Australia v India: 4th Test, Adelaide

Border-Gavaskar Trophy
4th Test, January 24-28, Adelaide Oval
Start time: 1030 CST, 1100 EST, 0530 IST, 0000 GMT

Australia:
1 David Warner, 2 Ed Cowan, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey,
7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Peter Siddle, 9 Ryan Harris, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Nathan Lyon.

India:
1 Virender Sehwag (capt), 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Virat Kohli,
7 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh Yadav.

a little surprised india haven't made any changes apart from the enforced one because of dhoni's suspension

hard to see any result but a 4th win for australia given how the series has gone so far

There was some talk about Ojha coming in for Sharma but we'll have to wait and see. The Indian team above is the 'probable' XI according to Cricinfo.

There was a strange comment from Lyon yesterday - basically hinting that he may not even play due to the grassy nature of the wicket. Of course, this sounded very odd given Adelaide Oval's normal characteristics. Maybe, India just need some more time to think about their final selections.

I can't see Ojha for Sharma as 3 seamers are definitely needed in Australia, even if Adelaide is slower than the other venues. I think Mithun for Sharma is a possibility though - they need to work out which fast bowlers are worth persisting with going forward.

Don't think they'll throw in Mithun at this late stage. He didn't do much in the 2 warm up matches and has been pretty much snubbed by the selectors so far.

Looking forward to seeing how Saha goes in place of Dhoni. A very good wicket keeper, and a decent bat, too. Must be tough for him knowing that he will be replaced immediately almost regardless of his performance in this Test, and likewise it must be tough coming in to a side that is so mentally ruined. Hopefully, he carries none of those scars, and can perform freely and with confidence.

Got a feeling we are going to see Sachin's ton of tons in this Test, by the way.

Could be a few tons or more in this one.
Looking at the weather in Adelaide for the next 5 days: 37,34,34,34,33 no sign of rain.

so is it win the toss and bowl and hope there is something in the pitch on day one before the sun gets on it or will it just be a no-brainer to bat first regardless ?

Think it will be a no-brainer bat first situation. Might be something in it for the first hour or two but then it should be perfect for batting under a baking hot sun.

Oz just need to avoid being 3/2 this time... if they get to bat first.

i would be very suprised if ojha didnt get a go..

Well, dificult times, but has to be dealt with. A way has to be found.
The series is gone, should there be changes. 'Well Of Course', Dhoni is out, And Saha will get his chance, this time, as a propper wicket keeper, and not as a specialist batter, as had happened on his farcical debut match.
Then? Shouldn't there be room for Rohit Sharma? How long are we going to bench Ajinkya Rahane who averages almost close to 70 in first class cricket after playing more than 40 matches? Hasn't the fab lineup failed again and again? Did Laxman ever looked like he would score runs in this series? Hasn't Dravid been getting bowled far too often?
Yes, all that is true, and sooner rather than later, India will have to face the reality of a generational shift. The old guard has to go, new stars have to be found. As Sanjay Manjrekar says, its better to lose with young players rather than the older ones.
I also thought after the last test, like many others, that VVS Laxman should retire or be dropped otherwise. I had even written on these bords that Rahane too should get his chance, and Dravid may have to consider a move down the order.
But just now, had a read of Sambit Bal's article on cricinfo.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/550545.html

Think I have a change of heart. The series is anyways gone, VVS Laxman hasn't retired after the 3rd test, India play there next test only in the latter part of the year. Don't think the fab lineup will be able to stay together till then. Youngsters will get their chances, in the rather easier home coonditions to start with. Why not have a last, farewell outing for a set of batsmen, who's collective resolve, rather than any systemic factors that held Indian cricket together in the last 10 years or so? Not forgetting Sourav Ganguly or Anil Kumble by any means.
There is an Australian way to go about it. That is more demanding, more ruthless. Emotions play less of a part there. But then Australia has got a system of that kind. The system is in place to give at most backing to natural tallent. India's case is different. Indian cricket held its own largely due to some absolutely exceptional players, despite the system.
So, I don't really care about the result any more, hope Dravid, Tendulkar and VVS all play together, quite possibly for the last time for India. Would be more than happy if they manage to finish on a high.

to be honest msp i agree with you, in pretty much all of that!

If India retain the same batting line up, then it shows how spineless the Indian selectors are.

Laxman and Gambhir should be dropped. Rohit and Rahane are too talented to continually carry the drinks.

Additionally how does Ishant Sharma merit a place in the side? 100 odd wickets @ 37 is terrible.

i would like to see Ojha play at adelaide, and possibly alongside ashwin...it usually turns quite a bit at adelaide.

Demon Racer wrote:If India retain the same batting line up, then it shows how spineless the Indian selectors are.

Laxman and Gambhir should be dropped. Rohit and Rahane are too talented to continually carry the drinks.

Additionally how does Ishant Sharma merit a place in the side? 100 odd wickets @ 37 is terrible.

Someone shouldve told Stuart Broad that.

I think he gets a place on the grounds that someone once mistook him for a tall fast bowler. To the Indians thats like the Aussies finding a spinner post Warne. England spent quite a while perserving with all kinds of wierdos before finding their current attack simply because they felt it would be rude to go to Australia without a "fast" bowler who embaress himself.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

Demon Racer wrote:If India retain the same batting line up, then it shows how spineless the Indian selectors are.

Laxman and Gambhir should be dropped. Rohit and Rahane are too talented to continually carry the drinks.

Additionally how does Ishant Sharma merit a place in the side? 100 odd wickets @ 37 is terrible.

Someone shouldve told Stuart Broad that.

I think he gets a place on the grounds that someone once mistook him for a tall fast bowler. To the Indians thats like the Aussies finding a spinner post Warne. England spent quite a while perserving with all kinds of wierdos before finding their current attack simply because they felt it would be rude to go to Australia without a "fast" bowler who embaress himself.

I'm confused here PSW, Broad's bowling average was 35-40 due to bowling too short, since he has corrected this, his average has fallen quickly to 31.

Ishant is neither quick or overly tall. I think he was lucky that Aaron got injured, as he bowls quicker and from what I saw off the ICC emerging nations event, Aaron bowled well in Australian conditions. Secondly I think Dhoni and Ishant are in cahoots.

PSW's comparison with Broad was reasonable IMO. Sharma also bowls too short ATM. Whether he can bowl a yard fuller without being floaty is debateable.

Have to say if I were Rohit Sharma I'd be a bit peeved right now. How many collective failures is a side allowed with the bat before you pick the guy working hard and waiting in the wings.

Aus will pick Lyon surely. But then I said that before Perth.

Adelaide is a pitch on which you think about it, and then bat. It may do something for an hour or so, but unless you get 3 wickets then, you're likely looking at 300/5 or worse in the first day. Probably. Unless either of these two sides goes through another collapse.

Mike Selig wrote:PSW's comparison with Broad was reasonable IMO. Sharma also bowls too short ATM. Whether he can bowl a yard fuller without being floaty is debateable.

This is the key point. When he burst on the scene, he had Ponting in his pocket by pitching the ball up. With his height and pace, he cause Ponting discomfort. So either Sharma is pretty thick or lacks a bowling coach who understands his bowling style.

Australia wins the toss and will bat.

India's fate is sealed, no changes to the batting. Absolute joke.

I think Australia will get 500 on day 1

Warner gone... out lbw to Zaheer for 8
Australia 26/1

They'll be lucky to get half of 500...

Marsh bowled by Ashwin. Looking for turn which wasn't there.

31/2

Ashwin cleans up Marsh. 31-2. Ashwin 4-2-3-1. Why was he not selected at Perth?

Linebreaker wrote:They'll be lucky to get half of 500...

Marsh bowled by Ashwin. Looking for turn which wasn't there.

31/2

Not to worry here's Australia's 12th man, Ishant!

It's been hard to watch him struggle in the last few matches.

India has had a very good start this morning. Marsh is now under even more pressure to keep his place in the side.

Cowan goes for 30 after Ashwin floated one outside off stump and he's caught by VVS at short cover.

98/3 at lunch. A good morning for India.

216/3 at Tea
Punter on 91, Clarke on 71
118 runs for the loss of no wickets in that session.

Ricky gets his 4/4 100 v India at Adelaide Oval; his 41st Test Century.

Equal with Kallis now but behind him on wickets taken of course...

250 runs up. 166 run partnership between these two.

Clarke gets his 3rd hundred of the summer.
His 19th overall and 5th as Captain.
Australia 267/3

200 run partnership up off 268 balls.
Clarke 109 off 138
Ponting 80 off 130

284/3 now, 0/70 off 13 overs since the tea break.

When Ponting reached 81* he passed 13,000 Test runs.

"Ponting reached the mark in his 275th innings which is second to Tendulkar's 266. Dravid got there in fewer matches (160) than Ponting (162) and Tendulkar (163)" - from Cricinfo

Well it seems Ponting is back in form, good recovery by OZ.

LB, do you think Marsh has had his last chance?

He's Mickey's pet batsman from the WA scene so he'll probably go on the tour to the West Indies - but whether Watson will be fit and Marsh carries the drinks is hard to say.

Sounds harsh... but I'd make him play some Shield matches for the Warriors (against much fiercer bowling attacks than this Indian side) rather than put him on the plane to that beautiful part of the world.

Ha, Gary Sobers hitting Richie Benaud into the Bar under the scoreboard.
What a massive straight hit!

Wow, its not looking good for India again. This is fast turning into a 12 monthats that they would like to forget. Its good to see Ponting again in the scoring, he has had a pretty good series considering the pressure he was under.

Marsh has to be dropped though, he just is not performing at all.

Just looked at the conditions and this could actually be the type of ground that Tendulkar would bat well on. Maybe he will finally make the 100, 100's here?

A difficult chance but a chance all the same as Clark edged that one. Long day in the field for India today.

edged...dropped!

Yeah Billy. If he can't get it here...

However, Melbourne and Sydney were also opportunities for him to get that elusive 100th 100 (for what it's worth - it's baloney to me). There were no demons in either of those pitches. The WACA was maybe a 50-50; once a batsman gets settled it is a very decent pitch to bat on.

Adelaide, like you say is his best chance. In fact, we could see at least a couple of 100's from the Fab 3... maybe? It looks comfortable out there now. It will be interesting to see what the Australian bowlers can produce.

It is a landmark breaker, it has to be said but its not the be all to end all. Fantastic day for the Aussies and Ponting doesnt look like getting out anytime soon.

That Marsh chap is really starting to look like a weak link though.

Sorry but I disagree there. It's like mixing fine wine with a good draught beer.

To me the 51 Tests is relevant, 78 FC 100s next, 48 ODI hundreds next. You can't mix the formats up. Unless you are some confused Indian fan or a very creative journalist - sponsored by the BCCI...!

Well i have bought into the media hype . I think it will be a brilliant achievement

So at the Close of Play:

Australia 335/3 with Ponting 137* and Clarke 140*

First session belonged to India taking 3/98, then it was all Australia for the next two sessions.

These two look set to keep going as well. It could be another long day in the sun tomorrow for India.

Just having a quick look through the series. Marsh has had 5 innings for a grand total of 17 runs at a woeful average of 3.4 on what i consider to be a fairly decent batting tracks. This is really not good and needs to be looked at.

On the other hand Ponting has 400 (and counting) in his 5 innings'.
Thats an excellent return.

Yes, Punter has had a new lease on his legendary status since this series began.
Clarke has scored 519* thus far with an average of 173.

Its fair to say that Clarke and Ponting are winning this series for the Aussies. Thats some great returns from them.

I thought Sehwag did well early on in the day - bringing Ashwin on early and keeping the field up for a while thereafter as India bagged those 3 wickets.

However, once Ponting and Clarke seized the initiative, he sort of went into his shell. It's a very tough task captaining on a hot day like today when the opposition batsmen are in complete control of proceedings.

I really like Ashwin, i have been watching him for a couple of years (since seeing him in the T20) and he certainly looks like he could be a very decent bowler for India in the next few years. He can slog the ball as well.

Woke up for the last 30 minutes of play, at the moment there isn't anything better in world cricket than watching Ponting and Clarke form a world class partnership imo. Two of the most classy players around, so enjoyable to watch.