India tour of Australia 17 Dec - 19 Jan: Tests

[bigfluffylemon]

Only one wicket in the first 28 overs of the day. 70 overs to go though - long time to survive yet if the rain doesn't come. India are fighting hard.

[alfie]

Yes a lot of overs left to survive (don't think the run chase is on). Though that afternoon storm is always a possibility here.

Pattern of Sydney though - and first innings here - suggests that the accumulated fatigue of four matches might strain the Australian bowling resources late in the day and make taking a rush of wickets difficult. We saw the other day that India do bat down to eight now so Australia will want at least five wickets before tea , I think. Makes this last half hour to lunch quite important.

[bigfluffylemon]

Lunch 1 down. And for once, the over rate doesn't stink. 62 left in the day.

This one's going to the wire again, it seems.

[bigfluffylemon]

Gill out for a fine 91, still 8 wickets and 49 overs to go. Over rate seems to have got much worse since lunch.

4 an over needed to win. Not out of the question with 8 wickets in hand.

[alfie]

Required run rate technically not unreasonable. But with a new ball some time in there and the pitch doing a bit more as the day wears on it's a very long shot - and I can't really see them even going for it. These two are more likely to just bat , picking up runs on offer and thereby keeping the bowlers honest.
Run chase would probably be more a desperation effort from Pant if a bunch of wickets were to fall . Though I suppose if these two were still batting after tea and the target was down under 140 they just might have a dash ?
Trouble is this isn't ODI rules : the fielding team can put everyone on the fence if they feel threatened. I'm still seeing only two results here.

Was sorry to see Gill fall for 91. He did deserve a century.

[bigfluffylemon]

Agreed only two results seem likely, but it looks like Rahane might be in the mood.

It's not necessarily a bad move at this stage to at least threaten the target. Lose a wicket or two and then you'd have to shut up shop again, for sure. But if the target gets to below 100 with 30 or so overs to go, then Australia might not dare to keep men round the bat. While you can indeed push them back, India will be happy if Australia do.

[bigfluffylemon]

And so saying, Rahane goes.

Time to drop anchor.

[alfie]

Yes , BFL , Rahane was apparently going after Lyon...which as you say , might have been a sound tactic. Even the shot he got out to against Cummins seemed to show run scoring intent - albeit ill judged.

Paradoxically , as you - probably correctly - suggest it's time to stonewall ; in comes Pant , much more suited to all out attack

Haven't been listening to commentators (anti-Warne mute button) so not heard about the weather : are we still expecting an uninterrupted day ?

[Durhamfootman]

Interestingly poised at tea. When was the last time Australia lost a test match at the Gabba?

[bigfluffylemon]

Interestingly poised at tea. When was the last time Australia lost a test match at the Gabba?

1988

[bigfluffylemon]

Interestingly poised at tea. When was the last time Australia lost a test match at the Gabba?

1988

And in a piece of trivia on the coverage, more than half the Australian XI weren't born when Australia last lost at the Gabba.

[alfie]

Can't see them scoring 145 off 35 overs. But if a couple of wickets fall quickly it's still quite possible for Australia to run through the later order. Poor old Pujara is taking quite a battering but still doing a good impression of a wall but if he goes...

New ball in about an hour and India will certainly hope these two are there to meet it. I'm not calling this yet.

Weather seems to be holding up OK.

[bigfluffylemon]

Yes , BFL , Rahane was apparently going after Lyon...which as you say , might have been a sound tactic. Even the shot he got out to against Cummins seemed to show run scoring intent - albeit ill judged.

Paradoxically , as you - probably correctly - suggest it's time to stonewall ; in comes Pant , much more suited to all out attack

Haven't been listening to commentators (anti-Warne mute button) so not heard about the weather : are we still expecting an uninterrupted day ?

Doesn't seem to be any rain around. The forecast suggested that if there was going to be a storm it would be mid afternoon, but it still seems to be ok.

What a series. All three series results still on the cards in the last session of the last test (although an India win is by far the least likely, 145 runs in 37 overs is not unheard of in final sessions). I can't believe India are still competing so hard after so many injuries. Does it show a lack of killer instinct in Australia, the strength in depth of India, fallibility of both teams (36 all out) or a bit of everything?

Whatever the result, it's been a cracker, although a draw would seem to be the fairest result on both sides.

[alfie]

Bit of everything , I think.

I do think this Australian team has been a little overrated on the strength of home wins over an injury hit NZ and the perennially flakey Pakistan. They're a good bowling attack - though possibly not quite as good as some recent media boosting would suggest - but the batting is still mainly two fine players and a host of extras. Hard to beat at home ; but hardly Warne McGrath Gilchrist Waugh etc...

That said , if they win this they'll be rightly pleased with the job , even given the help they've had from the Indian injury list.

And India have indeed shown some depth - perhaps more than they realised they had ! Though it's the spirit they have shown that has most impressed me.

On with the final session

[bigfluffylemon]

Everyone's hard to beat at home. England are inconsistency personified at the moment, yet still haven't lost a home test series since 2014. There was a point a couple of years ago where something like 80% of the previous two years' series had gone with the home side, and only West Indies and Bangladesh were losing at home (plus Sri Lanka losing at home to India, which is barely an away series for India). Fortunately things seem to be a bit more competitive now, but an away tour to India, Australia, New Zealand, UAE/Pakistan, or even England is an uphill struggle for even the very best.