Day Four in brief
It was all about Nathan Lyon and David Warner today. The maligned Aussie off-spinner claimed an impressive 5-wicket haul to silence a few of his doubters and restrict the ability of the tourists to work their way towards a draw. From 367-4 they were bowled out for 444 with Lyon taking 5-134 from his 36 constantly-threatening overs.
Mitchell Johnson (2-102 off 22) and Ryan Harris (1-55 off 21) were far far better than their figures suggested but Peter Siddle (2-88 off 18.4) labored at times and will probably face a stiff challenge for his spot for Brisbane from Josh Hazlewood unless he fires in the second innings.
With the bat, Warner was the constant for Australia today, posting a patient and circumspect 102 from 166 deliveries, his second hundred of the Test. Supporting him were Shane Watson (33), a typically resourceful and inventive Steve Smith (52*) and Mitch Marsh (40), whose late-innings pyrotechnics were both unselfish and entertaining.
None of India’s bowlers particularly distinguished themselves but the talking point out of today’s play will be the re-ignition of hostilities between the sides, with Kohli, Smith, Rohit Sharma, Varun Aaron, Shane Watson and Warner all in the thick of it in two separate incidents.
Tomorrow shapes as a fascinating finish to this first Test of the Australian summer. Thanks for joining us today and make sure you stop by for all the live action tomorrow.
And that is stumps on Day Four - Australia leads by 363 runs
69th over - Australia 289-5 (Smith 52, Haddin 14)
For lovers of exotic dismissals, I am sorry to say that Mohammed Shami has missed a golden opportunity to rip the stumps out of the ground at the bowler’s end and effect a run-out. Haddin makes the most of it, clipping a boundary to fine leg and then a two and a single to finish off the day.
That leaves Australia 363 ahead at stumps and the big winners out of this day of cricket. They’re in a commanding position to declare overnight and try to run through the tourists on a wearing Day 5 pitch.
68th over - Australia 282-5 (Smith 51, Haddin 7)
Ishant’s bent his back in this Test and he’s back again here to have another trundle, whether he wants to or not. Haddin’s really going the tonk, so there’s a wicket on offer if the bowler aims straight and waits.
Another 50 to Steve Smith
67th over - Australia 280-5 (Smith 50, Haddin 6)
Smudger. The Smudge. Smudgie. The Smudgie Burglar. He’s stolen another half-century here and don’t the locals love him for it? Long has Australia wished for a middle order rock and Smith is becoming that man. Now it leads by 353. That’s pretty handy too.
66th over - Australia 276-5 (Smith 47, Haddin 5)
Even with the fall of Marsh’s wicket there’s no let-up for Karn Sharma. Smith reverse-sweeps him for three and then Haddin hammers an authoritative cut shot out to the boundary at point.
It should be pointed out that 36% of Channel Nine viewers think that Australia should declare here, thus giving itself one over at India’s openers. And we bag their commentators...
WICKET! Marsh c Vijay b Sharma 40 (Australia 266-4)
65th over - Australia 267-5 (Smith 43, Haddin 0)
Well, it was fun while it lasted. With his objective of fast runs achieved, Marsh holes out to the man at long-on while attempting one more lusty blow. He’s done his job, has Marsh.
64th over - Australia 261-4 (Smith 37, Marsh 34)
Karn Sharma is cannon fodder now. Marsh gets down the track to belt the spinner over the long-on fence and then goes inside-out over extra cover for four more. Two balls later he’s clocking it long over cow corner for yet another six. It’s exhilarating stuff and with a truly filthy slog over the long-off boundary to finish the over he actually moves past Smith’s score. Cop that!
That’s 24 from the over.
Updated
63rd over - Australia 237-3 (Smith 37, Marsh 16)
One of Mitchell Marsh’s virtues is that even his mis-hits fly a decent distance and this over is no exception when he artlessly slaps Varun Aaron over long-on for four. Australia’s lead is now past 300 (312 in fact) and it looks increasingly likely that they’ll just bat until stumps and give the likes of Johnson, Harris and Lyon a night of sleep before they go about the task of ripping these tourists out on day five.
62nd over - Australia 228-4 (Smith 35, Marsh 9)
It’s not easy being Karn Sharma right now. He took a wicket last over but now he’s being treated with something close to contempt. He pitches outside leg and Steve Smith reverse-pulls him for a boundary and then from a ball no worse, Marsh rolls his wrist over a beautiful on-drive for four more.
Updated
61st over - Australia 218-4 (Smith 30, Marsh 4)
Marsh likes the look of Rohit Sharma’s spin even more than his bowling partner and uses his feet to great effect in biffing a boundary straight down the ground.
Gee you are good to watch @davidwarner31!!! Well done on your 2 tons! #adelaideoval #AUSvIND
— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) December 12, 2014
Updated
60th over - Australia 213-3 (Smith 29, Marsh 0)
Mitchell Marsh is on a hiding to nothing here with a declaration due soon but he’s positive from the outset, attempting to drive Karn Sharma to get himself rolling and his side somewhere past a 300-run lead.
WICKET! Warner b Karn Sharma 102 (Australia 213-4)
Warner continues to bat like a millionaire after passing three figures and it’s his undoing here when he attempts to switch hit the leg-spinner Sharma into the stands but instead gets bowled around his legs. It’s not a dismissal that really fits with his mature and determined efforts in this Test but he might be a little knackered by this point.
59th over - Australia 213-3 (Warner 102, Smith 29)
If you were in any doubt what kind of form Steve Smith is in, the boundary he hammers off Sharma’s bowling to move to 29 should tell you pretty clearly. He’s seeing it like a beach ball.
58th over - Australia 208-3 (Warner 102, Smith 25)
Now the maligned Karn Sharma is back and sending his leg-spin down for what would be, at my guess, his last spell of the seires. Who knows though - maybe they will ignore Ravi Ashwin in Brisbane as well?
He’s tidy in a numerical sense here, but Warner might have provided a nice afternoon breeze for some of the Adelaide Oval patrons given the force of a couple of the airy swipes he takes trying to hit the bowler to Glenelg.
57th over - Australia 206-3 (Warner 101, Smith 24)
With the niggle still bubbling away, Sharma continues with his spin but this over is far less eventful than his last.
Robert Wilson found some breakfast, you’ll be pleased to know. “You never fail, dear boy. I had the remains of week old-vacherin in a hermetic strong box. So, I donned the protective gear, smeared it on a couple bits of something and crammed it down my neck (it literally stinks of sh*t until you actually close your mouth). I now fear that no one will ever kiss my lips again.”
Hermetic strong box???
“In gratitude, a serious punter’s tip. Forget Pierre Hermé. If you’re gonna stroll down Chocolate Boulevard, you need Debauve et Gallais. Ruinously expensive, possibly laced with cocaine, but if you have women in your life, it’s like a kind of crowd control. They’ll forgive youanything...”
“For the next time you go cushion shopping perhaps...”
I’d probably need to stockpile a fair bit of it then, I suppose.
56th over - Australia 204-3 (Warner 100, Smith 23)
“I was half way down the wicket mate” - that was the gibe from Steve Smith that prompted the argument and I’d hazard a guess that Kohli came in and suggested the Australian leave the umpiring to Gould, which is as fair as Smith’s original gambit. One thing is for certain and that’s that there will be some words to be had between these players and the match referee.
All of that rather distracts from Steve Smith’s gorgeous cover drive off Shami, which really fizzes away to the boundary rope.
55th over - Australia 200-3 (Warner 100, Smith 19)
Smith gets moving now, hammering Sharma for a boundary through cover but following an appeal from the part-time spinner, Smith potentially tells the bowler to calm down with his theatrics. That leads to further contretemps than what we saw earlier.
Kohli is right in there, Warner moves down to break things up, Sharma continues to yell from the bowlers end. Eventually Ian Gould calls the Indian skipper over for a ticking off but tensions are really simmering between these two sides and neither will take a backward step.
Warner brings up his second century of the game!
54th over - Australia 195-3 (Warner 100, Smith 14)
Wisely, Virat Kohli decides that Warner shouldn’t be helped to his century by part-timers so Shami reappears with his swing. That is to no avail, because the combative New South Welshman latches onto a half-tracker and belts a boundary over mid-wicket to bring up his milestone off 154 balls with 11 fours and a six. Again he looks to the heavens for his mate Phillip Hughes and again the Indians have no answer to his brilliance.
What this also does now is set the scene for the batsman opening up a bit and possibly going in search of quick runs before the imminent Australian declaration. 60-70 in 10 overs would be ideal, says Shane Warne.
Updated
53rd over - Australia 190-3 (Warner 96, Smith 13)
Rohit Sharma is rolling his arm over now and sending an offie down to Steve Smith, he thinks he might have an LBW decision coming his way when the batsman is approximately seven metres down the pitch with his pad out. Unsurprisingly, Ian Gould is having none of it.
Drinks are called with David Warner on the verge of his 11th Test century.
52nd over - Australia 186-3 (Warner 95, Smith 10)
Ishant starts with a no ball and Brett Lee, the great mind of our times that he is, seems to think it’s a by-product of the foot holes a little further down the pitch from the landing crease. Brett, I know you’re not reading this buddy, but unless those foot holes are magnetised, I seriously doubt that’s the issue.
Actually, Brett’s brain might have been adversely affected by magnets, now that I think of it.
51st over - Australia 184-3 (Warner 94, Smith 10)
Shane Warne has just called Mitchell Johnson “The Beast” no less than five times in an over, prompting me and I’m sure several of you as well to wonder if this new nickname is perhaps derived of an off-field feat that is not fit for broadcast. Or am I just reliving my own dreams/nightmares? Hmm...
OBO favourite Robert Wilson is back. “I just got up. Two hours later than usual (that’s not boasting, I run a very small diary farm just off the Champs Elysées and have to tend to the beasts early). I’m hungry and, after your recent top-quality coffee advice, my question is this - what do you think I should have for breakfast?”
You’re in France, Robert. Surely I don’t need to direct you towards the pastries and Pierre Herme chocolates? Eat all that strange illegal cheese, man, and eat it for those of us who can’t.
50th over - Australia 182-3 (Warner 94, Smith 8)
With 26 overs left for the day, what should Australia’s plan be? Were I Michael Clarke, I’d want a minimum of 10 overs at the Indian top order tonight knowing that they’re a huge chance of crumbling tomorrow and crumbling woefully.
That means Warner and Smith need to get a wriggle on and Warner does exactly that when Ishant over-pitches, planting his foot down the wicket almost contemptuously and sending a lofted straight drive over the bowlers’ head for four.
49th over - Australia 176-3 (Warner 90, Smith 7)
Varun Aaron can’t stop himself from bowling huge ‘no balls’, but I’ve certainly enjoyed his endeavour today. He’s really bent his back for his skipper and asserted himself where others might have been a little too meek and mild. This over he concedes just a single to Smith and never really offers up anything loose.
Meanwhile, the difficulties even Warner is having in scoring probably doesn’t bode too well for India’s second innings, but I could be wrong.
Deano and Mo seem to be having fun.
Reverse planking? pic.twitter.com/fZYhWO4Uop
— Greg Matthews (@GregMomatthews) December 12, 2014
48th over - Australia 175-3 (Warner 90, Smith 6)
Ishant Sharma appears for a spell now and starts very tidily with a maiden to the patient and suddenly respectful Warner.
Thanks to Sarah Jane Bacon, who has notified me of this clip of Sean Abbott’s six wickets today for NSW. What a wonderful, wonderful result.
Meanwhile, The Hilf is also in stellar form.
South Australia incredibly all out for 45 to hand Tasmania a 313-run win with 'forgotten' man Ben Hilfenhaus' figures 14-11-11-5.
— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) December 12, 2014
Warner dropped in the gully by Vijay!
47th over - Australia 175-3 (Warner 90, Smith 6)
David Warner could be a mad genius. Now it’s Shami who is wanting to throttle him after he forces the Australian into a false stroke but Murali Vijay puts down the catching opportunity at gully and then signals to the sky to say that he’d lost it in the sun. As you would in his position, I guess.
That brings Smith on strike, which in turn prompts Kohli to place a cordon of three mid-wickets in for a catching opportunity. That doesn’t bother Smith, who glances to fine leg for four.
“It may be Pun-o’clock, but it sure isn’t Spell-o’clock!” says Jame Walls. “Tell that “#askandyoushallrecieve” that “it’s i before e, except after c” – recEIve! Harrumph!”
Or is it ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after Steve?
WICKET! Clarke c Saha b Aaron 7 (Australia 168-3)
46th over - Australia 168-3 (Warner 89, Smith 0)
Finally Varun Aaron gets some reward for his efforts. he’d been worked around a little by Warner earlier in the over but he digs an effort ball in short outside Clarke’s off stump and the Aussie skipper feathers it behind from a fairly artless swipe towards the point region. He doesn’t look happy with himself, but the arrival of the more mobile Steve Smith could be a blessing in disguise for Australia.
45th over - Australia 162-2 (Warner 84, Clarke 7)
Shami continues to Clarke and ties him up relatively well, so now might be a time to highlight the fact that Sean Abbott took 6-14 from 7 overs to bowl NSW to an innings victory today. How great is that? I don’t have any of his wickets for you, but how is this for a ball to cop when you’re on 198? Poor Ryan Carters....
Cameron Boyce's wicket of Ryan Carters deserves a gif: http://t.co/06CxaJOKwf #BupaSS
— Ethan (@ethan_meldrum) December 12, 2014
44th over - Australia 162-2 (Warner 84, Clarke 7)
Varun Aaron is probably due a little luck at the moment but when he draws a leading edge from Clarke, it balloons over the head of the bowler, hanging in the air for eternity before dropping between the converging fieldsmen from mid-on and mid-off. I swear Warner his going to bring up his hundred by ramping Aaron into the stumps, whose bails will stay in place, before the ball flashes over the ‘keepers’ head for four.
“Very very disappointed at the lack of fawning over the Adelaide Oval in the OBO coverage,” says Wayne Allen. “ Following this year’s AFL season I had come to believe that banging on endlessly about how great the ground is was a broadcast precondition.”
I wore myself out complaining about the awful screen next to the scoreboard last year, Wayne. I haven’t got any energy left for loathing/loving this year.
43rd over - Australia 160-2 (Warner 83, Clarke 6)
Mohammed Shami is struggling a little with adjusting his lines and lengths to this right-hand/left-hand combination. It makes him fairly easy pickings for Warner and Clarke, though both will be wary of the ball he bowled minutes earlier to embarrass Watson. Sometimes its better to bowl the odd jaffa amid a heap of trash, I guess.
It is now Pun O’Clock, by the way:
@rustyjacko With the uneconomical Varun charging in, are the Aussies any chance to lift the RR to Aaron-a-ball? #askandyoushallrecieve
— Scott Weston (@scottyweston) December 12, 2014
42nd over - Australia 155-2 (Warner 79, Clarke 5)
Varun Aaron has built up quite a head of steam since his little imbroglio with Warner, but the harder they come, the faster they’re dispatched. Esepcially by Warner. He thumps the quick straight for four and then tucks him down to deep square leg for a single but it’s his aggressive intent in this session that will worry Kohli and co.
There is some rancor about Clarke’s appearance at the crease, by the way. #TeamSmudge
@rustyjacko Why - WHY?! - send Pup in when there's a player in the form of his life just waiting in the wings? Silly. Shoulda been Smudge.
— sarah jane bacon (@sportzzzgirl) December 12, 2014
41st over - Australia 149-2 (Warner 74, Clarke 5)
Shami continues to Clarke and after the Aussie sipper is forced to duck and weave a few times, he unleashes a classic cover drive for four and then clips one to leg to get off the mark.
“I’m interested in your thoughts on checking for the legality of a delivery after a dismissal has occurred,” says Andrew Pratley. “I wonder if the onus of proof is being weighted to heavily towards the bowler? We don’t look at hot spot every time a run is recorded or the ball is caught on the full (e.g. by the keeper).”
Andrew, I reckon that Gould should have picked that one up - it was a massive no ball. Anything that ensures the correct decision sould be given its due but I think something of the post-wicket ritual has been lost since we’ve started checking for the no ball. It’s a real mood-killer. Shouldn’t we just automate it at this point a la tennis?
No DRS means Warner gets a let-off
40th over - Australia 144-2 (Warner 74, Clarke 0)
Varun Aaron starts his over with a confident appeal when he thinks Warner has gotten a tickle down the leg side and into the gloves of Saha and it’s not just a tickle, it’s a thick deflection. Umpire Gould is having none of it though and makes a rare mistake in this game.
A dissappointed Kohli stands there with both hands on his head, while David Warner celebrates another let-off by thumping a boundary though cover. Of course he does.
39th over - Australia 140-2 (Warner 70, Clarke 0)
Replays of that Shami delivery are no less impressive than the live action.
"The crowd will LOVE that!" - @iheals. Clarke comes to the crease! #AUSvIND #WWOS pic.twitter.com/GMEsInCHei
— Wide World of Sports (@WWOS9) December 12, 2014
WICKET! Watson b Shami 33 (Australia 140-2)
SHAM-WOW!!!
What a way to get the final session under way for India. Shami has jagged one in through Watson’s gate, always a breachable zone to be fair but expertly infiltrated on this occasion to send the bails flying. It was a beautiful in-ducker.
“Shami has always been a genius with reverse swing,” says Brett Lee, conferring on the 24-year-old Indian the lofty status of Waqar or Wasim. It was a lovely ball, but not that good.
Where do you go...my lovely?
Afternoon all. It is indeed ‘The Sink Guy’ himself, me, Russell Jackson joining you for this final session of the fourth day, one that promises a little bit of biff (in a batting sense, though you wouldn’t rule out fisticuffs either) if Australia are to achieve their objective of posting a target that both entices their opposition but doesn’t lose them the game.
As for the ‘my lovely’ part, I refer to Rahul Dravid, who has just appeared on my TV screen like an oasis of calm respectibility. He’s sitting next to Shane Warne, who is many good things but possibly not that, specifically. They want to ask Dravid about DRS. Grab some popcorn.
This afternoon I am looking forward to a continuation of David Warner’s feisty hand, hopefully with a little less of the name-calling that transpired earlier. So much for cool heads prevailing...
Hit me on russell.jackson@theguardian.com or twitter (@rustyjacko) with all your witty and clever contributions. Let’s be honest, even if they’re not I’ll probably publish them.
Tea - Australia 139-1
Great session for the onlooker, a lot of fun to be had. A frustrating session for Indian fans though. Australia added 107 runs, right on target, and only lost Chris Rogers along the way. They have their two heaviest hitters at the crease, with Smith, Marsh and Haddin still to come. What part Clarke will play remains to be seen. The lead currently stands at 212, and anything around 300 should be enough for Australia to declare and have at the Indian batsmen. Whether they push for that tonight or wait to compile a bigger lead remains to be seen.
Varun Aaron is steamed up and steaming in, David Warner is fired up and smiting runs, Shane Watson is pulling out the odd big shot, and Virat Kohli is trying to keep it all under control. Geoff Lemon signing off, Russell ‘Sink Guy’ Jackson will guide you through to stumps.
And for a final note, while I am a staunch defender of Chris Rogers’ place in this team, none of us can deny what is happening out in the cricketing world: four centuries in five games, a ton in each innings of the game that finished today, top of the Shield tally by 130 runs batting first drop. A whisper that is starting to circulate like the wind in autumn leaves... #Cowanmentum. He’s coming. And he’s angry.
38th over - Australia 139-1 (Warner 69, Watson 33)
Classic Watto. Four balls to tea and he has a big diagonal drive at a rank wide one, exactly the same shot that got him out in the first innings. But he misses it, luckily. Warner had already taken a single from the first ball, then Watson gets a fast full toss from Aaron at thigh height, and deflects it to backward square for a run.
That’s the hundred partnership, from 152 balls, at just under 4 runs per over.
Warner scampers one more single from a defensive shot, Watson survives a bit of an inside edge from the last ball, and that is tea.
37th over - Australia 136-1 (Warner 67, Watson 32)
Sharma #3 is doing a solid job here, sneaking through his overs without the Australians really noticing, but it’s not a Twenty 20, and he’s not a real threat. Just lobbing them in on off stump, and Watson just wants to get through to tea as he bats out a maiden.
36th over - Australia 136-1 (Warner 67, Watson 32)
Whooshka! Aaron is bowling like Mitchell Johnson here: fast, furious, dangerous, expensive. He’s a cheetah made of rubies. A vicious bouncer takes Watson’s shoulder and flies down for four leg byes as Watson flinches away. The next is wide down leg side, giving Saha no chance despite an almighty leap, and goes for five wides. The next is too full and Watson drives four to deep midwicket! But the ball is reversing now, and Aaron is suddenly back up around 150 kilometres per hour. He stries Watson on the foot and once again the batsman is fortunate to survive: correct ecision, but only just, as the ball was tailing down leg. Fast! As Watson blocks out the last. 14 from the over, but several threats at the same time.
Exciting stuff.
35th over - Australia 122-1 (Warner 67, Watson 27)
Quiet now, as Rohit bowls a maiden to Warner. There’s some restraint.
34th over - Australia 122-1 (Warner 67, Watson 27)
Things have suddenly erupted in what was heretofore a peaceable match. Aaron had given Warner a bit ofa send-off, so relieved at coming on and getting amongst the wickets. Then the wicket was snatched away and Warner returned, also returning serve at Aaron. Suddenly things got very heated: many words were exchanged, Dhawan was involved, Watson was involved, scoffing at whatever had happened. Kohli breaks it up, then returns at the end of the over to approach Warner, put a hand on his shoulder, and appears to be making some sort of settlement or conciliation. Kohli the peacemaker? Crazy times.
Bowled off a no-ball!
Disaster strikes for India. Varun Aaron had the breakthrough. He ripped straight through Warner, did him for pace, shatterd the stumps - and then the replay showed it was a big no-ball.
33rd over - Australia 119-1 (Warner 66, Watson 27)
There’s a Watson run! A single. From Sharma #3. Bowling Sharma #3, anyway, even though he’s Batting Sharma #1.
32nd over - Australia 117-1 (Warner 65, Watson 26)
Hooray! After 31 overs, Varun Aaron is finally sighted for his first shot at the batsmen. He looks good too: fast, a bit of reverse, some balls that jump too. He has the batsmen a little discomfited. Watson survives an lbw shout that would have gone over, but did him for pace.
Since Shane Watson moved to 20 he’s batted through seven overs and faced 24 deliveries. Those deliveries have yielded 23 dots and a six.
31st over - Australia 116-1 (Warner 64, Watson 26)
Excitement for fans of part-time bowling everywhere: Rohit Sharma is on for a go. He lands them on the spot from ball one, off-spin nicely lobbed in, starting around the wicket but quickly moving over. A Warner single is all that results.
30th over - Australia 115-1 (Warner 63, Watson 26)
Ishant is bowling tidily aside from his plague of no balls. That was one of the lesser-known plagues to hit Egypt, when Pharaoh kept overstepping. Aside from that, just a Warner single from the over. He’s mostly bowling just short of a length on the off stump, angling the ball across Warner slightly.
29th over - Australia 113-1 (Warner 62, Watson 26)
What ho, Watto! What heave, as well. Shane has got sick of being on 20, and soars to 26 with a mighty strike over deep square leg. that was the last ball of a quiet Karn over, but the leggie dragged a fraction short, Watson saw it, went back on his stumps to change the length, and connected with maximum sweetness as the ball hummed away. That was like a beehive hitting you right in the face.
Re lbw changes:
@GeoffLemonSport I reckon your lbw changes would incentivise 'round the wicket bowling. Easier to hit pads relative to ease of playing shot
— Matt Harris (@mattharris_au) December 12, 2014
Yes, but... so what? If the ball is going to hit the stumps, the batsman can hit the ball. It’s not like this means you’ll bowl a foot down the leg side. Batsmen will develop shots. Basically, if the ball’s hitting the stumps you should be out, no?
28th over - Australia 106-1 (Warner 61, Watson 20)
Vintage Watteaux there: he’s struggled to score for a little while, then he poured a full ball straight into the non-striker’s stumps and splashed them everywhere. Corker of a shot, but the scorebook remains blanc.
Only a no-ball from that Ishant Sharma over.
27th over - Australia 105-1 (Warner 61, Watson 20)
Nope, Sharma #2 is back again - apparently he Karn make up his mind which end to bowl. Now he’s back at the river end, the Riverside stand at his back, and Warner is sweeping him forcefully to the square leg perimeter to raise Australia’s 100. Another sweep fetches two more. Karn going at well over 4 an over, though he has the only wicket to fall. Watson playing a quiet role in support.
26th over - Australia 99-1 (Warner 55, Watson 20)
I am renaming this blog Typo City. I am the Mayor. Giv me my robs and chians. Must watch the screen while typing. It’s hard because I don’t want to take my eyes off Ishant Sharma. He’s replaced Sharma #2 at the scoreboard end / hill end / drunk guy end / Scott Weston end. He’s also appealing a bit too much for lbw given that was a no-ball smashed off the inside edge. Warner works five other runs in bits and pieces, just pushing them round the field.
I reckon we should do away with all these rules that stop batsmen being out lbw. No pitching outside leg, no hitting outside the line, no tiny nicks saving the player. If it’s going to hit the stumps, give it out. Get on with it. What say you?
25th over - Australia 93-1 (Warner 50, Watson 20)
Warner drives Vijay for three, gets the strike back, then works a single to raise his half century. 50 from 63 balls, 6 fours, 1 six. And that felt like one of his slower innings.
Here are David Warner’s last six Tests: 12, 115, 70, 66, 135, 145, 133, 29, 19, 58, 145, 50*. Whatever, man.
I forgot to mention that Twitter people can also contact me @GeoffLemonSport, as Scott Weston has from somewhere within the Adelaide Oval itself. How good is it to hear talk about Ed Cowan and the Test team in the same sentence together? (Don’t answer that. What I’m saying is that I think it’s good.)
@GeoffLemonSport Another Rogers failure here, Cowan knocking on the door #jungledrums
— Scott Weston (@scottyweston) December 12, 2014
24th over - Australia 88-1 (Warner 46, Watson 19)
What in tarnation! I thought this was supposed to be a throw-the-bat target-setting session? Admittedly I’m the one who said it was, but I’ve misled myself. Who employs these clowns here at this ‘newspaper’ that isn’t even printed on paper anymore.
Anyway, there’s a single from Karn’s over, which raises the 50 partnership between Warner and Watson, but no other runs.
Updated
23rd over - Australia 87-1 (Warner 45, Watson 19)
Ishant continues his tidy spell, drawing a couple of poorly timed shots from Watson. Eventually the batsman just resolves to see him off, and there’s a another maiden. Two on the trot.
Vikrant Patwardhan agrees with my Day 4 predictions, “with a slight variation: There’s about 65 overs play left in the day. Seeing as both teams have scored at a shade under 4 per over, Clarke ‘n Co will probably try and hit another 200-and-a-bit in the next 50, give Kohli & Gang 15 overs to face, and have a bit of a go at them this evening itself! That, or you could get all out before tea.” The latter is more a request than a prediction.
22nd over - Australia 87-1 (Warner 45, Watson 19)
I do like the way Kohli is backing his specialist spinner: debut, nerves and all. Karn has 1/36 starting his 8th over. He also has an lbw appeal against Warner, but without much support. Warner is playing a stop-start innings here, not as smoothly integrated as his defence-attack meld from the first dig. His blocking seems more premeditated here, like he thinks he should defend a certain number of balls. But then the big hits have still come out once in a while. Karn delivers a maiden.
21st over - Australia 87-1 (Warner 45, Watson 19)
Watto is finding his range here. The first was a touch fortunate, glancing Ishant down the leg side and only marginally wide of the wicketkeeper’s gloves. The second was a meaty strike through square leg - I would say flicked off the pads but that doesn’t convey the violence of it. Kohli threw back his head in frustration. The final ball takes a thick inside edge from the forward defensive stroke and momentarily looked like it might endanger the stumps. But no.
Meanwhile, at the SCG, Sean Abbott has taken 6 wickets for 9 runs against Queensland.
20th over - Australia 77-1 (Warner 45, Watson 11)
Poor old Karn, He had a good over in his grasp there, just a single from five balls bowling over the wicket. Then Watson advanced and drove him exquisitely through midwicket to the boundary. Plenty of intent there.
19th over - Australia 72-1 (Warner 44, Watson 7)
Watson is doing the team thing here, just feeding David Warner the strike through the bars of his gilded cage. “Sing, David Warner, sing,” coos Watson, and David does, breaking out into full voice with a towering six from Vijay over midwicket.
18th over - Australia 64-1 (Warner 37, Watson 6)
Here’s David Warner! We were wondering where he’d been hiding. He charges out to Karn to loft him way down the ground for four, then reverse-sweeps him for four more. Where are all the people who were bemoaning Maxwell playing that shot? If it scores you runs...
Good to see the off-field sledging has already started too, Andrew Turner rightly taking me to task for sloppy keymanship. “Not wanting to get off on the wrong foot, but did you have a liquid lunch? Two typos in over 11.”
Hey, I’m no Russell Jackson. Don’t make my heart sync.
17th over - Australia 55-1 (Warner 29, Watson 5)
We are back to double spin. I was right. Vijay comes on from the river end after Karn was moved to the scoreboard end. The change doesn’t necessarily suit him though, as Warner stays in his crease to swing through the line of a ball that wasn’t even that full, lifting it down the ground to bounce just inside the rope.
Slip, backward point, short cover for Vijay. Then midwicket, mid on, a deep-set mid off, cover, deep backward square.
16th over - Australia 50-1 (Warner 25, Watson 4)
In fact Sharme #1 was just allowing Sharma #2 to change ends. Karn Sharma, the leg-spinner, is now bowling from the scoreboard end. Watson advances to aim that big square-shouldered drive down to long on for a single. Warner cuts two runs to deep cover, tickles one to short fine for ad ot, then gets hold of the next cut shot better - it was a slightly shorter ball - and cuts it for four.
Eight from the over and the Australian 50 is up.
Updated
15th over - Australia 42-1 (Warner 18, Watson 3)
Except Kohli confounds me by immediately returning to pace. Sharma #1 comes back for Sharma #2. Warner has not loved facing Ishant Sharma this Test, but Watson takes most of the over. Two singles are all. I often sledge Ishant, but he’s bowled with great persistence in this Test, even without much luck.
Updated
14th over - Australia 40-1 (Warner 17, Watson 2)
Warner battening down the hatches here, even against Vijay. Interestinf. Again, just a Watson single from the over. Quite good tactics here from Kohli, starving these aggressive batsmen of pace to hit.
Updated
13th over - Australia 39-1 (Warner 17, Watson 1)
So they’re pushing for runs here, Awestraylya. I reckon we’ll see a few quick 20s and 30s leading up to dismissals. Just the Watson single from this Karn over.
Updated
WICKET! Rogers 21, c Rohit b Karn
Oh no. Oh dear. Rogers was so keen to stay ahead of Warner that he went for a big slog sweep against the leggie, did not get hold of the ball in anything like the way he wanted, and just bunted it to Sharma #3 at regulation midwicket. Clearly the Aussies want quick runs.
Updated
12th over - Australia 37-0 (Rogers 21 Warner 17)
Spin spin spin, as the dreaded twirler Murali Vijay resumes from the scoreboard end with his off spin. He’s bowling around the wicket to the left-handed pair, and Rogers is wary of off spin, so he leaves or defends five balls before working a single.
11th over - Australia 37-0 (Rogers 20 Warner 17)
So we’re underway once more - the umpires take the field to the strains of Great Southern Land. I hope the India-waale and the Australia-whatevers are with me as we prepare for action. Karn Sharma provides it. Ties Rogers down with a couple of balls, but after a single Warner cannons a drive through long on to the white rope strung in front of the Riverside stand.
This ground looks so attractive now, even the dreaded redevelopment couldn’t damage its aesthetic appeal. They’ve done excellent work here in South Australia.
For the record, Rogers is still outscoring Warner. And Eddie Cowan is rattling up Shield tons with good strike rates. Life is good for dogged, heavily sledged southpaw openers right now.
Updated
Loved that sesh before lunch. Big Mo Shami walloping the ball to all parts. Did you know: he has a Test half century, but in his other 16 Test innings he’d only made double figures twice? Not after today. He got the deficity down to a manageable 70-odd.
So what’s the Aussie plan? I figured they would want 230 today. They got the 30 before lunch, so they’ll want to attack for another 100 in each session today, then declare overnight with a lead of 300. Then there’ll be a great final day: will India try to bat out, or might Captain Kohli for for gold and glory? Bloody hope it’s the latter.
Either that or Australia are bowled out for 56 in the next hour. I don’t know.
Aloha Hawaii. It’s another disgustingly beautiful day here at the Adelaide Oval - South Australia rummaged around and finally found summer behind the couch. The warmest day of this Test so far, allegedly about 26 degrees though it feels a couple warmer. That great cricket fan Katy Perry is on the ground loudspeakers singing Roar, which would probably be the name of a Big Bash team if the A-League hadn’t thought of it first. The best thing about terrible ideas is when someone else beats you to them.
Speaking of terrible ideas, this is Geoff Lemon joining you for the next session of over by over by over by over by over commentary. We’ll call over by over until it’s over, by George. Thanks to Matt Cleary for the morning stretch, and good to see lots of emails coming in. You can hit me up at geoff.lemon@theguardian.com.
Lunch on Day Four - Australia 32-0 (Warner 13, Rogers 19) lead India by 105 runs
Okay. Another fine morning of Test cricket. India got themselves to 444 to trail Australia’s 517. But it was the manner of their batting that impressed - it was aggressive, it had intent ... if you set yourself to hang around on a fourth day wicket against this Australian attack, you’re on a hiding to nothing. Rohit Sharma hit a nice 43, impressive keeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha scored 25, while pace-bowler Mohammed Shami swung from the hip and belted 34 agricultural and entertaining runs. Merv Hughes would pull off innings like this on occasion, and they were funnier than many clowns.
(Quick Merv Hughes story: Big Merv scored 72 not out in Adelaide a few years ago, featuring in a big partnership with Dean Jones, who scored 216. After the innings Sir Donald Bradman entered the dressing room to congratulate Jones, spending long minutes talking through the innings and shaking his hand. Then The Don walked over to Merv, looked at him and said: “Merv Hughes, 72 not out in a Test? Funny game, cricket.” And walked off.)
In this Test match we’ve seen Nathan Lyon take five wickets, Peter Siddle toil as Peter Siddle does, Ryan Harris bowl with skill but not luck, Mitch Johnson produce everything from full tosses to throat balls, and Australia’s Other Bowlers pull off not much at all.
And here were, at Lunch. And Australia has a 105-run lead with ten wickets in hand. The pitch is starting to get quite dusty in the footmarks. And ... y’know, plenty of cricket left in this fixture.
And that’s me. Geoff Lemon’s got the middle session and Russell Jackson’s got the last. I’m Matt Cleary. Been a pleasure. And bye for now.
Updated
Righto. Couple more emails from The People, and I’ll summarise a fairly entertaining first session.
On Ed Cowan’s appeal among Queenslanders, John “Beeso” Beesley, asserts: “Even Queenslanders don’t care about the curious snail.”
Vikrant Patwardhan, who may or may not agree we may never know, says: “Meanwhile, here’s some interesting news from Indian noose-papers this morning: Sis-in-law kisses groom, angry bride walks out of wedding. For whenever the cricket needs some distraction.”
10th over - Australia 32-0 (Rogers 19 Warner 13)
Vikrant Patwardhan offers a quick thought: “Matt. How ‘bout calling us India people “India-waale”? Might get you more responses from us India-waale, and perhaps even a plug from Shah Rukh Khan (have you heard of him? I know he has a fan following in Germany.. Half way across the world).”
I haven’t heard of him, mate, but then I hadn’t heard of One Direction until recently. But good luck to him, and all the India-waale People.
And so to K Sharma’s leg-spinners ... and he’s bowled a rank half-track piece of cherry pie that Rogers whacks to the backward point fence. Next one, wow, rip, sounds like in old Batman shows, it’s jagged out of the rough and beaten Rogers. Then: an edge! But Kohli is too wide at first slip and it’s away for runs fine. Last over before Lunch...?
It is.
9th over - Australia 25-0 (Rogers 12 Warner 13)
Gary Norman Allen of Brisbane questions: “If Ed Cowan had scored four centuries this summer for NSW rather than for Tassie would Chris Rogers be under the pump even more from the NSW journos in the msm?”
Yeah... sorry, I’m just momentarily stunned that Channel Nine has a classic catches entry by Faf De Plessis that was a “catch” from a no-ball. Is that allowed? I suppose they can do their own thing, Naan.
Ed Cowan? The journos? Dunno. Maybe. If he was playing for Queensland, reckon the Courier Mail would be pumping his tyres?
Okay - Ishant’s ripping in again. And he’s ripped off a six-ball maiden, all to David Warner. That doesn’t happen often, if at all.
8th over - Australia 25-0 (Rogers 12 Warner 13)
Sharma, our leg-spinner, around the wicket to the left-handers. Bit of rough outside off stump. Getting a fair bit of turn, though the batters are using the spin. Does he have an un-pickable Googly, India People? Be handy here.
Updated
7th over - Australia 22-0 (Rogers 11 Warner 11)
Ishant Sharma, again. Has a good sized shout for LBW on Rogers ... he’s coming around the wicket at the left-hander. Have to be a Jaffa to do that. This was not one. Missing many ghost stumps.
There’s a fielder almost on the wicket at short mid-on. Rogers whips the big man for four to square leg. Fine shot.
6th over - Australia 17-0 (Rogers 7 Warner 10)
Spin! Leg-spin. Around the wicket, K Sharma. And David Warner ... ha - instantly reverse sweeps him hard to the backward point fence. Top stuff. Then he pulls him behind square for one.
And in Famous Vegan news:
@JournoMatCleary I'd be a vegan, and so would this bloke - Germany's strongest man Patrik Baboumian pic.twitter.com/B25phey7tL
— Matt Harris (@mattharris_au) December 12, 2014
I still wouldn’t be. Fancy giving up pork chops. That’s crazy talk.5th over - Australia 12-0 (Rogers 7 Warner 5)
5th over - Australia 12-0 (Rogers 7 Warner 5)
Kabir Sethi reckons that “Dhoni in this situation would probably look to contain, slow down the Aussies as much as possible and try and make sure India draw. Opportunity for Kohli to show his alleged aggression and go for wickets. Alternatively, accept the bowling is crap and spread the field out.”
Agree with that, India People?
Sarah Jane Bacon says: “G’day, Matt. Given we want to score hard, fast and big, what are the chances Pup may move – or be moved – down the order? I’d like to see Smudge at first drop, then Watto, followed by Marsh then Hadds, rather than see our captain risk himself too early. Especially since he’s taken a few tumbles in the field today. Thoughts?”
Yeah - probably pretty good chance of that. Good point. Especially with all the dashers in the Aussie line-up. Very good point.
Meanwhile Dave Warner hits a cut-shot like a pull-shot to mid-off. True story.
4th over - Australia 8-0 (Rogers 6 Warner 2)
Wow. Incoming in the emails:
Richard Stanton of Sydney says: “Hi Matt, According to Cricinfo, Mr Pratt is playing minor counties cricket for Cumberland and has been since 2007. He had a go at non-League football for South Shields too. Love the commentary. Am kinda watching on TV through the corner of my eye in my Sydney office too.”
Vikrant Patwardhan is “Not very happy. This day-boo of mine on the OBO... Seems to have cost us half our wickets! I’m half tempted to stick my shoulder back to the wheel and nose to the grindstone.”
Duncan Steel weighs into the Nelson thingy with “Balls! That’s the third thing Nelson was reputed to have only one of... There used to be a pub in Knightsbridge near Harrods (Horrids) named the Lord Nelson or somesuch, which had a gathering called the 111 Club. Probably another damned trattoria now, where they know nothing about cricket. O tempora! O mores!”
Matt Harris from Canberra says: “Hi Matt. Thanks for the OBO this morning. Care to speculate on an acceptable total for Australia to try to win the match? Also, I notice that the live blog displays the score the wrong way round. 2-0 isn’t a good start, but 0-2 is neither here nor there. I know that The Guardian has a bizarre capitalisation style (I’m sure I read ‘Unesco’ earlier this week?), but what’s the go with the scoring?”
Reckon Australia could lead by 400, give India three sessions to get ‘em. The scoring? Created rabid debate in the office, don’t worry.
Good over by Ishant Sharma. Three off.
3rd over - Australia 5-0 (Rogers 3 Warner 2)
Gary Norman Allen of Brisbane write: “Matt. Long time listener, first time caller here. I’ve been checking my old copy of “Cricket, The Australian Way” by Jack Pollard and nowhere is the Windy Woof cricket stroke defined. In fact, the last time I heard it used was when my dear old Mum, Mavis, berated a young Brian Norman Jones for getting himself out to a lolly drop (another great cricket term not found in Mr Pollard’s book) delivered by, if memory serves me correct, Albert Fehringer at a crucial stage of the grudge South Woden v Woden Districts U14 s cricket game. Are Mr Jones and Mr Shami the last two grand exponents of the Windy Woof?”
For my money, they are. Windiest woofers I’ve seen.
Shami bowls to Rogers, who doesn’t look in great nick ... until he shows the bat-maker’s badge to the umpire and blocks a fine off-drive down the ground for three. Top shot, confidence builder. Head over the ball, steady. Three runs.
Shami to Warner, who whacks him hard to mid-off. Full ball, in-swinging, Warner whacks it. Hasn’t scored for two balls now, it must gnawing at him. Shami over the wicket, changing it up, and tightening the left-hander. Mixing it up. Interesting tactix. There’s a netball team called the Tactix, isn’t that hideous.
Oh - Shami beats Warner. Nice over.
2nd over - Australia 2-0 (Rogers 0 Warner 2)
Bloody Pom asks: “Everything fine and dandy with the coverage, people, but I long for the scoreboard. Where have you people hidden it?”
At the risk of pointing you away from this website to other websites, Bloody, the scoreboard is on other websites. Cricinfo would be the updated one. Or Cricket Australia’s one. Flick between ‘em. It’s what I do.
Okay - Ishant Sharma, to David Warner, tall man to shorter one. A clash of styles, and a few other things. Warner jabs a short one through short cover and gets Australia off the mark with a two.
1st over - Australia 0-0 (Rogers 0 Warner 0)
Handy first over from Mohammed Shami, a maiden to Chris Rogers whose position at the top order is a tad under the pump. Not sure you can continue pointing to hundred partnerships if the bloke up the other end has 93 of them.
And we’re away again.
Vikrant Patwardhan says: “And what’s our payback? The Lyon running away with Michelle. Not very nice of you blokes. Just for that, I’ll have you know that it’s not. Wriddhiman, that is. But what would I know, I stay half a subcontinent away from where the chap does, and our languages don’t even share the same script.”
Agreed.
Trevor Holden in Portugal says: “Can’t understand why Michael Clark isn’t in an ice bath while you didn’t have a super sub on. Ask Ricky Ponting his opinion about that. Long live Gary Pratt.”
How’s going these day, Gary Pratt? What’s he up to? Is there a job for super-subs?
And to you, The People:
Ryan Renton from New Zealand says: “A quick google search reveals “The number 111 is sometimes called “a Nelson” after Admiral Nelson, who allegedly only had “One Eye, One Arm, One Leg” near the end of his life. (Which is in fact incorrect - Nelson never lost a leg).” It is apparently a worrying number for a cricketer because the numbers 111 look like stumps without bails. Weird bunch aren’t they, cricketers?”
Nary a truer word spoken in the history of human communication.
Change of Innings. India 444 trail Australia by 73 runs
Righto. We’ll have a short break before Dashing Dave Warner and The Rather More Circumspect Chris Rogers come out to bat. Plenty of time in this Test match for all three results. You’d probably just favour Australia to pile on some runs and give themselves three sessions tomorrow to knock over India. But then India’s shown they quite like this wicket. We’ll find out soon enough. I’m off to grab a coffee. Back in a tick.
Wicket! Mohammed Shami 34 c Watson b Siddle
Old mate Shami tries another windy woof - they’d been good for him - but hits the ball with the cue-end of the bat and squirts a catch to Watson at first slip, who did very well to pouch it falling to his left.
117th over - India 444-9 (Shami 34, Aaron 3)
Siddle again ... and he’s pulled right out of the ground by Mohammed Shami, a huge pull shot, great shot well over the short square boundaries. Reckon he’s bowling one over too many, Pete Siddle. He’ll get a wicket this ball ... oh, nearly. Shami, a windy woof, but no connection. Next one he does - he’s out, caught. I’ll key event it...
116th over - India 438-9 (Shami 28, Aaron 3)
Lyon King, lofts one up and ... Shami smokes him high and down the ground, six runs anywhere in the world except Adelaide where it’s one bounce and four. Next one is hoicked for one. Aaron dances down, chips it over the top for one. Plenty happening, two tail-enders going at it. Shami goes inside out for a two over cover. Then pulls one low and hard to Siddle, again, who doesn’t let it hit him in the head. Down the track again ... two more to Shami, he’s not mucking about, and good luck to him.
115th over - India 427-9 (Shami 20, Aaron 0)
Righto. Pete Siddle, our man Shami tries to whack him down the ground but thuds it wide and Michael Clarke does his best to dive with his poor old back. Next one’s a yorker. Next one’s a wild whack-a-mole and a miss. Our man Shami’s going to attack like a ninja. Second-last ball - short and hooked, and ... with that hoick to leg, he gives the strike to Aaron ... who ... defends a big bending Irish in-dipper.
114th over - India 422-9 (Shami 15, Aaron 0)
Well - two wickets to Nathan Lyon, and India on the ropes. Big bounce, plenty spin. He’s got himself a bag of five.
Wicket! Ishant Sharma 0 c Smith b Lyon
And there’s Lyon’s Michelle, he’s enticed big Ishant forward, the ball’s thudded off the gloves and Steve Smith’s taken a dolly at short leg. Great bowling.
Wicket! Wriddhiman Saha 25 c Watson b Lyon
Well, Lyon King’s had a bit of luck, it seems. Saha went forward, the ball beat the bat, hit the pad and lobbed to Shane Watson at first slip. Seems there were two noises. Was one bat? We’ll have a bunch of looks on the telly while I type this ... but either way, Lyon has four Test wickets, two this morning, and looks like he’s going to run through his tail and get himself a Michelle Pfeiffer, a fine and spunky actor. Wasn’t she good in that Wolf movie with Jack Nicholson, and the other one with Al Pacino, the romantic one.
Did Wriddhiman Saha hit that onto his pad? Wriddhiman Saha didn’t think so. And the Television Replays ... they’re taking too long. Here’s Lyon again. We’re back in the action.
(Right. No, he missed it.)
Updated
113th over - India 420-7 (Saha 25, Shami 13)
Peter Siddle, now. He’s watching all the replays of his dropped catch. That can’t be nice. Super-slo-mo, the ball goes through his fingers, thocks into his forehead and goes for four.
Shami - he’s making shots up. He rips off a shot like a duck with pull shot. He’s ducked under a bouncer and left the bat up there to whack it. Top shot. Two runs. Entertaining.
112th over - India 419-7 (Saha 24, Shami 13)
Lyon King, now, he’ll bowl until he can’t. And Shami goes him! Ha. Dances down and slogs him through mid-wicket like an agricultural meme. A Massey Ferguson, say, or an oxen.
Oh! Shami has smashed the ball high and long and right out to the mid-wicket fence where Peter Siddle goes back and puts his hands up and nearly wears the ball in his face, the ball trickling into the boundary for four. Should’ve caught that, Big Sids.
Shami has shown how he’s going to go. Hard or home. Possibly both.
111th over - India 413-7 (Saha 24, Shami 7)
Well. Big over, the Nelson over, 111. Why did old mate Shepherd do that funny thing on 111, with his feet? And why’s it called a Nelson? Tweet to me, The People @journomatcleary.
What happened? Siddle bowled KV Sharma. Was smacked for four through point first ball by Shami. Shami then whacked another one through gully for three. And Saha saw out the rest with forthright batsmanship. He’ll have to have a crack now, the wickie. Old mate Shami does not inspire confidence that he’s going to hang about like the washing.
Wicket! KV Sharma 4 b Siddle
Big hooping in-swinger does for the left-hander. The ball before there was a huuuuge shout for LBW but a fine decision from Marias Erasmus, the ball just pitched outside off. The next one swung in. And rattled all three stumps.
110th over - India 406-6 (Saha 24, KV Sharma 4)
Lyon King - big appeal! He’s spun one past Sharma’s bat, great nut. And another one. He’s jagged it past the left-hander’s bat twice. He’ll be enjoying this. He’s done it again! Three strikes. Not out.
109th over - India 405-6 (Saha 23, KV Sharma 0)
Big Pete Siddle again, Australia’s most famous vegan and anti-animal-cruelty man. He’s getting a little Irish-Reverse going on the nut, the blood-nut. A little in-dip. And he’s tossing it down in those fabled good areas. Been good cricket from Australia this morning, tight and controlled, and pretty tasty.
Can India’s tail wag here? Are they known for batting, these people?
Updated
108th over - India 401-6 (Saha 20, KV Sharma 0)
Nice over from the Lyon King, again. Smacked down the ground, then followed it up with the same sort of nut. It enticed Rohit to dance towards him, and just sort of slightly slap a return catch. Big wicket. Good over from the spin-man.
Updated
Wicket! Rohit Sharma 43 c-&-b Nathan Lyon
After Rohit Sharma danced down the wicket and lofted a huge lofted on-drive down the ground for four, Lyon wasn’t too unhappy. He tossed up the same sort of delivery and Sharma batted it back to the diving off-spinner who pouched a pretty tidy return catch. He’s got three, the Lyon King. And he’s hungry like the wolf.
107th over - India 394-5 (Sharma 39, Saha 20)
Double-change: It’s Big Sids, Sid Vicious, Australia’s most bloodthirsty vegan, Peter Siddle, who is on-driven strongly down the ground by Wriddhiman Saha, who may or may not be a vegan. Would you be a vegan? I’d advise against, the dietary options are limited to bark and eucalyptus leaves stewed in a punget green broth.
That’s not true I made it up.
But the tucker’s not a patch on a rib-eye steak, I can safely give you the tip.
Three off. Nice little over from Siddle. Some swing.
Updated
106th over - India 391-5 (Sharma 39, Saha 17)
Change of bowler - it’s the Lyon King, who’ll be looking to float up his offies and jag them out the rough. Rohit Sharma sweeps him confidently. Has a nice, strong sweep, the Rohit.
Lyon bowls a shorter one, but it spins a long way and cramps Saha, a little. Bit of criticism around the traps about Lyon. Lot of opinions. He doesn’t tend to rip through the middle order and/or tail like Warney did. But not many bowlers can do that, on Aussie tracks outside Sydney, anyway.
But he goes pretty well, our one-time Lawnmower Man of Adelaide via Canberra and originally from Young the Cherry Capital of Australia. You can pick your own cherries in Young. Why not visit Wombat Heights? Answer: no reason.
Four off.
105th over - India 387-5 (Sharma 38, Saha 14)
Big Johnno again. He’s having a decent spell early. He dishes up a full toss outside off stump that Saha hits into the gap at catching height through extra cover. MJ’s bowled great lines all morning but his pie almost gets a wicket. It did get a boundary. Funny game, the great game of Test cricket.
Saha smokes a square-drive through point. It was full, wide and juicy, and the wickie slayed it to the fence, nice shot. Slayed it? Sashayed it, maybe. It was out there to be hit and he just put the foot towards it and followed it with the willow.
And thus the over finishes 4.4...
And onwards we roll.
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104th over - India 378-5 (Sharma 38, Saha 5)
Rhino, again. Another tight one, for the most part. Mid-over he does roost in a short one. Gasps from the slip cordon. But Sharma’s hooked it pretty handily halfway to the fence for a single. There’s another straight one. Another short one. Saha’s got a good “sway” out the way. It’s good batting, from our Wriddhiman. That a common name in India, India people?
Two off. Good contest, again.
Updated
103rd over - India 377-5 (Sharma 37, Saha 5)
Big Mitch again, left-arm over. Be a surprise, and probably humorous, if he came in otherwise.
He’s bowled a maiden. Good pressure from the Oz, good areas.
102nd over - India 377-5 (Sharma 37, Saha 5)
@JournoMatCleary Greetings from Dubai. 3.30am here. Squad fit? Siddle's tummy okay? Pup's back? MJ's confidence? Glorious day ahead, I hope.
— sarah jane bacon (@sportzzzgirl) December 11, 2014
Greetings, Sarah Jane Bacon. Squad’s fit. Siddle’s tummy is a-okay (better than a man’s in an Aussie film called “Mule” that I watched last night whose tummy was full of many drugs that cops were waiting for him to expel, a pretty good film). Pup’s back? The poor thing is never getting better, he’ll have to manage it forever. And MJ’s confidence ... y’know, it looks pretty good. He’s a long way from that sad, confused kid in 2009. He’ll be a Factor, soon enough.
And yes, a glorious day for Test match cricket.
And the Rhino’s bowled a maiden.
101st over - India 377-5 (Sharma 37, Saha 5)
“Dear Matt. Seriously, what is Irish swing? Are you having a go?” asks Robert Wilson from the Internet.
No, mate. It’s like a term for “reverse” swing. “Normal” swing is when the ball swings the opposite way to the shiny side of the ball. “Irish” or “Reverse” swing happens when the ball swings towards the shinier side of the ball, which often happens when the ball gets old and rough, and aerodynamically does big hoopy things the opposite of when the ball is new.
Mitchell Johnson bowls a tidy over of good-length heaters from which one runs was scored by Rohit Sharma.
100th over - India 376-5 (Sharma 36, Saha 5)
Rhino again. Two slips. A fourth-slip gully sort of position. The rest are spread about in a ring. And the Rhino bowls a series of Heavy Balls that do a little off the wicket and in the air, in- and out-swing. You’ll take wickets with this method, as Ryan Harris has, 103 times in 24 Tests.
Over. Two off. Oh - someone’s written me...
99th over - India 374-5 (Sharma 35, Saha 4)
Big Mitch Johnson, one-time Wild Man of Borneo, human scattergun, and crazy person, he’s opened up for Australia with a series of decent nuts on a good length. Our Wriddhiman played them pretty comfortably. Two slips and a gully. Fourth ball of the over is played through gully where Steve Smith gets a hand on it but cannot prevent the batters running three. Johnno follows up with a bouncer that Rohit ducks under quite easily. Not Johnno’s best bouncer, he served a couple up to Wriddhiman last night that had the wickie flinching like a trout. But not the now, as William Wallace said.
Over.
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98th over - India 371-5 (Sharma 35, Saha 1)
Ryan Harris, pretty handy first over. Beats Sharma twice. There’s a big appeal for the second one ... looked like batting hitting pad. And was. Good start, The Rhino.
And we’re away. It’s Ryan Harris at Rohit Sharma.
Thomas Walker, resident at Columbia University in New York writes: “Eagerly awaiting the start of Day 4 here in New York City. The snow has begun to fall but I can draw some small comfort that my friends at home are enjoying the sunshine and some fine cricket after the awful events of the past few weeks. Looks like it will be draw but I’ll be up all night reading your updates as usual. I’m introducing my American housemate Rob to his first dose of cricket this evening, fingers crossed we get some wickets!”
Greetings, The People, and welcome to The Guardian’s Live Over-by-Over coverage of this first session of the fourth day of the first Border-Gavasker Test match from Adelaide. The game is poised on a knife edge. And the joint is ready to rumble.
Perhaps not rumble. It’s Test cricket not cage-fighting. But both teams know this morning session could be pivotal to this Test match, indeed the very series.
India’s resolve yesterday - albeit on a relatively benign surface - was heartening for those (me) who declared Australia would flog India 4-nil, and that Mitchell Johnson would rent them asunder like Mel Gibson in the end of Braveheart, the bit where the horses stretch him to breaking point, and the Irish bloke and his mate the big red-headed Viking one are looking on, and feeling very sad, and yet incognito because they’re wearing hoodies like Robin Hood.
My, but that went off tangent fast.
Fine and blue-sky morning on the pure Adelaide Oval batting track, and you’d suggest Irish swing won’t be a factor for a good bit. But the ball is relatively new, and Nathan Lyon will get some bounce and turn out of the footmarks outside off stump. He bowled beautifully yesterday for just two wickets, and with any sort of assistance from the track you’d suggest he will be a Factor.
India? Need their tail to wag like the happiest dog. Rohit Sharma looked pretty good for his 33 (only 231 runs shy of his one-day record score) while wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha (cool handle, by the way, Wriddhiman) looked composed and handy while swaying out the way of Mitchell Johnson’s heat-seekers in the shadows of stumps last night. These two need to bat out the session, you’d suggest. How these guys will go with the willow - KV Sharma, Mohammed Shami, I Sharma and VR Aaron - India will hope we don’t find out too soon.
I’m Matt Cleary, I’ll be with you through to Lunch. Do throw comments matt.cleary@theguardian.com or Tweet me (or whatever you do, twit, to wit) @journomatcleary.
I’ll be chopping away here live at 10am Adelaide time, 7:30am in Perth, 10:30am in the Australian eastern states (big old continent, our Oz, with many time-zones), 11:30pm GMT and 1:30am in Alexandria a city randomly-generated by the magic of Google.
Talk at you soon.
Updated
Matt Cleary will be along in a minute (you can email him at matt.cleary@theguardian.com), but in the meantime let’s look forward to what should be a great day’s play. Australia will be busting a gut to knock over the last five Indian wickets but the visitors have showed resolve in posting a decent reply so far.
