Saturday, December 31, 2011
I'm down the pecking order: Harris
Fit-again pace bowler Ryan Harris is not expecting a saloon passage back into the team for next week's second Test against India.
However, the Queensland quick admits it is nice to hear from Australian captain and selector Michael Clarke that he is being considered for a recall for the SCG match.
He was included in the 12-man squad named on Thursday in the wake of Australia's 122-run win in the first Test at the MCG on Thursday.
Harris suffered a hip injury in last month's Cape Town Test but claimed 1 for 35 off four overs for Brisbane Heat in Thursday night's Big Bash League game in Perth.
It is a measure of the 32-year-old's standing in the team that he is even being considered for the Sydney Test given the tremendous performances of pace trio James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle in Melbourne.
Clarke says the SCG pitch may have some grass covering and assist the quicks and a four-man pace attack is not out of the question, with off spinner Nathan Lyon's spot under scrutiny after his 1 for 91 in Melbourne.
Harris boasts a stunning record of 35 wickets at 21.37 in eight Tests but says he is concerned that his next injury blow could spell the end of his career.
"I'm down the pecking order. It's my fault that I got injured and all I'm trying to do is just get fit and let it take care of itself," Harris said.
"I don't expect to be able to go straight back into that team.
"The boys, with what they did in the last two days against that batting line-up, was outstanding.
"It's a nice thing to hear from Michael and we'll see what happens."
Harris, who bowled in the MCG nets with the Australian squad earlier this week before heading to Perth, felt his performance on Thursday night was poor.
"I'm worried about getting injured, which is not a great thing to do," he said.
Siddle, who claimed 6 for 105 in the first Test, said it was a bonus to have an outstanding bowler like Harris back in the squad.
"Whether they play four quicks, they play the spinner, you never know what's going to happen," Siddle said in Melbourne on Friday.
Siddle said the four-man pace attack worked well in the third Ashes Test in Perth last summer.
He nominated The Oval Test in 2009, which England won by 197 runs after Australia left out spinner Nathan Hauritz, as an example of where it did not come off.
Siddle defended Lyon, saying the MCG pitch did not suit spin.
Asked if Australia's current pace trio was starting to look threatening on the world stage, Siddle said: "I'd like to think so."
Siddle dismissed world-record holder Sachin Tendulkar twice in Melbourne and he had a warning for Tendulkar and VVS Laxman who scored first-innings centuries in the Sydney Test of 2007/08.
"Four years is a long time ago. The wicket has changed," Siddle said.
"It has been a bit better for the bowlers."
AAP
Tags: sport, cricket, sydney-2000, nsw, brisbane-4000, qld, australia First posted December 31, 2011 10:16:15Renegades pull off miracle win
Melbourne Renegades posted a remarkable six-run Big Bash League victory over a Chris Gayle-inspired Sydney Thunder.
Set a meagre victory target of 141 by the Renegades, the Thunder looked in no trouble with Gayle blasting 75, his third massive score in as many innings at the Olympic Stadium.
But brilliant bowling from Dirk Nannes (0 for 10 off four overs), Shahid Afridi (3 for 21) and Shane Harwood (2 for 26) combined with sluggish batting from Gayle's Thunder team-mates held the home side to 7 for 134.
Gayle admitted he felt it was a match the Thunder should not have let slip in front of 18,731 fans.
"I'm disappointed I didn't carry the team across the line," Gayle said.
"We got a good start (but) kept losing wickets at crucial times and that set us back and cost us the game.
"We definitely should've won it."
The Renegades first victory of the tournament keeps them in the mix for a finals spot.
The Thunder, undefeated in their opening two matches, needed 16 runs off the final over, bowled by Shaun Tait (2 for 32), but could only manage nine, with Tait bowling Sean Abbott with the last ball of the match.
Renegades pair Brad Hodge (44 off 31) and Aaron Finch (41 off 34) combined for 82 runs before Thunder spinner Luke Doran (2 for 26) removed both openers in the same over.
Only later did it become clear just how important those runs were, as the boundaries dried up on a tricky wicket.
From there, the wheels fell off but the Renegades managed to scramble to 8 for 140, which ended up being just enough despite more Gayle heroics at his favourite ground.
As a member of the Warriors last season, Gayle plundered 92 at the ground against a hapless Blues attack and his measured knock against the Renegades, in addition to last week's 100 not out against Adelaide, takes his tally at the ground to 267 in three innings.
Harwood says it was a pressure reliever to have secured the first win.
"It takes a little bit of pressure off the guys. It's one of those ones we needed," he said.
"Shahid Afridi obviously bowled really well ... Dirk Nannes was outstanding and gave us something to bowl to at the end.
"It was a very hard wicket to score from when you're not in."
Harwood says the upset victory was just the beginning, with another three wins from their next four matches required to make the finals.
"It was definitely [do or die]," Nannes said.
"We're thinking four games might get you there, so we're planning to win every game from here on in obviously."
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, twenty20, sydney-2000, melbourne-3000 First posted December 30, 2011 22:21:44Friday, December 30, 2011
Clarke praises Australian quicks for India win
Skipper Michael Clarke saluted his three pacemen for twice knocking over India's strong batting line-up to earn Australia an emphatic winning start to the four-Test series in Melbourne on Thursday.
The Australian pace trio of James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus shared 19 wickets to restrict India to a two-innings total of 451 as the home side romped to a 122-run victory in four days.
The pace attack reduced India's regal top order to 6 for 81 as the tourists failed to come close to the challenging target of 292 runs needed for victory at the MCG.
Clarke, whose team rebounded spectacularly from their shattering seven-run defeat to lowly New Zealand in Hobart earlier this month, praised his bowlers for their stout-hearted efforts.
"It was a really hard-fought Test match and we have to be at our best to beat India," said Clarke, who improved his record as Test skipper to four wins from nine Tests.
"They've got a lot of class players, their batting order is as strong as any batting order in the world, so for our bowlers to have success I think they deserve a lot of credit.
"It helps when you've got three fast bowlers bowling with great control, good pace. That makes a big difference."
Pattinson, 21, picked up his second man-of-the-match award in only his third Test match after taking match figures of 6 for 108 and hitting a vital unbeaten 37 in the second innings to frustrate India's efforts to restrict Australia's lead.
Australia's three pacemen also contributed significantly with the bat, with Siddle hitting 41 in the first innings and Hilfenhaus chipping in with knocks of 19 and 14 along with Pattinson's two unbeaten knocks.
"The advantage we have at the moment is 'Sidds' and 'Patto' are making runs so they're making up for a few of us like me. I didn't make any runs," Clarke said.
But Clarke denied Australia were falling prey to a top-order brittleness, after spectacular batting collapses against South Africa in Cape Town, New Zealand in Hobart and in the second innings against India in Melbourne.
Australia crashed to 4 for 27 before Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey restored the second innings with a century partnership.
"If we can knock over such a strong batting line-up like India for the amount of runs we have in this Test match, there's got to be something in the wicket as well," he said.
"It can't just be our batters. We copped a bit of criticism for being four for not many again in the second innings.
"There's reasons for Cape Town. There's reasons for Hobart.
"They've been bowling-friendly conditions. I'm really happy with our batters' plans.
"We're doing all the right things. It's just about having the confidence and freedom to continue to back ourselves."
But Clarke was not underestimating the challenge ahead for his transitional Australian team in the remaining three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series.
"There's such a long way to go in this series," he said.
"It means nothing come Sydney (next week).
"Against such a good team, you can't afford to give them a sniff. When you're on top you need to make the most of that.
"We'll take some confidence out of this Test match no doubt but there's a long way to go."
AFP
Tags: sport, cricket, australia, vic, melbourne-3000 First posted December 30, 2011 11:01:17Harris added to squad for second Test
Australia added paceman Ryan Harris to its 12-man squad for the SCG Test, as selectors weigh up the option of a four-man pace attack.
Harris, who is working his way back from a hip injury, was the only addition to the 11 that defeated India in the first Test at the MCG on Thursday.
He replaced left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, who was 12th man in Melbourne, while Dan Christian was also left out.
All-rounder Shane Watson was ruled out from returning for the second Test at the SCG, which starts on Tuesday, as he continues to recover from a calf injury.
It was uncertain when he would be ready to play.
"Shane has not fully recovered from his right calf injury and is therefore not available for the Sydney Test," team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.
"He will continue his rehabilitation and hopefully be available for one of the remaining Test matches."
Harris was regarded as Australia's leading quick before his injury absence.
But the excellent performances of James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus in the first Test victory have cast doubt on whether Harris can dislodge one of the incumbents.
However, Australia captain Michael Clarke on Thursday said selectors would consider the possibility of playing four pacemen at the SCG, in which case off spinner Nathan Lyon would be dumped.
Watson's continued absence ensures the six batsmen from the MCG Test will be retained, although the strong performances of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey in Melbourne had already shored up their spots.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin is also on safe ground, despite his continued poor form.
Chairman of selectors John Inverarity said the team would take great confidence and momentum into the second Test and he welcomed Harris' return to the squad, after a four-Test absence.
"Ryan has had carefully monitored preparation, which has gone to plan," Inverarity said.
"Mitchell Starc and Daniel Christian, who were both in the squad for the first Test, have been omitted but remain very much in our thinking."
Australia:
Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin, Ed Cowan, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mike Hussey, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, David Warner (12th man to be named).
AAP
Tags: sport, cricket, australia, nsw, sydney-2000 First posted December 30, 2011 11:21:53Heat fall to Scorchers
Brisbane captain Peter Forrest unleashed the fireworks but it was all in vain as the Heat slumped to a 10-run Twenty20 Big Bash loss to Perth Scorchers at the WACA Ground on Thursday night.
Set 163 for victory, the Heat left their run too late to finish at 6 for 152, despite the best efforts of Forrest (59 off 42 balls) and opener Matthew Hayden (33 off 26).
Brisbane's third loss on the trot left them two games outside of the top four and in grave danger of missing the finals.
Perth surged into the top four following its second straight win, and will look to strengthen its finals credentials when it takes on Shane Warne's Melbourne Stars at the MCG next Wednesday.
"I suppose we were in a good position with only two wickets down after 10 overs, but we just left it too late," Forrest said.
"At the moment we're not playing anywhere near our best and we're only just losing.
"I'm sure once we start playing to our potential we'll win easy. We definitely haven't written ourselves off in this competition."
Herschelle Gibbs praised the tight bowling performance from the Scorchers' attack.
"I think we were 20 runs short but the lads did well enough with the ball to restrict them," Gibbs said.
Former Test spinner Brad Hogg snared the key scalp of Hayden to finish with figures of 1 for 26 off four overs, while paceman Ben Edmondson returned 2 for 33 in front of a sell-out crowd of 15,454.
Forrest struck three fours and four sixes in his impressive knock, helping revive the Heat's victory chances after the visitors meandered to 2 for 64 after 10 overs.
But the contest swung well and truly Perth's way when Forrest was bowled by Edmondson in the 17th over, leaving the Heat requiring 41 off the final 20 deliveries.
The equation came down to 22 off the last over, but specialist death paceman Nathan Rimmington was able to keep Chris Hartley and Michael Neser at bay.
Earlier, Marcus North (40 off 29) and Gibbs (38 off 22) combined for a blistering 80-run opening stand to guide the Perth Scorchers to a competitive 8 for 162.
Mitch Marsh chipped in with 33 off 21, but was left nursing a sore groin after being struck in the worst possible area by a 140km/h Michael Neser full toss.
Test paceman Ryan Harris returned figures of 1 for 35 off four overs, while Test hopeful Dan Christian snared 2 for 27 off four.
Spinner Nathan Hauritz was the most economical with 1 for 16 off three.
AAP
Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia First posted December 30, 2011 00:11:14Harris a contender for SCG Test
Australia will consider recalling Ryan Harris for next week's Sydney Test as part of a four-pronged pace attack after the home side scored a crushing 122-win run over India in the first Test.
Michael Clarke's men relied heavily on the pace trio of James Pattinson (match figures of 6 for 108), Peter Siddle (6 for 105) and Ben Hilfenhaus (7 for 114) who claimed 19 wickets between them at the MCG.
Spinner Nathan Lyon contributed match figures of 1 for 91, admittedly on a wicket that was spongy and offered assistance to the seamers.
Harris, who has battled injuries in 2011 but is arguably Australia's best quick, could struggle to force his way back into the side with Pattinson claiming his second man-of-the-match award and leading an in-form attack.
But Clarke says the Sydney pitch could favour the pace bowlers.
"The SCG of late has had a fair bit of grass on it," Clarke said on Thursday after Australia had bowled India out for 169 chasing 292 to win on day four.
"It's great news for us if Ryan Harris is fully fit.
"From what I've seen in the nets he looks ready to go.
"If it has got grass on it like it did last year then there is a chance we can play four fast bowlers."
Australia will name a squad on Friday for the Sydney Test which starts on January 3.
Siddle's Victoria team-mate Pattinson, 21, described winning a Test at the MCG as something beyond his wildest dreams.
A total of 189,347 people attended the game, setting a new record for a Test match against India after beating the 181,053 who attended Steve Waugh's final game at the SCG in January 2004.
Clarke said Australia's tail-enders had played key roles in both innings, especially in the second dig when the home side had been 4 for 27.
But the skipper leapt to the defence of his side who have also been bowled out for 47 in South Africa and 136 against New Zealand in Hobart in recent matches.
"We copped a bit of criticism for being four for not many again in the second innings," he said.
"There's reasons for Cape Town. There's reasons for Hobart.
"They've been bowling-friendly conditions."
Clarke also said he had confidence in Lyon, although he admitted the off spinner's position would be discussed with his fellow selectors.
"He's bowling really well. He's learning a lot," Clarke said.
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, australia First posted December 29, 2011 21:53:42Dhoni asks for more after big names 'flop'
Skipper MS Dhoni said India's big-name batsmen flopped as his team came up well short in their run chase to comprehensively lose the opening Test to Australia.
Set an imposing 292 runs for victory, India fell apart to finish all out for 169 off 47.5 overs late on the fourth day.
It was India's fifth consecutive loss in away Tests and conjured memories of its wretched series in England earlier this year when it relinquished its top ranking in a 4-0 thrashing.
Sachin Tendulkar was India's top scorer with 73 in the first innings and just 32 in the second.
Dhoni, who now has the task of lifting his team of batting superstars for next week's second Test in Sydney, said the tourists had to show more consistency to get back into the four-Test series.
"Our batting flopped in both the innings. We have to show more consistency," Dhoni said after the defeat.
"We need to score more runs. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for us to win. We need to apply ourselves a lot more and if we do that I have no doubt that we would come back strongly."
It was a miserable effort on Thursday from the Indian batsmen with Virender Sehwag (7), Gautam Gambhir (13), Rahul Dravid (10), VVS Laxman (1) and Virat Kohli (0) showing little appetite for the fight.
Australia converted a 51-run innings lead into a challenging 291 advantage heading into the fourth innings and India was soon back-pedalling, left at 6 for 81 by Tendulkar's crucial dismissal by Peter Siddle.
"We thought if we could get them out for 240 or 250-odd runs that's a very gettable score but I felt 290-odd runs was also a score we should have achieved, the wicket was pretty good," Dhoni said.
"It's not like there was too much wear and tear in the wicket."
But Dhoni was not concerned by his star batsmen's feeble showing and expected a better effort at the SCG.
"They are very experienced batsmen," he said.
"You have to give credit to Australia bowlers for the way they bowled. They kept a nagging line outside the off-stump and that's why they got us.
"Our bowlers brought us back in to the game. We were short by 50-odd runs in the first innings. Their lower-order scored some runs, if we had got them (out) earlier, we would have had 50-60 runs less to chase.
"We need to find way to get their lower-order out cheaply."
India has yet to win a series in Australia after nine previous tours over 64 years.
Test cricket's greatest runscorer Tendulkar will get another chance to claim his elusive 100th international century in Sydney, where he has scored three hundreds including an unbeaten 241, and averages 221.33 in seven innings.
AFP
Tags: cricket, sport, india, australia First posted December 30, 2011 10:50:00Sri Lanka ends bleak year on a high
Sri Lanka captain Tillekeratne Dilshan acclaimed "one of the great wins" after his side completed an historic 208-run victory over South Africa on the fourth day of the second Test at Kingsmead.
There were wild scenes of celebration on the pitch when Rangana Herath bowled Marchant de Lange in fading light with only nine balls remaining in the day. The team reserves and management ran on to the field to join their triumphant team-mates.
"I said before the game that if we can play our brand of cricket we can beat any team. We beat one of the best teams in the world," Dilshan said.
"It's a fantastic feeling and great for the Sri Lankan fans. I'm really proud of my team."
It was Sri Lanka's first win in South Africa on four Test tours and its first win of a previously bleak 2011.
It was also the team's first win under Dilshan's captaincy and levelled the three-match series.
Asked whether it compared with a famous win over England at the Oval in 1998, he said: "Definitely. It is one of the great wins of Sri Lankan cricket."
The captain said the players would celebrate on Thursday night - "maybe all night" - before heading to Cape Town for the decisive third Test starting on Tuesday.
Set to make 450 to win, South Africa were bowled out for 241. Left-arm spinner Herath took 5 for 79 and had match figures of 9 for 128.
He was named man of the match.
South African captain Graeme Smith said the team's poor batting in the first innings, which was followed by another top order failure in the second innings, was the biggest reason for their defeat.
Smith said the Sri Lankans had adapted better to the Kingsmead pitch.
"It was a little bit slower. Reverse swing and spin played a role and they handled the surface better than us throughout the game."
Sri Lanka seemed set for an early victory when South Africa lost five wickets between lunch and tea to be reeling at 6 for 133 shortly before the interval.
The collapse included a second duck in the match for Jacques Kallis - his first 'pair' in 149 Tests.
But AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn denied the tourists for more than two hours as they put together a seventh wicket partnership of 99 which threatened to take the match into a fifth day.
Herath eventually trapped De Villiers leg before wicket and the last three wickets fell rapidly.
Smith said he was confident the Proteas could bounce back to clinch the series at Newlands, a ground where they had a good record.
"We've been here before. Cape Town is a ground that we've played well at. All of us are hurting and we've got to bounce back. The only way to do that is by playing better cricket and winning," he said.
AFP
Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka, south-africa First posted December 30, 2011 08:47:54Thursday, December 29, 2011
India to go after Lyon
Flashy India opener Virender Sehwag predicts pace will be Australia's route to success if it is to win the first Test at the MCG on Thursday.
The ten Indian wickets were shared by Australia's three quicks in the first innings, with off spinner Nathan Lyon managing 0 for 66 from 17 overs.
Sehwag said there was little sign of wear or spin in the pitch and Lyon was unlikely to be much more of a threat in the second innings.
He said the bigger danger to India would come from sideways deviation and uneven bounce when the pacemen were bowling.
"I don't think there's much spin in the wicket," Sehwag said.
"When the ball is new, seam movement is important. I don't think Australia rely on spin, they rely on seam bowling.
"We are good against spin bowling so we surely would look to attack spin bowlers."
Sehwag described the pitch as "spongy" but predicted India could chase down anything under 300 in the final innings.
Australia led by 230 with two wickets in hand at stumps on Wednesday.
With no team in the past 49 years having successfully chased down a final-innings target of greater than 237 at the MCG, it will be a tough challenge regardless of how many runs Australia's tail adds on Thursday morning.
But while 15 wickets tumbled on Wednesday, both teams credited the bowlers rather than any great terrors in the pitch.
Australia's Ricky Ponting said his side's bowlers were exceptional, while Sehwag was even more complimentary of India's attack.
"This is India's best bowling attack I have ever played with," he said.
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, india First posted December 29, 2011 08:58:55Classy Sangakkara bats out Proteas
Kumar Sangakkara hit a superbly-crafted century on the third day of the second Test match against South Africa at Kingsmead and put Sri Lanka in a strong position to "close out the game".
Sangakkara's 108 enabled Sri Lanka to reach 7 for 256 in its second innings - an overall lead of 426, eight runs more than the highest successful run chase in Test history.
The left-handed former captain shared stands of 94 with Thilan Samaraweera and 104 with rookie wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal as Sri Lanka went in search of its first win of the year - and its first in four Test tours of South Africa.
Sangakkara admitted the Sri Lankans had been stung by criticism of their performance when they were beaten by an innings and 81 runs in the first Test at Centurion.
"Comments can inspire sides and pressure can make sides rise to the occasion," he said.
"We proved we have the ability to counter attack and get into winning positions. But the match is still not over. We put ourselves in a great position. Our job now is to make sure we close the match out."
South African coach Gary Kirsten said his team's poor batting performance in the first innings, when they were bowled out for 168, had put them "in a hole".
But he refused to write off South Africa's chances.
"I'm still quite excited by what can happen," he said.
"There is a great opportunity for someone to be a hero for his country."
Both Sangakkara and Kirsten said the pitch remained good for batting and Sangakkara said Sri Lanka wanted to stretch its lead.
"Our target now is to get as many as we can in front of the South Africans and then make them work really hard to save the game," he said.
Sangakkara, whose first three innings in the series were 1, 2 and 0, had not added to his overnight score of 3 when he edged the fourth ball of the morning, from Morne Morkel, towards Graeme Smith at first slip.
Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher dived for the ball, obscuring Smith's vision, and the South African captain put down the chance.
Sangakkara made the home side pay as he constructed a classy innings in overcast and gloomy conditions. Overnight and morning rain delayed the start by an hour and the floodlights were on during most of the day.
Sangakkara reached his 50ff 102 balls with four fours and then took command, scoring his second fifty off only 59 deliveries, adding nine more boundaries. It was his 28th Test century.
"I had to work quite hard in the nets after my first three innings," he said.
"It was a case of going back to the basics and watching the ball a lot better."
First innings century-maker Samaraweera shared a crucial fourth wicket stand with Sangakkara after the first three wickets had fallen for 44 runs to give South Africa hope of bowling themselves back into contention despite trailing by 170 runs on the first innings.
Samaraweera made 43 before being deceived by a googly from Imran Tahir which he edged into his stumps.
Sri Lanka pressed home its advantage as Sangakkara and new cap Chandimal scored at almost a run a minute. Chandimal followed up his first innings 58 with 54 and earned high praise from Sangakkara.
"He was so impressive in this game, making his debut, getting twin fifties, batting in difficult conditions and building partnerships to get us into dominant positions," he said.
"He showed that with a lot of hard work he can make quite an impact for us, batting at seven and keeping wicket."
AFP
Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka, south-africa First posted December 29, 2011 08:31:23Watson unlikely for second Test
Star all-rounder Shane Watson appears unlikely to return for next week's second Test against India, although he is yet to be ruled out.
Watson has been in camp with the Australian side during the first Test in Melbourne this week as he recovers from hamstring and calf injuries which also caused him to miss the two-Test series against New Zealand.
"Shane Watson has been released home this morning to continue his rehabilitation program," a Cricket Australia spokesman said on Thursday.
"Australia team physio Alex Kountouris will catch up with him in Sydney on January 1 to further assess his progress.
"The squad for the second Test match against India will be announced after this Test match finishes."
The second Test of the four-match series starts on January 3 at the SCG.
AAP
Tags: sport, cricket, australia, nsw, sydney-2000 First posted December 29, 2011 11:22:02As It Happened: First Test Day Four
Welcome to Grandstand's live coverage of day four of the opening Test between Australia and India at the MCG.
4:39pm: WICKET! U Yadav c. Warner b. Lyon 23 (India all out 169) - Listen to the dismissal
All over! Two balls after slamming a six, Yadav goes the tonk once again but David Warner takes a fantastic running catch at long on and that's a mammoth victory for a cock-a-hoop Australia by 122 runs.
4:35pm: India has reached drinks on 9 for 163, with Yadav on 15 and Sharma 6. Still 129 runs required for victory.
4:14pm: WICKET! MS Dhoni b. Pattinson 23 (India 9-142, Sharma 0*) - Listen to the dismissal
That's not the first time someone's chopped on this match and the end is nigh now.
4:05pm: WICKET! Z Khan c. Cowan b. Pattinson 13 (India 8-141, Dhoni 22*) - Listen to the dismissal
Khan chases a very wide one from Pattinson straight after bludgeoning that six and he's out. Very soft dismissal that one.
4:05pm: Zaheer Khan's not going to die wondering here. A four, then a six into the fourth row off consecutive Pattinson deliveries.
3:37pm: WICKET! R Ashwin c. Cowan b. Siddle 30 (India 7-117, 14*) - Listen to the dismissal
Goneski! Pup urges Siddler to pitch it up, he obliges and Ashwin lobs one which Cowan gleefully accepts. A quick-fire innings of 30 off 35 balls comes to an end and Australia is three away now.
3:30pm: We're back live with Dhoni facing the Tasmanian Hilfenhaus, who has seven wickets for the match.
During the tea break Jim Maxwell and the lads caught up with Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland, who said he fully supports the DRS:
3:10pm: That's tea, with India in a dire position at 6 for 117 chasing 292 to win. Ashwin hit three fours off that last over from Siddle, by the way.
2:39pm: WICKET! S Tendulkar c. Hussey b. Siddle 32 (India 6-81, Dhoni 8*) - Listen to the dismissal
Siddle gets the great man with the first ball of his spell and India is capitulating now! Sachin takes the slow walk off the MCG for the last time in his glittering Test career.
2:35pm: Put your house on an Australian win now says @ricfinlay: "Highest 4th inns score ever made in Tests after being 5-69 or worse is only 253." Meanwhile, Dhoni gets off the mark by smacking Hilfenhaus over the midwicket boundary. Righto.
2:24pm: WICKET! V Kohli lbw. Hilfenhaus 0 (India 5-69, Tendulkar 28*) - Listen to the dismissal
Plumb! That's hitting middle and leg and while Kohli claims he got a nick, he's clutching at straws. The tourists are wilting in the face of some fantastic fast bowling by Australia.
2:20pm: WICKET! VVS Laxman c. Cowan b. Pattinson 1 (India 4-68, Tendulkar 27*) - Listen to the dismissal
Australia well on top here now, Laxman leathers one straight to Ed Cowan at square leg to continue his woeful run at the MCG. A few shaky moments for Pattinson as the video umpire checks whether he overstepped, but it's all good and Laxman's on his way.
2:00pm: Here's VVS Laxman, who averages 60 in the second innings against Australia according to Dan Lonergan. I'll add that he only averages about 17 on this ground though.
1:58pm: WICKET! R Dravid b. Pattinson 10 (India 3-58, Tendulkar 18*) - Listen to the dismissal
Bowled him! Pattinson sneaks one straight through the defences of Dravid, who doesn't move his feet and has his middle stump rattled. The Wall has been bowled twice this match, but make it three if you count the Siddle no ball. Trouble now for India, which still needs 234 runs to win.
1:53pm: India has moved to 2 for 55, still needing another 237 runs to win. Tendulkar is on 15 and Dravid 10. Can that man Tendulkar get that elusive 100th international century to guide his team to victory?
1:40pm: Cricket Australia has announced a crowd of 20,509 so far today, taking the aggregate to 184,501 for the four days. That's a record for an Australia-India Test here, beating the 181,503 who turned up to watch Tugga's last game at the SCG in 2003/04.
1:27pm: SRT strides to the wicket to much fanfare and duly dispatches Siddle for 3 to get straight off the mark.
1:25pm: WICKET! G Gambhir c. Ponting b. Siddle 13 (India 2-39, Dravid 9*) - Listen to the dismissal
"Fabulous cricket by Australia, they know Gambhir's a jabber," says Kerry O'Keeffe. Siddle pitches one that Gautam can't leave and he glides it to Punter in the cordon, India two down now.
1:16pm: Now we get a look at Peter Siddle for the first time this innings. Three slips and a gully in place for Gambhir, who almost inside edges the first delivery onto his stumps. The fourth delivery is leg-glanced by Gambhir for four before Siddle has an lbw appeal turned down from the sixth. Seemed to be in line so height appears to be the issue.
1:14pm: Hilfenhaus sends down the first ball of the second session, with Gambhir facing. He takes three through extra cover from the third delivery and then Dravid gets in on the act, with four leg byes followed by a drive straight down the ground. Very profitable first over for the tourists.
1:10pm: We've just added some more snaps to our photo gallery. Check it out here.
12:34pm: That's lunch on day four with India reaching 1 for 24, with Gambhir on 6 and Rahul Dravid 5. The tourists require a further 268 runs for victory.
12:27pm: From our stats man @ricfinlay: "Sehwag aver in India 58.19, away 46.90. 1st inns 66.54 2nd 30.67."
12:20pm: WICKET! V Sehwag c. Hussey b. Hilfenhaus 7 (India 1-17, Gambhir 4*) - Listen to the dismissal
Obviously that's a big, big scalp for Ben Hilfenhaus and Australia. Virender Sehwag chases the short and wide one, as he's prone to do, and it flies straight to Hussey who takes a sharp chance high above his head in the gully.
12:14am: And then there's this from Cricinfo stats man @rasheshstats: "India have successfully chased 200-plus in the 4th innings 5 times since 2008, more than any other side."
11:58am: India has never chased down more than 233 to win in Australia. Just saying. (Thanks @mcg). Below right is a list of the most successful run chases at the 'G.
11:55am: James Pattinson delivers the first ball of India's second innings to Gautam Gambhir and it's well wide of off stump. In fact it's called a wide.
11:45am: WICKET! B Hilfenhaus c. Laxman b. Sharma 14 (Australia all out 240, Pattinson 37*) - Listen to the dismissal
That's it but what a valuable partnership of 43 runs at the end there for Australia. India needs 292 runs to win this Test, that will be some chase. India allowed the last two wickets to put on 74.
11:35am: Ishant Sharma now after the break. He goes for just one run that over, off Pattinson who moves to 35.
11:30am: That's drinks and Australia has added a vital 50 runs in an hour for the loss of Hussey. Pattinson and Hilfenhaus have added 32 and this will be frustrating India no end.
11:28pm: Pattinson has moved to 32 and Ben Hilfenhaus 5, the partnership is worth 29 now and Australia is 277 in front. In other cricketing news, it looks like Shane Watson still won't be fit for Sydney.
11:14pm: Dropped! Pattinson on 15 skies one and Khan can't hold it running in from fine leg. Another one goes begging for Yadav as Pattinson takes two. (Listen here). He follows that up with another two and then a cracking pull shot to the midwicket boundary. If Pattinson's batting this well on this wicket, what will India do?
10:58pm: WICKET! M Hussey c. Dhoni b. Khan 89 (Australia 9-179, Pattinson 9*) - Listen to the dismissal
No mistake with this one and Hussey's on his way in the seventh over of the day. Shame he couldn't get to the triple figures. He and Pattinson added another 18 runs to Australia's total this morning and their partnership was worth 31. Hussey faced 151 balls and hit nine fours.
10:52pm: And another one for Hussey, on the same score. He gets a feather onto his pads down legside and Dhoni takes a diving effort, but umpire Marais Erasmus is put off by the pad noise by the looks. The lack of DRS is coming back to bite India now.
10:44pm: It appears Hussey might have had another life. Yadav has another lbw appeal turned down with the batsman on 80, but replays show it was likely to hit leg stump. Luck coming in spades now for the Western Australian, who was plumb lbw yesterday when on 31.
10:36pm: Cracking shot by Pattinson! Umesh Yadav's third ball of the day is battered away between extra cover and mid-off by the Aussie number 10. The Huss simply just has to lean on his bat at the non striker's end and marvel.
10:30pm: Zaheer Khan sends down the first ball of the day and it's wide of James Pattinson's off stump. Let's see if the Victorian can hang around and nurse Mike Hussey to triple figures.
10:28pm: Dan also spoke with MCG curator Cam Hodgkins, who said he was surprised that 15 wickets fell on this drop-in pitch yesterday. Cam says he aims to produce wickets to what Kevin Mitchell Jnr manages up at the Gabba. Nice blue skies have greeted the players in Melbourne again this morning.
10:25pm: Our man on the boundary Dan Lonergan has caught up with Australian batsman Ricky Ponting, who says it would be nice if Australia's tail could add a further 70 runs this morning to give India a tricky target of 300:
Meanwhile, if you missed anything on an eventful day three you can read yesterday's blog and match wrap, listen to the audio highlights or watch below. It was a cracking day of cricket.
Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, india First posted December 29, 2011 10:29:47Hurricanes boast winning BBL formula
Hobart Hurricanes captain Xavier Doherty was not surprised when no-one hailed his outfit as Big Bash League contenders.
"Probably at the start of the series, no-one really talked about us," Doherty said.
"No-one really does talk about Hobart, that is just the way it is and we accept that."
But three consecutive wins have Hobart not only BBL pacesetters, but standard setters.
Doherty, who took a masterly 4 for 17 in Hobart's 14-run victory over Adelaide Strikers on Wednesday night, is the competition's most economical bowler.
The second and third most miserly are his team-mates, Rhett Lockyear and Ben Hilfenhaus.
The Hurricanes boast the tournament's top run-scorer in Travis Birt (149 runs), with team-mate Phil Jaques third.
And Hobart's star import, Pakistani pacer Rana Naved, has taken the most wickets so far, with Doherty second.
Little wonder Doherty says the Hurricanes are riding a wave of confidence.
"Winning becomes a bit of a habit and at the moment we're winning and it's pretty good," he said.
"Guys are playing with confidence, which is a massive part of Twenty20."
Hobart's batting has been underpinned by Jaques' consistency and Birt's aggression with a common theme of steady, rather than blazing, starts to their innings.
"We probably don't have the superstars at the top of the order to go really hard," Doherty said.
"I'm sure at some stage this tournament we will get off to a bit of a flyer but so far it's more just six, seven runs an over.
"But more often than not, we have got wickets in hand and that is the main thing."
Hobart host the Chris Gayle-powered Sydney Thunder, who are undefeated from two games, on New Year's Day.
AAP
Tags: sport, cricket, australia, tas, hobart-7000 First posted December 29, 2011 14:19:47Aussie attack clicks to crush India
Australia's fast bowling cartel took the bulk of the plaudits as they tore through India's much-vaunted batting line-up in a crushing 122-run win on day four of the first Test at the MCG.
After being bowled out for 240 this morning to set the tourists 292 runs to win, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus worked over Sachin Tendulkar and co as India meekly folded for 169 to hand Australia a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
The rot set in early when dangerous opener Virender Sehwag fell for 7 just before lunch and from there it was a virtual procession for the Australian bowlers.
"Everyone's been pretty critical of us to tell you the truth over the last few months, we haven't done a whole lot wrong," Ricky Ponting told Grandstand.
"We've been very competitive every game that we've played.
"The loss to New Zealand wasn't one of our finest days but when you can bounce back and win a Test match like this it says a lot about the team."
More to follow.
Tags: sport, cricket, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted December 29, 2011 16:54:51Doherty downs Strikers for unbeaten Hurricanes
Hobart Hurricanes skipper Xavier Doherty led his side to a 14-run victory over the Adelaide Strikers in Wednesday night's T20 Big Bash League match at the Adelaide Oval.
Doherty took 4 for 17 as the Hurricanes defended their total of 4 for 171.
The left-arm spinner took the wickets of both openers and then returned to take two more in the 19th over but he was quick to pay tribute to his batsmen for making a competitive total.
"It was a really good effort by the boys - when you've got 170 on the board you'll win more often than not. As a bowler you enjoy having that many runs to play with," Doherty told Grandstand.
"Coming in at the end, when they need 15 an over, it's always going to go one way or the other but the wickets at the top of the innings were important. We knew [Aiden] Blizzard was a key player for them so to get rid of him was nice.
"We're three from three now and we have that winning feeling. Winning does become a habit especially in Twenty20 when the competition is so even."
After Doherty won the toss, Phil Jacques (41) and Jonathan Wells (34) put on 64 for the first wicket but at a relatively sluggish scoring rate, before Travis Birt (44 off 26 balls) and Owais Shah (36 not out off 18) helped the visitors accelerate to their winning total.
Following the dismissal of Strikers' openers David Klinger and Blizzard, the middle order could not find its groove until Cameron Borgas (31) and Tom Cooper (43 not out from 27) put on a 62-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Cooper gave the hosts hope with his big hitting, which included a big six onto the roof of the Chappell Stands.
Adelaide coach Darren Berry bemoaned the lack of support for Cooper at the end, as well as his side's inability to play Doherty.
"It came down to the last five overs - they got 66 off their last five and we could only manage 41," Berry said.
"It was a good game of cricket, but not good to be on the wrong side of it.
"We spoke about how we play Xavier Doherty and we certainly didn't execute that. He got 4 for 17, an outstanding performance.
"He's a really clever player in this format. We spoke about playing him straight down the ground and too many blokes got out playing across the line."
Hobart, an outsider at the start of the tournament, tops the table after winning all of its first three games.
The Strikers remain fourth with two points, ahead of Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers on net run rate.
Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia, tas, hobart-7000 First posted December 28, 2011 22:40:09Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Gillard announces Adelaide Oval funding
The Federal Government will provide $30 million towards the Adelaide Oval redevelopment.
The money will help to pay for 375 underground car parks and a wetland walk on the oval side of the River Torrens.
The Prime Minister Julia Gillard made the announcement at the oval this morning.
She says the funding will ease concerns about traffic congestion in the city during sporting events.
"What we've announced today is going to meet the needs of the local community so they're going to be reassured there will not be cars across their driveways," she said.
Three hundred of the car parks will be built beneath the new eastern stand with the remaining 75 to go beneath the indoor cricket centre at the oval's southern end.
The Prime Minister was flanked by South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) president Ian McLachlan, Acting Premier John Rau and Member for Adelaide Kate Ellis.
Ms Ellis conceded the contribution was less than the State Government initially asked for.
"I think South Australians would expect their treasurers to be asking for perhaps more money than they're going to get in the end. We think that this is a fair contribution."
SACA president Ian McLachlan says the funding will cover most of the remaining costs of the project.
"This extra 30 million really rounds out most of the important things that need to be done. There are some other things that we could do, but they're not essential," he said.
The State Opposition's treasury spokesman, Iain Evans, says the purpose of the funding is to cover the cost of a budget blow-out.
"Before the election, the State Government were telling everyone in South Australia that they could build the oval for $450 million and not a cent more," he said.
"The total cost now is well over $600 million, and the $30 million today primarily goes to paying for car parking that was already part of the project anyway."
The chief executive of the Infrastructure Department, Rod Hook, says the main purpose of the money is to provide extra parking space in the parklands.
"The two underground car parks, whilst they will contribute to support parking for major footy or cricket games, they will be mainly used for functions down here at the oval in non-major event days. That's 375 cars that otherwise may be parked around the surface in the northern parklands. Those cars can go underground and out of sight for the normal non-major event day," he said.
"We were already intending to do the 300 car parks underneath the eastern stand because that's part of the contract documents. The fact that the Federal Government is paying for that gives us roughly 15 million to redirect into other aspects of the project.
"We hadn't made a commitment to do the car park underneath the indoor cricket centre. We knew that we had to make a decision by the end of January on whether we had the funds to commit to that or not.
"This announcement today means we'll immediately commit to that."
The decision ends uncertainty about the Federal Government's contribution to the redevelopment, which was one of several infrastructure projects put on hold after the Queensland floods.
The State Government will spend $535 million on the redevelopment.
Work has begun on the project and is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2014 AFL season.
Tags: states-and-territories, federal-government, sport, cricket, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000, sa First posted December 28, 2011 08:25:12As It Happened: First Test Day Three
Grandstand brought you all the coverage as it happened on day three of the first Test between Australia and India at the MCG.
A remarkable 15 wickets fell on the day with India losing 7 for 68 before causing an Australian top-order collapse.
6:00pm: That's stumps with Australia reaching 8 for 176 and a lead of 227 runs. Hussey remained unnbeaten on 79 with James Pattinson hanging in there on 3.
5:38pm: WICKET! N Lyon lbw. Ashwin 0 (Australia 8-166, Hussey 72*) - Listen to the dismissal
Ashwin gets one to hurry on and Lyon is trapped right in front, on your bike son. Well, that little experiment lasted long.
5:30pm: WICKET! P Siddle c. Dhoni b. Yadav 4 (Australia 7-163, Hussey 69*) - Listen to the dismissal
That's four for Yadav, he gets one to seam off the deck and Siddle has to play at it, gets the edge to a diving Dhoni who does well to snaffle it. Clarke sends in nightwatchman Nathan Lyon with nine overs still to be bowled. Jim says 40,556 people have clicked over the MCG turnstiles today.
5:26pm: Dropped! There's that luck that Hussey needed. Dravid puts down a dolly at first slip of Ashwin and the Huss gets a life on 69. Big, big miss for the Indians.
5:16pm: Peter Siddle is certainly showing some better application than Haddin. Hussey's going to need him to get to triple figures now. He's on 63 and Australia leads by 208. @ricfinlay says the highest successful run chase at the MCG is England's 332 in 1928-29. Importantly for Australia though, India has never achieved a target at the ground.
4:58pm: WICKET! B Haddin c. Laxman b. Zaheer 6 (Australia 6-148, Hussey 59*) - Listen to the dismissal
Zaheer is doing the business as usual with the old ball, what a beast he is. Haddin gives VVS catching practice at second slip and the momentum of this match swings once again. Wow.
4:56pm: Looks like Brad Haddin's not going to die wondering again, in contrast to his uncharacteristic first innings. It's promoted some discussion between Harsha and Henry. Listen here.
4:47pm: WICKET! R Ponting c. Sehwag b. Khan 60 (Australia 5-142, Hussey 59*) - Listen to the dismissal
Just when Australia was looking comfortable Khan makes the important breakthrough for India. He gets one to slant in across the Tasmanian veteran and he fends it to Sehwag in the gully, ending a 115-run partnership. That's another two half-centuries from the Punter - enough to keep him comfortable for the SCG.
4:38pm: One of Cricinfo's stats men points out this is the seventh century stand between Hussey and Ponting. "Hussey hasn't got as many with any other batsman." (via @rajeshstats). And then there's this from @ricfinlay: "Ponting 14th time 50+ in each inns. SRT 9 times, Kallis 14, Dravid 10"
4:34pm: Dhoni has turned to the off spin of Virender Sehwag to try and break this partnership. Stay tuned. This bloke has bowled Ponting twice in Test cricket, once on 140 and once on 87.
4:31pm: @bhogleharsha reckons this is a match-winning partnership. "India have made the new ball count but australia have been better with the old ball." Still early days surely.
4:30pm: There's the century stand between Ponting and Hussey, off 144 deliveries. Another one please lads.
4:26pm: Now Hussey joins him with his own half-century, this one off 73 balls with five boundaries. Partnership seven off triple figures now, just what was desperately needed for Australia. Listen here.
4:22pm: Ponting dispatches Sharma to the boundary and that's 50 for the former skipper off 84 balls. He and Hussey have put on 90 now. Listen to the milestone here.
4:06pm: Ponting (41) and Hussey (39) have brought up the 100 for Australia. 187 balls and a lead of 151 runs.
3:55pm: For those questioning the impact of Twenty20 cricket on Test cricket, this makes for very interesting reading: (via @ricfinlay) "combined world test batting av b4 and after T20 cricket was introduced? 1998-2005 31.19 2005-11 32.60"
So the average is actually higher since T20 cricket was introduced.
3:50pm: We're back for the final session and it's Punter facing Yadav. Two runs off the first over, a single to each batsman.
3:25pm: And that's tea with Australia stumbling to 4 for 81 thanks to a mini revival from Ponting (33 not out) and Hussey (29 not out). The home team has a lead of 132 runs.
3:19pm: That's the 50-run stand between these two, off just 70 balls. Australia 4 for 78 now.
3:10pm: Fifteen minutes till tea now and Ponting and Hussey are carrying out somewhat of a revival, putting on 45 for the fifth wicket to lead Australia to 4 for 72. Ponting is on 29 and the Huss 24. Khan's going to have another bowl now.
2:49pm: Looks like that should have been another scalp for the tourists. Big appeal by Khan for lbw on Ponting, who's on 15, and he's given not out. Replays show it was hitting in line and would have taken middle. Bizarre decision by the umpire and Punter gets a life.
2:23pm: WICKET! M Clarke b. Sharma 1 (Australia 4-27, Ponting 9*) - Listen to the dismissal
It's a disease! Clarke drags another one on and this is a debacle now for the Aussies, who are slumping towards another record low total as drinks come onto the field. Sharma got that one to nip in just a touch and the Aussie skipper couldn't resist.
2:15pm: WICKET! S Marsh b. Yadav 3 (Australia 3-24, Ponting 7*) - Listen to the dismissal
Australia is in disarray now and Yadav is doing all the damage. Marsh, for some reason, has a go at one well wide of off stump and predictably drags it on. The lead is only 75 runs with seven wickets in hand. That's duck, duck, 3 in three innings for Marsh.
2:09pm: Ishant Sharma comes into the attack and Ponting immediately flays him for four to move past Allan Border to second-highest run-scorer at the MCG behind the great man.
Meanwhile, @jimmaxcricket has jumped on Twitter: "Australia looking shaky again. Collapses becoming as commonplace as 1978/79. Ponting to the rescue! #abcmcgtest"
2:06pm: This is frantic at the moment. Khan and Yadav are all over the Australians, Ponting and Marsh don't know whether they're Arthur or Martha. It seems another wicket could fall any moment and all of a sudden the batsmen don't know whether to play or leave.
1:54pm: WICKET! E Cowan lbw. Yadav 8 (Australia 2-16, Marsh 3*) - Listen to the dismissal
Oh dear. Ed pads up to that one and that's a big mistake, up goes the finger. Australia in a spot of bother now. A huge task for the approaching Ricky Ponting. "You had to be playing there Ed," says KOK.
1:51pm: WICKET! D Warner b. Yadav 5 (Australia 1-13, Cowan 8*) - Listen to the dismissal
That's the early breakthrough India wanted. It's a poor shot from Warner, who drags it onto his stumps and Yadav is the man once again. That's the first time Warner's been dismissed in the second innings of a Test - 140 unbeaten runs until now.
1:37pm: Warner and Ed Cowan are both off the mark, by the way. Australia 0 for 4 after four overs. Khan and Yadav on rotation for the visitors.
1:32pm: This second session is scheduled to run until 3:25pm, with the third session from 3:45pm-5:30pm.
1:22pm: David Warner takes strike against Zaheer Khan and is beaten straight up by the Indian fast man. Nice start.
1:20pm: Dan Lonergan spoke with The Two Chucks (@thetwochucks) Jarrod Kimber and Sam Collins, about their working documentary on the problems facing Test cricket during the lunch break. Kimber runs cricket blog cricketwithballs while both gents have written for Cricinfo. Listen below:
1:06pm: India's collapse from two wickets down to being all out is its worse against Australia since Perth in 1991, when it lost 7 for 44. Thanks @ricfinlay.
12:42pm: WICKET! R Ashwin c. Haddin b. Siddle 31 (India all out 282, Yadav 2*) - Listen to the dismissal
All over! What a remarkable first session. Siddle gets his third and Haddin has five catches. Australia has completely rocked India, taking 8 for 68 and the tourists are dismissed 51 runs shy of Australia's first innings total of 333. That's lunch so the home side will begin its second innings in session two.
12:29pm: In all the hullabaloo, Ashwin's actually making some runs here off Pattinson. A four through fine leg (with a bit of help by a sloppy Hilfenhaus) and then a six behind Haddin is bringing precious runs for India. Play will go until 1:00pm or when the 10th wicket falls.
12:19pm: WICKET! Z Khan b. Pattinson 4 (India 9-259, Ashwin 10*) - Listen to the dismissal
Well that was coming, Zaheer has a heave at one from Pattinson and over goes the castle. What a disastrous morning this has been for the tourists, who have lost 6 for 45 in under two hours this morning.
12:10pm: WICKET! I Sharma c. Haddin b. Hilfenhaus 11 (India 8-254, Ashwin 9*) - Listen to the dismissal
That's Ben Hilfenhaus's maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket and how deserved it is. Sharma hung around for 69 balls while Dravid, Laxman, Kohli and Dhoni fell around him - gutsy effort. India is still 79 runs behind.
12:07pm: James Pattinson appeals for lbw on Ravichandran Ashwin, who's on 7, but it's waved away by umpire Marais Erasmus. Replays reveal it's hitting middle and leg. Hmmm.
11:45am: WICKET! MS Dhoni c. Hussey b. Hilfenhaus 6 (India 7-245, Sharma 11*) - Listen to the dismissal
Australia takes the second new ball and Hilfenhaus gets his man fourth pill, a nice little glide straight to Mike Hussey in the gully by the Indian captain. The tourists have lost 5 for 31 starting with Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal off the fourth-last ball of yesterday. Hilfenhaus 3 for 9 off six overs with three maidens today - stunning.
11:29am: WICKET! V Kohli c. Haddin b. Hilfenhaus 11 (India 6-238, Sharma 11*) - Listen to the dismissal
And what do you know? Hilfenhaus gets Kohli with his second ball, another beautiful delivery from the Tasmanian swingman and India is collapsing now.
11:27am: Pup heeds the call, bringing back Hilfy into the attack with one over remaining until the new ball is due.
And for those who missed it, Ian Healy fell off a Segway this morning, a la Joe the cameraman.
11:13am: The boys behind the mic are questioning Michael Clarke's wisdom in bringing on Lyon instead of sticking with Hilfenhaus, who bowled a four-over spell of extremely high quality. It seems Pup thinks Lyon can get at Sharma, but surely Australia should be targeting the recognised batsmen?
11:11am: Siddle bounces Sharma and he somehow gets out of the way it. A bit unorthodox but he didn't get hit, so effective. "Very Dizzy-like" says Geoff Lawson.
11:05am: Hilfy gets a rest now, with Nathan Lyon coming on to take on Virat Kohli and Sharma.
11:01am: WICKET! VVS Laxman c. Haddin b. Siddle 2 (India 5-221, Sharma 5*) - Listen to the dismissal
Brilliant bowling from Australia this morning and Peter Siddle gets in on the act, getting a fuller one to jag away and snaring the big wicket of the dangerous Laxman. All of a sudden India appears in a little bit of trouble now. My how this game can change.
10:30am: WICKET! R Dravid b. Hilfenhaus 68 (India 4-214, Sharma 0*) - Listen to the dismissal
Hilfenhaus strikes on the second ball of the day with an absolute jaffa which knocks over The Wall! Dravid seemed to be searching for the swing but it held its line and knocked over off stump. A massive early breakthrough which brings VVS Laxman to the crease. He's got the nightwatchman Ishant Sharma at the other end, so a chance for another quick scalp here for Australia.
10:30am: Ben Hilfenhaus sends down the first ball of the day from the southern end to Rahul Dravid, who resumes on 68. A nice blue sky has greeted the players today so fingers crossed it stays that way.
Prior to play Grandstand's Dan Lonergan caught up with Peter Siddle who says if Australia can get its lines right, it can make inroads this morning:
Meanwhile, if you want to check out what happened yesterday, watch our highlights package:
Tags: sport, cricket, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted December 28, 2011 10:32:35Welegedera sends South Africa crashing
Left-arm opening bowler Chanaka Welegedera produced a career-best performance to put Sri Lanka in the ascendancy on the second day of the second Test match against South Africa at Kingsmead.
Welegedera took 5 for 52 as South Africa was bowled out for 168 on a good batting pitch, giving Sri Lanka a first innings lead of 170.
They added seven more runs for the loss of captain Tillekeratne Dilshan before bad light stopped play.
Sri Lankan century-maker Thilan Samaraweera attributed the astonishing turnaround in his team's fortunes to hard work after they were thrashed by an innings and 81 runs in the first Test at Centurion.
"In the last five years I have never seen the team practise so hard," said Samaraweera.
He revealed that the touring players put in two days of hard work in Johannesburg after the Centurion Test ended early, then followed up with another three days of effort leading up to the current Test.
Samaraweera said team management and senior players had rallied the squad.
"We talked a lot after that (Centurion) game," he said.
"We talked honestly. We didn't bat well, although it was a very hard wicket to bat on, and we gave 400 runs. We didn't do well, batting or bowling."
This second-day performance gave Sri Lanka hope of gaining its first Test win of the year - and Hashim Amla, who top-scored for South Africa with 54, admitted that a result was virtually certain if the weather held.
"We have to dig deep and draw on our experience of being in this situation before and coming out on top," he said.
Asked to explain the South African batting collapse, Amla said: "They bowled well and there were some soft dismissals."
But he was unable to pinpoint a reason for the South African team's inconsistency with the bat, which was also exposed in a drawn series against Australia last month.
Welegedera, whose previous best Test figures were 5 for 87 against Pakistan in Sharjah last month, bowled an impeccable line, slanting the ball across the right-handed batsmen, with all of his victims caught behind or in the slips.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath took 4 for 49 as South Africa crashed to its lowest total against Sri Lanka.
The tourists were earlier bowled out for 338. Samaraweera made a patient 102 and Marchant de Lange took seven wickets on his debut.
De Lange's figures of 7 for 81 were the best recorded by any bowler in Test matches in 2011 and put him at the top of an extraordinary crop of eight bowlers who have taken five or more wickets in an innings in their first Test match this year.
AFP
Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka, south-africa First posted December 28, 2011 08:23:36Long live Test cricket
One of the highlights of working as an ABC sports commentator is having a role in our radio coverage of the Test cricket. It's fantastic to bring all the drama and action of what is without doubt the best form of this great game.
There are constant twists and turns, unlike most limited-overs games, where apart from the thrilling finishes there is a staleness to the middle periods of contests.
This Boxing Day Test is a prime example of one team dominating only to be usurped by the other. India had the upper hand going into day three at 3 for 214, but collapsed to be bowled out by lunch for 282.
Australia took a handy buffer of 51 runs into the second innings, only for the visitors to quickly take control when the hosts slumped to 4 for 24.
Kerry O'Keefe rang his wife at lunch to tell her the way the game was going - he wasn't likely to be home until Friday - but when the Aussies collapsed, a listener suggested Kerry ring home to say he would be back that night.
The home team recovered thanks to veterans Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting, but two wickets swung the momentum back to India. It could change many more times.
These teams have played some wildly fluctuating tests over the years and these games are better remembered than those of any other form of the game.
The shortened versions have a role to play and administrators around the world are targeting young children, especially those of primary school age, to get behind Twenty20.
It's working, but there are concerns that is to the detriment of Test cricket. We need to get these pre-teen kids into Test cricket like we were at that age.
In an interview I conducted during Wednesday's lunch break, I spoke to Cricinfo's Jarrod Kimber and Sam Collins, who are in the process of putting together a documentary film looking at the future of Test cricket and whether it does in fact have a future.
The working title is a ripper - Death of a Gentleman. Both Jarrod and Sam are Test cricket lovers but concerned about this wonderful format. They are endeavouring to speak to many current and past players, administrators and media personnel to gauge their views on whether it can still be relevant.
For me the proof lies in the pudding. Australia - in South Africa last month, against New Zealand in Hobart a fortnight ago and this Test against India - continues to find itself in good and bad positions hour after hour.
There was also India's draw last month against the West Indies - that match was heading into the forgettable region after four days, but out of nowhere it changed.
Test cricket has been going for 134 years and this Boxing Day contest is providing evidence it's never been better.
May it live and prosper forever.
Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted December 28, 2011 18:13:57Healy bowled over by Segway
The Segway scooter has claimed another victim at the MCG, clean bowling former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy shortly before the third day of the first Test against India.
The Channel Nine commentator stepped off the front of the scooter after taking a ride around the MCG but it kept going and rode over the top of him.
It proceeded to chew up the turf before being brought under control.
The farcical incident followed yesterday's crash in which cameraman Joe Previtera ran into a helmet while filming the Australian team before play.
The cameraman was being interviewed by Channel Nine on Wednesday morning when Healy jumped on the scooter, completed a number of sweeping circuits on the ground, and took his own tumble.
Previtera became a minor celebrity over a decade ago for confessing to an infamous sledge that was picked up by a microphone.
His comment "can't bowl, can't throw" was directed at a struggling bowler during a Test match in Hobart but was widely blamed on Shane Warne.
Reuters
Tags: cricket, sport, offbeat, human-interest, melbourne-3000, australia, vic First posted December 28, 2011 12:44:35Old heads come to Australia's rescue
Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting did their best to mask another top-order batting collapse as Australia limped to stumps leading by 227 runs in a topsy-turvy first Test against India.
A whopping 15 wickets fell on day three at the MCG as the tourists lost 7 for 68 to be bowled out for 282 before the home side suffered a landslide of its own, crawling to 8 for 176 in its second innings with Hussey unbeaten on 79.
Australia's batting woes overshadowed an impressive maiden five-wicket haul from Ben Hilfenhaus (5 for 75), who celebrated his Test recall with a rampant display of swing bowling to obliterate India's middle order.
He was a subdued though after Australia's batting line-up failed to capitalise.
"I feel like today we started really well and got the ball rolling but it's obviously disappointing to be down as many as we are tonight," Hilfenhaus told Grandstand.
"They proved today the way they bowled that there's still enough there (in the wicket), so I think if we get to (a lead of) 300 or over 250 I think we're still a chance."
Hilfenhaus led the way for Australia this morning from the moment he rocked the off stump of Rahul Dravid (68) from the second ball of the day.
He has bowled with increased pace and intensity in this match and cleaned up Virat Kohli (11), skipper MS Dhoni (6), and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma (11) to go with Gautam Gambhir (3) yesterday.
"It's obviously a pretty good place to get your first one (five-wicket haul) but I guess the match isn't over yet," Hilfenhaus said.
"I guess we bowled well as a group today, we didn't really give much away and were able to create enough pressure to make chances.
"I never thought it (my Test career) was over.
"I did spend most of the preseason working on a few technical things to get me back bowling the way I was a few years ago, so I think that's starting to pay off and hopefully it can continue to improve."
As has been an increasing trend in recent times, Australia's top-order batsmen failed to capitalise on the toil of their bowlers.
David Warner (5), Shaun Marsh (3) and Michael Clarke (1) all chopped deliveries onto their stumps while debutant Ed Cowan (8) shouldered arms as third-Test rookie Umesh Radav (4 for 49 off 15 overs) unleashed havoc in front of 40,556.
Old-ball specialist Zaheer Khan chimed in with 2 for 32, removing a set Ponting for 60 to end a 115-run stand with Hussey, their seventh century partnership.
The pair came together with Australia languishing at 4 for 27 and turned back the clock with their careers on the line.
Both have stated they have no intention of retiring and they dug in deep for their country today, surviving some nail-biting early moments to help Australia recover from a disastrous position.
Hussey is eyeing his first century since the Sri Lankan tour after woeful series against South Africa and New Zealand.
Ponting's ton drought stretches almost two years now but with two half-centuries in a match for the 14th time in his career, his spot for the second Test in Sydney is assured.
The same cannot be said for Brad Haddin, who once again failed to put a high-enough prize on his wicket and surrendered to Khan for 6.
Tags: sport, cricket, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted December 28, 2011 18:10:10Sixers pip the Stars in SCG nail-biter
Silly run-outs and tight bowling at the death have helped the Sydney Sixers to a nervy two-run win over the Melbourne Stars on Tuesday night at the SCG.
Dwayne Bravo's 52 from 39 was ably supported by some late hitting from Dominic Thornely (29 from 13) to set up a decent 8 for 166, before the hosts chipped away at regular intervals to hold off the Stars in the final over.
Brett Lee was tasked with the last over of the night with the Stars requiring 15 runs to win, and Chris Simpson got off to the perfect start with a stylish square drive for four.
Mitchell Starc then faced the heat and managed to loft Lee over square leg for another boundary, but the experienced paceman restricted the visitors to three consecutive singles to secure the win.
The result puts the Sixers in the top rung alongside the Hurricanes and the Thunder on four points, having played a game more.
David Hussey looked to have put the Stars in control with a pacey 42 from 30 balls, but sacrificed his wicket when going for a suicidal second run and was dismissed by a sharp direct-hit from Ben Rohrer.
Adam Voges looked to pick up where Hussey left off and while his 31 from 22 balls was equally valuable, he gave up his wicket in the exact same fashion, this time to Maddinson's throw on the boundary.
Some stunning work on the boundary rope from Dwayne Bravo saved a certain six - the West Indian star leaping high to get a hand on Wright's big drive before palming it back in play before falling over the rope.
Bravo's piece of acrobatics was almost matched the very next ball as Michael Lumb raced in to snare Luke Wright with a jumping catch in the deep off Steven Smith's bowling, who finished with crucial figures of 2 for 27 from four overs.
Lee said he was not nervous coming in to bowl the final delivery of the game.
"That's the reason you play sport isn't it?" he said after the game.
"When you've got 30-odd thousand people ... to come down and bowl the last ball when there's only four runs to win, that's the reason why you play sport."
The crafty veteran also praised his side's fielding, saying it played a huge part in the victory while revealing he lost sight of the ball during his sensational catch to dismiss Cameron White.
"It went in the lights (and) I thought it was actually going to go over my head at first (so) I hung back a little bit," he said of the catch off Stuart MacGill's bowling.
"But when it came back out of the lights I thought I'd better have a crack at it and I ended up getting it."
Bravo played down his own brilliance on the boundary rope - but was happy to heap praise on Lee's heroics.
"It's good that all the guys will talk about Brett's catch," he said.
"That was a match-winning catch. It changed the game."
The match had been billed as a battle of the veteran leg-spinners Shane Warne and MacGill, and the wily duo did not disappoint.
It was Warne's first match at the SCG since his final Test match - a victory which secured a 5-0 Ashes whitewash over England in January 2007.
And the occasion of playing at the famous ground clearly got to the 42-year-old.
Warne cut a mysterious figure on the ground, wearing the playing gear of team-mate Rob Quiney. As Warne explained during commentary, he let his kids play with his gear after last week's victory over Brisbane Heat and had not been able to locate them since.
It did not rattle the champion spinner too much, with Warne again providing television commentary of his four over spell before taking the key wicket of Bravo to finish with 1 for 27 as the Sixers were restricted to 9 for 166.
Not to be outdone in the showdown of the aging spinners, MacGill chipped in with 1 for 36 for the Sixers.
ABC/AAP
Tags: sport, twenty20, cricket, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, melbourne-3000, vic First posted December 27, 2011 22:05:08Tendulkar and Dravid turn it on at the 'G
Veteran pair Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid gave the cricket world another reminder of just what it will be missing when they finally ride off into the sunset as they put on another masterclass on day two of the first Test against Australia at the MCG.
The two most prolific run-scorers in the history of the game, Tendulkar and Dravid again showed a crowd of over 50,000 why with a record-extending 20th century stand before Peter Siddle knocked over The Little Master for 72 in the final over of the day.
Cricket Australia's bean counters will rue Tendulkar's absence at the crease on day three, for the man who turns 39 next April was eyeing what would have been a 100th international century.
But this match remains tantalisingly poised with the tourists reaching 3 for 214 at stumps, trailing Australia's first innings of 333 by just 117 runs with seven wickets in hand.
Australian vice-captain Brad Haddin admitted Tendulkar and Dravid, who put on 117 for the third wicket, had tilted momentum in the tourists' favour.
"They played well and they're obviously class players, that innings from Tendulkar is one of the better 70s you'll see in Test cricket," Haddin told Grandstand.
"I think that they've probably got the better of things leading into tomorrow, it's important for us I think to shut down that scoreboard early.
"Doing that will build pressure and give us the opportunity to take some wickets."
The final eight overs of the day made for some unmissable cricket with Siddle bowling Dravid on 65, only for the man known as The Wall to be called back when it was revealed the bowler had overstepped the mark.
Siddle's misfortune unsurprisingly spurred the Victorian on and he got his just rewards with the invaluable scalp of Tendulkar, his four-over spell to close out the day reaping 1 for 5 with a maiden.
"That's cricket, you don't like to see those things happen but we can't do anything about it now," Haddin said of Dravid's reprieve.
"But the thing about it is, he (Siddle) was bowling well and creating chances which is a good thing.
"He's shown for a long time he's a class act and it was a great effort today."
Tendulkar's dismissal halted his world record union with Dravid at 6,747 Test runs and the man from Mumbai has now gone 18 innings without an international hundred, although he has clocked up seven half-centuries in that time.
Dravid dug in to remain unbeaten on 68, while opener Virender Sehwag played a typically cavalier knock of 67.
India is unbeaten in the six previous Tests the trio have all scored half-centuries in the same innings.
James Pattinson was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 1 for 35 from 15 overs, knocking over the well-set Sehwag with a delivery which caught the inside edge and castled middle and off.
In a typically brazen innings from Sehwag, he faced just 83 balls for a strike rate of 80.72 and was livid with himself at not going on, having been given lives by Mike Hussey on 11 and Haddin on 58.
Hussey grassed a particularly difficult diving chance at gully but Haddin's was a sitter and he is lucky it only cost Australia a further nine runs.
Siddle finished with 1 for 53 off 15 overs while Ben Hilfenhaus (1 for 50 from 14) was the other wicket-taker, snaring the scalp of the struggling Gautam Gambhir caught behind for 3.
Gambhir, like Ricky Ponting, has now gone almost two years without a Test ton.
Australia folded for 333 late in the first session, adding a further 56 runs after resumed on 6 for 277.
Siddle (41), Hilfenhaus (19) and Pattinson (18 not out) added some respectability to Australia's total after debutant opener Ed Cowan (68) and Ponting (62) led the way on day one.
Zaheer Khan was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 4 for 77.
Tags: sport, cricket, australia, vic, melbourne-3000 First posted December 27, 2011 18:29:50Tuesday, December 27, 2011
MacGill nominates for IPL
After an eight-year break from Twenty20 cricket, Stuart MacGill is finally ready to get on board with cricket's money-making phenomenon, the Indian Premier League.
MacGill, who did not play any Twenty20 cricket between a five-game stint with Nottinghamshire in 2003 and this year's Big Bash League, revealed on Monday that he has nominated for February's IPL player auction.
The 40-year-old had long been thought of as a specialist of the longer form of the game but with a successful comeback with the Sydney Sixers he believes he can deliver in the IPL - if someone is willing to pick him up.
"I really don't want to get too far ahead of myself here, but I'm playing in the BBL because my kids thought I was getting old," MacGill said.
"I'm proving to them that I can still cut it with the young blokes."
MacGill, who retired from all forms of cricket in 2008, played some warm-up games with Sydney University and said once he could prove that his body was up to it, the decision to apply was an easy one.
"I just wanted to see if I could keep together physically and once I ticked that box I thought 'hey, maybe it's worth my while,'" he said.
"Having played a couple of Twenty20 games now, I know I can do it. I don't get too sore.
"I know I can run around enough. It's worth a go."
He hopes to have generated some interest from IPL franchises after some eye-catching performances for the Sixers, including taking 2 for 21 against Brisbane in the opening match.
Champion spinner Shane Warne has been a key figure for the Rajasthan Royals since the inception of the IPL in 2008 and he believes MacGill will also enjoy some success.
AAP
Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, india First posted December 26, 2011 17:50:51Live Blog: First Test Day Two
Welcome to our coverage of day two of the first Test between Australia and India at the MCG.
Australia resumed at 6 for 277 after winning the toss on day one and opting to bat.
Join us for updates throughout the day as well as audio snippets for all the dismissals and milestones.
6:00pm: That's stumps on day two at the MCG with India reaching 3 for 214, still trailing Australia by 119 runs. What a massive blow late on with India losing Sachin. It goes without saying how much Australia needed that wicket. That four-over spell from Siddle reaped 1 for 5, just what the doctor ordered.
5:56pm: WICKET! S Tendulkar b. Siddle 73 (India 3-214, Dravid 68*) - Listen to the dismissal
This one counts and what a big one it is! Siddle sneaks one through the gate of The Little Master and this one's not a no ball. No 100th international century for Sachin this time around at least. What an innings though - 98 balls, eight fours and a six.
5:31pm: WICKET? No! Well, we've seen it all now. Siddle gets one straight through the defences of The Wall with a peach, but replays reveal it's a front-foot no ball! Dravid survives and it's turning into one of those days for Australia now. Listen here.
5:28pm: There's a few (not surprisingly) questioning why Warner is bowling. Listen here. Geoff Lawson reckons Michael Clarke could do worse than give himself a bowl. True that. His best Test figures of 6 for 9 are against India, although on a pitch with just slightly more turn.
5:22pm: That's the 100-run stand for these two, from 169 balls. Century stand number 20 in fact. And then they bring up the 200 for India. 2 for 200 with both batsmen on 64. Very ominous indeed.
5:15pm: David Warner's on to bowl now. Desperate measures by a desperate captain or a masterstroke? Tendulkar tries to hit the case off the first delivery, which is pretty ordinary to be honest, and it hits him in the guts. What entertainment!
5:02pm: This won't make pretty reading for Australia: "Oz up against it - 6 times Sehwag Dravid Tendulkar all 50+ in the same innings. 1 draw, 5 wins for India." (via @ricfinlay)
4:57pm: And that's Sachin's 50, off just 55 balls with six fours and that memorable six. Listen here. That's his 64th Test half-century and he's halfway to that magical 100th international ton. Dravid's 50 was his 63rd. He was level with Sachin's record for all of about six minutes there.
4:51pm: Another hairy moment for Dravid, whose edge off Hilfenhaus falls just short of Clarke at floating slip. The next ball Dravid gets some more bat on and it flies straight through third slip, that's his 50 off 137 balls with five fours. Listen here.
4:45pm: That's drinks and India has reached 2 for 167, with Dravid on 48 and Tendulkar on 47. Now for some more stats, via that man @ricfinlay: "This Ind team sets a new world record for agg runs going into a Test 53560."
4:35pm: Hussey's back on in place of Lyon, so let's see if the wily veteran can trouble either of these batsmen. We've added a stack of pics to our photo gallery today - check it out here.
4:29pm: Sachin moves past Dravid with a four through midwicket and another couple off Lyon. He's on 44 now, with The Wall on 42 and India 2 for 158. Another 25 21 overs to go today by our count. (Who said I could count...)
4:22pm: That's the 50-run stand between Tendulkar and Dravid. They average 50.7 together.
4:03pm: Sachin is starting to mow down his partner now. He cover-drives Hilfenhaus for his fifth boundary and he's raced to 28 off just 26 balls. Dravid's on 34 from 94.
3:59pm: Joe the cameraman (seriously, you couldn't make this stuff up) and his runaway Segway have hit YouTube. Enjoy.
3:46pm: @ricfinlay has this on Sehwag: "Sehwag 23rd to 8000 Test runs 93 m, 160 inns. 4th fewest mtchs, 5th fewest inns behind Sangak 152 SRT 154 Sobers 157 Dravid 158. Fastest Aussie Hayden 164, Ponting 165."
3:35pm: Huh? The first ball of the third session is delivered by the Siddler and Tendulkar uppercuts him over slips for six! "That's an outrageous shot," says Geoff Lawson. Agreed.
3:13pm: And the Huss very nearly gets him! Bat onto pad and it falls just short of silly mid-on. Tendulkar steals a single off the last ball to move to 2 and that's tea, with India reaching 2 for 99. Dravid on 25.
3:10pm: Pup throws Hussey the ball. He's going to bowl to the great man Tendulkar. This could be interesting.
3:04pm: WICKET! V Sehwag b. Pattinson 67 (India 2-97, Dravid 25*) - Listen to the dismissal
Bowled him! Fine delivery from James Pattinson, it looked like Dravid who was struggling but the dangerous Sehwag is the man to go. Doesn't move the feet, gets an inside edge and it clatters into middle and off. Massive breakthrough for the Australians and Sehwag is filthy as he trudges off. He faced just 83 balls for a strike rate of 80.72 and put on 75 with Dravid.
3:01pm: Hilfenhaus beats Dravid with a jaffa, the Aussies appeal for an inside edge but nothing doing.
2:56pm: Sehwag, on 66, is given not out caught at short leg despite a vociferous appeal from Pattinson and co. Hot Spot can't find an edge.
2:50pm: Crowd up to 51,000 today says Drew Morphett. It is a lovely day for watching cricket in Melbourne. India has reached 1 for 90 after 25 overs with Sehwag on 66 and Dravid on 19.
2:33pm: Dropped! Oh no, that's a shocker from Haddin. Only one ball after being beaten comprehensively by Pattinson, Sehwag gets the edge this time and the Aussie wicketkeeper grasses what should have been a straight-forward chance. That's two lives Sehwag's had now, this one on 58, and he'll probably make the home side pay now. Listen here.
2:31pm: "If Warner can't get to a ball then it's not a dropped catch," says Harsha Bhogle. Point well made.
2:28pm: Sehwag lofts Lyon down the ground for four and that's his 50, off just 59 balls (Listen here). Next ball, same treatment. Then is he dropped by David Warner on 55? Another ridiculously tough chance, it appears to have barely carried. Would be a tough call to say that's a dropped chance.
2:24pm: Does Kerry O'Keeffe have a crystal ball? Or is he just a genius? It's always rewarding when a prediction comes to fruition immediately. Listen here.
2:21pm: It really is quite a scary thing looking at India's batting card. As soon as Australia removes one of Sehwag or Dravid, one SR Tendulkar will stride to the crease chasing his 100th international century. It blows the mind to think SRT has had 464 opponents and 104 team-mates in his glittering career (thanks, @ricfinlay). Do you reckon Sachin could remember all of his team-mates?
2:09pm: Another interesting stat from @ricfinlay: "Of Oz bowlers 50 wkts +, Hilfy highest proportion of openers, 33.9%. Reiffel 32.7, Cotter 30.3, Bollinger 30. Lowest quick Bichel 17.2." Impressive from Hilfy. Can't imagine Bich would have got much of a run at the openers though.
2:04pm: Sehwag is looking dangerous now. Two straight boundaries off Siddle move him to 39 - once he gets past 50, heaven help the Aussies.
1:57pm: Some spin now, with Lyon replacing Hilfenhaus. India 1 for 42 with Sehwag on 29 and Rahul Dravid 3. Meanwhile Ed Cowan, who's been off the field with a back strain, has come back on. Lyon bowls a maiden - "a feather in your cap son" says Drew Morphett.
1:43pm: We've had 10 overs and Aussie skipper Michael Clarke makes his first bowling change, bringing on Siddle to the delight of his home crowd.
1:31pm: WICKET! G Gambhir c. Haddin b. Hilfenhaus 3 (India 1-22, Sehwag 18*) - Listen to the dismissal
That's been coming to be honest - Gambhir has looked anything but comfortable since arriving at the crease. Hilfy gets one to move away from him a touch, Gambhir hangs the bat out and it's catching practice for Brad Haddin. The Wall strides to the crease.
1:20pm: Dropped! Mike Hussey puts down Sehwag at gully on 11. Very tough chance, it was travelling, but we've seen the Huss take those before. Listen to the miss here.
Just a ball earlier Sehwag had laced Pattinson through cover for his first boundary.
1:16pm: Sehwag's living a charmed life as usual early in his innings but the bloke's averaging 52.16 with almost 8,000 Test runs and a high score of 319. So he can play a bit.
1:10pm: We're back for the second session and a cameraman has come to grief with the turf. Hilarious. Meanwhile, Grandstand's @ricfinlay has questioned whether Australia's total is under par? "333 or fewer 1st inns at MCG won 29 lost 28, but since WW2, won 14 lost 19."
12:30pm: That's lunch and Gambhir and Sehwag somehow survived a very nervy three overs. India 6 without loss with Sehwag on 4 and Gambhir on 2.
12:28pm: Massive swipe from Virender at Pattinson and it's missed the lot. This is the best entertainment we've had all day (save for Hilfy), and Virender's not even connecting. "You only shoulder arms with a gun," says Kerry.
12:26pm: Sehwag is beaten by a pearler, actually leaves one and then is beaten by another. "Sehwag would make a good nightwatchman. He'd be out caught at long-on for 6 second ball."
12:23pm: Hilfy sends in an outswinger and Sehwag has a crack over the top, getting a couple for his troubles. "Sehwag believes leaves are for autumn." Anymore Kerry?
12:20pm: Terrific first over by Pattinson says Kerry O'Keeffe - incidentally a maiden. "Sehwag doesn't do singles, he does boundaries". Uh huh. Lyon trots back onto the field, crisis averted.
12:17pm: Pattinson sends down the first ball of India's innings to Gautam Gambhir. Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon is not on the field - he's sitting outside the boundary rope rubbing his right elbow. Appears he got hit by Khan while batting. Ouch.
12:06pm: WICKET! N Lyon b. Ashwin 6 (Australia all out 333, Pattinson 18*) - Listen to the dismissal
That's it, Nathan Lyon plays all around that one and over goes the castle. Australia's fallen short of the 350-mark but a respectable total all the same. With just over 20 minutes till lunch, India's going to have to face a few tricky overs here.
11:49am: WICKET! B Hilfenhaus c. Kohli b. Ashwin 19 (Australia 9-318, Pattinson 9*) - Listen to the dismissal
Hilfy sends one soaring into Melbourne's blue skies and it's an easy take for Virat Kohli. 32 balls with three fours for the Tasmanian, an entertaining cameo.
11:30am: They've taken drinks with Australia on 8 for 311, with Hilfenhaus on 14 and Pattinson on 7. The home side lost 2 for 34 in that 'mini session'.
11:19am: Pattinson gets in on the act now, thrashing Ishant Sharma straight down the ground for four. Love watching tailenders go the tonk.
11:16am: Fear not - Hilfy to the rescue! A few short, sharp blows with his trusty blade and Australia's cracked the 300-mark.
11:10am: The extra slo-mo replays of Siddle's dismissal are showing tiny shards of wood flying off the edge of his bat. How quaint.
11:03am: WICKET! P Siddle 41 c. Dhoni b. Khan 41 (Australia 8-291, Pattinson 1*) - Listen to the dismissal
Whoops... the Siddler gets a feather behind to MS and Khan picks up his fourth scalp. Australia might be lucky to crack the 300-mark now - disappointing considering they were 3 for 205.
10:51am: Peter Siddle still hanging tough, on 40 now. His highest Test score is 43 and his highest first-class score is 45. Have we jinxed him? Let's find out.
10:42am: Haddin's dismissal brings James Pattinson to the crease. The weather is far better in Melbourne today, by the way. Blue skies with white clouds, so hopefully we can avoid those pesky rain delays. Then again, this is Melbourne we're talking about.
10:40am: WICKET! B Haddin c. Sehwag b. Khan 27 (Australia 7-286, Siddle 37*) - Listen to the dismissal
A bit of delay while the umpires checked whether the catch was taken cleanly and whether Zaheer Khan had bowled a front-foot no-ball, but it's all clear and Haddin is sent on his way. He faced 70 balls, an uncharacteristically slow innings for the New South Welshman.
The partnership with Siddle was worth 72 very valuable runs.
10:30am: And play is underway with Umesh Yadav sending down the first delivery of the day to Brad Haddin, who resumed on 21 not out. Peter Siddle began on 37.
Prior to play, Grandstand's sideline eye Dan Lonergan caught up with Ricky Ponting, who said he's been disappointed not to turn some recent starts into big scores:
And for those wanting a recap of yesterday's highlights, look no further than below:
Tags: sport, cricket, australia, vic, melbourne-3000 First posted December 27, 2011 10:33:49