I think that’s all you need from us for now. Keep your eyes peeled elsewhere on the site for all the reaction from Adelaide and all the build up to the second Test in Perth.
From Adam, Geoff, and I, thank you for your company. Let’s do it all again later this week.
I am reliably informed that Shastri has described (on Sony's broadcast) the nervous feeling of watching the end of this Test as like having his "balls in his mouth". I believe it's a saying. #AUSvIND
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 10, 2018
So so much to unpack before the second Test begins on Friday.
Australian selection and batting will face plenty of scrutiny, as will the uncharacteristic lack of penetration from Mitchell Starc. Nathan Lyon will be suitably garlanded.
For India Che Pujara deserves enormous credit for his match-winning hand, while the much vaunted bowling attack proved its worth. It won’t have gone unnoticed by either team that India secured victory without a major contribution from Virat Kohli.
Oh, and there are pages and pages of remarkable stats and broken records from this enthralling contest.
Most consecutive wickets to fall to catches in a Test:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) December 10, 2018
23 Aus v Ind Adelaide 2018
22 Eng v WI Lord's 1973
Updated
Tim Paine joins Jack Ryder (1928-29) as the only Australian captains to be winless in their first four Tests in charge
— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) December 10, 2018
Australia has not won a Test series on home soil after trailing since 1968/69; against the West Indies#AUSvIND
Here’s your first take match report.
Che Pujara, player of the match:
“I think playing here before has helped me a lot. When I was back home I knew what to expect.”
“The way we came back into the game, losing four for 40 then making 250. Credit to the bowlers though for getting the 15 run lead and the psychological advantage going into the second innings. The self-belief from all the team members made it possible.”
“When we play overseas obviously there’s extra pressure, especially as a batsman, but we learnt from our mistakes in the second innings and hopefully in the second Test we continue to improve.”
Now Virat Kohli:
“It’s important to stay calm and understand the chances are going to come. Once we got Pat Cummins out the odds were stacked against them. We executed our plans eventually.”
“I wouldn’t say I was cool as ice but you try not to show it. It’s just the matter of one mistake or one good ball.”
“Super proud of the bowlers. To have a four-man attack and take 20 wickets. They are at their peak all together and us as batsmen know good performances will help earn a result. It’s up to the batsmen in this series and Pujara and Rahane did that in this match.”
“We were down and out at lunch on day one, Pujara’s runs were priceless. Any lead would have been gold and we got 15 runs and built on that, especially Pujara and Rahane. They gave us that safety for the bowlers to go out and get ten wickets again. It took lots of grit and determination.”
“Our middle and lower could still have batted better. If we put up a better showing we could have been totally away from Australia and we need to improve that going in to Perth.”
“If someone told me we would be one Test up going in to Perth I would have taken it with both hands.”
Updated
Tim Paine on the dais with Isa Guha:
“Over the five days we had enough opportunities but we failed to capitalise. India deserved to win.”
“We came to the ground today expecting to win.”
“Pujara was the difference between the two sides. You want hundreds from the top five or six batters and he put plenty of overs into our bowlers.”
“We go to Perth still believing we can win this series and that our best is good enough. I thought our guys fought it out well today. We just need one of our top six to go big like Pujara.”
Updated
Shaun Marsh has just spoken to Channel Seven, understandably very downbeat.
“Obviously a disappointing result for us. Plenty to learn from this game and for us to get on with to get back into the series on Friday.”
“I thought me and Painey were doing well until I got out.”
“The bowlers were fantastic all game. We didn’t make enough runs in the first innings.”
“I think it’s ok,” (Tim Paine’s dodgy finger).
“We know our home conditions and we’re looking forward to get back out on Friday and make it one-all.”
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“Another cracking Test Match, over days, away from home to go with those of England vs Sri Lanka and New Zealand vs Pakistan. Call off the medics, Test Match Cricket is alive and well.” Well said Rhys Humm, well said.
Australia’s last six wickets all put on at least 30 runs, but none went beyond 41. A magnificent rearguard effort, but just lacking one more substantial contribution to see the job through.
Amazing grit displayed by the Australian lower order, but this is a moment to savour for a long time for Team India. The bowlers gave it everything and let’s just enjoy this and carry the momentum into the Perth Test #AusvInd
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 10, 2018
Nathan Lyon, brilliant in defeat. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/BDWzRY2Cxr
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 10, 2018
Australia 291 (India win by 31 runs)
Replays suggest Rahul’s catch may not have been as clean as first thought, but it’s too late to worry about now, the players have already shaken hands and India have the series lead.
Was the last catch clean?@mj_slats, Ricky Ponting & @mel_mclaughlin go over the footage.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/pYRwcuei99
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 10, 2018
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India erupt in a release of all the pressure that had accumulated throughout the day. Hazlewood grimaces. A truly magnificent Test match concludes one ball before the Tea interval.
WICKET! Hazlewood c Rahul b Ashwin 13 (Australia 291)
All over. Hazlewood was playing Ashwin with ease until one prop forward too many found a thick edge instead of the middle of the bat and Rahul secures the catch low at second slip.
INDIA WINS!
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 10, 2018
Hazlewood the last man out, and India win by 31 runs #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ZlNQRry945
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119th over: Australia 291-9 (Lyon 38, Hazlewood 13) Bumrah returns but he is bowling to a confident partnership. Three singles precede Hazlewood ramping an insouciant four over the cordon then pinching the strike with a thick edge. Australia now within 32 runs of victory.
Apologies for the not so slick changeover. You are now in my questionable hands so please redirect all correspondence to: Twitter @JPHowcroft email - jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
118th over: Australia 283-9 (Lyon 36, Hazlewood 7) Hazlewood calmly navigates an Ashwin maiden. What a match.
117th over: Australia 283-9 (Lyon 36, Hazlewood 7) Ishant tries the yorker, but both batsmen keep it out and take a single by finding a gap. Lyon flicks a couple more off his pads. Two slips, gully, two in the deep on the leg side, third man back, the rest in the nominal circle.
Ishant hits the pad, huge appeal, and it’s a no ball! The Australian crowd goes up in cheers. Umpire Dharmasena called it immediately, having had enough of being made to look silly on the television replays. Wonder if that was hitting the stumps. It looked good live. Umpire’s call on the DRS tracking, which we’ve only seen for curiosity’s sake.
And Lyon follows up by edging Ishant away for four!
Australia need 40 to win. And I’m going to hand over to Jonathan Perilously Close Howcroft.
116th over: Australia 274-9 (Lyon 29, Hazlewood 6) Onto the back foot goes Hazlewood, as Ashwin drops short. Pulled away, and the batsmen come back for a second. The deficit is under 50! And Hazlewood survives the rest of the over.
115th over: Australia 272-9 (Lyon 29, Hazlewood 4) Lyon middles his pull shot against Ishant’s bounce. Third ball of the over. Hazlewood blocks a couple, then late cuts a run to farm the strike. Well well. The ask is down to 51.
114th over: Australia 270-9 (Lyon 28, Hazlewood 3) Poor old Ashwin is bowling his 50th over. He has 2 for 90 in an innings where the quicks have done most of the damage. Hazlewood lobs up an outside edge that doesn’t carry to backward point. Lyon swept a single from the first ball, and it’s the only score from the over. The deficit is 53.
113th over: Australia 269-9 (Lyon 27, Hazlewood 3) A run through point from Hazlewood, who has looked solid. Lyon nearly drives four but it’s well saved at cover by Jadeja the substitute. Ishant Sharma is the bowler, replacing Bumrah. Australia 54 short.
I’ve asked for it with the numbered lists. Ed Elias lobs into my inbox with these.
1. How many times in tests at the Adelaide Oval have both teams scored more in their second innings than their first?
2. At which test grounds does that happen most frequently (that teams score more in their second innings)?
3. If the last Australian wicket is out caught, all 20 second innings wickets will have been out caught. Is that a first?
He doesn’t know the answers and neither do I. Andrew Samson the statistician has already noted that this Test as a whole has equalled the most number of dismissals caught. And there’s one wicket to fall.
112th over: Australia 267-9 (Lyon 26, Hazlewood 2) Josh H plays neatly against the off-spinner, following the turn to push a single to point. Lyon plays a range of sweeps that achieve nothing, like trying to clean the Augean Stables.
111th over: Australia 266-9 (Lyon 26, Hazlewood 1) Your majesty! Lyon gets up on one leg, imperious as a dancing flamingo, and lifts Bumrah over midwicket with a pull shot. An idiosyncratic one. Then pulls a single before Hazlewood opens his account by opening the face of the bat for a glide. They’re 57 runs away.
A message comes in from your third-session commentator Jonathan Howcroft. “I did not expect to be padding up today, but here we are.”
110th over: Australia 260-9 (Lyon 21, Hazlewood 0) Lyon sweeps a single first ball, exposing Hazlewood to Ashwin. But the big left-hander is equal to it.
Congrats to this pair. I reckon I heard them name-checked on ABC radio as well, so Rob must be doing the press secretary work on the honeymoon. Haven’t you lot got better things to do?
@GeoffLemonSport willing the Aussies on from our honeymoon in NZ. Timed it terribly with the cricket season but nonetheless loving the MBM! pic.twitter.com/vh6Zwt1eBt
— Rob Fry (@DelVanFrysy) December 10, 2018
109th over: Australia 259-9 (Lyon 20, Hazlewood 0) Josh Hazlewood at the crease, who made a first-ball duck in the first innings. He survives the king pair, blocking a couple of balls, one with his bat and one with his foot. Bumrah ends his over having made the breakthrough, after the batsmen collected four from him, including an uppish punch from Lyon through midwicket for three. Australia still 64 short.
Updated
WICKET! Cummins c Kohli b Bumrah 28, Australia 259-9
He faced 121 balls. And they had to score, that was the only way. Cummins sees width and tries to drive through cover. The ball is a bit short for it, and climbs over his shot. Angled bat, almost a force more than a drive. It takes the top edge and flies to slip, where Kohli takes it falling backwards. That ball was moving. Kohli boils over once again, hurling the ball into the ground as he shouts. He must have been worried in order to celebrate like that...
Updated
108th over: Australia 255-8 (Cummins 27, Lyon 17) Ashwin to Lyon, who continues his variety by pushing another single to cover. The deficit down to 69, very nice. He spent a lot of time over the winter working on his batting with his brother Brendan, who’s a batting coach. The fruits of that were tasted in Dubai, when Lyon blocked out 34 balls, I think, to secure Australia that famous draw in October. Nor did he look troubled in doing so. Cummins drives another single down the ground. 68 to win.
107th over: Australia 253-8 (Cummins 26, Lyon 16) That is lovely stuff from Lyon. Not a bad ball from Bumrah, just outside off and back of a length, but Lyon produces the back-foot force and times it perfectly! All the way for four. He now has a deep point and a third man, while batting at No10. With those men back, he squirts a thick edge in the air through point, and moves his score on by one more.
Australia need 70 to win.
106th over: Australia 247-8 (Cummins 25, Lyon 11) True to his word, Lyon sweeps a single square, then later sweeps two runs fine off the glove or the bottom edge.
An email in from Daniel McDonald.
“I know reading tea leaves is impossible, but when (if?) Smith returns to the Test team sans captaincy will he:
1. Be totally focused on batting, combined with an iron will to prove to everyone he is reformed, and end up averaging seventy?
2. Find it difficult to overcome the shadow of shame and fade away in a year after a string of low scores?”
As a fan of numbered lists, let’s do this. I don’t think it’ll be either. My concern with Smith is that his game and his technique were based so much on careful calibration, and rhythm, and perfect hand-eye coordination, that the year out of the game will have just thrown him off a bit. I think he can come back and still be a very good player, but not dominate the way he did. His form was already so freakish, for the four to five years that it continued. Recapturing that seems an even more difficult task than attaining it. I hope that I’m wrong, but that’s what worries me – not as an Australian but as someone who loves watching the game.
105th over: Australia 243-8 (Cummins 24, Lyon 8) Bumrah comes back with a vengeance. The third part in his die-hard series. He rips through Lyon and somehow misses the stumps. Then takes the edge through gully for three runs. Then beats Cummins and thunders into his thigh pad for a deflected run. Then takes Lyon’s edge again...
... and Rishabh Pant has dropped the world record! He had to dive across infront of first slip, got the full meat of one palm to the ball, and slapped it to ground rather than claiming it.
Australia stay at eight wickets down, 80 runs from the win.
104th over: Australia 238-8 (Cummins 23, Lyon 4) Indeed, Lyon does sweep at Ashwin at the first opportunity. Misses the ball. So he plays with a straight bat into the covers next ball, and his semi-home crowd at the Adelaide Oval applaud him warmly.
@GeoffLemonSport Lyon has a test best score of 47. A repeat of that would be most welcome by Australia
— phil withall (@phil_withall) December 10, 2018
103rd over: Australia 237-8 (Cummins 23, Lyon 3) Shami continues, Cummins driving out behind point for one. Lyon drives dead straight but in the air, just past Shami’s outstretched hand and picks up three, then Cummins drives gorgeously on the up through cover for four! What a shot. The benefits of playing oneself in. Eight from the over, and the gap is 86.
They just played an interview clip of Nathan Lyon from last night on the radio, where he was asked how he would win the Test with the bat, if it came to that. “If it’s a spinner, probably a sweep shot,” he deadpans. “I haven’t got anything else.”
102nd over: Australia 229-8 (Cummins 18, Lyon 0) Cummins punches the ball away just past short leg, as Ashwin’s epic spell continues. He’s into his 44th over. Cummins drives a run near the end of the over, and Ashwin’s slider nips past the edge of Lyon’s bat.
101st over: Australia 228-8 (Cummins 17, Lyon 0) That’s it, surely. Australia still 95 adrift. Only Hazlewood left in the sheds. But they’d love to fight on and at least get that margin down a bit further.
Updated
WICKET! Starc c Pant b Shami 28, Australia 228-8
It felt like a matter of time. Shami bowls a bouncer after a tighter line, then slips the third ball wide and full. Starc booms the drive as is his way, and it takes the edge. Pant has equalled a world record with his 11th dismissal in the match, after six in the first innings. He’s equalled Jack Russell (the latter) and AB de Villiers.
Updated
100th over: Australia 228-7 (Cummins 17, Starc 28) Ravi Ashwin to Cummins, and we know how that story goes. Stride, blunt. Stride, blunt. No, it’s not a Notorious BIG video.
99th over: Australia 228-7 (Cummins 17, Starc 28) Shami comes over the wicket, right-arm pace, against the left-handed Starc. The batsman drives a couple through the on side. Then a single the same way. Cummins glances a single himself. The runs keep coming. They need 95 more to win...
“Englishman in Sydney listening while at work,” writes Brook Townsend. “Shades of Edgbaston 2005 here. I’m always of the opinion that its anyone but Australia but I’m finding myself slowly rooting for Australia! A very odd feeling.”
Strewth. Careful with your phrasing there, cobber.
98th over: Australia 224-7 (Cummins 16, Starc 25) Cummins knocks a single from Ashwin first ball of the over. That’s bold. But Starc repays the faith by doing the same. Get ready, say it with me: “They’re past the psychological 100-run barrier.” The margin is down to 99 runs. And we have a drinks break, which will inevitably lead to a wicket straight afterwards.
97th over: Australia 222-7 (Cummins 15, Starc 24) Shami continues. Nearly has Starc leg before but there’s a nick. Bowls a couple of bouncers. Then Starc strides forward and lashes the shot of the day through cover. Big stride, big smoke.
Glen Carter has emailed. “If Tim Paine is out for the next test can Australia’s inexperienced side afford to lose his 15 Tests of experience and replace him with another cacka ? Grim times.”
Bold font is Glen’s. As is bold statement. The main thing I got out of this was having to find out what a cacka is: apparently it’s a juvenile rock lobster. Tim Paine is not a big enough crustacean.
It’s about more than just how many Tests someone has played though. Paine is very experienced through years in the domestic game, and more importantly has the kind of character that this team needed during its horrible 2018. Paine is the one who has clearly described the new standard he wants from his players, and has set that standard himself. That’s why he’s in charge, and that’s why he’d be a big loss.
96th over: Australia 218-7 (Cummins 15, Starc 20) Cummins is playing his defensive game against Ashwin well. A good stride, blocking away, with two men in catching and another blocking the chance to rotate strike at short midwicket. Until the last of the over when Cummins aims a big drive and doesn’t pull it off.
Updated
95th over: Australia 218-7 (Cummins 15, Starc 20) He’s trying to play it properly. Do the right thing. Starc even leaves the first ball from Shami’s over. He won’t be able to resist forever though, will he? No, he’ll last one ball. He drives uppishly but into a big gap at midwicket, so safely. The ball plugs and rolls to a stop just inside the rope, ending up worth three. Cummins is happy to block and leave and tap a single to leg. Starc dips under the short ball to close the over. The gap is 105.
Updated
94th over: Australia 214-7 (Cummins 14, Starc 17) Mitchell Starc. I’ve done you wrong. I never knew you like I should. Starc facing Ashwin’s off-spin defends. And defends. And calmly drives a single along the ground to mid-on, sprinting through. Who would have thought? Cummins blots out the last two balls.
93rd over: Australia 213-7 (Cummins 14, Starc 16) Maybe Starc wants the spinner. He knocks a single first ball as Shami replaces Bumrah. Cummins needs to take one back. Instead he drives at Shami, not hard but just placing his shot, and gets an edge into the ground that rolls fast past the widest slip for four. India have three in the cordon for him, plus a gully so far back that he’s almost a backward point. Deep square leg comes up to stop a single from the last ball, and Starc will face the spinner. Danger hour, for at least one of them.
110 to win.
92nd over: Australia 208-7 (Cummins 10, Starc 15) Cummins takes up another maiden against Ashwin. Happy to let Starc take the risks while he himself occupies an end. Perhaps also happy to keep Starc away from the spinner, because as soon as Starc sees one he tries to punt them into the stands. He’s bit safer against pace.
91st over: Australia 208-7 (Cummins 10, Starc 15) Starc doing Starc things. Compactly works a couple off his pads, then hurls the bat at a wider ball from Bumrah and edges him down through the cordon for four. Hit the gap.
90th over: Australia 202-7 (Cummins 10, Starc 9) Cummins is happy to occupy the crease against Ashwin, blocking out another over. Responding to radio chat about Tim Paine’s broken digits, in comes an image from Virginia Lette (who happens to be married to erstwhile Australia opener Ed Cowan).
Warning: this image is Not Safe For... Anything.
Not for the feint hearted. Painey’s thumb, 10th February 2012. @abcgrandstand https://t.co/4vyr8nmsn9
— Virginia Lette (@virginia03) December 10, 2018
Updated
89th over: Australia 202-7 (Cummins 10, Starc 9) That is an all-run four! Love those, something that has all but disappeared in the game. Once upon a time, there were plenty of those on offer to the long straight boundary at Adelaide Oval. Not so with the reshaped ground. But Starc picks one up here, after picking out Ishant Sharma in the field. Drove down the ground and it stopped just short of the rope. Starc follows up with another couple through cover, then nearly nicks a bigger drive. Couldn’t help it. Don’t get too confident.
The hundred is up, and Australia need 121.
Updated
88th over: Australia 196-7 (Cummins 10, Starc 3) The doctor has allowed Starc to keep going, and Starc still hasn’t had a village yahoo at a delivery. In fact he produces another circumspect drive for a single. Maybe that’s why the doctor was checking him out? Cummins edges a run and Starc finds another with a sensible cover push.
“Surely Nathan Lyon is the best choice to replace Paine as captain if he missed out?” emails Aditya. In reality it would be Josh Hazlewood, as the vice-captain. The other vice-captain is currently playing for Western Australia at the MCG and not making any runs, so he won’t be recalled for the next game. (You’d think.) My point is more that Cummins has the characteristics that a leader needs, and he could be a good option in a couple of years, if Australian cricket has any imagination and doesn’t reflexively go back to Smith.
Updated
87th over: Australia 193-7 (Cummins 9, Starc 1) Bumrah is going the classic quick-to-quick bowling. Short, full, full, short. The latter hits Starc on the helmet, just clips the back of it and flies down to fine leg for a leg bye. Off the head. Yes, cricket makes sense. There’s a long delay as the team doctor checks out Starc... stand by.
Finally we get going again, and Cummins edges a full ball down to third man for four.
Updated
86th over: Australia 188-7 (Cummins 5, Starc 1) The new batsman Starc pushes a single towards point. Cummins takes the rest of the Ashwin over in defence. Australia trail by 135, it would take one of the great tail-end rearguards to have a hope in this match now.
85th over: Australia 187-7 (Cummins 5, Starc 0) The batsmen cross while Paine is waiting to be caught, so Cummins has the strike for the final five balls of Bumrah’s over. The bowler tries a couple of bouncers but Cummins is not tempted. Plays sensibly and circumspectly, in a way his captain should have mirrored. It’s a wicket maiden. If Paine’s bad finger is sufficiently bad to miss the next Test, Cummins is the most captain-like member of this Australian team for mine.
WICKET! Paine c Pant b Bumrah 41, Australia 7-187
That’s it. All my cheery talk and optimism come to naught. The Australian captain is gone. Not as the scorecard might suggest by a nick to a moving ball, but a big pull-swat against a ball that was outside his off stump, a weird shot to his first ball against Bumrah after lunch. Not taking the time to settle. Perhaps the injured finger made Paine think he had to swashbuckle. But it’s a bad choice, an impulsive one. All he achieves is a big top edge that loops up high towards fine leg, but near enough for the keeper to trot underneath and hold the catch. India look victory square in the eye.
Updated
84th over: Australia 187-6 (Paine 41, Cummins 5) Ravi Ashwin starts with spin after lunch. One single from the over, Paine soaking up most of it. Confirmation comes through that he was hit on the right index finger, the same one he broke so badly all those years ago.
In other important news from The Irish Times:
“AN IRISH woman who married the ghost of a 300-year-old pirate claims the couple have split up.”
“The split is another blow for Jack, after he was purportedly executed for thieving on the high seas in the 1700s.”
Trent Copeland is exactly the opposite of the marquee names leading the new Australian broadcasts this season - and that’s in terms of his playing career and his media one. So it’s good to see him get an opportunity at Seven to be an analyst.
Nothing but praise for the Indian bowling attack from @copes9.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/mFS4Zg63Mf
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 10, 2018
For context, ABC statto Ric Finlay has been through the archives. The best score an Australian team has made from 6-186 in the fourth innings is the 296 all out at Trent Bridge in 2013. The match in which Ashton Agar made his 98 and Phil Hughes an unbeaten 81 in the first innings, then James Pattinson and Brad Haddin nearly got the chase home in the last. Haddin was last out thanks to a DRS referral that found a thin outside edge from Anderson. It was the first game I covered professionally from the ground, so I remember it in slow-mo detail. If Australia can reach 296 here, we’ll have a great finish.
Updated
Thanks Adam. I feel good about this match. I don’t know where it’s from, it’s based in feeling rather than logic, but I feel good. Not for one side or the other, but for the chance of an interesting result. The factor for me is the positive way the Australian batsmen have played. Statistically they should be no chance, but Paine and Cummins have belted up and down the pitch, played shots without being reckless, and collected their runs quickly. So yes, they’re 137 behind, but if they could swell this partnership to something substantial, then Mitch Starc produces a quick 30 as he’s been known to do, we could see something close. Stick with us after lunch.
LUNCH: Australia 186-6
83rd over: Australia 186-6 (Paine 40, Cummins 5). Target 323. I’m not sure if Ashwin passed the memo to Ishant, who is taking his time to make sure this will be the final over of what has been a long, extended session. From the first ball, Paine drives with purpose to cover, wide of mid-off, taking a single. Cummins, who has been out there for a while now, defends well until the final ball when the Indians are up! But Umpire Dharmasena is down, not convinced that is going onto the stumps. No review. It looked to be hitting outside the line of off-stump. LUNCH!
There were two wickets and 85 runs added across two and a half hours. The first breakthrough came inside the first half an hour, Head edging a brute of a bouncer from Ishant into the gully. Then Marsh, on 60 and looking great, received a ripper from Bumrah, tickling it behind. There were some hairy moments for Pat Cummins as soon as he arrived, the DRS used twice, but he survived as Paine kept ticking the board over, even after he copped a whack to his problematic right index finger.
It leaves the home side 137 further runs to win this Test. With only the bowlers to come, it would be a truly mighty effort to make it from here. But with this pair looking vaguely set, they at least have a chance. To see what happens next, stick with Geoff Lemon. Thanks for your company this week, I’ll catch up with you on the OBO from Perth come Friday.
Updated
82nd over: Australia 185-6 (Paine 39, Cummins 5). Target 323. Ashwin actually takes the new ball, so they might get three in. That’s certainly his plan, running through the over inside 60 seconds. Cummins looks more comfortable the longer the over continues.
81st over: Australia 185-6 (Paine 39, Cummins 5). Target 323. The second new ball taken by India, as soon as it is due. Ishant has it back in his hand. There is a fair bit going on here with Paine squirting two out past gully. More interesting are the balls he doesn’t score off, shuffling across his stumps before the bowler reaches his delivery stride to get his pads out of the way. Cummins keeps the strike with one to midwicket. India will get two more overs before lunch.
Fascinating strategy from Paine while facing Ishant, trying to take LBW out of the equation.
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 10, 2018
Kohli changing the field and putting in a mid wicket to Paine as a response #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/JvoTNna3C1
80th over: Australia 181-6 (Paine 36, Cummins 4). Target 323. Final over before the second new ball is available, to be delivered by Ashwin. It begins with a delivery to Cummins that goes through everyone, including the ‘keeper, a bye putting the captain back on strike. He immediately goes back in the crease to cut again, as he’s done so well in this innings, collecting three for it with the ball pulling up on the slow outfield. There was some excitement from the final ball when Cummins lunged forward but it didn’t go to hand on the legside.
On TV, Ricky Ponting saw that it was the right index finger that Paine was having looked at before the over, the one he had seven (!) operations on as a younger player.
Ricky Ponting on Tim Paine's history of finger injuries, as he has more treatment... #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/1gq6bZbIL6
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 10, 2018
Updated
79th over: Australia 177-6 (Paine 33, Cummins 4). Target 323. Shami has a reputation as a fine fourth innings bowler, so I’m not surprised that he is back, albeit after just one Ishant over from the northern end. He’s no good here though, Paine tucking him to the fine leg rope for a boundary with three other balls scored off in smaller currency, all these runs coming through the legside. He’ll want to get the second new ball hooping around fairly quickly, otherwise Bumrah will be back. Eight from it. 146 to win.
Between overs, the Australian physio is out in the middle taking a long look at Paine’s hand, which has been such a problem for him over the years. He did cop a whack to what looked like the handle of the bat from the penultimate ball of the Shami set. He stays on after the treatment.
78th over: Australia 169-6 (Paine 26, Cummins 3). Target 323. Paine has looked pretty good against Ashwin since coming to the crease and does so again here, taking a couple of singles to mid-off, Cummins doing the same between times. We’re back to the crowd applauding every single now. 154 are left for Australia to pull off a stunning win.
77th over: Australia 166-6 (Paine 24, Cummins 2). Target 323. I neglected to note that Australia passed the halfway mark in their chase with the Cummins single in the previous over. He gets another to start the fresh one, pushing Ishant - back on to replace Bumrah - to midwicket. Paine then cuts a couple, his best shot, taking another to that sweeper later in the over. When the bumper comes, Cummins gets out of the way.
“Oh no, Shaun Marsh made runs. That means they’ll pick him in again”
— Ian Higgins (@1an_Higgins) December 10, 2018
I honestly don’t know what people want.
76th over: Australia 162-6 (Paine 21, Cummins 1). Target 323. Cummins, after getting through the DRS process twice in the previous Ashwin over, is off the mark with a single to point.
The disciplined bowling of the Indian pacers the biggest reason they've out-bowled their Australian counterparts in this Test match so far. 52% of their deliveries have be on good line & length compared to 37% for the Australians. #AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 10, 2018
75th over: Australia 161-6 (Paine 21, Cummins 0). Target 323. Paine beaten by another Bumrah ripper. The bowler smiles, mindful of how close he is to removing the captain and really getting stuck into the tail. The edge does come later in the set, through a cordon where there is only one slip on position. The most likely scenario is that this ends in a hurry.
74th over: Australia 157-6 (Paine 17, Cummins 0). Target 323. NOT OUT! Umpire Gaffaney overturns the decision as the technology doesn’t find a mark or movement. The end of an eventful over. Ashwin is without doubt the right guy for the lower order, as Australia learned the hard way in Bangalore last year.
IS CUMMINS CAUGHT AT SHORT LEG? Ashwin wins the support of Umpire Llong this time around but Cummins has sent it upstairs! Two reviews in an over. To the DRS!
NOT OUT! Nup, straight through the gate, nothing to see on hotspot or snicko. Back to your places, fellas.
HAS ASHWIN PICKED UP CUMMINS CAUGHT BEHIND? Ashwin insists on a review when it is turned down. We’re going upstairs. Stand by.
73rd over: Australia 156-6 (Paine 16, Cummins 0). Target 323. Bumrah is such a classy bowler. I could, and probably will, watch the replay of the Marsh dismissal over and over again. I’ll share it with you below in case you’re away from the telly. He then nearly sorted out Cummins, the new man, with one that went the other way later in the set.
MASSIVE wicket.
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 10, 2018
Shaun Marsh edges behind, and it's 6 down #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/tFBNwp9bcx
WICKET! Marsh c Pant b Bumrah 60 (Australia 156-6)
Marsh is undone by a beauty. Bumrah made him play from around the wicket; a delivery that had to be played at. It shaped away beautifully after pitching, kissing the left-hander’s edge on the way through to Pant. A fine hand comes to an end, and with it, probably, Australia’s hopes.
72nd over: Australia 156-5 (Marsh 60, Paine 16). Target 323. Murali Vijay races through his set, Paine cutting one to the sweeper early in the over and Marsh pushing to the man at mid-on for another. These two have put on 41.
71st over: Australia 154-5 (Marsh 59, Paine 15) Bumrah sends a maiden down to Marsh, playing the Indian quick conservatively from the crease. This’ll be a very important stoush, I reckon.
“A little tired of Eng vs India being heralded as “close”, tweets Tanay Padhi at me. “It was 4-1, you don’t get credit for throwing away positions of strength repeatedly.” That’s fair. I covered that series and it did feel close but you’re spot on saying that India lost almost all the big moments.
70th over: Australia 154-5 (Marsh 59, Paine 15) Murali Vijay on for a little go, allowing Ashwin to rest after bowling for the first 75 minutes unchanged. He does draw a false stroke from Paine, who just squeezes a ball past the ‘keeper Pant via the inside edge. Close call. Marsh keeps the strike with a compact drive to the man on the point rope.
“Manchester says hi,” adds Gareth Frith in reply to my comment about Adelaide’s aesthetics. I meant in the Commonwealth of Australia, to clarify. More generally, I’m sick of people getting stuck into Adelaide. There must be a strong correlation between people who make “30 minutes, more like 30 years!” gags and those who haven’t got a passport.
69th over: Australia 152-5 (Marsh 58, Paine 14) Bumrah for the first time today in the place of Shami, who had few overs before drinks without making a dent. Marsh gets off strike first ball with a tickle fine. Paine does the same, albeit after just keeping out a yorker the ball before. I’m surprised Kohli left it this long to bring on his quickest bowler.
“I’m worried about this test series, even as a neutral,” writes Gareth Frith. “It looks like it might be set up for another one of these hard-fought classics, and with the time difference I’m looking at some pretty low performance levels at work the next day. There does seem to be a fairly high number of really interesting and exciting series recently, and was wondering why this has been the case. It doesn’t seem to be involving just one side or a certain set of conditions either, and it’s not as though most sides don’t contain at least one or two very good players, so I don’t think quality is the issue. It’s more like every side seems to think they’ve got a chance of winning all over the world, the most one sided was the most recent Ashes, and since then the losing team has been transformed confidence wise and just won an historic trio of matches in Sri Lanka.”
I’ll open that up. Are there more close series or is there a bit of recency bias?
68th over: Australia 150-5 (Marsh 57, Paine 13) Ashwin again to Paine, who is in decent shape against the spin, playing with soft hands to the men around the bat. He takes the chance to get onto the front foot to drive one to cover, Marsh following suit with a single of his own to finish the over and bring up the Australian 150. More applause; more belief.
50 for Shaun Marsh. Could be a career-defining innings if he can ton up and save Australia #AUSvIND
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) December 10, 2018
67th over: Australia 148-5 (Marsh 56, Paine 12) Now they’re motoring! Paine’s hook off Shami it not perfectly convincing - it is within a foot or so of landing in Pant’s diving glove - but it gets him four all the same. Marsh on the other hand: this is a beautiful clip through midwicket, the shot of the day by some measure. They are 175 away from the victory target of 323. Dare to dream? Adelaide Oval is, I can assure you of that.
Shaun Marsh brings up his 50 in style!#AUSvIND | @Domaincomau pic.twitter.com/AbNJxutxZc
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 10, 2018
Shaun Marsh to 50!
66th over: Australia 139-5 (Marsh 52, Paine 7) Short, pull, four! Marsh to 50 for the 16th time in Test cricket. It took him 201 minutes to reach the milestone, Andrew Samson noting that it is the first time he’s raised his bat in the fourth innings of a Test. He did, however, make an unbeaten 150+ at this ground last month in a Shield game for WA when they were chasing 318. “In Shaun we trust!” says Gerard Whateley on SEN.
65th over: Australia 135-5 (Marsh 48, Paine 7) Marsh using the crease well here, getting back deep to cut Shami behind point for a couple then going the other way to pull two more. A single to square leg means he keeps the strike, moving him close to a half-century as well.
“Warne’s one-eyedness meant Australia won tests from nowhere (Adelaide 2006 being the archetype) but makes him a liability in the commentary box,” says Ian Forth. “Small mercies, but at least Clarke is no longer playing for whom the phrase sub-conscious denial could have been invented for Warne. I’ll never forget ‘Oh, and Pup’s dropped a sitter. It’s because his mind was on the bowling change’.”
64th over: Australia 130-5 (Marsh 43, Paine 7) Paine facing Ashwin, who has bowled unchanged from our broadcast/southern/riverbank/city end this morning. It’s a probing over but the Australian captain is up to the task. The inside edge is utilised at one stage, but straight to ground.
This is excellent on CA’s website: a scorecard to hide from your boss.
Trying to follow the cricket in the office today? Don't forget about our 'Boss Mode' in the match centre...
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 9, 2018
View here: https://t.co/bOxvIHX7v4 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/mSPrtmd0N2
63rd over: Australia 130-5 (Marsh 43, Paine 7) Marsh is very much in here, playing Shami with ease from the crease before taking a couple to square leg. Not a lot of movement from Indian swing ace.
62nd over: Australia 128-5 (Marsh 41, Paine 7) Big shout from India’s men around the bat when Ashwin’s first delivery to Paine deflects to slip, but Umpire Llong turns it down. Kohli considers the review but thinks better of it, which was the right decision. Another nice cut from Paine gets him two, helped by Shami who misfields at point. I reckon we might see Bumrah for a quick burst at Paine before he’s set. Aakash Chopra on SEN is bagging Adelaide, saying it is sleepy etc. I can’t be having that. This is a wonderfully vibrant city and the (equal) prettiest in all the Commonwealth.
61st over: Australia 126-5 (Marsh 41, Paine 5) DJ Shami is on for his first twist of the day, replacing Ishant at the end of his successful shift from the northern end. Marsh has worn a lot of leg byes in this innings and he does so again here to a misdirected offering early in the over. Paine finds the gap at cover for another. The crowd are applauding every run.
60th over: Australia 124-5 (Marsh 41, Paine 4) Marsh’s most productive over of the opening hour, timing two through midwicket then galloping through for three with his captain after whipping the next ball in the same direction. Impressive from the two oldest blokes in the team.
Maybe this is a bit harsh but, after that dismissal, I'm somehow unsurprised to learn that Graeme Hick is coaching Travis Head @collinsadam.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) December 10, 2018
59th over: Australia 119-5 (Marsh 36, Paine 4) Paine considers trying to get off the mark with a hook off Ishant but pulls out at the last possible moment, which I think we can all agree is for the best. Instead, he opens his account with a compact cut behind point for four. Shot, skip.
58th over: Australia 115-5 (Marsh 36, Paine 0) Ashwin to Marsh, now an even more important contest. The left-hander is able to leave the first and final deliveries but is using his bat through the middle. Fielders around the bat, this is only going to get harder. Maiden.
I’ve received a long email, which would normally disqualify it for inclusion in the OBO. But it’s very good, so here you go. From Keith Johnson in Irvington, New York.
...
“Here in the US we are getting only the Fox coverage. The two mostly interesting bits of what I will call as ‘sub-conscious denial’ happened on Day four.
Once Pant fell, Warne had a very passive aggressive moment with Harsha Bhogle as they debated the ‘what number would India have in mind to defend etc.’ Warne was carrying on about how India were reckless with their remaining wickets (no one would argue they were) and really pressing Harsha on the number to set Australia to chase; it was quite awkward, it wasn’t just Warne carrying on and on about a strategic or tactical point that Warne is prone to do. Warne pressed Harsha three, four times for this number. Harsha responded with, not verbatim, something like ‘if you would let me speak, I will tell you the number and why.’
However, this is how the sub-conscious denial conversation went, using my Aussie-comeuppance-decoder.
Warne: India are disrespecting the baggy-green by pissing away these wickets when they should be pressing for a lead of 350 - 400, which would be neralry insurmountable for *any* Aussie side to chase, let alone the shambolic batting we have due to the horror show of March where Australia were caught cheating, humbled (or pretended to be so) and realized they have zero cricketing friends on the planet outside of Oz.
Harsha: India could declare now (lead of ~ 275) and it wouldn’t make a monkeys because Oz are a joke of a team with willow in hand, everyone outside of Oz is enjoying this and we, you and me, Shane, the spectators here, your Prime Minister, know there is no way Oz can chase that down.
If you are still with me and I haven’t put you asleep yet, the second bit that shows me the level of denial in Australia, came when Michael Vaughan and Warne shared the booth for the first time when India began bowling the fourth innings; someone in the booth asked which test team across all the test teams had the best pace bowling attack. Almost without waiting for the question to be finished asking, Warne said, matter of factually, Australia. Vaughan passed along his POV of what he observed that India’s quite impressive pace attack was possibly their best ever and tried to remind Shane of South Africa’s attack. Shane didn’t say much after that.
I’m a Yank who has been cric mad since 2016 so I may not be the most experienced of commentary teams, but it is obvious to this American that Warne is still deeply, deeply crushed about March 2018 and this coming across quite obviously in his commentary so far in this match / series.”
Sub-conscious denial: I love it, I’m stealing it. Great email, Keith.
57th over: Australia 115-5 (Marsh 36, Paine 0) Paine defends the two balls remaining in the successful Ishant over. What a fantastic bowler he has evolved into over the last couple of years. Wisden Cricket Monthly, in their latest edition, have calculated (with CricViz) that he is the most effective quick in the world at the moment based on a combination of pace, accuracy and movement.
OUT!
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 10, 2018
A beauty of a short ball from Ishant, and Head has to go #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/DcfVFFePOw
WICKET! Head c Rahane b Ishant 14 (Australia 115-5)
Wonderful captaincy from Kohli, setting up Head with a deep square leg before Ishant banged in short from around the wicket. The perfectly directed bouncer at the helmet gave the local boy few options, fending to Rahane at gully.
56th over: Australia 115-4 (Marsh 36, Head 14) In the previous over that Ashwin bowled to Marsh he found an inside edge but there was no short leg. This time around there is. He’s off strike first ball via a single through the posh side, though. Risky business from Head! He goes at a flighted delivery and gets a thick edge through the vacant gully region at what would have been a catchable height. He turns for a couple. Another single to point means he keeps the strike. 11 runs have been added today.
55th over: Australia 111-4 (Marsh 34, Head 11) Ishant to Marsh, who leaves then defends then tickles fine for one. More good batting. Head repeats the pattern: leaving then defending. Nothing wrong with this.
How striking to have run rates starting with a "2" in this Twenty20 age.
— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) December 9, 2018
54th over: Australia 110-4 (Marsh 34, Head 11) Good start this from Marsh, defending Ashwin solidly so far this morning. He’s such a fantastic player of spin when on song. Oh, as soon as I say this his inside edge is found by Ashwin, albeit straight to ground. Head plays out the rest. This is the uneventful first 20 mintes that the home side required.
53rd over: Australia 108-4 (Marsh 32, Head 11) Ishant to Marsh now, beating him with a ripper first up. Moving in, darting away off the seam - you know the type. Good batting from Marsh to get straight back on the front foot and take one to mid-on next ball. Head deals with the rest, using his bat throughout.
We're getting the Fox commentators in the UK @collinsadam. Mike Hussey is perceptive, Isa Guha asks the right questions of the co-comms (and knows her stuff) in a wonderful voice. Warne is unlistenable - an Aussie Boycott, assertions presented as facts, all repeated ad infinitum.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) December 9, 2018
52nd over: Australia 108-4 (Marsh 32, Head 11) Marsh with the first run off the bat for the final day, taking one to midwicket off Ashwin. The spinner is right on the mark to Head, finding his inside edge with the penultimate offering. He’s the man most likely for India.
51st over: Australia 107-4 (Marsh 31, Head 11) Ishant to start from the Cathedral End, delivering to Head who races through for a leg bye to get the board moving in the right direction for the hosts. The bowler helps that too, overstepping as he did so often yesterday. Marsh then earns an extra off his pad. So, the first three runs of the day all sundries. Ishant finds his groove by the end of the set, Head leaving close to his off-stump then defending with a nice, high front elbow. 3630 were in Adelaide Oval when play started, a number that will swell quite a bit if this goes deep.
50th over: Australia 104-4 (Marsh 31, Head 11) Marsh defends and kicks away Ashwin’s first over, a maiden from the Indian spinner. Ric Finlay on ABC notes that when Marsh gets to 31 in Tests he averages 84.5. Also, with the early start (due to rain on Sunday) these are the adjusted day give playing hours: 10:00 - 12:30, 13:10 - 15:10, 15:30 - 17:30.
The players are on the field! We know this because Great Southern Land is playing, the song the Australian side have entered the field of play to at home Tests for, I reckon, 15 years. Time for a change. PLAY!
“My view is that if it is a no-ball, it is a no-ball.” Justin Langer is on ABC having a pre-game natter, going through yesterday’s talking points. On Mitchell Starc: “I thought he had one off spell during the game but overall he was very economical and when he swings the bowl and bowls to the tail he is world class. Everyone has a differenet role in the team; he is not necessarily going to be a Glenn McGrath or Josh Hazlewood type but he gets the ball to swing and that is really dangerous and hard to play We would all love to be perfect but what he does for the team is excellent.”
Before Day 5 of #AUSvIND, catch up on Sunday's interviews & features in the 7sport app.
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 9, 2018
• 'Stumped', the cricket quiz show
• 'The Nightwatchmen', with Peter Lalor & Gideon Haigh
• All the #WBBL04 interviews
👉 https://t.co/EDCKwVt2RW 👈 pic.twitter.com/WsJJDS9tMl
“Valvoline.” Simpler times.
A lot of attention on the Finch non-review. I liked Gerard Whateley’s interpretation on Cricket360 last night that Finch didn’t view himself as important enough to take a pop at a 50/50 review like that, but he should because he is already a senior player in such an inexperienced side.
Marcus Harris talked to @mj_slats about Aaron Finch not reviewing after he was given out #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/S6RrxnoxRt
— 7 Cricket (@7Cricket) December 9, 2018
Gold coin donation to get into Adelaide Oval today. So if you’re in the area, you know what to do.
How have you found the telly? Four days in, seems like a decent enough sample size to make a call on the new broadcast teams at Seven and Fox. I’m not well placed to talk about the former, as they are precluded from showing their call online and all the press box TVs are very much Fox.
But I want to know what you think. Here is a prompt.
Best parts of #7Cricket coverage:
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) December 9, 2018
1. @plalor and Gideon Haigh
2. @copes9 analysis
3. Live score in top corner during ads
4. Punter
Best parts of #FoxCricket coverage:
1. @isaguha and @kokeeffe49
2. No ads
3. #Cricket360
4. @MarkHoward03 pestering players during warm-ups
Interesting Vic Marks piece on the England Test squad to be announced for the West Indies. Reads like Jason Roy might be in the frame.
David Saker, Australian bowling coach, has just been on SEN defending Mitch Starc, who was far from his best this week. He also said that Aaron Finch should have reviewed his dismissal yesterday. That isn’t a view shared by Nathan Lyon, who told us after play that he talked to the third umpire about the matter and concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the decision made on the field. Never a dull DRS moment!
A lovely day five. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/OHjAXiNmCo
— Andrew Faulkner (@AndrewFaulkner9) December 9, 2018
Welcome to the fifth and final day at Adelaide Oval!
So then, what are your feelings about Shaun Marsh? If re-writing the citizenship test to include subjective measures, the question about Don Bradman’s average would be replaced with the task of writing an essay about the West Australian’s lengthy and complex career arc.
He resumes on 31. What does it mean? Not a lot out of context; a humble start. But such is the history, we know that when the left-hander gets a start – out of single digits, more to the point – special things can happen.
He falls before 10 on 43% of times he walks out to the middle. Nobody who has batted in the top six in Tests as often as Marsh boasts a percentage so high. When he was removed on Friday, it was his sixth single digit score in a row – the most on the bounce by an Australian in the top six since 1888, would you believe. Yet here he is and here we are.
With Travis Head (11) the pair resume their stand, currently at 20, with 219 runs needed for a famous Australian victory, the target an ever-so-unlikely 323. Sure, teams occasionally chase 300+ in the fourth innings of Tests, but history is truly stacked against them.
So is the fact that India’s bowling throughout this contest has been superb. The cynics looked at the work of their seamers over 2018 and said that it was primarily put together on green tops in South Africa and on equally friendly surfaces across England. Australia would be different, it was argued.
It might turn out that over four Test matches this ends up true but in the city of churches, Ishant, Bumrah and Shami have all seriously influenced this match for the visitors. Then there is Ashwin, who remains the undisputed number one finger spinner on the planet, even if Nathan Lyon is giving him a real run for his money of late.
One point I’d remind Australians fans of is that the last time they went into a fifth day with a truckload of work to do with the bat as in Jo’burg in April. Then, Shaun Marsh was dismissed first ball of the day and Philander went on to take six wickets in 40 minutes to finish the Test by drinks.
Of course, there was a lot going on that week and this is a much improved Australian team above the shoulders since that nadir. But it would be wrong for the faint hope to become false hope. One step at a time.
As I look out the window, it is a quite smashing Adelaide morning, the sun shining down on this wonderful town. I look forward to your company across the course of the next three and a half hours. What’s your gut say? Does Marsh do something for the ages? Tell me, on the email or the tweet.
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