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| Nathan Lyon |
At last when the
Series is a foregone conclusion Australia
showed today why they were considered the best in cricket not very long ago.
With Aussie skipper Michael Clarke having left for home following his back
problems, and Shane Watson returning from the disciplinary action plus reaction
to take up the leadership, Australia still managed to regroup tremendously and
showed intensity both in bowling and in fielding as they have been used to, and
they seemed to be back at their aggressive best attacking the Indians in more
ways other than strictly cricketing so characteristic with the Australian
cricket teams. Call these mind games, sledging, or whatever. The most important
thing being they managed to put India
on the mat leaving the match wide open on a tricky Delhi pitch.
At stumps on the
second day of the fourth cricket Test match between India
and Australia for the
Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2013 in Delhi today India
had to struggle every inch of the way to finally take a slender lead of 4 runs
losing as many as 8 wickets. The dry and turning pitch offered uneven bounce
with the odd ball keeping low and the Australian bowlers, Nathan Lyon who took
a five haul, Siddle and Mitchell Johnson in particular, bowled their heart out
never allowing India
to build a partnership except for the opening one between Vijay (57) and Pujara
(52). Tendulkar (32), Dhoni (24) and Jadeja (43) had good starts, but could not
build on those. Virat Kohli and Rahane, replacement for injured Shikhar Dhawan,
flopped miserably to add to the Indian woes. At 266/8, India have no
genuine batsman left on the crease to hope rather optimistically for a big
lead. Australian spinner Lyon finally mustered the tricks of bowling on Indian
turners and his effort had come a little too late.
Australia
struggled too on the first day yesterday and at 136/7, the match looked set to
get over in three days. However, as in the Mohali Test the eight wicket
partnership rescued Australia
again with Smith (46) and Siddle (51) fighting it out. The ninth wicket
partnership too yielded more than fifty runs thanks to a stubborn 30 by pacer
Pattinson. Interestingly, a fast bowler made the only half century of the
innings. Australia
progressed to a respectable 262 and those runs by the tailenders could prove
crucial. Traling 0-3 in the Series Australia consistently won the toss every time though and this toss in Delhi
could also prove crucial considering the behavior of the pitch only on the
second day. For India Ravichandran Ashwin achieved a five-wicket haul yet
again. The Scorecard:
Cricket fans
today could not take their eyes off their television sets. This is only to get
keener and edgier tomorrow and maybe the day after. Get ready for a Sunday
treat. Just anything could happen. Be wise and do not try predicting.
