Chennai Test - India vs Australia

Commentary Transcript - Morning session

Prem > Welcome, folks, to the deciding day of this Test -- which, at this point, is balanced dead even. An Australian friend in an email this morning told me that this is a Test looking for a hero -- well put, and I agree. Someone, among this 22, has to now step forward and be a hero. For Australia, one guy with the bat, to play a long, sustained, controlled innings of aggression and passion. For the Indians, one bowler to challenge the unofficial world champions' batting lineup and take it apart. Whoever it is, from whichever of the two sides it comes from, there has to be that one man -- and a team backing him to the hilt.

Prem > The umpires walking out now. An interesting little vignette -- before start of play, John Wright, Harbajan, and Rahul Dravid out in the centre. Dravid pointing to spots on the wicket outside a left hander's off stump, acting like a left hander and discussing lines with Bajju.

Prem > Meanwhile, play about to start, with India continuing its innings with the last two batsmen, Sairaj and Nilesh, walking out.

Prem > India's main reason for batting on would be to have the choice of roller. The heavy roller packs it down for a while, but helps it crack faster as the day goes on, and that is the one that would have been taken. Jason Gillespie to bowl the first over, to Sairaj

Prem > Two slips, gully for Sai facing Gillespie and letting it through outside of off.

Prem > Another point is that each over consumed is one less out of the total 180 remaining, for Aus to try and push for a winning total. And each over less makes it that much harder for the Aussies who will need to score very fast, with a batting lineup that has looked very brittle. When you try to do that, you could crumble in a heap

Prem > Big appeal as Sai takes the second ball on the pad, but that was bowled wide of the crease and angling across, will miss off. Next ball, on middle and Sai plays easily out to fine leg, very good running gets two more. Sai really ran that first one well. 482/9 india, leading 91 now. Next ball, on off and lifting and played out to one of the two gullies

Prem > Meanwhile, with me is Sujata Prakash. Sujata, that bit about this Test looking for a hero -- what do you think, who will be the one?

Prem > Bouncer last up, Sai lets it through, and at the end of the first over of play, India 482/9 and ahead by 91

Prem > 155 overs so far bowled in this innings, and mcgrath to bowl the second over of the day. facing him, the tall, lanky Nilesh Kulkarni, batting with his Mumbai mate Sairaj Bahutule. SAi is a good bat, Nilesh is your typical tailender, that first ball is angled across him, some seam movement as well, and Nilesh lets it go

Prem > mcgrath in again, to Nilesh. Angled, on off going away and like your average tailender, Nilesh pushes at it without moving his feet, lucky not to touch through

Prem > again, the ball leaving the left hander on the angle across him, this time Nilesh lets it go

Prem > McGrath, that's a quicker one, fuller in length, Nilesh shoves his pad into line, an appeal, but that hit outside off, and since mcgrath was bowling over the wicket, the angle alone would take it further away. No damage. McGrath again, and again Nilesh pushes at one outside off on the angle, again lucky not to touch through Sujata > Hi everyone. I think Steve Waugh will have to be the hero for the Aussies today. If we go by the law of averages, Hayden might not get that big score (he wasn't supposed to last time) and so SW will have to be dig Australia out of the hole like he has done so often. For India, it is heroics that are required. Ganguly's field placings will have to be perfect and I think Harbahjan and Tendulkar hold the key as far as bowling is concerned. And absolutely NO chances given on the field to the Aussies.

Prem > Yorker length and nicely dug out. 482/9 india, gillespie resumes to Sairaj

Prem > Gillespie, now round the wicket to Sairaj and angling in to the left hander, sai looking good going froward into line and defending.

Prem > Yeah, well, right about Hayden -- he was let off when he was 19, and speaking for a moment as an Indian fan and not as a commentator, you've got to hope they take the half chances, not let the full ones go. Interesting, though, that you pick Steve Waugh. He has never really flourished in the second innings -- almost all his big scores have come in the first. Then again, he is the captian, he has the burning desire to add an India win to his curriculum vitae, so hey, why not?

Prem > That is a good shot. Short, outisde off, seaming away, Sairaj cuts and well at that, third man in place, only two slips for him, single taken, india 483/9 and Nilesh faces Gillespie.

Prem > Gillespie, to Nilesh, round the wicket, full toss looking for the yorker and Nilesh just tapes it out on the off side, through cover, letting the pace do the work and getting three more for the shot. 486/9 india with that three to end the third over of the morning.

Prem > McGrath, unlike Gillespie, stays over the wicket, now three slips and two gullies for the six foot five inch Nilesh Kulkarni on strike. On off and played defensively to ball one. India 95 ahead now. Sujata > What better time than now for Steve Waugh to come good. Like you said, if he wants this series as badly as we know he does, he''ll take a leaf out of the Indian batsmens books and play the spinners like they do - with the spin and not against.

Prem > In again, McGrath. To Nilesh Kulkarni, the bouncer and very well played. Very tall lad this, got right up on his toes and pushed it down. Good work

Prem > And again, short ball, and NIlesh again plays it down well, out on the on and no close fielder there, so they scramble the single. 487/9 and india leading 96

Prem > Bouncer. Wide of off and climbing and Sai has nothing to do with it. Nice to see, though, that neither of them is looking to give his wicket away. 10 runs so far for this last wicket, off 30 balls faced. That's another five overs used up, five less for the Aussies. India 96 ahead at the end of the over, 487/9 the score

Prem > 487/9 and now it is Gillespie in to Nilesh. Again, some lift around off and Nilesh looks very competent playing the lifting ball.

Prem > Waugh looking very upset with one of his fielders, who wasn't ready when that ball was bowled, kicks the ball then yells at someone out of our field of vision. Okay, that was Ponting on the receiving end.

Prem > AGain, short, but this time outside off and NIlesh just looks at it. 487/9 india

Prem > Gillespie, to Nilesh. Fuiller, on off and Nilesh nicely forward and defends.

Prem > Great ball that -- Gillespie going wide of the crease, speared one in towards the off line and quick, Nilesh beaten, but safe. Gillespie again. Last ball, again wide of the stumps, aorund the wicket, angling to middle this time, Nilesh takes it on the pad, Gillespie appeals, wasted breath when he is bowling that angle and a tall batsman is taking it well forward on the front pad. End of the over, 487/9 india

Prem > McGrath resumes. Just outside off, Sai shapes to guide it through the catching cordon but finds third slip. No run. 96 ahead India

Prem > Mcgrath in again. This has got to be frustrating for the Aussies -- and now McGrath goes round, angles in, seams it away, and Sai cuts and misses.

Prem > mcgrath again to Sai. two slips, two gullies. On off, holding its line and Sai plays it down to the slip cordon

Prem > McVGrath, again outside off, Sai this time flashes into a cut playing it harder than last time, same result -- a clear miss. The batsman not making allowance here for the seam movement Glenn is getting. In again, round the wicket, on off and this one guided to slip, finds the fielder, no run, end of the over, 487/9 india

Prem > mcgrath, outside off, stayed a touch low what is more and Nilesh again looking to drive through the off, beaten foir away movement, but still no edges for the Aussies to latch on to. In again, Gillespie, and angles that onto middle, nice play off the pads and Langer at short square fields

Prem > McGrath's fastest has been 142.4, Gillespie has regularly bowled 145, 146 -- and on several occasions, 147. His fastest has been 149.1k, a ball that spun Dighe around, and split the glove of Gilchrist as he took. Slower ball, again the appeal, but that is again angled across and going outside leg. 487/9 the score

Prem > ON off this time, and Nilesh plays it out nicely on the off. 487/9 and India leading 96.

Prem > And that is another over, another maiden, making it three on the trot. India 487/9 and leading 96.

Prem > 161 overs gone in the innings and here we go again, mcgrath round the wicket, close to off and Sai pushes and misses.

Prem > mcgrath, to sairaj. oiutside off, that line mcgrath loves, lift as well and left alone by the batsman

Prem > good ball. very quick, full, on off and sairaj defends

Prem > mcgrath, on off and again, very quick, and again, sairaj very competent, forward and defending. 487/9. The way the Indian last pair is batting, I am beginning to suspect they have been told to hang in there for a specified amount of time if possible. Sai again, defensive to the ball on off.

Prem > And that is the fourth successive maiden played out. India 487/9 and still 96 ahead.

Prem > Now it's a change in bowling, Wiath Miller going round the wicket to him, with a close cordon, and Nilesh content to defend. Three close in on the off, and one on the on. That was pushed through quick, Nilesh lifts his bat out of line, big appeal, ball lands outside off and holds its line, no damage, no way that could be given out.

Prem > There is some suggestion, now being made by one of the Aussie commentators on Television, that this shows India is not trying to win this match. I am not so sure, frankly. There are -- with due apologies to animal rights activists out there -- more than one way to skin a cat. This is one way -- every over used up is one less from the 180 the Aussies had at start of play to try and win this. And the quesiton being asked of Waugh and his men is -- are you good enough to go out there on a turning track, blast runs against us, put 250 at least on the board and still bowl out a side that, the last two times it has faced you, has batted more than five sessions each? Meanwhile, McGrath, outside off, and Sairaj slashes, ball flies off the edge, no third slip, four to third man and the lead now 100 as India goes to 491/9

Prem > and now he angles on the middle stump, mcgrath, and sairaj flicks, out on the on, single, india 101 ahead, 492/9

Prem > third slip now comes into place. so it is not only the indian captain who can bolt stable doors after the horse has bolted. mcgrath meanwhile goes round the wicket, again, to Nilesh, angles it outside off and is left alone by the batsman. in again, closer to off, Nilesh pushes at it and misses.

Prem > Ah yes -- now we get it don't we? ON TV, this: "Assuming Aus starts batting right now, and scores at 3.5 runs per over all day, at the end of the day they will still be only 170 or so up -- with 90 overs left tomorrow. Can Aus expect to bowl india out under that socre? meanwhile, Miller to Sai, and the first ball, he is onto the front foot and lifts, perfectly, straight back over the off spinner's head, six. 498/9 india and now a man back on the line. 107 ahead india

Prem > Yorker length from miller and Sairaj bats it back down the track

Prem > miller, outside off and a delicate late cut, very nicely controlled, and good running makes it three more, India 501/9 and leading 110 now.

Prem > Miller to nilesh, on off, played back down the track. Very, very strange, Aussies need the breakthrough and they turn not to Warne but to Miller? In again, and he's goine -- tht was full, Nilesh took it on the pad, the ball take sthe pad low, it's bang on target and India all out 501, leading 110. And that is a very, very good batting performance all round.

Prem > And with that, a brief break here for us, back with the Australian second innings in under 5 minutes. *gone for a few*

Prem > And here we go -- almost. The rollers, the brooms and all the rest of it going off the field, the Indians walking out, also the Aussie openers Hayden and Slater, so the fireworks due to begin.

Prem > Hayden's had a wonderful run this series, so far. One thing, though -- every time, he has been let off before crossing 25. For once, you've got to hope the Indians take their catches here. Zahir Khan with three slips and a gully to bowl the first over, and Hayden on strike

Prem > On off, first ball of the Aussie innings, and Hayden drives, finds cover. One thing for sure, the Aussies want to win this, so they will attack. The quesiton is, will the attack work, or will it produce fatal mistakes? Again, the drive, this time square, single taken and Aus 1/0

Prem > The openers have, first, to wipe out 110 runs deficit, and now it is Slater on strike.

Prem > Zahir, left arm, over the wicket with three slips in place to Slater. On drive, to the line on off, and finds mid on, no run

Prem > One thing for sure -- three balls bowled, no defensive shots offered so far, so at least the aussie mindset is clear. Gentle push on the on this time and they run the quick single, 2/0 aus.

Prem > Hayden on srtrike, zahir angles one in just a bit, outside off and hayden this time, lets it go.

Prem > Hayden's aggregate of 515 thus far is the highest by an Australian in a three Test tour, beating 513 by Mark Taylor against Pak in 1998. Zahir, last ball of the over, to Hayden, again a nice line, just outside off seaming away and Hayden lets it go. 2/0 Aus at the end of the over.

Prem > Second over of the Aus innings and it is Ganguly to bowl. Interesting, this -- Gilchrist will come in at three. Which confirms the Aus are going to attack and try for quick runs. Now this is very, very interesting --0 perfect mindset, the Aussies, and slater picks the first ball, overpitched on off, flicks it through midwicket, four. 6/0

Prem > ganguly, in to slater, outside off and slater has to let that one go through. 6/0

Prem > 104 still behind aus. Slater standing a good two feet outside the crease now. Stnads up and belts one out on the off, finds point, no run

Prem > That was a good ball, some swing in, slater shaped to off drive, got the thick edge, but got it through the gap between slips and point, four. 10/0 Aus, into the second over

Prem > Just two slips now, Ganguly moving gully away after that one edged shot. They need to keep attacking, the Indinas, not move close fielders out the minute a shot is hit.

Prem > Outside off, that last ball, and Slater lets it go, 10/0 Aus at the end of the second over

Prem > Zahir Khan, resuming, to Hayden with three slips and a gully. In, left arm over, on off and played to cover, no run

Prem > In the first innings, Ganguly oepning the bowling bowled just two overs. Be very surprised to see him bowl any more than that here. Zahir, meanwhile, in to Hayden and again, a very good line, just around off challenging the batsman to drive off back of a length, Hayden content to watch it go

Prem > Zahir, and again, that line. Quick, outside off, some seam movement away, and Hayden lets it go

Prem > 10/0 Aus, 3rd over, zahir to hayden. and that one cut IN off the seam. Hayden leaving for line, finds it come back and flash past his pad, and the stumps.

Prem > zahir, to hayden. this time, a touch more outside off, and hayden again lets it go

Prem > That one is on off, and hayden angles it away on the on, very good running that to the untenanted on side, two for it to end the over on 12/0

Prem > And a buzz now, as Harbajan Singh takes over after just one over by Ganguly with the new ball. There will be bounce with a ball this new, but much harder to get enough turn. Slater to face.

Prem > They will look to take Bajju on -- they have to, anyway. Be interesting to see how he handles it all over again. Nice first ball -- just outside off, and turning in to the right hander, slater defends. slip, leg slip, short square leg in place. Down the treack, lifts, and hits it well, over long on, six off the second ball of Bajju's first over. 18/0 Aus.

Prem > Good come back, that was the arm ball coming through straight, the new, shy ball skidding quickly off the deck and hurrying the batsman in defence. And again, slater forced back and hurriedly defending to another arm ball.

Prem > bajju again, to slater. this one flighted more, and slater again off the back foot, playing it on the on to short square leg

Prem > bajju, and yet again, flight and loop outside off, and slater defends around line of off. 18/0 and 4 overs bowled in the Aus innings

Prem > the arm ball, skidding off the deck with the ball still shiny, will be a major weapon for the offie till the ball gets older and he can make it grip the deck and turn more. zahir, meanwhile, with three slips and a gully, to hayden and on off, hayden pushes out on the off.

Prem > zahir again, to hayden. just around off, and left alone by hayden

Prem > zahir again. bowling well here, the line intended to get hayden driving, with three slips and a gully waiting plus point, cover and mid off. hayden content to watch them go, for now

Prem > zahir again, to hayden. closer to off, driven, fielded at cover, just the one. 19/0

Prem > zahir now to slater, same field of three slip-s and the gully. 91 shy, Aus, and slater pushes from line of middle, in the air, but wide of midwicket, ganguly chases it down, and just one. 20/0

Prem > zahir to hayden. just outside off, just enough seam to bring it back in, and hayden covers up and lets it go. Ends the over. 20/0 Aus. 90 still short.

Prem > 5 overs gone, 20/0 aus, 16 slater, 4 hayden looking to anchor. Harabajn to continue. slip, short square leg in place to slater, and that one is tossed up, slater goes back and plays with the turn on the on, no run

Prem > SS DAs at short square leg is a very good weapon -- he really fields well there. Slater, meanwhile, beaten by the arm ball, misread it, ball hits the pad, onto the chest and through to the keeper, appeal, but that was no bat-touch. Slater, next ball, defends. again a very good line and length, Harbajan

Prem > Beauty -- got that bang on off, pushed it quicker, Slater was looking to come down, forced to defend, got the edge and very lucky to see it fall short of Das. Slater unable to repeat that dance down the track, Bajju varying his deliveries, lots of arm balls and the occasional offie, using flight, loop, and the quicker one to create the pressure, responds with a maiden. 20/0 Aus in 6 overs

Prem > zahir continues. for once, wrong line, on off and middle and hayden works it out on the on for a brace. 22/0. zahir needs tohave it outside off, not on the stumps since the leg side has just one man in front of the batsman.

Prem > ZAhir again, to Hayden. That's the line, just outside off, giving hayden the choice of either driving, or letting it go. Left alone

Prem > Zahir again, holding that line well. Hayden lets it go again. And again. Zahir, with the field set for him to bowl around off, doing just that here, Aus 22/0 and with the onus to get runs quick. Testing the patience of the opener here, Zahir, as McGrath does all the time. But then loses it and angles it on off and middle and again, hayden chips on the on and gets three more. ZAhir just cnanot bowl on the stumps if he has only one man in front on the on. three more, 25/0 Aus and now Slater on strike

Prem > This time, Zahir hits the off line to slater, and is played out on the on, two more, Aus 27/0 at the end of the over

Prem > Bajju, to continue. Aus 27/0, trailing by 83. Around the wicket to Hayden and immediately, he is down the track smashing it back down the ground for four. Superbly hit. 31/0 and hayden, like slater, going for the offie first up

Prem > Bajju again. Flights, hayden sweeps. Gets one, and Aus 31/0

Prem > This is likely to get very interesting -- the offie against two batsmen hell bent on hitting him out of the park. still with the slip and short square, to slater over the wicket, brings him forward, beats him for flight, slater pushes on the off and no run. bajju again and this time, slater shapes to come forward, then waits and defends

Prem > slater down the track, looking to blast, ends up checking the drive, misfield at mid off, Ganguly, and the single taken, Aus 32/0 at the end of the over

Prem > Nilesh Kulkarni now takes over from Zahir, so psin at both ends now. With his height, once the ball gets a bit older, Nilesh becomes a handful because he angles it down from high and on a cracking pitch, gets all kinds of varying bounce. A bit too early, the ball too new, for all that just now, though. 33/0 the score, slater on strike, slip and silly point in place and nilesh left arm, around the icket

Prem > ow -- Slater bustling around, tries to glide, ball off the edge in the air but no one on the on side to take it. single, 34/0 and that brings hayden back on strike

Prem > 9th over, 8.2 overs gone, nilesh to hayden batting 14 with a slip and silly point up close.

Prem > On off, this one, and hayden gentles it away on the on side and gets one. 35/0. slater in his turn defends to the next ball, on line of off and full in length

Prem > sure enough, for now no sign of turn for nilesh, slater content to go back and work a single playing from off to on. 36/0. 74 still to get, Aus. And hayden rocks back and cuts, four through point to the ball thumped down short outside off. 40/0 Aus, and with this kind of start, the nerves of the Indians will be tested as well, and the question asked, do youhave the guts to keep attacking.

Prem > Harbajan meanwhile resumes, and the fact that slater has clubbed him for six hasn't stopped him from flighting them right up. Very challening, attackign bowler this lad, and seems tobe able to absorb any amount of pressure. Slater again looks to come down and lift, can only drive along the ground off the toe of the bat to mid off, no run. Bajju in again, and slater looking to hit, forced to defend as the ball with extra loop lands on yorker length. end of the over, another good one by the offie

Prem > Nilesh Kulkarni now to Hayden. Left arm, round the wicket, on off and clipped out on the on, another single. 41/0, those singles coming from the lack of a shortish midwicket.

Prem > that's better, to the right hander, nilesh holding it back just a bit and forcing slater to lunge well forward in defense. Down the track to the next ball, slater, frees his arms moving inside the line, and swings, high and over mid on, six more. 47/0

Prem > quicker one on off,and slater pushes in defense to the next one.

Prem > End of the over, 47/0 Australia, and it is all building up very nicely now.

Prem > I donno, I think Nilesh needs to be held back till the ball gets old. I was Ganguly, I would have opted for a little mental game with the /Aussies, and tossed it to Sachin. Meanwhile, Bajju to continue, and hayden guides through the on side, gets three. Slater, in his turn, down the track then changes to a cut, good use of the feet there, and three more. 53/0 Aus.

Prem > Bajju going round the wicket, 10 singles and 48 dot balls besides the four fours and two sixes so far, into the 12th over here. 53/0 Aus.and hayden taken on the pad by a quicker one, but outsidee the line. Loose ball next up, short outside off and smashed through point, four. 57/0 Aus

Prem > 12 overs gone, slater batting 32 and Nilesh now over the wicket, looking to angle across the right handed slater. trouble is, Nilesh is not a big spinner of the ball -- so with a ball this new, they can play him like a slow medium pacer. Slater agfain tries to hit to on, on line of leg stump, and misses. Ball three, driven this time to midwicekt, no run.

Prem > Slater struggling agains tthe changed angle, finally manages to get one off his pads out on the on, 58/0 the score

Prem > 13 overs gone. And lunch rapidly approaching. 24 hayden, 33 slater, Harabajan, who will probably wear his spinning fingers to the bone by the time this test is over, back to Slater. And gets the edge first up as slater shapes to play off to leg, but well wide of slip and no damage. In again and slater down the track but not to the pitch, forced to chip to mid off, no run

Prem > This time, the floated off break just outside off and slater defending. ACtually, this should be seen -- quite a classical cricekt contest, between an attacking off spinner and two batsmen doing their damndest to hit him out of line. Slater, again, defensive, and 58/0 Aus at the end of the over.

Prem > A maiden there for Bajju, which is quite a feat given the Aussie mindset at this point. NIlesh continues. slip, silly point for Nilesh over the wicket to Hayden. Sweep, miss, hit on the pad, no run.

Prem > Nilesh again. to hayden. forward to one looping high. Next ball, Nilesh pushes it flat, and Hayden on his knee, swings it from outside off over midwicket, six. Brilliant hit that. 64/0 and a quick push to mid off and single taken to the next ball. 65/0

Prem > 65/0 Aus, Nilesh staying over th4e wicket to Slater, who tries to swing it around, no touch, Dighe fumbles. Luckily, there was no touch there or that was a chance down. Bad collection all the same, 65/0 the score at the end of the over

Prem > Harbajan, around the wicket to Hayden. Driven, first ball, and Ramesh fields superbly at short cover, diving to stop. Hayden sweeps, to the next one, hitting from outside off to fine leg, two, and Aus 67/0.

Prem > Harbajan, around the wicket to Hayden. Driven, first ball, and Ramesh fields superbly at short cover, diving to stop. Hayden sweeps, to the next one, hitting from outside off to fine leg, two, and Aus 67/0.

Prem > Sorry for that brief break in commentary, Harbajan to Slater, brings him forward, defending. 68/0 the score. Interestinglyl, Harabajans' 24 wickets is the most by an Indian bowler in a three TEst series, beating Kumble's 23. And slater tucks one behind square, gets the single, Aus moves to 69/0 and that is lunch.

Prem > 34 each to slater and hayden, slater batting 61 balls, hayden 34 off 35. 69 runs off 16 overs, this morning, no wicket yet, and with that, we are shutting down here and will be back in 40 minutes for post lunch play. Till then, all, adios.

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