Australia managed to take a handsome lead of 326 runs at the end of 4th days play, yet the side was not able to pose a fighting total and continued to play at a very slow pace and shows that Australia are on the defensive and do not want to provide any chance for the visitors to come back in the series.
It is a clear ploy that either they want to win or draw with no possibility of losing the match. It is not sporting for a side to play for five days and yet does not want to see any competitor in it's sights. It feels like Aussie doesn't want to see an entertainer but a series securing draw, so that it pleases their rankings and stats. And it wants India to chase a in-surmountable total in as many less overs as possible.
Strategy is in contrast to what Virat Kohli did at Adelaide and went on the chase a total and lost the match in pursuit of victory. If a side is chasing down a total at a net rate of 4 and more an over credit goes to the side that is doing it and not otherwise.
The reason for this scenario developed as Indian bowlers managed to run through the Australia middle order and scalped four middle order batsmen from 131/2 to 202/6 with loss of Smith, Rogers, Burns and Haddin in the space of 70 odd runs. That slowed down Australia and they went on the defensive strategy.
Unlike the first Test at Adelaide that Mitchell Marsh played, and had clear instructions to go after the bowling, and he did that scoring very fast with Steve Smith at the other end, and Australia declared the innings that evening on the fourth day itself.
With three wickets in hand Australia are playing defensive here at MCG to put up a more defensive total than a fighting one, it is eating up time in the match and would force the opposition to play for a draw instead of a result, that would make it a very boring contest in the end.
What would Australia do on a fifth day of a test match with three wickets still in hand, Why didn't it fast paced the innings and declare on fourth day, so that it could be a sporting contest?
Valleyz.Blog
Monday, December 29, 2014
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Australia lead India by 155 runs at lunch on Day 4 at MCG
In the morning Johnson just took an over to remove India's remaining two wickets from day three for only three runs.
Runs flowing from both ends, Australia were 47 runs in 9 overs, Warner stepped up the pedal scoring freely of the pacers. Ashwin was brought from one end and runs soon dried up it was 14 overs for 50 odd runs with Ashwin conceding 4 runs in as many overs.
Yadav particularly expensive in three overs conceding 30 odd runs. It is never about bowling faster and faster, but about line and length and swing the ball in the air.
The result was wicket of Warner, trying to sweep one from Ashwin, was caught in front plumb and it was an easy decision for the umpire.
Though Chris Rogers was quiet the fourth morning but some wayward bowling from the pacers helped him to ease up and do the scoring for Australia.
Ashwin got out Watson 4 times in 7 innings,
In the 19th Over Australia were leading by 142 runs, and it looks like it would be a monumental total from here that India will have to chase in second innings.
336 runs is the biggest run chase at MCG.
Watson's weakness was on display trying to defend incoming ball in front of stumps. The best trying to play across and once trying to play through covers, out both of the time. Great batsmen need to have a solid defence. Shami testing Watson with some probing in swinging balls.
How much score that Australia would like to defend on the fifth day is the question now. 375 or 400 may be.
But can India chase such a score on a fifth day pitch to stay in the series ? Australia would be happy to draw the game and take the series, so it will definitely give India a big total to win.
Australia are 90/1 at lunch in 22 Overs on day 4 leading by 155 runs.
Valleyz.Blog
Runs flowing from both ends, Australia were 47 runs in 9 overs, Warner stepped up the pedal scoring freely of the pacers. Ashwin was brought from one end and runs soon dried up it was 14 overs for 50 odd runs with Ashwin conceding 4 runs in as many overs.
Yadav particularly expensive in three overs conceding 30 odd runs. It is never about bowling faster and faster, but about line and length and swing the ball in the air.
The result was wicket of Warner, trying to sweep one from Ashwin, was caught in front plumb and it was an easy decision for the umpire.
Though Chris Rogers was quiet the fourth morning but some wayward bowling from the pacers helped him to ease up and do the scoring for Australia.
Ashwin got out Watson 4 times in 7 innings,
In the 19th Over Australia were leading by 142 runs, and it looks like it would be a monumental total from here that India will have to chase in second innings.
336 runs is the biggest run chase at MCG.
Watson's weakness was on display trying to defend incoming ball in front of stumps. The best trying to play across and once trying to play through covers, out both of the time. Great batsmen need to have a solid defence. Shami testing Watson with some probing in swinging balls.
How much score that Australia would like to defend on the fifth day is the question now. 375 or 400 may be.
But can India chase such a score on a fifth day pitch to stay in the series ? Australia would be happy to draw the game and take the series, so it will definitely give India a big total to win.
Australia are 90/1 at lunch in 22 Overs on day 4 leading by 155 runs.
Valleyz.Blog
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Scintillating hundreds by Kohli and Rahane rescue India on day 3 after initial hiccups early on in the 3 Test at MCG
Scintillating performance by India on day 3 after initial hiccups early on in the morning.
India lost quick wickets in Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay after some persistent bowling by Australia. Vijay was out for 68.
Rahane and Kohli then combined to produce a huge partnership to resuce India from that precarious position to a respectable total.
Early in the innings both Rahane and Kohli were lucky to have got life. Rahane was at his best driving through covers and pulling Johnson all through day.
Batsmen produced some of the best cricket in front of a Sunday crowd at Melbourne Cricket ground.
It was sheer brilliance of the two batsmen that they survived some well directed bowling from Johnson and company. Pacer was hit to all corners of the park by the batsmen showing they were in total command.
Ajinkya Rahane got out lbw trying to sweep Nathan Lyon at the score of 147. The partnership was 262 runs worth for India.
L Rahul the debutant tried to lift Lyon over square leg but was dropped by Siddle at mid-wicket running backwards to take the catch.
On the following delivery the batsman went to sweep Lyon again, giving a simple catch for 3.
Dhoni was out on 11 runs playing a good length ball from Harris edging to the keeper.
Kohli continued on and on and while trying to drive the ball through point edged it to the keeper for well made169 of 271 deliveries the Indian team total read 462/8 at the close of play.
The batsmen showed the intent today and held the innings together and won the day for India.
Ryan Harris proved to be pick of the bowlers picking 4/69. Indian bowling unit could take a cue from the Aussie performance that they made the Indian batsmen earn their runs, survive and score.
It was definitely not easy for the Indian batters. And also besides the fortunate partnership there was little contribution by other batsmen. It is still a worry aspect for India.
Rahane was dropped by Lyon, who reacted a little slow to the shot played back towards the bowler that went through his hands.
Then Kohli edged in the slips but was dropped by Harris. Earlier Haddin pulled of a spectacular catch to bring down Cheteshwar Pujara and then took the catch of Kohli.
So it will India batting again with two wickets remaining on Day 4. It will be interesting to see the team tactics on day 4.
Valleyz.Blog
India lost quick wickets in Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay after some persistent bowling by Australia. Vijay was out for 68.
Rahane and Kohli then combined to produce a huge partnership to resuce India from that precarious position to a respectable total.
Early in the innings both Rahane and Kohli were lucky to have got life. Rahane was at his best driving through covers and pulling Johnson all through day.
Batsmen produced some of the best cricket in front of a Sunday crowd at Melbourne Cricket ground.
It was sheer brilliance of the two batsmen that they survived some well directed bowling from Johnson and company. Pacer was hit to all corners of the park by the batsmen showing they were in total command.
Ajinkya Rahane got out lbw trying to sweep Nathan Lyon at the score of 147. The partnership was 262 runs worth for India.
L Rahul the debutant tried to lift Lyon over square leg but was dropped by Siddle at mid-wicket running backwards to take the catch.
On the following delivery the batsman went to sweep Lyon again, giving a simple catch for 3.
Dhoni was out on 11 runs playing a good length ball from Harris edging to the keeper.
Kohli continued on and on and while trying to drive the ball through point edged it to the keeper for well made169 of 271 deliveries the Indian team total read 462/8 at the close of play.
The batsmen showed the intent today and held the innings together and won the day for India.
Ryan Harris proved to be pick of the bowlers picking 4/69. Indian bowling unit could take a cue from the Aussie performance that they made the Indian batsmen earn their runs, survive and score.
It was definitely not easy for the Indian batters. And also besides the fortunate partnership there was little contribution by other batsmen. It is still a worry aspect for India.
Rahane was dropped by Lyon, who reacted a little slow to the shot played back towards the bowler that went through his hands.
Then Kohli edged in the slips but was dropped by Harris. Earlier Haddin pulled of a spectacular catch to bring down Cheteshwar Pujara and then took the catch of Kohli.
So it will India batting again with two wickets remaining on Day 4. It will be interesting to see the team tactics on day 4.
Valleyz.Blog
India at a crucial stage in the first innings on Day 3 in the third test at MCG
India are at a crucial stage with 108 runs on the board at the loss of Shikhar Dhawan's wicket in their response to Australia's 530 runs on the second day of play.
Earlier Australia scored at a brisk pace resuming their first innings on day 2 with Brad Haddin nullifying the India tactic of bowling short to the batsman. Haddin hooked, pulled and lofted the clueless Indian pace attack in the morning to notch first fifty in the series.
Indian batsman tried hard and bowled short to Haddin in order to scalp the batsman's wicket, noting his uneasy stance in playing the short ball. But to the surprise of Indian bowlers, Haddin opened up his stance by freeing his front leg which gave him ample opportunity to score runs at will, until he himself committed an unforced error and edged a ball while trying to leave it to the keeper, in a similar fashion Indian Skipper MS Dhoni got out in the previous test.
India did not attack Aussie Skipper Steve Smith as much as they bowled short to Haddin, and that proved costly for the team, as Smith held up the Australian lower middle order together and stitched crucial partnerships with Ryan Harris too.
Ryan Harris played a good role and proved again that Australian lower order is the better off scoring runs than the Indian lower order as the bowlers struggled once again to get wickets.
Captain Smith and Harris built a 106 run partnership as Australia scorecard read 482 for 6 at that stage. As soon as Harris fell for 75 playing across to Ashwin, Australia stepped up to score quick runs as Smith went after the bowlers before the side got bowled out for mammoth 530 runs on the board with Skipper the last man out for a fabulous 192.
India started their first innings with confidence as both the openers survived probing line by the Aussie bowlers. Until Dhawan got out to a menacing Harris delivery which the batsman tried to play to the third man, instead edging it to the slips. Harris is a dark horse in the Australia bowling line up, he can swing the ball both ways and his seam is deceiving to say the least and often gives Australia crucial break through.
India are up against a good bowling attack and complacency will prove costly for the India as there isn't much depth in the Indian batting order as the Aussie side has. India are prone to batting collapses and often play contrary to their potential and provide opposition the chance to come back in to the game.
Where as Australia seldom made this mistake in the series. So far they've accepted every chance the tourists provided them.
If India are to stay in the series, batters need to present something special on day 3 to the Aussie bowling attack including the off-spin of playing Nathan Lyon. Other wise it will be remembered as a tour when the team didn't played to it's full potential, despite some good players in the team.
Valleyz.Blog
Earlier Australia scored at a brisk pace resuming their first innings on day 2 with Brad Haddin nullifying the India tactic of bowling short to the batsman. Haddin hooked, pulled and lofted the clueless Indian pace attack in the morning to notch first fifty in the series.
Indian batsman tried hard and bowled short to Haddin in order to scalp the batsman's wicket, noting his uneasy stance in playing the short ball. But to the surprise of Indian bowlers, Haddin opened up his stance by freeing his front leg which gave him ample opportunity to score runs at will, until he himself committed an unforced error and edged a ball while trying to leave it to the keeper, in a similar fashion Indian Skipper MS Dhoni got out in the previous test.
India did not attack Aussie Skipper Steve Smith as much as they bowled short to Haddin, and that proved costly for the team, as Smith held up the Australian lower middle order together and stitched crucial partnerships with Ryan Harris too.
Ryan Harris played a good role and proved again that Australian lower order is the better off scoring runs than the Indian lower order as the bowlers struggled once again to get wickets.
Captain Smith and Harris built a 106 run partnership as Australia scorecard read 482 for 6 at that stage. As soon as Harris fell for 75 playing across to Ashwin, Australia stepped up to score quick runs as Smith went after the bowlers before the side got bowled out for mammoth 530 runs on the board with Skipper the last man out for a fabulous 192.
India started their first innings with confidence as both the openers survived probing line by the Aussie bowlers. Until Dhawan got out to a menacing Harris delivery which the batsman tried to play to the third man, instead edging it to the slips. Harris is a dark horse in the Australia bowling line up, he can swing the ball both ways and his seam is deceiving to say the least and often gives Australia crucial break through.
India are up against a good bowling attack and complacency will prove costly for the India as there isn't much depth in the Indian batting order as the Aussie side has. India are prone to batting collapses and often play contrary to their potential and provide opposition the chance to come back in to the game.
Where as Australia seldom made this mistake in the series. So far they've accepted every chance the tourists provided them.
If India are to stay in the series, batters need to present something special on day 3 to the Aussie bowling attack including the off-spin of playing Nathan Lyon. Other wise it will be remembered as a tour when the team didn't played to it's full potential, despite some good players in the team.
Valleyz.Blog
Friday, December 26, 2014
Steve Smith's wicket is key to restrict Australia in the first Innings at MCG in the third Test.
It was a decent first day's play at MCG in the boxing day test against Australia by the India team with Australia scoring 259/5 at the close of play.
Umesh Yadav took the all important opening wicket of David Warner to slow down the Australia scoring rate later in the innings, as India bowlers failed to take wickets till the start of second session in the morning.
Watson and Chris Rogers built up a good partnership against a disciplined Indian bowling which went wicket less and a dropped chance to score a second wicket partnership of 115 runs. Chris Rogers was taken by Dhoni of Mohammad Shami delivery outside of off, inviting the batsmen to drive on the rise.
Soon after Watson was out lbw to R Ashwin, trying to play slog sweep covering the stumps and completely missing out, though umpire couldn't see the middle and off of the batsmen's wickets but failed to note that Watson took a long stride and met the ball out side the line of off stump. It was a close decision.
Initially Skipper Steve Smith started of slowly and then later paced his innings to lead Australia to a handsome total of 259/5 with his inidividual score of 72 not out at close of play.
S Marsh got out caught behind by the keeper of Shami scoring 32. Debutant Joe Burns could not last long as he was out trying to pull the ball and edging to the keeper off Umesh Yadav.
Umesh Yadav was bowling with good pace and bounce occasionally hitting Brad Haddin on the body with short pitched deliveries which the batmsnen left alone.
Ishant Sharma was bowling nicely but didn't look penetrating the Aussie batting order. Mohammad Shami took two wickets and looks good when bowling a probing line. There was also a dropped catch of his bowling when Watson edged in the slips and was dropped by a diving Shikhar Dhawan to his left.
Bowing out side of off is key to bowling Steve Smith out. Analysing the style of play, Smith easily pulls, drives and cuts the ball, so there isn't much the bowlers can try than to test him outside of off.
That's the only way Australia has time and again bowled at the famed Indian batting order of yesteryears.
When a batsmen is strong both on the backfoot and the front foot, it is important for the bowlers to catch him at the crease by bowing good length ones.
The wicket looks dry and slightly tilted in batsman's favour, India bowling has it's task cut out to restrict Australia.
Steve Smith's wicket is key in these circumstances, if he gets going and wags along with the tail, then Australia will not only score runs but at a quicker pace.
Valleyz.Blog
Umesh Yadav took the all important opening wicket of David Warner to slow down the Australia scoring rate later in the innings, as India bowlers failed to take wickets till the start of second session in the morning.
Watson and Chris Rogers built up a good partnership against a disciplined Indian bowling which went wicket less and a dropped chance to score a second wicket partnership of 115 runs. Chris Rogers was taken by Dhoni of Mohammad Shami delivery outside of off, inviting the batsmen to drive on the rise.
Soon after Watson was out lbw to R Ashwin, trying to play slog sweep covering the stumps and completely missing out, though umpire couldn't see the middle and off of the batsmen's wickets but failed to note that Watson took a long stride and met the ball out side the line of off stump. It was a close decision.
Initially Skipper Steve Smith started of slowly and then later paced his innings to lead Australia to a handsome total of 259/5 with his inidividual score of 72 not out at close of play.
S Marsh got out caught behind by the keeper of Shami scoring 32. Debutant Joe Burns could not last long as he was out trying to pull the ball and edging to the keeper off Umesh Yadav.
Umesh Yadav was bowling with good pace and bounce occasionally hitting Brad Haddin on the body with short pitched deliveries which the batmsnen left alone.
Ishant Sharma was bowling nicely but didn't look penetrating the Aussie batting order. Mohammad Shami took two wickets and looks good when bowling a probing line. There was also a dropped catch of his bowling when Watson edged in the slips and was dropped by a diving Shikhar Dhawan to his left.
Bowing out side of off is key to bowling Steve Smith out. Analysing the style of play, Smith easily pulls, drives and cuts the ball, so there isn't much the bowlers can try than to test him outside of off.
That's the only way Australia has time and again bowled at the famed Indian batting order of yesteryears.
When a batsmen is strong both on the backfoot and the front foot, it is important for the bowlers to catch him at the crease by bowing good length ones.
The wicket looks dry and slightly tilted in batsman's favour, India bowling has it's task cut out to restrict Australia.
Steve Smith's wicket is key in these circumstances, if he gets going and wags along with the tail, then Australia will not only score runs but at a quicker pace.
Valleyz.Blog
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