Day 2 is done and India have taken the honours so far
Australia did well this morning to nip out the last 5 Indian wickets for 80 runs, no mean feat with the tail wagging. That was primarily on account of the productive work of debutant quick Josh Hazlewood, whose 5-68 from 23.2 overs of lively, bouncy pace, was the success story of the day.
Dhoni (33) and Ashwin (35) did some solid groundwork but didn’t go on with it as the tourists would have hoped.
Australia’s innings so far - 221-4 at stumps - has been a case of squandered opportunites. All of Warner (29), Watson (25) and Marsh (32) perished after solid starts and Marsh was particularly culpable in not taking advantage of a let-off only an over before he was dismissed.
New skipper Steve Smith has been particularly productive so far and is undefeated on 65 from 88 deliveries at the close of play. With him is Mitch Marsh (7), clearly hampered by that leg injury in his running but at least able to play strokes with some freedom of movement.
Thanks to Geoff Lemon, Scott Heinrich and all of you OBO regulars for your contributions and see you bright and early tomorrow for more live action.
Stumps on Day 2 - play abandoned due to bad light
52nd over - Australia 221-4 (Smith 65, M Marsh 7)
Smith is keeping himself busy against Ashwin but he’s pretty happy for now to just nudge singles around while there is little pressure being applied to he or his partner. Of greater interest to the two batsman by the end of the over is a mid-pitch conference between the Umpires, who are considering calling the players off for bad light.
They do in fact, and it’s not a bad idea with a storm looming ominously. Smith and Marsh tuck their bats under their armpits and stride off the ground like they’ve just been excused from a trigonometry test.
51st over - Australia 218-4 (Smith 63, M Marsh 6)
You can’t really blame Umesh Yadav after a hot and sticky day in the field, but in this his third over of the current spell he’s down on pace a little and not quite getting them through to Marsh as he’d like. It’s a maiden, but a maiden in the same sense that Schweppes Cola is a soft drink.
50th over - Australia 218-4 (Smith 63, M Marsh 6)
Thanks to overthrows and the enthusiasm of Marsh to test out that hamstring, Smith picks up three towards deep backward square leg. Would it not have been smarter to send Brad Haddin in with an hour or so of play left or is Marsh a sort of unconventional Nightwatchman for his more able-bodied teammate?
49th over - Australia 214-4 (Smith 60, M Marsh 5)
Buoyed by the wicket of Marsh, Yadav comes back with another useful over that’s asking questions of Mitch Marsh. For now his answer is “no, I’m not going to nibble at those but it was worth a try.”
Phil WIthall is back with some words of praise for Captain Smudge. “The change in Smith since the 2010 Ashes series has been most remarkable. From looking like a tear filled tot to blossoming into a top batsman. Even as a Pom I find I’m warming to him.”
He was basically a foetus in 2010, mind.
48th over - Australia 214-4 (Smith 60, M Marsh 5)
Marsh doesn’t exactly answer the queries about his health here. He edges Ashwin for four past slip but after he clips a single to long-on he pulls up very gingerly. He can’t have a runner - no-one can anymore. It might be a case of ‘hit out or get out’, and the uncertainty can’t help Smith’s fluency. He plays his first false stroke in an age when Ashwin nearly takes his off stump.
A Channel Nine Devil’s Advocate has arrived in the form of David Stewart, who may or may not be one half of Eurythmics.
He says: “Those of us who can remember the days when cricket commentary involved Grieg and Lawrie bickering about irrelevant nonsense while Benaud droned on about some player who hadn’t touched a bat in decades, are quite pleased to have commentators who actually talk about the game being played. Anyone who thinks these guys are blokey should be introduced to Max Walker. Sheesh.”
47th over - Australia 208-4 (Smith 59, M Marsh 0)
It’s the case of ‘one Marsh off, one Marsh on’ as the younger of the Western Australian brothers appears to bat, dodgy hamstring and all. This could be a sight.
WICKET! Marsh c Ashwin b Yadav 32 (Aus 208-4)
Yadav is back to try and disrupt Marsh and after he pulls authoritatively into the shin of Pujara at short leg, the Aussie left-hander squanderes that earlier lett-off by wafting loosely outside off and with the extra bounce from the quick, sending a regulation catch to Ashwin at second slip. He shakes his head in frustration and disappointment, but he can only balme himself for that one.
46th over - Australia 206-3 (Smith 58, Marsh 32)
India are a little ragged at the moment. Now Ashwin is pumped through extra cover by Steve Smith for another boundary and Australia are safely past the 200 mark. The job is only half done, but momentum is firmly in the favour of Australia’s batting pair here after that awful drop. Perhaps it’s that extra slice of luck that Marsh needed. He’s had a bit of it of late.
Rahane drops Marsh!
45th over - Australia 199-3 (Smith 51, Marsh 32)
I’ve just received an email from Professor John Long and that email is about sex. I think there is a joke in there somewhere, I just can’t quite work out what it is. Anyway, he has some more fish sex updates if you’re interested.
“We discovered that fish first began bonking using bony claspers by doing it sideways this year!” he says.
Bit saucier than Chappelli’s jockstrap.
Meanwhile, Shaun MArsh has been given a life in comical circumstances when Rahane, perfectly positioned to take a skied catch at leg gully, shells an absolute sitter.
Steve Smith reaches 50
44th over - Australia 198-3 (Smith 50, Marsh 32)
Steve ‘Smudger’ Smith is laughing at everything that Test cricket throws at him at the moment, and here he moves past 50 for the umpteenth time in his last 12 Tests. His average right now - his live one anyway - is 47.34. Remember when he was struggling along in the low 30s? What a metamorphosis.
43rd over - Australia 193-3 (Smith 45, Marsh 32)
Smith works a single but to be honest, I was completely distracted by the sound of Ian Chappell weaving a rendition of a Beatles song into a Ramsbottom CC league cricket anecdote. What a man. He talked about his and Ian Redpath’s jockstraps before. I was, I’m not ashamed to admit, completely aroused.
42nd over - Australia 192-3 (Smith 44, Marsh 32)
One knock-on effect of that SMith bonanza last over against Ashwin is that it’s spread the field far and wide, so both he and Marsh are able to pick off singles at will, or three in Marsh’s case after some distinctly ‘village’ quality boundary-riding from Varun Aaron. It’s so bad in fact that an umpire-requested review indicates that he’d actually conceded four.
India’s best hope of halting this Australian recovery might be sitting back and waiting for the heavens to open up. Apparently there’s a storm only an hour away.
41st over - Australia 186-3 (Smith 43, Marsh 27)
Varun Aaron is back for a trundle now and a little like Mitch Starc this morning, he’s there or thereabouts for five balls but then gives Smith an absolute soda - full and wide - to smash through cover for four.
Is there anyone left who actually enjoys the Nine coverage? Rudi Edsall doesn’t. “I get the impression that Channel 9 have misunderstood their target audience. I don’t know who they think is watching entire days of test cricket at a time but it’s definitely not the Saturday night blokey banterers that they seem to be desperately trying to pander to.”
40th over - Australia 181-3 (Smith 39, Marsh 26)
Say what you like about Stev Smith’s idiosyncratic technique, but there is currently no better player of the dead-straight lofted drive in Test cricket. He sends one over Ravi Ashwin’s head for six after drinks, before cutting a streaky four through gully and then unleashing another booming straight drive over long-on for a one-bounce four.
What was I saying about Smith closing up shop? Whatever it was, disregard it.
39th over - Australia 165-3 (Smith 24, Marsh 26)
He’s not exactly stagnant, but Steve Smith seems happy to absorb some deliveries here and establish himself and this partnership. After he pinches a leg bye off Yadav, Marsh artfully strokes another drive - this one straight between the stumps and mid-off - which squirts past Ishant and down to the boundary rope at long-off.
Sorry, Twitter. Just need to check. Am I allowed to be indifferent to Shaun Marsh? #AUSvIND
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 18, 2014
38th over - Australia 158-3 (Smith 23, Marsh 20)
Smith gets a single early from Ashwin, so we get to see how well Marsh can handle Ashwin with that man hovering close on the off side. Marsh passes the test for now. He also has more runs in this innings than the entire 2011-12 Test series against India. He’ll be happy with that, I bet.
37th over - Australia 157-3 (Smith 22, Marsh 20)
When Shaun Marsh is good he’s very good and no stroke in his repertoire is as pleasing to the eye as the on-drive he plays off Ishant here - from an upright position and with his head perfectly balanced - for a boundary. Two balls later the bowler overpitches and allows Marsh to lean into another four through the same region.
Is Marsh ‘on’ here? His footwork has been muddled to the off-spinner Ashwin but against the quicks he’s making batting look like a cinch.
36th over - Australia 149-3 (Smith 22, Marsh 12)
Ravi Ashwin could do worse than popping a fielder in close on the off side to Marsh, because to start this over the Aussie left-hander is prodding awkwardly to that space. Right as I say that Dhoni brings a man in, but it’s the one who was previously at short leg. I think you call that reactive captaincy.
35th over - Australia 148-3 (Smith 22, Marsh 11)
“Even by Ian Chappell’s admission, he was dressed by Ray Charles this morning,” says Shane Warne, who appears indifferent to Ishant Sharma’s offerings here. He’s not giving Smith much width though, so the batsman has to patiently wait for scoring opportunities.
Shaun Marsh's Test scores against India: 0, 3, 0, 11, 3, 0, 11*. Don't score another run... #AusvInd
— Ethan (@ethan_meldrum) December 18, 2014
34th over - Australia 147-3 (Smith 22, Marsh 10)
It’s an understatement and a cliche at the same time to say that this partnership is abosolutely crucial for Australia but it’s also true. Smith works Ashwin for two.
“Banter” time:
Lot of debate about Ian Chappell's dress sense ! Horrific comes to mind or is that to harsh ? http://t.co/AxzPMZLYFF
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) December 18, 2014
33rd over - Australia 145-3 (Smith 20, Marsh 10)
Ishant is back into the attack now and Marsh takes a few sighters before working him around the corner for two to deep backward square. Marsh is looking more and more comfortable with each delivery, as he tends to do. He’s pretty hard to budge once he’s set.
Meanwhile, the battle is not only heating up on the field - our friends across at Fairfax are also throwing down challenges. You’ve brought a knife to a gun fight, Connolly.
@rustyjacko I challenge you to a blog-off.
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) December 18, 2014
32nd over - Australia 142-3 (Smith 19, Marsh 8)
Ashwin is back on the mark in this over and Marsh’s proactive footwork is nearly the undoing of him when he gets a little tangled and nearly glances one into the hands of the man at short leg.
Phil Withall is more fluent in his strokeplay. “The phrase “A generation lost to the sport” is bandied about a fair bit but Channel Nine’s collection of embarrassing uncles are surely going to have that effect on cricket. Why spend millions on a product just to treat it so poorly?”
*weeps silently*
31st over - Australia 142-3 (Smith 19, Marsh 8)
If you’re the type of cricket fan who believes that back foot play is the true baromter of the serious Test batsman, then you’d be half-please with the three with which Steve Smith starts this Yadav over. His weight goes back decisively and the blade is straight, though his back foot actually doesn’t really move much. It’s more of a shuffle.
Meanwhile Max Bonnell is firmly on the front foot and his ears are pinned back too. “In this cynical, fickle world,” he says, “we should cherish true love wherever it’s found. And so we should celebrate the enduring bromance between the Australian Test selectors and Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh. Keep scoring hundreds if you like, Ed Cowan, but they’re just not that into you.”
30th over - Australia 138-3 (Smith 16, Marsh 7)
It’s a good thing I talked up Ravi Ashwin in the last over, because now he’s serving up some genuine dross, shooting one down the leg side to Smith and allowing the Aussie skipper to sweep him around the corner for four.
Krishnan Patel is back. “Continuing from yesterday, the Rohit Sharma-Shaun Marsh comparison...as usual Sharma wasted a glorious chance with Warner and Smith bowling dollies at him to settle him in. For some reason, just like Sharma, you always seem to say “yeah he looks good with shots but when is the wicket?”....do you think it is another thirty something for Marsh today? Or is it a big score?”
Marsh is an all or nothing guy. For the sake of the contest, you’d hope it’s the first option today (and tomorrow).
29th over - Australia 133-3 (Smith 11, Marsh 7)
One other appeal of Yadav is that along with all of the screaming, unplayable wicket balls, there’s plenty of fan entertainment to be had in the wild half-trackers like the one Steve Smith cuts for three here.
All entertainment. All the time.
28th over - Australia 130-3 (Smith 8, Marsh 7)
Ravi Ashwin is an expert at toying with tentative batsman. By the time his third delivery goes past Marsh, he’s actually laughing at the porspect of a wicket but the batsman has other ideas, dancing down the wicket a few steps and stroking a gorgeous cover drive to the boundary. Take that, doubters.
27th over - Australia 126-3 (Smith 8, Marsh 3)
Yadav continues after tea and though Marsh is suspicious and watchful, wearing the expression of an old-timer creeping his way down a dark street with the Christmas shopping bags, he’s given a straight one he can work to leg for a single and get some relief.
Marsh needs a few here. With so many doubters on his back, he always does. The light won’t help him here either - it’s ominously cloudy.
26th over - Australia 123-3 (Smith 6, Marsh 2)
Shaun Marsh takes guard against the spin of Ravi Ashwin, whose absence in Adelaide only mystifies me more after seeing the way he’s bowled today. As a few people have pointed out, his sturdy lower order batting could also have been called upon with India needing only 65 runs. What a shame for the tourists to have shot themselves in the foot so badly.
Marsh gets a single and keeps the strike.
A little more Haze
His efforts have been covered off well by Geoff and Scott today, but if I can pile on top of the Josh Hazlewood lovefest for a second, what a splendid display of bouncy fast bowling that was today.
I was actually sitting behind the bowler’s arm on the southern side of the MCG when Brett Lee took his debut five-for during the 1999 Boxing Day Test against India, and though Hazlewood might not match him for raw pace, there was something about his jaunty youthfullness and energy that really impressed today.
What a shame he didn’t have the kind of support on offer for India’s bowlers here. Yadav has bowled a treat at times.
Lie back and think of Hazlewood
Afternoon OBOers. Russell Jackson here. What was an ordinary second session for Australia turned utterly dismal there with the loss of the well-set Rogers for 55. I’ll be be taking you through until the end of the day, after which Australia might find itself facing the realistic prospect of losing a Test in Brisbane for the first time in 26 years, when the likes of Curtly, Gordon and Viv roamed the Gabba.
You can get me via email on russell.jackson@theguardian.com or via twitter: @rustyjacko with all of your observations on this upcoming third session.
Tea: Australia 121-3
That’s not how Australia wanted to take tea. Not at all. The home team generally looked in control but the loss of three wickets in the afternoon translates into India holding the upper hand. Smith is unbeaten on 6; presumably he’ll be joined after tea by Shaun Marsh.
That’s all from me. I’ll now hand you over to Russell Jackson, but first here’s a desperately useless bit of trivia. Enjoy!
WICKET! Rogers 55, c Dhoni b Yadav
Massive breakthrough for India right on the stroke of tea. Yadav, bowling over the wicket, entices Rogers into a leg glance but the left-hander can do no more than glove the ball into the waiting gloves of a very happy Dhoni. Rogers looked well set but this is a huge setback for Australia.
Updated
24th over: Australia 116-2 (Rogers 52, Smith 5)
Not a great deal happening out there, partly because Ashwin makes it hard with tight bowling, partly because Australia are becalmed after losing their second wicket and partly because tea is looming.
23rd over: Australia 116-2 (Rogers 52, Smith 5)
Yadav keeps it nice and tight as Smith maintains a watching brief early in his dig.
22nd over: Australia 115-2 (Rogers 52, Smith 4)
Prodigious turn from Ashwin as Rogers is beaten. But he survives and next ball registers his half-century with a boundary, the 10th of his enterprising knock, past gully.
21st over: Australia 111-2 (Rogers 48, Smith 4)
Rogers keeps on keeping on, taking Australia past 100 with a four off Aaron down the ground before collecting another quartet of runs with a cheeky leg glance. And it’s a very warm welcome to Steve Smith, who gets off the mark with a controlled hook shot to the fence. That’s 13 from Aaron’s over. Methinks it’s time for a spell.
20th over: Australia 98-2 (Rogers 39, Smith 0)
Not good enough from Watson, but let’s look ahead. Australia’s stand-in skipper saunters to the middle with a job to do.
WICKET! Watson 25, c Dhawan b Ashwin
Another start, another uninspiring yield for Shane Watson. He perishes going after Ashwin and holing out to mid-on, where Dhawan takes a nice catch diving forward.
Just prior to that, the ball was changed for the second time this innings, 13 overs after the first time. Strange.
19th over: Australia 98-1 (Rogers 39, Watson 25)
Aussie coach Darren Lehmann looks to the skies, which have become increasingly dark in the past few minutes. Brisbane might be in for some weather. In the middle, Rogers goes after a short, wide no-ball from Aaron and cuts over gully for four more. Aaron responds with an off-cutter which beats the bat (and only just misses off-stump). Excellent delivery.
18th over: Australia 92-1 (Rogers 35, Watson 24)
It’s time for turn as Dhoni does away with Sharma and tosses the ball to Ashwin. A bit of variable bounce for the offspinner but nothing the batsmen can’t handle.
17th over: Australia 91-1 (Rogers 35, Watson 23)
More assured strokeplay from Rogers, who leans forward and punches Aaron to the long-off fence. He follows up with a near-identical shot later in the over which is got to by mid-off but still finds its way to the boundary.
16th over: Australia 81-1 (Rogers 25, Watson 23)
No apparent threat this over, unlike Sharma’s last, but the seamer keeps Watson guessing with disciplined line and length ... until he errs onto Watto’s pads and is flicked through mid-wicket for four. Time for drinks. Thirsty work this.
15th over: Australia 75-1 (Rogers 25, Watson 17)
One thing you don’t do when bowling to Watson is give him width. Yadav does precisely that and is driven through the covers for four. Though I favour other Test cricketers more, in full flight Watson sure is easy on the eye.
As the below tweet illustrates, a day at the cricket really is one of life’s pleasures.
Updated
14th over: Australia 66-1 (Rogers 23, Watson 10)
Sharma raps Watson on the pads and rises in appeal for leg before. Watto’s a fair way forward and the decision is not out. He plants his front foot in front of the stumps again and next time he might not be so lucky. Next ball Watson’s done a kipper by a straight, full one that he unwittingly edges just wide of third slip. He sure can look ropey at times, Watson. Sorry, I’m not the biggest fan. Sharma bowls to Rogers with a very unconventional, off-heavy field: three slips, two gullies and a backward point.
13th over: Australia 64-1 (Rogers 23, Watson 9)
Yadav continues with his brisk spell. It’s a decent over until Rogers feasts on one that’s too full, punching it down the ground for four. Ever the silent achiever, Rogers is quietly building a nice innings.
12th over: Australia 57-1 (Rogers 17, Watson 8)
Sharma returns to the attack. He really puts his back into his first delivery, a shortish fast one, with an overstep resulting in a no-ball. It’s certainly an improved offering from the fast bowler after his early struggles with Warner. The solitary sundry is followed by five dot balls.
11th over: Australia 56-1 (Rogers 17, Watson 8)
Yadav strays onto Watson’s pads and pays the price as the right-hander rolls his wrists and flicks through mid-wicket for four.
10th over: Australia 51-1 (Rogers 16, Watson 4)
Lucky, lucky, lucky. Watson should be so lucky. Aaron welcomes Shane to the crease with a fast, short one which cramps up the batsman and finds a thick edge which balloons over the slip cordon. Could’ve been gone first ball, Australia’s number three. Instead he picks up a streaky boundary to get off the mark.
9th over: Australia 47-1 (Rogers 16, Watson 0)
Watson to take face for his first ball next over after Rogers keeps Yadav at bay for the last remaining three deliveries. Key strike for Yadav, who collects his first Test wicket in about two years.
WICKET! Warner 29, c Ashwin b Yadav
Huge wicket for India. Warner, straight after helping himself to his sixth (and last) boundary, attempts to turn one around his body but succeeds only in looping the ball high in the air, offering a simple catch to first slip. Warner was going along beautifully. India are tickled pink. Whatever that means.
8th over: Australia 43-0 (Rogers 16, Warner 25)
Rogers gets a fuller one from Aaron and breaks the shackles with an exquisite cover drive for four. That’ll do his confidence the world of good. Warner then drives uppishly, edging to what would have been a catchable height were backward point not so deep. The over ends with another boundary to Rogers, steered to the third-man fence.
What is Warner smuggling in his jocks today? A budgie? A box?
7th over: Australia 33-0 (Rogers 7, Warner 24)
Sharma’s been given the shove, with Yadav brought on in an early, and thoroughly needed, early change for India. The bleeding stops to an extent, with ‘just’ four runs coming from the over.
New balls, please
India get their way, with the ball swapped for another one that’s six overs old. Not surprised the old one’s battered, the way Warner’s been biffing it.
6th over: Australia 29-0 (Rogers 6, Warner 21)
While Warner freewheels at one end, Rogers continues his absorbing tussle with Aaron at the other. The Other Leftie picks up a couple past point for his troubles. India seem to have an issue with the repair of the ball, asking umpires to inspect it. Play continues. Which is just as well.
5th over: Australia 27-0 (Rogers 4, Warner 21)
No knock on Rogers, but the contrast between he and Warner is stark. First ball of Sharma’s new over, Warner dispatches a reasonable delivery (though a little wide) through the covers for another boundary. He really is a pleasure to watch. Yet another four follows later in the over as Warner plays on length and effects a beautiful on-drive that races to the fence. Did I mention Warner is a pleasure to watch? And you can make that four more, a straight drive off a full one from Sharma (who is now over the wicket but would do better pulling a rabbit from a hat if he wants to stop Warner). That’s 26 from Sharma’s first three overs. Tripe.
4th over: Australia 14-0 (Rogers 4, Warner 9)
Another good offering from Aaron, who offers Rogers very little in terms of width or length. A maiden over is the result.
3rd over: Australia 14-0 (Rogers 4, Warner 9)
Sharma goes around the wicket with Warner now on strike. Doesn’t matter where he bowls from when he dishes up drivel like the one that barely lands on the pitch and Warner cuts for four. More width follows later in the over and Warner treats it with similar disdain for an identical result.
Ian Chappell is talking about India’s team meeting and what they discussed with regards to Warner. Takes me back to Dean Jones’s seminal ‘Hits & Misses’, which is quite possibly the best, most hilarious cricket video out there (competition is thin, I know). If you haven’t yet seen it, I thoroughly recommend it. It’s so choice.
2nd over: Australia 6-0 (Rogers 4, Warner 1)
An ambitious appeal from Aaron for caught behind follows Warner’s missed leg glance. I repeat, missed. Not much else to report ... a good, straight first-up offering from the India quick.
1st over: Australia 5-0 (Rogers 4, Warner 0)
A probing first over from Sharma and a watchful beginning from Rogers, who does what he can to resist temptation outside off-stump until he square drives a really wide to the fence. India with three slips in place.
Plenty to take from India’s first innings: top knocks from Vijay and Rahane, five wickets on debut for Hazlewood (onya Josh), a record-equalling six dismissals for Haddin, a 400-plus total that, on the Gabba, India would take every day of the week and twice on Sundays. They are in a good position in this match.
Back to Brad - like Kim Kardashian, he has his knockers. But he’s been a good all-round package for Australia in the post-Gilchrist era.
Let me take you on a trip down memory lane ... here’s Haddin’s very first Test catch.
Nevermind dinosaurs ...
... and, for now, the cricket. Well, it is lunch.
Dino-nookie I have no issue envisaging. Fish on the job, however, has always intrigued me. No limbs, under water, nothing to lie on/lean against. Must be terribly difficult. But they manage it. I have a tank full of mollies and they bonk for Australia.
Lunch - India bowled out for 408
The extra time has done its work, with lunch taken late at 12 minutes past the hour. India bowled out for 408. Rahane was out early, Rohit Sharma didn’t last much longer, and in the end it was largely down to Dhoni and Ashwin. Collectively India added 97 runs to their score in the session, and will be reasonably content with that first-innings total. Now to try to put some pressure on the Australians. Geoff out, Scott Heinrich will be with you for the next session.
Until then, your lunchtime poem: ‘I’ve Been Wondering How Dinosaurs Had Sex.’
WICKET! Yadav 9, c Rogers b Lyon
Would you credit it - India are bowled out for 408, the number that has had so much meaning in this series. Yadav had a big swing at Lyon, and Rogers at deep midwicket did the rest.
109th over: India 407-9 (Yadav 9, Ishant 0)
Well, Yadav looks alright today, but now he’s facing Johnson. Hazlewood’s spell is done. Plenty of short stuff, plenty of evasion, plenty of dot balls. None of those were hitting the stumps, is the problem. The long stripe Ishant Sharma is now at the crease.
The only song I can think of now is this.
Updated
WICKET! Aaron 4, c sub (Labuschagne) b Lyon
108th over: India 407-9 (Yadav 9)
The umpires get into position just in time for another over before lunch. Calamity. Lyon is bowling it. Aaron is off the mark after he charges and drives wide of mid off, in the air, for two. Then a chance is missed next ball - not Haddin’s fault but Aaron drove hard at that, slight edge but it stayed too low and hit Haddin in the leg very quickly.
Aaron charges again and lobs two more runs down the ground, then charges again to defend, then... defends, gets a bit of glove and pad on that at the same time, and the substitute short leg - Labuschagne - takes the catch! A screamer, a big dive forward to snare it. Take that, knockers.
Play will continue. My kingdom for a sandwich.
107th over: India 403-8 (Yadav 9, Aaron 0)
400 is up! Hazlewood continuing, he bounces Yadav, who hooks and gets mostly top edge or glove, but it got enough. Four more through fine leg. Next target is lunch, which is three minutes away. A big play and miss outside off from Yadav. Hazlewood’s line has been exemplary this morning. Yadav tries another buccaneering stroke with a piratical flourish, trying to drive that over point, but misses.
They drop a slip back to third man for the uppercut, then Yadav is nearly demolished by a short ball that he jerks away from and avoids.
106th over: India 399-8 (Yadav 5, Aaron 0)
Swat! Yadav gets off nought with a meaty sweep through fine leg for four. Hazlewood is only two thirds of the way to the rope, really. That got fine of him. Now he’s been moved squarer. Can this pair get to a) 400, and b) lunch? If they lose one more wicket, lunch gets delayed. DON’T YOU DARE. Another big swing for a single out to Hazlewood again, and Yadav has five.
They were playing this on the ground PA before. Choon.
Updated
105th over: India 394-8 (Yadav 0, Aaron 0)
An edge from Varun Aaron just after arriving at the crease that falls short of Shaun Marsh at slip. Hazlewood pitches up for a drive, then goes short to draw a wild hook that goes nowhere.
Hazlewood has 22.2 overs, six maidens, 5/64. The last man to take five on debut was Lyon in Sri Lanka.
“Good to see Hazelwood continuing in the fine tradition of nut-related Australian bowlers. Steve Waughlnut, Ashton Magardamia and Terry Almonderman to name but three.” Fine work from Ian Forth.
WICKET! Dhoni 33, c Haddin b Hazlewood
“He was trying to leave, and now he’s leaving,” says Jim Maxwell. Hazlewood has five-for! He just bowled another good length ball, Dhoni shaped to play, then tried to leave, and as he pulled the bat back, the ball just flicked it on its way through to the keeper. I’m not sure Dhoni was going to be given out there, but he walked regardless.
104rd over: India 392-7 (Dhoni 31, Yadav 0)
MS Dhoni is toying with Lyon here. First sweeps fine for two runs, then as Lyon gives it more width he reverse sweeps for four. Lyon is bowling around the wicket. Dhoni drives one more from the last ball of the over to farm the strike.
Sarah Bacon would like to know if Channel Nine is kdding her. “The first woman seen on yesterday’s broadcast was frying eggs, and today’s special? Gentle banter complimenting the wives of the team, who are taking turns providing cakes’n’bikkies for their hardworking, cave-dwelling menfolk. Mrs Heals is apparently up next. Words fail me.”
No Sarah, they’re not kidding you. Remember this is the station that interviewed Australia’s female cricketers about their modelling careers.
103rd over: India 385-7 (Dhoni 24, Yadav 0)
“Good to see the back of R Ashwin,” says the highly impartial Andy Bichel on the radio. In his favour, he’s also just told the story of how he was christened André Bischelle. Umesh Yadav is the next man in. My memory of him is that he can hit a long ball.
WICKET! Ashwin 35, c Watson b Hazlewood
That’s four for the man on debut. Once again the right length, has Ashwin driving even though it’s a bit too short, take the timber and Watson completes the chance. Good knock from Ashwin.
102nd over: India 383-6 (Dhoni 24, Ashwin 33)
A maiden from Lyon to Dhoni, with a near miss from an edge into the pad that Haddin couldn’t reach.
Updated
101st over: India 383-6 (Dhoni 24, Ashwin 33)
Ashwin is batting beautifully! Well, some of the time. Josh Hazlewood comes back on for Starc, and after an edged square drive for four, Ashwin flicks off the pads again with great style and poise. Andrew Jolly points out “Ravi Ashwin - higher batting average than MS Dhoni in Tests. 39.95 vs 38.64 Handy for a number 8.”
Judging Ashwin's bowling on jst 6 overseas Tests in 4 yrs is unfair in first place. Learning curve is fr both batsmen/bowlers.(1/2) #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) December 18, 2014
Forget his bowling, Ashwin should be playing all overseas Tests on his batting alone. Cant believe he played only 2 in Eng. (2/2) #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) December 18, 2014
Updated
100th over: India 374-6 (Dhoni 23, Ashwin 25)
A landmark over arrives for the Indians. That target of 400 is within reach, though you always feel they’ll need plenty of runs with their bowling attack. Lyon comes on to bowl it. He got the big wicket of Vijay late yesterday, but went at more than four an over in doing that. Just a Dhoni single from this over.
On fielding matters, most of the Australians are still in the dressing room. Russell isn’t happy.
Now a sub-fielder as Australia's 78th short leg of the last 12 months. #ShortLegWatch
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) December 18, 2014
That man is South African Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne.
99th over: India 373-6 (Dhoni 22, Ashwin 25)
Except Smith does continue with Starc. I blame Mumbai. Ashwin and Dhoni each pull a single as Starc stays short. He looks good running to the crease, an elastic-band man moving in long lithe strides, the problem is what happens sometimes after he gets there. Ashwin square drives for two more runs. He’s good on the drive, the cut, the uppercut. Seems to like playing with bounce as well. He made a good number of runs on his last tour here, when all the legends were failing.
Starc, persisting with the short ball, bowls a high bouncer that is called wide. Then another one. Then a full ball on the pads that Ashwin flicks for four. Ten from the over. Starc is starting to come apart, I’m afraid.
For those who missed the Smith catch, here’s a still.
The skipper with the screamer! LIVE: http://t.co/NaGNJAi0VK #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/gwDbFbgt4T
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 18, 2014
98th over: India 363-6 (Dhoni 21, Ashwin 18)
Getting a little more comfortable, this pair, as they work a couple of singles and a hard-run two from Watson’s over. Where to from here? Can’t imagine Smith will persist with Starc...
Gangesh Vadakeyil expresses the frustration of so many Indian fans with Rohit Sharma. “I have never expected RS to linger for long unprofitably. His attacking instincts are too pronounced and his batting temperament suspect at the Test level. His skills have seldom been doubted and he always has that crucial extra second to play the ball unlike so many ordinary batters. But his Test record overall is abysmal. His superb ODI record recently notwithstanding, he has never appeared to be a reliable batsman. The fact that he has been persevered with unlike so many others despite numerous failures, has to do with the Mumbai-factor in Indian cricket. One hopes he does some measure of justice to his enormous talents.”
97th over: India 359-6 (Dhoni 18, Ashwin 17)
Is it an Indian plan to attack Starc, or is he just bowling trash? YOU DECIDE. Whatever the case, Ashwin picks up the line of a ball outside off, there’s no movement and he wallops through the line of the ball to clear mid-off for four. Next ball he plays much more elegantly, flicking off the pads through midwicket, and gets the same result.
96th over: India 350-6 (Dhoni 17, Ashwin 9)
Ashwin looking composed against Watson here, playing out the over safely and taking a couple of runs from a pull through midwicket. That raises India’s 350.
Phil Withall asks, “Seeing how the Australian bowlers wilted yesterday this session is vital to their chances of winning the Test. Will Mitch go wicketless, and when was the last time that happened?”
The last time he went wicketless in an entire Test was his 0/60 in Mohali last March, when he just came in for one match. He also had a wicketless innings - 0/34 from 12 overs - against Dubai in October.
Updated
95th over: India 348-6 (Dhoni 17, Ashwin 7)
Here’s Mitchell Starc at last. Dhoni still auditioning for a role in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. That first ball is a touch short and Dhoni wears it again! Lets it cop him right in the stomach. Shake it off, just shake it off. Haters gonna hate but the players gotta play. And play he does from the fouth ball of the over, when Dhoni decides not to be hit again and clobbers the pull shot for four through midwicket.
Four more as Dhoni gets on the charge! Not a spinner’s skip, but a slow walk toward Starc, in the manner of movie killers when their useless prey has tripped over and can’t work out how to stand up again. He just walked down the wicket and slog-drove Starc down the ground.
94th over: India 340-6 (Dhoni 9, Ashwin 7)
Watson continues, swinging again, and Ashwin’s drive only connects with the edge and flies just past gully for four. Watson has looked more threatening than most this morning. It’s very humid up here in Brisbane after a big storm last night, so there’s plenty of curl in the air at Watson’s slower pace. Ashwin defends and leaves the rest of the over.
Here’s a Sublime classic that is both slow and swinging.
93rd over: India 336-6 (Dhoni 9, Ashwin 3)
Johnson continuing in a lengthy spell. Dhoni finally pulls out a shot to a short ball, pulling for a single. Ashwin gets a leg bye off the thigh pad, then Dhoni cover-drives on this slow outfield for three runs. Ashwin gets three for himself next ball, driving more through wide mid-off, and with a far straighter bat as Starc chases back.
In an email titled Music By Overs, Rohan Lloyd says “Thanks for the tunes to accompany the Rahane dismissal.You should extend yourself for this morning’s session and try and act as both OBO’er and DJ at the same time. Just don’t do anything cliched and suggest Steppenwolf’s ‘Born to be Wild’ as an apt characterisation for a Johnson over. This could be the perfect mix of cutting sports and pop culture commentor; one of the Guardian’s niches.”
I will see what I can do where time permits. My first suggestion is what Dhoni should do next time he wears a fast bouncer on the body.
92nd over: India 328-6 (Dhoni 5, Ashwin 0)
Well, whether this is a demotion for Starc or whether he’s still under the weather, Watson got the ball first and immediately got swing and a wicket. It’s about lower-order resistance now now, as Ashwin comes to the crease.
“It’s somewhere there in the YouTube of my brain,” says Jim Maxwell with a beautiful bit of phrasing, speaking of an earlier screamer of a catch from another era. Smith’s one will live on for a long while.
That’s a wicket maiden for Shane Watson.
WICKET! Rohit Sharma 32, c Smith b Watson
What a catch! Watson gets a breakthrough in his first over: he bowled a little wide of off, tempting Rohit into the drive and then it swung a little. Took the edge and for all money that should have ended up at third man for four, but Steve Smith on his captaincy debut takes an absolute monster.
Diving full length to his right, he was going for it with two hands but then realised it was too far away. He stretched the right hand a little wide, got to the ball inches from the grass, and while mid-air managed to clasp a hand around it and hold it firm.
Magnificent.
91st over: India 328-5 (Rohit 32, Dhoni 5)
Dhoni is all at sea in this innings. Against Johnson, he gets a full wide one and tries a massive drive over cover - down on one knee and all. Missed it completely. Then he’s sizzled by the next one, it squares him up and rips past the outside edge as Dhoni groped outside off. A couple more are defended, then Johnson just strays too wide and Dhoni drives through the ball, throwing the angled bat wide, and getting just enough on it to get it out to the cover boundary despite Lyon’s desperate chase.
Dire warnings from Sarah Bacon about this afternoon: “Storms, I’m told. Flash floods too. Throw in a few frogs and locusts, and we’ll have a party on our hands, damn it.”
90th over: India 324-5 (Rohit 32, Dhoni 1)
Another single for Rohit, then Dhoni gets off the mark with a proper run, using the bat to knock one to the on-side. Hazeleyes is still bowling very nicely, tricking Rohit with a bit of movement and getting an edge on the bounce to slip, then a sharp bouncer.
89th over: India 322-5 (Rohit 31, Dhoni 0)
A thick inside edge toward midwicket gets Rohit off strike early in the Johnson over. Then there’s a big shout for leg before against Dhoni, but the ball would have gone over middle.
Then a restrained argument breaks out between Dhoni and the umpire. Dhoni gets a short ball from Johnson and hardly moves, just braces for impact and lets it hit him just behind the shoulder. It bounces down to fine leg and they start running, but are told by Erasmus that no leg byes are available because Dhoni wasn’t taking evasive action. Dhoni’s not happy: trying to avoid the ball gets you runs, but copping a 145 km/h one on the body gets you nothing?
88th over: India 321-5 (Rohit 30, Dhoni 0)
Thwack. There’s some interesting stuff. Dhoni gets a short ball from Hazlehawke that he doesn’t like, and just wears it flush on the upper arm. Decided he didn’t want to play it, but also decided he didn’t like the indignity of swaying or evading. It wasn’t quite short enough to duck under with any ease, so instead he just stood and let it hit him on the bicep. That was a flush hit, on the slow-mo replay you could see Dhoni’s arm wobbling like a sumo on a Stairmaster. But his expression was as vague and untroubled as if he were just chewing a piece of flavourless gum.
Maiden.
87th over: India 321-5 (Rohit 30, Dhoni 0)
A maiden from Johnson, but well played by Rohit. He’s able to leave twice, but four times defends solidly, including a couple of short ones where he has to negotiate quite a bit of bounce and get on top of the ball. Looks less flighty than he did in Adelaide.
Given my description of that dismissal, here’s a tune by Grouplove.
Updated
86th over: India 321-5 (Rohit 30, Dhoni 0)
Well, just before that dismissal Rahane struck a lovely cover drive to the boundary. Then he got that ripper of a ball and was walking to the boundary himself. The skipper-keeper-tailor-spy, MSD, is on the pitch, leaving and ducking.
A good morning to Matt Harris, who says he’s looking forward to the OBO. More fool you. “Morning Geoff. Surely no new Test captain ever been chucked under the heavy roller by the selectors like Steve Smith has at the Gabba? Whoever thought it would be a good idea to leave out Harris and Siddle must surely be made to bowl 30 overs off the long run-up in the afternoon session as penance.”
As a Victorian I couldn’t agree more. Harris needed the break, apparently, but P. Siddy getting this bouncing deck might have been what he needed to reinvigorate his bowling. He’s also a man who is accurate even when he’s not devastating, and will willingly bowl 60 overs in a blast furnace.
WICKET! Rahane 81, c Haddin b Hazlewood
There’s the one Australia wanted. That’s a great nut from Hazlewood, just at that awkward length that had Rahane pushing forward but unsure what to do with the ball, and a line that meant he had to play. It moved in the air ever so slightly, seamed ever so slightly, moved away from the bat and kissed the edge before passionately making out with Haddin’s gloves in a dismissal Free Love Freeway.
85th over: India 317-4 (Rahane 77, Rohit 30)
A very Johnson over there: a couple wide, a couple of nasty shortish ones, an inswinging yorker that Rahane stubs for a single, then a bit more width that allows Rohit Sharma to slice the square drive past gully for four.
84th over: India 312-4 (Rahane 76, Rohit 26)
Josh Hazlenut is indeed returning from his minor injury troubles yesterday. Darren Lehmann said he was the pick of the bowlers - he took 2/44 from his 15 overs. His first over just goes for a single as Rahane taps into the covers.
But enough about the home side! Yesterday was India’s day, thanks largely to the work of one Murali (or M when he’s feeling mysterious) Vijay. This series he’s made 53, 99 and 144, so his second innings here will be about 190. He played much more convincingly here than at Adelaide, even though he had a couple of tough chances dropped. Then Ajinkya Rahane consolidated that work with 75 not out, attacking through the final session.
Rahane and Rohit Sharma are about to continue this morning, and we’ll see if they can push India’s score on past 350 and perhaps even 400, with MS Dhoni and Ravi Ashwin still to come.
Geoff Lemon with you, Scott Heinrich to come after lunch, then Russell Jackson to conclude formalities this evening. Begin your day by emailing your predictions, fears, musings or poems to geoff.lemon@theguardian.com, or @GeoffLemonSport.
Updated
Good morning sports fans, and welcome to another day of the action when too much Steve Smith will be barely enough. The Big Spud took on his first day’s Test captaincy yesterday and it was a right testing one: we haven’t seen Australians hit the deck that quickly since one early morning at Suvla Bay. Mitchell Marsh won’t be bowling today thanks to a hamstring strain, but Mitchell Johnson (back twinge), Josh Hazlewood (calf cramps) and Mitchell Starc (Warne criticisms) will all apparently be ready to go after dealing with the minor ailments they picked up in 40-degree heat.
What odds that three bowlers would break down and one of them wouldn’t be Shane Watson? He’ll have some work to do today, as will Nathan Lyon, while a fully fit Peter Siddle fumes from the substitutes bench.
Speaking of substitutes, Australia used so many yesterday that they had an entire group of substitute fielders out doing catching practice on the Gabba turf not ten minutes ago. The Aussies were hauling in guys from grade clubs, and even spin coach John Davison had his whites on at one point yesterday, in preparation. At this rate Nugget Rees might get a run for real. Can anyone tell me what Nugget actually does for the team though? Best I can tell he’s just an official Good Bloke.
Good morning and welcome to live coverage of day two of the Test. Geoff Lemon will be along in moment to relay the morning’s events and surely things can only get better, as the song used to say, for Steve Smith. After losing the toss on his debut as skipper, he proceeded to see his bowlers wilt in the heat of the Gabba cauldron and India build a strong position.
But if he can get a couple of fit bowlers on the field, anything can happen in this game ...
And while we’re waiting for the start, here’s Russell Jackson’s take on the sporting year for your delectation.
