India tour of Australia 17 Dec - 19 Jan: Tests

[Arthur Crabtree]

Rahane goes cheaply, to Lyon who (Lyon) doesn't feel like he's got into the series much.

[bigfluffylemon]

Only one wicket in the session that belongs to India. Pant showing great fortitude to bat on after being struck the other day.

Still seems a tall order for India to bat out the day, let alone get the runs, as there isn't a lot of batting to come (assuming Jadeja won't be able to), but India are certainly putting up a good fight. New ball due soon will be key, one imagines.

[alfie]

Pant /Pujara stand has kept this at least nominally alive...and been great fun to watch !

Presume the new ball - or just the law of averages - will see the break and with not much batting to follow Australia will finish the job well enough - if not as easily as they might have liked. But while these two are together , India can dream. And it remains well worth watching.

Pity Jadeja is crocked : having him in the shed as a potential finisher might have the home team sweating a bit more .

Lyon having a mixed day. Early wicket...couple of chances spilled by keeper Paine : but also savaged by Pant at times. If the new ball doesn't do the trick he will be vital later on so needs to make sure the frustration doesn't get to him. Sydney is usually a good place for the spinners - and Jadeja seemed to enjoy it before his injury - but so far all the damage in this match has been done by Australia's pace trio. Still expect Lyon to get in on the act sooner or later.

[bigfluffylemon]

Pant goes on 97, right before the new ball. Lyon gets revenge.

That'll be that then. Looked for a moment as if India could pull it off, but with the new ball due, I would expect we'll see all out shortly after tea.

[alfie]

Real pity Pant didn't get the ton...and also that he didn't make it to take on the new ball and keep the excitement going.

In truth though I was thinking that even if you gave Pant 150 and Pujara 100 they'd still need to find another fifty runs from someone ...was always going to be a tall order.

Vihari playing for his spot ( though I guess he's likely to get Brisbane anyway for lack of alternatives) and the dogged Pujara : so will they keep trying to chase the target or try and stonewall it out ? Either way I don't fancy their chances.

Pace bowlers already looking threatening with the harder new ball...

[alfie]

Pujara gone now so I reckon The End is Nigh. Ashwin joins Vihari who is battling a hamstring issue ...Jadeja is padded up but hardly worth putting him through pain once this pair get out as with forty overs left there is no way India can bat it out.

Has been a gutsy effort. But they lost this match on days two/three batting without a clear plan. At least they've put some miles in the Australian bowlers' legs with Brisbane only three days away...

[alfie]

Well they've taken it to the last session...to my surprise , I must confess. Only five down so Australia still have some work to do ...though with one of those badly handicapped by injury - two actually with Vihari limping - and three number elevens , they will fancy getting the job done after tea.
All credit to India for the fight they've showed today...paying spectators have certainly had their money's worth.

[bigfluffylemon]

Very gutsy effort. Vihari has dropped anchor, 51 balls for 4 runs so far. Still 36 overs in the evening session (ludicrous over rates, as usual).

India really have been dogged by injuries. If they'd had a full strength team (and held their catches), they could have won this test. And they're effectively an extra wicket down as Jadeja won't bat. Under the circumstances, they've been remarkably competitive, given Australia have their first choice side (there might be question marks over who should bat 2, 5 and 6, but there are no obviously substantially better options than are playing today. Head might be unlucky...).

[bigfluffylemon]

100 overs survived. Still 32 to go though.

[alfie]

Surprisingly , Winviz has the draw as favourite now. Not for me. One will surely bring two or three quickly...

If these two get it under twenty overs , maybe a chance. We will see.

Jadeja will bat if they have any hopes of saving this , I'm sure. He's been padded up for ages.

Injuries have not been kind to India on this trip , to say the least. Seems to me a few touring teams have suffered like that in Australia recently ...NZ last year for example. Hard place to tour ; but a lot of these just seem to be a run of bad luck...

[bigfluffylemon]

Lyon's average at Sydney is over 40. And that's despite 10-118 v New Zealand last year (his best bowling there by far - only time he has got more than 3 in any innings here).

Oddly, his average at the Gabba is 29, and it's usually considered to be a much better ground for quicks. Probably enjoys the extra bounce.

[bigfluffylemon]

Surprisingly , Winviz has the draw as favourite now. Not for me. One will surely bring two or three quickly...

If these two get it under twenty overs , maybe a chance. We will see.

Jadeja will bat if they have any hopes of saving this , I'm sure. He's been padded up for ages.

Injuries have not been kind to India on this trip , to say the least. Seems to me a few touring teams have suffered like that in Australia recently ...NZ last year for example. Hard place to tour ; but a lot of these just seem to be a run of bad luck...

England always seem injury-laden when they tour here as well.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Interesting score. Judging by the SR, India are going for a draw.

[alfie]

Lyon's average at Sydney is over 40. And that's despite 10-118 v New Zealand last year (his best bowling there by far - only time he has got more than 3 in any innings here).

Oddly, his average at the Gabba is 29, and it's usually considered to be a much better ground for quicks. Probably enjoys the extra bounce.

Suspect you are right about the bounce factor , BFL. Indeed Lyon at the SCG has generally struggled to have a big impact. He has had a few chances spilled in this innings , to be fair.
I guess when you've had a few unsuccessful games at a ground - and are "expected" to be the last day destroyer - it puts a bit more pressure on you as a bowler. Can make you try too hard sometimes.

Plenty of time yet for Lyon to run through the last few. We will see. 109 overs down. 23 to go...

[alfie]

Paine mixing it up. Marnus having a trundle now.

Fair enough , variety ...though the sight of Labuschagne bowling usually leads me to call for my trusty stick of rhubarb...

Aussies just need one break and they'll still fancy cleaning up the tail. But this is getting a lot nearer the end than I'd have thought remotely possible overnight. All credit to the injury battered Indians for the fight