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 18:29:50
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