Flying home, England to decide on return to India

England's cricketers fly home from India on Saturday in the wake of the shootings and explosions that killed more than 150 people in Mumbai and will take time to decide whether it is too dangerous to return for the test series.

Because of reports that the gunmen were targeting foreigners, there are fears that the England cricket team could become a major target if they return for the two tests next month.

The last two limited-overs internationals, scheduled for Saturday and Tuesday, were called off in the aftermath of the coordinated terror attacks in Mumbai that started overnight Wednesday. That has given the team time off ahead of the test series, which is due to start Dec. 11.

Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India has switched the second test venue from Mumbai to Chennai and the England Cricket Board has given assurances it will proceed with the series, there is speculation that the England players, after talking to their families, may decide that they won't return.

"I haven't a clue," England captain Kevin Pietersen said Friday, before the players started their journey home. "We'll have to get all the logistic stuff sorted first but the decision to go back to London will buy us some time and if we need to fly back to India on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday next week then so be it.

"Right now, all we want to do is go home because of what we've seen and the fact we've woken up this morning and the saga is still continuing in Mumbai."

Pietersen said the players enjoyed their last visit to Mumbai. But they had been taking lots of calls from concerned friends and relatives since the shootings on Wednesday.

"The guys were happy as anything in Mumbai in the two weeks we were there," Pietersen said. "The way of life in Mumbai is fantastic and that way of life, which is the best way of life in India, has now gone.

"I bet all the guys lost a whole battery on their mobiles yesterday with calls from friends and relatives and kids wanting to know where daddy is. It's a real situation and we're being taken out of the situation and we'll make a decision on it over the next 48 to 72 hours."

Ian MacLaurin, the former England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, said he believed the security staff that travel with the team would advise them not to go back. The team's security expert, Reg Dickason, will do an assessment in India.

"It was absolutely the right decision to come home," MacLaurin said. "The England cricket team are very high-profile individuals.

"If these fanatics are going to target people then the England cricket side could be a very big target for them. My own view is that I would be very, very surprised if the security people will give them the OK to go back."

Pietersen conceded there would be pressure on the players to return for the test matches.

"I do think the BCCI will make every single effort to get us back here playing test match cricket in India. There are TV rights and financial considerations and they run world cricket don't they?" Pietersen was quoted as saying by Britain's Press Association. "But we will not come back to this country if it's not safe. My life means more to me than anything else and I won't come back if it's not safe."

HT Summit: Rahul Dravid says T20 won't kill Test cricket

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One of the key speakers at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Saturday was former India cricket captain Rahul Dravid.

Dravid spoke at length about the threat to test cricket by the Twenty20 format.

“(Whether or not) Test matches will be threatened by Twenty20 can be decided only by the scheduling that is done and the way they are decided,” he said.

Dravid also said the new generation of cricketers would want to play Test cricket and not just restrict themselves to the shortest version of the game. “Ask me if kids playing 20-20 don’t aspire to play Test matches, my answer will be, no they have grown up watching test matches and they obviously want to be a part of them,” he said.

He also spoke about players playing in the spirit of the game. “The spirit of the game has improved and the behaviour of the players has actually improved over the years. But if media lays focus on small events on field of bickering, then that is unnecessary,” he said.

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Kumble announces retirement - News In Pictures

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India's captain Anil Kumble announced his retirement after the third test against Australia, quitting the game at his favourite Ferozshah Kotla ground,India news pictures,India news Photo Gallery.

Gambhir's aggressive stance riles Australian media

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The confrontation between Gautam Gambhir and Australian cricketers in the ongoing third Test in Kotla was played up by the Australian media, saying that it revived memories of the controversial series of last summer.

"The acrimony which almost destroyed last summer's Test series between Australia and India exploded again on the opening day of the third Test," the Australian reported. "It continued India's record as the worst behaved team in the world over the past decade."

A headline in Sydney Morning Herald screamed "Gambhir elbows Australia out of way".

In their previous duel Down Under, players of both sides were involved in a number of heated on-field exchnages which even put the tour in doubt.

There has not been too many on-field flare-ups in the first two matches in this series with the exception of Zaheer Khan giving an angry send-off to Matthew Hayden in Mohali for which the fast bowler was punished by the match referee Chris Broad.

Broad had spoken to both captains before the series, asking them to play in true spirit.

"Gambhir's second century in as many innings has been marred by a physical confrontation with Shane Watson and a heated exchange with Simon Katich which required intervention from umpire Billy Bowden. Bowden was forced to stand between Katich and Gambhir after the pair almost collided while Katich unsuccessfully attempted to field off his own bowling, blocking Gambhir's path," the report said.

Vice-captain Michael Clarke stepped in and twice attempted to drag Katich away as the verbal confrontation with Gambhir escalated.

Skipper Ricky Ponting also stepped in and at the end of the over umpire Bowden spoke to Ponting.

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The Australian media, the staunch supporters of their cricket team, played up the flare-up between Gautam Gambhir and Australian cricketers in the ongoing third Test in Kotla, saying it brought back memories of the controversial series Down Under early this year.

"The acrimony which almost destroyed last summer's Test series between Australia and India exploded again on the opening day of the third Test," The Australian reported adding

"It continued India's record as the worst behaved team in the world over the past decade."

A headline in Sydney Morning Herald screamed "Gambhir elbows Australia out of way", a headline screamed in the Sydney Morning Herald.

In their previous duel Down Under, players of both sides were involved in a number of heated on-field exchnages which even put the tour in doubt.

There has not been too many on-field flare-ups in the first two matches in this series with the exception of Zaheer Khan giving an angry send-off to Matthew Hayden in Mohali for which the fast bowler was punished by the match referee Chris Broad.

Broad had spoken to both captains before the series, asking them to play in true spirit.

"Gambhir's second century in as many innings has been marred by a physical confrontation with Shane Watson and a heated exchange with Simon Katich which required intervention from umpire Billy Bowden. Bowden was forced to stand between Katich and Gambhir after the pair almost collided while Katich unsuccessfully attempted to field off his own bowling, blocking Gambhir's path," the report said.

Speaking about Gambhir and Katich flare-up Clarke said "I did see it on replay. I'm pretty sure the match referee or whoever needs to have a look at that will have a look at that," Clarke said after play. "Like the incident with Kat, it was important for all the players to make sure we get on with our game."

Gambhir though insisted that the nudge to Watson was not "deliberate".

"Gambhir may be small and slender of build but there has been no meekness about his approach to the Australians. He has challenged them on every front, niggling constantly from the infield during the previous Test in Mohali and clashing with them on more than one occasion yesterday," the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

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Both Gautam Gambhir and Shane Watson will face a charge under the ICC Code of Conduct for their altercation on the first day of the third Test here, an ICC press release said on Thursday.

Gambhir has been charged under clause C1 Level 2 of the code which states that players "shall at all times conduct play within the spirit of the game as well as within the Laws of Cricket". Watson has been charged under the same clause, C1, but as a Level 1 offence.

While level 2 penalties range from a fine of between 50 per cent of the player's match fee up to 100 per cent and/or a ban of one Test or two ODIs, level 1 penalties range from an official reprimand and/or a fine of up to 50 per cent of the player's match fee.

The incident related to contact between Gambhir and Watson as Gambhir ran between the wickets during the 51st over of India's first innings on day one of the third Test in New Delhi on Wednesday. The hearing will take place after the second day's play.

The charges were laid by on-field umpires Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar, both of the Emirates Elite Panel, and third official Suresh Shastri of the Emirates International Panel. It will be heard by Emirates Elite Panel match referee Chris Broad.

'If Kumble is fit, he will replace Mishra'

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While the stadium itself has retained none of the charm of the old world, the surroundings suggest you have entered a town of forts. Once you have entered the Feroz Shah Kotla – and it's mighty tough given the security - just look up and you'll find a policeman at most of the high points, overlooking the movements outside the stadium, almost like the guards in a fortress. They may as well be protecting India's lead in the series, welcome to the Fortress Feroz Shah.

Leading 1-0, India couldn't have come to a better venue – Kotla itself means a citadel - to try and kill the series: they have won the last seven Tests played here. India's build-up going into the third Test is in stark contrast to the one going into Mohali, where they won comprehensively. In Mohali, India were not sure of the final XI till about half an hour before the start; here they are almost sure – two days before the match – that Anil Kumble will replace Amit Mishra, who took a five-for on debut.

If Kotla is the fortress, Kumble has been its king. He has taken 55 wickets in six Tests here, at an average of 15.41. After having missed the Mohali Test, he seems to have recovered from the shoulder injury, and has been bowling in the nets. "He is looking good," Gary Kirsten, India's coach, said. "We are very happy with the way he is progressing. And if he is fit, he is the captain of the team, and he will take Mishra's place."

Harbhajan Singh's fitness comes into question because of a toe injury he had picked towards the end of the Mohali Test. Yesterday he bowled less than an over in the nets. Today he did the fielding drills, bowled about three overs, and also batted. "We will just wait and see. We have got two days to go, but hopefully it's not too serious," Kirsten said of the injury.

If Harbhajan and Kumble are both fit, Mishra will have to go back to what he has done for the last eight years: wait his turn. It may sound harsh, but that's what mostly happens to the replacement when the captain is back to full fitness. Kirsten was very clear about that, and also ruled out playing three spinners. "That's one good option you have [dropping a batsman to accommodate all the spinners]," Kirsten said, "But I certainly want to be going into a Test match with six batsmen."

And dropping one of the fast bowlers is not a question at all, given the form Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma have been in.

Apart from that aspect of team composition, Kirsten spoke of the confidence India's win in Mohali gave them. "It was a great Test-match win, certainly a benchmark Test, in terms of dominating play," Kirsten said. "It's a new day, a new game, but we will certainly use that Test as a benchmark for what we want to achieve."

While the player behaviour has come under the scanner once again in an India-Australia series, Kirsten said it was natural when two such competitive sides played. "[These are] two very competitive, emotional and aggressive teams. I think there will always be occasions in pressure situation when either team might overstep the mark a little bit.

"Zaheer, in the match referee meeting [when he was fined 80% of his match fee for having given Matthew Hayden a send-off], admitted that he had crossed the line, but these things happen. These are two teams playing a high level of cricket, that creates great excitement for Test cricket in the world. We must encourage that competitiveness; we understand that individuals mustn't overstep the mark."

Zaheer Khan fined for unsporting conduct

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Pacer Zaheer Khan was fined 80 per cent of his match fee on Tuesday for unsporting conduct during India's dominant second cricket Test victory over Australia.

Left-armer Khan took three wickets in four balls on the final morning to help propel India to its 320-run win before attending a hearing with International Cricket Council match referee Chris Broad.

He pleaded guilty to a Level 2 offense for conduct contrary to the spirit of the game for his celebration after the dismissal of opener Matthew Hayden in Australia's second innings on Monday.

He was fielding when Hayden was adjudged lbw to Harbhajan Singh and ``circled the batsman and shouted at him in an aggressive manner,'' according to the charge.

``Clearly, this sort of behaviour is not acceptable at any level of cricket _ it showed a lack of respect for the player who had been dismissed,'' Broad said. ``Respect for the opposition was something that we talked about in the pre-series meeting I had with both captains and so it was disappointing that Zaheer behaved in this way.''

Broad considered Khan's good disciplinary record in delivering the fine. He could have been fined his entire match fee or been banned for a Test match. ``He also pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and was very apologetic while also promising not to repeat the offence,'' Broad said. Hayden complained to umpire Rudi Koertzen, who was standing at square leg, when he left the ground in the over before tea on Monday.

Hayden's dismissal sparked a collapse, with Australia losing five wickets for nine runs to slump to 58-5 while chasing an unlikely victory target of 516. Umpires Rudi Koertzen and Asad Rauf intervened on a number of occasions during the match to call for calm between the players.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni defended the behavior of some of his players _ Harbhajan Singh was particularly animated on occasions _ during the Test. ``The match referee decides that,'' Dhoni said. ``If there is some aggressive cricket in the field going on, I prefer that. The guys are not really crossing the boundary, so it is OK.''

Ponting said he did not mind ``chitchat'' on the field, but ``if players do overstep the line then the umpires get involved.'' ``They did get involved a couple of times in this game,'' he said. Keep read more : Cricket Update

IPL Season 2 from April-May 2009

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Indian Premier League 2008 Full Story

The Indian Premier League has increased the number of international players who can be on contract with its eight franchisee teams from eight to ten, but maintained that only four can be fielded in the playing eleven in a match.

Cricket Update

The IPL also decided that a new players' auction, ahead of its second season in April-May 2009, will be on February 6, 2009, in Mumbai, and the window for trading of players between franchises will be between December 15, 2008 and January 15, 2009.

It was also decided that squads will not be allowed temporary replacements from 2009 and all teams that had temporary replacements will have the first right to pick those players.

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These decisions were taken at the IPL's three-day franchisee workshop that concluded in Bangkok, on Sunday, said a statement on Monday.

The IPL also relaxed the guidelines for commercial leverage for teams, providing them with more opportunities on-ground and in branding of teams.

A detailed hospitality and ticketing operations plan was also drafted and approved with a focus on improving the spectator experience including food courts and quality hospitality being provided to spectators, the statement added.

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The statement was, however, silent on whether the player cap of US $5 million, kept last year, was revised or not after demands to increase it had come in from the franchise owners.

The workshop, attended by over 130 personnel associated with the League, discussed player regulations, commercial, logistics, hospitality, ticketing, licensing and merchandising.

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IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said the decisions arrived at over player regulations and trading window, among others, "should make for an exhilarating experience for IPL fans in 2009.

Now IPL teams get options to curb losses

When the Indian Premier League (IPL) trading window opens on December 15 this year, franchisees who think they have been saddled with "overpriced" players will have a chance to cut their losses.

At the same time, players too will have the opportunity to negotiate for a salary hike. This was decided in Bangkok at a meeting between IPL's governing council and the franchisees.

The new rules for the trading window, that will be open till January 15, specify that franchisees can put players up for sale if the players agree to it. If the player sells for a higher amount than his current contracted fee, the selling franchisee will get to keep some of the profit and the player gets the rest.

Indian Premier League 2009 Updates

The sharing of the extra amount is to be negotiated individually between players and their current franchisees. The franchisees' share will have to be at least 50 percent.

If the player sells for a lower amount than his current fees, he does not lose out. He will continue to get what he did in the 2008 season. The selling franchisee will pay a 'subsidy' to the buying one to cover the difference. This allows teams that believe they have paid too much to a player who has not delivered, to minimize their losses.

Further protection for franchisees comes in the form of a clause that says "they will no longer have to pay players their entire contracted fee merely if they are fit and available for matches".

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Players who do not actually get picked to play will lose up to 20 percent of the contracted fee. In effect, 20 percent of the annual fee becomes a form of match fees that will be paid only if the player is in the playing XI. Unfortunately for franchisees, this crucial change will be effective only for the "new" players - those who do not already have contracts signed in 2008.

Among the other changes proposed for the 2009 season, each franchisee can now own 10 foreign players instead of eight, though there can't be more than four in the playing XI. Also, no temporary replacements will be allowed to cover partial unavailability during the season.

According to the player auction rules, franchisees who brought in temporary replacements in the last season would have exclusive negotiation rights with them till December 31. If they are unable to reach a deal with these players by that date, these players will then join the general auction for new players to be held in February 2009.


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Prior to this auction, franchisees will have to indicate to IPL the international players they are interested in buying and the price they are willing to pay.

IPL will then contact these players and negotiate a base price for the auction with them. It will also be responsible for getting no-objection certificates from their boards. IPL itself could also propose players for the auction. The February auction will be subject to a cap of $2 million per franchisee.


Brabourne to host Champions League ties

The commissioner and chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Lalit Modi on Monday confirmed that the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai will host the city's Champions League matches and the final.

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"Since Wankhede Stadium, which hosts international matches in Mumbai is under renovation for the 2011 World Cup, we will play the Champions League matches at the Brabourne which will also host the India-England second Test match from December 19 to 23," Modi told Cricketnext.com on Monday.

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Meanwhile, former Mumbai skipper and the secretary of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) where the Brabourne Stadium is situated said their venue would be hosting a Test match after 35 and the Test would be played on a different pitch from the Twenty20 matches.

India win by 320 runs to go one up in this 4 match Test series.

This is the biggest ever win in terms of runs for India. They beat their previous best which they sealed against South Africa in Kanpur back in 1996. They had mauled South Africa by 280 runs on that occasion.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the Man of the Match for his stupendous leadership on the field and not to forget, his wonderful knocks in both the innings of this Test. Now this is what you call, leading from the front and setting an example for one and all in the team.

Saurav Ganguly receives a special award as well. PCA greets him with a memento for this being his last test here. Ofcourse, we will see more of this elegant southpaw in the next two tests as the same squad has been retained.

Sachin Tendulkar gets a special award for becoming the first person to accumulate 12,000 runs in Test cricket, in a process, he crossed Brian Lara's record of being the highest run getter in Tests. That record lasted for 2 years before it was broken by none other than the Master Blaster himself.

Kris Srikkanth, what a note he has started off on. He comes out on the field to congratulate each and every member of the team. High fives and hugs flying all around, he has a few words for the special man, the skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has not put a foot wrong in recent times. Midas' touch, isn't it...

In the meantime, handshakes all around as Ponting and his boys come out of their dressing room to congratulate their opponents. Smiles all around and amidst all joy and happiness, Sachin Tendulkar has not gone unnoticed again. The seventeen year old in him sprung up in joy to hug Virender Sehwag who took the catch to complete the game. Well, this has truly been a complete team performance.

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Talk about anything, be it the batting, the bowling or fielding. Nothing was less than top class, ofcourse it always requires such a top class effort to beat a World Class team. There were contributions from everyone. Starts from the top of the order - Sehwag and Gambhir, solid batting from the middle order - Ganguly, Tendulkar and Dhoni and then a superb all round bowling and fielding effort with contributions from one and all. After such a performance, a team can really be high on confidence and storm into the next matches with an air of supremacy. However, 7 days separate the 3rd match from this one and 7 days is quite a bit of time for the down trodden team to regroup and recover from the blows. Will Australia do that??? Or will India cream through the Aussies like a rampaging river??? All that and more in the 3rd test.

Australia in India, 2008
India vs Australia, 2nd Test
Punjab C.A. Stadium, Mohali, October 17-21, 2008 -->
Australia 2nd Innings India 2nd Innings Australia 1st Innings India 1st Innings
Australia 2nd Innings
Others Wickets
Over #
Event
Team Score
7.2
7.2 Harbhajan to Hayden, out Lbw!! That's the slider, pushed through quicker on the stumps, Hayden kneels down to slog sweep, misses and rapped on the pads, hit in line with the stumps and that would have gone on to hit the stumps, that is what umpire Asad Rauf feels, Harbhajan strikes and what a big wicket this is, Hayden is on his way back into the hut now, maybe he failed to trigger his agression here, one chance too many! Hayden lbw b Harbhajan 29(20) <4s-4>
49/1
7.6
7.6 Harbhajan to Katich, out Caught by Tendulkar at point!! Incredible cricket, floated up outside the off stump, Katich comes on the frontfoot to drive it through the covers, big turn takes the outside edge, in the air and drops on the fielder, Sachin Tendulkar realises it a little late, charges in at the last moment and dives forward, takes a blinder of a catch, animated celebrations, you don't often see this man making such gestures but when he does it, it's worth watching, Harbhajan has caused carnage in his very first over! Katich c Tendulkar b Harbhajan 20(26) <4s-4>
50/2
9.5
9.5 Harbhajan to Hussey, out Lbw!! Ohh he strikes again, Harbhajan bowls a slider, drifting into the left hander,cbat goes for the pull, the ball stays a trifle low, that is enough, hits him right in front, and he is gone for all money!!! Hussey lbw b Harbhajan 1(4)
52/3
9.6
9.6 Harbhajan to Clarke, no run, flighted delivery on the stumps, angling away from the right hander and turns in at the last moment, Clarke gets forward and defends it watchfullyMichael Clarke walks into the middle9.5 Harbhajan to Hussey, out Lbw!! Ohh he strikes again, Harbhajan bowls a slider, drifting into the left hander, Clarke goes for the pull, the ball stays a trifle low, that is enough, hits him right in front, and he is gone for all money!!! Hussey lbw b Harbhajan 1(4)
52/3
10.2
10.2 Ishant to Ponting, out Bowled!! Top class cricket from the Indians, absolute jaffa of a delivery from Ishant, pitched up in the corridor of uncertainty and comes tailing back into the right hander off the seam, Ponting gets forward to defend, the ball sneaks in through the gap between bat and pad, knocks down the off stump, Ishant wants the volume in the crowd to rise even higher, animated celebrations, Ponting is flummoxed, on your way mate! Ponting b Ishant 2(11)
52/4
16.3
16.3 Ishant to Watson, out Lbw!! Length delivery nipping back in a long way again, Watson neither comes forward nor he goes back, just bends down into the crunches to defend, hit on the back pad and a huge huge appeal from the Indians, the slow finger from umpire Rudi Koertzen comes up, Watson can do nothing but walk back into the hut, what a scintillating period of play this is... breathtaking cricket! Watson lbw b Ishant 2(22)
58/5
46.6
46.6 Zaheer to Haddin, out Bowled!! Picture perfect, for a bowler only! Ugly sight for the batsman, length delivery on the stumps, just about coming back enough to make the batsman's defence look meek and weak, Haddin gets forward to defend as the ball rushes through between his bat and pad, the middle stump is knocked down, Zaheer provides India the impetus! Haddin b Zaheer 37(105) <4s-6>
142/6
48.2
48.2 Zaheer to White, out Caught by Dhoni!! Superb delivery from Zaheer again, gets the ball to seam away from the right hander this time, White stretches out to drive it through the covers, plays away from the body, takes the outside edge and what a wonderful catch from the Indian skipper, he has been leading the side from the front, dives to his right and takes it with two hands on it, safe as a house, Zaheer is doing the damage! White c Dhoni b Zaheer 1(3)
144/7
48.3
48.3 Zaheer to Lee, out Bowled!! Length delivery on the off, angled across beautifully, Lee gets forward to defend, he perhaps felt that the ball would nip back in, plays inside the line and sees the ball hold the line instead, the off stump is down, lying flat on the ground, Zaheer, you're a beauty! Lee b Zaheer 0(1)
144/8
50.1
50.1 Zaheer to Clarke, 2 runs, full delivery outside the off stump, angling away from the right hander, Clarke stretches out and drives it to cover, poor misfield, that gives Clarke his 9th Test FIFTY!!
151/8
62.6
62.6 Mishra to Johnson, out Caught&Bowled!! That's the wrong-un, lovely flight and slower through the air, Johnson didn't pick it up, tries to work it away on the leg side, closes the face of the bat too early, gets a leading edge which pops up in the air, simple return catch for Mishra, end of Johnson's resilience! Johnson c and b Mishra 26(44) <4s-4>
194/9
64.4
64.4 Mishra to Clarke, out Caught by Sehwag at short mid wicket!! Dropped in short, Clarke plays against the turn, tries to pull it across the line, miscued completely, scoops a simple catch to the man at short mid wicket, Clarke is gone, that is the end of the game, Mishra has sealed it! Clarke c Sehwag b Mishra 69(152) <4s-9>
195/10

Others
Over #
Event
Team Score
50.1
50.1 Zaheer to Clarke, 2 runs, full delivery outside the off stump, angling away from the right hander, Clarke stretches out and drives it to cover, poor misfield, that gives Clarke his 9th Test FIFTY!!
151/8
Go to top
Wickets
Over #
Event
Team Score
7.2
7.2 Harbhajan to Hayden, out Lbw!! That's the slider, pushed through quicker on the stumps, Hayden kneels down to slog sweep, misses and rapped on the pads, hit in line with the stumps and that would have gone on to hit the stumps, that is what umpire Asad Rauf feels, Harbhajan strikes and what a big wicket this is, Hayden is on his way back into the hut now, maybe he failed to trigger his agression here, one chance too many! Hayden lbw b Harbhajan 29(20) <4s-4>
49/1
7.6
7.6 Harbhajan to Katich, out Caught by Tendulkar at point!! Incredible cricket, floated up outside the off stump, Katich comes on the frontfoot to drive it through the covers, big turn takes the outside edge, in the air and drops on the fielder, Sachin Tendulkar realises it a little late, charges in at the last moment and dives forward, takes a blinder of a catch, animated celebrations, you don't often see this man making such gestures but when he does it, it's worth watching, Harbhajan has caused carnage in his very first over! Katich c Tendulkar b Harbhajan 20(26) <4s-4>
50/2
9.5
9.5 Harbhajan to Hussey, out Lbw!! Ohh he strikes again, Harbhajan bowls a slider, drifting into the left hander,cbat goes for the pull, the ball stays a trifle low, that is enough, hits him right in front, and he is gone for all money!!! Hussey lbw b Harbhajan 1(4)
52/3
9.6
9.6 Harbhajan to Clarke, no run, flighted delivery on the stumps, angling away from the right hander and turns in at the last moment, Clarke gets forward and defends it watchfullyMichael Clarke walks into the middle9.5 Harbhajan to Hussey, out Lbw!! Ohh he strikes again, Harbhajan bowls a slider, drifting into the left hander, Clarke goes for the pull, the ball stays a trifle low, that is enough, hits him right in front, and he is gone for all money!!! Hussey lbw b Harbhajan 1(4)
52/3
10.2
10.2 Ishant to Ponting, out Bowled!! Top class cricket from the Indians, absolute jaffa of a delivery from Ishant, pitched up in the corridor of uncertainty and comes tailing back into the right hander off the seam, Ponting gets forward to defend, the ball sneaks in through the gap between bat and pad, knocks down the off stump, Ishant wants the volume in the crowd to rise even higher, animated celebrations, Ponting is flummoxed, on your way mate! Ponting b Ishant 2(11)
52/4
16.3
16.3 Ishant to Watson, out Lbw!! Length delivery nipping back in a long way again, Watson neither comes forward nor he goes back, just bends down into the crunches to defend, hit on the back pad and a huge huge appeal from the Indians, the slow finger from umpire Rudi Koertzen comes up, Watson can do nothing but walk back into the hut, what a scintillating period of play this is... breathtaking cricket! Watson lbw b Ishant 2(22)
58/5
46.6
46.6 Zaheer to Haddin, out Bowled!! Picture perfect, for a bowler only! Ugly sight for the batsman, length delivery on the stumps, just about coming back enough to make the batsman's defence look meek and weak, Haddin gets forward to defend as the ball rushes through between his bat and pad, the middle stump is knocked down, Zaheer provides India the impetus! Haddin b Zaheer 37(105) <4s-6>
142/6
48.2
48.2 Zaheer to White, out Caught by Dhoni!! Superb delivery from Zaheer again, gets the ball to seam away from the right hander this time, White stretches out to drive it through the covers, plays away from the body, takes the outside edge and what a wonderful catch from the Indian skipper, he has been leading the side from the front, dives to his right and takes it with two hands on it, safe as a house, Zaheer is doing the damage! White c Dhoni b Zaheer 1(3)
144/7
48.3
48.3 Zaheer to Lee, out Bowled!! Length delivery on the off, angled across beautifully, Lee gets forward to defend, he perhaps felt that the ball would nip back in, plays inside the line and sees the ball hold the line instead, the off stump is down, lying flat on the ground, Zaheer, you're a beauty! Lee b Zaheer 0(1)
144/8
62.6
62.6 Mishra to Johnson, out Caught&Bowled!! That's the wrong-un, lovely flight and slower through the air, Johnson didn't pick it up, tries to work it away on the leg side, closes the face of the bat too early, gets a leading edge which pops up in the air, simple return catch for Mishra, end of Johnson's resilience! Johnson c and b Mishra 26(44) <4s-4>
194/9
64.4
64.4 Mishra to Clarke, out Caught by Sehwag at short mid wicket!! Dropped in short, Clarke plays against the turn, tries to pull it across the line, miscued completely, scoops a simple catch to the man at short mid wicket, Clarke is gone, that is the end of the game, Mishra has sealed it! Clarke c Sehwag b Mishra 69(152) <4s-9>
195/10
Go to top
India 2nd Innings
Dropped Catches Fours Others Wickets Sixes
Over #
Event
Team Score
21.6
21.6 Johnson to Sehwag, FOUR!!, back of a length delivery on the middle and leg, Sehwag closes the face of the bat and glances it to backward square leg, superb shot to raise his 15th TEST FIFTY!!
97/0
24.6
24.6 White to Gambhir, no run, floated up on the off, turns away from the left hander on that occasion, Gambhir gets a big stride forward to defend that, looked like an outside edge to me, not pretty sure, got to take a look at the replays, if it was an outside edge, it goes into the keeper's gloves, straight in and straight out, hit Haddin on the pad and deflects away to Hayden at 1st slip, catch dropped!! tough one though!
105/0
26.1
26.1 White to Gambhir, 1 run, flighted outside the leg stump, Gambhir gives the charge and clips it to fine leg, there's the single and there's his 8th Test FIFTY!! probably this milestone had him unsettled, he should relax a touch now!
112/0
26.5
26.5 White to Gambhir, SIX!!, flighted and Gambhir decides to go downtown, comes down the track and gets under it nicely, heaves it through the line, goes right over the bowler's head for a massive six, majestic, simply outstanding!
125/0
39.1
39.1 Siddle to Sehwag, out Caught by Haddin!! Angled in with some extra bit of bounce, Sehwag goes on the backfoot to punch it through the covers, thick outside edge goes into the keeper's gloves, Sehwag is gone, misses out on what would have been a wonderful ton, little spoilsport on his birthday, Siddle takes another big wicket! Sehwag c Haddin b Siddle 90(122) <4s-8>
182/1
47.5
47.5 White to Gambhir, out Caught by Hussey at mid off!! Gambhir does a Ganguly now, floated up on the off, Gambhir comes down the track to loft it over mid off, fails to clear the man, simple catch, Gambhir is gone but not before a wonderful ton! Gambhir c Hussey b White 104(138) <4s-7>
224/2
47.5
47.5 White to Gambhir, out Caught by Hussey at mid off!! Gambhir does a Ganguly now, floated up on the off, Gambhir comes down the track to loft it over mid off, fails to clear the man, simple catch, Gambhir is gone but not before a wonderful ton! trying to break the shackles after a ton, not to be... Gambhir c Hussey b White 104(138) <4s-7>
224/2
56.4
56.4 Hussey to Dhoni, 2 runs, back of a length delivery down the leg side, Dhoni closes the face of the bat and glances it to backward square leg for a couple, that is his FIFTY!!, well well well, that almost slipped out of everybody's observation, he has gone through his job very nicely, calm and has erupted in installments!
272/2
61.6
61.6 Lee to Ganguly, out Caught by Clarke at cover point!! Full and wide outside the off stump, Ganguly comes on the frontfoot and tries to clear long off, ends up slicing it high up in the air, comes down safely into the bucket like hands of Clarke, Ganguly departs in a process to up the ante! Ganguly c Clarke b Lee 27(37) <4s-2>
290/3
62.5
62.5 White to Dhoni, SIX!!, tossed up on the off, Dhoni comes down the track and gets under it nicely, clobbers it right over the bowler's head for a massive six, wonderful hit!
304/3
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Dropped Catches
Over #
Event
Team Score
24.6
24.6 White to Gambhir, no run, floated up on the off, turns away from the left hander on that occasion, Gambhir gets a big stride forward to defend that, looked like an outside edge to me, not pretty sure, got to take a look at the replays, if it was an outside edge, it goes into the keeper's gloves, straight in and straight out, hit Haddin on the pad and deflects away to Hayden at 1st slip, catch dropped!! tough one though!
105/0
Go to top
Fours
Over #
Event
Team Score
21.6
21.6 Johnson to Sehwag, FOUR!!, back of a length delivery on the middle and leg, Sehwag closes the face of the bat and glances it to backward square leg, superb shot to raise his 15th TEST FIFTY!!
97/0
Go to top
Others
Over #
Event
Team Score
26.1
26.1 White to Gambhir, 1 run, flighted outside the leg stump, Gambhir gives the charge and clips it to fine leg, there's the single and there's his 8th Test FIFTY!! probably this milestone had him unsettled, he should relax a touch now!
112/0
56.4
56.4 Hussey to Dhoni, 2 runs, back of a length delivery down the leg side, Dhoni closes the face of the bat and glances it to backward square leg for a couple, that is his FIFTY!!, well well well, that almost slipped out of everybody's observation, he has gone through his job very nicely, calm and has erupted in installments!
272/2
Go to top
Wickets
Over #
Event
Team Score
39.1
39.1 Siddle to Sehwag, out Caught by Haddin!! Angled in with some extra bit of bounce, Sehwag goes on the backfoot to punch it through the covers, thick outside edge goes into the keeper's gloves, Sehwag is gone, misses out on what would have been a wonderful ton, little spoilsport on his birthday, Siddle takes another big wicket! Sehwag c Haddin b Siddle 90(122) <4s-8>
182/1
47.5
47.5 White to Gambhir, out Caught by Hussey at mid off!! Gambhir does a Ganguly now, floated up on the off, Gambhir comes down the track to loft it over mid off, fails to clear the man, simple catch, Gambhir is gone but not before a wonderful ton! Gambhir c Hussey b White 104(138) <4s-7>
224/2
47.5
47.5 White to Gambhir, out Caught by Hussey at mid off!! Gambhir does a Ganguly now, floated up on the off, Gambhir comes down the track to loft it over mid off, fails to clear the man, simple catch, Gambhir is gone but not before a wonderful ton! trying to break the shackles after a ton, not to be... Gambhir c Hussey b White 104(138) <4s-7>
224/2
61.6
61.6 Lee to Ganguly, out Caught by Clarke at cover point!! Full and wide outside the off stump, Ganguly comes on the frontfoot and tries to clear long off, ends up slicing it high up in the air, comes down safely into the bucket like hands of Clarke, Ganguly departs in a process to up the ante! Ganguly c Clarke b Lee 27(37) <4s-2>
290/3
Go to top
Sixes
Over #
Event
Team Score
26.5
26.5 White to Gambhir, SIX!!, flighted and Gambhir decides to go downtown, comes down the track and gets under it nicely, heaves it through the line, goes right over the bowler's head for a massive six, majestic, simply outstanding!
125/0
62.5
62.5 White to Dhoni, SIX!!, tossed up on the off, Dhoni comes down the track and gets under it nicely, clobbers it right over the bowler's head for a massive six, wonderful hit!
304/3
Go to top
Australia 1st Innings
Dropped Catches Fours Others Wickets Sixes
Over #
Event
Team Score
0.3
0.3 Zaheer to Hayden, out Bowled!! Tailing into the left hander sharply, Hayden gets forward to drive, plays away from the body getting a big inside edge, drags it back onto the stumps, Zaheer is absolutely delighted, he is all over the moon, is Hayden becoming Zaheer's bunny here... already dismissed him twice before this, three on three now! Hayden b Zaheer 0(3)
0/1
7.5
7.5 Ishant to Ponting, out Lbw!! Now Ishant has his bunny like Zaheer had before tea, good length delivery on the stumps, jabs back in again, Ponting goes back to defend, misses and rapped on the pads, another huge appeal and this time umpire Rudi Koertzen upholds, that might have just gone over the top of the stumps, the previous one was plumb infront though, perhaps the compensation has come... Ishant has the last laugh in this contest... Ponting lbw b Ishant 5(23) <4s-1>
17/2
21.6
21.6 Mishra to Katich, out Bowled!! Floated up again, drifts away a little and turns in sharply, Katich gets a big stride forward to defend, inside edge onto the pads and rolls onto the stumps, Mishra earns his first Test wicket, he is all over the moon here, Katich is gone, that is a big blow and the Australians are in a spot of bother, look at the Indians, they have all huddled up around Mishra to congratulate him, that should make him comfortable, he would be feeling at home now, wicket can do wonders to one's confidence! Katich b Mishra 33(65) <4s-6>
62/3
26.2
26.2 Harbhajan to Hussey, no run, floated up on the off, spins away from the left hander sharply, Hussey gets forward to defend, takes the outside edge and goes straight into the keeper's gloves, straight in and straight out, catch dropped!! looked like a scratch of the outside half, disappointment around!
68/3
40.5
40.5 Mishra to Clarke, out Lbw!! Mishra tosses it up, pitches on the middle, turns back in, googly, Clarke looks to defend, misses, and he is caught plumb in front, Mishra has struck big in the last over of the day. Clarke lbw b Mishra 23(60) <4s-3>
102/4
47.3
47.3 Ishant to Hussey, 2 runs, that is excellent placement, short of length delivery on the stumps, Hussey rocks back and pulls it away to backward square leg, good stop in the deep by Zaheer, that raises Hussey's 10th TEST FIFTY!!
126/4
47.5
47.5 Ishant to Hussey, out Caught by Dhoni!! Got him this time, similar delivery, just a little closer to the batsman this time, Hussey hangs his bat out, gets a faint edge and the Indian skipper makes no mistake behind the stumps, that is a big wicket. Hussey c Dhoni b Ishant 54(119) <4s-7>
130/5
55.3
55.3 Harbhajan to Haddin, out Bowled!! Harbhajan gives it a bit of air on the off, it turns in, invites Haddin to go for the drive against the spin, he falls to the trap and pays the price, lot of daylight between bat and pad, the off stump is knocked back. Haddin b Harbhajan 9(29) <4s-1>
146/6
62.2
62.2 Mishra to White, out Bowled!! He won't mind the overthrow, that brought White back on strike, Mishra slipd in the googly, pitches on the off and turns in as White looks to defend, leaving a lot of gap between pad and bat, the rattle of the leg and middle stumps is the death knell for White. White b Mishra 5(23)
167/7
78.1
78.1 Mishra to Watson, SIX!!, Mishra drops it short and Watson rocks back to pull it away over deep mid wicket, that is a biggie!!!
209/7
79.1
79.1 Ishant to Watson, FOUR!!, back of a length delivery outside the off stump, Watson upper cuts it over cover point, that is his TEST FIFTY!!
214/7
90.1
90.1 Harbhajan to Lee, out Caught by Dravid at 1st slip!! That is the Harbhajan at his best, tosses it up, invites him to play, Lee takes a stride forward and looks to defend, but the ball doesn't turn and takes the edge, Dravid takes a good low catch, India find a much needed break through. Lee c Dravid b Harbhajan 35(96) <4s-6>
240/8
99.2
99.2 Mishra to Watson, out Lbw!! Mishra gives it a bit of air on the middle and leg, turns away slightly, Watson looks to flick it away, misses and is rapped on the pads, umpire Rudi Koertzen raises the finger ever so slowly, that was probably hitting leg stump, Mishra has picked up 4 now. Watson lbw b Mishra 78(156) <4s-10>
262/9
100.5
100.5 Harbhajan to Johnson, SIX!!, flighted delivery on the middle and leg, Johnson comes down the track, gets under it and hoicks it over long on, that is a biggie from Johnson!!!
268/9
101.4
101.4 Mishra to Siddle, out Stumped!! Mishra gives it a bit of air on the off, turns away, Siddle comes down the track and looks to drive over the top, misses, Dhoni whips the bails in a flash, the third umpire flashes out and that is a fifer for Mishra!!! Siddle st Dhoni b Mishra 0(8)
268/10
Go to top
Dropped Catches
Over #
Event
Team Score
26.2
26.2 Harbhajan to Hussey, no run, floated up on the off, spins away from the left hander sharply, Hussey gets forward to defend, takes the outside edge and goes straight into the keeper's gloves, straight in and straight out, catch dropped!! looked like a scratch of the outside half, disappointment around!
68/3
Go to top
Fours
Over #
Event
Team Score
79.1
79.1 Ishant to Watson, FOUR!!, back of a length delivery outside the off stump, Watson upper cuts it over cover point, that is his TEST FIFTY!!
214/7
Go to top
Others
Over #
Event
Team Score
47.3
47.3 Ishant to Hussey, 2 runs, that is excellent placement, short of length delivery on the stumps, Hussey rocks back and pulls it away to backward square leg, good stop in the deep by Zaheer, that raises Hussey's 10th TEST FIFTY!!
126/4
Go to top
Wickets
Over #
Event
Team Score
0.3
0.3 Zaheer to Hayden, out Bowled!! Tailing into the left hander sharply, Hayden gets forward to drive, plays away from the body getting a big inside edge, drags it back onto the stumps, Zaheer is absolutely delighted, he is all over the moon, is Hayden becoming Zaheer's bunny here... already dismissed him twice before this, three on three now! Hayden b Zaheer 0(3)
0/1
7.5
7.5 Ishant to Ponting, out Lbw!! Now Ishant has his bunny like Zaheer had before tea, good length delivery on the stumps, jabs back in again, Ponting goes back to defend, misses and rapped on the pads, another huge appeal and this time umpire Rudi Koertzen upholds, that might have just gone over the top of the stumps, the previous one was plumb infront though, perhaps the compensation has come... Ishant has the last laugh in this contest... Ponting lbw b Ishant 5(23) <4s-1>
17/2
21.6
21.6 Mishra to Katich, out Bowled!! Floated up again, drifts away a little and turns in sharply, Katich gets a big stride forward to defend, inside edge onto the pads and rolls onto the stumps, Mishra earns his first Test wicket, he is all over the moon here, Katich is gone, that is a big blow and the Australians are in a spot of bother, look at the Indians, they have all huddled up around Mishra to congratulate him, that should make him comfortable, he would be feeling at home now, wicket can do wonders to one's confidence! Katich b Mishra 33(65) <4s-6>
62/3
40.5
40.5 Mishra to Clarke, out Lbw!! Mishra tosses it up, pitches on the middle, turns back in, googly, Clarke looks to defend, misses, and he is caught plumb in front, Mishra has struck big in the last over of the day. Clarke lbw b Mishra 23(60) <4s-3>
102/4
47.5
47.5 Ishant to Hussey, out Caught by Dhoni!! Got him this time, similar delivery, just a little closer to the batsman this time, Hussey hangs his bat out, gets a faint edge and the Indian skipper makes no mistake behind the stumps, that is a big wicket. Hussey c Dhoni b Ishant 54(119) <4s-7>
130/5
55.3
55.3 Harbhajan to Haddin, out Bowled!! Harbhajan gives it a bit of air on the off, it turns in, invites Haddin to go for the drive against the spin, he falls to the trap and pays the price, lot of daylight between bat and pad, the off stump is knocked back. Haddin b Harbhajan 9(29) <4s-1>
146/6
62.2
62.2 Mishra to White, out Bowled!! He won't mind the overthrow, that brought White back on strike, Mishra slipd in the googly, pitches on the off and turns in as White looks to defend, leaving a lot of gap between pad and bat, the rattle of the leg and middle stumps is the death knell for White. White b Mishra 5(23)
167/7
90.1
90.1 Harbhajan to Lee, out Caught by Dravid at 1st slip!! That is the Harbhajan at his best, tosses it up, invites him to play, Lee takes a stride forward and looks to defend, but the ball doesn't turn and takes the edge, Dravid takes a good low catch, India find a much needed break through. Lee c Dravid b Harbhajan 35(96) <4s-6>
240/8
99.2
99.2 Mishra to Watson, out Lbw!! Mishra gives it a bit of air on the middle and leg, turns away slightly, Watson looks to flick it away, misses and is rapped on the pads, umpire Rudi Koertzen raises the finger ever so slowly, that was probably hitting leg stump, Mishra has picked up 4 now. Watson lbw b Mishra 78(156) <4s-10>
262/9
101.4
101.4 Mishra to Siddle, out Stumped!! Mishra gives it a bit of air on the off, turns away, Siddle comes down the track and looks to drive over the top, misses, Dhoni whips the bails in a flash, the third umpire flashes out and that is a fifer for Mishra!!! Siddle st Dhoni b Mishra 0(8)
268/10

Sixes
Over #
Event
Team Score
78.1
78.1 Mishra to Watson, SIX!!, Mishra drops it short and Watson rocks back to pull it away over deep mid wicket, that is a biggie!!!
209/7
100.5
100.5 Harbhajan to Johnson, SIX!!, flighted delivery on the middle and leg, Johnson comes down the track, gets under it and hoicks it over long on, that is a biggie from Johnson!!!
268/9

India 1st Innings

Over #
Event
Team Score
14.2
14.2 Johnson to Sehwag, out Caught by Haddin!! Short down the leg side, Sehwag tries to brush it fine, little deflection and grabbed safely by the keeper, they all go up with an appeal for caught behind, the finger goes up, this is a huge blow to the Indians, Virender Sehwag was looking so very dangerous today! Sehwag c Haddin b Johnson 35(36) <4s-6>
70/1
24.4
24.4 Clarke to Gambhir, FOUR!!, and again, Gambhir comes down the track and smashes it to long on, this time it should go all the way, no it doesn't, one bounce over the ropes yet again... 7th Test FIFTY!! and one should say, this has been a stupendous knock!
103/1
40.5
40.5 Lee to Dravid, out Bowled!! Short but not all that wide outside off, Dravid bends down into the crunches and tries to cut it through the point region, only managing a big inside edge to drag it back onto the stumps, what a wicket this is, Dravid was slowly inching to his best on this good batting track, alas! he is gone, he is dejected but spare a word for this master planner, Lee has delivered the goods again, persistence has paid off! Dravid b Lee 39(70) <4s-7>
146/2
41.1
41.1 Johnson to Gambhir, out Caught by Haddin!! And now Gambhir follows Rahul Dravid, full delivery on the off, invites the left hander to drive through the covers and the southpaw fails to resist the temptation, goes for it playing away from the body, big outside edge ends up in the keeper's gloves, Gambhir is gone, India in trouble now, two set batsmen are back into the hut, that too in no time... Australia slowly turning it on... What cricket, Test cricket at it's best... Gambhir c Haddin b Johnson 67(140) <4s-9>
146/3
45.1
45.1 Johnson to Laxman, out Caught by Haddin!! Slips down the leg side as Laxman shuffles across to work it away very fine behind square on the leg side, feather touch not working in his favour this time, faintest of edges ends up safely in the gloves of the keeper, Laxman is gone, second Indian batsman today to depart in such fashion... Johnson causes troubles yet again! Laxman c Haddin b Johnson 12(19) <4s-2>
163/4
70.5
70.5 Johnson to Tendulkar, FOUR!!, sliding down the leg side, Tendulkar goes on the backfoot and tickles it to fine leg for four, that is his 50th Test FIFTY!! he is blossoming into his true self here...
256/4
77.2
77.2 Watson to Ganguly, 1 run, pushed up wide outside the off stump, Ganguly comes on the frontfoot and drives it into the covers for a single, 35th Test FIFTY!! 7th against Australia... what a knock from this man...
289/4
81.5
81.5 Siddle to Tendulkar, out Caught by Hayden at 1st slip!! Length delivery on the off, hitting the corridor of uncertainty, Tendulkar tries to punch it through the covers, plays away from the body and gets a thick outside edge, safely snapped up by Hayden at 1st slip, brilliantly taken, tall man bending down, what an effort, Siddle picks up his first test wicket, what a man to have as your first scalp! Tendulkar c Hayden b Siddle 88(111) <4s-10>
305/5
89.6
89.6 Siddle to Ishant, out Caught by Katich at leg gully!! Very well bowled and Ishant falls into the brilliantly engineered trap, banged in short and Ishant tries to defend it down, top edge shoots up in the air and is safely taken by the man who was brought into that position moments back, Siddle strikes, the nightwatchman is removed! Ishant c Katich b Siddle 9(33) <4s-1>
326/6
91.5
91.5 Siddle to Dhoni, SIX!!, dropped in short, Dhoni picks up the length early, rocks back inside the crease and swats it over backward square leg for a biggie, clean hitting, he is going about his business in the fashion he likes to, attacking!
338/6
111.6
111.6 White to Dhoni, SIX!!, White tosses it up on the stumps, Dhoni comes down the track and gets under it nicely, smashes it right over the sightscreen for a giant six, monstrous hit really, what a way to bring up his 10th Test FIFTY!!
408/6
119.1
119.1 White to Ganguly, out Caught by Lee at long off!! Ganguly decides to go downtown this time, comes down the track and tries to loft it over long off, doesn't quite get hold of it as White fires it wide outside off, holes out in the deep, Ganguly is gone as White strikes, wonderful ton nonetheless! Ganguly c Lee b White 102(225) <4s-8>
435/7
123.1
123.1 White to Harbhajan, out Bowled!! Lovely delivery from White, wrong-un on the off and Harbhajan gets forward to drive, leaves a huge gap between the bat and the pad, the ball goes through and knocks out the off stump, lazy shot from Harbhajan, he would be disappointed after all the hard work of the last Test! Harbhajan b White 1(9)
442/8
124.5
124.5 Siddle to Dhoni, SIX!!, Dhoni decides to go downtown this time, comes down the track and gets under it nicely, heaves it way way over long on for a biggie, absolutely clobbered, he is treating Siddle like a meek spinner!
456/8
127.2
127.2 White to Dhoni, SIX!!, flighted on the middle and leg, Dhoni comes down the track and gets under it nicely, hoicks it over long on for a massive six, there's the real side of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, inching closer to what would be a really dynamic ton...
465/8
127.6
127.6 White to Dhoni, out Zaheer Run Out!! Slider from White on the stumps, Dhoni keeps it out as he pushes it to mid on for a quick single, Zaheer is late to get out of the blocks, runs around the bowler and that is where he lost out on some valuable time, good throw at the striker's end and the stumps are broken, desperate dive fails to help Zaheer's cause! Zaheer run out (Lee/Haddin) 2(10)
469/9
128.6
128.6 Siddle to Dhoni, out Lbw!! Speared into the blockhole, Dhoni shuffles across a long way to work it away on the leg side, misses and is hit on the full on the boot, the slow finger goes up, the impact was perhaps just outside off on that occasion, Dhoni misses a well deserved century, he is dejected... Dhoni lbw b Siddle 92(124) <4s-8>
469/10

Fours
Over #
Event
Team Score
24.4
24.4 Clarke to Gambhir, FOUR!!, and again, Gambhir comes down the track and smashes it to long on, this time it should go all the way, no it doesn't, one bounce over the ropes yet again... 7th Test FIFTY!! and one should say, this has been a stupendous knock!
103/1
70.5
70.5 Johnson to Tendulkar, FOUR!!, sliding down the leg side, Tendulkar goes on the backfoot and tickles it to fine leg for four, that is his 50th Test FIFTY!! he is blossoming into his true self here...
256/4

Others
Over #
Event
Team Score
77.2
77.2 Watson to Ganguly, 1 run, pushed up wide outside the off stump, Ganguly comes on the frontfoot and drives it into the covers for a single, 35th Test FIFTY!! 7th against Australia... what a knock from this man...
289/4

Wickets
Over #
Event
Team Score
14.2
14.2 Johnson to Sehwag, out Caught by Haddin!! Short down the leg side, Sehwag tries to brush it fine, little deflection and grabbed safely by the keeper, they all go up with an appeal for caught behind, the finger goes up, this is a huge blow to the Indians, Virender Sehwag was looking so very dangerous today! Sehwag c Haddin b Johnson 35(36) <4s-6>
70/1
40.5
40.5 Lee to Dravid, out Bowled!! Short but not all that wide outside off, Dravid bends down into the crunches and tries to cut it through the point region, only managing a big inside edge to drag it back onto the stumps, what a wicket this is, Dravid was slowly inching to his best on this good batting track, alas! he is gone, he is dejected but spare a word for this master planner, Lee has delivered the goods again, persistence has paid off! Dravid b Lee 39(70) <4s-7>
146/2
41.1
41.1 Johnson to Gambhir, out Caught by Haddin!! And now Gambhir follows Rahul Dravid, full delivery on the off, invites the left hander to drive through the covers and the southpaw fails to resist the temptation, goes for it playing away from the body, big outside edge ends up in the keeper's gloves, Gambhir is gone, India in trouble now, two set batsmen are back into the hut, that too in no time... Australia slowly turning it on... What cricket, Test cricket at it's best... Gambhir c Haddin b Johnson 67(140) <4s-9>
146/3
45.1
45.1 Johnson to Laxman, out Caught by Haddin!! Slips down the leg side as Laxman shuffles across to work it away very fine behind square on the leg side, feather touch not working in his favour this time, faintest of edges ends up safely in the gloves of the keeper, Laxman is gone, second Indian batsman today to depart in such fashion... Johnson causes troubles yet again! Laxman c Haddin b Johnson 12(19) <4s-2>
163/4
81.5
81.5 Siddle to Tendulkar, out Caught by Hayden at 1st slip!! Length delivery on the off, hitting the corridor of uncertainty, Tendulkar tries to punch it through the covers, plays away from the body and gets a thick outside edge, safely snapped up by Hayden at 1st slip, brilliantly taken, tall man bending down, what an effort, Siddle picks up his first test wicket, what a man to have as your first scalp! Tendulkar c Hayden b Siddle 88(111) <4s-10>
305/5
89.6
89.6 Siddle to Ishant, out Caught by Katich at leg gully!! Very well bowled and Ishant falls into the brilliantly engineered trap, banged in short and Ishant tries to defend it down, top edge shoots up in the air and is safely taken by the man who was brought into that position moments back, Siddle strikes, the nightwatchman is removed! Ishant c Katich b Siddle 9(33) <4s-1>
326/6
119.1
119.1 White to Ganguly, out Caught by Lee at long off!! Ganguly decides to go downtown this time, comes down the track and tries to loft it over long off, doesn't quite get hold of it as White fires it wide outside off, holes out in the deep, Ganguly is gone as White strikes, wonderful ton nonetheless! Ganguly c Lee b White 102(225) <4s-8>
435/7
123.1
123.1 White to Harbhajan, out Bowled!! Lovely delivery from White, wrong-un on the off and Harbhajan gets forward to drive, leaves a huge gap between the bat and the pad, the ball goes through and knocks out the off stump, lazy shot from Harbhajan, he would be disappointed after all the hard work of the last Test! Harbhajan b White 1(9)
442/8
127.6
127.6 White to Dhoni, out Zaheer Run Out!! Slider from White on the stumps, Dhoni keeps it out as he pushes it to mid on for a quick single, Zaheer is late to get out of the blocks, runs around the bowler and that is where he lost out on some valuable time, good throw at the striker's end and the stumps are broken, desperate dive fails to help Zaheer's cause! Zaheer run out (Lee/Haddin) 2(10)
469/9
128.6
128.6 Siddle to Dhoni, out Lbw!! Speared into the blockhole, Dhoni shuffles across a long way to work it away on the leg side, misses and is hit on the full on the boot, the slow finger goes up, the impact was perhaps just outside off on that occasion, Dhoni misses a well deserved century, he is dejected... Dhoni lbw b Siddle 92(124) <4s-8>
469/10

Sixes
Over #
Event
Team Score
91.5
91.5 Siddle to Dhoni, SIX!!, dropped in short, Dhoni picks up the length early, rocks back inside the crease and swats it over backward square leg for a biggie, clean hitting, he is going about his business in the fashion he likes to, attacking!
338/6
111.6
111.6 White to Dhoni, SIX!!, White tosses it up on the stumps, Dhoni comes down the track and gets under it nicely, smashes it right over the sightscreen for a giant six, monstrous hit really, what a way to bring up his 10th Test FIFTY!!
408/6
124.5
124.5 Siddle to Dhoni, SIX!!, Dhoni decides to go downtown this time, comes down the track and gets under it nicely, heaves it way way over long on for a biggie, absolutely clobbered, he is treating Siddle like a meek spinner!
456/8
127.2
127.2 White to Dhoni, SIX!!, flighted on the middle and leg, Dhoni comes down the track and gets under it nicely, hoicks it over long on for a massive six, there's the real side of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, inching closer to what would be a really dynamic ton...
465/8