What has really impressed me with Australia’s batting performance in this test has been our ability to not let a setback kill our focus.
Hayden was out on the 3rd ball of the day, and you could not have written a better start for the Indians. Sure it was a dodgy decision by Rauf, and a lesser team would have fired up the learjet to fly home, but not Katich and Ponting, who got stuck in and for a 166 run partnership which swayed the match back to Australia’s favour.
Katich eventually fell to a lapse in concentration and India were back with a sniff, yet the Aussies regrouped immediately, denying the Indians a collapse. The 60 run partnership between Hussey and Ponting gave the BaggyGreens control of the first day. Punter was lucky to get away with a half-volley caught and bowled, however swings and roundabouts had him given lbw 10 runs later to one that hit him outside off, while he was playing a sweep shot, and would have struggled to hit a 5th leg stump.
Time for another partnership, and Michael Clarke was the next to step up and looked good against the spinners before falling to a peach from Khan with the that got some sideways movement off the pitch, ending the days play.
With his experience opening in ODI’s and T20, Watson was the obvious choice to face the 8 ball old rock with Hussey on day 2. Unfortunately it didn’t play out that way with Sharma bowling him early in the piece, bringing Haddin to the crease. A very watchful innings by Haddin has seen off the new ball and taken Australia through to lunch.
Ishant has been the pick of the Indian bowlers, which re-affirms my suspicion that Stuart Clark will be a real handful on this pitch. Believe it or not they are both the same height, Clark just has some meat on his frame and as such doesn’t look like a praying mantis.
Australia added just 74 in the session, though it must be said that for a team bowling spin from both ends to only get through 28 overs is truly appalling. It’s not like they were constantly chasing the ball or anything!
Agreed. They suffered 2 setbacks early on on both days and they rallied like the champion team they are.
Hussey just earned his stripes for mine. With that bloated avg giving him god like status in Aus, I really wanted to see him play on a dust bowl
2 innings and hes got 2 100s.
Hussey= God.
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Most impressive thing has been the fact that no batsman apart from Hussey at the death has gifted his wicket away.
That shows that the team means business and have their heads screwed on straight.
It bodes well for the rest of the series.
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5 days of Aussie pplaying for a draw.
India 1-0
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