a straight one to deep backward square leg for a comfortable two. He then adds another two through cover. Finally, on the last ball of the over, he spanks any shine remaining off the ball when he whacks it to the cover boundary. Ten runs off the over, if you don’t mind.
It’s safe to announce Kohli as the key to the fortunes of this Test, isn’t it? If he falls India will surely fall with him. Kohli’s highest Test score, by the way, is 119. He’s edging closer.
72nd over: India 244-4 (Kohli 102, Sharma 0)
After a burst of action a quiet over that I greatly appreciate to catch up with myself. Just a tinkled single to Kohli off the final ball of Lyon’s over. Mark Taylor on Nine has the Aussies now favourites to pull this off.
Geoff Lemon may have clocked off this OBO but Geoff Lemon never clocks off:
Tony Abbott didn't say “coal is good for humanity”, he actually said “Kohli’s good for humanity”. #AUSvIND
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 11, 2014
71st over: India 243-4 (Kohli 101, Sharma 0)
Kohli pushes Harris’ first ball to mid-on and pins his ears back, for no obvious reason other than to get himself down the safe end. And he has to dive to beat a Warner peg at the stumps! The result is that Harris gets the new batsman to work at and he beats Sharma twice!
70th over: India 242-4 (Kohli 100, Sharma 0)
Lyons’s (fortunate) double wicket maiden has just kicked this Test in the undercarriage and it’s electric out there.
WICKET! Rahane c Rogers b Lyon 0 (India 242-4)
Blimey! On the final ball of Lyon’s over —an over conducted with a menace that materialised from nowhere— Rahane inside edges one that bites out of the rough and is caught by Rogers at short leg! But hang on? Did he actually hit it? Doesn’t look like it! Controversy, dear readers, the life blood of Tests between these two countries. Spare a thought for Rahane. He’s been padded up in the sheds all day for that.
Updated
WICKET! Vijay lbw Lyon 99 (India 242-3)
And finally the breakthrough, but what disappointment for Vijay! Swaying back to clip the ball to the leg side for his 100 he misses it cold and is trapped plumb in front! Could this trigger a collapse? Lyon has his tail up...
Kohli brings up his hundred!
69th over: 242-2 (Vijay 99, Kohli 100)
Both batsman are on 99 following Kohli’s two runs off the opening ball. Can he win the race to the ton? Yes he can! On his third attempt at beating the cover fieldsman he finds the gap and scampers through for a single. A brilliant 100 —his second of the Test, no less— under all kinds of duress!
Harris’ fifth ball reverse swings in and mulligrubs past the bat, the stumps and Haddin. Four byes, but some encouragement that maybe the pitch will pose some demons for the run home.
68th over: India 234-2 (Vijay 99, Kohli 97)
After a Kohli single, Vijay dances down the wicket and whips Lyon over midwicket for four. Wristy, not risky. He then sweeps and gets a top edge! But it drops just short of the short fine leg fieldsman. His heart no doubt pumping triple time he blocks the next one as if to say, “nothing to see here”.
67th over: India 229-2 (Vijay 95, Kohli 96)
Harris’ first ball is a little too full and wide and Kohli goes after it but can only find the cover fieldsman. A few balls later his leans forward and clips a double through midwicket, close enough to Steve Smith at short midwicket to give him the scent of a catch.
66th over: India 226-2 (Vijay 95, Kohli 93)
After Kohli adds a double and a single, Vijay clips Lyon through mid-on, right through the aperture created by short leg’s splayed legs. Technically it was a chance but by the time Chris Rogers realised what had happened the ball was long gone.
65th over: India 221-2 (Vijay 94, Kohli 89)
Another tight over from Harris, as the batsman treat him like a snake on a path. A Kohli single to midwicket was the pick of the action.
64th over: India 220-2 (Vijay 94, Kohli 88)
India aren’t showing any signs here that they are about to block out the match. You’d think they might have given it a few overs to get their eyes back in after their cucumber sandwiches but they are looking to attack Lyon, and taking a few risks to do so. After going for six in his first over after tea, Lyon gives up nine. After a trio of singles Vijay steps down the pitch like a fencer and clobbers the final ball of the over into the crowd at long on. That pushes him into the 90s. What an innings it has been.
63rd over: India 211-2 (Vijay 87, Kohli 86)
That really was a lucky break for India and poor ol’ Lyon has had a few turned down today as that vein in his forehead threatens to break through the skin. Harris, opening from the other end, bowls a consistently fullish length to Vijay who fails to trouble the scorers.
62nd over: India 211-2 (Vijay 87, Kohli 86)
Lyon’s around the wicket here and though he goes for six runs he looked threatening, especially with one vociferous lbw call when he hits Kohli straight on as the Indian sweeps but misses. It was dead straight but umpire Erasmus indicates it was too high. EagleEye says it would have hit the top of middle stump. An escape for India!
Meantime, Sanjeev writes in from the US to draw our attention to the similarities between this Test and the 1986 tied Test in Madras. “Then, 3 Aussie batsmen made a century in first innings. Kapil Dev responded with one so both the captains hit a century then. Same deal in this match after first innings of both teams. Australia lost a total of 12 wickets in that test (7 in first and 5 in 2nd). Same pattern here. Australia declared overnight then after 4th day just like here. India up until now seem to be on course (going after the target). Looks like the final session could be one to remember. If it goes to the final over, it would be incredible.”
Indeed it would, but there’s some way to go yet.
How about that footage of Michael Clarke from the Sydney Test in 2008. See him move? Like Robin Goodfellow, like Peter Pan! Oh to see him in this Test. He’s had the mobility of someone exhumed from an ancient grave. And if you’ve missed the news, he’s done his right hamstring while fielding and has been whisked off for scans.
Oh, the players are back on the field. Here we go!
Afternoon folks, Paul Connolly here, with you until the end — of the match, that is. I’m not paid to hold your hand until the dying of the light. Thrillingly, every result is still open to us today. Such have been the wonderful efforts of Vijay and Kohli today that the draw now looks the most likely result, with an unlikely India victory perhaps even sneaking into second. What did Geoff say, amidst his sterling work? India need 159 to win off a minimum of 37 overs. It’s do-able, isn’t it, especially with the pitch playing fairly true. There are bowlers footmarks, yes, but it’s as free from cracks as a Beverly Hills matron’s face. After nabbing just two wickets in two sessions, can Australia really take eight wickets in the final act to win it? Stranger things have happened in Tests between these two countries...
Want more?
Tea - India are in it at 205/2
What a session for India. And what a session for Test cricket. India made exactly 100 runs in that session without losing a wicket. They now need 159 to win, with a minimum of 37 overs remaining. That’s a rate at 4.29 an over. Their other option, if Australia are spooked into defensiveness, would be to bat out for a draw. Either would be a great result for India considering the position they were in at the start of play.
That said, one quick wicket after tea and the match is suddenly right back in Australia’s favour. Rahane and Rohit to come could be dicey on that pitch. Saha and the tail would have a tough job to bat out more than a few overs.
King Kohli is the world’s premier chaser - can he make it happen in this form of the game though? Or will a wicket punch a hole in this contest? Can Nathan Lyon come back after a disappointing day so far, well bowled but without luck? Geoff Lemon signing out, and Paul Connolly will take you through the final session.
61st over: India 205-2 (Vijay 85, Kohli 82)
Johnson drags his first ball toward the leg side and Kohli works it serenely away for one. The pace doesn’t bother him remotely. But Vijay nearly nicks the very next ball, right on the spot and whistling past his outside edge stump. He leaves the next, then Johnson goes much wider, no need to play.
The last ball of the over Johnson comes around the wicket, beats the bat again, but can’t get him! Vijay survives.
60th over: India 204-2 (Vijay 85, Kohli 81)
That’s a top shot. Smith didn’t even bowl a bad ball, just outside off and Kohli manufactured an elegent late cut that beat Siddle at backward point and ran away for four. A short one is tapped to midwicket for a single, then a couple of good balls finish the over off.
India’s 200 is up. 160 runs remaining.
59th over: India 199-2 (Vijay 85, Kohli 76)
Dropped! Tough one, a goalkeeper’s catch by Marsh at cover, but got a hand to it. Johnson bowled short, Vijay cut the ball with the angle, really hit it hard, Marsh took off to try to intercept it, got a hand to it mid-air. Can’t really fault him for that.
A maiden follows, as a chastened Vijay reminds himself to block, block, block.
58th over: India 199-2 (Vijay 85, Kohli 76)
Smith is back on. Captain for the next match? He bowls a full toss first ball, and Vijay drives it through long-on for four. His next two land better, and Vijay is cramped by these, no pace on them, landing quite full and hard to drive.
All of which is me softening the blow for the next full toss, which is lofted by Vijay through wide long-on this time, four more. And the next full toss, which is met by Vijay with a horizontal bat and lapped around to fine leg for three, where Johnson has to run a long way to field.
11 from the over, and Vijay is back in the lead. 165 to win.
Updated
57th over: India 188-2 (Vijay 74, Kohli 76)
Back to the blue-chip stocks: Mitchell Johnson is on. he’s coming left-arm around the wicket to ramp them in short it the Indian batsmen. He bangs in two on brutish lengths, but a bit outside off, so he changes up and comes back around the wicket. Vijay immediately drives to the on-side for one, and Warner dives to save more. Kohli then produces a gorgeous square drive behind point, but Siddle, I think, flings himself sideways and reels the ball in with one hand to save the boundary. About seven runs saved in that over, only one scored from it.
56th over: India 187-2 (Vijay 73, Kohli 76)
Oh yes. Siddle gets full and Kohli cover-drives with flourish for four. He passes Vijay once more. There’s a big appeal for caught behind down theleg side after that, but it was clearly off the thigh pad. Erasmus has been very good today after one mistaken not-out against Nathan Lyon.
177 is the deficit.
55th over: India 183-2 (Vijay 73, Kohli 72)
Kohli drives Harris for two, then glances for one. Harris comes around the wicket to Vijay, starting to angle sharply across him from quite wide on the crease. He’s looking for the drive on the angle, then a nick. Vijay resists. he’s played 50 balls from Harris for 14 runs. 45 dot balls in that.
54th over: India 180-2 (Vijay 73, Kohli 69)
Finally Lyon gets a rest, after losing his way in the last couple of overs. Peter Siddle is the replacement, his first ball down the leg side and Kohli can’t catch up with it. There is reverse swing here, so these two need to bat until there isn’t. Kohli glances one, then from the last ball of the over Vijay collects four leg byes off his pad through fine leg.
Siddle has bowled down leg or too straight for this whole innings. He’s not looking great, and I doubt he’s feeling great either.
“Looks like Kohli is going for the win,” says V. Balajai. “I don’t think Dhoni would have.”
I reckon he’s going for safety via aggression. If they were just blocking the ball out, the field would be right in for catches, and the result would be a fait accompli. If India get closer,a spread field may allow them to get the draw.
53rd over: India 175-2 (Vijay 73, Kohli 68)
Nope, Kohli foolishly hands back the strike immediately against Harris, and Vijay chases a wide one that he misses. He chastises himself, and as he leaves the next ball Kohli signals to Vijay in approval. More of that, please, seems to be the message.
They’re not trying to score much against Harris, they just want to see him off. Interesting that he seems to be viewed as more of the danger man than Johnson, who Kohli has played quite confidently. Just the single from the over.
Clarke apparently grafting a horse’s leg onto his own body and insisting that he’ll play at Brisbane.
52nd over: India 174-2 (Vijay 73, Kohli 67)
Vijay is starting to look comfortable, though that could meant hat he gets complacent and then gets out. After a leg bye from Kohli’s helmet, Vijay advances to Lyon and crashes four through mid on. Then he sweeps two. Then he absolutely cannons one back at Lyon on the bounce. Then he aims for another big hit down the ground, gets a big inside edge, and it flies away over the on side for a very streaky single, as the man in the deep comes around. Kohli takes a calm single from the last ball, and would do well to keep Vijay off strike for a few balls. Deep breaths, friend.
190 to win.
51st over: India 165-2 (Vijay 66, Kohli 66)
Vijay shapes to pull, but Harris’ bouncer has too much elevation. Defended or left by Vijay, as another maiden passes by.
TV vision comes through of Clarke getting into a car to be taken to hospital. He looks in real pain, grimacing and struggling to move. That would indicate it’s a really serious tear, possibly off the bone. A normal tear wouldn’t see a player limping so heavily.
50th over: India 165-2 (Vijay 66, Kohli 66)
Nathan Lyon is starting to look a little ragged. In his last over, ater the two bundaries, he bailed out of a delivery as he came into bowl. Here, after Kohli takes two runs behind square, Lyon gets one to leap and come off the glove in front of the wicket, but there was no catcher. He looks really frustrated, then immediately drags short and is cut by Kohli for four.
Kohli has drawn level with Vijay.
He has taken 49 runs from 45 balls from Lyon. That is magnificent, given how dangerous Lyon has looked each time he’s bowled.
The target is now under 200.
Michael Clarke has gone to hospital for scans on his right hamstring. I think the one he had injured leading into this Test was the left. Plus the back. It’s all gone Pete Tong. (Also the name of a good movie, if you like bad DJs and badgers.)
Updated
49th over: India 159-2 (Vijay 66, Kohli 60)
The 100-run partnership from the previous over, by the way. 102 runs so far. Ryan Harris returns to replace Marsh and bowls a beauty of an over. Reverse swing, sharply, at pace. Vijay waits back and keeps him out very well. It’s a maiden.
Our friend Sankaran Krishna is slightly less glum now, and according with my pre-match assessment. “Weirdly enough, India’s only chance of saving this Test is to keep playing fairly attacking cricket and look like they have a chance of pulling it off. If they go on the defensive and look to save the Test the Aussies will be all over them and the pressure will force them to crack. One more case of ‘attack being the best form of defense.’ Can they sustain that for a whole day is the question.”
If they do sustain this, they might just win.
48th over: India 159-2 (Vijay 66, Kohli 60)
Lyon is getting nice and full, inviting the drive. Kohli is happy to oblige, pushing to the on side even for his defensive shots. The field is mostly in, then Kohli decides to go over the top of them. Four! Carted. Out to deep midwicket on the slog sweep.
Four more! What a shot that is. Kohli gets it outside off and drives through the covers for four more. No concerns about grubbers or rough patches there.
There are 50 overs to go. India need 205. Still a long shot, but if Kohli stays in...
Drinks.
47th over: India 151-2 (Vijay 66, Kohli 52)
Marsh is bowling quite wide of off. They have a very straight catching mid on standing near the non-striker, then another catcher quite close just in front of square. And a mid on. Slip, gully, point. Cover, mid off. Long leg.
Vijay takes two through square leg from the third ball, and that’s it. It raises India’s 150.
46th over: India 149-2 (Vijay 64, Kohli 52)
Lyon has a lovely spt of rough on a good length outside the right-hander’s off stump. Bat-pad, square leg, catching midwicket, slip. Haddin has taken over the captaincy duties. Kohli crashes a drive back to Lyon on the bounce, well stopped. Kohli wandering in the crease a lot to try to change up the length. It’s a maiden.
That was Kohli’s 10th half century, as well as seven hundreds.
45th over: India 149-2 (Vijay 64, Kohli 52)
Half century for Kohli as he reaches for a wide Marsh delivery and guides it fine of gully for four. There’s nearly a save on the rope, but the hand touched the boundary and ball at the same time. 51 from 69 balls, this is a magnificent knock so far. A Kohli hundred would make this match really interesting. Gets another single to finish off.
44th over: India 144-2 (Vijay 64, Kohli 47)
New gloves for Vijay, and he middled a sweep from Lyon for a single. Then Kohli got the single that has surely ended Clarke’s hopes for Brisbane, and probably for the series. Enter Shaun Marsh? Comeback for Ed Cowan? I know who’s got the runs, but that doesn’t seem to mean much when Marsh is in the picture.
Vijay cracks a wide ball from Lyon for four on the cut, then Lyon is screaming for another lbw decision and he’s angry thi time after being denies, this is the first time today he’s really thrown his hands up in frustration. It was a big turner, out of the rough, hit Vijay on the front thigh as he stretched forward and low and missed the turn. Could have clipped leg stump on the replay, but it looked possibly high and possibly wide. Just.
Clarke is injured again
Not more? Michael Clarke is coming from the field in the 44th over. Kohli played to midwicket, saw it was Clarke fielding and went for the quick single, Clarke dashed across to try to pick it up and put pressure on the run-out, and then something went. He hit the ground like a sack of spuds and grabbed at his leg. It looked a bit like he jarred his knee as he fell, but as he walks off it looks like that hamstring has gone again.
Poor bugger. He has had a hell of a couple of weeks.
43rd over: India 138-2 (Vijay 59, Kohli 46)
Short, wider plonker of a ball from Marsh, but for once Kohli misses out, cracking it straight to the field at cover. Marsh persists with a wide line that does nothing for him until the last ball of the over, when he dials it in a few centimetres and Kohli plays and misses. A maiden.
42nd over: India 138-2 (Vijay 59, Kohli 46)
Interesting: Rahul Dravid on the radio is saying that Shikhar Dhawan lives in Melbourne these days with his family. When he’s not away playing, which is most of the time. Still, he should be fairly acclimatised. Who knows what he might have done today had he not been sawn off.
Once more Kohli is on the stretch outside off to divert a ball to mid on. Single. More yelps as Vijay faces - they’ve now become obligatory.
India are 226 behind and have at least 56 overs to face today.
41st over: India 137-2 (Vijay 59, Kohli 45)
Here we are, young Mitchell Marsh on for his first ball of the day. Yet to take a wicket in his 51 overs across his three Tests so far. They milk a few as he attacks the stumps looking for reverse: single, brace, single. Kohli’s ability to spot the ball swinging in and then play it away through the on-side despite two catching midwickets? Ah, I’ve talked this guy up enough.
40th over: India 133-2 (Vijay 58, Kohli 42)
Hilarity abounds here, as Lyon essays another appeal. First there was a dot ball as Kohli played that extravagant on-drive from outside off, but was filed by the two midwickets they had in for him. Then Lyon bowled him an absolute grubber: it pitched wide of off, turned back in sharply, but got so little bounce it hit him just above the boot from a good length. Lyon went up, but it had struck him well outside the line and could have gone anywhere. Lyon and the field and the crowd were utterly convinced.
Kohli responds by pounding a sweet shot through square for four, then takes two more there from a shorter one. He’s catching Vijay.
That low ball though will have spooked anyone having to bat here today.
39th over: India 127-2 (Vijay 58, Kohli 36)
Vijay growing in confidence having passed 50. He gets a full wide one from Johnson and square drives it with timing and flourish, sending it away to the boundary behind point. Bat well away from the body but made contact. That was like some of the shots Graeme Swann tried to play against Johnson last Ashes, except good.
Not good for long though, as Vijay prods and misses one that nearly takes his edge.
38th over: India 122-2 (Vijay 54, Kohli 35)
Kohli hits a single in the air past midwicket. Chancy. Lyon’s just appealing to keep his voice in now, as Vijay keeps padding away wider ones that he doesn’t fancy.
Perhaps the only things better than puns are visual puns.
#borderkohli pic.twitter.com/jUIFDvbsuI
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 13, 2014
37th over: India 121-2 (Vijay 54, Kohli 34)
A half century for Vijay as he gets a full ball from Johnson away through midwicket first up. He’s done well despite some chancy moments, India really need him to carry on here. 131 balls for that half century.
Kohli is butter-smooth playing Mitch Johnson. Sinks under a bouncer, then anything not quite as short he can defect to the on side for a run. Vijay edges the last ball of the over past gully for four lucky runs.
36th over: India 115-2 (Vijay 49, Kohli 33)
Hello sailor. Six! After three shaky balls against Lyon, Vijay got off strike. Kohli didn’t need a sighter: he saw the ball was fractionally shot, went back to accentuate that length, then played a pull shot that was still barely a pull shot because the ball was so full, it was more of a whipped pick-up shot, and it sailed into the Fos Williams stand and obliterated an empty green plastic seat.
That raises Virat Kohli’s 2000th Test run.
Updated
35th over: India 108-2 (Vijay 48, Kohli 27)
Welcome back. So says Mitchell Johnson to Murali Vijay as he pings down a couple of bouncers that have the batsman doing the Evasion Shuffle. Last danced by Al Capone. Geoff Lemon with you in the commentary chair once more.
Vijay gives Kohli one ball to face after a little push-and-run, and Kohli responds with a calm turn through midwicket for a couple of runs.
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Lunch: India 105-2, trailing by 259
A very even session in the end: two wickets for Australia, one very fortunate, but then one very fortunate not-out for India. Pujara looked good but departed, Kohli looks good and remains, Vijay has been workmanlike but most importantly has survived.
Australia is ahead of the over rate: it’s a 98-over minimum, but they could bowl more. So much depends on Kohl and Lyon. I’m going to duck downstairs and find lunch, so listen to some tunes or a podcast or something.
Here, try Derrick Brown, he’ll soak up a few minutes with a lovely piece of writing.
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34th over: India 105-2 (Vijay 47, Kohli 25)
Lyon returns, and once more he is hammering Umpire Erasmus. A huge appeal for another lbw against Vijay, but no dice. Then another appeal for a close catch, but it took the flap of the pad. He sweeps a single from the last ball.
33rd over: India 103-2 (Vijay 46, Kohli 24)
The moment the crowd wants: Steve Smith comes on to bowl. He’s landing them nicely from the get-go, good flight. Vijay takes some time to find a run. Only the last ball is dragged down, but there’s deep midwicket so Kohli can only hammer a single.
32nd over: India 101-2 (Vijay 45, Kohli 23)
Watson is getting reverse swing out there. Vijay is very wary as he makes sure to keep the ball out of his pads. Only a single from the fifth ball.
31st over: India 100-2 (Vijay 44, Kohli 23)
Vijay takes two from Siddle, again to the on side. How many have they scored through midwicket to backward square leg today? Then Vijay tries to run out Kohli, but ends up nearly running out himself as Kohli sends him back after a poorly judged attempt at a single. Vijay got halfway down and halfway back. Vijay tries again two balls later and is sent back, then his single from the last ball produces more confusion as Vijay wants a second.
Chill, Winston.
India have raised their hundred.
Re the unlikely prospect of an successful Indian chase: as per the start of this over, they needed 3.9 per over to win. They’re at about 3.2 so far. So they’re definitely thereabouts - and as suggested earlier, they’re probably more likely to avoid a loss by heading towards a win than by stodging for a draw.
30th over: India 97-2 (Vijay 41, Kohli 23)
Nathan Lyon gets a break as well, and with the chance of some reverse swing on this roughish pitch, Shane Watson is going to explore for weaknesses this batting partnership. His stethoscope is on and he’s listening for clicks.
A bit of a loosener early, bowls on leg stump and Vijay glances away fine to the rope. The deficit reduces to 268. Watson over-corrects with a short and wide one, but Vijay slams it straight to the point fieldsman when he could have put it anywhere in a 30-metre arc of boundary. He glances one more run next ball.
29th over: India 92-2 (Vijay 36, Kohli 23)
There’s a nice shot from Vijay, who has been awkward until now. Saw off most of Siddle’s over, after Johnson’s spell ended as predicted, then whipped away the fourth ball for three runs to deep square.
28th over: India 89-2 (Vijay 33, Kohli 23)
Kohli is doing nicely against Lyon. Keeps working calmly to the onside, then evntually nails the sweep shot for four. The pressure is always going be on Kohli to deliver, but he has looked in an absolutely different class to the batsmen around him in this innings.
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27th over: India 83-2 (Vijay 32, Kohli 18)
Johnson back for what will probably be the last ball of this spell. Kohli pulls, confidently, not too hard, just for a single.
Vijay is hit next ball, it kept low from a short lenght and crashed into the gloves in front of his face as he tried to duck. No one enquires about his welfare. He manages to keep his composure and bats through the next four balls.
26th over: India 82-2 (Vijay 32, Kohli 17)
Vijay coming down the track a lot to Lyon, even to defend or work one. The balls where he stays back and pads it away, he looks vulnerable. They take a couple of singles.
25th over: India 80-2 (Vijay 31, Kohli 16)
It’s nice grabbing the scores from the old Adelaide scoreboard. Once more Kohli handles Johnson with relative ease, keeping him out and then finding a single from the fourth ball. Vijay reciprocates from the final ball. He’s still unconvincing but he’s still there. India’s deficit now is 284.
Further to talk about Aussie Rules football, it’s good to hear on ABC Radio that Harsha Bhogle has only ever seen one game, but is a nominated Geelong supporter and even owns a Cats jumper.
24th over: India 78-2 (Vijay 30, Kohli 15)
Ha. Two short legs in for Kohli, one each side of square, yet he goes onto the back foot and whips the ball square between the two of them. Not afraid of you, Lyon, he says. That’s one of three singles from the over, Vijay coming down the track even to score one.
Correspondent Robert Wilson is chastising himself in the middle of a lonely night somewhere: “I was going to try to outdo Gary Naylor’s excellent Nathan Lyon/Joel Gray lookie-likie spot but I simply can’t remember the massively obvious dead-ringer in question. Drowning in shame and failure, may I point that I personally know two Chris Rogers and THREE Steven Smiths. Even taking liberties with a Christine and a Stephen, I think that has to count for something. I will say nothing of my good chum Roger Harper nor my boyhood pal Jeff Crowe.”
23rd over: India 75-2 (Vijay 29, Kohli 13)
Big Johnners returns for some fire. Kohli, though, is asbestos. Looks perfectly calm defending the first couple, then despite being out hooking in the first innings, he hooks the first bouncer he gets for four. Swagger abounds. Steals a single to mid-off from ball five.
22nd over: India 70-2 (Vijay 29, Kohli 8)
Kohli gets a fortunate sweep away from Lyon, he hit it hard but got a fair bit of top edge, and lofted it into the gap between midwicket and backward point for four.
Good to know, but I feel like the Stats King is slightly reaching with this one.
NLyon now equal 27th with Monty Noble on 121 wickets: next in line, RHogg (123). #AussieTestBowling
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 13, 2014
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21st over: India 63-2 (Vijay 29, Kohli 2)
Harris continues this steady line. A couple of singles. Vijay prefers cover, Kohli works a similar line easily to the on-side. Two singles are all.
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20th over: India 61-2 (Vijay 28, Kohli 1)
That’s some short from Virat Kohli from his first ball: reaches outside off and drives, using his wrists, to turn the ball through midwicket for a single. Vijay comes on strike and he looks a walking wicket against Lyon. A desperate sweep misses completely and nearly sees him bowled. Another sweep gets away fine from the bottom edge and he gets three. Kohli is right back on his stumps tapping the next ball away.
WICKET! Pujara 21, c Haddin b Lyon
It’s been in the wind for a long time, but Lyon finally gets his man. Pujara has batted admirably against him but it’s very tough work with the ball bouncing out of the rough. That one was outside off, Pujara stayed back and waited for turn, the ball didn’t turn as much as he expected and took the little nick on the way into Haddin’s gloves.
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19th over: India 57-1 (Vijay 25, Pujara 21)
The burly Harris bowling a dry line outside off, still close enough to keep Vijay guessing, then firing in the bouncer frm the fifth ball. Vijay nearly sneaks a run past square to close, but Chris Rogers flings himself into the ball’s path. He’s extremely committed in the field for a gentleman of his years - there was a boundary save in the first innings that was almost kamikaze.
18th over: India 57-1 (Vijay 25, Pujara 21)
Nathaniel de Lyon will be the man to carry on after drinks, which is usually Jesse Ryder’s job but he isn’t available. The third ball spits out of the rough, leapt and took the glove but landed safely. Then Lyon is having another huge appeal, down on one knee as he pleads with Erasmus to put the finger up. It doesn’t happen. Maybe Erasmus thought that one was going down leg? The replay suggests he was right, just. Just.
Perhaps a slightly niche joke on an international cricket blog, but as one of that rare species known as Guardian AFL writers, I think it’s apt.
@GeoffLemonSport N Lyon on track to lodge more appeals than an Essendon QC today
— Tom Cowie (@tom_cowie) December 13, 2014
17th over: India 57-1 (Vijay 25, Pujara 21)
Vijay has strike against Harris thanks to a late single from Lyon, but he’s living dangerously. Edges short of Watson at slip this time. He blocks out a maiden in the end.
India are still 307 runs short. What are they going to get to at lunch?
16th over: India 57-1 (Vijay 25, Pujara 21)
Six! That was premeditated - Vijay did that to Lyon twice in the first innings, wanting to put him off his game. Vijay came down the pitch, it wasn’t the ball to clobber, he wasn’t to the pitch of it but he read it off the deck enough to make sufficient contact, and it clears the boundary at deep midwicket. Big heave.
Should have been out very next ball, this time the DRS absence works for India, every Australian on the field went up for that. Vijay inexplicably shouldered arms, that ball turned in sharply and hit him on the pad, back on his stumps, in front of middle. That would have taken middle stump halfway up, but somehow it’s given not out. The Dhawan dismissal wasn’t a howler, but that one was.
15th over: India 49-1 (Vijay 18, Pujara 20)
Ryan Harris is back, this time bowling from the Weston End of the ground, and Vijay crashes his first ball through cover for four. Gave that everything. Harris comes back with three accuracte deliveries on off, but then he gives Vijay marginally more width, and Vijay opens the face with a late-cut-glide sort of stroke past gully for another boundary.
14th over: India 41-1 (Vijay 10, Pujara 20)
Oh, gorgeous work from the Pooje. Sorry if I’m having a bit of a fanboy moment, but these conditions are really tough, the Australians are swarming, there looks like there could be a wicket every ball, and Pujara is nonetheless finding ripostes against the odds.
In this case they take the form of two square cuts from Lyon, neither to bad balls - he made room for himself, just shuffling slightly back and wide, and using his wrists to send both of those speeding to the rope.
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13th over: India 33-1 (Vijay 10, Pujara 12)
Siddle continuing with great accuracy, every ball just back of a length, on the off stump, and Murali Vijay is not inclined to take any risks. Another maiden.
12th over: India 33-1 (Vijay 10, Pujara 12)
It’s still all action with Lyon. Vijay shoulders arms, is struck well outside off stump but draws a screaming appeal from the entire Australian contingent. Not enough turn on that. Great call from Erasmus, who also ticked off Brad Haddin after Lyon’s last over for yelling “Was that a shot” about a couple of Pujara’s defensive efforts. Another appeal as Vijay misses a sweep, maybe some glove in that?
Vijay gets the next sweep for a single, then Pujara is playing beautifully, moving to the pitch of the ball and driving through mid off for four. Timing.
11th over: India 28-1 (Vijay 9, Pujara 8)
Vijay drives a single from Siddle first ball, Pujara getting plenty of strike. They have a man fairly short just in front of square, then a catching midwicket only a few paces from him. One slip now, gully, point, cover, mid off, mid on. No one in the deep.
After a couple of balls, Smith comes into a short cover, there’s no cover now, but the point fieldsman comes just in front. Pujara gets one a bit short and just forces off the back foot for four runs through point. Wonderful placement. Whatever happens today, he’s a special player.
10th over: India 23-1 (Vijay 8, Pujara 4)
Big bounce from Lyon to Pujara, and this over is fireworks. One pops up behind square to the foward lunge, but there’s no one to take it. One leaps off the pad around off stump as Pujara comes forward and kicks it away. The next gets the forward lunge and bounces back to the bowler who takes the catch, huge appeal from Lyon but Erasmus says there was no glove involved. Then a big lbw appeal as Pujara shoulders arms and pads one away outside off, and a half appeal as a catch off the pad goes to the second bat-pad fieldsman who’s come in near a short midwicket position.
Phew.
Maiden, obviously. Looks stickier and sticker for India. Predictions?
9th over: India 23-1 (Vijay 8, Pujara 4)
This is interesting. And ‘interesting’ could be a synonym for ‘stupid’ in this instance. Johnson and Harris looked absolutely all over the batsmen, but after three overs apiece they’re both off. Pierre Siddle comes on from the Weston end of the ground. I normally hate when people say this, but I think he actually is bowling for his Test place here. Hazlewood is in the Gabba squad and coach Lehmann has been unhappy with slow bowling speeds. Siddle has been down on speed this game, and took 2/88 at nearly five runs an over in the first innings.
He bowls a maiden here, bowling fullish and around the off stump to Vijay, who resisted temptation.
8th over: India 23-1 (Vijay 8, Pujara 4)
Nathan Lyon is on! It’s early, and he’s being backed by Miguel Clarke to do the job. He has a strike rate of 78 in the fourth innings, his worst in any innings by a distance. Can he correct that? Pujara flicks one, Vijay gloves a sweep fine for two, then works another single to leg.
7th over: India 19-1 (Vijay 5, Pujara 3)
Pujara looks ok against the short ball, deflecting Johnson’s rib-tickler behind square for a run. They have a leg gully in now for Vijay. Two slips, gully, point. Now that leg gully comes to third slip, Mitchell Marsh there. There’s a bad pad as well, then long leg, midwicket, mid off. Six catchers, two infield, one in the deep.
Murali Vegemite survives the over nonetheless, very watchful. What an Aussie battler.
6th over: India 18-1 (Vijay 5, Pujara 2)
Harris is getting into the act too, bowling some snorters for Murali Vijay, attacking the body with short balls, then fishing outside. Edges one into the gully. Looks unhappy against the sharp stuff, as you would. Lyon is supposed to be the threat on this fifth-day pitch, but the pace duo are looking way more dangerous than they did in Dig 1.
Stat from the radio: Harris is the only pace bowler to debut after the age of 30 and take 100 Test wickets.
5th over: India 18-1 (Vijay 5, Pujara 2)
Well, a fortunate over for the Australians. They didn’t need any gifts today but they’ve been given one by the umpire. Dhawan actually played that ball really nicely on the replay: swayed back, dropped the gloves, had the courage to get the gloves out of the way and cop the hit on the body to protect himself from getting out. Then he got fired anyway. Haddin didn’t even appeal, and Johnson’s appeal wasn’t a big one. Gould just went for the holster like it was Main Street at noon.
India haven’t had a 50-run opening partnership since 2011.
Pujara works two through long on. Given the way I started the day, Gary Naylor is claiming a resemblance between Nathan Lyon and Joel Grey. Might have a point. Grey has a bit more pizzazz though.
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WICKET! Dhawan 9, c Haddin b Johnson
Cue the DRS sanctimony once more. Dhawan gets a brute of a short ball, leans back to try to get out of the way, it clips his shoulder on the way through to Haddin, and Umpire Gould erroneously gave him out.
4th over: India 16-0 (Vijay 5, Dhawan 9)
Almost a replica of Dhawan’s first innings dismissal: a big drive at a Harris ball that wasn’t quite full enough, an inside edge. In the first innings it wiped out middle and off stumps. This time it went an inche wide of his off stump and inside Brad Haddin for four fluky runs. A single gets him away from danger, then Vijay reaches for one and works the drive with his wrists from outside off stump away through long on. Three runs bring Dhawan back on strike, and he drives three through covers.
Plenty of strokes from India’s openers. My feeling is that they’re more likely to win this match than draw it. The Australian win is still favourite, of course, but India would have a better chance going for the runs and pushing the Aussies back than they would trying to dead-bat the day against their own instincts.
The Scott Weston end of the ground is in operation again, I see.
@GeoffLemonSport Morning Geoff, wondering what Dhawan's theory will be to handling the first few overs?
— Scott Weston (@scottyweston) December 12, 2014
Clearly he’s going to need to evolve, Scott.
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3rd over: India 5-0 (Vijay 2, Dhawan 1)
Very accurate over form Johnson,t easing Vijay around the off stump. Vijay leaves most of them though, keeping his cool. The only score is a bouncer that goes about nine metres above Vijay’s head.
It’s a competitive match, even to the point of fans trying to out-glum each other. Rudi Edsall shapes up to Sankaran. “An admirable declaration, but I’m concerned Clarke’s given India too much of a sniff here. If any batting line up can chase this score down on this pitch it’s India. I suppose that’s the point and we should back our bowlers but I’m a card carrying member of the Pessimist’s Society.”
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2nd over: India 4-0 (Vijay 3, Dhawan 1)
Harris doesn’t start quite so accurately, too much on the pads. Dhawan gets one to fine leg, Vijay works two to square, then a glance for one.
1st over: India 0-0 (Vijay 0, Dhawan 0)
We’re underway, Mitchell Johnson taking up the cudgels, or the opposite of those, from the Drunken Idiot end of the ground. Given all the ground announcements about respecting people regardless of race, religion or sexuality, you’d think Cricket Australia might look into doing something about the 200-odd Neanderthals drinking in front of the scoreboard each day who literally scream themselves hoarse every time a woman walks past on the pathway. Nothing says fun like making strangers uncomfortable by means of group harassment in a public place.
Anyway, it’s a maiden to Murali Vijay. Accurate over.
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The players take the field: once again Ira Davies provides the soundtrack. I wonder if he knew, when he was making art-rock in the 80s, that he would provide one of the country’s sporting anthems, poached as unironically as We Are the Champions and Holy Grail?
It’s another beauty of a day here in Adelaide, the hottest of the lot: warm already, with a top of 34 predicted.
Sankaran Krishna is despondent already. “Despite being an India-fan, I fear today will add another nail in the coffin of that hoary old myth that Indians are amongst the best players of spin. That’s true - except when it matters: in the fourth innings of a test match and on the road. I am expecting the Indian batting order to crumble to a heap of dust by a little after lunch today.”
You too can email me at geoff.lemon@theguardian.com, or Twitterise me at @GeoffLemonSport, with any thoughts, lack of thought, or observations over the day.
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The inimitable Harsha Bhogle says what I just said, but in about 1100 fewer characters.
India scored 369-5 from 97 overs on day 3.But will the primary objective of not losing overpower the way they bat?And this is a day 5 pitch!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 12, 2014
Yesssss indeed. Guten Morgen, meine Damen und Herren, and other languages that I do not speak. Geoff Lemon here taking the controls for the extended opening sesh and for the post-lunch spot, they will be working me like a racehorse here today. When I’m walked into the stables for a run down, steaming and pouring sweat, you will hear the snorting of Paul Connolly as he comes in for the run home.
That’s if we get that far. Australia declared overnight, setting India 364 to win. The extended sessions mean that we’re supposed to fit 98 overs into the day’s play. So that poses the question: what will India do? Can they survive those overs? Or might they even consider the win?
Here’s food for thought. The biggest ever chase here was 315 - by Australia back in 1902. The biggest visiting chase was 236 by the West Indies in 1982. So it would take a ground record to do it, but... this pitch still looks in reasonable nick, India have some excellent batsmen, and with the extra overs, 300+ in a day need not be seen as impossible.
It’ll be very hard though - they struggled with Nathan Lyon in the first dig, and he’ll even more wear and crumble to work with this time around. The fast bowlers might not get much out of this wicket, but there could be some low bounce that might prove tricky. Can India hold out? Can Australia seal a win in this emotional memorial Test match? Either way it’s been a cracker already, so let’s strap in for the final stage.
Good morning and welcome to the live blog. Australia, at 5-290 in their second innings, hold a 363 run lead over India. Australia’s total was underpinned by David Warner’s 102, his sixth ton in his past 11 Test innings. And Warner and his teammates will turn to Nathan Lyon today as Australia press for a 1-0 series lead. Geoff Lemon is working on his best lines as he prepares to be your host for the first two sessions.
