Chennai Test - morning session

Prem > Good morning all and welcome to what in my book is going to be the deciding day of the third Test.

Prem > The equation at start of play is very very simple -- the aussies are bowling with a ball 64 overs old, which doesnt give the quicks too many options other than the reverse swing they can get early on. The top is coming off the track in patches, so there is turn, and there should be some funny bounce when it hits the edges of those cracks. For the Indian batsmen, the key is batting out the first hour. If they can do that without losing more than one wicket at best, they will find this attack wilting -- the Aussies will be keyed up for one assault first thing, keeping them at bay will mentally put pressure on them, make them think of another long haul in the field, and then it becomes easier for the batsmen. One thing for sure -- India has to look not to bat again in this test, and for that, they have to bat on till tea or so tomorrow.

Prem > And with that, the stage is pretty much set for Das, batting 84 and Laxman, batting 59, to resume. Very important for both -- and most of all, for Laxman -- to play quietly the first half hour. Laxman, once set, is unstoppable at any level, and if he settles back in this morning, he is quite capable of batting all day. The fact that he scores runs at speed when he is going well will make the difference -- which is why it is vital for him to be fully focussed first thing in the morning

Prem > Here come the Aussies -- with Slater holding up a 'Hi Mum' placard just before stepping on to the field.

Prem > Here come Laxman and Das. Play about to start.

Prem > McGrath will bowl the first over, and interestingly, he has just one slip in place. Australia, very strangely, starting out in a defensive frame of mind -- a wicket or two in the morning is what they need. In comes McGrath, and off the first ball of the day, Das is gone. Lots of reverse swing, Das shaped to play the flick on the on too early, we were talking of how they needed to settle down first but Das into a forcing shot first up, beaten by swing, hit on the pad, and plumb in front of middle. India, with that wicket off the first ball, 211/2 and now the game wide open.

Prem > Tame end, meanwhile, to a very courageous innings by Das -- he held the innings together from the start, gave Ramesh the space needed to play himself into touch, kept the pressure on the Aussies with his attacking shotplay -- the lad deserves more than a little appreciation for this effort. Sachin Tendulkar, now, with two slips. On off, reverses winging late, and Sachin pushes out on the off.

Prem > mcgrath in again to sachin. 211/2 india, first over of the morning, that was a touch shorter and no swing therefore, given the lack of length, tendulkar behind the line, plays it down.

Prem > mcgrath, outside off this time with just a hint of seam movement. good first over this, from mcgrath, using the best conditions he will have today -- not yet hot, lots of sea breeze, some cloud overhead, and an older ball just right for reverse swinging. mcgrath, in again to sachin, with two slips. again, atouch short, coming in off the seam and sachin content to get behind the line and play it out gently on the on

Prem > outside off this time, no movement, india 211/2 at the end of the over, the first of the morning

Prem > Jason Gillespie to bowl the second over, with Laxman on strike. That first ball seems to have slipped -- went about 4 feet outside off and wide called. 212/2.

Prem > gillespie, to laxman. Short, and laxman punches off the front foot through cover, single. a sweeper in place first thing in the morning. Gillespie now to Sachin, Laxman meanwhile on to 60. 213/2.

Prem > sachin with the upraised bat stance, and gillespie goes wide of the crease, using the angle in to draw sachin forward. sachin playing for a bit of swing in, inside the line, the ball flashes past the bat going through straight

Prem > gillespie in again. to sachin batting 0. outside off, full in length, and sachin lets it go

Prem > india still 178 below Australia, gillespie in to sachin, angled in on off this time and sachin easily forward and defending. quite right too, this intent to defend -- he needs to spend time out there, get his eye in and feet moving. two slips, gillespie in, outside off, and no bounce. sachin covers up and lets it go

Prem > gillespie in again to sachin. That is a bad ball. Short, nothing in it, no bounce even and Sachin just stands tall and punches through wide mid off. Four, India 217/2 and Sachin off the mark with that boundary off the last ball of the over.

Prem > There's an interesting theoretical exercise coming up for Waugh. Assume he bowls his fast men five overs apiece, this morning. That takes you to 74 overs. Which also means he wont be able to take the new ball as soon as it becomes due. And puts the onus on the spinners. Meanwhile, Laxman on 60 facing McGrath. one slip in place, the aussies treating the number three with great respect here, they have a sweeper out for him on the off as well.

Prem > mcgrath to laxman. Uh oh. Outside off, Laxman shaping to drive, gets the thick outer edge, through the gap between keeper and slip, down to third man, four, takes him to 64 but one of the least convincing shots he has played in his last three innings, and sachin quickly across to talk to him, 221/2 the score. mcgrath again, to laxman, outside off and left alone.

Prem > Outside off again. Barring that one ball, McGrath not really making Laxman play, the line is about a foot or more outside off, which works if the batsmen are chasing but Laxman lets them all through, making that over a bit of a waste.

Prem > Gillespie to Sachin. Ball one, short, no real sign yet of swing for gillespie, sachin plays to point. Ball two is fuller, gets more time in the air to do something laterally, comes in from off to middle and sachin gently guides behind square, single. 222/2 india. gillespie in to Laxman now. outside off and square driven, but there are now two points in place, close to each other, the more backward of the pair cuts that off

Prem > gillespie in again, to laxman. very, very wide of off, goes to where slip should be, gilchrist can't latch on, and that is two byes. Very erratic start by Gillespie who has been impressive right through this series.

Prem > OUtside off, and Laxman drives, on the half volley and square on the off, gets the single. very hard shot to play, this, but laxman has the knack of playing it well. 225/2 and india still 166 behind

Prem > End of the over, with Sachin content to let the last ball go, India 225/2 and four overs gone this morning

Prem > Laxman on strike. McGrath resuming, now with two slips after that edge in the previous over. point, cover, mid off also on the off. Outside off, going through straight and Laxman lets it go. Strange -- when McGrath bowls a full length and angles in, the reverses wing gets dangerous -- Das today, Sachin in Cal, can tell you just how much. Cant understand why, therefore, he keeps bowling half a foot to a foot outside off. Might work in Aus, not so sure about it working here unless the batsmen do silly stuff

Prem > mcgrath, to laxman and for the third time in succession, laxman content to watch one through outside off. 225/2.

Prem > mcgrath again, to laxman. still that line a foot outside off, laxman still content to cover up and let it go.

Prem > mcgrath, and that is better -- closer to off, seaming in, but still outside off and laxman seemingly very sure of where his off stump is, covers up, lets it bounce over the off stump through to the keeper. in again, mcgrath. outside off, and laxman watches it go. 225/2. And at no time in that over did McGrath make Laxman play -- and if the batsman doesn't play, he can't get out, can he?

Prem > Point is, it is Australia that needs wickets in a hurry. India have all day, and most of tomorrow, so time is not a concern for the home side. And that makes it vital for Aus to attack and get wickets early -- a containing outside off line is not the way to do it, I would think. Gillespie for his part, bowling now and still seemingly struggling to find his rhythm, been bowling all over the place this morning. SAchin on strike, gets a half volley outside off and treats it the way he usually does -- very low to the ground, bending at the knee, free swing of the bat, tremendous bat acceleration into teh shot and the ball whistles through cover, four. 229/2.

Prem > Gillespie again and that was a beauty -- very quick, closer to off, right length, and it kept low. Sachin beaten by the low bounce more than anything else, gets the edge, and again, through the slip cordon -- it bounced before first slip, though -- to third man, four more. Ball three, again the half volley, again the cover drive, but not as well hit, finds the fielder, no run. 233/2.

Prem > 70th over in progress, gillespie with a short one this time, very badly directed, hitting middle, then going a long long way off the seam out on the on, Gilchrist can't cut it off, four more byes. 237/2.

Prem > gillespie again. to sachin. outside off, some seam away, better length on that last ball and sachin covers up and lets it through. End of the over, India 237/2.

Prem > And that is the wicket -- Laxman has been a touch tentative outside off this morning, McGrath gets one closer to the stumps, makes him play at it, a slight away movement finds the edge, and Mark Waugh snaffles it nice and low at slip. India 237/3 and Laxman out before he settles. 65 to his name.

Prem > Two early wickets was just what India didn't need -- now, the onus really on the 'Big Three', Ganguly Sachin and Dravid, to bat India to strength here. Ganguly the new man in.

Prem > mcgrath to ganguly. ball one, over the wicket, angled across, but too far wide and left alone by the captain

Prem > That is closer to the stumps, Waugh attacking Ganguly with three slips and two gullies plus point and cover, ganguly plays out on the off. Next ball, fuller in length, seaming away and ganguly content to let it go

Prem > 237/3. india still trialing by 154. And that was a beauty. Top pace, very close to off, I think Ganguly misjudged that one, decided to let it go very early, that one wasn't too far outside off and his pad wasn't covering the line of that stump. End of the over, and india 237/3.

Prem > Sachin, batting 13, on strike, 72nd over, and the first change of the morning, gillespie off, Miller coming in and will bowl seam, not off spin. Should get some swing, actually, with the old ball. 18-3-64-0 so far

Prem > Miller, to Sachin. That one a touch short, on off and sachin checks a punch, finds mid off, no run

Prem > nice line this by miller -- bowling just back of a length means he wont get much swing, but the line just around off means the batsmen cant hit him about either, and that puts the cork in the bottle at one end. That ball,though, was wide of off, SAchin cuts, there is a sweeper in place, sachin gets one. 238/3.

Prem > The Aussie idea seems to be to try and shut one end down, and attack at the other. It also gives Gillespie some time to get his breath, and focus -- been very erratic this morning. Miller goes round the wicket to Ganguly, one slip[, point, deep cover, short cover, mid off. Packed off field for Miller to bowl that off line.

Prem > That was off spin, really -- floated up just around off, turning away, Ganguly covers up and lets it through to end the over, india 238/3.

Prem > mcgrath continues. sachin on strike, and he is the wicket mcgrath keeps looking for, so this should be fun. outside off first up, same line that got laxman, closer to off but sachin content to watch it go. in again, this time on off, gentle push to mid on, sachin running with the push wanting the single, gnaguly unmoved. sachin had the right idea -- strike needs to rotate here

Prem > mcgrath in again. two slips. outside off. sachin forward, shapes to play, sees the ball swing away and not in, pulls his bat out of line at the last second. nice to see that leave, technically very good. mcgrath again, outside off, and sachin this time, lets it go through

Prem > again, outside off. wider this time and sachin not interested. 238/3 and india trailing by 153 at this point. Brilliant ball that, mcgrath very close to the stumps, holds that line, lands on off, just short enough to have the batsman unsure about coming forward, then seams it just enough away to beat the bat. Sachin beaten all ends up on that one nad lucky not to touch, end of the over.

Prem > Miller bowling to ganguly, and it is off spin. keeper and slip up, silly point in place, but an overpitched ball and ganguly into the drive, they have the field out for that shot, just one run. 239/3. And for Sachin, it is seam up from Miller. Gilchrist and the slip go back. right arm, over, and very very wide of off, some swing, but misdirected

Prem > miller, again outside off and again, sachin not interested. next ball, fuller in length, the ball reversing there, and sachin quick to cover the line and defend in front of off nad middle

Prem > next one, some swing, but away from off and sachin watches it through. end of the over, india 239/3.

Prem > mcgrath to ganguly, the slip cordon in place and waiting. 239/3 the score. right arm over, and on off, too full, ganguly drives on the off and runs with the shot. That's better, they need singles, plenty of them because the Aussies have clearly decided that one part of their strategy should be to dry up the fours. India 240/3.

Prem > mcgrath to sachin, wide of off, short as well, and sachin watches it go

Prem > mcgrath, to sachin batting 14. two slips, and well bowled. reverse swing, then darting in off the seam and sachin quickly inot line playing out on the off.

Prem > mcgrath to sachin. funny statistic, his lowest average -- 18 -- is against Bangladesh. Something for people to toss around to support the argument that he is not all that great. Meanwhile, McGRath on off, and SAchin defends. Ends the over, India 240/3, 75 overs gone and it is miller with his off spin to Ganguly who pads up. Three round the bat.

Prem > Miller on off, Ganguly on the drive, but gently, and finds mid off, no run. 240/3. miller this time, goes wide of the crease and angles in, ganguly forward covering the line and defending. Ganguly needs to get set here, it has been something like 19, or 20, Test innings since he last got himself a 50. And he won't find a better time than the series-deciding innings to bat himself back into form. Interesting field, slip, silly point, short cover, point, backward cover, mid off -- absolutely no room on the off, there. Miller again, and ganguly content to push tot he shorter of the two covers

Prem > 12 overs, 29 runs, two wickets this session, 53 minutes of play so far this morning. Gillespie takes the ball from McGrath, ball one on off and SAchin pushes square, finds the fielder, no run. Two slips backing Gillespie.

Prem > gillespie again. good ball, fuller in length, just a hint of angle in on off, sachin forward, defensive

Prem > gillespie, to sachin. ON off, a touch too full, Sachin fluently into that drive, Waugh at cover cuts it off well, no run.

Prem > gillespie, to sachin. short, held back a bit, just outside off and sachin defends

Prem > gillespie again. on off, and nicely played, got into line, then angled the bat just enough to steer it through point, single. 241/3 and sachin on to 15, india still 150 shy of Aus first innings, 77th over in progress, one ball left and gillespie to Ganguly. Round the wicket with three slips and two gullies

Prem > gillespie to ganguly. goes wide of the crease, but loses control of line, ball very wide of off seaming even wider away, left alone, and that is the end of the over. 241/3 india

Prem > Nearing the end of the first hour of play, and attendance here is 1512.

Prem > Miller, with his seam up stuff, to Sachin. Outside off seaming away. Miller seems to have decided he will bore/irritate Sachin to death. One slip in place, Miller in again, this one angled in on off and sachin quickly onto it, angling his bat, guiding it wide of midwicket, gets the one. Noticeably, after those two fours early, SAchin has been checking his shots, not really pushing, looking to just angle the ball away, not taking any undue risks. 242/3 the score.

Prem > Miller, off spin now, to ganguly with three round the bat. I wonder just how hard this is, to bowl seam up one ball, off spin the next -- involves tremendous adjustment, really. Miller again, and ganguly content to defend to the full length and off and middle line.

Prem > miller, this one angles to leg. Ganguly shaping for the flick but checking a bit, beaten, gets it on the pad but that was going down leg. Next ball, a touch short on off and ganguly guides a drive out on the off side, gets one, India 243/3.

Prem > Testing

Prem > And that, folks, is drinks. A breather for me, be right back

Prem > postdrinks, and gillespie resumes with three slips and two gullies, plus point cover and mid off. 243/3. Outside off, cut away but gully fields.

Prem > India still 148 behind. Gillespie in again to ganguly. outside off and some lift, gnaguly first shapes to drive, sees the lift, and lets it go. 79th over of the innings, new ball due after one more but not likely Waugh will take it, McGrath has just come off a long, tiring spell. Gillespie again, very wide of off this time, no ball called, Ganguly throws his bat at it, off the toe, over point, four. Sachin down the track immediately, to talk to his captain. 247/3.

Prem > Gillespie again, to Ganguly batting 7. India 248/3 sorry, left out the no ball. Gillespie in again, and a lovely ball. goes wide, angles in, beats the bat with the angle as ganguly tentatively pushes. No sign of foot movement from ganguly, which isw hat is causing him trouble. He is just pushing without getting his front foot into line. AGain, wide of off, again ganguly chases, but controls it this time, finds point, single, 249/3.

Prem > Good ball agian, Gillespie much better in his second spell of the morning. That one lifted off length, just outside off, sachin sways away.

Prem > gillespie again, tto sachin. on off, fuller, pushed to cover, good stop at cover by Waugh, ends the over, 249/3 india

Prem > Miller with his off spin, resumes and Ganguly again just that little bit tentative on the drive. Ball was in the slot, really, but he checked it. Ball two, played much better -- controlled off drive, and running with the shot getting him the single. 250/3 India.

Prem > One interesting thing meanwhile about Walsh's 500 wicket haul -- he has taken 2 Tests less to get to 500, than Kapil Dev, at number two on that list, took to get to 434. An amazing stat really, because Courtney has had other great fast bowlers bowling with him for all but the last year of his career, and has had to share his wickets. MIller, meanwhile, with his seam up stuff to sachin who plays to cover on the up, finds waugh, no run

Prem > Inswing this time, fuller length, sachin forward and content to play defensively. 250/3 at the end of the over.

Prem > 16 overs for 39 runs, two wickets lost this morning thus far. Gillespie resumes. Still the slip cordon, Gillespie staying around the wicket to the left hander, that one outside off and a touch short, left alone

Prem > Gillespie in again. To Ganguly. Outside off, some swing as well, and again, Ganguly content to watch it go by

Prem > gillespie in to ganguly. yet again, that line just outside of off, some deviation in the air, ganguly lets it go

Prem > good ball. again hit the same line, but this time angled it in, ball flashes by closer to off as ganguly covers the line and leaves. nice to see, though, that this time, the front foot is right into line. And that was another beauty. Short, lifted at extreme pace, ganguly had no idea where that one was going. In a tangle, and the ball flies off the maker's name on the bat, lucky it didn't carry to the gully region. Gillespie again, but wide of off and left alone, no damage, 250/3 india.

Prem > Lots of pressure now on Sachin, with Ganguly not really shaping well, Miller with his seam up, inswing on good length and tendulkar pushes and runs to mid off. Ganguly needs to do the same, really, to relieve pressure on himself. India 251/3 and Sachin 17. Patient knock, 51 balls so far, he was on 13 off 17 balls at one point. MIller, off spin with three round the bat, to Ganguly who lets it through outside off, 9 off 35 to him.

Prem > miller, and that ball actually hit the ball rather than the other way around, ganguly just holding his bat there, the ball turning a bit and hitting it, running off on the angle and ganguly gets one through the slip cordon. 252/3.

Prem > Miller to sachin, short outside off, the square drive finds point, no run.

Prem > Miller this time, off the long run, but bowls off spin instead. Sachin a bit puzzled, shaped to play to off, the change of pace has him playing early, thick inner edge out on the on side gets him one more, 253/3 india at the end of the over

Prem > 16 runs so far for this wicket. 82 overs gone. Gillespie to Sachin, just around off and guided to point. no run

Prem > Gillespie, nice angle in then seam away, Sachin moves into line, then angles his bat away to take it out of line. lets it through, india trialing 138, now 253/3. gillespie, this time quicker and angling in to off, sachin behind it, defending

Prem > gillespie to sachin. that one was shortish, outside off, just the slight hint of movement, saschin first shaping to play the length, spotting the movement, and letting it go. His eye seems to be in today, been making these late adjustments on the leave very well, when he is not at his best, he tends to play at these. Short ball, on off, next up and Sachin sways away.

Prem > End of the over, india 253/3. very quiet play and understandable too. Tendulkar batting 18, Ganguly 10. And intent on consolidation. Miller to Saurav, three round the bat, and again, that ball actually just came on and hit the bat. Ganguly looks all at sea here, just had his bat held on the angle, the ball just straightening and hitting the bat. Next ball, cut away, a bit of width there, and Ponting dives to stop at point, single taken. 254/3.

Prem > Miller to sachin and back to his seam up stuff. outside off, left alone.

Prem > Miller, and now no fielder catching. Just a short midwicket, and sachin this time, using the lack of slip, deliberately running one down to third man, and running like a startled hare, gets two. 255/3.

Prem > Miller to ganguly, back to off spin, on off and ganguly defends on line of off

Prem > 44 runs in 20 overs this morning, two wickets gone, gillespie to tendulkar, quick, on off and tendulkar well forward, guiding to mid off, no run. 255/3 india

Prem > That's straighter, on off angling to middle and sachin at once, shuts the bat face, runs it out on the on towards midwicket, gets the single. 256/3.

Prem > gillespie to ganguly. around the wicket, the slip cordon in place, ditto gullies. batting 11, and guiding one off the thick outer edge to gully, from line of off.

Prem > Good ball. Lovely inswing and late at that, but this time, Ganguly nicely into line and playing out on the off. No run, but that was well played

Prem > 256/3 india, 85 overs bowled, tendulkar 20, ganguly 11. miller to sachin, and pushed back down the track first up. india still 135 shy of Aus

Prem > Miller, outside off and sachin guides to point. No run, finds the fielder.

Prem > That is outside off, a foot wide, Sachin goes for it this time, guides it past cover, single to end the over, India 261/3.

Prem > Gillespie continues. Sachin on strike, India still 130 behind. Outside off, back of good length, sachin into line, then lets it through

Prem > Gillespie, and a lovely ball, late inswing, this is the one that mcgrath used to take out Sachin last time, but this time, Sachin right in line, hits it into the ground and over the bowler's head, stopped at mid on, no run

Prem > Gillespie, and again the full length on the stumps, SAchin content to play gently out on the on. 261/3.

Prem > Gillespie in again, two slips, on off, this over he has kept them all on the stumps, mostly very full, got the ball to swing at speed, and sachin very correct in defence. End of the over, a maiden, 261/3 india

Prem > Miller continues. Floated up on off, driven to mid off, fielder well back but ganguly doesn't take a step. This really is silly -- he is under pressure, and the way to release it is to take runs.

Prem > That's better. Same ball, same shot, and this time, Ganguly takes the run to the identical fielder, at the identical spot. And made it easy. 262/3.

Prem > Miller now to Sachin. And it seems that he is going to use off spin, finally. slip, short square leg, and sachin goes two feet outside off and paddles on the on but finds square leg, no run, end of the over, 262/3.

Prem > Ponting now taking over from Gillespie, strangely still no sign of Warne. To ganguly, on leg, and guided square on the on for a single, India 263/3. NOt sure about this, really, could well let Ganguly off the hook here.

Prem > 128 still behind, india. and ponting bowls two feet outside off to sachin, some swing, and left alone

Prem > Ponting, outside off but closer this time, sachin covers the line, and keeps an eye on it going through

Prem > Last ball, closer to off and sachin steers behind point, gets the single, keeps strike, India 264/3.

Prem > 89 overs bowled, and I am beginning to suspect the new ball will be taken after lunch. Miller continues, on off turning to middle, sachin gentles it out behind square off the shut bat face, single. 265/3.

Prem > 265/3 india. miller right arm aorund to ganguly, who pushes his pad at one on off. next ball, again bat tucked behind pad, more dangerous this time, but ganguly lucky that ball hit fractionally outside line of off. miller again, line of middle this time and ganguly uses his bat in defence.

Prem > this time, pitched fuller and pushed through quicker, ganguly swings into a sweep but not too well, misses. Next ball, on leg. And ganguly gets it on the pad before he can even bring his bat down. I donno -- the way he is playing spin, here, he looks a shadow of the player he is at his best. and it is not like Miller is another Muralitharan.

Prem > 26 overs, 54 runs this session. 265/3 india, ponting to sachin. wide of off and left alone

Prem > POnting, bowling a very full length and keeping it outside off, sachin lets it through, end of the over, 265/3

Prem > Miller to bowl, 28th over and last one of the morning session. 54 runs scored so far, two wickets lost. Ganguly on strike, square leg, silly ponit, gully, slip.And ganguly lets another ball come on and hit the bat.

Prem > miller again, this one shorter and turning, some lift as well and ganguly plays it out on the off, no run

Prem > That';s better -- controlled sweep to the line of middle stump, single taken to square leg, india 266/3.

Prem > Miller to sachin. The amazing thing about this morning is that Warne hasn't bowled a single one of the 28 overs bowled -- even Ponting has had two. Wonder what's going on with Warne. 92nd over of the innings, 55 overs scored this morning, miller to sachin who pushes his bat into line outside off, lets hit run high off his pad, end of the over and that is lunch. India 266/3, and with that, going off for a break.

Prem > Quick recap, At luunch Sachin batting 27 off 89, Ganguly 14 off 61, India 266 on the board, 28 overs in the morning session for 55 runs, and the loss of Das and Ramesh. And closing figures on the chat list at lunch, 3213. Adios to every one of you, have a good lunch/whatever, see ya in 35. *gone*

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