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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Adam Collins

Australia beat India by 146 runs on day five of the second Test – as it happened

Australia’s Nathan Lyon bowls
Australia’s Nathan Lyon bowls early on day five of the second Test against India at Perth Stadium. Photograph: Trevor Collens/AP

That is that! Australia the big winners here in Perth, claiming victory by 146 runs after taking the final five wickets in a little over an hour on the fifth morning. The series moves to Melbourne level at one Test each, an outstanding result for fans of Test cricket. On behalf of Geoff Lemon, JP Howcroft, Sam Perry and myself, thanks for your company throughout the week on the OBO. We’ll catch you on Boxing Day to do it all again!

Updated

Nathan Lyon, the man of the match

“It is amazing to play a role in a team victory; we haven’t had one for a while and to get all the support of the Australian public has been fantastic. We can’t wait to sing the song.

“It is fair to say we have been in a drought but it is good to finally break that and to wrap that up this morning with the big quicks was pretty special.

“You love coming up against the best players in the world, and obviously Virat is the No 1 player in the world, so to get his wicket I really enjoyed it and the guys did too.

“Yeah, a big thanks to goes out to my brother [for his improved batting]. He has been trying to help me out.”

Updated

Tim Paine at the presentation

“It is probably more of a relief at the moment. The first Test win has taken a while after everything that has happened. I’m really proud of our players and staff. We have been improving over the last few months and it is great to get some reward.

“It was a difficult Test. Both of them, here and in Adelaide, have been really tough Tests. These are really two competitive sides with two really good fast bowling attacks so it has bee really hard for the batters. I’m sure it was good to watch.

“Day one was a funny one, we won the toss and batted and crossed our fingers a little bit. For Marcus and Aaron to bat to lunch and put on a hundred was probably the difference in the end.

“Uzzie is in a really good place, really calm, and if he keeps batting like that some big runs are going to come.

“Every team wants a spinner like Nathan Lyon. He’s an absolute pleasure, being able to throw the ball to him to bowl to anyone at any time.

“It’s another huge honour captaining the Australian Test side is a massive privilege and to do it on Boxing Day at the MCG is going to be a massive thrill and we can’t wait to get to Melbourne for another massive Test.”

Updated

Virat Kohli at the presentation

“As a team, I think we played well in patches and that’s something we can hold onto and take forward into the next game. Australia played a lot better with us especially with the bat in the first innings. Getting 330 in the first innings was a bit too much so they played better cricket than us and deserved to win.

“Australia got stuck into it and they put the total on the board on a pitch that was lively throughout the Test was always going to be challenging. We had the belief that we could do it but they were relentless.

“The second innings [India’s fast bowling] was beautiful to watch. They are outstanding as a pack and to see the dominate with the ball in the second innings was really good to see for us as a team and something we want to build on into the next Test as well.”

Updated

Starc talking to Fox Sports

“It’s a long time coming and it shows the hard work of the last 10 months. We said when we got back from the UAE that the tables would turn eventually and the hard work would pay off and this shows the hard work and desire of the team and hopefully we have made a lot of Australians proud this week.

“To see some of the kids and fans this afternoon and us putting on a great show this week... we were close last week but we didn’t play our best cricket. We have got some work to go but this shows the fight and desire of this team and how much we want to make these guys proud.

“He [Paine] has been fantastic since he was thrown into the role. He has been fantastic with a young group. He has led us with passion and pride this week and for us to put a performance on like this shows what we are all about.

“I have said all week but I feel like the ball has been coming out well for a long time now. The results haven’t shown personally but the ball has been coming out with good rhythm probably a bit faster this week but I’ve been happy to play the role for my team. As long as they are happy in the sheds it doesn’t matter what else is being said.”

Updated

The players are gathering, we aren’t far from the presentation. Man of the match? Gotta be Nathan Lyon, doesn’t it?

Australia’s bowling, a perfectly even performance. Starc 17-3-46-3, Hazlewood 11-3-24-2, Cummins 9-0-25-2, Lyon 19-3-39-3.

Those final three wickets...




AUSTRALIA WIN BY 146 RUNS! WICKET! Bumrah c & b Cummins 0. (India all-out 140)

There is it! Bumrah swings hard, straight into the air it goes and Cummins, after settling underneath it, takes the catch. Australia’s first win since Durban in March and they celebrate accordingly. “It is the most brilliantly poised series,” says Gerard Whateley on SEN. It sure is: one-all heading into Boxing Day, can’t ask for much more than that.

Stick with the OBO for all the post-game interviews and so on.

Updated

WICKET! Ishant c Paine b Cummins 0 (India 140-9)

Cummins replaces Lyon; they want the quick kill. And it doesn’t take long, Ishant backing away and edging the third ball into the gloves of Paine. As expected, this is ending in a real hurry.

WICKET! Umesh c & b Starc 2 (India 139-8)

Oh dear, poor Umesh. He never stood a chance there, a rapid short ball aimed at his body, pushed back to Starc in his follow through. That makes three for the Australian attack-leader as the players grab a drink.

55th over: India 139-8 (Ishant 0)

Updated

54th over: India 137-7 (Umesh 0, Ishant 0) Big appeal first ball for caught behind, but Ishant didn’t hit it the technology confirms. The end of a successful Lyon over. He has eight for the match and 16 for the series. At this rate, he will overtake Lillee’s 355 Test scalps by summer’s end.



WICKET! Pant c Handscomb b Lyon 30 (India 137-7)

Fantastic diving catch at midwicket! Handscomb did not make a contribution with the bat but he has in the field, with his fine catch to remove Kohli in the first dig and now this snaffle. Pant danced at Lyon to smash through midwicket but didn’t quite get to the pitch, forcing the false stroke. Lyon has three with three on the shelf.

53rd over: India 133-6 (Pant 26, Umesh 0) Seven men out for Pant now with Starc starting another over, and the Indian ‘keeper obliging by taking one to midwicket. The plan was for them to come back for a second but there wasn’t time. That gives Umesh four balls to deal with - this could be messy. The first is a bouncer, which he just gets under. He tries to hook the next, failing to make contact and landing on his bum. The Australians are up for leg before from the third, a ball that keeps low but is not quite on line, missing off-stump. One to go... Umesh defends nicely to mid-off, declining the single on offer to give the strike back.

More poetry! From John in Turton, titled “Arise, Sir Alistair”:

Now Alistair Cook
Didn’t need lots of luck,
Though some of his innings
Had humble beginnings.
Once he got settled
The bowling got fettled,
With square cuts and leg glances
Improving his chances.
There’s nowt wrong with patience
Said one of the ancients,
He got stuck in so mooch
He scored more than Gooch.
And now we’re delighted
To hear he’ll be knighted.
Although that’s good news
There’s some’s not amused,
The Yorkists are united
That Geoffrey’s been slighted,
So come on, your Majesty,
Tha’d best end that travesty,
And whilst that’ll pander to some
Don’t forget Jimmy Anderson!

“Merry Christmas to all.” And to you, John. A lovely tribute.

52nd over: India 132-6 (Pant 25, Umesh 0) The field remains out for Pant, so he takes one from the first ball to long-off. Better for Umesh to play himself in facing Lyon than Starc, I guess. He’s going okay with that forward defensive, the men around the bat not yet in the game.

51st over: India 131-6 (Pant 24, Umesh 0) That might be Starc’s last for now, with Cummins and Hazlewood fresh and ready to roll. He’s banging it in quickly at Pant, who takes it on after missing a couple, two runs added behind the cordon. Oh, and he finishes with a snorter, which Pant plays without control and could have gone anywhere on the off-side but lands safely in the gully.

Simon Hutchinson wasn’t joking, Nath was talking Christmas hols between overs. What’s your view on the stump mics becoming such a big part of the coverage from the new broadcasters? Surely we’re the big winner as consumers but I’m not sure the players would agree. But I guess, per Paine yesterday, they can use it to their advantage as well.

50th over: India 128-6 (Pant 21, Umesh 0) Umesh does what he must to deny Nathan Lyon a third, jumping forward then back to defend. He’s beaten by one that doesn’t turn but it is wide enough from the woodwork for it not to matter.

“Some discussion out there about Christmas holiday destinations?” Simon Hutchinson notes of the constant chat through the stump mic. “Hamilton Island, Great Ocean Road. Elite Tourism?”

I’m going to name my next cat/dog Elite Honesty. Actually, the next will be Statsguru, then Elite Honesty. Always close to my heart.

49th over: India 128-6 (Pant 21, Umesh 0) Pant knows he has to do all the work now, running hard for two to midwicket then doing the same into the posh side. He finishes with a big swing at Starc, the top edge landing just short of the rope at third man, getting four for the punt.

“I’d just like to point out to both team captains that our youngest daughter is now in the air with her Australian boyfriend,” explains Kim Thonger, “en route for Southern Hemisphere Xmas hols, and her mother jolly well expects all this sledging nonsense to STOP before she lands. In my wife’s view, impressionable girls shouldn’t be subjected to such silliness, and for the avoidance of doubt, she is NOT used to being thwarted.” G’luck with that! We’re back on the sledge, make no mistake.

Updated

48th over: India 120-6 (Pant 13, Umesh 0) It’s the first time in his career that Umesh has walked out at eight, Andrew Samson says on SEN. “Highlighting that they have four number 11s” adds Gerard Whateley. It’s Pant on strike and immediately changes gears, trying to slog the first ball of the new over, the leading edge landing out near point just short of the prospective catcher. After that close call, he calms down and defends before taking one to cover. Umesh does his job, keeping out the rest.

WICKET! Vihari c Harris b Starc 28 (India 119-6)

Scrap that! Starc targets Vihari’s hip, the batsman cramped up by the angle. He gets an inside edge onto the thigh pad, the ball landing with Marcus Harris just in front of square to complete the easy catch.

47th over: India 119-6 (Pant 12)


46th over: India 117-5 (Vihari 27, Pant 11) Vihari has started solidly. He looked good last night too; as he should with a First Class triple ton. He defends Lyon well here, keeping the strike with one to square leg to finish.

45th over: India 116-5 (Vihari 26, Pant 11) Starc to Pant, who is defending from the crease easily enough until the nasty one comes from just short of a length to finish, zipping past the edge and his shoulder. Expect plenty more balls to do that as we get deeper into the day.

“Pant’s on fire, so if one or two of the others can hang in there I predict that he will lead India to a series win and cement his place as the worthy successor to MSD!” writes Tom Richardson. Australia obviously see him as the danger man, and fair enough too. But we are yet to see any sign of him exploding into life this morning quite yet.

44th over: India 116-5 (Vihari 26, Pant 11) The proceeds of today’s gold coin donation entry is going to the mighty Perth Telethon. In the middle, Lyon to Pant with the four men out on the rope once more. He’s beaten with a beauty early on; perfect flight and turn. The next ball doesn’t spin, finding an inside edge. Super bowling from Australia’s number one.

“For all of Sir Viv’s achievements,” begins Ed Elias, “the one that stands out for me was watching him bat as a 12-year-old as Glamorgan beat Kent to win the AXA Sunday League in Canterbury in 1993. (I should make it clear: I was 12, Sir Viv was a little older.) Viv & Tony Cottey took hold of the game for Glammy and brought us home! Anyway, after the chat yesterday about Sir Viv in art, I offer you this (slightly irregular) poem.”

A poem! How fantastic. Let’s do it...

He’d come out to bat with a smile and a swagger,
Strutting his way to the crease like Mick Jagger,
Who could this be, hitting it harder and faster?
None but Sir Viv, the first Master Blaster.
His technique saw him hit ‘across the line’,
But it worked! Did you see his one-eighty-nine?!
He didn’t just blast, he used tactics and theories:
As captain of the Windies he never lost a series.
Bowlers would try to have their little bit of fun,
Though it was a mistake to sledge the Antiguan:
You might get a few to go past Viv’s sticks,
But you never knew when he might hit you for six!
(“It’s round and it’s red” was how Thomas described it;
Then boom! “You know what it looks like - now go find it!”)
The first two World Cups, he was the winner,
He wore no helmet, bowled a decent off-spinner,
About Sir Viv you can’t be too complimentary:
Wisden named him a “Cricketer of the Century”.

Lovely stuff. Thanks for sharing.

Updated

43rd over: India 115-5 (Vihari 26, Pant 10) It is Starc, to Vihari initially who pushes out to midwicket from the inside half of the bat to take his second single of the morning. Once again with Pant on strike a couple of men drop out. The feisty ‘keeper defends until the final ball, which he drives out to the sweeper at deep point to retain the strike.

How about the stink here! Great pick up by Seven, Ravi Jadeja and Ishant Sharma getting stuck into each other yesterday. Watch this space.

42nd over: India 113-5 (Vihari 25, Pant 9) Vihari underway with an easy push to long-on. The field is well spread for Pant, four out on the rope. He doesn’t take the bait, happily playing out the Lyon set.

“Morning Adam.” G’day, Simon Richards. “Are these Twitter storms and Social Media frenzies getting out of hand? Paine and Kohli are hard but fair professional competitors. And yes, probably nice blokes. Perspective?” Yep, proabably. I quite enjoyed it, but then again, I would.

The players are on the field! And not a bad crowd, either. Gold coin donation to enter today and there must be a decent 5,000 in, I reckon. India to resume on 112/5 with Vihari (24) on strike, Pant (9) up the other end. It looks like Nathan Lyon will begin from the southern end. The target is 287. PLAY!

Here is Mitch Starc on Ch 7. I suspect he’ll be on straight away as well.

Terry Hogan on Paine’s captaincy. “Love your work,” he begins. I didn’t need to put this in, obviously, but here we are. “Not sure that this has been mentioned already, but I did a quick bit of research and noticed that Paine is the only Australian Test captain, other than Jack Ryder, not to get a win in his first four tests. And no Australian captain has ever gone five tests before bagging their first win. I guess Paine is well placed to avoid being the first today.”

And not just losses but HUGE thrashings in Jo’burg and Abu Dhabi. I’m expecting some memorable celebrations if they do get over the line today.

Usman Khawaja was just on Fox Sports. I’ll pop that up as soon as they tweet it. I wrote about his range last night, more Bowie than Green Day.

Opening the bowling on the email is Adam Hirst. “What was Marcus Harris thinking?” he asks. “He’s clearly not fit for Australian test cricket saying those kind of things. You don’t have to be out to go clubbing! Just get a taxi straight to the ground in the morning like a proper test cricketer from the 1980s would.”

Or an English player, for that matter. All I see here is a window to plug Derek Pringle’s superb new book. Buy it, read it, live it.

Okay, I have to make the lengthy dash from Uber (technically banned at Perth Stadium) to my press box desk. Back with you in about ten minutes.

Nathan Lyon speaks with Channel Seven. He now has 500 First Class wickets. What a remarkable story. To pick one element of it, something I wrote in Bangladesh last year from when he was a curator at Manuka in ‘09/10 and we played at the same Canberra club (Carn Westies!).

The pitch. All told, we probably expected more and deeper cracks by the end given how it played on the opening afternoon. But as we saw with Shami and Bumrah after lunch yesterday, it’s still more than a handful.

Day/night for Perth? WACA boss Christina Matthews has been making the case for the new stadium to host pink-ball Test next summer. We know when Brisbane had one a couple of summers back it began at 1pm local, partly to hit the TV sweet spot. Let’s assume they do the same here, it would see the final session would wrap up on the east coast - after the extra half hour - at 11:30pm. Too late for young eyes?

Marcus Harris is fitting in nicely, isn’t he? Loved this before the final ball yesterday, in an effort to inspire something silly from Rishabh.

Even if you enjoy the niggle between these cricketing giants... you probably wish Monkeygate was behind us forever. Sadly, not quite. As you can read below, a Fox Sports special was on last night going back through the incident with Andrew Symonds, which has kicked things off again. As Dan Brettig said to me on Sunday, the man who documented so much of this in his wonderful book Whitewash to Whitewash: “The first rule of cricket writing is that Monkeygate is never over.”

Welcome to the fifth and final day of the Second Test!

Good morning! Sure enough, it is another stonking Perth morning, not a cloud to be found. Australia require five wickets to square the series leading into Boxing Day; India 175 further runs to gather to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in straight sets.

The former is far more likely on the basis that this capricious pitch is only to get harder to bat on. In saying that, we made the exact same observation 24 hours ago only for it to play flat and true after it had been rolled yesterday morning.

The only other caveat I’d give Australia’s favouritism is that the last time I saw Rishabh Pant bat in a fourth innings chase on the final day he made his maiden Test ton in about 90-odd balls at The Oval to finish their series against England. The kid is special.

The moment of the day, and probably the Test, was when Nathan Lyon found Virat Kohli’s edge as soon as he was introduced yesterday. There are some wonderful photos taken by Ryan Pierse from Getty showing the Indian skipper’s head bowed and eyes shut as the Australians went bananas - and rightly so.

The sledge that followed from Tim Paine to Murali Vijay after his opposite number’s dismissal (“I know he’s your captain but you can’t seriously like him as a good bloke”) has made headlines around the world, and turned my twitter feed into an utter sewer.

Righto, so it is all ahead of us. Is there another twist left in this contest? Based on the evidence of the first nine days of this series, there must be a decent chance of one. As you can see, we have the extended build-up on the OBO today, so there is plenty of time for you to drop me a line in the usual way. Or join the twitter mess. I’m all ears.

A nice upbeat one to get us going, yeah?

Updated

Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, catch up on what happened on day four, including this:

Updated

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