'The boys are ready and motivated'

Middle-order batsman Suresh Raina, unfazed by the Test debacle, said India would play “different cricket” and give a better account of itself in the shorter formats of the game.

“We won the ODI series here last time. We have also won the World Cup. It's almost the same set of players, and you will see different cricket from India,” said Raina.

The disappointing show in the Test series would have little effect on the young team, and Raina took pains to stress the point. “The Australians played better cricket in the Test matches. They executed their plans well, and bowled in the right areas.

“Unfortunately, we didn't bat well in pairs. Hopefully, we will do well in the next series,” he added.

Well prepared

Raina's confidence stemmed from the fact that most of the youngsters have prepared well for the forthcoming series.

“The youngsters have done well in the last couple of months. So, we hope for the best. There are a lot of youngsters who have played and done well at home recently. I played three to four domestic games, and also got a double century,” he said.

Raina believed that the present tour would be useful for the youngsters, as the next World Cup, in 2015, is scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand.

“We will play the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and the youngsters would benefit a great deal in this regard,” Raina said.

He said that Australia should watch out for the young Indians in the shorter versions, and not keep gloating about its Test success. “The boys are motivated and keen to do well in the upcoming series. Twenty20s and ODIs are a lot different from Tests,” Raina said.

Working hard

About his preparation for the current series, Raina said: “I went to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, and also worked on my wrist position on the bouncy wickets at the NCA and in Mumbai. I worked with Sandeep Patil,” he said.

India has not done well in Twenty20s of late, be it a bilateral series or a big event like the World Cup. This is reflected in the rankings as the team is currently No. 7, just ahead of the West Indies.

“We have to do well. Fielding is going to be a major factor here. We have to take catches and effect run-outs. We have good all-rounders who can hit the ball hard and take wickets. We have variety in the bowling department, thanks to bowlers like Praveen [Kumar], Irfan [Pathan] and Vinay [Kumar]. Hopefully, you would see an improved performance.”

The spunky youngster is hoping that a good show in the limited-overs leg of the Australian tour would open the doors for him in Tests again.

Haddin says he was dropped, not rested from ODIs

Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin says he has been dropped from Australia’s one-day squad due to poor form, rather than being rested.

Haddin was omitted in favour of understudy Matthew Wade on Monday for the first three matches of the limited-overs tri-series against India and Sri Lanka, with chairman of selectors John Inverarity saying he is being resting after a heavy test schedule.

Haddin told Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday he was dropped and may never get his spot back.

The 34-year-old said if Wade takes his chance in the opening matches of the ODI series starting Sunday, he could be kept out of the team for good.

It’s been suggested Haddin will return for the latter half of the tri-series, but Haddin said he must face facts amid suggestions Wade may also be taken as a second wicketkeeper for the tour to the West Indies starting in March.

“I think any time you’re out of the Australian cricket team I think you’re dropped,” Haddin told Sky Sports Radio.

“You give another guy an opportunity to take your spot and you’ve got to look if they do well, you could find it hard to get back in the team.

“But that’s the way it’s and I’ve just got to deal with that and make sure I’m ready to play.”

Haddin has been under pressure all summer over his performances at test level and Wade has been touted as his likely replacement should selectors decide to make a change.

Wade will also play in the two Twenty20 internationals against India this week in Sydney and Melbourne, and Haddin said he understood the need to give his deputy a proper taste of international cricket.

Haddin will captain the Prime Minister’s XI against Sri Lanka in Canberra on Friday.

“If you give your spot up and someone does well you’ve got no right just to walk straight back in,” he said.

“I’m actually looking forward to the PM’s game, for someone from Canberra it’s a great opportunity to get back and captain that side.”

Dhoni says Bailey good choice to captain Australia T20 team

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni says Australia’s selectors have made the right decision in naming his Chennai Super Kings teammate George Bailey to lead the national Twenty20 side.

“He’s an interesting character, he plays good cricket, he’s someone who can play his strokes, he’s very intelligent and understands the game well,” Dhoni said of Bailey on Tuesday.

“He’s a really good character to have.”

Bailey, 29, will make his international debut in any form of cricket when he leads Australia in the first of two T20 matches against India at Sydney on Wednesday.

“When you play, you’re just out there playing,” the Tasmania captain said. “I am debuting, but ever since I captained Tasmania, in most games I’ve gone out there whether I’m captain or not thinking like a captain.”

Bailey said his biggest challenge so far has been getting to know what his bowlers expected from him on the field.

“Mainly it’s been about getting round to the bowlers that I haven’t met as much and learning about their games, working out what they need as well,” he said.

“I’m just really excited to be here, to be leading it and hopefully continuing on the great form and the great start to the summer that Australia have had.”

Dhoni also said India’s team’s younger players were relishing the opportunity of playing against left-arm spinner Brad Hogg after the 40-year-old’s recall to the T20 squad.

“Brad’s an experienced guy and what we have seen is spinners are wily, the more they age the better they get,” Dhoni said.

“He’s also someone who has done well in the T20 locally over here so it’ll be a nice contest between the youngsters and him.”

India's batting woes raises serious questions

Virender Sehwag's success at the top is imperative for India's hopes of victory, but the opener failed in this series with an average of 24.8. His manner of dismissals, slashing outside off repeatedly and getting caught at point or behind the stumps, showed utter lack of restraint.

Dravid: I haven’t made any decision on retirement

Embattled Rahul Dravid has made it clear that he has not taken any decision on retirement from Test cricket but admitted his glorious career was definitely nearer the end than the beginning.

Dravid managed just 194 runs at an average of 24.25 in India’s 0-4 drubbing in Australia, their second successive whitewash on foreign shores after an identical result in England, thus fuelling speculation in the media over his possible retirement from Test cricket.

“I am definitely nearer the end than the beginning; there is no doubt about that. I haven’t made any decision and there is no need to make any decision now, we’re not playing another Test for seven to eight months so we’ll see how it pans out.

“At my stage in my career it’s always about taking it a series at a time and not looking too far ahead, so we’ll see what happens,” Dravid was quoted as saying in Australian media.

But Dravid emphasised the importance of India being a strong and passionate Test nation for the benefit of world cricket. “We haven’t done so well abroad over the last couple of series but I’m hopeful that some of the young kids will come through, it might take a bit of time but we’ll build up a strong base.

“India needs to be a strong Test-playing nation, there are not too many countries playing cricket and if India is competitive in Test cricket it does make a difference. There are areas we need to improve, especially in these challenging times, but I am hopeful,” Dravid said.

Marsh and Haddin dropped from Australian ODI squad

Australia on Monday dropped the out of form duo of Brad Haddin and Shaun Marsh from their 14—member cricket squad for the ODI tri-series against India and Sri Lanka starting on February 5.

Australia won the Test series against India 4-0 and both Marsh and Haddin struggled in it, leading to speculation that they could be dropped.

Matthew Wade will replace Haddin behind the stumps but the latter could be called back in the later stages of the series.

“Brad Haddin has come off a heavy program of Test cricket -- the workload for a wicketkeeper/batsman is rigorous and resting him for the start of the series will refresh him for coming international commitments while also giving us a chance to look at Matt Wade at this level,” said National Selector John Inverarity after announcing the squad.

Inverarity said the squad is a talented mix of proven performers and young players not yet experienced at the international level.

The newcomers and relative newcomers in the squad also include batsman Peter Forrest, all-rounders Mitchell Marsh, ironically the younger brother of Shaun, and Dan Christian and pacer Clint McKay

“We want a flying start to the Commonwealth Bank Series against India and Sri Lanka and as always, have selected a group we are confident can win while also keeping an eye on development for the future,” Inverarity said.

“Peter Forrest, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, Dan Christian and Clint McKay are in form and will have a chance to either prove or further prove themselves on the international stage.

“We have not at this stage named a vice-captain for the first three games with Brad resting and Shane Watson still unavailable while he completes his recovery from injury, and will assess that position when the squad assembles,” he added.

Clinical Australia whitewashes hapless India

India slumped to their second successive overseas series whitewash after losing the fourth and final Test against Australia by a humiliating 298 runs here on Saturday.

Chasing 500 for a win, India were bundled out for 201 runs in 69.4 overs in their second innings. Australia won the Test series 4-0 after having scored comprehensive wins in the previous three games. India, thus, suffered their eighth straight overseas defeat after having whitewashed 0-4 in England last year.

Resuming at 166 for six, the Indians lasted almost an hour and 13-odd overs during, which they added 35 runs before being bowled out for 201, handing Australia a clean sweep in the series. The sight of Indian tailenders prompted Australian captain Michael Clarke to start the proceedings with his faster bowlers and they responded to his skipper’s call by removing the two overnight batsmen Ishant Sharma (2) and Wriddhiman Saha (3) in the first three overs of the day.

Ishant was the first to depart, poking at a Ryan Harris delivery, which wicketkeeper Brad Haddin had no problem in pouncing. Next over, Saha followed suit in identical fashion, caught by Haddin off Peter Siddle.

Zaheer, unlike his previous innings in the series, seemed determined to spent time at the crease rather than flashing at every delivery. He batted for 18 balls, from which he scored 15 runs with the help of four boundaries before Ben Hilfenhaus sent him packing.

Zaheer lobbed a simple catch to David Warner in the covers while trying to pull a short delivery off Hilfenhaus. Umesh Yadav was the last wicket to fall, handing Haddin his third catch of the morning off Nathan Lyon’s bowling.

Ravichandran Ashwin remained unbeaten for India on 15, which came off 31 balls. Off-spinner Lyon turned out to be the best bowler for Australia, finishing with impressive figures of four for 63, while Harris picked up three wickets for 41 runs.

Kohli is cool, clever and thoughtful

I don't know Virat Kohli but he looks as if he might be a serious, ambitious, thinking cricketer with a big future in Test cricket.

A batsman to be encouraged to the limit of his ability as India searches out the next generation of run-scorers to replace those who have let her down so badly in Australia this last few months.

Gautam Gambhir has fallen victim to the short ball too often; Virender Sehwag is the constant victim of his own impetuosity, a young man's treasure trove but an older batsman's route to disaster. Perhaps Rahul Dravid left his form in England where he was magnificent; Sachin Tendulkar has a worthwhile, unselfish target but it has concentrated his mind too acutely; V.V.S. Laxman is still very, very special but clearly on his last legs.

Right coach

Kohli cannot replace them all and he needs the right coach to offer advice and the way to judge when to take a mighty swipe, like those he offered near his Adelaide century, and in no time he can be batting No. 3 and maybe, further ahead, leading the team through the gates and on to the field.

I liked what he showed us at Adelaide. He is cool and clever, thoughtful and balanced in his judgement, goes forward and back with equal ease and reserves his big shots for the bowler's worst deliveries.

Has future

He has a future, no doubt about that and if, as the rumour mongers have it, M.S. Dhoni will not be with us too much longer and the young 'keeper Saha looks a likely lad.

All that remains to be seen at this stage in his career for Kohli is the light at the end of the pathway to the batting crease and he must be treasured, must be helped so that he does not spend too much time at Twenty20. If Tendulkar can be persuaded to stick around for a few more years and offer help to this young man there is a smoother road ahead for India, especially under the expert guidance of Duncan Fletcher.

Poor Fletch. He has had a battering in the two long series he has been in charge of India. It can be a confusing country for a foreigner and sometimes in these last few weeks he has looked bewildered.

He will keep his thoughts to himself but, remember, it was a long time before he got England ready for the tough trek to the top and it will be just as long before India reaches the summit it achieved so briefly.

Openers

From somewhere in the vastness of the sumptuous sub-continent it needs two opening batsmen, a No. 3 who can bat for days, and maybe a dasher to take over from V.V.S., whose departure will cause as much sadness as the farewell from Tendulkar.

There is no need for Tendulkar to cause an increase in the sales of silk or paper handkerchieves just yet.

Perhaps like Jack Hobbs he will bat in Tests long into his 40s; he always seems to indicate he has longevity in his mind whenever the subject of retirement comes up.

So there is no hurry for that 100th international century. It will come in its own good time.

Instead he should think of his own future when bats and pads, gloves and chest protectors no longer form a major part of his life.

I hope the BCCI will keep him from the TV commentary box where he will be wasted and instead immediately make him chairman of selectors where his experience will be invaluable and where he can lead the search for his own successor.

No quick decision on seniors’ future: Dhoni

The flopshow of India’s senior batsmen in the Test series loss to Australia notwithstanding, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday refused to say anything on their future, insisting that decisions would not be taken in haste.

There is intense speculation on the future of batting trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman after their failure to perform in the 0-4 series whitewash at the hands of Australia.

“We will have to wait and watch (if there are changes). Our next Test series is only in September, there is plenty of time, we don’t want to take decisions quickly,” said Dhoni.

Dhoni said the hosts were the deserving winners as they played consistent cricket throughout the rubber unlike his team. “They have played consistent cricket. Whenever a partnership was needed, their batsmen stepped up and put par-plus runs on the board. Their bowlers were also consistent. They always stepped up when needed,” Dhoni said.

“There comes a phase in Australia when once you are set it is difficult for bowlers. That is when you have to be consistent with line and length. They (Australia) never gave us boundaries easily,” he added.

Dhoni hoped for revival of fortunes in the upcoming limited-overs matches. “We have the ODI series coming up and there will be a completely different side. It (the tour) is a learning experience for the youngsters. Once you play 100-odd ODIs, it is always good to have that experience when you make your Test debut,” he said.

Australia captain Michael Clarke said even though the 4-0 scoreline suggest their complete domination over India in the series, it wasn’t a cakewalk for the home team. “It’s a pretty good start. Lot of credit to the players and support staff. But it has not been easy, it may look like that on the scoreboard with 4-0,” he said.

“We resolved to make sure the disappointment of last summer does not recur this summer. We have tried to improve every day. I have been happy the whole summer, I have had a lot of support and needed it.

“India have a lot of great players, they have copped a bit of flak over the last month. It’s an honour to play against them,” Clarke added.

With 626 runs to his credit from four Tests with a personal best of 329 not out, Clarke was also adjudged the man-of-the-series. “I have never made so many runs in a series in my career. To score runs against such a good bowling line-up has been good,” he said.

Man-of-the-match Peter Siddle, who scalped six wickets in the game with figures five for 49 in India’s first innings, said lady luck finally smiled on him. He also lauded his teammates, especially his bowling colleagues for their superb show in the series.

“I was probably unlucky earlier. The bowling unit has done superbly together. I was lucky to get rewards here,” he said. “The batting has been lovely. We have stuck to having bowling partnerships every Test. My bowling length has improved, there is consistency,” Siddle insisted.

India staring at another defeat

Chasing 500 for a win, India were 166/6 at draw of stumps on the fourth day f the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia here today.

Brief Score:

Australia: 604 and 167/5

India: 272 and 166/6 in 56 overs (Virender Sehwag 62, VVS Laxman 35, Nathan Lyon 3/57, Ryan Harris 2/25).

Tea report:

Virender Sehwag smashed his way to a half century in customary fashion and then a perished due to a moment’s indiscretion as India reached 92 for two at tea, on the fourth day of their final cricket Test against Australia.

The stand—in captain slammed his was to 62 before he mistimed a rank full—toss from offie Nathan Lyon as Ricky Ponting took a simple catch. One would have expected a bit more sensible approach from Sehwag as India are trying to save the Test match after Australia set a huge victory target of 500 runs.

His partner Gautam Gambhir (3) had departed in the fifth over itself when he pushed at a delivery from Ryan Harris which pitched in the off—middle region and then moved a shade.

The resultant edge was collected by ‘keeper Brad Haddin.

Rahul Dravid (19 batting) and Sachin Tendulkar (7 batting) were battling at the crease.

The visitors need to bat out four sessions or make 408 runs from now on.

It was Sehwag who dominated the second session as he reached his half century off only 36 balls with 11 hits to the fence. Sehwag’s first two boundaries in a Ben Hilfenhaus over were streaky shots between the slip cordon and the third one too, again off Hilfenhaus was an uppish hit over slips but thereafter the right—handed opener batted with increasing command.

The introduction of Peter Siddle triggered an aggressive response from Sehwag who first punched him through covers, slammed down the next past mid—off and then again cleared the cover fence. Siddle tried to bowl straighter and avoid giving the width to Sehwag yet the latter square cut him for boundary in the next over.

Sehwag was now firing on all cylinders and square cut Ben Hilfenhaus at the other end to enter into 40s. The introduction of Lyon was too tempting for Sehwag to resist himself as he first punched the off—spinner through the covers and then lofted him to raise his half century off only 36 balls with 11 fours.

Sehwag was now in full flow and slammed Siddle through the covers to enter into 60s. But that was as far as Sehwag went as after the drinks, in the first over by Lyon, he came down the track to Lyon and somehow contrived to loft it into the covers.

Sehwag’s rollicking innings with a disappointing end lasted 82 minutes and 53 balls and contained 12 hits to the fence. Tendulkar lofted Lyon to midwicket fence almost as soon as he came on to the crease.

Dravid was dour but unsure during his 81—minute stay, making 19 off 58 balls with three fours.

Earlier Australia, resuming at lunch—time score of 154 for 5, declared after a mere three overs, and batting just long enough to give India a target of 500 runs in the fourth innings. Ricky Ponting helped himself to another useful knock remaining unbeaten on 60 as Australia declared at 167 for five.

Scores:

Australia Ist Innings: 604 for 7 decl

India Ist Innings: 272

Australia 2nd Innings: 167/5 decl

India (2nd Innings): Gautam Gambhir c Haddin b Harris 3 Virender Sehwag c Ponting b Lyon 62 Rahul Dravid batting 19 Sachin Tendulkar batting 7 Extras (LB—1) 1 Total (for 2 wkts, 24 overs) 92

Kohli scores a redeeming maiden century

India managed its first century of the series, but, like an appropriately self-absorbed actor, it arrived too late; and unlike said actor, it didn't have enough attendants.

Late as it may have been — India's seventh Test innings of the tour — the hundred did have a redeeming quality. It mightn't have come from the prodigious blade of Sachin Tendulkar, who a lot of the record crowd had come to see score his elusive 100th. But it did come from the promisingly talented bat of Virat Kohli.

Kohli had batted magnificently at Perth, looking as if he belonged on a quick, bouncy wicket first-timers usually struggle on. Here at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday, the third day of the fourth Test, the 23-year-old showed he will be a major piece in the jigsaw of India's Test future. His two knocks in Perth, which followed failures in Melbourne and Sydney, offered a measure of the man; his first Test hundred was corroboration.

When Kohli walked to the middle, Peter Siddle had just removed Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir in the day's first hour. Siddle, whose work hasn't earned the rich rewards it has deserved, would eventually finish with a five-wicket haul, but his second and third wickets showed why he is such a fine bowler on an unresponsive pitch.

Tendulkar falls

Tendulkar was undone by the combination of line and length. Australia's bowlers had largely bowled well to the great man. Siddle came on, and, as he has so often this series, found an early wicket.

Tendulkar attempted to reposition his front-foot after his initial reaction to the delivery, realising he needed to reach further forward; the ball caught him on the move, taking the stabbed edge low to second slip.

Gambhir, surprised by a bouncer from Siddle, tried to ride the lifter. But it kept climbing on him; the line cramped him — in combination with the element of surprise, it coerced him to respond in a manner most unsafe. The batsman tried mitigating the damage by removing his bottom-hand, softening, as far as possible, the fend. But it still lobbed. From gully, Michael Hussey made ground on his feet before timing his dive expertly.

With V.V.S. Laxman touching an intended cut to the ‘keeper off Nathan Lyon's off-spin, India was in familiar danger of being bowled out for fewer than 200. But Kohli found in wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, a batsman willing to absorb punches before throwing one of his own. Together, the pair set about batting time, tiring Australia's seamers so they could make capital when the bowling flagged. Given the flatness of the wicket and the dry heat of Adelaide, it was sound thinking. All it needed was execution.

Although it's an invitingly easy assumption, it can be said without significant loss in accuracy that Kohli is the quintessential modern Indian batsman. In him reside both the past — the wristwork, the hands — and the present — the inclination and the ability as he showed when batting with the tail to flog an attack — but he adds to these influences the impress of his personality: feistiness, self-awareness, a rakish intelligence.

His batting on Thursday was well organised. He played many of his defensive strokes off the back foot; he rarely went searching for deliveries.

He wrist-flicked those on the stumps in the arc between square-leg and mid-on, adjusting his stroke on occasion, for Siddle got the odd ball to cut to leg. Perhaps Australia could have tested him more with the short ball, but he pulled firmly and decisively, getting into good positions.

Kohli has had trouble in the past with hands tending to force themselves at the ball, the stroke being made outside the body's periphery instead of under the head. This he was in control of. He also proved he has an innate understanding of the nuts and bolts of innings-building.

His knock contained 32 singles and 14 twos, many of them run with Saha, who was keen to do much of the same himself.

Kohli attacked the spin of Lyon and Michael Clarke, something his senior colleagues appeared loath to do. The only time he didn't seem in charge was when Saha departed, bowled, shouldering arms, by an in-ducker, and R. Ashwin and Zaheer Khan didn't stay long. After the 114-run partnership, India lost three wickets for five runs, the last two to Siddle for his five-wicket bag.

Verbal tiff

But Ishant, who should be batting above the reckless and feckless Zaheer (the batsman), provided Kohli the time he needed to bring up his maiden century.

It didn't come easy: there were plays and misses on 97 and 99, a near run-out, a verbal tiff with the Australians in which Ricky Ponting (!) played the peace-maker, pulling Kohli away.

But the moment finally came, an aerial stroke through the off-side, a two punctuated in the middle and at the end by a typically belligerent celebration. Kohli was the last man out, incorrectly adjudged leg-before-wicket, and Australia, unsurprisingly, chose not to enforce the follow-on.

Its best chance of winning was to rest its bowlers while giving the pitch time to deteriorate, which it showed signs of doing in the evening.

India ended well, clever, skilful bowling from Zaheer and Ashwin reducing Australia to 40 for three. (Shaun Marsh was unlucky to be given ‘lbw').

By stumps, India trailed by 382, with Australia's first innings double-centurions together for Friday.

Scoreboard

Australia: 604/7 decl

India 1st innings:

Gautham Gambhir c Hussey b Siddle 34

Virender Sehwag c and b Siddle 18

Rahul Dravid b Hilfenhaus 1

Sachin Tendulkar c Ponting b Siddle 25

V.V.S. Laxman c Haddin b Lyon 18

Virat Kohli lbw b Hilfenhaus 116

Wriddhiman Saha b Harris 35

Ravichandran Ashwin lbw Siddle 5

Zaheer Khan c Haddin b Siddle 0

Ishant Sharma b Hilfenhaus 16

Umesh Yadav not out 0

Extras- (1b, 1w, 2nb) 4

TOTAL- 272 all out

Fall of wickets- 1—26, 2—31, 3—78, 4—87, 5—111, 6—225, 7—230, 8—230, 9—263, 10—272.

Overs- 95.1. Batting time- 378 minutes.

Bowling- Ryan Harris 25—7—71—1, Ben Hilfenhaus 22.1—5—62—3 (2nb, 1w), Peter Siddle 15—2—49—5, Nathan Lyon 21—5—48—1, Michael Clarke 6—1—23—0, Michael Hussey 6—0—18—0.

Australia 2nd innings:

David Warner c and b Ashwin 28

Ed Cowan lbw b Ashwin 10

Shaun Marsh lbw Khan 0

Ricky Ponting not out 1

Michael Clarke not out 9

Extras (2lb) 2

TOTAL- (for three wickets) 50

Fall of wickets- 1—39, 2—40, 3—40.

Overs- 14. Batting time- 60 minutes.

Bowling- Zaheer Khan 7—0—24—1, Ravichandran Ashwin 7—1—24—2.

Report: Ponting to sue Indian software firm

Angry over the use of his face in an Indian software company’s mobile phone application without permission, Australian batsman Ricky Ponting is contemplating legal action.

Ponting was not aware that the 99c iPhone app “Face Guess Cricket” was using his face.

“We weren’t aware of it and we’ll be issuing action against them straight away for the use of his intellectual property,” Ponting’s manager James Henderson was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

The Indian firm AHI Infotech had also apparently used the faces of retired greats Glenn McGrath, Steve Waugh and Shane Warne in its application without their permission.

“It’s news to me,” McGrath’s manager Warren Craig, said. “We have no relationship with (the developer). And we had to look it up to see what Face Guess Cricket was,” he said.

The application asks users to guess a cricketer’s identity from close-ups of his face. The AHI Infotech’s website also lists a number of iPhone game apps similar to Face Guess Cricket.

Sehwag doesn't rule out future middle-order role

He has a reputation of treating opposition bowlers with disdain but India’s stand-in skipper and dashing opener Virender Sehwag on Monday said the current Australian attack is the best he has faced as it has tested his patience like none before.

“This is the best bowling attack I have seen, especially Australia. They are not giving easy balls to hit boundaries, they are playing with your patience,” conceded Sehwag.

Sehwag has scored just 118 runs at 19.67 with one fifty from the series and he is still searching for those boundary balls from the Australians.

“I think they are bowling in good areas. They are not giving easy balls to hit boundaries. Generally, when I played in the past, I will get a couple of balls in early overs to hit boundaries but against this attack, I hardly get balls to hit,” he said.

Peter Siddle (17 at 19.58) and Ben Hilfenhaus (23 at 16.00) have invariably got the better of Sehwag in the series and the Indian opener is now inclined to rely on patience to get himself back in the groove.

“I think I have to show some patience. If I show patience, I will get some balls to hit for boundaries. It’s a challenge, it’s a great bowling attack and everyone is looking forward to do well against them. “I am looking forward to do well for whenever you do well against Australia, everyone praises and appreciates your performance,” said Sehwag.

As an opener, Sehwag, along with his partner Gautam Gambhir, hasn’t given India any start better than 24 in this series. “It’s not only the opening. All the batsmen didn’t score runs. When you go abroad and score 300-400 runs, your bowlers come in the game and try to get the other team out,” Sehwag said.

“It’s everyone’s responsibility to score runs, especially outside India. Unfortunately, on the last two tours, the batsmen didn’t score runs. “Yes, it’s important for openers to give good start but sometimes they don’t. It’s the responsibility of others batsmen to go and score. As a batting unit, we haven’t done well. Hopefully, we would do it here,” he added.

Sehwag supported the under-fire VVS Laxman and termed any decision to retire completely in the hands of the seniors. “It’s their decision. They would take the call. Nobody is discussing it in the dressing room. As for VVS Laxman, he’s looking forward to it, he’s up for it. He’s concentrating hard, practising hard and also extra (nets).

“I am sure the player that he is; he would perform well in Adelaide. Australia is his favourite team and he has scored a lot of hundreds against them. I am sure he would do well.”

India slump to seventh straight Test defeat

Overnight batsmen Rahul Dravid started with usual caution, but did not look comfortable.

Batting was the root cause of England's defeat

In a rare moment of unity the combined cricket populations of India, in the middle of defeat in Australia, and triumphant Pakistan on Thursday night mocked England's attempt to prove it is a worthy world leader after its 10-wicket thrashing in Dubai.

Of course it is far from unknown for English greats to show up any Test team weakness and they joined in with their predictable gusto.

Michael Vaughan, one of England's most successful captains, even wrote sarcastically that England in its present form “might give India a good game.”

I thought that England was back at its most pathetic, a common state of affairs in the last 30 years. Pakistan smiled its way to victory, but Andrew Strauss's men batted and fielded as if they were haunted by such low points as their 2006-7 whitewash in Australia.

England's batting was the root cause of this astonishing Dubai defeat. From Kevin Pietersen, who made only two runs in the first innings and was so impatient to get off the mark in the second that he fell into the most obvious trap by top-edging a hook to square-leg, to the run-hungry Ian Bell who made only four in his two innings, there was a lack of competitive edge and a complete absence of the usual desire.

Wrong tactics?

I wonder if, for once, the tactics devised by coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss were at fault.

When two attacking batsmen like Pietersen, who prodded around for 29 balls in the first innings for two, and Matt Prior, who lingered three hours for his fifty, batted the way they did, you wondered whether they were obeying orders. Either that or they were so hypnotised by the Saeed Ajmal teesra that their natural instincts froze.

What other explanation can there be. Typically, after a defeat in Asia, England protests against the heat or the conditions or the bowling action of its most successful opponent.

Instead the first Test was played in weather not much warmer than an average English summer's day and the pitch offered no more turn than you would find at Lord's or the Oval. Pakistan's bowlers are good — no question about that — but without Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, now languishing in jail after their spot-fixing exploits it is no better than a decent Test side, short of at least one elite player.

Not surprisingly the Ajmal teesra, which brought his second Test-haul of 10 wickets, and mid-pitch celebrations surrounded by his back-slapping teammates found its critics. Former England captain Bob Willis thought his action suspicious, but that comes late.

Ajmal bowled throughout the 2010 series without a word of criticism and no other side has protested. An official complaint would not be difficult to make in the city that also houses the ICC which has a strict formula for dealing with bowlers suspected of chucking.

No, these excuses cannot hide the simple truth. England's top batsmen submitted passively, stroke-less and without an attempt at assertion, for two totals that were not worthy of world dominance. It may be winner in its comfort zones of home and Australia, but as soon as it flies east of the Suez it collapses as if it was batting in a sandstorm.

Sadly, England appeared to lack leadership too. Strauss, under pressure after low scores as well as this defeat, promised “we will not panic” but offered no positive plan for the second Test in Abu Dhabi which begins on Wednesday.

The final damnation came from the Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq. “We did not think it would be so easy,” he said and that is the last comment world leaders want to hear.

My men are right on track: Balaji

Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan had training sessions at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday. The two sides meet in a five-day Ranji Trophy final here from January 19.

Tamil Nadu captain L. Balaji told The Hindu: “My men are right on track.

“We are geared up for the challenge of the final.”

Balaji felt the team had bonded well as a group. “Mentally, as a unit, we have moved to another level this season.

“We have come through difficult situations. We do not depend on one or two individuals.”

Right attitude

Balaji elaborated on the topic, “We have fought hard for every run, every wicket this season. I like this attitude. We have looked into the eyes of the opposition as we have walked in. We have had good players in the past too. But our aggressive approach this season has been the biggest transformation.”

In a side with several international stars including himself, Balaji had special words of appreciation for the less-celebrated middle-order batsman R. Prasanna — the left-hander has been the architect of several rescue acts and paceman V. Yomahesh who has bowled and batted with heart.

Leading by example

Balaji has led by example and his incisive opening burst against Mumbai in the semifinal played a significant role in Tamil Nadu entering the final.

Two-time winner Tamil Nadu last triumphed in the Ranji Trophy in 1988.

Balaji said: “I like a challenge. Rajasthan is a capable team but we will approach it like any other match.”

India slump to seventh straight Test defeat

India lost another Test series abroad when Australia emphatically beat India on the third day of the third Test at Perth on Sunday. Photos: AP

It is time BCCI took a stand

The selection of a 17th member in Rahul Sharma, as an additional third spinner, was the heartening feature of the Indian squad for the two T20 internationals and ODI tri-series down under picked here on Sunday.

Leg-spinner Rahul — not a big turner of the ball, but one who relies on bounce — could enjoy the conditions in Australia.

Maestro Sachin Tendulkar returns to the ODI scheme of things for the first time since April 2, 2011, when India triumphed in the World Cup final, overcoming Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium.

A legend and a path-finder, Tendulkar played a huge role in that famous conquest at home with 482 runs in nine matches at 53.55. While Tendulkar's greatness and influence are beyond question, no player, whatever his scale of achievements, should be allowed to pick and choose his tours.

It's time the BCCI takes a stand on the issue. Young opener Ajinkya Rahane — he has a reasonable average of 30.90 from 11 ODIs — misses out. When youngsters such as Rahane are being groomed, they deserve a fair run.

The selection of Parthiv Patel as the second wicket-keeper batsman is baffling. Never an outstanding ‘keeper, Parthiv averaged just 16.75 in the four ODIs against England and 14.00 in the five one-dayers versus the West Indies at home.

Why not Karthik?

In a team that could struggle for runs on pitches offering bounce and movement to the pacemen even in the abbreviated form of the game, Dinesh Karthik could have added weight to the line-up.

While Wriddhiman Saha's glovework can be impressive, there is little to choose between Parthiv and Karthik as far as ‘keeping skills is concerned. However, Karthik has been the best batsman among Indian ‘keepers in conditions outside the sub-continent.

In fact, playing as a pure batsman in a top-order role against England in the Oval Test of 2007, he came up with an impressive 91.

Karthik's form in the ongoing domestic season has not been extraordinary — he has 474 runs from eight Ranji matches at 43.09 with two hundreds — but there are times when the selectors should not go by numbers alone; statistics can be misleading.

The potential in a cricketer to deliver in challenging conditions should also be a yardstick. Karthik is unlucky to miss out. If the selectors wanted the best ‘keeper, then they could have opted for Saha.

The return of swing bowler Praveen Kumar — he was sidelined by a rib injury — is welcome. Praveen could combine capably with the left-arm variety of Zaheer Khan. Umesh Yadav has the ability to provide thrust to the attack, while left-arm swing bowler Irfan Pathan can also lend depth to the lower order with his batting.

For once, the Board and the selectors have taken a tough stand on the injury front. Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Varun Aaron, S. Sreesanth and Munaf Patel have not been considered owing to lack of complete recoveries from fitness concerns.

The squad:

M.S. Dhoni (captain), V. Sehwag (vice-captain), S. Tendulkar, G. Gambhir, V. Kohli, Rohit Sharma, S. Raina, M. Tiwari, Parthiv Patel, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Irfan, R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Rahul Sharma.

India's chinks have been thoroughly exposed

Indian cricket has contrasting reputations; very good at home but abysmal overseas. Seven away-from-home Test defeats in a row have exposed the brittle character of the team when challenged by quality opposition in exacting conditions. From seam and swing in England to pace and bounce in Australia the Indians have failed miserably to adapt.

A successive whitewash stares at India in Australia. Daggers are out. Critics, including the one-Test wonders in TV studios, are baying for blood. Sack the seniors and bring in the youngsters. “Not overnight, please,” Bishan Singh Bedi pleaded. “It can only be a process, not a knee jerk reaction.” He is right. It can only be a process.

India's preparations, according to Bedi, were “barest minimum” and expectations out of place. “At home, Australia is a very tough competitor. They play very hard and not like we do (in domestic cricket). They take great pride in their baggy green (national cap). Do we?”

“It is not such a bad team,” insisted Kapil Dev. “Why don't we give credit to the Australian team too. If I have to blame, I will blame the seniors. They should have taken the responsibility as they have in the past. They should have worked together to improve India's overseas record. But that doesn't happen when you look for personal performances and milestones. It is for the seniors to take the call.”

Collective failure

Anil Kumble was characteristically mellowed in his response. “The seniors certainly have to look at their future. Would they not like to end their career on a high? I don't think we failed because of them. It was a collective failure. Remember, these seniors have contributed enormously in making winning a habit. They have to bite the bullet yes, before or after Adelaide…leave it to them.”

The seniors, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Virender Sehwag, will all take the call when the time comes. No doubt about it. The selectors have those plans in place. In any case, these seniors have hardly been a burden. But England and Australia have hurt their reputations in a big way. “I know they will take a call. But Laxman, Dravid and all took their places by performing well,” said Kumble.

Kumble added, “We need to start looking at ourselves. It had to happen. Don't blame the seniors. They did not bat as well as they are used to, but then which youngster has stepped up and taken the responsibility?” Lack of partnerships from the top have consistently hurt India.

What has hurt most is how a team, with the most experienced batting line-up in the world, could make only two 300 and plus totals in 14 innings! The sequence of totals in the last seven Tests is appalling: 286, 261, 288, 158, 224, 244, 300 and 283 in England; 282, 169, 191, 400, 161 and 171 in Australia.

“Difficult to pinpoint one reason or one aspect,” argued Dilip Vengsarkar. “The failure has been collective. So blame the entire team. India has failed in all the departments of the game.”

And that would include administration too. The decline in the standard of first cricket, and coaching methods at the junior level, has hardly helped. “The grooming process is poor for the juniors who hardly get to even interact with senior cricketers. The scheduling of international matches clashing with domestic season happens only in India,” said Kapil.

Bedi did not support slamming the team. “They have lost, yes, but why do we get carried away by one-day performances. Please accept you are not good. You have to look to improve. I will hold the team management too responsible. The togetherness was missing.”

Sourav Ganguly has been ballistic in his comments on air and acidic in his column. “There is talk about Laxman being dropped for the Adelaide Test. If that's the case, the same rule should be applied to other players as well,” he wrote, without naming the obvious “other players.” Kumble struck a reasonable note. “It hurts because overall, not one person stood up. If batsmen have failed, so have the bowlers. There was none to break the long partnerships.

“Not one bouncer was bowled at (David) Warner at Perth. Where else would you bowl a bouncer? At Kotla?” India needs to improve in all departments. No doubt we have to improve our record overseas but it won't happen overnight. This season the chinks got exposed thoroughly in England and Australia.”

No resistance

Vengsarkar asserted, “They are all experienced and know it well but no one offered resistance.

“Everyone has some technical problem but then you have to adapt when it matters. Even I thought this was India's best chance to win a series in Australia. To me, this was the weakest bowling that Australians had in many, many years. They were very inexperienced. It has to be the worst phase of Indian cricket in my memory. Seven Test losses in a row with the verdicts being so overwhelming is awful indeed.”

Analysing Dravid's struggle, Vengsarkar felt, “He has had the tendency to play across the line. But look at his awesome record and contribution to Indian cricket. Let us not be harsh on him.”

Bedi also stood by Dravid. “Being bowled is just one more way of getting out. It doesn't mean you are a bad batsman. He was mainly getting out to a good ball. He didn't play a bad shot and in any case every bowler is entitled to a wicket-taking ball.”

There was support for Laxman too. Kumble asked, “Laxman has played 133 Tests but has been asked 100 times when would he retire. Just not fair to a great batsman.” Said Bedi, “Can anyone deny his stupendous contribution to Indian cricket; an absolute giant. Please don't pull the stalwarts down. Many who criticise them are not fit to even tie their shoe laces.

“Why are we not taking the technical committee to task?” The technical committee is in-charge of cricketing matters including pitches, domestic format, etc. Kapil observed, “The Indians are not used to that bounce and pace, and the length too (in Australia). They can't bowl well on those pitches; can't leave the ball. Lot of things they can't do. So, let Dhoni take the responsibility. He is the captain and it was his duty to motivate. He obviously failed.”

India faces another possible nightmare at Adelaide unless the seniors rise to the occasion. It would be their last Test appearance in Australia.

India v Australia - Day 2 - As it happened

Right, do join us at 5 AM (IST) tomorrow for action from the third day. Goodbye!

Today will be known for two things - Ponting's comeback being complete with a century, and Clarke first Test double hundred. Clarke is set to go on to the magical 300 mark tomorrow.

So with a lead of 291 with 6 wickets in hand, there is no possibility of an Indian bowling miracle tomorrow. In the unlikely event that an Australian batting collapse is triggered, India is still looking at a mountain to climb in terms of the first innings deficit. Once again, the game will come down to the Indian batsmen playing for time and survival. Only this time, their possibility of surviving is near impossible because we still have a good 3 days of cricket left.

The Indian bowling lacked teeth and purpose, and the entire team looked gutted on the field when Ponting and Clarke got going. There was no talk on the field, either in terms of encouragement, or trash talk to the batsmen. A sign that the Indians accepted their fate and just went along.

It was Australia all the way, literally all day long. They are now poised for what could be a massive innings win, thanks to Ponting's timely century and Clarke, who is still batting on 251. Just methodically destroyed any Indian aspirations with their 288-run partnership.

12:03: Play ends and a nightamarish day for the Indians comes to an end. Australia are 482/4 with a lead of 291.

12:00: Clarke gets his 250. This is a seriously compact innings. He has not looked trouble at any stage.

11:48: 3 overs remain in the day. It wasn't an evenly contested day by any means, but the utter domination by Australia makes for inspired viewing.

Australia up by 268 so it's now a question of when Australia will choose to declare. I'd say perhaps with a lead of 400, which should be achieved by Lunch tomorrow. Unless Zaheer Khan and co come all guns blazing tomorrow morning.

11:33: Hussey brings up his fifty to pile on the agony.

11:14: Some other news. Australian domestic legend Brad Hodge has told 'The Age' that he is no longer interested in playing for Australia after being consistently ignored despite big performances in domestic cricket. He will continue to play freelance T20 leagues.

Australia lead streches to 225 and our prediction should come true. A lead of 250 or 250+ by the end of the day.

11:05: 16 overs left in the day but Clarke and Hussey showing no signs of respite. The 'new ball' is now 20 overs old, and is now therefore an 'old ball'.

10:49: Clarke gets his 200! His first 200 in Tests, well past his previous best of 168. Comes off 284 balls and he has changed the course of this match completely. Australia went from a possible collapse at 37/3 to a position of immense strength thanks to Clarke, and his partnership with Ponting.

10:40: Another milestone coming up, it's Michael Clarke's 200. He's reaches 190 with another drive through cover for four. Full ball, but Clarke stays back and hits it on the up. There is a sweeper, but the ball races square. What Clarke wants, he will do.

10:37: Hussey not in his usual strong form either, quite like Ponting's situation before this series. Hussey has got 2 fifties in the last 10 innings. He's on 22 now so a good opportunity to get a big one, with nothing from the pitch for the bowlers.

10:29: Massive appeal for a caught behind but Hussey survives. Zaheer keeps it full and Hussey drives. Ball goes to Dhoni and everyone instantly appeals, but the umpire says no. Replays show the ball missed the edge and the sound came from the bat hitting the ground.

10:17: Sharp caught and bowled chance goes down. Clarke drives stright and hard, ball comes to Ishant Sharma at speed on his follow-through. Gets both hands to it, but the ball pops through. Clarke survives on 182.

10:17: Some exquisite backfoot play from Clarke. Rocks back and guides the ball through point and cover. Strong on the frontfoot too, not much margin for error for the bowlers.

10:15: Australia are 171 ahead and India will do well to spark a collapse and restrict the lead to 250.

10:10: We're back with Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke at the crease.

09:51: There you go, it's Tea. Clarke and Ponting have ground the Indians to dust. Ponting is gone but the Indians still staring at a huge first innings deficit.

09:43: Yadav bowls the last before Tea, but Clarke is more than up to it.

A massive 288 runs put on for the fourth wicket between Clarke and Ponting. Effectively took India out of the game, though they were in with a real chance when these two got together at 37/3.

09:28: Ponting gone! Ishant strikes. Short of length, outside off, Ponting climbs on his back foot and drives. Ball goes straight to Sachin at point and he holds on comfortably. None of the Indians showing too much emotion, they know the damage is done. Ponting leaves for a magnificent 134. His Test career is surely safe now.

India need to strike, now. This is their best chance to do some damage. Wait did I say damage? I meant damage control.

09:24: Clarke safely plays out the first over with the new ball from Zaheer.

09:20: Here's the new ball. Zaheer will have the first go.

09:17: Still persisting with Ashwin and Sehwag, though the new ball is available now.

Sorry Ujwal my calculation was wrong. 80 overs are up, and the new ball is now due.

09:10: 150 up for Clarke. No big celebration. Just a walk in the park.

Fair point Ujwal, the new ball is due in 15 overs. Zaheer and Umesh can have a real go then. Would help if at least one of these two batsmen is dismissed by then. Would make things much easier for the Indians.

Ujwal Deole keeps the faith -

'Few more overs and the new ball will be available. May be Indian pacers can make use of it and pull it back with a few wickets! Possible but not probable!'

08:57: Cannot even blame injury for the failures in this series, as people did for the England debacle. This is a full strength Indian team here, barring injury to Praveen Kumar and a few other bowlers.

08:53: VIrat Kohli has completed his 8th over, just to give you an idea about how desperate India are to get a breakthrough from somewhere.

08:40: Ashwin going around the wicket to manufacture something. Something, anything.

Partnership now worth 248 runs, and it has come at run rate of 4.2. The Indians on the field look lost. Running on empty.

08:22: Clarke carts Ashwin for six! Tossed up, Clarke runs down and heaves it over long-on. The misery continues for India.

08:10: When do you think Australia will declare? It looks the one likely way this innings will end. 57 overs left today with the lead at 66. They could easily get a lead of 300 by end of day's play today. And the Australians could declare first thing tomorrow to really rub their dominance in the faces of the Indians. We're just in the second day so there is absolutely no hurry yet.

Ponting's last century came in January 2010 against Pakistan. A long wait and unimaginable pressure comes to end, and how.

Even the new ball is not due for a long time. 23 overs to go. No respite for India unless they pull something out the hat.

07:59: Ponting gets his century! Quick single, almost run-out, but dives in and makes it. Wipes the dirt off his shirt and celebrates. 40th Test 100, what a moment after all the troubles he has gone through.

07:51: Camera pans to Rahul Dravid as Ponting approaches the 100. It was Dravid who backed Ponting to score runs when everyone was calling for Ponting's head. Well, Dravid did say he did not want Ponting to score against India though. Didn't quite pan out that way.

What a comeback this has been from Ponting. Fitting reply to all the people (ex-cricketers, administrators and fans) who wrote him off. Just 1 short of a 100.

Over ends so Ponting will have to wait.

07:48: Ponting moves to 99 now, we're back after Lunch

We'll be back at 7.35 (IST) when play resumes!

And the Indians, well. Shoddy bowling today from all concerned, just didn't seem to have the heart for a fight. Total damage control is what it is. Dhoni will definitely continue with his tactic of keeping the fielders on the fence after Lunch, so it's going to be long day for the team. 'Cold, lonely Australian summer', says my mate Brian Hyland.

Can you believe this session? 120 runs in 27 overs, with no wickets lost. Australia have grabbed this match by the scruff of the neck. It's like they came out with a point to prove, and completely destroyed the Indians. No telling where the Australians (with Clarke and Ponting) can go from here. Perhaps even aim for an innings victory. Clarke brings up his 18th Test century just before Lunch like a boss, and Ponting on the verge of a Godfather like comeback to good form.

And that's Lunch! Australia in complete control. They finish the first session on 236/3, a lead of 45.

07:03: Ponting on 97, but Clarke is on strike with 2 balls to go before Lunch. Ponting will have to wait, I don't think he cares.

07:01: You bet they can! Clarke is the first to reach the 100 with an authentic cover drive off Ishant Sharma. Last over before lunch and Clarke is happy, raises his bat and punches the air! Great knock from the captain, completely removed India out of contention.

07:00: Here's the only question the Australians have been posed today - Can Ponting and clarke get their centuries before lunch?

06:53: Clarke and Ponting just toying with the bowling now. Dhoni has just 4 men in the circle, and the batsmen are under no pressure whatsoever.

06:50: Clarke you beast! Zaheer around the wicket, length outside off, Clarke comes forward with confidence and rips a cover drive through mid-off and cover for four. He screams out a 'Yesssssssss!!!' after the shot, but there's no need to run. Moves on to 97.

Couldn't agree more Mathew. But the difference in the quality of bowling is quite apparent. The Indian bowlers are just not there. Running in, bowling, almost like a chore.

'Mathew Zacharias has advice for the Indian batsmen -

I hope the Indian batsmen are getting a lesson in how to bat when the ball is moving around. Past achievements don't help in that situation, but true grit does.'

And Australia moving at a hectic rate as well. Run rate at 4.4. So Australia on top in every respect. They could reach even close to 450 by the end of the day today, and we're only in the 2nd day! India looking at a long, long 4 days of Test cricket (including today).

06:43: And how about Clarke? He has moved to 90 and looks set for his 18th century in Tests.

What a turnaround for Ponting. Before this series, there was huge talk about his place in the team thanks to a woeful run of form. Everyone had an opinion, everyone spoke on why Ponting should gracefully retire. And now he has three 50s on the trot, poised to convert the third 50 into a 100 soon.

06:40: Ponting in top form. He is playing it easy now. Indians need a miracle ball to break this run.

06:31: Both Clarke and Ponting in the 80s now. Can they get a century before lunch?

06:23: And this partnership just goes on and on.. 150 runs now and the Indians looking in deep strife.

Lead cut to just 27. Dhoni spreads the field and the singles now available.

06:01: Ashwin comes in for the first time. Ponting and Clarke move on to 69 and 60 respectively. Nothing in the pitch for India.

05:42: Lead comes down to 50.

05:37: Clarke and Ponting going along merrily, completely untroubled by Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan. Partnership moves to a massive 104 runs.

05:20: Australia just 62 behind now, and they are going at 4.2 runs per over. This could all go very wrong for India quickly if they do not pick up a few wickets right now.

05:18: Stroked through cover and Ponting gets his fifty as well. 5o in 74 balls and this is his third consecutive 50. Ponting is back, and he looks good for a big one here.

And the honours on the first day went to one man - James Pattinson, who took 4 wickets. This man can do no wrong. 24 wickets in just 4 Tests and he has tasted heady success already. Our sports reporter S. Ram Mahesh spoke to him in Melbourne yesterday. Click here to read what he thinks of his Sachin Tendulkar dismissal.

Right, so a quick recap of the events that unfolded yesterday. India bowled out for just 191, a combination of loose shots and tight, well planned Australian fast bowling. In reply, Australia were 37/3 at one stage, but we have Ponting and Clarke doing a wonderful repair job to leave them close to India's first innings total.

Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting will resume for Australia. Clarke has already reached his fifty while Ponting is on 45. This could be Ponting's third straight 50.

05:01: Michael Clarke starts the day with a day and he reaches his fifty first thing in the morning.

Tough first day for India yesterday, can they pull things back today?

Hello and welcome to The Hindu's coverage of the second day of the second Test at Sydney.

Clarke and Ponting pummel Indian bowlers

Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting administered a beat-down at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday, a beat-down touring teams had come to expect and fear during Australia's days of glory, but one that seemed beyond the current side's ken.

India, behind in the second Test after a day, required its bowlers to lift, its captain to create, its fielders to threaten. The last of the demands wasn't entirely reasonable: this Indian team has more men to hide in the field than it has toadying hangers-on.

But its bowlers have shown they have the skill to take wickets and M.S. Dhoni, when given no option but to attack in the past, has proved equal to the task of making imaginative decisions. With such affirmative thoughts did Indian fans settle in their seats with chips and tea on the second morning; they had to wait four-and-a-half hours for a wicket.

When Ponting steered Ishant Sharma to point, unable to get on top of the extra bounce the harder second new ball allows, he had made 134, his first Test century in nearly two years and 40th overall. His partnership of 288 runs with his captain had punished India, rolled out for 191 in the first innings. What had begun in a flurry on the first evening — which Clarke was fortunate to survive — developed into a remorseless, acquisitive alliance.

Excellent session

Wednesday's first session was excellent for Australia; the runs came at a rate of more than four an over. The game settled into a monotonous holding pattern after that, the transaction for runs freighted with not the slightest risk, before Clarke and Michael Hussey advanced their side's endeavour against the second new ball.

Clarke and Ponting got their half-centuries out of the way early in the day, the former with a clip for three, the latter with a magnificent back-cut four. During the partnership, the pair illustrated how different methods can find success: for Ponting, the forward-press drove his batting, the movement of the lower-body pulling the arms down from a high back-lift; Clarke's bat-speed, on the other hand, was generated by the wrists.

Neither was at the top of his game in the first session, though Clarke had by far the better touch. India's bowlers made matters easier by gifting both batsmen balls to put away.

With very little movement in the air and on a wicket prime for batting, there wasn't the consistency needed to strain the making of runs. Between them, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav managed six deliveries capable of taking wickets before lunch. But when these were negotiated or eluded, there was nothing to fall back on.

There were two further problems for India. Dhoni's captaincy seemed to confuse his bowlers: when he asked his two slips to take their positions side by side at short mid-wicket, Umesh knew not which line to bowl. The diffused fields, a dispiriting feature of his tactical tendencies thus far, were in evidence as well, preventing pressure from building.

Ashwin struggles

R. Ashwin had a disappointing day. He bowled a decent off-break from time to time, but struggled, as he had in Melbourne, to put a spell together. Too often he strayed, to let the batsmen work him to the on-side with ease. The fields Dhoni and he set aggravated the situation. Thus did India fail to inconvenience the batsmen.

Ponting, who has had recent trouble with falling over, fought to resist it. He has stripped his technique down over the last few weeks and tried to drill in a more balanced position at the crease; but only after he had passed 70 did the corrections appear unforced, instinctive. He had a hairy moment on 99: in the anxiety to get to his century, he nearly ran himself out. But Zaheer couldn't hit the stumps from mid-on.

Ponting smiled as he has rarely smiled in the public glare before, the smile of a man who needs to grasp no more, to defend nothing. Clarke, who had reached his 18th century before lunch, nearly fell over in laughter as he saw Ponting muddied and relieved.

Raises the tempo

Clarke raised the level of play after second new ball was taken. He had hit Ashwin for a forceful straight six, but the shots that happened now — flash-fast cover-drives hit with the bottom hand, lacerating cuts struck late, cracking pulls smashed in front of square — were of an even higher quality, seen purely in terms of stroke-production. He gave a tough caught and bowled chance to Ishant on 182, but it was a rare lapse.

The Australian captain celebrated his first double century even before it had been completed, whooping during the first run and punching gloves with Hussey in the middle of the second. That he could take time off from running between wickets to do this was an indication the control he was in. By stumps, Clarke (251 batting) and Hussey (55 batting) had extended Australia's lead to 291.

Scoreboard

India — 1st innings: 191.

Australia — 1st innings

D. Warner c Tendulkar b Zaheer 8 (6b, 1x4)

E. Cowan lbw b Zaheer 16 (28b, 2x4)

S. Marsh c Laxman b Zaheer 0 (1b)

R. Ponting c Tendulkar b Ishant 134 (225b, 14x4)

M. Clarke (batting) 251 (342b, 31x4, 1x6)

M. Hussey (batting) 55 (97b, 7x4, 1x6)

Extras (lb-12, nb-3, w-3): 18

Total (for four wkts. in 116 overs): 482.

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Warner), 2-8 (Marsh), 3-37 (Cowan), 4-325 (Ponting).

India bowling O M R W

Zaheer 26 4 106 3

Umesh 18 2 94 0

Ishant 22 0 106 1

Ashwin 28 4 103 0

Sehwag 14 1 38 0

Kohli 8 0 23 0

Ponting relieved to break drought

Ricky Ponting said that he was relieved he had broken his century drought, but said the more significant thing was that he had helped repay Australia's bowlers.

“There have been a few good signs in the last few weeks, and I actually told someone in Melbourne that I felt a big score was around the corner,” he said.

“I've had to work harder than ever on my technique, it's the most pressure I have felt in my career. But I'm a very proud person, and I didn't want my career to end on a low. I love the contest too much to give it away. It was important for Michael and I to get Australia in a good position, and the Test is now set up beautifully for us.”

Asked what the century meant to him, Ponting said, “During a lean trot it's amazing how little things creep into the mind. I had a really clear mind this innings. Spending time in the middle is what you need in a lean trot, and I now have more confidence than I've had in a long while.”

Special moment

Describing the cathartic moment, he said, “I know I was out by probably two yards if he (Zaheer Khan) had hit. Bit of a brain fade from me, and it would have been a pretty sad end. My short got dirty, my grille jammed into my face, I was spitting out bits of turf so I could get up and smile. Then I had to change my shirt which was probably the highlight of the day for the crowd. Yeah, it was a pretty special moment.”

Michael Clarke, who Ponting said played as well as he could remember, was satisfied with his unbeaten double-hundred. “It's fantastic to have that sort of score beside my name, but if we don't win the Test it will be worth nothing. I'm proud I batted through the day, but we are a long way from being 2-0 up.”

Need a turnaround

R. Ashwin, who bowled without success against the pair, said that India was in need of something special. “It has to come from within,” he said. “Someone has to stand up and turn it around.”

Ashwin defended the bowlers, saying they had done everything they could. “With only 190 in the pocket, you have to save every run,” he said.

“You can't expect anything more from the fast-bowlers, Ishant (Sharma) was clocking 140 (kmph) in the last spell. You can't fault their commitment. As a spinner, there was nothing in the wicket.

“Not that I expect anything from a second-day wicket. My job was to keep it tight, and save runs for the fast-bowlers. But they batted very well.”

India v Australia - Live updates

10:41: Pattinson tempts Gambhir with an overpitches ball outside off, Gambhir is up to it and gets a four past cover with confident feet movement. Clarke is at slip, and he appauds Pattinson despite the four. Clarke reckons Gambhir will edge one of those soon.

10:34: Dravid looks good too. Rocks back to a short Hilfenhaus ball and places it through cover and mid-off for four. Follows it up with a flick through midwicket for another four.

10:29: Well the pitch has eased out, as the Australian innings proved. So batting surely easier now, no extra bounce as was seen during India's first innings. Swing down to a minimum too.

Huge moment for Gambhir, a fifty out of the blue when the chips were way down.

10:23: Gambhir reaches 50 with a streaky couple. Closes the face of the bat to a full ball from Pattinson, ball moves away and a leading edge falls just short of cover.

10:20: Gambhir continues with his attack, this time lifts Pattinson over point for four. Great signs for Gambhir and India, with Gambhir moving to 47. The team desperately needs him to find form again quickly.

10:12: Pattinson resumes and tempts Dravid with full balls outside off. Dravid knows better than to fish at those with 3 slips and gully in place. Leaves them well alone.

10:08: We're back and Dravid plays out a maiden over from Pattinson first up.

Can Dravid and Gambhir bat out the day and give its fans hope of a miraculous escape? Can Gambhir regain form, similar to how Ponting scored his first century in two years? All the answers in the post-Tea session, coming to you at 10.05 (IST).

India still 415 adrift, though it is a matter of time rather than runs now.

Gambhir on 39 and looking good. That is the only positive for the Indians today. Feet are moving, some crisp strokes.

It's Tea and India finish the second session on 53/1.

09:40: And Shastri cannot help but ask the question every Indian asks a foreigner - "Do you like Indian food?". Gillard says she does like Indian food. Shastri fell for that just like Sehwag fell for the cut shot.

09:38: Gillard talks about the good relations between India and Australia. Shastri, meanwhile, reminds her that come the 2015 World Cup, India will be the defending champions. Gillard says she is aware and Shastri is happy.

09:35: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard comes to commetary with Ravi Shastri. She says she is happy to be here on this historic occasion of the SCG hosting its 100th Test. She congratulates Clarke on his 300, and adds that the SCG is getting ready for the 2015 World Cup.

09:34: 10 minutes to go for Tea. Here comes Nathan Lyon.

Ujwal sees the funny side -

'The possibility of India losing before the end of the day is pretty high. Can India and Australia play couple of T20’s in the remaining two days? Indian players and Indian crowds need a confidence booster!'

09:22: Gambhir unwilling to be bogged down. 2 fours on the trot through the covers and he moves to 25 in 23 balls.

09:17: Rahul Dravid in a 'oh so familiar' situation. But even he will not feel too good about India's state now. One thing for sure, Australia will have to produce a brute to get him out. No gifting wickets when it comes to Dravid.

Sehwag goes for 4, and he just cannot stop himself from cutting a wide ball. He knows the plan to get him out at point, but he cannot resist. Did not even try to get it over point.

09:09: Sehwag out! Hilfenhaus the beneficiary of good planning. Short and wide, Sehwag can't help but slash at it, Warner at point picks up a sharp catch. Carbon copy of Sehwag's dismissal in the second innings of the first Test, even the front leg was lifted off-balance once again.

Gambhir under intense pressure to perform. He's got only 2 fifties since the start of the England tour, that's 14 innings. His last century came in January 2010 against Bangladesh.

09:02: Gambhir starts positively with 2 fours off Pattinson. Positive, but a bit risky flashing outside off.

08:52: Sehwag and Gambhir walk out.

Now it is up to the Indian batsmen to keep this series alive.

Clarke unbeaten on 329, he isn't interested in going after Lara's 400. The Indian bowlers have been hit all over, with all 4 full time bowlers going for more than 100 runs.

So Australia bat just a little past Lunch to declare on 659/4. Clarke put at an end to the innings immediately after Hussey reached 150. He obviously would have declared even earlier if not for Hussey's milestone. Whatever the case, this still leaves India with a mountain to climb.

The innings comes to a close, though I don't think the Indians will be relieved to go off. 223 overs remain in this Test, India will have to bat at least 180 overs to feel safe.

Australia declare! Lead of 468.

08:42: Hussey gets to 150. The crowd applauds.

Kohli had tweeted that the crowd said the 'worst things about your mother and sister, the worst I’ve heard'. Australian crowds can be pretty brutal on touring sides, just ask Michael Holding why he cried after his maiden tour to Australia. That's right, it's all documented on 'Fire in Babylon'.

08:37: PTI reports - Virat Kohli has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee after being pictured showing the middle finger to the Australian crowd yesterday. The level two offence for breaching the ICC’s code of conduct relates to “using language or gesture(s) that is seriously obscene, seriously offensive and of a seriously insulting nature to another player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee or any other third person during an international match".

This partnership now goes past 300, and looks good for much more. What can the Indians possibly do? It's actually better to allow Australia bat, instead of triggering a collapse and getting them all-out quickly. That way they will have less time to bat. I'm talking crazy now, but it's beginning to make sense after just over 2 days of an Australian pounding.

08:20: Looks like Clarke is not content with the 439-run lead. I suppose he wants more, maybe add to the 319 he's got.

Even if Australia declare at Tea today, which I would consider prolonging the declaration more than necessary, India will have to bat out 7 sessions to draw the match. That's a little over 200 overs of batting. It is possible, but highly unlikely, given the recent form of the Indian batsmen.

07:59: Clarke now has the sixth highest score by an Australian. Bob Simpson, Don Bradman, Mathew Hayden and Mark Taylor some of the legends above him in the list.

Look at Clarke's innings in context of this match. Came in at 37/3, with India on a high. Then just shut out India with Ponting, and now the lead is past 400. The series could well end because of Clarke's knock.

07:53: Michael Clarke with his 300! Flick through midwicket for four and Clarke celebrates a massive milestone. There is a huge crowd here to appreciate his innings, and he celebrates by taking off his helmet and punching the air. This is the first time he is crossing 200, and makes doubly sure by making a triple.

07:51: The part-time off-spin of Virender Sehwag is dealt with disdain by Hussey. Drop it short, Hussey pulls for four. SLightly full outside off, Hussey slog sweeps for four.

07:47: Clarke goes to 299 with a beauty! Straight and full from Ishant, Clarke drives straight back the bowler for four.

07:42: We're back with live action. Ishant Sharma is on.

Will Australia declare after Clarke gets his 300? Find out when we resume with the second session at 7.35 (IST)!

And there you go. As predicted yesterday, Australia close in on the 400-run lead by Lunch. Hussey gets his 100, Clarke on 293. Both are still around so India's nightmare continues. They would have hoped for a couple of early breakthroughs today, but nothing came. The bowling and attitude of the Indians has been better today, but Clarke and Hussey are in top class form. Both batting like a boss, with Clarke closing in on the 300.

07:03: It's Lunch and Australia showing no signs of taking it easy on the Indians. 583/4 with a lead of 392.

Sehwag with (definitely) the last over before Lunch.

06:59: Ishant Sharma smacked for two four by Clarke in that over. One through cover as usual, one to third man off an under-edge. Clarke on 293 now, lead moves to 390.

Ishant Sharma to bowl in what should be the last over before Lunch.

06:52: Hussey on the attack. Dances down the track real quick to Ashwin, he knows he's still not to the pitch but goess through with loft over mid-off anyway. Ashwin slowed it down and gave more air on that ball, but Hussey is confident he can do damage anyway.

06:42: Hussey gets his 100! That's his 16th hundred, and Hussey with the third Australian century in this innings. Typical Hussey innings, lots of singles and twos with quick running, and the boundary when the ball is loose.

06:40: Hussey on 99 now. Chanceless innings.

06:30: Giant screen shows Clarke now has the highest score for an Australian captain in Australia, beating Don Bradman. Clarke also moves to the 8th highest score by an Australian overall. Mathew Hayden on top of course, you'll remember the massacre against Zimbabwe when he made 380.

Clarke on 272 and there's nothing going to suggest he will not reach his 300.

06:23: Clarke in top touch. Umesh Yadav with the reverse swing, floating into his pads, Clarke covers the line with his frontfoot and whips it between deep midwicket and long on for four.

06:21: Michael Hussey on 92 now. Strong off-side play, be it the cut or drive. Field is back so he can score there at will.

06:19: Singles, singles, and more singles on offer. Gleefully taken. Ashwin bowling, a slip and silly point with cover and mid wicket on the edge pf the circle. All others on the boundary.

06:12: Heard from a friend in England that Ian Chappell has lashed out at the Indian selectors yesterday on TV for not being brave enough to prepare for the future by picking young batsmen. Hard to blame the selectors really, there's no way you can drop Laxman, Dravid or Sachin unless they decide to retire themselves. I'm saying this keeping in mind what the selectors went through in their meeting before this series started.

05:56: The length has changed from India today. Fuller and little wide of off stump. Testing Clarke and Hussey, but they are still around on 261 and 76 respectively.

05:34: Australia will most likely bat till they get a lead of around 480, which could take till Tea today. If they are adamant about batting only once and grinding the Indian bowling to dust, they could even bat all day today, simply because there is still so much time in this Test. But I'm hoping for an early declaration, say with a lead of 400. That way, the Australians can really send a telling message to the Indians, that they don't believe the Indians can bat long enough to even save a smaller lead.

05:28: Clarke absolutely murdered the bowling with his lovely cover drives yesterday, regularly getting fours in the region. Dhoni is up to the task today, bringing virat Kohli in at short-cover to Clarke. There is a sweeper at deep-point, everyone else on the off-side is in the circle, which is good to see.

05:27: Offie R. Ashwin comes in early in the day, around the wicket. Clarke defends and plays out the over without incident.

Boy, how good was Ponting yesterday? Never mind the unresponsive pitch or poor bowling, the century was significant given the kind of pressure he was in. S. Ram Mahesh talks to Ponting after his century yesterday, click here to read what Ponting said about playing under intense scrutiny.

05:22: Hussey starts from where he left off last night. It's those impressive cover drives he employed so effectively yesterday. Zaheer Khan this time, full and wide, Hussey leans forward and pierces a packed off-side field for a four.

Yesterday was a terrible, terrible day for India. They handed Ponting a century with some gift short balls and defensive fields, and then did the same for Michael Clarke. And the day got no better after Ponting left for 134, as Michael Hussey then came on and made an unbeaten fifty. But most of all, the attitude of the Indians was a let down. The bowlers were low on confidence, and the fielders looked jaded, defeated. Imperative the Indians put up a fight today, just to show Australia that they will not simply roll over and concede defeat so early in a Test.

05:15: So the lead at 297 now, I reckon Australia can get a 400-run lead by Lunch today. All eyes on Clarke now though, he is 47 shy of 300.

05:00: Start the day with overnight batsmen Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey. Clarke on 251, Hussey on 55

Promises to be another long, tiring day for the Indians. Let's see how they hold up and what kind of fight and attitude they bring today.

Hello and welcome to The Hindu's coverage of the third day of the second Test between India and Australia at Sydney.

Australian pacemen rip through the Indian line-up

Another Test abroad, another batting disaster in need of chronicling. India has struggled over the last year to put together an innings of any substance on tour, and it was no different at the Sydney Cricket Ground on a hot, dry Tuesday.

What must have been maddening — for both the team and its supporters — was that the conditions for batting weren't diabolical. The ball swung and nipped off the surface, especially in the first session.

But as M.S. Dhoni (57 n.o.) and Sachin Tendulkar (41) showed, it was actually a good wicket for batting, once its freshness had evaporated.

Australia's seamers moreover weren't as consistent as they were in Melbourne. They did enough, however, to exploit the mental frailty of batsmen searching for confidence. India was bowled out for 191 not long after tea on the first day of the second Test.

Zaheer strikes

Zaheer Khan responded as he so often has. The left-armer sent back Australia's top three to ensure India remained in the contest. But Ricky Ponting (44 batting) and Michael Clarke (47 batting) drove the home team forward with a 79-run partnership. By stumps, Australia had made 116 for three.

Tuesday's first over wasn't what India would have had in mind after winning the toss. Gautam Gambhir's dreadful tour continued.

He shaped to play James Pattinson's third ball to leg, closing his bat's face in the process.

Although the delivery was within the left-hander's body-space, it had some angle on it — Pattinson's wide position at the crease had created it.

The extra bounce Australia's pitches have contributed to the wicket — a leading-edge, high on the bat, to first slip. Rahul Dravid steadied matters for a while, leaving well the delivery that shaped away from him. But Peter Siddle got one to hint back.

Dravid readjusted his front foot, but he had left it too late. His hands pushed out to compensate. Short-leg was in play.

Virender Sehwag was himself at the other end, waving a flirty bat in between clouting boundaries. He had made 30, with four fours, when Pattinson, in an excellent second spell after a mixed first, struck.

The length was perfect for the occasion, full enough to catch Sehwag on the move, but not so full that it could be driven. The line was tight, permitting the batsman no room to free his arms.

Having eased Ricky Ponting's guilt — he had dropped Sehwag at second slip — Pattinson removed V.V.S. Laxman, who, like Gambhir, failed both times in Melbourne. The tall Indian No. 5 reached to drive a fullish ball, but could do no more than snick it to third slip. He hadn't covered the line and the movement.

Laxman's weakness

It's a weakness of Laxman's game, when he is yet to settle, but seldom has an Australian bowling unit taken such advantage of it.

Tendulkar appeared on another plane, his mastery in contrast to the rest of the batting till then. Virat Kohli looked the best he has at this level.

Australia's bowlers, in pursing a straighter line, hoping to get him ‘lbw' like in Melbourne, strayed marginally. It was enough for Kohli to wrist these deliveries for runs.

But before the partnership could turn threatening, it was ended by Siddle. First came two bouncers. Perhaps aware that the sequence betrayed a set-up job for the full ball, Kohli pushed forward. But it was shorter than he anticipated, and it moved and bounced just enough to gain the edge.

Tendulkar dragged a drive onto his stumps to leave the crowd disappointed. They gave him another standing ovation while Pattinson celebrated his fourth wicket.

The bowler mightn't have deserved a wicket with that particular ball, but there was plenty of good work in the lead-up — notably, a wide, run-denying line that tested Tendulkar's patience.

Captain back in form

Dhoni batted as well as he has overseas. From a back-lift shorter than normal, he waited to play the ball as late as he possibly could.

Two pull-strokes and a cut-drive showed that Dhoni was at the height of his powers.

R. Ashwin helped him add 54 for the seventh wicket — India's only half-century partnership — but the rest of the lower-order couldn't last as long.

Hilfenhaus on fire

Ben Hilfenhaus turned nasty, trading his swingers for a discomforting short ball to finish with three wickets.

Siddle ended the innings with his 100th Test wicket.

Zaheer, who again showed his control of line, length, and movement, became the second bowler to be on a hat-trick on Tuesday (Hilfenhaus was the first).

Caught in the slips

David Warner and Shaun Marsh were caught in the slips, the former by Tendulkar off a Laxman parry, the latter by Laxman himself.

Later, Ed Cowan was persuaded across his stumps and struck in front.

But Clarke chanced his arm and counter-attacked in Ponting's presence to ensure Australia finished the day in front.

Scoreboard

India — 1st innings

G. Gambhir c Clarke b Pattinson 0 (3b)

V. Sehwag c Haddin b Pattinson 30 (51b, 4x4)

R. Dravid c Cowan b Siddle 5 (33b, 1x4)

S. Tendulkar b Pattinson 41 (89b, 8x4)

V.V.S. Laxman c Marsh b Pattinson 2 (9b)

V. Kohli c Haddin b Siddle 23 (41b, 3x4)

M.S. Dhoni (not out) 57 (77b, 8x4)

R. Ashwin c Clarke b Hilfenhaus 20 (39b, 1x4)

Zaheer Khan c Cowan b Hilfenhaus 0 (1b)

Ishant Sharma c Cowan b Hilfenhaus 0 (6b)

Umesh Yadav c Haddin b Siddle 0 (10b)

Extras (b-3, lb-6, nb-2, w-2): 13

Total (in 59.3 overs): 191

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Gambhir), 2-30 (Dravid), 3-55 (Sehwag), 4-59 (Laxman), 5-96 (Kohli), 6-124 (Tendulkar), 7-178 (Ashwin), 8-178 (Zaheer), 9-186 (Ishant).

Australia bowling O M R W

Pattinson 14 3 43 4

Hilfenhaus 22 9 51 3

Siddle 13.3 3 55 3

Hussey 2 0 8 0

Lyon 8 0 25 0

Australia — 1st innings

D. Warner c Tendulkar b Zaheer 8 (6b, 1x4)

E. Cowan lbw b Zaheer 16 (28b, 2x4)

S. Marsh c Laxman b Zaheer 0 (1b)

R. Ponting (batting) 44 (62b, 5x4)

M. Clarke (batting) 47 (59b, 7x4)

Extras (lb-1): 1

Total (for three wkts. in 26 overs): 116.

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Warner), 2-8 (Marsh), 3-37 (Cowan).

India bowling O M R W

Zaheer 9 2 26 3

Yadav 8 1 42 0

Ishant 6 0 30 0

Ashwin 2 0 11 0

Sehwag 1 0 6 0

Keywords: India's tour of Australia