According to the reports I’ve read, Gilchrist walked as well, as he did famously in the World Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka. At the time, he said that previously he had hit the ball and known it, but not walked when given not out. Anyway, it’s good to see, and I can only applaud him.
As for Kaspo and Gillespie, with Test averages of 10 and 14 respectively, and not a Test fifty between them, the effect of their walking on the outcome of the match might not be as great as it would undoubtedly be in a fast bowler’s dream.
Incidentally, xeno, batsmen who walk do so because they know they hit it.
India require 210 to win on the last day with all ten wickets in hand.
This has been a really good game so far. All four results are in play going into the fifth day. India would be favorite to win, just, since the pitch has evened out after looking like a crumbler early on.
Gillespie may not have a good average, but he can hang around. IIRC, today’s partnership with Martyn is his third century partnership. He is unusual for a quick: he has both the technique and temperament to play long defensive innings.
Australia will want to get Sewag early. He’s regained his swagger.
Oh, well. The next Test starts in a week and a bit. Presumably India will field a different wicketkeeper, but otherwise you’d expect the same teams. Zaheer Kahn should hold his place and Kaif deserves his, although I doubt the wisdom of dropping Chopra.
Hawthorne, do you subscribe to any cricket newsgroups? You are obviously interested in the game and you’d get a better response there than on this basically American dominated board (which is understandable). aus.sport.cricket is great for Australians, rec.sport.cricket is great if you want to argue with fans from the sub-continent (be wary, there are many of them). ;j
Before the series began, I had pretty much given up on India even winning one match. The first match pretty much confirmed my worst fears. The second one did give me some hope though - I don’t know if there was a chance for India to win the Test, but I wasn’t so confident that we’d lose it either.
India make four changes for third test, with Tendulkar and Chopra back, and Ganguly and Singh indisposed. Australia win a good toss and reach tea at 245-4. Martin appears to be in the groove now on the slower wickets, while Lehmann is back in the runs. Aussies back doing what they do best, scoring quickly and heavily.
I read last night that the Indians were mightily pissed that the Nagpur groundsmen prepared a seamer-friendly pitch. As they should be–what’s the point of having a home ground if you don’t use it to your advantage?
I agree with you about pitches, Duke. As long as it’s a pitch that two decent teams could end up playing for a result on the fifth day, that’s fine. The pitches for the first two matches were good. I was a bit surprised to see Martyn leaving a ball to pass over middle stump today - even if it was the first day. This isn’t Perth. IMHO it only gets to be dodgy when it gets to the Derek Underwood 1972 (“fusarium”) stage.
I cannot believe Partiv Patel held his place. The way things are going, Rahul will take the gloves himself later in the match. The poor bloke’s confidence is shot. He was a little less than adequate when the Indians toured here and he’s declined badly since. I don’t see the point in keeping him in the side.
Lehmann was effective today, but his muscle strain may end his career. Martyn was sublime. Gillepse should be promoted ahead of Warne.
Kartik did well in the absence of the Turbanator. It’s a big ask to step in as a frontline bowler when you know you’ve only got one Test before you go out again.
I don’t subscribe to any cricket groups Cicero, largely on the basis that I waste plenty of time here. But I’ll check those out if I become even more feckless than I am already.
Australia have learned their lesson and have declined to enforce the follow-on once again. India look to be on the verge of going down at home to the Aussies for the first time in 35 years. A stiffer test awaits them in England next year.
And it’s over–India bowled out for 200, giving the Aussies an unassailable 2-0 series lead. India never looked like they had enough batting–surprising, I think, for a side that had Tendulkar (who might not have been 100% fit), Sehwag, Dravid and Laxman. On the other side, Clarke hit 91 and 73, again looking like the find of the tour.
Any predictions for the Ashes series next year (he says smugly, knowing full well his prediction of “Australia 2-0 or 3-0” was a total shot in the dark)?
Such a shame about the last day in Chennai. India were in with a real shot, and the series could yet have been a belter. This Test was a chilling display by the Australians.
India rely very heavily on their best, but without Ponting or much from Hayden, Australia’s batting has been very sound. Katich has real steel. Martyn has finally fulfilled his promise. And Clarke might really be another Doug Walters.
Today was an ugly day for India. Only the super-cool Sehwag came through - he always plays like those James Bondish suit commercials he’s in on Indian TV. The lesson for other teams when bowling to Dravid is simple: don’t give him anything and he can’t keep the board ticking over. Helps if you’ve got McGrath, of course.
Against a full strength Australian bowling line-up, the Pomgolians have no chance. Whether that’s the same as here is another question. The approach here has been to deliver nothing loose, even at the cost of attacking. Lessons well and truly learned. I didn’t understand why Katich wasn’t bowled, but it was because although he bowls wicket-taking Chinamen he’s a part-timer. That’d be why they didn’t bring MacGill too: the plan was to strangle the Indians. Against England (or Sth Africa) the Australians will go for the throat. They really are the most dominating team since Clive Lloyd’s West Indians.
Mind you, the last time Australia beat India in India (35 years ago) they went on to lose badly to Sth Africa.