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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jonathan Howcroft, Adam Collins , & Geoff Lemon

Australia v India: SCG fourth Test, day one – as it happened

Cheteshwar Pujara batted India into the ascendancy on day one of the final Test of the series against Australia at the SCG.
Cheteshwar Pujara batted India into the ascendancy on day one of the final Test of the series against Australia at the SCG. Photograph: Steve Christo/AAP

Stumps on Day 1 - India 303-4

Before this series began everyone’s attention was focussed on Virat Kohli. The theory went that two strong bowling attacks would be evenly matched but Kohli’s genius could be the determining factor. Well, the logic has proven sound, only the batsman to dominate proceedings has been Cheteshwar Pujara.

For the third time this tour India’s No3 reached triple figures, and his knock at the SCG was his most fluent of the lot. Not for the first time he arrived at the crease following an early dismissal but after the recalled KL Rahul (9) fell cheaply, he occupied the crease with the aggressive Mayank Agarwal (77) before taking matters into his own hands during the afternoon and evening sessions.

Pujara was particularly dismissive of Marnus Labuschagne, the leg-spinning allrounder called-up to add a second spin option as well as bat at first drop. It is the latest in a long line of selection gambles that appears difficult to justify and unlikely to pay off.

The pitch served up by the SCG has played well so far, offering pace and bounce early while providing certainty for batsmen. India will hope the couple of shorter balls that kept low later in the day become a more regular occurrence. Once again they have the benefit of bowling last after winning another crucial toss.

To find out how big Pujara can go please join me and Adam and Geoff again tomorrow. Oh, and think of a new description for Pujara’s wristy flick while you’re at it.

Cheteshwar Pujara starred on day one of the Sydney Test.
Cheteshwar Pujara starred on day one of the Sydney Test. Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP

Updated

90th over: India 303-4 (Pujara 130, Vihari 39) Lyon closes out the day with a regulation over of off-spin that India handle with the minimum of fuss. The partnership moves on to 75, India in excess of 300, and Australia’s chances of levelling the series already look bleak.

89th over: India 300-4 (Pujara 128, Vihari 38) Australia bowled short to Vihari to great effect earlier in the series but until this Cummins over they haven’t bowled with similar menace today. Belatedly, Vihari struggles to fend one away under his left armpit, then struggles to withdraw his gloves to one that lifts outside his off stump.

88th over: India 300-4 (Pujara 128, Vihari 38) Australia’s ineffectiveness with the new ball is such that Nathan Lyon is back on again for his 28th over of the day. A couple of singles ensure from a quiet over. Just two more overs left in the day.

87th over: India 298-4 (Pujara 127, Vihari 37) Cummins finally gets a turn with the new ball and he begins by offering Vihari some width, with predictable results. This is far from the most controlled shot India’s No6 has played today but he still profits by four runs through the offside. Australia’s attack looks a bit weary late on day one, and after a few bright signs in Hazlewood’s first over with the new ball it has since refused to do anything spiteful in the air or off the pitch.

86th over: India 292-4 (Pujara 126, Vihari 32) Australia apparently haven’t figured out Vihari likes to cut. Starc this time errs by slanting across a short and wide delivery first up that results in the ball scorching across the outfield to the point fence. This near run-a-ball knock from Vihari - especially against the new ball - has been impressive. When he arrived at the crease the day was in the balance, now India are once again powering into the ascendancy.

85th over: India 287-4 (Pujara 126, Vihari 27) Another beautiful backfoot shot from Vihari. He gets four with a precise drive to a ball that wasn’t that short or wide but the execution made Hazlewood look popgun.

84th over: India 282-4 (Pujara 126, Vihari 22) Pujara’s wrists earn him another couple of runs but Starc extracts a measure of revenge, collecting the No3 with a short ball that cannons into the batsman’s left tricep. The bruise that will emerge as a result of that blow will be a work of art.

83rd over: India 280-4 (Pujara 122, Vihari 24) More classical run-scoring from Vihari, this time waiting in his crease, shifting his bodyweight en pointe, and carving a backfoot cut shot behind square for four. We haven’t seen India counterattack Australia’s quicks often this series but Vihari looked a million dollars playing that shot on his tiptoes.

82nd over: India 276-4 (Pujara 124, Vihari 18) Starc shares the new ball and he charges in from over the wicket to Vihari but there’s no swing in the air or venom off the pitch. Vihari has looked in good touch since he arrived at the crease and here again he presents a straight bat to anything testing witht he presence of mind to guide a half-volley calmly through the covers for a lovely three.

Updated

81st over: India 271-4 (Pujara 122, Vihari 15) Hazlewood takes the virgin Kookaburra and his first delivery reveals appreciable swing away from the right-handed Vihari. The lights are taking effect at the SCG making this a testing little spell for India. The next delivery goes the other way, Vihari inside-edging his way to the non-striker’s end. From that vantage point he can enjoy Hazlewood’s line to Pujara starting too wide outside off stump, then over-correcting, allowing the centurion a gimme four on his pads.

Australia take the second new ball immediately.

80th over: India 266-4 (Pujara 118, Vihari 14) Australia have raced through their overs in recent minutes, scurrying their way to the second new ball. Lyon is the latest to rattle through his work, India happy to see off the good balls and pinch singles where available. Ten overs or 45 minutes left in the day.

“How many wickets have been caught by the wicket keeper or close in on the leg side in this series?” asks Roland Smith. “Is this a new weakness of batsmen bred on 20/20?”

79th over: India 264-4 (Pujara 117, Vihari 13) Paine persists with Labuschagne and he’s rewarded with a tidy over. Quicker from the leggie, hustling the batsmen with a line around off stump.

78th over: India 262-4 (Pujara 116, Vihari 12) More *as yet unnamed* wristy flick goodness from Pujara to keep India in the runs before the new ball can be taken.

“Afternoon Jonathan,” a pleasure as always Phil Withall. “The importance of players like Pujara to a side becomes more pronounced with each innings he plays. Others contribute, not always very much, but having a player that is prepared to build an innings, to take runs when they are offered and just bat is incredibly important in Test cricket. Australia are lacking a player with this mindset, skill level and patience. I feel the home side will continue to struggle until such a batsman can be found.” I think a certain Mr Smith may be in line to fill that particular gap pretty soon.

77th over: India 258-4 (Pujara 113, Vihari 11) Labuschagne gets a second over, but he might wish he hadn’t. His second delivery is a junk full toss that Pujara wallops disdainfully over cow corner for four. Four other deliveries also go for runs. Not what the skipper is after with the second new ball on the horizon.

Updated

76th over: India 250-4 (Pujara 107, Vihari 9) Pujara’s intent has been noticeable this innings, especially to Lyon, and he shows more attacking elan again this over, skipping down the pitch and belting Australia’s GOAT along the carpet through mid-on for a handsome four.

I’ll field any offers and do my best to use them often enough to compel Susie Dent into including it in the OED.

75th over: India 246-4 (Pujara 103, Vihari 9) Paine shows he has a gambler’s instinct by recalling Labuschagne. The leggie’s opening over before Tea was dross but he gets another chance. The first couple of deliveries of his second spell are ominously dragged down but he recovers quickly, landing the next three, then relying on some sharp fielding to ensure an overpitched delivery only goes for one. Something to build on.

74th over: India 243-4 (Pujara 101, Vihari 8) Vihari has been reluctant to show us his shots so far this series but he’s scoring at a decent clip so far in this knock, forcing Lyon through the covers for three to maintain the momentum created by Pujara. Speaking of the centurion, he is now in rare company.

100 to Cheteshwar Pujara!

73rd over: India 239-4 (Pujara 100, Vihari 5) After rollicking towards his century either side of Tea, Pujara is now inching his way there in singles. That is until Starc serves him a leg-stump half-volley that is clipped effortlessly wide of fine-leg for four. That’s his third ton of the series, the 18th of his career and once again vital in the context of the match. All the noise pre-Adelaide was about Virat Kohli but Che Pujara has proven the main difference between these two sides over the past month.

Updated

72nd over: India 233-4 (Pujara 95, Vihari 4) There’s a little happening out there now. Despite Pujara focussing on defence in this Lyon over he still offers a hint of a bat-pad catch and does well to dig out a quicker ball that doesn’t get up.

71st over: India 232-4 (Pujara 94, Vihari 4) Starc immediately goes short to the new batsman Viahri from over the wicket but after a couple on target he offers some width that the No6 climbs all over and pummels through point for four.

Updated

WICKET! Rahane c Paine b Starc 18 (India 228-4)

Starc’s form this series has been patchy but he is always a wicket-taking threat. After an ordinary return over the big quick sends down a missile of a bouncer that climbs on Rahane, kisses the batsman’s gloves and soars through to Paine behind the stumps.

This has always felt like India’s day but if Australia can winkle Pujara out before the close of play that opinion will have to be reappraised.

Updated

70th over: India 228-3 (Pujara 94, Rahane 18) When Lyon bowls to Pujara the batsman looks in total control and always seems able to rotate the strike by advancing down the pitch and whipping his wrists across the ball with the spin. With Rahane on strike the balance is more towards the bowler but in this over the offie lets himself down with a mixture of lines and lengths letting Rahane off the hook.

69th over: India 224-3 (Pujara 93, Rahane 15) Plenty of chat on TV about the lack of overs from Mitchell Starc today (just 12 to this point) but when he is finally recalled to the attack he watches his first two deliveries whistle to the boundary. Both came from the blade of the free-scoring Pujara, the first through mid-on, the second behind point, each oozing authority. A squirty inside-edge later in the over gives the bowler some encouragement but Rahane then pushes a couple intot he offside to make it a very healthy over for the tourists.

68th over: India 213-3 (Pujara 84, Rahane 13) Another maiden from Lyon sent down in the direction of Rahane.

67th over: India 213-3 (Pujara 84, Rahane 13) Cummins continues but he has the dubious honour of sending down a ball 67-overs soft to Che Pujara nearing his Cowan double century. The batsman glides a couple through the gully region in an over that resembled a net session.

“Pujara seems to be in the Rahul Dravid mould. Man just bats and bats and bats,” emails Amod Paranjape. “Speaking of Rahul Dravid do you know that three people by the name of Hanuma Vihari , Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw refer to him as their Mentor?”

66th over: India 211-3 (Pujara 82, Rahane 13) Lyon and Rahane are back in their maiden groove. Meanwhile, more from Maxi-land.

They (selectors) think that I’ve got enough opportunities to have shown what I’ve got in the Test arena, and they weren’t happy with what they saw. Look, if I can pile some more runs on at the back end of this summer who knows, but, yeah, it’s too hard to concentrate on anything too far ahead. They’ve picked their squad at the moment and I wish them all the best. I’ll be watching – I love watching the game – so I’ll be still watching them.”

65th over: India 211-3 (Pujara 82, Rahane 13) Cummins continues in an over elongated by a change of bowling boot. His line is straight, to the point of leaking onto the pads of both right-handers, but defence is the priority after one attempted guide into the onside finds a leading edge.

“Morning Jonathan,” hi Gervase Greene. “Can I just point out that Kohli’s dismissal was eerily foretold in the 47th over by this very column (was it Adam?) in noting how Kohli is squeezed down the leg side and gloving it through leg slip or finer repeatedly. And so it proved, exactly. Spooky? A chink in the Kohli armour, methinks, and it is indeed unfortunate to have taken until India were halfway to a 1st innings total of 500-plus in a match they only need to draw for Australia’s brains trust to have stumbled upon it.” Adam will be chuffed someone spotted that nugget of clairvoyance.

64th over: India 210-3 (Pujara 82, Rahane 12) Magnificent batting from Che Pujara. He has looked more expansive today than at any point in the series and in this Lyon over he executes two glorious wristy flicks to work boundaries through midwicket from deliveries that pitched outside off stump. Lyon responds by moving from over to around the wicket.

63rd over: India 202-3 (Pujara 74, Rahane 12) 200 up for India courtesy of a couple through the covers off a controlled Rahane drive. Rahane and Pujara then exchange singles.

The pronunciation of Labuschagne is going to generate a few winces during the allrounder’s international career. Here’s some advice from Patrick Cornish. “Dear Guardian team, please consult an Afrikaans speaker and tell everyone how the name Labuschagne is pronounced. It sounds rather like LABUS-Kachnee (ch as in “choir, not as in “rich”). Not easy, but possible.”

62nd over: India 198-3 (Pujara 73, Rahane 9) Lyon has tied down Rahane in recent overs and he has the Indian No5 moving in skittish fashion at the start of this over but the pressure is released with a sloppy shorter ball that’s whipped behind square on the legside for a single.

I know this kind of Twitter content is what many of you are here for.

Updated

61st over: India 197-3 (Pujara 73, Rahane 8) Cummins replaces Hazlewood and after extending the run of dot balls beyond 20 he concedes a couple to Pujara and the scoreboard gets moving once again. On TV Trent Copeland analyses that Hazlewood grubber a few overs back and identifies a bare patch that may well be cause for concern as this match goes on.

John Cox has emailed in, entertaining the tantilising possiblity there could be a niche for climbing keepers. I’m on board. “On Adam Parore climbing Mount Everest,” John emails, “I’m going to stick my neck out and suggest that the best cricketer/climber is former England keeper Bruce French. His climbing exploits don’t make the Internet much, but here’s one in which he’s briefly mentioned (non-climbers should skip from Bruce to the end).”

60th over: India 195-3 (Pujara 71, Rahane 8) Third maiden in a row - once again Lyon to Rahane. This one contained a moral victory for the bowler late in the over though. Now, can Australia join these dots into a big W?

59th over: India 195-3 (Pujara 71, Rahane 8) Another maiden, this time Pujara addressing Hazlewood’s short stuff with aplomb.

“Happy New Year, Jonathan.” And the same to you Ian Forth. “The think-tank has identified Labuschagne as the guy to hold up an end for 15 or so overs today. OK then. Sydney is traditionally the Test in which the losing side in a series completely unravels, but was there any need to get quite such a helping hand from the selection panel?” It is very England late 80s/early 90s. I wonder if they’re going to go full Chris Cowdrey during the Sri Lanka series?

Are there any famous sons of cricketing greats Australia could call upon to take the reins?

Updated

58th over: India 195-3 (Pujara 71, Rahane 8) Rahane is content to block out a maiden from Nathan “Garry” Lyon.

“I’m puzzled,” emails Sandra Gai Lucas. “Why is Nathan Lyon called Garry? Please explain. Thank you, Jonathan.” Well, it’s in reference to another famous Australian Lyon, Garry, a former Australian Rules footballer and now media personality.

Niiiiiiice Garry!

57th over: India 195-3 (Pujara 71, Rahane 8) Geeeeeeee Whizzzzzzz! The first ball of Hazlewood’s over is a half-tracker but it barely gets above shin height, beats Pujara’s defensive stroke but does not have the brass neck to castle into his stumps. That is not the kind of misbehaviour either side wants to see so early in the Test - and especially not the curator. Pujara jogs to the refuge of the non-striker’s end where he can mutter under his breath at Rahane receiving a rank lop hop that bounces predictably, allowing him to carve a boundary behind point.

56th over: India 189-3 (Pujara 70, Rahane 3) Couple more to Rahane, this time with a very well executed square cut to a Lyon delivery that allows him a smidgen of room outside his off stump. That attacking stroke is surrounded by defensive dots.

55th over: India 187-3 (Pujara 70, Rahane 1) Hazlewood has an over at the new batsman and he makes sure Rahane is familiar with the behaviour of this pitch from short of a length. There’s nothing overly troubling in there though and he retains strike and gets off the mark with a final ball single.

Great question. My default would be “keep your mouth shut” but the way he has been so weirdly treated over recent seasons I have no problem with him expressing himself a little more candidly. What’s the worst that will happen? He quadruples his salary as a T20 gun for hire?

54th over: India 186-3 (Pujara 70, Rahane 0) Lyon resumes his battle with Pujara but the batsman is well on top at the moment and he continues his march towards another century with a powerful pulled four and a delicately nudged two.

53rd over: India 180-3 (Pujara 64, Rahane 0) Have there been more legside dismissals than usual this series? It seems so from my reactionary perspective. Anyhow, Kohli’s gone and Australia have their tails up after a torrid afternoon session.

WICKET! Kohli c Paine b Hazlewood 23 (India 180-3)

Oh my, that is a lovely post-Tea gift for Australia. Hazlewood’s over is unremarkable until a short delivery leaking down the leg side catches Kohli’s glove mid-pull and the ball travels comfortably into Paine’s gloves. An unexpected breakthrough for Australia.

Updated

Don’t let me take responsibility for everything that gets posted on here this afternoon. Witticisms and wisdom are not only welcomed but encouraged, especially via Twitter - @JPHowcroft- or by email - jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.

I know baldies and bangers have been on the agenda so far, but whatever floats your collective boats, just keep that correspondence flowing.

Ok, so there may be no link to cricket, but this combines two previous OBO themes delightfully.

As is frustratingly common, the over rate has been appalling during the opening couple of sessions, meaning the final period of play will last the scheduled two hours plus the additional half hour and even then we might not have enough time to whirl through 38 overs to edge us up to the minimum required daily complement of 90.

Tim Paine’s hip pocket might get stung at some point soon especially if he’s unable to rely on some quick overs of spin from Labuschagne. That over before the interval would not have done much for the skipper’s confidence in the fifth member of his attack.

Meanwhile, over in Maxi-land...

Updated

Thank you very much Mr Collins, my favourite cricketing Adam since Adam Parore, a man with some choice claims to fame*, including:

  • The first Māori to represent New Zealand in cricket.
  • The only Test cricketer to climb Mt Everest.
  • Highest ODI score without a boundary (96 vs India, in Baroda, 1994).

Parore also features in one of the angriest and most brutal dismissals in international cricket history. The scorecard reads Parore b Lee, but that only tells a fraction of the story.

This sits squarely in the “stuff you don’t like to see” bracket. Which obviously means “stuff you really enjoy seeing but you have to say otherwise”.

*These are all shamelessly lifted from Wikipedia, so I can’t vouch for their accuracy.

Updated

TEA! India 177-2

51st over: India 177-2 (Pujara 61, Kohli 23) Shooooot! Kohli, on the cusp of tea, gets a big stride in to Lyon before driving him against the spin through cover. Wonderful batting from this pair, their stand passing 50 with that shot as they go to tea. The visitors added 108 runs in the session, losing Agarwal (77) along the way, holing out to long-on off Lyon after hitting the spinner for a couple of sixes. All told, it’s India’s day at the SCG. And with that, I’ll hand the OBO over to JP Howcroft for the final stanza. Bye!

Pujara to 50!

51st over: India 173-2 (Pujara 61, Kohli 19) Oh dear, Labuschagne into the attack for the first time in this country and it has not gone well at all. On three occasions, the legspinner drops short with half-trackers and three times Pujara does the business, smashing them to the rope. Jim Maxwell on the ABC compares the over to the eight sent down by Johnny Watkins on this ground in 1973, “when he got stage fright on debut and could barely land it on the pitch.” Pujara raised his half-century, in 134 balls, with the first of those. It’s the fourth time he’s made it to 50 in this series.

50th over: India 161-2 (Pujara 49, Kohli 19) The Indian duo are breaking up the attack here now, Pujara tucking a couple off Lyon then cutting delicately for two more before pushing one to midwicket. Fine batting in the lead up to the tea interval.

“I’m at the SCG where a couple of afternoon beers are just starting to wake the slightly soporific crowd in the members section,” emails Ed Elias. “Given that Nathan Lyon looks like Fredo, the wayward brother in The Godfather, is his brother in fact the head of a significant crime syndicate? I missed the interview with Brendan ‘il padrone’ Lyon at lunchtime so I don’t know.”

The perfect theory to drum up over a barrel in the SCG Members Bar. Catch you in there.

49th over: India 156-2 (Pujara 44, Kohli 19) Kohli’s turn, albeit another boundary of the unconvincing variety. It’s the pleave! Cummins had the Indian captain tangled up trying to let it go but he couldn’t get his bat out of the way in time, the ball deflecting through the cordon along the ground for four. Even Our Pat might utter a swear word in response to that.

48th over: India 152-2 (Pujara 44, Kohli 15) It has been a while since Pujara unfurled those arms of his, but he does so to Lyon when the spinner drops short, smashing him to the midwicket boundary. And with that shot, India’s 150 is raised.

“I’m sure you’ve gotten a lot of feedback about this already,” writes Scott Probst, “but I’ve just woken after night shift and found that the Australia selectors have continued their custom of taking part in an ayahuasca ceremony just prior to selecting the team. The mystical properties of halllucinogenic drugs use over the last 10 years is the only way to explain the progress (or otherwise) of the Australia team composition. On this occasion, the dream gods have discarded Finch, elevated Labuschagne, and retained a Marsh - we are but unknowing mortals searching for answers.”

I’m going to take this as a comment on the basis that I don’t think I can write another single word about selection. Until the First Test in Brisbane against Sri Lanka, that is.



47th over: India 148-2 (Pujara 40, Kohli 15) Not the most convincing shot from Kohli to take Cummins to the rope, gloving him around the corner to where a second or third leg slip might be stationed if such a thing existed. That’s the second time he’s had a bit of trouble getting the fast bowler down that way, after losing his wicket to him in the MCG second innings caught at leg gully. Cummins waits until the last ball to spit another bouncer at him, the Indian captain not taking the bait.

46th over: India 144-2 (Pujara 40, Kohli 11) Pujara pushes Lyon’s first ball through cover, Kohli also taking a single with a tuck off his hip. Pujara kicked away the offie after dancing down the track later in the over but there’s no meaningful lbw appeal. This is a shot I took of Pujara when he started his day. There’s just no disturbing him.



45th over: India 142-2 (Pujara 39, Kohli 10) Kohli is back at at Cummins ball short of a length and looking to pull, but he doesn’t get much of it, spilling out to the fielder for a couple rather than a boundary. The Aussie quick won’t mind that. Sure enough, a couple of short balls follow but the Indian captain is back into his defensive posture.

“Morning, Adam.” Afternoon, Simon Richards. “Just catching up. Geoff posted Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’ as an anthem. An earlier Ibiza banger was Hi-Lux’s ‘Never Felt This Way’. Would love to see/hear a mash-up of that with footage of Bumble being “mid-riffed” by Thommo.”

What I know for sure on this topic is that Great Southern Land has to be replaced as the song that the Australian side run out to when they are starting a session. [Jed Bartlet] We can do better, we must do better! [/Jed Bartlet]

44th over: India 140-2 (Pujara 39, Kohli 8) Very good from Lyon, beating Pujara for the second time in as many overs with a delivery that didn’t come back at the right-hander, bouncing past the edge. Andrew Samson informs us on SEN that it was the 1000th delivery Pujara has faced in this series (!). The only other time he achieved this feat was also against Australia, in the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The bulk of those must have been in his marathon at Ranchi where he batted for days, or so it felt.

43rd over: India 140-2 (Pujara 39, Kohli 8) After Hazlewood dotted them up for three overs on the bounce, Cummins is brought back for a burst at Kohli, against whom he has a wonderful record. Mindful of this, no doubt, the India skipper takes no risks here, defending and leaving in rotation.

42nd over: India 140-2 (Pujara 39, Kohli 8) After getting off the mark with a lavish drive, Kohli has wound it back just as he did in Perth. He’s compact in response to Lyon, taking one behind square off his hip after getting into position early. Pujara finishes with another frolic down the strip, and why wouldn’t he? According to CricViz, he averages more than 300 when advancing to spinners.

41st over: India 139-2 (Pujara 39, Kohli 7) Hazlewood putting in a shift here after Starc and Cummins struggled to penetrate immediately after lunch. Pujara knows the deal, showing respect when he has to play and getting out the way when he doesn’t.



40th over: India 139-2 (Pujara 39, Kohli 7) Driiiift from Lyon, enough to bring Pujara forward from the crease rather than on the dance, the outside edge is beaten. The No3 is back to using his feet to defend before leaping right back to grab one off his thigh pad and retain the strike.

Updated

39th over: India 138-2 (Pujara 38, Kohli 7) Back to back maidens from Hazlewood either side of drinks, this time banging away at a consistent line and length at Kohli just on or outside the off-stump. There’s a bouncer in there too, but just the one. The short-picked line of attack has been put away for now - or to Kohli, at least.

38th over: India 138-2 (Pujara 38, Kohli 7) Lyon to Kohli to begin, getting off strike straight away with a push down the ground, using his feet for the first time. Pujara does the same, to defend a couple of times then unable to beat midwicket. It is all worth it, through the No3 getting to the pitch of the final delivery and playing a quite magnificent off-drive that beats Lyon’s dive one way and mid-off the other.

Meanwhile, I missed this from Glenn Maxwell earlier in the session, tweeting like a man who knows his fate. The lesson to young cricketers: SAY NOTHING, be a footballer.



Updated

37th over: India 133-2 (Pujara 34, Kohli 6) It has taken Australia to the final over of the third hour to send down a maiden in this session, Josh Hazlewood keeping Pujara quiet in defence, ducking the final ball to earn his drink. A busy hour, India advancing the score from 69 to 133 but losing Agarwal just when the opener was heading to a ton.

36th over: India 133-2 (Pujara 34, Kohli 6) Pujara clips the first delivery of the new Lyon over to midwicket, where he’s scored the bulk of this 18 runs in the 56 minutes since lunch. Kohli plays the off-spinner with respect, these two continuing their fine rivalry that has extended across five Test series and eight years now. To the final ball, the Indian captain uses the crease to get back, turning two to fine leg.

35th over: India 130-2 (Pujara 33, Kohli 4) Kohli is booed by the SCG crowd as he walks out, then again when they announce his name. The response from the Indian fans in the O’Reilly and Trumper Stands is to roar even louder again in support of their number one. After watching a couple of balls from Hazlewood the superstar is off the mark with a glooooooooorious cover drive, on the up through the gap, no need to run for that. It’s a stunningly beautiful shot. This should be fun.

WICKET! Agarwal c Starc b Lyon 77 (India 126-2)

What?! Agarwal holes out! After smashing Lyon straight over his head for a second six earlier in the over, he went again at the final ball of the set and didn’t get to the pitch, caught by Starc running around at long-on. Yes, that’s how he was scoring but he’s really thrown away a ton there. Well done Lyon, getting the wicket-taking ball to dip.

34th over: India 126-2 (Pujara 33)

33rd over: India 119-1 (Agarwal 71, Pujara 32) Hazlewood replaces Cummins from the Paddington End but it doesn’t slow Agarwal, who is straight onto the front foot pushing one to midwicket. After watching the action from the non-strikers’ end, Pujara makes the most of his chance to nail a cut shot forward of point, slamming into the boundary in front of the Bill O’Reilly Stand. Have that. The NSW quick finds an extra yard later in the over, hitting him on the handle of the bat. Tasty cricket.

32nd over: India 113-1 (Agarwal 70, Pujara 27) Lyon is on and Agarwal is after him, dancing and clobbering the first ball of his new spell for SIX! Hazlewood was there on the long-on rope but the opener took him on and the lofted shot just had the legs to clear him. Such bold batting, fantastic to watch. Lyon bounces straight back, creating an error with Agarwal nearly spooning a catch back from a delivery that bounced more. Pujara’s turn, who grabs a couple to cover to bring up the 100-run stand between the pair, the second 50 coming in 75 balls. Nine off the over; these two are flying.

31st over: India 104-1 (Agarwal 63, Pujara 25) “This is a dangerous period for Australia,” Simon Katich says on SEN when Agarwal pulls Cummins off his hip for another four to start the over. It sure is. They have tried to bounce the opener out and it hasn’t worked, coming out the other end of the barrage in lovely shape. Fuller now, he’s driving a couple more before keeping the strike with another off the body. India have piled on 42 runs in the last ten overs with Agarwal well on his way to a maiden ton.



Agarwal to 50!

30th over: India 97-1 (Agarwal 56, Pujara 25) Lovely batting, the new Indian opener Agarwal staying still in the crease to square drive Starc for four, raising his half-century with the fine stroke from his 96th delivery. He keeps pushing through the over, driving a couple down the ground from the next ball and cutting the last delivery hard past point. It’s ever so close to another boundary, Siddle the sub managing to save the fourth run with a outstretched hand, as confirmed by the third umpire after 70 or 80 replays.

“Happy New Year, Adam.” And to you, Ian Forth. “Only three Indians have retired after 20+ tests with an average of 50+ and they are the predictable trio of Gavaskar, Tendulkar and Dravid. Heady company for Pujara. Numerous Aussies feature but only two retired with a 60+ average. Of course, the predictable duo of Bradman and Voges.”

29th over: India 88-1 (Agarwal 47, Pujara 25) More good batting from Agarwal, inching closer to a half-century with a compact push through cover for a couple then a pull around the corner to fine leg. That’ll do nicely. Pujara defends the rest of the Cummins over, banged in short of a length but not bothering him this time.



28th over: India 85-1 (Agarwal 44, Pujara 25) Starc to Pujara, who waits for a ball on his pads, which he clips away for two more. By his standards, he’s positively motoring since lunch. The bouncer follows to finich, the No3 not getting out the way of it, the ball coming off his arm into the cordon, falling just short. Expect a lot more of that.

Updated

27th over: India 83-1 (Agarwal 44, Pujara 23) Runs! Three to begin when Pujara turns a full Cummins ball through midwicket for his second consecutive three, then five wides via a bouncer gone wrong, clearing everyone and slamming into the boundary. Agarwal defends then evades the rest of the attack, directed at his body for now. Blimey, this is a development: Sony are refusing to take Kerry O’Keefe’s commentary from Fox, so they are doing their own into India from the studio when he’s on the mic.


26th over: India 75-1 (Agarwal 44, Pujara 20) Starc rather than Lyon to begin from the Randwick End and after Agarwal defends a quick delivery off the back foot, Labuschagne is audible on the commentary getting excited at short leg. Tim Paine did say yesterday that one of the Queenslander’s best selling points it that “he doesn’t shut up” so, playing to his strengths there I guess. The opener then takes one through the gap at cover with a nice punch, Pujara placing three the other side of point along the ground to finish the productive over. Nice re-start from these two.

25th over: India 71-1 (Agarwal 43, Pujara 17) Pujara starts the new stanza with a single off Cummins behind square leg. I see on TV that his career average is now exactly 50, satisfying the obsessive-compulsive part of my brain. There are two catchers in on the legside - a bad pad and a leg gully - for Agarwal, who gloved a couple into that region before the break. He handles it well this time though, getting the full face of the bat to a delivery on his hip, down to fine leg to get his first run after lunch.

This was a nice bit on Fox Cricket at lunch with Brendan Lyon, brother of Nathan. He’s been widely credited with the Australian offie’s improvement with the bat this summer.




The players are back on the field! Mark Waugh on TV is calling for some short stuff at Pujara (16), which worked [after a day] against him in Melbourne. India are resuming on 69/1 with Agarwal (42) well on his way to a second half-century in as many Tests. Cummins has the ball in his hand, running away from my OBO position at the Paddington End. PLAY!

From the vault. I remember watching this from the Clive Churchill Stand.




Happy New Year! Thank you Geoff for that illuminating session. I just spotted Darren Lehmann in the lunch queue and had half a mind to tell him that he’d been badly snubbed in the Baldrick XI. Lovely OBO areas. India, once again, sucked the energy out of Australia’s opening attack, just as they did in Melbourne on the opening day. Take note Australian top order: this is how you go about winning a Test Match.

To begin, a community service announcement to those in Sydney at a loose end: get along! There’s nobody here. By that, what I mean is the SCG is at least a third empty with seats all over the ground. Indeed, if you want a full row to yourself, that won’t be a problem. Remember a couple of summers ago when the SCG Trust said that they should have a second Test here each summer? Yeah, pull the other one.

We’re about ten minutes away from the resumption for this second session and I’m looking forward to your company throughout. Drop me a line, ping me a tweet, give me your all and I’ll do the same.

Good afternoon.

Lunch – India 69-1 after winning the toss and batting

India’s session. Once again they batted slowly and carefully, and weren’t worried about the run rate. Once again Australia created plenty of close moments. And once again, the Indian batsmen defended and survived, and have given themselves the chance to prosper. Starc tried the pitched-up swing, then the barrage. Hazlewood took the only wicket to fall, nicking off KL Rahul which is currently not the greatest challenge in world cricket. But Agarwal followed up an impressive Melbourne debut by once more looking the part, while Che Pujara continued his excellent series.

After some final late votes, here’s our Baldrick XI. I would have liked to get Gooch in there but he betrayed us with Advanced Hair. Good seam-bowling options, a classic English captain with an amateur’s stats, and the greatest NZ bowling action of all time. We’re set.

Bald XI
1. Virender Sehwag
2. Brian Close
3. Hashim Amla
4. Jonathan Trott
5. Viv Richards
6. Ben Stokes
7. Syed Kirmani
8. Chris Harris
9. Nathan Lyon
10. Doug The Rug Bollinger
11. Frank Typhoon Tyson

Edit: I can’t believe I forgot Clarrie Grimmett. He’s even good enough and bald enough to nudge out the G.O.A.T.

That’s it from me, Adam Collins will accompany you until tea.

Updated

24th over: India 69-1 (Agarwal 42, Pujara 16) The umpires race to squeeze one more over in before lunch, because the rate is dire this morning. Pujara uses his feet confidently against Lyon, coming down to find a single, then goes back to cut another. Four singles take the score easily on to 69, very nice. There’s a quick stumping referral, but Agarwal is back. He blocks the last, and that will be lunch.

23rd over: India 65-1 (Agarwal 40, Pujara 14) He’s hit! Pujara gets hit in the head by Hazlewood. Nasty one, hit the back of the helmet as Pujara ducked and took his eyes off the ball. Everyone has a shiver of concern at the SCG seeing that. There’s a long delay as Pujara gets checked, but eventually he takes his new helmet and plays on. Receives another bouncer. Evades it.

22nd over: India 64-1 (Agarwal 39, Pujara 14) And Agarwal has triumphed! Mitch Starc ends his opening epic, and Nathan Lyon comes on for the first time today. That’s a big win for the opening batsman. He and Pujara take a single apiece from the familiar comfort of off-spin.

21st over: India 62-1 (Agarwal 38, Pujara 13) Hazlewood carries on the bouncer attack to Agarwal, while mixing in some length deliveries. But it doesn’t work. The opener remains.

A few other votes for Sanath Jayasuriya in the Bald XI, who was as polished as they come, but he’s in the naughty corner at the moment. Ruth Purdue suggests Shane Warne, but he’s gone to such extreme medical lengths to appear forested that he could never qualify on ethical grounds. We need players who embrace the chrome.

20th over: India 62-1 (Agarwal 38, Pujara 13) Starc will continue. A ninth over straight. A few people were scornful after Melbourne about the supposed need for all-rounders, saying the frontline bowlers weren’t doing that much work. If this is a response, Starc is humming a song by Sia: “Uh-oh, I’ve got stamina.”

Very attacking field, too. No one protecting a run on the leg side. Bat-pad catchers either side of the wicket, unusual for a fast bowler. Harris at silly mid-off almost takes a catch as Agarwal fends a ball away. But the batsman once again survives the barrage.



19th over: India 61-1 (Agarwal 37, Pujara 13) As soon as a bowler pitches full, Agarwal edges. But again it’s through the cordon for four. Hazlewood with the near miss. Bowls a bouncer to follow up, of course, then pitches fuller for a check-drive through the covers for three. So the runs are flowing again.

18th over: India 54-1 (Agarwal 30, Pujara 13) Starc carries on with this short-ball attack, but it isn’t getting Agarwal out. He’s riding out the storm, and Starc can’t keep going forever. He’s bowled eight overs on the bounce!

Now. Bald bowlers. I’m getting a few shouts for Chris Lewis, but his baldness was self-imposed. And a couple for Chris Martin, the Phantom. But he always struck me as a buzzcut man rather than a natural defoliator? Am I wrong?

But the answer comes through, and once you see it, it’s so obvious. Matthew Williams and a few others have the suggestion. “Doug ‘The Rug; Bollinger. They performed the heat map analysis on his head. It was fantastic.” And he stripped the rug in the end, so he qualifies on every front.

17th over: India 53-1 (Agarwal 29, Pujara 13) If Cheteshwar Pujara were a bird, he’d never get airborne. Unflappable. And entirely grounded. Low in his stance, compact in his strokes, able to defend whatever Josh Hazlewood sends down. Middling the ball first to point, then to square leg, but all he cares about is keeping it away from his stumps.

“Sehwag hardly had any hair in the later years,” emails SH. True that, there’s our other opener. Where are my fast bowlers, though? David Meiklejohn has the answer. Frank Tyson. The Typhoon who looked like an accountant. Hell yes.

16th over: India 53-1 (Agarwal 29, Pujara 13) Agarwal fends away another Starc nasty off the glove for a single. Pujara looks much more composed in pressing a run into the leg side. Happy to put Agarwal back on strike: there ya go, champion.

15th over: India 51-1 (Agarwal 28, Pujara 12) Tim Paine reviews, after Cummins beats Pujara on the inside edge. But Marais Erasmus on the video forensics finds that the ball beat the inside edge and clipped the trouser pocket just after it passed the bat. That is a sensational decision, because there was a noise at just the right time. It convinced Paine, who was the one pushing for the review while Cummins was non-committal. Maiden.

“If you are still looking for batsmen,” writes Simon of our hairless quest, “how about Amla?” Great call. It’s all hair from the ears down, none from the ears up. Bradman and de Villiers were both pretty short on top, but that’s too easy. Dylan Wilson wants Tony Greig, Matthew Doherty wants South African domestic bowler Vince van der Bilj, who was indeed very bald but played all his cricket during apartheid isolation.

Here’s where I’m at. We need some quicks. Nixon McLean? Vasbert Drakes?

1.
2. Brian Close
3. Hashim Amla
4.
5. Viv Richards
6. Tony Greig
7. Syed Kirmani
8. Chris Harris
9.
10. Nathan Lyon
11.

Updated

14th over: India 51-1 (Agarwal 28, Pujara 12) Get out of the way! Mitchell Starc is getting stroppy now. He’s sick of being driven, so he bowls most of the over short at Agarwal. The last ball is the nastiest of the lot, up towards the head. Agarwal leaps and flinches, arching his back like a breaching dolphin, and the ball takes his gloves and maybe bat handle and clips the helmet, pogo-ing over the slip cordon and safely away for four! That was dramatic. But he survives, and the score passes 50. There’s a delay as Agarwal gets checked by the physio and changes his helmet.

13th over: India 47-1 (Agarwal 24, Pujara 12) Cummins to continue after the bodily hydration interval. A single from the over. “Good morning Geoff,” writes Ravi Raman. “Syed Kirmani is available for selection to the Clean Head XI.” Glad we’ve got a wicketkeeper, so far I’m heavy on slow bowlers.

Wait, here are some batsmen from Ian Forth. “Happy New Year, Geoff. I’d give a great deal to be on the Bald XI balcony when Boycott, Close and Sir Viv Richards were deciding when to declare. Also if Boycs had just instructed Matt Prior to go out and throw the bat, ‘don’t worry about your average’.”

Ian, if we’ve got Vic in the team, Boycott isn’t getting anywhere near it. Ricky Ponting had a pretty fair helicopter pad by the end of his career, didn’t he?

12th over: India 46-1 (Agarwal 23, Pujara 12) Starc into his fifth over, and Agarwal drives him majestically for four! That ball was wider, and the batsman stepped into it and used the full swing and the full flourish in sending it to the cover boundary. That was pretty. I saw a few people on the internet talking up the green pitch this morning, and using that dangerous phrase “good toss to lose”. Incorrect.

Starc follows up with a couple of bouncers, one too high, but one that makes Agarwal fend away towards a vacant leg gully region. That’s drinks.

James Walsh emails in. “What’s been so great about this series - and, indeed, Test matches this past year generally - is the whole concept of the draw feels increasingly like Grandpa Simpson explaining the fashion for onion-enhanced belts.”

Spot on – there was only one flat-track batting draw in 2018. Even the other couple of draws we had were exciting ones where rearguards held on. Australia in Dubai, Sri Lanka in New Zealand, and New Zealand and against England spring to mind.

11th over: India 41-1 (Agarwal 18, Pujara 12) How does Mayank Agarwal still not have a bat sponsor? He’s the best opener India have used this series, without a doubt. Drives Cummins through cover again for four. Then a leg bye after Agarwal’s hit on the body. Cummins didn’t like that shot.

I can sign a statutory declaration that Aditya Anchuri sent this before Rahul got out. “I hope I’m mistaken, but again India have made a massive selection blunder by bringing back KL Rahul. Honestly would have stuck with Vihari opening and brought in Hardik Pandya or Bhuvneshwar Kumar instead. This side is too spin heavy. If neither Pandya or Bhuvneshwar are match fit then they should be playing Ranji Trophy, not enjoying a nice Aussie holiday in the New Year.”

Can’t believe that Bhuvi hasn’t played a Test this tour.

10th over: India 36-1 (Agarwal 14, Pujara 12) Another good over from Starc, bringing a couple of leaves from Agarwal, then making him play as the line crept close to off stump. Just a single from the last ball as it got too straight. We’re getting a lot of mail about Australia’s selection.

Says Rob: “Anytime you can weaken your already weak batting lineup to introduce a 6th bowling option, you just have to do it. On a more serious note, do you think if Khawaja had opened and Finch batted #5 from the start of the series, it might have been slightly better?”

Slightly, yes, though Usman hasn’t exactly set the world alight this series either. But Finch did well opening in the UAE, so it’s understandable to give him a run and see if it worked.

“Does anyone know who Maxwell has upset, and how?” asks Grif. “The longer it goes on the less it looks like a cricketing decision. We’ll look after him in sunny Manchester and show him some love, I’m sure he’ll be able to feel the adulation through his three sweaters in early April.”

“Are they serious with these selections? I think I’m going to treat Australian team selection like string theory or car engines. Complicated mysteries of the universe that are beyond my understanding.” That email is apparently from David Warner, but I’m going out on a limb to speculate that it’s not our David Warner.

9th over: India 35-1 (Agarwal 13, Pujara 12) Defending, leaving, defending, then from the last ball of the Cummins over, Pujara stretches forward and opens the face a touch and steers a length ball into the ground past gully for four. I’m giving him that one.

8th over: India 31-1 (Agarwal 13, Pujara 8) “Tropical Cyclone Penny is reforming in the Coral Sea,” says the news report, and I’m not sure if it’s referring to a weather system or a punk band. Hazlewood continues from the Randwick End, with the Clive Churchill Stand at his back. Pujara drives a single, Agarwal keeps out the rest.

7th over: India 30-1 (Agarwal 13, Pujara 7) First change, and it’s Patrick Cummins. And listen to the ovation! They love it, this NSW crowd, even though both those bowlers are from this state. This over doesn’t work so well for Cummins as some recent ones in Melbourne though, as Agarwal twice drives a brace into the off side, then feels sufficiently warmed up to play a crisp cover drive from the last ball for four.

Raymond Reardon has had his imagination excited by my toupee reference, and is asking if there’s a best XI of balding cricketers. Well, off the top of my head...

Hanuma Vihari has to be in there, for his Kingpin work in Perth. Nathan Lyon, for the very public forum of his change, starting with a lush head of hair when he dismissed Kumar Sangakkara on debut in Galle in 2011, to the streamlined shaved look he has now, following Jimeoin’s edict of “You can go, but you’ll go now on my terms.” Chris Harris would have to get a gig, for his flying-saucer bowling approach. And Ashton Agar, for his dramatically abrupt and tragically youthful change from teen dream to billiard equipment.

6th over: India 22-1 (Agarwal 5, Pujara 7) That’s more like the Pujara we know and love. Vigil mode, as he sees out a Hazlewood maiden.

5th over: India 22-1 (Agarwal 5, Pujara 7) Nice delivery! Starc finds the inswinger with the new ball, threatening Agarwal, but this is a good opening batsman that India have found. He waits back, plays it late and squeezes it away behind square for three runs. Pujara is up for it this morning, he glances two and then checks a single out to cover, good sharp running.

“What’s your prognosis for this Test, Doc Lemon? I plump for a draw, and so an Indian series.” Please, Andrew Benton – Doctor Lemon is my father. Call me Zesty. But I don’t know where the draw’s coming from, unless you know about a Biblical deluge that the rest of us haven’t been told about. I’ll go on the line to predict that India will romp this in, given Australia’s batting.

4th over: India 16-1 (Agarwal 2, Pujara 4) There is something almost sensual in Cowan’s voice describing Pujara. “He plays the ball so late... softly squirting out to gully.” I’ll leave that image with you. Pujara gently wrists a couple of runs off his ankles to midwicket. Then repeats the dose to a shorter ball off the hip. Defended the rest. Black armbands ahoy, the Australians for former Test cricketer Billy Watson, and the Indians for Ramakant Achrekar, who coached Sachin Tendulkar.

3rd over: India 12-1 (Agarwal 2, Pujara 0) Agarwal off the mark as Starc pitches full, and a checked defensive shot fetches two past the bowler. Plays the shorter ball well, defending on his toes. Remember you can contact me via Twitter or on the email: Mirza Nurkic on the latter is claiming one of the anthems from earlier. “It’s called Mirza on the dancefloor,” is the claim. I’ll allow it.

2nd over: India 10-1 (Agarwal 0, Pujara 0) A win for Hazlewood in his first over, as Pujara comes to the crease shadow-batting a forward defensive the whole way.

WICKET! Rahul c Marsh b Hazlewood 9

That didn’t take long. Rahul edges the first ball of JH’s over into the ground again, coming half-forward and softly at the ball. But the third ball hits higher on the bat, towards the shoulder, and there’s no keeping those ones down. Straight into the cordon where Marsh waits at first slip.

Updated

1st over: India 6-0 (Agarwal 0, Rahul 5) Away we go. Starc with the new ball, coming in with the Bradman Stand behind him from the Paddington End. An unconvincing start for both batsmen, Agarwal missing a full ball and surviving an appeal as it was angling down leg, then after he takes a leg bye, Rahul edges along the ground through gully for four. Then an inside edge for one, and Agarwal is beaten outside off by a beauty. Agarwal replaced Rahul in the last Test, but now they’re playing a match together, as childhood friends who had a distant dream of doing exactly this. Nice stuff, though Starc wants to make it as brief as possible. Another play-and-miss ends the over.

“That’s the best over with the new ball Mitch Starc has bowled this summer,” says Ed Cowan on ABC radio. “The key was the length.”

Great Southern Land is also arguably an anthem, and it echoes around the SCG as the teams walk out to the middle: eleven Australians and two Indians, and two Englishmen officiating: Kettleborough and Gould. Hold onto your toupees, we’re about to take flight.

This is an anthem. Need I go on?

This is an anthem.

Anthem time, everyone standing at the SCG. Pah. This is an anthem.

This is... appealingly niche. When’s the last time two left-arm spinners played as specialist bowlers?

Teams

India are missing two Sharmas: Rohit is at home for the birth of his child, and Ishant has a rib injury. Ravi Ashwin is also not quite fit, so Ravindra Jadeja will retain his place, while the wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav will come in for Ishant. In the batting, Hanuma Vihari will drop from opener to No6 to replace Rohit, while KL Rahul comes back as opener. Got it?

For Australia, Finch is out, Khawaja will open, Labuschagne at three, as speculated. Meanwhile, down the order, Peter Handscomb will come in for Mitchell Marsh. Paine stays at No7, with the same bowling quartet as the previous three Tests.

India
Agarwal
Rahul
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Vihari
Pant
Jadeja
Kuldeep
Shami
Bumrah

Australia
Harris
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Shaun Marsh
Head
Handscomb
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Updated

India win the toss and will bat.

Yep. That’s it. Australia’s job just got a whole lot harder. Kohli says “it looks like a good wicket with some covering of grass on it, it will get tougher and tougher to bat and the spinners later will come into the game.”

Updated

Now then. It’s been all but confirmed that Marnus Labuschagne will bat at No3. Fair enough in a way, he bats there for Queensland. Not so fair enough in another way, in that he averages 28 with the bat in the Shield this season, which isn’t exactly your first criterion for your Test first drop.

Speaking of, that means Aaron Finch will be the first drop of the day, out of the team with Usman Khawaja to open the batting.

It’s mostly a dubious call because the alibi for getting Labuschagne into the team was because he can bowl leg-spin, and Justin Langer and co. wanted another bowling option. But then, that’s an entirely pointless move given the SCG hasn’t offered anything to spinners in about a decade. A crazy selection choice, given Mitch Marsh couldn’t find a run in Melbourne, might have been bringing in the next-best batsman in the country.

For the next 17 minutes while selection dilemmas still exist, you can enjoy Adam Collins’ preview about selection dilemmas. In 18 minutes we’ll only have selection regrets.

I’d like to think that the Mudgee Guardian is our sister paper. What say you, Mudgee Guardian?

We’re 20 minutes from the toss. We don’t have teams as yet, because both sides are still considering their options, or keeping the others guessing. There are a few permutations going about. The surface this morning is as follows.

Happy New Year

It’s Test match, it’s Test match time. (You know when I’m wearing my Test match socks that means it’s Test match time.) Happy 2019 to all you cricketing miscreants and layabouts and ruffians, and the respectable members of society amongst your number too. Here we go from Sydney, home of Moreton Bay figs and Kenneth Slessor, citadel of humidity and flashes of sparkling blue. The bridge is lit, the teams are gathered, and we’re about to embark on the final voyage of this series to see whether India can mark a first ever series win in Australia, or whether the home side can claw back to 2-2.

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