Prolific Murali Vijay’s cheap dismissal added to India’s woes before it reached 71 for one in response to another massive total by Australia which notched up 572 for 7 declared on the second day of the fourth and final cricket Test here on Wednesday.
The Indians suffered a huge jolt when Vijay was dismissed for a third-ball duck but lokesh Rahul (31) and Rohit Sharma (40) ensured that there were no further setbacks till close of play on yet another disappointing day for the visitors. The second day’s highlight was Australian captain Steven Smith notching up his fourth century of the series to join Sir Donald Bradman and Jacques Kallis as only the third batsman to achieve the feat of four successive hundreds in a series.
The young Australian captain, who has been in stupendous form, scored 117 to record his eighth Test ton and put Australia in a commanding position with useful contributions from Shane Watson (81), Shaun Marsh (73) and Joe Burns (58) at the SCG. Vijay, who has been in good form right through the series, got out to a poor shot off Mitchell Starc. He has scores of 53 and 99 (Adelaide), 144 and 27 (Brisbane) and 68 and 11 (Melbourne) and his early departure came as a big blow for the Indians.
Earlier, resuming at the overnight score of 348 for two, the hosts rode on a 196-run third wicket partnership between Smith and Watson to take the attack back to the opposition as Mohammed Shami picked up a five-wicket haul. India though, ably led by Shami (5-112), seemed to have learnt their lessons from the opening day to concede just 72 runs in 30 overs in the first session of play. Two wickets fell in the morning session and Watson was the first to go when Shami struck for the second time in the innings to deny the No. 3 batsman in what would have been a well-deserved hundred. He added only 20 runs to his overnight score.
Smith played a defiant knock to post his fourth ton in this series only to be caught behind off Umesh Yadav (1-137). But the visitors were once again put to task in the post-lunch when Marsh and Burns managed a 114-run fifth wicket stand to pile on the misery for Virat Kohli and company. Shami once again picked up the all-important wicket of Marsh, the only wicket for India in the post-lunch session, as the left-hander was caught behind after registering his third Test fifty. Shami then came back all guns blazing in the final session to send back Burns after the youngster got his maiden Test fifty in just his second match.
Ryan Harris (25) then swung his bat around to hit five boundaries before becoming Shami’s fifth strike of the innings. The Indians, understandably, were more sedate in their reply after losing Vijay and lokesh and Sharma stitched an unbeaten 71-run stand to raise hopes of revival come day three. Rohit and Rahul batted with patience for much of the final session of play, with the 50-mark coming in the 19th over. But there were some nerves towards the end as the bowlers searched for one more breakthrough before end of play.
Earlier, Australia had continued their charge towards a high first innings total after tea. Harris, courtesy his 9-ball cameo, helped put up 26 runs for the seventh wicket with Brad Haddin (9 not out) to pile on the misery for India.
Shami then dismissed Harris and the innings was declared. Ashwin (1-142) and Yadav were the other wicket-takers for India, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0-122) and Suresh Raina (0-53) went wicketless. This was after the Smith and Watson show that put Australia on the road to a big score. Post-lunch, Marsh and Burns looked to heap further misery on the visiting bowling attack and they did just that, putting on 114 runs for the 5th wicket without much fuss.
The 450-mark came up for Australia in the 127th over as the two batsmen kept plugging for runs. Marsh brought up his second successive half-century of the series in the 137th over, facing 87 balls. His knock included one six and there were hints of aggression from both batsmen towards the latter half of this second session. The 500-mark thereafter came up in the 143rd over and an over later they brought up their 100-run stand. In the 146th over, when Burns reached his maiden Test fifty off 94 balls, India became the first team to allow four opposition teams with their top six batsmen all scoring half-centuries in the same innings.
They got some respite when Marsh was out close to the break, caught behind off Shami. But Haddin came out looking to play his shots, hinting that the declaration may come up shortly in the last session today. Earlier in the day, Smith (82*) and Watson (61*) looked to further frustrate the Indian bowling attack and take forward their 144-run partnership. They were successful to quite some extent as the runs came easy despite the second new ball only ten overs old.
They weren’t as prolific as the openers on day one morning as Bhuvneshwar and Shami started proceedings. Smith was more comfortable at the crease, continuing his good run of form as Watson looked to graft his way to a big score, crossing the 150-mark in their partnership early in the session. Ten overs into the day, Smith brought up his 8th Test hundred to a rousing reception from the SCG as he paid tribute to late Phillip Hughes by twirling his bat towards the skies.
Chappell, Clarke criticise Kohli
Just into his second Test as India captain, Virat Kohli has come under severe criticism for his tactics from Ian Chappell and Michael Clarke for the way he shuffled his bowlers during the ongoing fourth Test here.Chappell and Clarke said that they were surprised by Kohli’s certain field placements and change of bowlers on the opening day.Just after tea on the first day on Tuesday, the three seamers — Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar — were called on for one-over spells as spinner Ravichandran Ashwin held up the other.
Chappell said giving just one over to a bowler exposed Kohli’s impatience, as India were struggling to get Australian wickets.Clarke also seemed to be baffled by Kohli’s tactics. “I think in the shorter form of the game, T20 cricket, the one-over spells can work so a batter doesn’t get too used to a particular bowler. But in a Test match I don’t know the exact reason...Maybe it was to try something different to get a breakthrough.”