Late Ajmal wickets halt England

Updated January 27, 2012 07:18:11

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took three late wickets to thrust his team back into contention at the close of the second day of the second Test against England on Thursday.

Ajmal, Pakistan's match-winner in the first match of the three-Test series, reduced England to 5 for 207 after his side had collapsed to 257 all out in their first innings.

After taking the final three Pakistan wickets for only one run, England took control with a second-wicket partnership of 139 between Alastair Cook (94) and Jonathan Trott (74). Ajmal then checked their progress in the final session.

"We set our stall out to bat for a long period of time and for 99 per cent of the day we did it really well, obviously the last 20 minutes didn't quite go to plan, but it was still a good day for England," Cook said.

"I wouldn't say it's thrown it away, we're only 50 behind."

Cook said he was unsure what lead England would need to achieve in the first innings as they face the unenviable task of batting last.

"This ground has been really high scoring, but the wicket we're playing on now is not a 600 wicket so it's obviously been prepared slightly differently," he added.

"Today it played better than it did yesterday. The wicket dried out a little bit more, I'm just not sure whether it will turn more as the game goes on."

Cook's knock steadied England after captain Andrew Strauss, who has reached 50 only once in his last 13 innings, had fallen to off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 11, pushing a thick inside edge on to his pad that looped up for Asad Shafiq to take an easy catch at short-leg.

Trott should have departed for 22, but escaped when Pakistan failed to ask for a review that would have confirmed he was lbw.

Pakistan, who play their home matches in the Gulf due to security problems in the country, finally dispatched Trott when the England right-hander was deceived by a delivery from left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman that spun past his outside edge and clipped the off-stump.

Cook seemed poised to join compatriots Graham Gooch and Ken Barrington by completing his 20th test century but he was trapped lbw on 94 by Ajmal after 25 wicketless overs.

Ajmal then struck again as Kevin Pietersen once more struggled against spin.

He was soon out for 14 after clipping an inside edge on to his pad that looped up to Hafeez at slip. Eoin Morgan (3) followed, nicking a thin edge to Hafeez.

The sparse crowd had grown as the day wore on, Pakistan fans in their traditional shalwar kameez white trousers and knee-length shirt lolling on the grass banks that divide Sheikh Zayed stadium's two stands.

Most were security guards, labourers or drivers enjoying free entry and a special day off outside their usual 70-hour working week and they saw England start brightly as Pakistan resumed on 7 for 256, with captain Misbah-ul-Haq unbeaten on 83.

Stuart Broad and James Anderson ripped into the Pakistan tail and claimed the last three wickets in seven balls.

Misbah added only a single to his overnight score before falling lbw for 84 to Broad, the all-rounder's fourth scalp of the innings.

Anderson then dismissed Ajmal for no score with a full delivery which angled towards middle and leg stump and trapped the batsmen lbw.

Three balls later, England claimed their first catch of the innings to wrap up the Pakistan tail, Junaid Khan edging a short ball from Anderson to Graeme Swann at second slip.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, pakistan, united-kingdom, england

First posted January 27, 2012 07:09:19

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Rain halts Black Caps' charge

Updated January 27, 2012 17:18:56

Torrential rain dashed New Zealand's hopes of building an imposing first-innings lead in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, with an injury to captain Ross Taylor further frustrating the home side.

The Black Caps began the day at 5 for 331 and looked to be comfortably approaching Taylor's stated target of 450-plus as they advanced to 392 without further loss.

But a downpour ended play mid-way through the first session and officials abandoned play late in the afternoon when it became apparent the weather would not clear.

In a further setback for the Black Caps, Taylor was forced to retire hurt early in the day after taking his overnight score of 111 to 122.

He took off for a quick single but pulled up mid-wicket clutching his right calf and limped to the non-striker's end, unable to continue despite on-field treatment from the team physio.

Under rule changes introduced in October, Taylor was unable to call for a runner, bringing tail-ender Doug Bracewell to the crease.

Bracewell should have been dismissed two overs later but was given a life when Forster Mutizwa grounded an easy catch at extra cover.

BJ Watling, shouldering responsibility as the last established batsman, upped the tempo after previously contenting himself with a support role and brought up his half-century just before the heavens opened.

Watling ended the day on 52 not out, with Bracewell on 11.

With fine weather forecast for Saturday, New Zealand will be looking to add runs early and hoping an attack that includes four seamers can find the penetration that has so far eluded Zimbabwe's bowlers.

There have only been two results in nine Tests at Napier and New Zealand has never won at the venue.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, new-zealand

First posted January 27, 2012 17:12:38

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As it happened: Fourth Test Day Four

Raman Goraya

Updated January 27, 2012 20:10:50

Revisit Grandstand's live coverage of the fourth day of the final Test between Australia and India in Adelaide.

WICKET - V Kohli run out Hilfenhaus 22 (India 6-166, Sharma 2*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Well this makes absolutely no sense. Kohli tries to protect nightwatchman Sharma (in the middle to protect number 7 Saha) by attempting a suicide single off the final ball of the over. Ben Hilfenhaus runs around from mid on and pulls off a remarkable piece of fielding with a direct hit. The rash Kohli on his way.

WICKET - VVS Laxman c. Marsh b. Lyon 35 (Indian 5-162, Kohli 20*) - Listen to the dismissal.

What a catch! Shaun Marsh takes a cracking reflex grab at short mid wicket. Laxman can hardly believe it. He whipped that furiously off the back foot. Another Indian veteran departs for the final time and the crowd once again recognises his contribution over a classy career. Not this series though, just 155 runs at 19.37 for VVS.

5.53pm: Entry to the Adelaide Oval will be free for day five. Yes.. we are going to day five.

5.40pm: It's Clarke Time. The skipper to roll the arm over with just a few overs left in the day.

5.36pm - DROPPED CATCH

Ricky Ponting grasses one at second slip. Even the best make mistakes. Harris, bowling at good pace, gets Laxman flashing at one and it zips right into those trusty palms and then out again.

5.25pm: Lazy Laxman survives a direct hit, Kohli gets flashy cut through through gully but the Aussies are having a nice old chuckle out in the middle. Has somebody told them there is a 60 per cent chance of rain in Adelaide tomorrow?

DRINKS - INDIA 4-121 (VVS Laxman 9*, V Kohli 8*)

4.52pm: Siddle has had two massive appeals for lbw against VVS. Both turned away by umpire Dharmasena. The Victorian is fired up and has a few choice words to the Indian veteran and is told to cool it by Dharmasena. Siddle is in no mood to be told off and turns his back on the umpire muttering to himself. He might be called into the match referee's office by the end of the night.

WICKET - S Tendulkar c. Cowan b. Lyon 13 (India 4-110, Laxman 6*) - Listen to the dismissal.

The last we see of Sachin Tendulkar in a Test innings on these shores. Lyon has asked some good questions and an inside edge floats up off his front pad and Ed Cowan swallows it up at short leg. The crowd stands again to applaud the Little Master off the field. He cuts a disconsolate figure as he trudges off and is no doubt disappointed he couldn't find more runs this innings and this series (287 runs at 35.87).

WICKET - R Dravid c. Hussey b. Harris 25 (India 3-100, Tendulkar 9*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Dravid's series is over (194 runs at 24.25). At least it wasn't bowled. Good reward for Harris, who persisted on a good line and length. The 39-year-old leaves the field in Australia for the final time. A legend of the game. Amazing career stats, but his number may be up now.

3.25pm: Sachin strides to the crease for the final time in a Test match in Australia. He will get the same reception when he leaves, but will there be something special in between?

WICKET - V Sehwag c. Ponting b. Lyon 62 (India 2-80, Dravid 14*) - Listen to the dismissal.

A terrible ball by Lyon. Full toss and somehow Sehwag gets a leading edge that goes straight up in the air. That should have gone into the Chappell stands. What a waste. Lyon almost looked embarrassed he got a wicket from that delivery. Sehwag 198 runs at 24.75 for the series.

HALF-CENTURY VIRENDER SEHWAG - Listen here.

What a whirlwind knock this has been from Sehwag. Just 36 balls to get to 50. Typically flighty but brutal at the same time. Eleven boundaries and six singles.

2.49pm: At the other end, Nathan Lyon is introduced in place of Siddle. This will be interesting with Sehwag showing no signs of letting up. Of Viru's 36 runs, 32 have come from boundaries.

2.48pm: Hilfenhaus is back into the attack for Harris. He has bowled Dravid three times this series.

2.35pm: Sehwag means business. He is throwing the bat at everything and has so far got away with it. Couple of lovely shots in there as well. The captain is 31 off just 21 balls.

2.30pm: Peter Siddle is into the attack, replacing Hilfenhaus at the River End. What's the over/under on how many overs it takes him to get a wicket? Around 3.5?

WICKET - G Gambhir c. Haddin b. Harris 3 (India 1-14, Sehwag 10*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Harris puts it in the zone and yet again Gambhir is playing in front of himself with hard hands and gets a meaty edge. The opener either refuses to adapt to Australia's quick conditions or can't. Gambhir's series ends with a disappointing 181 runs at 22.62.

2.06pm: So close! Sehwag flays at one wide outside off stump and Michael Hussey is just a fingertip away from taking a terrific catch at gully and handing Hilfy a Test hat-trick.

2.05pm: Ben Hilfenhaus is on a hat-trick from the first innings.

2.02pm: Ryan Harris opening the bowling. Another chance for the Indian openers to get some runs.

1.50pm: AUSTRALIA DECLARES 5-167, LEADS BY 499 RUNS

Australia makes India come out to field for a bit after lunch before declaring. The magic number is 500. Very interesting reaction by Michael Clarke in the pavilion. He looked quite frustrated when he waved Ponting and Haddin in. Were they taking too long to get to the desired target? Nevertheless, Australia has just under five sessions to bowl India out for the eighth time this series.

12.55pm: Ricky Ponting 2012 has now scored more runs than Ricky Ponting 2011 (415 runs at 31.92). Year of the Tasmanian Tiger.

12.50pm: Brad Haddin is scratching around early. Would be surprising if Zaheer Khan wasn't subtly warming up in front of Sehwag right about now. Go on Viru, bring the big Zak on for a bit of Test match drama before lunch.

WICKET - M Hussey lbw. Sharma 15 (Australia 5-147, Ponting 51*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Mr Cricket departs, playing outside the line and struck firmly on the front pad. Umpire Dharmasena takes an age to raise the finger. Ishant Sharma finally gets some reward. He's worked hard without much luck this series. That was just his fifth wicket of the series. Michael Hussey's stats v India: 293 runs at 58.60.

HALF-CENTURY - RICKY PONTING - Listen here.

Ricky Ponting has six Test centuries at the Adelaide Oval. He now has six fifties. Could be a big 2012 for Punter. Bowlers around the world are writing angry emails to the Indian team with the subject line "Thanks for nothing."

12.25pm: DROPPED CATCH

Ponting checks one of his patented hook shots and it goes high in the air. Rahul Dravid, running backwards, gets his hands on it but can't take the catch. Another tough chance. Never easy looking over your shoulder. Although the Indian batsmen should get used to it....

WICKET - M Clarke c. Saha b. Yadav 37 (Australia 4-111, R Ponting 34*) - Listen to the dismissal.

The skipper is out caught behind. He doesn't seem too happy about the decision, touching his pad and shaking his head as he walks off. He'll have to be content with 626 runs at an average 125.20 this series. Not too shabby. The fourth best by a captain in a series behind some greats in Gooch, Bradman and Lloyd.

11.55am: DROPPED CATCH

Ravi Ashwin is into the attack. Clarke drives a flat one straight and the off-spinner can't hold on. A tough chance - that was travelling.

11.52pm: Ponting and Clarke have put on 58 for the fourth wicket. Interestingly, every time they've gone past 50 against India (three occasions) they'e converted it into a partnership over 200. Boom or bust.

11.42am: Looks like Ponting and Clarke and setting themselves for some quick runs now. They've made the Indians sweat enough and the lead is past the 420 mark. The highest ever second-innings chase is 7-418 by the West Indies against Australia at Antigua in 2003. The highest in Australia was South Africa's 4-414 in Perth just over three years ago.

11.30am: With all due respect to Australia's brilliant performance this summer, there is a much more interesting Test series going on in the desert. Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal has number one ranked England in a spin after day two of the second Test in Abu Dhabi:

11.23am: Clarke and Ponting just going along at a steady pace. Not a lot of intensity in the Indian field. They could use a bit of inspiration from a catch like this perhaps:

11.05am: There has been plenty of chat this morning about young Virat Kohli's comments last night. He certainly is a thorny character. In some ways that is exactly what India needs from its next generation. But he obviously needs to be mindful of what he says so early in his career, especially as he will be earmarked as a future leader. By the same token, explicit abuse from the crowd towards players should not be tolerated anywhere in the world.

11.00am: Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting start the day at the crease. I wonder if the Indian bowlers got any sleep last night knowing that? Zaheer Khan to start us off.

10.55am: Before the start of play Peter Walsh caught up with Australian quick Ben Hilfenhaus. The big Tasmanian has enjoyed an outstanding summer after seemingly being plucked out of the Test wilderness. He tells Walshy a lot of the credit belongs to the way the Australian attack has bowled as a unit.

10.50am: Thanks for joining once again. Another hot one in Adelaide. Can India show some spine today and finish the series with a match-saving performance with the bat? It'll be an uphill battle on a dry pitch that is beginning to break up.

On day three, Australia bowled the Indians out for 297. Virat Kohli's determined 116 and a few late wickets were the only highlights for the tourists. If you missed any of the action look no further than below:

Tags: cricket, sport, australia, india

First posted January 27, 2012 10:59:50

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Marsh only battling himself: North

Updated January 27, 2012 20:14:09

Former Test batsman Marcus North has urged national selectors to keep faith in out-of-form left-hander Shaun Marsh, insisting the 28-year-old will come good as soon as he has overcome his mental blockages.

Marsh has been a shadow of himself since suffering a back injury in South Africa two months ago, posting scores of 0, 0, 3, 0, 11, 3 and 0 in his past seven Test innings.

North knows what it is like being in the selection firing line after his own 21-Test career was brought to an end during last summer's Ashes series.

But the Western Australia captain says Marsh is an immense talent who will soon break free from his mental shackles.

"There's no doubt he's fighting himself more than anything," North said.

"It's such a mental game and it's just a matter of getting that breakthrough innings to get your thinking in the right way and having a bit of confidence.

"It was only a couple of months ago we were all talking about how good his technique was in South Africa.

"That innings he played with Michael Clarke in Cape Town (scoring 44) with the moving wicket was pretty exceptional."

With no more Tests to come before Australia's March-April tour of the West Indies, North says it is up to Marsh to prove his form in the one-day arena after his woeful India series average of 2.83.

"Six innings ago, we were all talking about Shaun Marsh as our first picked and there were comments about (Ricky) Ponting and (Mike) Hussey being dropped," he said.

Cricket Australia's high performance manager Pat Howard says Marsh will never be written off but he refused to be drawn on his short-term future.

"I'm not going to make a call on any individual - that is not my job," Howard told the Nine Network.

"And we never write anybody off. Everybody has got a journey."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted January 27, 2012 19:26:47

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Aussies rout India with 4-0 whitewash

Raman Goraya

Updated January 28, 2012 14:53:58

Australia continued to distance itself from last summer's Ashes humiliation by wrapping up a comprehensive 4-0 series whitewash over India at the Adelaide Oval.

Needing just four wickets for victory on the final day, the Aussies bowled the tourists out for 201 to win the fourth Test by 298 runs with more than two sessions remaining.

On this same ground just over a year ago, Australia was subject to an embarrassing innings and 71-run defeat to England which proved pivotal in losing that series 3-1 and a drop to fifth on the ICC Test rankings.

But under new captain and player-of-the-series Michael Clarke, Australia has been reinvigorated and produced a stunning reversal to rout the world's second-ranked side.

"The disappointment of last summer has inspired a few of us who played in that series to make sure it didn't recur this summer," Clarke said after receiving his award for his 626 runs at an average of 125.20 this series.

"The end result looks like we have won quite convincingly, but I can guarantee it didn't feel like that out in the middle," the captain added when talking to Grandstand.

"We have put a lot of hard work and a lot of time and effort in as a team.

"But it is so satisfying and rewarding to have won this series 4-0."

Indian captain MS Dhoni praised Australia's ability to rise to occasion when a match was there to be won.

"Australia played consistent cricket which was very important," he said.

"Whenever a partnership was needed a few of their batsmen stood up. When it was needed from their bowlers to bowl consistently in one area that's what they did.

"They always stepped up when needed."

Clarke, who said he was driven by his promise to lead from the front, led the series Australian runscorers ahead of fellow veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey.

"It's nice for the senior players to be scoring a lot of runs," he said.

Ponting, who oversaw the Ashes loss before handing over the captaincy to Clarke, said it was satisfying to return to form and help Australia back to some of its best cricket after a loss to New Zealand in Hobart.

"That's what my life has been all about. I'm a cricketer and a batsman and my job is to score runs consistently," he said.

"We want to be heading in the right direction in a hurry."

Ponting revealed he has to work hard on correcting his flagging technique as far back as the tour of South Africa.

"The way my technique had gotten I had to do some things differently with my preparations to give myself the best chance out in the middle," he said.

"(Batting coach) Justin Langer and I have worked especially hard for the last few months to change things around.

"It took a while to come around but the last couple of weeks it has felt as sharp as it has in a long time."

Peter Siddle was named man-of-the-match for his six wickets ahead of Ponting and Clarke, who both cracked double-hundreds in Australia's first innings.

Clarke said his bowlers' ability to back up talent with discipline kept India's long list of star batsmen in check all series.

"It's just about executing our plans with the ball for long periods of time," Clarke said.

"We built a lot of pressure, we bowled a lot of dot balls and I think that has played a big part in the bowling attack having so much success."

Australian bowling coach Craig McDermott, hailed as catalyst in turning around Australia's fortunes with the ball over the last six months, said the reversal has been as easy as keeping the ball up and staying fit.

"When I first started I wanted the fittest attack and our guys have kept themselves in good nick on and off the park," he said, despite losing young guns Pat Cummins and James Pattinson to injuries.

"And certainly being able to execute that fuller length. It sounds a bit boring but it is what gets wickets... we bowl the right balls."

"I think we are on the brink of something really good over the next couple of years."

Australia took 80 wickets for the series while India only managed just 46 and conceded 2,375 runs.

But the blame seems likely to fall at the feet of a disappointing batting performance by the visitor's long list of veterans, who continually struggled on the quick Australian deck despite success in the past.

Former Indian captain Ravi Shastri said there will be a lot of mental scars from India's eighth straight Test defeat on foreign soil.

"They can't do much worse than this. They'll have to rebuild now and identify some youngsters," he said.

"Teams lose, but you want to put up a fight. I thought the attitude shown by some of the players and whole level of competition was below par.

"The real positive to come out is Virat Kohli. He is a player of the future.

"I wish Rohit Sharma was given an opportunity and Umesh Yadav has promise. Apart from that there is very few positives."

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted January 28, 2012 13:51:54

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Aussies on the brink of series whitewash

Raman Goraya

Updated January 28, 2012 09:09:00

India's ageing and faltering batting line-up left the Test arena for the final time on Australian shores taking with it the faint chances of saving the fourth Test at the Adelaide Oval.

Australia will need just four wickets on the fifth day to wrap up a clinical 4-0 series whitewash after the tourists once again collapsed to be 6 for 166 at stumps.

A 60 per cent chance of showers and thunderstorms forecast for the late morning in Adelaide threatens to spoil the party, but Australia improved its odds of beating the elements and its opponents by taking 4 for 74 in the final session of day four.

Ryan Harris led the way for the quicks on day four, finishing the day with figures of 2 for 25 while honorary South Australian Nathan Lyon removed Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman to have 3 for 57 at day's end.

"It's a great effort by our bowlers out there, to back up what the batsmen did in the first dig which was something very special," Lyon told Grandstand.

"We still have a lot of work to do to win this Test match, but we are certainly having a bit of fun out there.

"There is a really good vibe in the squad.

"If we come out here in the morning and our quicks knock over the four left I'll still be over the moon with my efforts in this Test match."

India was set an unassailable target of 500 when Australia declared for the second time in the match, this time at 5 for 167 shortly after lunch.

The visitor's resistance looked dependent on the flashing blade of stand-in skipper Sehwag, who belted a half-century off just 36 balls before handing his wicket away on 62.

Veterans Rahul Dravid (25), Tendulkar (13) and Laxman (35), for so long the pillars of a star-studded batting line-up that helped India to the top of Test cricket until just six months ago, all departed cheaply and to warm applause from the Adelaide crowd.

In 118 Tests together, the three wise men of Indian cricket have scored 26,910 runs.

In this series they managed just 636 runs at a combined average of 26.5 and along with their team-mates were clearly no match for Australia's reinvigorated pace attack.

"They've been legends of the game and they've played some wonderful cricket in Australia," off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin told Grandstand.

"They have been batting well. It's a series where things started well but it has not ended well. It can happen in cricket."

Emerging star Virat Kohli (22) was needlessly run out in the second last over of the day following a superb piece of fielding by Ben Hilfenhaus.

India's impending defeat will be its eighth straight Test match defeat on foreign soil and Ashwin said the tourists can use Australia's recent recovery as inspiration.

"It's definitely hard to cope with, but in saying that every team goes through a down side," he said.

"Australia really recovered from a really bad loss in the Ashes and they came forward.

"That's the kind of positive we need to take forward.

"We will take as much out of this as possible and put it in the experience bank and try and make use of it as our careers go on."

Earlier in the day, Michael Clarke was dismissed for 37 and finished the series as the leading runscorer with 626 runs at an average of 125.20.

Ricky Ponting remained unbeaten on 60 when the declaration was made, and has already made more runs in 2012 (422) than he managed from his seven Tests in 2011 (415).

Starting the series with the future of his spot in doubt, Ponting has shone while Tendulkar, arguably weighed down by his much-hyped quest for a 100th international ton, has not cracked three figures for 22 innings - his longest career drought.

Tendulkar also leaves Australia without scoring a Test century for the first time in his five visits.

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia, india

First posted January 27, 2012 20:01:19

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Injured Taylor out of Zimbabwe series

Updated January 28, 2012 09:20:20

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor has been ruled out of the remainder of the Zimbabwe series by a calf strain which forced him to retire hurt on 122 in the first innings of the Test.

Taylor was attempting a quick single early on Friday as he built on his sixth Test century when he tore his right calf and was forced to hobble from the field.

Following hospital treatment, he said he would be sidelined for three to four weeks.

New Zealand is playing one Test, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches against Zimbabwe before hosting South Africa from February 19.

"While it is early days, our target is to have Ross available for the one-day series against South Africa in late February," New Zealand physiotherapist Paul Close said.

Meanwhile, a full day's play was expected in Napier on Saturday after much of Friday was washed out by rain.

With three days remaining in the one-off Test, New Zealand resumes its first innings at 5 for 392 with BJ Watling on 52 and Doug Bracewell on 11.

Brendon McCullum takes over as New Zealand captain for the remainder of the match.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, new-zealand

First posted January 28, 2012 09:20:20

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As it happened: Fourth Test Day Five

Updated January 28, 2012 14:55:12

Revisit Grandstand's coverage of the final day in Adelaide as Australia capped off the series with victory over India.

PLAYER OF THE SERIES: MICHAEL CLARKE

"It hasn't come easy. It might look like that with 4-0 on the scoreboard but it certainly hasn't felt like that. We had to work our backsides off.

"The disappointment of last summer has inspired a few of us to make sure it didn't recur this summer.

"We knew we had to get better... every day we go to training and work hard and I think we've seen the results on the field.

On India: "I know they've copped a bit of flack over the last few months, they are legends of the game and the Australian public loves to come see you play."

INDIAN CAPTAIN MS DHONI

"Australia played consistent cricket which was very important.

"Whenever a partnership was needed a few of their batsmen stood up. When it was needed from their bowlers to bowl consistently in one area that's what they did.

"They always stepped up when needed."

On India's future: "Our next Test series is in September so we have plenty of time to think about it.

"We all know the reasons for what went wrong in England and also Austalia.

"There is plenty of time [to address those problems]. We have a good ODI series coming up, so we are looking forward to that.

"The squad is completely different to the longer format."

MAN OF THE MATCH: PETER SIDDLE

Australian quick Peter Siddle beats Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke for the man-of-the-match in Adelaide.

"The bowling unit has been superb. We have done the job together, I was lucky to get the rewards here.

"My bowling length, a little bit of shape there and probably just my patience and consistency," were the aspects Siddle said he has most improved on.

Stay with us. Plenty of interviews to come and all the news from the player of the match and player of the series.

WICKET - U Yadav c. Haddin b. Lyon 1 (India 201) Australia wins by 298 wins - Listen to dismissal.

That's it. The whitewash is complete. Yadav edges one into the gloves of Haddin and Australia wins 4-0 on home turf. This side has deserved nothing less. The resurgent Aussies are back. India will return home vanquished and in desperate need of a fresh start.

WICKET - Z Khan c. Warner b. Hilfenhaus 15 (India 9-193, Ashwin 9*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Hilfenhaus's haul continues to grow. Zaheer tries to swat one over mid wicket, gets a leading edge straight to short cover.

11.45am: Ben Hilfenhaus is into the attack, out to add to his series-leading 26 wickets.

11.35am: Zaheer hits Siddle for two boundaries in one over. Doesn't like to go quietly, old Zak.

WICKET - W Saha c. Haddin b. Siddle 3 (India 8-170, Ashwin 1*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Siddle gets his first scalp for the innings. You could tell he wanted that. The Vic quick now has 23 for the series. In comes Zaheer on a king pair.

WICKET - I Sharma c. Haddin b. Harris 2 (India 7-166, Saha 0*) - Listen to the dismissal.

First wicket falls without any change to the Indian score. Harris gets his third thanks to a nice little nick by the India quick Sharma. Could be wrapped up here very quickly.

11.05am: Peter Siddle gets a crack to partner Harris on the final morning instead of Ben Hilfenhaus.

11.00am: Ryan Harris to open the bowling for the Aussies.

Welcome back for the fifth and final day of the series. Another stinking hot in Adelaide and blue skies, so doesn't look like those showers are going to stop the Aussie juggernaut.

Before play Peter Walsh caught up with Aussie quick Ryan Harris, who said the Australian team is preparing like this will be like any day in the field:

It was a sad and familiar tale for the Indians on day four. If you missed any of the action, look no further:

Tags: cricket, sport, australia

First posted January 28, 2012 11:05:06

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Panesar shines before Pakistan rallies

Updated January 28, 2012 08:59:29

Monty Panesar ripped through Pakistan's top order to reduce the hosts to 4 for 125 in their second innings at the close of the third day of the second Test, 55 runs ahead of England in an interestingly poised match.

Left-arm spinner Panesar, playing his first Test since 2009, dispatched opener Mohammad Hafeez (22), captain Misbah-ul-Haq (12) and Younus Khan (1) to end the day with 3 for 44 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Panesar's exploits left Pakistan struggling on 4 for 54 with England looking well-placed to avenge its 10-wicket defeat in the series opener last week.

However, batsmen Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali dug in, roared on by the team's passionate support as they put on an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 71.

"I think Monty bowled really well - the different angle has been important with their right-handed batsmen because he can trap them on the crease and get the lbws and bowled," team-mate Stuart Broad said.

"He was nervous the first day, but today he grew and grew and I think he's going to be important holding them tomorrow and then attacking later on.

"We're two (wickets) from their tail and we know with the new ball we can mop them up if we need to."

Security problems have forced Pakistan to play home matches in the Gulf, but with more than a million Pakistanis living in the United Arab Emirates the Abu Dhabi crowd was firmly behind Misbah's men.

Pakistan's raucous supporters filled the stands, the attendance swelling to an estimated 14,000 after midday prayers.

Every run brought exuberant cheers as England's bowling menace waned as the session end drew near.

Shafiq (35) and Ali (46) upped Pakistan's run rate from just 73 in the first 40 overs of the innings to 52 from the final 21 overs.

Their only real scare was when Kevin Pietersen fluffed a run-out opportunity, missing the stumps with Shafiq flailing in no-man's land as Pakistan attempted a quick single.

"We are very confident, we are fighting back into this game," Ali said.

"We lost four wickets, but we both were determined - we didn't want to give up.

"There was support for both teams - there were a lot of Pakistanis and there is English support as well, so it was a fantastic crowd."

When asked what sort of target Pakistan needed to set England, Ali said: "150 would be very good and above that would be excellent."

Earlier, Broad's unbeaten 58 helped England achieve a 70-run first innings lead.

His knock was vital after Matt Prior and Ian Bell both disappointed with the bat, England losing its final five wickets for 120.

For Pakistan, all-rounder Hafeez finished with 3 for 54 while Saeed Ajmal ended with 4 for 108.

Reuters

Tags: sport, cricket, united-arab-emirates, united-kingdom, england

First posted January 28, 2012 00:22:46

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Sri Lanka sacks Marsh, brings in Ford

Updated January 26, 2012 06:55:51

Sri Lanka Cricket has sacked its Australian coach Geoff Marsh and replaced him with South African Graham Ford as part of a major shake-up following the national team's poor run.

Marsh's sacking came after Tillakaratne Dilshan quit his captaincy on Monday and former skipper Mahela Jayawardene was brought in to lead the team to Australia for the upcoming triangular one-day series involving India.

"The executive committee of Sri Lanka Cricket takes this opportunity to wish... the newly appointed coach Graham Ford the best of luck during their tenure with the national team," the statement said.

There was no immediate comment from Ford.

"They also convey their gratitude to Geoff Marsh the outgoing national coach," the statement said.

Ford, 51, is the fourth coach since Australian Trevor Bayliss stepped aside after the World Cup final in April 2011.

Bayliss's assistant Stuart Law took over for the England series and quit to coach Bangladesh.

Sri Lankan pace bowler Rumesh Ratnayake took over for the home series against Australia and was replaced by Marsh in September 2011.

There was no immediate comment from Marsh, who had a two-year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket.

Sri Lanka's sports minister last week named a four-member selection panel and gave them one year to put the team in order after the side lost Test and one-day series to England, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa.

"The top was changed to bring some results, to restore our pride in the national sport," minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said.

A former all-rounder, Ford quit as head coach of the Dolphins, the Durban-based franchise last week, and said he wanted to "follow my dreams of involvement at an international level".

Ford replaced Bob Woolmer in 1999 as South African coach, a post he held till 2001. He shifted to Kent as director of cricket in 2004, and returned home in 2006 to take charge of the Dolphins.

In June 2007, he famously turned down an offer to coach India, after being chosen to replace Australian Greg Chappell. In 2009, he withdrew his name as candidate to coach England.

Sri Lanka's team manager Anura Tennakoon was also replaced on Wednesday with former player Charith Senanayake.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka

First posted January 26, 2012 06:55:51

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Lyon to be Aussie trump, says Siddle

Updated January 27, 2012 09:03:32

Paceman Peter Siddle expects spinner Nathan Lyon to bowl Australia to a 4-0 series sweep over India on a wearing Adelaide Oval pitch.

Australia resume on day four of the fourth Test at 3 for 50 in their second innings, a lead of 382 runs over the struggling Indians.

Siddle, who took 5 for 49 as India were bowled out for 272 on Thursday, believes Lyon will be the trump card as Australia press for victory.

"There was a couple of balls that went up-and-down... hopefully it (the pitch) deteriorates a little bit more," Siddle said.

"Hopefully we can bat the next 30 or 40 overs in the morning, if we can bat that time, and see where we go from there.

"It always gets hard here the fourth and fifth days, it's tough to bat on.

"There is starting to be a bit of turn, so I think Nathan Lyon is definitely going to come into the game massively in their second innings.

"Hopefully we can support him well and get the job done."

Australia opted not to make India follow-on after Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus (3-62) scuttled the tourists in their first innings.

Siddle said that decision was easy, given Adelaide Oval's history of being difficult to bat on late in a game.

"The Adelaide wicket is one you don't want to be batting on last, so we didn't think too much about that," he said of the follow-on.

"It was just a matter of batting for a bit of time but also trying to get some runs and bat them out of the game."

But Indian centurion Virat Kholi believes his team can still make a real game of the final Test if it can capture early wickets today.

"Last time around as well Australia in the Adelaide Test, they scored 400 on the first day and we chased [that] down in the fourth innings, the ball is turning square now and with Ashwin bowling, well you never know," he said.

AAP/ABC

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted January 27, 2012 08:43:48

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Cricket News Is Very Important For The Fans

Broad, Swann put England in charge

Updated January 26, 2012 07:21:49

England's Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann were the scourge of Pakistan as they picked up six wickets to reduce the hosts to 7 for 256 on the first day of the second Test at Abu Dhabi Stadium on Wednesday.

Pakistan captain Misbah ul-Haq remained unbeaten on 83 at the close but England, the world's top-ranked team, made a good start to the match following their 10-wicket drubbing in the first Test and Pakistan opener Taufeeq Umar admitted the tourists had the upper hand.

"I think they are in a better position because we lost a couple more wickets we were not expecting," Umar said.

"If we were at the same score at five (wickets) down, then I think we would have been in the better position. If we cross 300 runs that would be great."

Umar defended Pakistan's decision to bat first, saying that it meant England must bat last on what is likely to be an increasingly difficult wicket.

England's Monty Panesar, recalled in place of injured seamer Chris Tremlett for his first Test appearance since 2009, said his team were happy with their start.

"Come the start of the day, we would have taken seven wickets," Panesar said. "You're going to get some chances taken, some chances dropped, but overall we're very pleased with the day."

The touring side looked like they might rue a hat-trick of missed catches as ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq put on a fifth-wicket stand of 100 to reach 4 for 203 but Swann and Broad struck in the final session to tip the balance in England's favour.

Pakistan, who play home matches in the Gulf region due to security problems in their country, started confidently.

Openers Mohammad Hafeez and Umar added 50 as Broad and James Anderson struggled to make an impression with the new ball.

Captain Andrew Strauss then turned to spin duo Swann and Panesar, with England fielding a four-man attack including two slow bowlers for the first time since 2003, and the decision was soon vindicated.

In the 19th over, Swann bowled Umar for 16 with a straight delivery the batsmen foolishly left to clip his off-stump, reducing Pakistan to 1 for 51.

Panesar then dropped a stooping caught and bowled chance, but he made immediate amends, dismissing Hafeez for 31 with his next delivery which squeezed between bat and pad to strike the leg stump as Pakistan reached 2 for 73 at lunch.

Broad returned to the attack after the interval and the all-rounder dismissed Younus Khan and Azhar Ali in quick succession, sending their off-stumps flying with searing deliveries.

Ul-Haq and Shafiq fought back, cheered on by a small crowd in the Sheikh Zayed stadium, an oasis of green in the industrial outskirts of the UAE capital.

Both batsmen had lucky escapes. Ul-Haq survived a fierce lbw appeal on nought, umpire Bruce Oxenford deciding the captain's bat hit the ball before it struck his pads, and he again escaped on 30 when Anderson put down a catch at slip off Panesar.

Alastair Cook at short-leg also failed to snaffle an edge from Shafiq before it hit the turf as the batsmen recorded his fifth Test 50.

Swann then trapped Shafiq lbw for 58 as he attempted a sweep shot, leaving Pakistan on 5 for 203.

Strauss was found wanting as Anderson let rip with the second new ball, dropping an easy catch at slip after Adnan Akmal sliced an outside edge.

Broad then claimed his third wicket, Akmal falling for nine after being trapped lbw, and Abdur Rehman went for a duck as Swann snared him with a ball that turned sharply past the left-hander to hit off-stump.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom, pakistan

First posted January 26, 2012 07:11:38

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Kohli stands tall on Australia's day

Raman Goraya

Updated January 27, 2012 10:58:48

Virat Kohli's maiden Test century and a late flurry of wickets offered India a rare highlight on day three, but Australia still holds all the ascendancy in the fourth Test with a 382-run lead.

Australia was 3 for 50 at stumps at the Adelaide Oval after India was again bowled out for a disappointing 272 thanks mainly to a stirring 5 for 49 by pace spearhead Peter Siddle.

Siddle was on a hat-trick at one stage and finished the innings with his best figures of the summer and his first five-for since Boxing Day 2010.

"It's been a while but I've been chipping away, so it's a nice little reward for a big summer," Siddle told Grandstand.

Leading wicket-taker for the series Ben Hilfenhaus returned 3 for 62 with Ryan Harris and Nathan Lyon picking up a scalp each.

Siddle said the trademark of the Australia attack was a comprehensive performance as a unit, with wickets coming from perseverance in partnerships.

"No matter the bowling line-up or who was bowling at the time, we bowl patiently and consistently and that's been our motto and it's working for us."

Resuming on 2 for 61, Sachin Tendulkar (25), Gautam Gambhir (34) and VVS Laxman (18) left India's first innings in shambles at 5 for 111, forcing the young Kohli to pick up the pieces with an admirable knock of 116.

The 23-year-old combined for a 114-run stand with second-Test rookie Wriddhiman Saha (35) that almost lasted the entire middle session only for the wicketkeeper-batsman to be dismissed in the last over before tea.

The determined Kohli, who played with a perfect mix of control and aggression, faced some nervous moments on 99 as Siddle ripped through the Indian tail and got under the abrasive Indian's skin.

But Kohli held his nerve and deservedly became the first Indian batsman to break three figures this series, reaching his first Test century in eight matches and emerging as the lone bright spot in an otherwise nightmare visit for the tourists.

"I was pretty pumped up," Kohli told Grandstand of his century celebration on Australia Day and India's Republic Day.

"I was keen to get that century. I missed it in Perth.

"It was just the emotions coming out, especially when we lost two wickets in two balls. I was thinking of Perth and I didn't want to be stranded down the other end."

Australia opted not to enforce the follow on after a tiring effort in the Adelaide heat, a decision the woefully out-of-touch Shaun Marsh would come to rue.

Marsh was out lbw to Zaheer for his third duck of the series after openers David Warner (28) and Ed Cowan (10) let their opportunities to finish the series on a high slide.

The Western Australian Marsh is now highly unlikely to be picked for Australia's tour to the Caribbean after accumulating just 17 runs at an average of 2.83 with Usman Khawaja first in line to get a recall.

Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke ended the day at the crease together for the second time in two days, with Australia keen on leaving plenty of time to dismiss India again on a dry pitch showing signs of unpredictable movement.

Despite an ageing batting line-up failing ahead of him, Kohli - now Indian's leading runscorer in the series (278) overtaking Tendulkar (274) - made a point of playing his natural game.

"In Perth I was pretty conservative in the way I approached my innings," he said of his 75 in the third Test.

"But this was a pretty good wicket to bat on, so I didn't want to hold my strokes back because if you play through the line here you get value for your shots.

"I knew if I was aggressive and positive I was going to get runs on this wicket."

The former under-19 Indian captain said self-belief was the key to making it on the Test arena.

"It's more of a mental game than a technical game," he added.

"A lot of people with different techniques have succeeded in Test cricket.

"It's all about being mentally tough and now I'm starting to believe in myself much more compared to before."

Kohli was the first batsman to score a century against Australia since Hashim Amla's 105 in Johannesburg five Tests and 10 innings ago.

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia, india

First posted January 26, 2012 19:39:25

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As it happened: Fourth Test Day Three

Raman Goraya

Updated January 26, 2012 19:31:11

Revisit all action from Grandstand's coverage of the fourth day's play between Australia and India in Adelaide.

WICKET - E Cowan lbw. Ashwin 10 (Australia 3-40, Ponting 0*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Another one goes. Ashwin is turning the ball significantly. Ed Cowan moves right across his stumps and tries to work the ball on the on side but misses it and that ball was hitting the stumps. His series ends with 206 runs at 34.33.

WICKET - S Marsh lbw. Zaheer 0 (Australia 2-40, Cowan 10*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Oh, dear. Yet another duck for Marsh, his third. A fantastic piece of bowling by Zaheer. Gets some great inswinging curve into the left-hander and Marsh plays around it. He will not be going to the Caribbean. His series ends with 17 runs at 2.83!

WICKET - D Warner c&b Ashwin 28 (Australia 1-39, Cowan 9*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Ravi Ashwin has worked his magic again against Warner. The big-hitting left-hander just couldn't get comfortable and spoons a simple return catch back to the off-spinner. Shaun Marsh comes out desperately needing runs. Warner ends the series with 266 runs at 44.33.

5.30pm: Australia 0-30 and Warner (21) and Cowan (9) going about it comfortably.

5.07pm: Ravi Ashwin to share the new ball.

5.00pm: We could see some early Australia Day fireworks from David Warner here as Australia looks to add to an already intimidating lead. Zaheer to open the bowling.

WICKET - V Kohli lbw. Hilfenhaus 116 (India 272) - Listen to the dismissal.

Disappointing end to a brilliant innings by Kohli. Misses a rank full toss and it hits him in front. Kohli is now India's highest runscorer of the series with 278 runs at 39.71. His contribution unfortunately does not hide the fact India's batting once again failed to come near a par score. Peter Siddle finishes with 5 for 49 and Ben Hilfenhaus 3 for 62.

WICKET - I Sharma b. Hilfenhaus 16 (India 9-263, V Kohli 107*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Sharma's little cameo comes to an end after swatting three boundaries. He misses this one and Hilfenhaus hits off stump. The Tasmanian will be on a hat-trick at the start of India's second innings. Will Australia enforce the follow on or give the bowlers a bit of a rest?

4.40pm: There is a bit happening out there. Ishant Sharma is getting the treatment by a barrage of short balls. The score is 8 for 253, you'd think it was a closer contest than that. The umpires step in and have a chat to Sharma and Virat Kohli in an effort to calm things down.

CENTURY - VIRAT KOHLI - Listen here.

Well played, young man. Virat Kohli's maiden Test ton comes from 199 balls and under very difficult circumstances. No doubt that'll make it all the more memorable. Against a backdrop of an unmotivated and ageing Indian side and a crumbling tail, Kohli has stood up and played his role admirably. They came for Sachin, but Kohli has not disappointed. He'll need to thank Saha (35) for his help in the middle session and maybe even Sharma for sticking about. This innings, the first century by an Indian this summer, is arguably the only positive India can take away from this tour.

4.28pm: Kohli on 99 almost gets out three times in the one over. Siddle nearly gets him caught behind twice and then the young Indian half sets off for a suicide quick single before scampering back to make his ground. Siddle lets Kohli know he is tightening up and the young gun takes umbrage. Ricky Ponting has to hold him back! It's all happening!

4.17pm: Ishant Sharma keeps out the hat-trick ball. It was full and aiming at leg stump. He is decent at keeping those out the towering Indian quick, he's had enough practice at it. Maybe a bouncer into the ribs was the other option. But you can't argue with Siddle's tactics these days.

WICKET - Z Khan c. Haddin b. Siddle (India 8-230, V Kohli 91*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Out! Next ball! Zaheer at his agricultural best. Terrible batting. He is better than that. Clears the front foot and nicks one to Haddin behind the stumps. Kohli must be shaking his head at the other end. Meanwhile, Siddle has a well-deserved Michelle Pfeiffer - his first for the summer - and is on a hat-trick!

WICKET - R Ashwin lbw. Siddle 5 (India 7-230, V Kohli 91*) - Listen to the dismissal.

This one is out. Siddle gets the handy Ashwin with a very similar ball to Harris's but a tad straighter. Up goes the finger from umpire Aleem Dar and Siddle remarkably passed three wickets in an innings for the first time in the series.

4.10pm: Huge appeal! Ryan Harris strikes Kohli (still on 91) on the pad and umpire Dharmasena shakes the head. Looked to be going just down leg side but worth the big shout.

4.00pm: We're back for the afternoon session. Kohli will be hoping to get through the nervous nineties quickly. Ashwin, who already has a Test ton to his name, is his partner at the other end. Peter Siddle is back.

WICKET - W Saha b. Harris 35 (India 6-225, V Kohli 91*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Saha tightens up in the shadows of tea, leaves a ball and then hears the dreaded rattle. What a disappointing way to go after a tough little dig by the keeper. India almost went a whole session without losing a wicket, alas it wasn't to be and the partnership ends at 114.

3.40pm: Last over before tea. Crowd at the Adelaide Oval is 34,372.

3.35pm: Virat Kohli has now passed India's highest score of the summer - Gambhir's 83 at the SCG. Hardly the type of records Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting have been knocking off lately but hey, it's a start.

3.23pm: The new ball has been taken. Ryan Harris gets first crack. On this day and on this ground two years ago, Harris took 5-43 against Pakistan in an ODI. Maybe he can break the resistance.

3.13pm: 100 PARTNERSHIP (Kohli 65, Saha 32) from 182 balls

Well played by these two. Their stand has injected a bit of interest in the match. India's highest partnership of the series is just 117 between Dravid and Tendulkar followed by 103 by Laxman and Tendulkar.

3.10pm: Michael Hussey into the attack. No doubt Australia is trying to bait Kohli into making a mistake here. Why not? The hosts have plenty of runs to play with.

3.05pm: Kohli moves past his highest Test score - 75 in Perth.

2.58pm: Kohli not taking a backward step to Clarke. Carts him for four and then a 73-metre six over mid wicket. Kohli's confidence growing with every run it seems. Could he be India's first centurion of the series?

2.53pm: Michael Clarke has brought himself on to try and break this stubborn stand.

2.51pm: Massive six by Saha! That is a long boundary over straight-ish mid wicket at the Adelaide Oval and Saha gets on one knee and smashes Lyon into the crowd. It travelled 78 metres. The Indian keeper has moved to 23.

2.46pm: Geoff Lawson and Jim Maxwell scratching their heads as to why Australia has a deep point for Hilfenhaus when it has India five down and 432 runs in arrears.

DRINKS - INDIA 5-171 (V Kohli 56*, W Saha 17*)

The Indian sixth-wicket partnership is worth 60. It's hard work out there but these two are proving it is not impossible, as the Indian top order would have you believe. Young Kohli also has Sachin (274) in his sights to become the tourists' highest runscorer for the series. But let's not jinx him.

2.35pm: Young Redbacks player Ben Dougall is out in the middle as a substitute fielder. The 20-year-old is part of the under-19 Australian side.

HALF CENTURY - VIRAT KOHLI - Listen here.

He has the swagger, but the 23-year-old Kohli is walking the walk. He hits the boundary for the fifth time in his 100-ball innings with another beautiful flick off his pads that pierces a non-existent gap through mid wicket. He needs to go on with this.

2.05pm: Promising start for Kohli and Saha after lunch. Saha, 27, looks competent with the bat and prepared to stick fat. Kohli still likes his flashy shots but he has runs in him, especially if the bowling strays too straight.

1.45pm: Back after lunch. Siddle looking to do some more early damage. It's not out of the realms of possibility India could be batting again today if nobody decides to dig in.

12.52pm: Ricky Ponting, fielding at forward short leg, has copped two fierce drives on the body in the last two overs. Skipper Michael Clarke moves his predecessor out of the strike zone to backward square leg so he can nurse his wounds. Does Ponting actually enjoy fielding that close in a position usually reserved for the juniors? Think the answer is yes. Is he mad? Again, yes.

WICKET - VVS Laxman c. Haddin b. Lyon 18 (India 5-111, Kohli 15*) - Listen to the dismissal.

More pressure delivers more wickets. Laxman tries to cut a ball that was probably too full. Lyon hurries one through to gets a thick edge and Haddin takes a difficult catch straight off the bat. No MS Dhoni means India's long tail is already exposed with two overs left before lunch.

12.40pm: Michael Hussey gets a trundle as we countdown to lunch.

12.30pm: India has moved to 4-107 through Laxman and Kohli. Lyon turning it but not getting a lot of penetration. Things moving slowly after the early Australia Day fireworks by Siddle.

12.10pm: Stats man Lawrie Colliver tells us Peter Siddle has taken 29 wickets at an average of 19 this summer, but he has not taken over three wickets in an innings. Consistent. India would call him menacing.

12.05pm - Nathan Lyon into the attack. This time last year he was a groundsman at the Adelaide Oval. In case you didn't know.

WICKET - G Gambhir c. Hussey b. Siddle 34 (India 4-87, VVS Laxman 9*) - Listen to the dismissal.

The plan to Gambhir was simple AND effective. A ripping short ball by Siddle hits the shoulder of the bat, balloons in the air and Michael Hussey does a tremendous job moving in from gully to take a diving catch. India falling to pieces again.

WICKET - S Tendulkar c. Ponting b. Siddle 25 (India 3-78, G Gambhir 348) - Listen to the dismissal.

There it is. Siddle strikes. Somebody much smarter should write a mathematic formula for this. Hilfenhaus and Harris build the pressure and on comes Siddle to make the breakthrough in his opening overs. There is a bit of doubt surrounding the catch at second slip but the replays confirm it and Sachin looked happy to go. A massive wicket for Australia but naturally the Adelaide crowd is a little deflated with The Little Master's departure.

11.35am: A few other Test matches going on around the world at the moment. England in control over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and Zimbabwe has sent New Zealand in at Napier.

11.30am: Three maidens in a row from Hilfenhaus. Keeping it tight. And here comes Peter Siddle to take one of his customary early wickets.

11.27am: Plan to Gambhir looks simple enough. Hit him with the short stuff. Surprising that Clarke hasn't got a catching man around the corner.

11.18am: An interesting indication of the pressure being built by Ryan Harris - it took Tendulkar 21 balls before scoring a run off his bowling. On a side note, Harris is currently sending them down around the 142-147 kph mark. Deceptively quick is the former South Australian player.

11.15am: Earlier this morning, Ricky Ponting - fresh off his 221 yesterday - told Grandstand's Jim Maxwell he is humbled to be made an Officer of the Order of Australia.

11.12am: Early doors but there isn't much assistance for the bowlers through the air or off the pitch this morning. Similar story to the SCG. The runs are there for the taking for the Indian batsmen.

11.05am: Ryan Harris and Ben Hilfenhaus opening the bowling again.

11.00am - Welcome to day three at the Adelaide Oval. Happy Australia Day and to all those on or from the sub-continent, happy Republic Day. A big task ahead of the tourists today. They resume on 2 for 61, still 343 runs away from avoiding the follow on. Of course Sachin Tendulkar (12) is still at the crease along with Gautam Gambhir (30). Tendulkar is still searching for international hundred number 100. That is the last time we'll talk about it today. Unless he gets out or cracks three figures, in which case we will mention it another 50,000 times.

To see how we covered day two, check it out below:

Tags: sport, cricket

First posted January 26, 2012 10:57:05

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Kohli accuses Hilfenhaus of offensive sledge

Updated January 27, 2012 11:20:11

Fiery young Indian batsman Virat Kohli scored his maiden Test century before attacking Australia's crowds as abusive drunks and accusing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus of making offensive remarks.

Kohli hit a memorable 116 on the third day of the fourth Test at Adelaide Oval after the Australian bowlers led by Peter Siddle ripped through the rest of the Indian top order.

Kohli had a nervous moment on 99 when he was almost run out and the 23-year-old batsman took offence at a comment from Hilfenhaus in the field at this time.

"Hilfenhaus said something to me which was totally unnecessary, out of the blue," Kohli said.

"He said something which I can't say obviously in a press conference.

"I gave it back to him saying 'you didn't even have anything to do with that. Why did you do that?'.

"Ishant (number 10 batsman Ishant Sharma) and me both came together and starting saying stuff to them.

"I usually play my cricket like that. I like to give it back.

"They sledge when they get frustrated.

"Constantly, they were sledging the players so they could spoil our concentration.

"To give it back verbally and then score a hundred is even better.

"We don't go out there to take any kind of stuff from anyone."

Kohli, who was fined for flipping a one-finger gesture at abusive fans at the Sydney Test earlier this month, hit out at Australia's crowds.

"In Sydney, they were after me because I wasn't scoring and today they were ... because I got a hundred," he said.

"It is really, really frustrating at times because they say stuff which shouldn't be said on a cricket field.

"We go out there to play, not to get abused like that.

"If they've come here to enjoy the game, they should do that and not get drunk and abuse players."

Siddle says he admired Kohli as a tough competitor who does not mind giving a bit of "chirp" and denied there was anything malicious in Australia's sledging.

"The bloke batted well to get to 99 and looked to really run himself out just ridiculously," Siddle said.

"That's what we were trying to tell him. You don't want to do that to yourself when you're on 99 and just throw your wicket away.

"I like coming up against him. It's a nice challenge to have out there and that's what people want to watch in Test cricket."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted January 26, 2012 20:58:11

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Dravid not going anywhere yet

Updated January 28, 2012 15:14:35

Charges of complacency aimed at India are only likely to intensify after it fell to a crushing 4-0 series defeat in Australia and an eighth successive loss in overseas Tests.

The news conference after a fourth emphatic defeat in the series, this time by 298 runs, opened with the team's media manager denying reports back home that a "senior player" - namely Rahul Dravid - would be retiring.

It continued with stand-in captain Virender Sehwag suggesting that all teams suffer poor runs of form and India should just put the humiliating reverse by behind it.

"If you look at the Australian team, they were struggling as well in the Ashes last year and they got out for 47 in South Africa, so it happens with every team so we have to rebuild the team," he said.

"There are experienced players in our team, they are well aware of that and they are working on that.

"One bad series doesn't make any difference for them, so they are working hard on their batting skills and they'll find a way.

"The best way out is to forget what happened and concentrate on what we will do in coming matches and coming series and practised hard and plan well and execute your plans in the game."

By saying the team needed to be rebuilt, Sehwag made it clear that would not mean the retirement of some of the golden generation of batsmen who arrived in Australia hopeful of winning a first Test series Down Under.

He said the final decision on a player's career should be left with the player.

"It's their call, whenever they want to retire they can retire. It's up to them," he told Grandstand.

"We love their company and we love to have them in the dressing room because they've played so many Test matches.

"If you are not playing well you deserved to be criticised.

"But the [criticism] should not be personal. They (the media) shouldn't be saying that a couple of senior players should retire. That is not their job.

"It's a player's wish when they want to retire and you have to support them."

Sachin Tendulkar had a reasonable series despite failing to capture his 100th international century but Dravid, VVS Laxman, captain MS Doni and opener Sehwag himself were all huge disappointments.

The inexperienced Virat Kohli was the only Indian batsman to score a century in any of the four Tests.

Sehwag understood the frustration of fans but said it was at moments like these, not just successes like the 50-over World Cup triumph last year, that the support of the fans was necessary.

"When we won the World Cup everyone was happy and cheering for Team India, and now the time we need the support of the fans and everybody, they should back their own team," he said.

The 33-year-old, who averaged 24.75 runs over the series, said accusations the India team simply did not care enough about losing a Test series were well wide of the mark.

"It's very unfair," he said.

"I think everybody cares about their performances, about India losing the game.

"We are very passionate about our game and passionate about our team and it's a shame that people are talking about that.

"If you lose the game you should work it out what went wrong and come back and perform well in our next games.

"We are trying that, but it's not happening and it doesn't mean that we are happy to lose here."

Reuters/ABC

Tags: sport, cricket, india

First posted January 28, 2012 14:47:08

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Ranatunga slams Sri Lanka sacking of Marsh

Updated January 27, 2012 08:00:57

Legendary Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga has slammed his country's sacking of Australian coach Geoff Marsh as "disgraceful" and "unprofessional".

Marsh was this week replaced by South African Graham Ford. The move followed Tillakaratne Dilshan quitting the captaincy on Monday.

Former skipper Mahela Jayawardene was brought in to lead the team to Australia for the upcoming triangular one-day series involving India.

"It is disgraceful the way Sri Lanka Cricket handled it by removing a professional like Marsh," Ranatunga said a day after the coach was sacked.

Marsh had begun a two-year contract in September 2011. He has not commented on his dismissal and Sri Lanka Cricket has not given any reasons for showing him the door.

Removing Marsh also sends a negative signal to professional staff who work with Sri Lanka or plan to work with the national cricket team in the future, said Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka to their only World Cup triumph in 1996.

"Top coaches, physios will think twice before they accept a job from Sri Lanka in the future. Sri Lanka Cricket has set a very bad precedent," he said.

Ford, 51, is the fourth Sri Lanka coach since Australian Trevor Bayliss stepped aside after the World Cup final in April 2011. Bayliss's assistant Stuart Law took over for the England series but quit to coach Bangladesh.

Sri Lankan pace bowler Rumesh Ratnayake took over for the home series against Australia and was replaced by Marsh.

Ranatunga, a former captain and opposition lawmaker, also blamed administrators for the country's poor run of form after losses to England, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa.

"People who run cricket in this country, have no clue about the game. Do you think they love the game? No. Sri Lanka Cricket is in a major mess," he said.

And he said re-appointing Jayawardene, who led the side to the 2007 World Cup final, was not the right way to fix the losing streak.

"It is like changing the pillow to fix a headache. Mahela is not getting younger. I am surprised he accepted it again. We have to groom young people for the captaincy," he said.

Ranatunga also accused the government of meddling in the sport, leading to financial ruin, poor governance and lack of foresight to pick players.

A former cricket board chief, Ranatunga scored 5,105 runs in 93 Tests and 7,456 runs in 269 one-dayers before quitting international cricket in 2000.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka

First posted January 27, 2012 07:59:43

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NZ beat Zimbabwe by innings and 301 runs

Updated January 28, 2012 16:54:47

New Zealand highlighted the gulf in international cricket when they bowled Zimbabwe out twice on Saturday to win the only Test match of their tour at McLean Park in Napier by an innings and 301 runs.

The hosts declared their first innings at 7 for 495 earlier on Saturday after wicketkeeper BJ Watling posted his maiden Test century, then bowled the visitors out for 51 and 143 to record their largest victory by an innings in tests.

It was the third time a team has been bowled out twice in one day. New Zealand also dismissed Zimbabwe twice in a day for 59 and 99 in Harare in 2005, while India were dismissed for 58 and 82 by England in Manchester in 1952.

New Zealand are eighth in the International Cricket Council's Test rankings, while Zimbabwe are unranked. Only 10 countries have Test status, with Bangladesh the ninth-ranked team.

The Africans only returned to playing Test cricket last year following a voluntary five-year absence after the country was engulfed in political turmoil, forcing many leading players to retire from international cricket.

The visitors had crashed to 5 for 19 in their first innings and looked in danger of being bowled out for the lowest total in Test cricket though Malcolm Waller took the attack to New Zealand's bowlers and saw them past the mark before he was caught in the slips by Dean Brownlie off Tim Southee for 23.

The lowest score is held by New Zealand, who were dismissed for 26 against England at Eden Park in 1955.

Waller's dismissal left Zimbabwe on 8 for 50 and they added just one run for the final two wickets to record their lowest score in tests, before stand in captain Brendon McCullum enforced the follow on.

McCullum took over the captaincy after Ross Taylor was ruled out of the rest of the matches against Zimbabwe, which includes three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches, when he strained his right calf muscle while batting on Friday.

Zimbabwe again flirted with the lowest Test score when Doug Bracewell took two wickets in the first over after tea to reduce them to 5 for 12, but Forster Mutizawa saw them past the mark before he was dismissed for 18.

Regis Chakabva (63) and Graeme Cremer (26) combined for a stubborn 63-run partnership that temporarily thwarted New Zealand's victory push before Chris Martin cleaned up the tail to finish with six wickets for 26 runs.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, new-zealand, zimbabwe

First posted January 28, 2012 16:43:10

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North eyeing overdue WA silverware

Updated January 27, 2012 18:45:51

Perth Scorchers skipper Marcus North is desperate to win Saturday's Big Bash final to end Western Australia cricket's eight-year trophy drought.

The Scorchers have already qualified for the lucrative Champions League, but North wants to go one step further against the Sydney Sixers to give local fans at the WACA ground some long-overdue cheer.

Western Australia dominated Sheffield Shield in the late 1990s when the likes of Tom Moody, Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich and Damien Martyn starred for the state.

But since winning the then NAB Cup eight years ago no silverware has been collected by the state and North hopes the new city-based Perth franchise can change this.

"The last final we won was back in 2003/04 up at the Gabba with the one-day title so there haven't been too many opportunities for us to play in finals, let alone win some," North said.

"The guys who've been involved in that era of cricket are certainly motivated for tomorrow to do well for WA cricket.

"Even though this isn't under the Warriors brand, we're representing WA cricket and Perth.

"So to have some success and win a title would certainly make the players very proud but also reward the faith and the support that we've had from the WA cricket public."

North, in partnership with Herschelle Gibbs at the top of the order has been a big part of Perth's success.

Gibbs is averaging 50.33 this tournament after striking four half-centuries from his six knocks, while a rejuvenated North has compiled 251 runs at an average of 41.83.

North admits he is surprised even himself at how well he is gone and revealed his good form with the bat was helping him cope with the hectic job of being captain.

"It's certainly more enjoyable, and you feel the pressure's off when you're contributing," North said.

"Captaining in this format is pretty crazy.

"It's pretty full on and intense.

"There's been plenty of games this tournament where I've sat down at the end of it and been completely exhausted, and it takes two or three hours to wind down to go to bed that night.

"We've got a great bunch of guys, we've gelled together and are playing some really good cricket.

"So this tournament has certainly been up there with some of the most enjoyable cricket I've been able to captain."

North added that he is confident paceman Nathan Rimmington will overcome the pain of a broken hand to take his place in the final.

Meanwhile, Sixers captain Steve Smith is confident his charges can overcome Perth's stifling heat, a hostile crowd, a bouncy wicket.

The Sixers received a shock on Thursday when they traded Sydney's 27 degrees Celsius mildness for the 42 degrees Celsius pain of Perth.

Another 42 degrees scorcher is being forecast for Saturday's sold-out final, but Smith says neither the weather nor the Scorchers' talent-laden line-up held any fears for the Sixers.

"Obviously it's pretty hot out here at the moment but we've played a lot of cricket overseas in India and those sort of places, so it's probably nothing compared to what it is over there," Smith said.

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, perth-6000

First posted January 27, 2012 18:43:51

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It's Very Exciting To Know The Cricket World Cup Records

Second women's ODI washed out

Updated January 27, 2012 15:47:38

The second game of the women's one-day cricket series between Australia and New Zealand at Blacktown has been abandoned due to wet weather.

The game was called off this afternoon without a ball being bowled with torrential rain hitting the venue in Sydney's west.

It is the second time this week rain has ruined the series with Wednesday's opening game at the SCG abandoned after 22 overs were bowled.

It sets up a winner-takes-all match in the final game in Blacktown on Sunday.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, blacktown-2148, nsw, australia

First posted January 27, 2012 15:40:51

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Australia out to foil Tendulkar's 100 quest

Updated January 26, 2012 09:52:40

Australian captain Michael Clarke says he will not be doing Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar any favours when the fourth Test resumes at the Adelaide Oval today.

India is 2 for 61 in its first innings in reply to Australia's declaration at 7 for 604 and will be looking to star batsman Tendulkar to lead a fightback.

Tendulkar will resume day three on 12 and will be chasing his 100th international century, but Clarke says the Australians want his wicket.

"No, I certainly won't be showing him any sympathy," he said. "We're there to win the game, we're there to take 20 wickets.

"He's a wonderful player as I've said before, and he's going to be really tough to get out on that wicket but somehow we're going to have to find a way to do it twice."

India is facing a mammoth chase for runs but Clarke says the wicket is playing well.

"I think its still going be pretty nice to bat on to be honest," he said.

"Hopefully we'll see some deterioration, especially in the back half of day four and day five. [On Thursday] it's going to be pretty nice to bat on.

"There's been a couple of balls that have stayed a little low but like I said it's as good a batting wicket as your going to get so we're in for a good workout."

Clarke (210), who shared a record partnership of 386 with Ricky Ponting (221), warned his bowlers will need to stay disciplined on such a good batting wicket.

"The bowlers are going to have to bowl well and we're going to have to hang onto every chance in the field," he said.

"That wicket's as flat as we've seen throughout the series so we're going to have to be even more disciplined to take 20 wickets on that wicket."

ABC/AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia, india

First posted January 26, 2012 08:59:03

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Taylor ton gives Black Caps advantage

Updated January 26, 2012 17:05:18

An unbeaten century by captain Ross Taylor gave New Zealand the upper hand after the first day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Napier.

At stumps on Thursday, the Black Caps were 5 for 331 in their first innings, with Taylor on 112 and BJ Watling on 15.

Taylor has hit 13 fours and two sixes, and his century is his sixth in Tests and his second at McLean Park.

He and former captain Daniel Vettori shared in an 82-run fifth-wicket partnership that helped to steady the ship after the Black Caps lost two quick wickets to be 4 for 196.

Both sides had expected the pitch to be bowler-friendly and it was no surprise when Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor elected to field when he won the toss.

But there were few apparent terrors as openers Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill put on a century stand against an attack that lacked penetration.

The pair reached 124, before the tourists made a double breakthrough.

Guptill, on 51, was the first to go when he was caught behind for debutant seamer Shingirai Masakadza's first Test wicket.

Kane Williamson, on four, was then run out in a mix-up with McCullum.

McCullum and Taylor consolidated to get New Zealand to 2 for 195 before Zimbabwe again struck twice in quick time.

McCullum, who had hit eight fours and two sixes, was on 83 when seamer Kyle Jarvis trapped him LBW.

Jarvis should have had new batsman Dean Brownlie in the same over as well, but Brendan Taylor spilled a chance at second slip and wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu could not grab the rebound.

Brownlie's luck ran out in the next over when he edged a ball from medium-pacer Hamilton Masakadza to Taibu for a duck.

Vettori showed a willingness to play his strokes, hitting seven fours in reaching 38, but fell to a slick stumping by Taibu off leg spinner Graeme Cremer.

Hamilton Masakadza had the best figures of the Zimbabwe bowlers, with 1 for 33 off 16 overs.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, new-zealand

First posted January 26, 2012 16:57:30

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I'm not finished yet, says Ponting

Updated January 25, 2012 07:37:04

Ricky Ponting hit his second century in three matches and became the third batsman to score 13,000 Test runs before laughing off suggestions he might be about to retire.

The 37-year-old was unbeaten on 137 at the close on the first day of the fourth Test against India having rescued Australia's innings with a stand of 251 for the fourth wicket with his successor as captain Michael Clarke.

His effusive celebration of the century sparked conjecture that he might be about to retire, but the gritty Tasmanian dismissed the idea with a wry smile.

"How did I know I'd come here and get asked questions about retirement?" he said at a news conference.

"It was a celebration mate, I usually do a similar celebration when I score a Test match hundred.

"I won't be retiring at the end of this Test match."

Ponting has revived his career in the India series, scoring his first century in two years in the second Test in Sydney, where he shared a 288-run stand with Clarke, before his more fluent effort at the Adelaide Oval.

"I felt I played better today than I did in Sydney, it was probably a better wicket to bat on today, there wasn't much in it for any of the Indian bowlers," he said.

"It's Michael and my responsibility to make sure we start well tomorrow and see where that takes us.

"But I'm not going to be satisfied with where I am at. You go through too many ups and downs in your career to let moments like this slip."

Ponting's century was his fourth in four Test matches against India at Adelaide, including a 242 in a losing cause in 2003.

Before notching up his 41st Test century - the former Australian captain who made his debut against Sri Lanka at Perth in 1995 - hit his 13,000th run.

The only two men to have scored more Test runs than Ponting, India's Sachin Tendulkar (15,432) and Rahul Dravid (13,262), were both fielding on Tuesday.

Despite his long career, Ponting said he was as motivated - and as nervous - as he had always been.

"It's never been about making 13,000 runs or 14,000 runs," he said.

"It's about doing what I can when it's required of me to get my team through a certain situation in a game. That's what motivates me.

"Winning Test matches and winning games of cricket for Australia is what motivates me to keep playing.

"I still get nervous before every innings. If the day comes when I'm sitting in the dressing room and haven't got sweaty palms, it probably means that it doesn't mean enough to me."

Australia resumes at 3 for 335 on Wednesday's second day in Adelaide and Ponting warned Australia would need to tread a fine line between batting India out of the fourth Test and killing the match.

Ponting said he and Clarke would seek to build their unbroken 251-run partnership, but they would have to balance the run scoring with a desire to push for victory on a batter-friendly Adelaide Oval pitch.

"You have to be careful not to bat too long. It will be a tough wicket to take 20 wickets if you want to win this game," he said.

"We need to make sure we're not killing too much time. We'll be nice and positive, hopefully we'll score our runs in a reasonable slick and see how we go."

Reuters/AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted January 25, 2012 07:28:35

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As it happened: Fourth Test Day Two

Raman Goraya

Updated January 25, 2012 19:43:29

Re-live all the action from day two of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval.

6.00pm: Michael "Midas touch" Clarke is on to bowl the final over. Bowling to Tendulkar, who he has already dismissed once this series.

5.48pm: Ryan Harris is back for a second spell. Tendulkar and Gambhir have steadied the ship a tad and look intent on surviving the next four overs until stumps. Geoff Lawson observed earlier that January 26 is not only Australia Day but India's Republic Day. Perhaps a special occasion for Sachin, too.

5.30pm: Nathan Lyon has been given a chance after the drinks break. Tendulkar has started his innings promisingly again, but we all know he's been fine with that part.

WICKET - R Dravid b. Hilfenhaus 1 (India 2-31, Gambhir 12*) - Listen to the dimissal.

Unbelievable. Rahul Dravid is out bowled. Again. That's the ninth time in his last 11 innings the Indian veteran has had his castle knocked over. Hilfenhaus pitches on a good length and appears to get some bounce out of the pitch. The ball goes through the gate and hits Dravid on the gloves before rebounding onto his stumps. Groundhog Day for Dravid and the Indians.

WICKET - V Sehwag c&b P Siddle 18 (India 1-26, G Gambhir 8*) - Listen to the dismissal.

OK, Sehwag won't make the most of it. That man again Peter Siddle, waltzes into the attack and takes yet another wicket. A first ball full toss hits the toe of the bat and the Victorian firebrand takes a peach of a one-hander. The Indian skipper entertains us only fleetingly. Virender has 136 runs at an average of 19 this series.

4.49pm - Sehwag has been given a life and he is making the most of it. History would suggest India has a big score in them this innings.

The last three Tests played between these two sides in Adelaide has produced big totals in the first innings:

2003: Australia 556, India 523 - India won

2008: India 526, Australia 563 - Draw

2012: Australia 604, Ind ?

4.46pm - DROPPED CATCH

Ed Cowan puts Sehwag (5) down at mid wicket. He should have held on to that one. Hilfenhaus struggling with his line early but Sehwag flicks one off his pads straight to Cowan but the Aussie opener can't wrap his hands around it.

4.40pm - The Indian openers are out there. Gautam Gambhir experiencing his first bit of Australian hospitality all summer in the form of a rank full toss first ball from Ryan Harris.

4.25pm: AUSTRALIA DECLARES AT 7-604 (R Ponting 221, M Clarke 210, R Ashwin 3-194, Z Khan 2-96)

Ryan Harris hooks Yadav for six over square to tick Australia over 600 and that is more than enough for captain Michael Clarke to wave them into the sheds. The last partnership was worth 71 - the second best of the innings. The Aussies post a mammoth first innings total (the fifth highest at the Adelaide Oval) that has secured the hosts will not lose a Test match in this series. Now the challenge is once again served up to the Indian top order. They have failed to deliver this summer, but there remains one last opportunity to go out on a high on this flat wicket. They will have to face out 21 overs until stumps.

4.05pm: The players are back after tea. Australia will try to occupy the crease for a bit here before seeking quick runs and having a crack at the Indian top order for an hour or so before stumps.

3.24pm: Haddin is trying to go on the attack but isn't having a whole lot of success finding the middle of the bat. New batsman Ryan Harris is primed to overtake him soon.

WICKET - P Siddle c. Saha b. Ashwin 2 (Australia 7-533, B Haddin 7*) - Listen to the dismissal.

This is a good little period for the tourists. Refreshing to see some fight. Siddle has averaged better than many of the Indian batsmen this series so his scalp is nothing to be scoffed at. A massive Australian total and declaration is on hold for the minute. Ashwin now has three wickets. That's also wicketkeeper Saha's first Test dismissal. The same number of goals his namesake scored on loan to Newcastle United in 1999.

WICKET - R Ponting c. Tendulkar b. Zaheer 221 (Australia 6-530, B Haddin 6*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Ponting departs caught from the pull shot that has delivered him countless runs in this innings and over his illustrious career. His 221 from 404 balls which included 21 boundaries was his third highest Test score and the fourth highest at the Adelaide Oval by an Australian. Just like Clarke, he leaves the field to a rapturous, standing ovation. Well deserved. India has taken wickets with the score at 470, 520 and 530 after the lunch break.

2.40pm: Zaheer to Haddin. Finally an interesting contest out in the middle. The Indian spearhead had his number last time they met in Perth. Can the Aussie keeper rack up some much-needed runs. Round Two. Ding Ding.

WICKET - M Hussey run out Gambhir 25 (Australia 5-520, R Ponting 220*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Some very sharp work by Gautam Gambhir at silly mid off. Hussey offers the full face of the bat to Ashwin and then starts for a single, but is caught short of his ground by a direct hit. That would have to be the first time the Indians have hit the stumps in the field all series, and it comes from a few yards out. It was effective though. Hussey was jumpy all innings for some reason. In comes the under-pressure Brad Haddin.

2.22pm - DROPPED CATCH

Ponting gets a life on 215. He could go on with it from here... Ashwin draws him down the pitch and VVS Laxman, usually so sure with his hands, puts down an easy catch at short mid wicket. Australia brings up the 500 from 132 overs.

2.18pm: Zak is back into the attack. The ball looks to be doing a little bit now and if anyone is going to move it in the air it'll be Zaheer.

2.05pm: What's that? You want some more stats? No probs. Ponting and Clarke:

First two Australians to score a double hundred in the same innings since Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson against the West Indies in Bridgetown, 1965.

Join Bradman and Ponsford as the only pairs to make two 300-plus partnerships for their country.

Highest Australian partnership against India

Highest partnership at the Adelaide Oval

Second highest Australian fourth-wicket partnership and fifth highest in Test history

DOUBLE CENTURY - RICKY PONTING - Listen here.

Trademark Ponting. Pull shot to midwicket for four. Ponting puts the disappointment of losing his partner in crime behind him and passes 200 for the sixth time in his career and the third against India. Shades of 2003 when he smashed the Indians around this ground (242) and then the MCG on Boxing Day (257). The veteran started the day on 137 and now has 21 boundaries on his way to a double century from 357 balls. No other batsman in Test history has as many runs against India than the former Aussie captain.

WICKET - M Clarke b. Yadav 210 (Australia 4-470, R Ponting 199*) - Listen to the dismissal.

Wow, where did that come from? A rare loss of concentration by Clarke after his salad sandwich. He misses a ball sliding to the leg side, it hits his pad and back on to his off stump. Another tremendous knock by the Aussie skipper nonetheless that has set his side up for a series clean sweep. Clarke's Test average is now 49.76. The stand with Ponting ends at 386, the fourth highest in Australian Test history.

1.42pm: A single for Ponting takes him to 199 and the partnership to 386 - the highest by any Australian pair not featuring the great Sir Donald Bradman and fourth on the Australian list.

1.40pm: We are back after lunch and Ponting is chasing 200. Shouldn't be long. There is also a heap of other records these two have in their sights. We'll try and keep up.

DOUBLE CENTURY - MICHAEL CLARKE - Listen here.

What is there left to say? The Aussie skipper started the day on 140 and races to his double century before lunch with some effortless strokeplay. India's disappointing attack has been well documented but Clarke's focus out in the middle in Sydney and now Adelaide is something to be marvelled. The 30-year-old's 200 comes off just 255 balls with 25 fours and one six.

12.37pm: DROPPED CATCH

Ishant Sharma grasses a return catch. Actually, he hardly got a hand on it. Ponting played an uppish straight drive on a delivery that seemed to hold up on the pitch a tad. That sums up Sharma's summer.

12.28pm: The records are coming in a thick and fast. Clarke and Ponting now have the highest Aussie partnership against India and highest at the Adelaide Oval, passing South Africans Barlow and Pollock in the 60s.

12.18pm: Much more disciplined from the Indians after drinks. Ashwin induces a thick edge from Clarke, playing with some uncharacteristically hard hands, and it flies just wide of Rahul Dravid at slip.

12.08pm: Kerry and Jim praising Ashwin's sodukku ( which means "snapping of the fingers" in Tamil) ball which has Clarke a bit puzzled in the last over. Kerry says spin will play a big part on this pitch. Probably more so for Nathan Lyon if the Aussie attack has some trouble dismissing the Indian top order on this deck. But, that has been rare this series.

DRINKS - AUSTRALIA 3-400 (M Clarke 175*, R Ponting 164*)

Some refreshments for the pillaging Aussie batsmen who have added 65 runs in the first hour of day two and extended their partnership to 316 after both passing 150. Looks like the toiling Indians get a drink, too.

11.58am: Harsha Bhogle and Geoff Lawson discussing the two runs Michael Clarke took after a throw ricocheted off his bat yesterday. Apparently the Aussie skipper sought out the Indian team afterwards and apologised, which was very well received by the tourists. Gotta love the spirit of the cricket, don't you?

11.55am: Ashwin into the attack. The Indians struggling to maintain any pressure on the batsmen and maybe the spinner can help out like he did at the start of day one. Sehwag is throwing in Virat Kohli (who has padded up like he is next in) at forward short leg to mix it up.

11.43am: 300 PARTNERSHIP (Clarke 167, Ponting 122)

What a stand this has been. It doesn't matter how flat the track is and how dispirited the Indians are in the field, this is elite batting by both men. Bad balls have gone to the boundary and the rare good ones have been treated with respect. The 300 runs came at a run-a-minute and from 442 balls.

11.35am: Ponting and Clarke have now passed their 288-run stand in Sydney and hold the two highest fourth-wicket partnerships for Australia against India. Seven off Yadav's first over.

11.30am: Yadav is into the attack. He returned terrible figures yesterday (0-87) as Clarke and Ponting flogged him to all parts. It'll be an uphill battle for the youngster to try and stop this morning's runs procession.

11:26am: And now Punter has his 150, also with a four. 274 balls and 16 boundaries for the Tasmanian legend.

11:21am: Another cracking straight drive down the ground from Clarke and Australia has already added 21 runs in five overs this morning.

11:11am: The skipper has just brought up his 150 with a boundary. 193 balls, so that's a fair clip. 21 fours and a six and he's scored almost 500 runs in two knocks now.

11:00am: It's Zaheer Khan sending down the first over of the day with Ricky Ponting facing. He resumes on 137 with his captain Michael Clarke on 140. Australia is in the commanding position of 3 for 335.

Grandstand's Peter Walsh caught up with Michael Clarke ahead of day two at the Adelaide Oval, with the Aussie skipper eyeing off more runs against the Indians:

To see how we covered yesterday, check it out below:

Tags: sport, cricket

First posted January 25, 2012 11:03:41

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