Stumps on Day Three: India 342-5 still 230 runs behind
Shane Watson is currently being interviewed and he’s making it quite clear that this SCG wicket is a “dead track”. It’s certainly giving up the runs, though Australia’s bowlers have made India work harder for theirs than was the case when India were bowling. That said, India take the day’s honours by progressing from 71-1 to 342-5, the clear standouts being centurions Rahul and Kohli, the latter proving harder to shift than blood on a shag pile. India are still 230 behind and some quick wickets tomorrow would give Australia a chance but without them this game is heading for a draw. Unless Kohli makes a wild declaration just to keep things interesting.
That’s me done for the series. Thanks for reading and your contributions today. Highly entertaining. Cheers.
115th over: India 342-5 (Kohli 140, Saha 14)
And it’s bowled by Steve Smith, looking for a highlight ending with his leg-spin that was once rated more highly than his batting. But there’s to be no late heroics. Smith tosses it up but there’s a steady flow of runs; a single to Kohli before doubles to both batsman. And that’s stumps.
114th over: India 337-5 (Kohli 139, Saha 10)
After a Kohli single off Lyon’s first ball, Saha faces the following five. There’s turn and bounce but Saha is untroubled as he gets forward to do nothing more than protect his wicket. Last over of the day coming up...
113th over: India 336-5 (Kohli 138, Saha 10)
As the shadows lengthen and my thirst builds from deep within, Kohli drives Harris through mid-on and runs three before the cherry is hauled in. Saha sees out another three balls.
112th over: India 333-5 (Kohli 135, Saha 10)
Kohli squeaks Lyon’s opening ball to long leg for a single and that’s it for the over. All except an appeal from Lyon, that is, when a sharply turning ball strikes Saha on the pads. He’s doing a decent job, Saha. Ten runs from 37 balls; holding up an end while Kohli keeps them ticking over.
111th over: India 332-5 (Kohli 134, Saha 10)
Harris re-enters the fray for his last spell of the day. Can he pick up a late scalp? Not this over. But he doesn’t give up a run.
Jeremy Gilroy joins us late with a memory, one that shines like a tilted halo:
“Our PE teacher wasn’t a great bloke, but what he lacked in charisma he made up for with megalomania and bullying prowess. When he slipped through a gap and motored toward the try-line to score the winner, a mate dived to touch him, missing by a metre. As the try-scorer touched down his jubilation turned to tantrum as my mate stood on the mark, hand in the air, claiming the touch. That kid became a hero. For cheating. That teacher had a hissy fit and then had to apologise at assembly to the cheat.
Excellent.”
Does it make me a bad person if I say I love that story? Something about just deserts being handed down pleases me no end.
Updated
110th over: India 332-5 (Kohli 134, Saha 9)
As the runs continue to flow, Jonathan Siu is wondering about something: “Re the crowd applauding Kohli’s ton (which they should, as you said), did you see Ben Stokes’ innings last night in the BBL? What seemed to me to be the most thrilling innings I’ve seen from an Englishman in some time was met by near total silence from the crowd. Does the spirit of cricket not apply to 20/20?”
I must admit I didn’t see it, Jonathan. It surprises me, however. T20 favours entertainment over cricket but it sounds like the crowd were entertained. Applause should have been forthcoming.
Updated
109th over: India 326-5 (Kohli 133, Saha 7)
As we draw close to stumps, Kohli hammers Hazlewood through the covers for four. It was almost theatrical, that shot, much like the ‘ Z’ Zorro used to carve into the chests of his foes.
108th over: India 322-5 (Kohli 129, Saha 7)
After watching the fence-thumping action from the non-strikers end Saha meets a Watson length ball with perfect timing and it races away to the point boundary, taking the fielder, Burns, with it. Watson bowls a nice yorker in response but Saha just digs it out.
107th over: India 314-5 (Kohli 126, Saha 2)
Our school days will never leave us, as Santosh Murthy reminds. “As a rather rotund youth, I entered the [school cricket] cauldron with my trusty Gray Nicholls in hand. There were 3 balls left, and 7 runs needed for victory, with the opposition’s most fearsome fast bowler charging in. First ball went by me before I could blink, a bee’s you-know-what from off-stump. The jeers that followed would’ve made the likes of Warner/Kohli proud.
Second ball faced was yet another thunderbolt, and a little fuller in length. The stroke was poetry in motion; the trusty technique and timing of my lofted straight drive saw it sail over the fences for a six - directly behind the bowler/umpire.
Last ball, scores were tied. Length ball outside off, worked behind point. I set off for what should have been a comfortable single. Alas, I was carrying more than a few extra kilos and the direct hit saw me 2 metres short at the non-strikers end.
Game tied - bittersweet memory.”
Bloody hell, Santosh, I’ve got all misty eyed. Bittersweet is right.
106th over: India 312-5 (Kohli 124, Saha 2)
In this over from Watson, Kohli underlines the kind of series he’s having by passing Dravid’s 619 series runs compiled back in the summer of 2003-04. Kohli has now scored the most runs by an Indian in a series in Australia.
105th over: India 307-5 (Kohli 119, Saha 2)
Kohli adds another seven to his total as Starc appears to be flagging. But he muscles up some bounce for his fourth ball only to see Kohli hook it to the long leg fence, aided and abetted by a Hazlewood misfield.
104th over: India 300-5 (Kohli 112, Saha 2)
Kohli adds another run; what a standout he has been for India. Talks the talk, walks the walk. He might annoy the Australians with his combativeness but they’d respect him for it. If they have enough self-awareness, they’d know they deserve it too.
103rd over: India 299-5 (Kohli 111, Saha 2)
Want to hear my sporting highlight/s? Of course you do.
I once scored a long range goal to help my u19s club side win a Wollongong Wolves curtain-raiser at the then Wollongong Showground (WIN Stadium). Coincidentally, a few years earlier at the same ground and same end, I scored a try in a Year 12 rugby league knock-out (receiving the ball at centre I threw a big dummy, and stepped inside some bamboozled defence and scored under the posts). I then converted my own try. That said, I still rate a catch I took in a North Fitzroy backyard. Standing at a kind of deep short leg, just inside a Hills Hoist, I stuck my hand out instinctively when my housemate pulverised some feeble bowling from his brother and the tennis ball ended up in my mitt by some miracle of physics.
So, nothing all that impressive, really, certainly not compared to some. For instance, a friend of mine was an excellent grade cricketer for Sydney Uni and he once hit Steve Waugh for six. Wonderfully, the moment was captured by a photographer and the picture is now on my friend’s wall. If I’d done that, I’d have the picture on me at all times, framed and all. When I’d get introduced to people I’d say, ‘How do you do? Here’s a photo of me hitting Steve Waugh for six. You like it? It was taken when I hit Steve Waugh for six.’
102nd over: India 299-5 (Kohli 111, Saha 2)
A bunt through cover gets Saha off the mark. But will he remember that as fondly as Ceinwen Gould remembers some primary school heroics? “Primary school lunch time cricket circa 1993 – girls vs boys,” she begins. “Boys had been batting for around a week. I was standing on the edge of the bat tennis court when the tennis ball came flying at me. I still get butterflies at the memory of being able to hold on to that catch. There was nearly a riot.”
101st over: India 296-5 (Kohli 111, Saha 0)
Here’s Kohli again refusing to go into his shell, whacking a wide Starc ball over over for four.
Chris Owen (“I’m British”) is offering to remind me what happened at Edgbaston. Some other time, thanks Chris.
100th over: India 292-5 (Kohli 107, Saha 0)
One over can change a match, and Watson may have done that here with those two wickets. His hattrick ball, by the way, was defended stoutly by Raha whose heart must have been beating like a hippie’s bongo. Poor old Raina, though. More than two years he’s been waiting to get back into the India side. He didn’t last a ball. Sport is cruel. Always has been, always will be.
WICKET! Raina c Haddin b Watson 0 (India 292-5)
Watto, Watto, Watto! Yesterday he took 22 minutes to walk off the SCG such was his pain at being dismissed short of an elusive century. But here he is whoopin’ and hollerin’! Facing the first ball in his long-awaited (for him, at least) comeback match he edges a slanting ball behind and Haddin dives across first slip and gets both hands to it a centimetre off the turf. Brilliant catch!
WICKET! Rahane lbw Watson 13 (India 292-4)
The drinks break, and Watson, strikes! Four balls after the mini-break Rahane miscues a pull shot and he folds in on himself as the ball, keeping low, hits his leading pad. A loud shout from Watson then a pause from umpire Kettleborough. Then the raised finger of death.
As Rahane trudges off we see the reply and it looked high. Eagle Eye suggests it would have passed over off stump with an inch or so to spare. Tough decision for India.
99th over: India 289-3 (Kohli 104, Rahane 13)
A Michelle is a “Michelle Pfeiffer (five-for),” reminds Matt Harris. “I thought this phrase was universal?” It is, mate, I’m ashamed at it slipping me by, especially since I used to have a thing with for Shelly, as I called her.
Meantime, here’s John del Castillo with his highlight:
“Fielding at point, a wide ball was cut hard into along the ground to my left. The ball was past me before I could react, I had to dive behind myself to stop it with my left hand. As my momentum took me away from the stumps I picked up the ball with my right hand and flicked it backhanded over the stumps and the keeper whipped off the bails as the batsman had taken off for the run. One of those moments that just felt great after executing it.”
98th over: 288-3 (Kohli 103, Rahane 13)
Lyon is struggling to hit the right spot and he’s worked for six runs as Kohli and Rahane share the strike.
Ravi Nair is back to share his highlight (memorabilia pending): “My sporting highlight has to be a diving one-handed catch at mid-off during a casual office match, particularly as I managed it even after having a flask of whisky eggnog keeping me company most of that morning.
It was also my sporting lowlight as, being on field and out of mobile phone range, it was only early afternoon that we finally got the news of how the last day at Edgbaston 2005 played out. I could have been at home watching it on the telly, but no, I did this bloody works thingy instead...
Of all the words in the English language (as Wodehouse once said), the saddest are: ‘It might have been.’”
Yes, Ravi, but you still remember that catch. Who remembers what happened at Edgbaston in 2005. Not me. Was it cricket related?
97th over: India 282-3 (Kohli 101, Rahane 9)
Two hundreds now for India this innings but still a long way off Australia’s huge total. Australia are still in the box seat but where are the wickets going to come from on what is a good batting deck?
Kohli brings up his hundred
A diving gully foils Kohli’s first attempt to add the run he needs but the very next ball he pushes Hazlewood down the ground. After completing a double he removes his helmet and stands like Christ the Redeemer. Or Wayne Rooney after scoring (on the pitch). That’s his third century in succession as captain. What ever happened to the captaincy being a weight on the shoulders? Are Smith and Kohli the exceptions that proves the rule? The crowd stands and applauds, as they should.
96th over: India 279-3 (Kohli 99, Rahane 9)
Another single to Kohli who pushes to mid-on and gets on his bike. A Malvern Star by the looks of it.
Moving on from Bond, a few of you are offering sporting highlights. Timely, as Kohli rounds on his hundred. Matt Harris gets us underway: “I once took 5 wickets for 2 runs, in a ten-ball spell, in a country B-grade match that was already lost — we used to play on after the match had been lost, for reasons I still don’t understand. I was captain of that side, and at the obligatory fines session I was docked $2 for not bringing myself on and taking a Michelle when the match was still live.”
Brilliant stuff, Matt, though I must admit I’m not exactly sure what ‘taking a Michelle’ means. My mind is boggling.
95th over: India 278-3 (Kohli 98, Rahane 9)
Just a single to Kohli through mid-on, moving ever closer to that ton and to Dravid’s record as the highest Indian run-getter in a series in Australia. Kohli has already passed Laxman, Tendulkar, Viswanath, Sehwag and Gavaskar: an Indian incantation to ward off evil spirits.
94th over: India 277-3 (Kohli 97, Rahane 9)
A run each off Lyon: couldn’t be fairer.
Now, Bond. At the same time as predicting India’s demise, Ravi Nair agrees on the squirm-worthiness of yesteryear’s Bond: “Completely ignoring the cricket (given that with Raul’s wicket India are doomed, I tell you, doomed), I have to say I agree with your observation on pre-Craig Bonds. Where I used to enjoy the re-runs I cannot now watch any of them, particularly the Brosnan ones, apart from very early Connery - that’s Dr No or From Russia with Love. Astonishing what a change Craig has made to the way in which we view the franchise.”
93rd over: India 275-3 (Kohli 96, Rahane 8)
Kohli moves within a boundary of yet another century after clipping Hazlewood (replacing Starc) through midwicket. No nervous nineties for Kohli.
92nd over: India 271-3 (Kohli 92, Rahane 8)
Lyon is back on, back to resume hostilities with Kohli, with whom he had a fine battle earlier today. But Kohli gets him away early before Rahane gets lucky, top edging a pull shot that just clears the outstretched arms to Starc at backward square leg. The Nine team puts that bit of luck down to the wide edges of bats these days. To illustrate the point they show a side-on pic of Dave Warner’s bat. It looks thick enough to hold up a porch.
91st over: India 268-3 (Kohli 91, Rahane 6
Starc offers Rahane a full toss outside off and he helps himself to a three between point and gully. That gives Kohli the strike and he cheekily guides a rising ball just wide of gully. It was in the air all the way, and Australian eyes lit up like a parking inspector’s spying an unfed meter, but it found the gap and then the fence. A single, then a double to Rahane takes the over’s spillage to 10 runs.
Samuel Fiddian writes in to suggest the old Bond films aren’t as bad as all that. “The first two of Connery’s (Dr No and From Russia) are still excellent,” he opines, “but it goes downhill from there. Roger Moore was of his era, shall we say generously: Moonraker is without question the worst Bond film, by no small margin. The more exotic gadgets, the more it becomes a bit tech/sci-fi, the less impressive Bond, as a rule.”
On that latter point, especially, I concur wholeheartedly.
90th over: India 258-3 (Kohli 86, Rahane 1)
Kohli contines his fight with a streaky shot behind point that caught the edge but looped up and over the fieldsmen. Two runs. A few balls later he gets his timing right, conducting a ball with a flick of the wrist through deep midwicket. Lovely shot.
89th over: India 252-3 (Kohli 80, Rahane 1)
Two runs to India, one of them —allowing Rahane off the mark— coming after a misfield by Burns at extra cover. From my vantage point, that one run would be the sporting highlight of my life: a Test run at the SCG. I could retire on that.
For Rahane, however, he hopes it’s just a single step in a journey so long he’ll need a packed lunch, spare clothes, and plenty to drink.
What are your sporting highlights, dear readers. Don’t be shy. I’m here all evening: paul.connolly@theguardian.com
88th over: India 250-3 (Kohli 79, Rahane 0)
You might think the loss of the innings’ anchor would give Kohli cause for circumspection. But no. Three times he hits Harris to the fence; between extra cover and mid-off, through mid-wicket, and then past gully. Fearless batting from Kohli who looks to be determined to carry on the momentum gathered by India in the previous session.
87th over: India 238-3 (Kohli 67)
That’s not the best shot selection by Rahul but what a tremendous innings, more so when you consider the troubles he had in Melbourne. He hasn’t exactly steered India to anything resembling safety but he’s put them on the way.
WICKET! Rahul c&b Starc 106 (India 238-3)
Having left the first four balls of Starc’s over to pass through unmolested, Rahul gets on top of the bounce and guides the fifth behind point for four. But then on the final ball of the over he attempts to pull a ball that is wide outside off stump, and it goes straight up into the air. The first fielder on the scene is Starc who catches it standing shoulder to shoulder with Rahul.
86th over: India 234-2 (Rahul 106, Kohli 67)
... on a good length, and Kohli gets forward to it and pats it back. That’s more or less how the entire over —a maiden— plays out. Harris is hitting 130kph, not bad with a belly full of cucumber sandwiches, but it’s his line and length that always impresses.
Looking at that Bond clip, I must say I find the old Bond movies increasingly hard to watch. Perhaps I’ve been shaped by the Bourne-like Daniel Craig films, but earlier Bond films now appear to me as campy as Are You Being Served.
Anyway, here comes Rhino Harris...
Afternoon everyone, Paul Connolly here to take you through to stumps after Geoff’s sterling work. Interesting day’s cricket, wouldn’t you say?
If this morning was like this:
Then the middle session was like this:
Woops. This:
Ah, the cut and thrust of fencing: innuendo, double entendre and sauciness. No Mads and Pierce at the SCG, sure, but we have seen Lokesh Rahul and Virat Kohli giving it to the Australians, and they’ve provided plenty of entertainment. Let’s hope for more of the same in the session to come.
Tea - India 234-2
Utterly India’s session. They gathered 51/1 in the first session of the day, but flowered to 112/0 in the second. This pair are well set, and as long as they’re able to continue then India will have some hope about at least saving this Test. But there’s a long long way to go before that becomes an option, and Australia really only need two good balls to be right on top. Get rid of Kohli and either one of Rahul or Ajinkya Rahane, and the rest aren’t likely to do the business.
India are still the matter of 338 runs behind, and need 138 to pass the follow-on mark. But at the moment let’s just release our worries and cares, as we’re being treated to a batting masterclass in the face of largely disciplined and threatening bowling. It’s been top, tough and proper Test cricket today.
Thanks for your company for the past five hours. Geoff Lemon signing out, and I’ll leave you in the capable hands of Paul Connolly for the final session. If this Test doesn’t go the full journey, it’s been a pleasure commentating this series on the old faithful OBO.
CENTURY! Rahul 102, 254 balls, 11 fours, 1 six
85th over: India 234-2 (Rahul 106, Kohli 67)
One over before tea and Rahul is on 98. Starc is bowling it, left-arm over. Now they have short cover and two slips. Two dot balls, then Rahul gets just enough width and he opens the face to guide that ball past gully, good timing and it runs all the way for four to raise his first century in only his second Test.
The Sydney Cricket Ground crowd rise and applaud, a wonderful sight to see, as Rahul removes the helmet, stretches his arms skyward and beams in sweaty relief. Kohli walks down to him near mid-on to offer a captainly embrace. There’s a moment for you.
As a final gift before we depart for tea, Starc dishes up a full toss on the pads and Rahul is able to whip it away easily through midwicket for four more.
84th over: India 226-2 (Rahul 98, Kohli 67)
Calm as you like, Kohli drives Harris cleanly through cover for four. Just timing. Kohli is batting way out of his crease to counter the swing, I’m guessing. He taps a single to leg, Rahul has his chance. Third slip comes in for Rahul, tempting him. Three, then gully, then point. Cover is open. They scramble a single to cover as Warner pounces from mid-off, nearly threw down the non-striker’s stumps.
Harris rips his next ball past Kohli’s outside edge, that’s a peach.
83rd over: India 220-2 (Rahul 97, Kohli 62)
Dropped! Smith puts Kohli down, first ball of Starc’s over. Can you believe that. He’s dropped both these batsmen today, even with a little intervention from Spiderpig. Kohli had a big drive at a ball that wasn’t full enough, needless and nervous shot, thick edge above Smith’s head but he got both hands to it and it burst through for three runs.
“With only 9 wickets taken so far and at least 18 more needed for a result, do you think there’s any hope?” wonders a despairing Matt Smith. “What about the likelihood of SSmith enforcing the follow-on if the Indians collapse in the next 170 runs?”
As to that, I refer you to Raf Kaplan: “Australia basically stopped enforcing the follow on after being burned by India at Eden Gardens in 00-01. Every time a new captain comes in I hope that maybe Australia will stop being so chicken, but it seems to be enshrined in the team rulebook now. In fairness, the bowlers probably want a break between innings in this era of pace bowler fatigue management, it’s easier to take wickets on the last day and Australia is quite aggressive about 2nd innings declarations (last Test aside) to make up for it, but still - the true reason is Eden Gardens.”
As for hope - if they could even get India out by tea tomorrow they could smash another 100 runs in the last session and have the last day to try bowling them out. India look good now but are really two wickets from likely disaster.
82nd over: India 217-2 (Rahul 97, Kohli 59)
Ryan ‘Steven’ Harris is the other new-ball man, and he’s also getting plenty of hoop, this time away from the batsman. Kohli glances a single from the second ball. Rahul is starting to look edgy with the milestone in his sights. Literally edgy too, nicking the ball into his pads. Gets one too straight and gets two runs through midwicket. On to 97...
81st over: India 214-2 (Rahul 95, Kohli 58)
We’re away! New ball, Starc takes it and nearly castles Kohli first up. An inside edge into pad, the Aussies behind the wicket were up for LBW but he’d nicked it hard, and it bounces off the pad past Haddin for four.
Starc’s next ball is swinging into the pads too, but it starts straighter and Kohli plays with the swing through midwicket. Three more.
Then one down leg, it clips Rahul’s pad and goes for four leg byes. So the new ball is hooping but it’s also going for plenty. Starc left-arm over to two right-handers. Rahul totally misses the next one, it starts outside off stump and moves in, and Rahul drives outside it. Then he just keeps the next one out of his pads, jamming it out on the on side. Only two slips in, gully, point, catching cover. Rahul defends and survives.
Phew. Some over.
80th over: India 203-2 (Rahul 95, Kohli 51)
Half century! Just this over until the new ball, and Kohli whips a single through midwicket first ball. 50 from 108 balls, nine boundaries. Rahul sweeps a single, Kohli taps one through square.
79th over: India 200-2 (Rahul 94, Kohli 49)
Kohli squeezes Watson away for a single behind square and that raises India’s 200. Watson is back to his miserly self thereafter, Rahul can’t get a run.
78th over: India 199-2 (Rahul 94, Kohli 48)
Six! That was unexpected. Lyon dropped short, Rahul went right back and absolutely smashed that over deep square leg on the pull. That was mighty. The two balls before that shot were calmly defended, as were the three afterwards. Calm as a Benedictine monk after a bottle of herbal digestive.
It’s definitely Ton Watch now.
77th over: India 193-2 (Rahul 88, Kohli 48)
The runs, they come. Kohli steps forward to drive Watson for three to cover, then Rahul leans back to late-cut some width for four! That’s a great shot, really lovely work. You can see now why they wanted to get this kid in the side. He whips two more through midwicket, then takes a leg bye as he misses a glance. Ten from the over.
76th over: India 183-2 (Rahul 82, Kohli 45)
A Lyon maiden to Rahul, who was looking for runs all over the place but not finding one. Looking is a good start, at least.
75th over: India 183-2 (Rahul 82, Kohli 45)
Smith turns to Watson again. Five of his balls are tight, around off stump, angling in a little. The other ball isn’t much different but Kohli somehow finds room to drive through it and get himself another boundary. India aren’t flying, but they keep finding the shot they need here and there to keep Australia guessing.
Watson 8 overs for 14 runs this innings.
74th over: India 179-2 (Rahul 82, Kohli 41)
Another chance, this time Rahul whips Lyon hard into Joe Burns’ thigh at short leg and the ball flies away. Burns never even had time to see that. Rahul celebrates by moving into the 80s with a cover drive to the fence! He’s really looked good today, this is a great comeback after his debut.
73rd over: India 175-2 (Rahul 78, Kohli 41)
Hazlewood ties down Kohli for five balls, but Kohli cover-drives the final one in emphatic style. Four more. India have crossed a threshold, now a mere 397 runs behind Australia’s first-innings score, and 197 from the follow-on.
We all know Australia will never enforce it, even if they get eight wickets in the next hour, but why is it that way?
A footnote to an article I wrote on Wisden India this morning: in 1947/48, Don Bradman’s side bowled 109.1 eight-ball overs (145.1 regular overs) in bowling out India for 381. Then Bradman enforced the follow-on, and they bowled 92.5 more overs (122.5 regular overs) to bowl them out for 277.
No one complained. If they had, Don wouldn’t have bought them an ice-cream.
Updated
72nd over: India 171-2 (Rahul 78, Kohli 37)
El Smith will carry on to Rahul. The new kid wants to drive but keeps finding cover, even from a full toss. Three shots go straight there, then he gets a bit more shortness so he pulls instead, using his feet well to get back and set that shot up. Was that Starc at deep midwicket? He dived and muffed it and the ball went for four. Rahul might even start thinking of a ton before too long, though at his rate he’d be lucky to make one in the next hour.
71st over: India 167-2 (Rahul 74, Kohli 37)
This is fascinating stuff. Un-facetiously. Kohli, the attack man, has played out 77 dot balls of the 91 he’s faced today. Maiden after maiden. Another one to Long Josh Hazle.
70th over: India 167-2 (Rahul 74, Kohli 37)
Missed chance! Though the umpire may not have given that even if Haddin had taken it. Rahul pushed at Smith and got literally the faintest possible edge, it came up on the snickometer as one single line of sound disturbance. The ball then jumped high over Haddin’s gloves and struck him in the shoulder. Smith was yelping for the catch but I doubt the umpire could have heard that.
Then Rahul cuts two runs, and then there’s an umpire-driven referral after he drives a bump ball back to Smith. Not out, definitely bounced.
That’s drinks.
69th over: India 165-2 (Rahul 72, Kohli 37)
Smack. Hazlewood’s first ball overpitches, and Kohli absolutely creams that to the cover fence. That drive was all the wrists, he flicked through the line of the ball rather than getting his elbow up and going with a straight bat.
Hazlewood immediately retreats with that length, and Kohli knocks out five dots.
68th over: India 161-2 (Rahul 72, Kohli 33)
Captain Courageous with the bat, perhaps, but Captain Confusion with the ball. It will be Steve Smith to bowl and the crowd howls as though Hawkie were slamming a bottle of Bundy on the balcony. Two men in the deep - midwicket and deep backward, plus a deep point, but a slip and a bat-pad as well. His first ball is a half-tracker though and Rahul pounds it between those two outfielders for four.
Smith gets short again, and short again, and pulled both times but straight to David Warner I think at deep midwicket, so only singles from those two.
67th over: India 155-2 (Rahul 67, Kohli 32)
Harris decides a round-the-wicket line is in order, and Rahul immediately uses the angle to drive three runs through cover. Kohli gets back to the Dot Ball Method immediately.
Many of you will recognise Robert Wilson as a regular contributor of high-grade OBO nonsense who lives in France. This, though, is a special missive from him.
“I’ve been up all night after the blackest day I have known in Paris. The city feels wounded. I’m from Belfast. I grew up with these horrors. Like everyone there, I grew used to them. Thickly carapaced, not by indifference but by custom. But I was not prepared for what today’s horror has done here. Parisians do not seem to know how to react to this. They are utterly lost. They cannot process the feeling of strange disgrace and guilt which these things always bring.
“A dark night after a darker day. But watching this ‘slow-scoring’ cricket, I have never felt so overwhelmed by the extraordinary happiness that this bright but wistful sport can bring. Its beauty is breathtaking tonight. Proof that there is still sunshine and celebration and health. That there is still remarkable grace and inclusiveness. It can be a hard old ask, liking cricket, but sometimes it brings you unforgettable light.”
66th over: India 152-2 (Rahul 64, Kohli 32)
Top shots. Two fours in a row: Lyon dropped short, and Kohli pulled with the turn. Then Lyon overcorrected, got too full, and Kohli drove through cover. A flame kindles.
65th over: India 144-2 (Rahul 64, Kohli 24)
They’re all about seeing off Ryan Harris. Yet another maiden, Rahul doing the dead-bat honours.
64th over: India 144-2 (Rahul 64, Kohli 24)
Loving this spell of Lyon’s bowling. Lots of flight, lots of width, enough turn, then throwing in the odd yorker or flatter one to test the batsman out. This is proper off spin. Just one run to Rahul through midwicket.
63rd over: India 143-2 (Rahul 63, Kohli 24)
Smith turns to his money man in the absence of Johnson: Ryan Harris isn’t a bad card to play. It’s not Harris’ best over but even so it’s a maiden, Kohli not wanting to take any risks against the Sticky Tape Man.
62nd over: India 143-2 (Rahul 63, Kohli 24)
Rahul cuts Lyon backward of point and this time they do run properly for three runs. There’s a crazy field for Kohli to Lyon: two catching midwickets, a short leg, a backward square and a man in the deep. Kohli goes on the sweep anyway and smacks it for four. Read the length of that one. Then a single to point. This is better. All India’s resistance won’t be worth much if these guys get out later without having added many runs. You have to be out sometime, as Virender Sehwag reasoned, so you’d better get some runs before that happens. Plus the more runs you make, the more the field drops back and reduces your risk of getting out.
Eight from the over. Party time.
61st over: India 135-2 (Rahul 60, Kohli 19)
In response to Phil’s comment from earlier, this may be slow scoring but it’s actually really enthralling cricket. There’s been a lot of struggle and resistance through this day’s play, a lot of good bowling and equally good defence. I’d rather be watching this contest than the sessions of Australians pasting lacklustre bowling all round the ground as we saw through days one and two. But then that’s why I’m the kind of person who does Test cricket live blogs for hours at a time.
They’re getting the hang of Hazlewood’s bounce now, Rahul riding it to knock a single to midwicket, then Kohli playing a very good back cut that should have got three to third man, but slack running keeps them to two.
60th over: India 132-2 (Rahul 59, Kohli 17)
A single to Kohli deflected past slip, then one to Rahul driving Lyon through midwicket. That’s all from the over.
59th over: India 130-2 (Rahul 58, Kohli 16)
Rahul opening up his scoring range a little: after batting out most of Hazlewood’s over he deflects two through midwicket, then two more through cover.
Says Phil Withall, “I had ham and Branston pickle sandwiches with a side of anchovies. It certainly had more bite than the Indian batting this morning. I admit to be relieved to have been out of view of a television.”
As for Andrew James, “Upon hearing your sandwich callout, the following sprang to mind. PS: It was a banh mi.”
58th over: India 126-2 (Rahul 54, Kohli 16)
Another Lyon maiden to Kohli, though not for want of trying. Kohli smashes a cover drive with those fast hands through the ball but Shaun Marsh stops it well at cover. Lyon is still in the frame here, a couple of edgy defensive shots, making even Kohli look uneasy against the bounce and movement.
57th over: India 126-2 (Rahul 54, Kohli 16)
The big Hazlehoff takes up the action from the Paddington end, and Rahul drives! And handsomely. Overpitched, classical shot, away through cover. Hazlewood needs to get that full for the batsman to play that shot confidently, such is the bounce from his high arm.
56th over: India 122-2 (Rahul 50, Kohli 16)
We’re back after the luncheon interval, involving a fine chicken cacciatore stuffed into a break roll for me. What did you have in your sandwiches? If it’s between two bits of bread I want to know about it.
The first over of the second session is, shockingly, a maiden. Lyon to Kohli. Good bounce. Kohli keeps bunting to leg, but no score.
Lunch - India 122-2
Just 51 runs in the session for India, as all of Australia’s five bowlers sent down tight overs, and India’s batsmen weren’t overly keen to attack. Most importantly though they’ve survived with just the loss of Rohit Sharma for 53. The main man, Virat Kohli, remains at the crease and looks in good touch. KL Rahul has had some nervous moments but has battled his way to a maiden Test fifty. It’ll be a patience game after lunch, with India still around 250 runs from avoiding the theoretical follow-on.
I’ll be back with you after the break, in the meantime here’s your Lunchtime Poem from American maestro Derrick Brown.
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55th over: India 122-2 (Rahul 50, Kohli 16)
This should be the last over before lunch, as Watson opens with a no-ball by knocking the non-striker’s stumps as he comes in to bowl. A nudge through cover takes Kohli on by a couple of runs. Then there’s an attempted stumping by Haddin, that was magnificent work with the reflex take as Watson went down leg. Kohli stretched forward to whip, missed it, raised the back foot and Haddin had the bails off. But the back of Kohli’s front heel was still just behind the line, whether or not he got the back foot down in time. Survives, and takes a single after a fumble in the covers.
54th over: India 118-2 (Rahul 50, Kohli 13)
Half century! Just after Kohli glances a single barely past short leg, Lyon bowls full and Rahul cover drives for four. That raises his first half century, and that is a massive improvement over Rahul’s horrible debut.
50 from 161 balls, five boundaries.
53rd over: India 113-2 (Rahul 46, Kohli 12)
More maidens! But a bit more eventful here: Watson bowls short, Rahul top-edges a pull, Smith runs back from slip and it’s right above him in the sky and then it slips through his hands as the ball comes to ground. Smith changed direction last second and was trying to block the sun out with one hand, but after it went to ground he was angrily pointing to SpiderCam and shouting that it hit the wire holding the camera up.
Hard to verify that - it should be dead ball if it hit the camera but the umpire doesn’t signal that. The TV team are immediately claiming it didn’t hit the camera wires, but who knows. Smith is annoyed. In any case, Watson has been cost a wicket.
52nd over: India 113-2 (Rahul 46, Kohli 12)
Kohli takes a leaf from the Rahul playbook, and bats out an over against Lyon. Plenty of oohs and aahs in that set though. Kohli is taking everything to the leg side but can’t beat the field.
51st over: India 113-2 (Rahul 46, Kohli 12)
Watson changes ends, now bowling with Paddington at his back. There’s a short leg, a slip, and Brad Haddin keeping up to the stumps. A gully, a short cover, a regulation mid-on, mid-off and square leg, now quite a short midwicket as well. Rahul can’t get anything anywhere though. Kohli is being starved of strike too.
Rahul bats out a maiden. So he’s faced 128 dot balls of 154 balls faced, and made 46 runs.
50th over: India 113-2 (Rahul 46, Kohli 12)
There’s the ODI mark up, and you wouldn’t say 112 is a winning score from 50 overs. All good in Test cricket though, as long as these two can go on. You don’t want to wear yourself out just blocking balls for hours and still be out 300 behind the opposition.
Rahul is still edging along, he’s trying to work runs from Lyon but it’s not until the last ball of the over that he gets a single away. He’s faced a ton of deliveries.
49th over: India 112-2 (Rahul 45, Kohli 12)
This is the magic of Kohli. Whatever the situation, even when he’s being careful as he is now, the balls that need to get hit go the distance. Starc strays onto the pads, and even though there’s a fine leg in place Kohli is so clean with the leg-glance that the ball streams away to the rope to beat the save.
Kohli, 12 runs, three boundaries.
48th over: India 108-2 (Rahul 45, Kohli 8)
Tell you what, Nathan Lyon looks dangerous already. This is going to be a challenge. Kohli played him astonishingly well on Day 5 in Adelaide, but no one else did. This is a maiden to Rahul, you feel that Lyon is settling into a long and productive spell.
47th over: India 108-2 (Rahul 45, Kohli 8)
Shot. Starc had bowled a couple of tight lines before Rahul took a single, but bowling to Kohli is a different sport. Starc got a bit short, and even though it was angling across the batsman Kohli pulled that sternly through midwicket for four.
46th over: India 103-2 (Rahul 44, Kohli 4)
Rahul is starting to get some fluency, taking another early single from Lyon. Kohli is content to watch the rest of that over from behind the safety of his bat.
45th over: India 102-2 (Rahul 43, Kohli 4)
We all take a breather as Starc bowls a tidy over, beating Rahul once, conceding just a single to the opener. Kohli blocks out three. He must bat long, long, long today. The first hundred is down but there are four to go.
44th over: India 101-2 (Rahul 42, Kohli 4)
What even was that shambles! It’s Chaos Town: first Rohit is bowled, then Kohli gets an absolute ripper from Lyon that leaps, beats the outside edge by an eyelash and ricochets off Haddin’s hip. It bounced to short fine leg where Pat Cummins was fielding as a substitute. In the meantime KL Rahul had tried to take a single, but Kohli had his back to his teammate watching the ball and wasn’t even thinking about running.
Rahul got more than halfway down the wicket, turned to go back, tripped over, got his arm caught under his body as he landed awkwardly, dropped his bat, then ran and dive for the line with his arms outstretched like he was scoring a try. He got back into his ground because Cummins didn’t realise what was happening and threw to Haddin rather than the bowler’s end, while Haddin had his back to the action too.
Steve Smith was up to the bowler’s stumps screaming for the ball, but by the time he got it Rahul had already scored a five-pointer.
To polish off the over Kohli swats a wide Lyon ball with that whip-drive of his, using the wrists to send a ball outside off stump through mid on. The fieldsman there got a hand to it, but such is Kohli’s power that it went to the fence regardless.
There’s the Indian hundred...
WICKET! Sharma 53, b Lyon
That didn’t last long. No sooner than the milestone than the long road home. Sharma goes down to sweep Lyon out of the rough from well wide of off. It was too wide and too full for the stroke, a rubbish shot in the circumstances, and Rohit got a bottom edge that dragged the ball back onto his back foot and onto his stumps.
43rd over: India 96-1 (Rahul 41, Rohit 53)
Harris is going relentlessly at Rohit, making him play at ever ball in this over as he targets the off stump. From the last ball Rohit drives in the air, past cover, an uncontrolled stroke, not sure how deliberate or otherwise that was. But...
Half century! Yep, that’s 53 from 132 balls, five fours and two sixes.
42nd over: India 92-1 (Rahul 41, Rohit 49)
Right, spin time. Michael Clarke on comms reckons that Nathan Lyon was excited about bowling on this pitch this morning, Lyon thinks there’ll be bounce and turn for him after watching it yesterday. There are rough patches from Mitchell Starc’s landing zone.
Lyon is starting very wide of off stump, over the wicket but bowling from quite wide on the crease too. He’s turning it already, toward the right-handed batsman. Rahul is playing away from his body a bit to defend these balls, which is exactly what Lyon wants.
And then.. second last ball there’s a huge shout from the Australians as Rahul pops one to short leg. Joe Burns catches it and doesn’t appeal much but everyone else does. The umpire says no. The TV detectives reckon there’s a tiny smudge on the glove via Hot Spot but it would have been undetectable live.
Decisions that marginal don’t really bother me. I reckon DRS should be limited to basic replays - if you can clearly see the decision is wrong from one or two replays, overturn it. If it’s closer than that, go with the on-field call. That would be faster and more easily applied to games across the world.
41st over: India 92-1 (Rahul 41, Rohit 49)
A couple of runs as Harris resumes after drinks, Rohit driving through the gap in cover, in the air. Looking dodgy still as he approaches a half century.
40th over: India 90-1 (Rahul 41, Rohit 47)
Watson to Rahul, he’s faced all but one ball of the last three overs. We’re back to maiden town, as Watto hovers mostly outside the off stump but twice darts in a little for the chance of an lbw. This has been such a good start by the whole Australian attack, perhaps just looking to get the ball old enough that it’ll start to reverse.
39th over: India 90-1 (Rahul 41, Rohit 47)
Rahul’s unstoppably now. There’s an entire other single as he hooks Hazelwood in quite composed fashion. Meanwhile, Shane Warne on the TV commentary has just ordained Bob Hawke “our greatest ever Prime Minister”, which is probably the best thing that will happen today.
Bob himself is up on the SCG scoreboard screen, sitting in the crowd having an 11am beer, and he gets a mighty cheer for his efforts. So that’s where Darren Lehmann got all his public diplomacy ideas.
38th over: India 89-1 (Rahul 40, Rohit 47)
Four! Rahul had one scoring shot for the day before this, but Watson gets too wide, and even though it was full, Rahul didn’t square drive it. Instead he bent his knees, got low and played a crouching cut shot to the rope. Released, he follows up with a glanced single. Into the nervous 40s.
That may have ruined Matt Harris’ numbers: “At this morning’s run rate of about 1.1/over, by my calculations the tourists should take the lead some time on day 8? Can’t wait for the action next Tuesday and Wednesday – are you available for the OBO?”
If so, just take me down the back shed and put me out of my misery.
Updated
37th over: India 84-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 47)
Hazlewood ties down Rohit for another maiden, with a couple of balls through onto the pad. One was nicked and the other going high down leg, but there’s still encouragement for the bowler.
36th over: India 84-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 47)
A single! A run. A sneaky, glorious run. Rohit pushes Watson into the covers and gets down the other end from the first ball. Rahul bats out the next five. Watson is adjusting his line to come in more at off stump than outside it, hoping to sneak one through. But from the last ball he cuts his fingers across the seam and makes the ball leap off the pitch from his last delivery. Rahul was already coming forward and that hit up near the bat handle and could have gone anywhere.
35th over: India 83-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 46)
Hazlewood keeps the metronome ticking, another maiden to Rahul.
Trevor Tutu tells me, “I was the deputy-chief assistant roadie of a band in college in the 70s . The players all came from the Zoology Department, and the band was called Salamander. as they always went down in flames.”
Updated
34th over: India 83-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 46)
Make that four from four Australian bowlers starting right on the money. Shane Watson is into the attack early, we’ve had just eight overs today. He essays that heavy run to the crease, then gets the ball through deceptively briskly, into the 130s. He’s also getting good lift through to the keeper, and Rohit hangs back to get right on top of his defensive strokes. Another maiden.
India have scored only 9 runs from the bat in nine overs this morning, four of them from an edge.
Updated
33rd over: India 83-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 46)
Josh Hazlewood replaces Starc at the Paddington Bear end, handing his duffle coat to the umpire. He hits that awkward length immediately as well, making the ball rise from a fullish landing. This is a great disciplined start by the Australians. KL Rahul can only bat out a maiden. But that’s all fine for India, all they need for now is to protect wickets. Runs can be worried about later.
Updated
32nd over: India 83-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 46)
Aww, not sure we should be booking in Rohit for a long stay at the crease on this showing. He’s trying to get after Harris again and edging between slip and gully for four, didn’t line up the drive. He returns to defending as Harris bowls another no-ball. No free hits in this format however. If you had a free hit in Test cricket you’d still play the leave, wouldn’t you? It’s the style.
Harris’ length has been excellent here, just short enough to be awkward to play on the front foot, some hint of nibble, some bigger hint of inducing Rohit’s indiscipline. The batsman is hit on the pad form the last ball by one that cut through him, but it was high and outside the line so there’s no appeal.
Updated
31st over: India 78-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 42)
Starc continuing from the Paddington end, he’s left-arm over the wicket to a right-handed pair. Settling into a tighter line at the ribs of Rahul, cramping him for room, and Rahul is happy to wait. That’s a good sign from the kid, he’ll need plenty of patience if he’s to cash in here. He made 185 and 130 in a Ranji match in October, so he has recent results.
30th over: India 78-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 42)
Rohit’s patience has held long enough, and when Harris overpitches he has a mighty swing at it, but only edges on the bounce to gully. That followed a confused waft that beat the bat easily. Harris ruins a maiden with a no-ball, but the batsmen can’t score.
29th over: India 77-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 42)
India’s circumspect start continues. Again, Rohit takes a single with a defensive push to cover from the fifth ball. That’s all from the Starc over, which wasn’t as erratic as the last but was still a bit all-sorts.
28th over: India 76-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 41)
Harris isn’t mucking around. Another over of impeccable line and length, hanging back of a length for the most part then venturing fuller to encourage the drive. There’s only a Rohit single from a defensive push that slides past cover. Both batsmen have now scored their first runs of Day 3.
27th over: India 75-1 (Rahul 35, Rohit 40)
Mitchell Starc from the other end, and he can be a handful early before quickly becoming harmless. His first ball is almost squeezing through Rahul’s defence but is edged onto pad, and his next is knocked somewhat dangerously in the direction of short leg. Then Rahul gets a wide one and carves a square drive away to the backward point fence, thanks very much. Then there’s another wide one that’s left, and two plonkers short and down the leg side. Weird over. Predictably weird.
26th over: India 71-1 (Rahul 31, Rohit 40)
Australia’s main man, Ryan ‘Ryan’ Harris, will be the first bull from the gate this morning. Is that an aphorism? Perhaps not, but it is now. Don’t be trapped by the past, people. The past is like honey - sweet and tempting, but sticky, and insects will kill you if you try to steal it. Harris is on the dot right away, and Rohit has the discipline to leave three balls just outside off, and defend three back to Harris.
Yes indeed - hello world, Geoff here waving at you from the far pavilion. Here at the Sydney Cricket Ground it is Jane McGrath Day, Pink Test Day, Compulsory Feelings Day, whatever you would like to call it. As more miserable news streams in from elsewhere around the world, we’ll raise some amount of cheer with a ground full of festive dress and decoration. The pink sightscreens are up, the pink hoardings line the edges of the stands, the pink logos are painted on the turf, hot pink bunting lines some of the railings in the Members. Hot Pink Bunting is also a great name for your high-school band if you’re of that age.
If you had or have a high-school band, I’d like hear about it. What it was called, what you played, how it all panned out. Get at me on Twitter via @GeoffLemonSport, or email geoff.lemon@theguardian.com.
India will resume shortly with a huge opportunity and a huge amount of pressure on Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Sharma was dropped for being rubbish from No6, then reinstated at No3. As you do. Rahul had a horrible debut in Melbourne but was promoted to open the batting as he does in domestic cricket, and also had to shrug off a poor innings in the field. They both made it to stumps last night, Sharma on 40 and Rahul on 31, so they need to make the most of a pitch that looks tasty for batting.
My memories of Pink Day are all about Australians batting and batting against the riotous pink backdrop, scenes like Michael Clarke’s triple century. Today it will be India batting against that backdrop, and they really need to carve a triple of their own to get back in this match. If anyone could do it, I’m tipping Virat Kohli - he’s the man of the moment and will need to be the man of this innings.
Can’t wait.
Geoff Lemon is the man with the keyboard at his fingertips for the first two sessions today (Paul Connolly will wrap the day up later on) but before he gets here, catch up on what happened on day two of play at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia’s domination of India at the SCG reached unprecedented levels before the visitors rallied to be 71-1 at stumps on day two of the fourth Test.
Steve Smith declared at 572-7 shortly after tea on Wednesday, the skipper’s sparkling 117 the highlight of a top order that touched up the tourists’ trundlers in record fashion. Never before has Australia’s top six all passed 50 in the same Test innings.
India showed more fight with the bat in 25 overs than they managed with the ball, with Rohit Sharma heaving two sixes off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.
Read the full match report here.
