Oz tour of India, Feb 9 - March 22

[sussexpob]

The pitch was expected to provide a run fest, and England even made a huge score here last time out.

It did very much get harder to bat on during the end of the match though. If Australia can get somewhere like 400 on the board, they have a chance.

[Durhamfootman]

255-4

they even got 90 overs in

you wouldn't catch England doing anything as amateurish as that

[bigfluffylemon]

The pitch was expected to provide a run fest, and England even made a huge score here last time out.

It did very much get harder to bat on during the end of the match though. If Australia can get somewhere like 400 on the board, they have a chance.

Funny how when there is a series and a WTC place on the line if India lose, the track turns out to be a road after the last 3

[bigfluffylemon]

255-4

they even got 90 overs in

you wouldn't catch England doing anything as amateurish as that

I complain about over rates almost as much as you DFM, but to be fair it is easier to get 90 overs in when 57 of them are spin, 20 of those by Jadeja. The guy's 'run up' is about 3 steps.

[sussexpob]

Funny how when there is a series and a WTC place on the line if India lose, the track turns out to be a road after the last 3

I was wrong actually. At the Modi Stadium England were crushed for under 100.... it was Chennai England made runs at.

[Durhamfootman]

200 run stand between Khawaja and Green backed up by an irritating (from an India perspective) 9th wicket stand of 70 gives Australia a first innings total of 480. I'm sure they'll be delighted with that. It'll be interesting to see how India fare

[sussexpob]

200 run stand between Khawaja and Green backed up by an irritating (from an India perspective) 9th wicket stand of 70 gives Australia a first innings total of 480. I'm sure they'll be delighted with that. It'll be interesting to see how India fare

To India's advantage, it took the best part of 6 sessions to get to that total, so if India can at least bat out all of tomorrow, its going to take a significant deterioration in the pitch to see a potential result.

Although Australia left with any kind of lead on day3/4 would surely sacrifice wickets to smash runs and set a target.

Finely poised match. My heart tells me Australia have a chance, my head tells me India will score 500 and this is heading for a draw

[mikesiva]

Australia 480 all out

Khawaja 180
Green 114

Ashwin 6-91

[sussexpob]

I remember it wasnt that long ago that Usman Khawaja was seen as a weak link against spin. Certainly not without justification, I remember saying years ago now on his first tour to England that there were few players I had seen look so poor against Swann - he was clueless.

Have to give him a mountain of credit for turning round this aspect in his game. Averages 56 in Asia now, and that takes into account some poor tests before he turned it around v Pakistan a little while ago.

[bigfluffylemon]

Hats off to Khawaja. Not that long ago he seemed destined to be another Australian flat-track bully, with an average boosted by filling his boots at home against attacks unfamiliar with Australian conditions.

Since the start of 2022 he's been averaging 70 with 6 hundreds in 16 games, 9 of those away.

Gotta say I'm more worried about him than Warner in the Ashes.

[meninblue]

Ton for Shubhman. Well played. If only selectors had not been biased in selections from first test, this young prospect would not have missed experience of playing first two tests against Aussies.

[meninblue]

Chet dismissed by Todd. This partnership has put India in a position to breakeven the score of 480 put up by Australia in first innings.

[meninblue]

Shubman out for 128. India 245 - 3. Shubhman was well set but missed that entirely.

India still trail by 235. Need two more good partnerships.

[sussexpob]

Ton for Shubhman. Well played. If only selectors had not been biased in selections from first test, this young prospect would not have missed experience of playing first two tests against Aussies.

Great to see. I really see a lot of talent in this lad, hopefully this Kickstarts his career

[Durhamfootman]

looks as though SP's head will prevail