Chennai Test - India vs Australia

Commentary Transcript - Post Tea Session

Prem > POST TEA SESSION -- and here come the Indians, followed by the two Waughs.

Prem > Interesting stat -- it is now three and a half years since Steve Waugh has a 50 in a second innings.

Prem > 30 oves to go in the final session. Steve will face the first over after the break

Prem > And now it is all down to the Waughs -- unless Aus can put about 200, or more, on the board, India can force the win and to do that, these two have to counter some very attacking spin bowling here by the Indians. Sachin Tendulkar will bowl afte rthe break, to Steve

Prem > Ball one, on off and the leg break has steve defending

Prem > ball two, and that is a big turning leg break, outside off going away and steve lets it go

Prem > single to steve, brings mark wuagh on strike, driving at sachin tendulkar with two men catching on the off, 160/4 and aus 50 ahead, 29 overs to go

Prem > Interesting, that, Robin Singh as a substitute out there now on his home ground. Mark Wugh 37, Steve 11. Nilesh to bowl the second over, to steve, on leg and played square on the on, Das at short square fields.

Prem > again the same line, this time steve gets the single to square leg. 161/4.

Prem > NIlesh this time, outside leg and mark content to pad it away. 161/4 gthe score

Prem > some chat between saurav and the umpires now, not sure what that is all about. 161/4. And it could well be about Robin Singh -- nbot being part of the 14 for Tests, not sure how he got onto the ground anyway. Academic now, since Dravid, who was off the field, is back on now and Robin is off

Prem > Sachin continues with his leg breaks, to Waugh. Pitches off, turns it away, steve defends. next one, on full length on leg, steve flicks and misses. on the pad, very lucky to get away there. in again, saschin, and that is the defensive push, in the air but short of silly point

Prem > Steve thius time, forces one square on the off with the turn, gets one. 162/4 and now the leg break has mark iun trouble, landing leg and turning in, beats the bat and hit sthe pad. 162/4 aus at the end of the over. 28 more overs to go today

Prem > 37 mark, 13 steve, aus 52 ahead. kulkarni, to steve. slip, silly point, short square and steve pushes his pad out at a ball just outside leg

Prem > another well flighted ball outside leg, steve waugh pushes his pad at it, the ball turns past him out on the off. next up, the one going through quicker and not turning as much, left alone outside leg. the next, turning in and waugh lets it hit his backside.

Prem > nilesh to steve, and again, the batsman content to allow it to come on and hit him. too much a defensive line, the left hander staying over the wicket and hitting outside leg. end of the over, 162/4

Prem > sachin continues, mark facing him. a stream of leg breaks after tea, sahcin varying the angle, landing one outside off, another on off, a couple on leg, another on middle. that one is outsidee off and left alone

Prem > Sachin, and that one had mark pushing away from his body at a leg break, lucky not to touch it through

Prem > the next one, a leg break starting outside off, mark throws his bat at it in a cut, gets it past point, good running, two more. 164/4.

Prem > sachin again, and waugh drives, on the on, thick edge out on the on side, a few ooohs by the indians -- but hey, no one at short mid on, so what is the point? end of the over, 164/4. 27 more to go

Prem > Nilesh kulkarni remains over the wicket -- I would think, since he is getting turn now, someone needs to tell him to go around the wicket, so that he is pitching off and turning it away from the two right handers. with his height, pace and the one going straight, it also gives him the lbw option. meanwhile, another easy single on the on side, square, as waugh pushes at one outside leg. 165/4, these are easy runs for the aussies but the indians won't be given gifts like this. Another single, next ball, same direction. 166/4

Prem > End of the over and 26 mnore to go. sachin resumes and fires one down on the leg side. dighe does well to take. leg break next up, and mark lets it go. 166/4.

Prem > mark cuts, and zahir does very well running around the line from sweeper cover and using his feet very well to cut that off, good work and sachin applauds. Two for it. Then sends down the googly and mark waugh fooled, was shaping for the leg break and that came in quick. mamanges to defend. the next one kicks off the length, and bounced head high off a length, mark looks bemused and sachin gives him a grin. in again, sachin, flights too much, full toss and mark waugh smashes that for four througyh midwicket, bad end to a good over, 172/4 aus

Prem > Nilesh, and still that line outside leg and still, those singles coming with ease there. The indians at this point losing the plot a bit -- what is the point of bowling that far outside leg? Who asked him to, I wonder? 173/4

Prem > That was fired down the leg side and mark waugh deosnt even have to move. 63 ahead, aus.

Prem > that's better, they now have a square leg in place to stop those singles, mark flicks, finds the fielder, no run this time. took long enough -- and enough singles -- for wisdom to dawn. now to see how much longer before it dawns that around the wicket is the better line. 25 more overs to go and aus 173/4. 8 overs, 14 runs this session, and sachin to continue

Prem > Sachin ball one, on off, flicked on the on, good sharp fielding there makes sure they dont take one. Leg break, and waugh waits, then uses his wrist to play it behind point, single. be an idea ot put a gully in between that slip and point, and tell Steve that he can't afford to play a leg break squaer on the off. inn again, and again, he pushes a leggie through that gap but this time to point

Prem > sachin, the arm ball this time, steve covers up.

Prem > 175/4 and sachin again to steve. the leg break, and again, cut, in the air, between slip and silly point, to point, no run

Prem > beauty. lots of flight, draws steve down the track, beats him with turn, away from the right hander, beaten, dighe has hte bails off but steve had his foot just behind the line, no damage. 24 more overs to go, Aus 175/4 at the end of that one

Prem > Nilesh Kulkarni and still no joy, he stays over the wicket. hyorker length on middle that time, which is better than one foot outside leg, mark waugh defends

Prem > nilesh, and outside leg turning in and mark pads it away

Prem > 34 for the 5th wicket so far, off 93 balls and that one has mark flicking, misses, hit on the pad, but on that line and landing outside the leg stump, even dighe doesnt bother to appeal.

Prem > nilesh again, to mark. three round the bat, two of them -- slip and silly point -- might as well put little stools and sit down there because on that line, no way the ball can ever get to them. nilesh again, and mark goes down the track, on drives, gets one, 176/4.

Prem > 47 mark, 17 steve, lull in play while steve waugh gets some sweat and dirt off his eyes and face. sachin to bowl, and a huge leg break, steve lets it go

Prem > 66 ahead aus. sachin again, to mark sorry not steve. and that one was even better, on line around off and darted away. ball thre, now two slips, but too wide of off, that one sachin putting too much into it. again, ball four, sachin, leg break on middle, played on the on, no ball calle dand they run very well to make it two, but mainly because nilesh on the fence was sleeping out there. Very slow run in, and release, and mark makes it back. then defends, to line of off. 179/4.

Prem > 69 ahead aus, game again in the balanace with india needing one of tthis pair to go. that was a loose ball, sachin trying the quicker flipper, ends up pitching short, and is pulled, four, mark makes his 50. 53 and aus 183/4, this being his second half century of the game. sachin gain, outside off and cut away, single. 184/4.

Prem > nilesh continues. and still over the wicket. well bowled nilesh goes dighe -- which, to be charitable, is to encourage the bowler, and to be uncharitable, tells you Dighe doesn't have a clue. mark waugh on strike, three round the bat, and all he has to do is keep pushing his pad at these.

Prem > nilesh again to mark wuagh. and again, pad to ball.

Prem > and again. this really is ridiculous. every now and again they get a single or two, and that is two more for india to chase, and meanwhile, there is no way a wicket will go at this end. another maiden, 184/4 aus

Prem > 25 runs added this session, 74 ahead aus. and harbajan takes over from sachin.

Prem > Omighosh! That one turned, and bounced, like nobody'smbusiness, steve surprised and takes it on his elbow. Bajju again, the off break and waugh defends

Prem > bajju to steve. a push of the pad down the line, there, showing that the batsman not sure what the ball is going to do. bat held well away. next ball, steve lunges in defence, thick edge, but ouit of reach of short square, ends the over, a good one. 184/4 aus

Prem > Nilesh continues. so does mark waugh, who at this rate will end up with a red front pad. 29 balls nilesh to mark, 6 runs scored, but never onece in danger of losing his wicket and wickets are what india needs. and finally -- finally -- around the wicket nilesh to mark waugh

Prem > Nilesh to Mark Waugh, and the drive on the up, played a touch loose, finds mid off, no run. they need mark waugh playing shots to this line, not using his pad to extend his tenure. that one is the off drive, a slight fumble, and they get a single. 185/4. end of th4e over, aus ahead 75.

Prem > 185/4 Aus. and bajju to continue. mark wuagh now with a slip, a leg slip, and a short square. on off and he defends.

Prem > Bajju bowling a good line here, having Mark tentative around that off stump. India could do with a silly point as the fourth man up close. a flick to the last ball gets mark one to midwicket, 186/4 and aus 76 ahead at the end of the over

Prem > 1.80 runs per over this session after tea. 76 ahead, aus. and now sairaj bahutule takes over from Nilesh. slip and silly point in place.

Prem > leg break pitching leg stump, for mark waugh. defensively played.

Prem > sairaj again to mark. that one kept low, the googly, mark waugh beaten, and very very lucky to bring his bat down at the last second

Prem > Sairaj and mark waugh gets the single to mid off, then steve in his turn shuts the angle and drives to the on side. 188/4.

Prem > 78 ahead, aus, sairaj again, and the leg break, played defensively. 188/4 at the end of the over

Prem > 57 mark, 18 steve, 47 runs this partnerhsip. bajju continues and wugh pushes, gets the pad to it.

Prem > bajju again, and the minute they took deep midwicket away, steve swings it around, over midwicket, four. they had that man there all the time, till now, took it off, and at once the shot is on. 192/4.

Prem > single this time, to the on side, and mark on strike. 193/4 aus. and that is the wicket. Again, as in the first innings, bajju making a ball jump and turn, mark tried to turn, thick edge, and rahul dravid takes a blinder -- the blinder of blinders really -- at leg slip. 193/5 Aus, 83 ahead and now five down.

Prem > Second time in two innings mark waugh has been taken by Bajju on that line, to the same field position -- but that flick was hit firmly, the ball was travelling, and the way Dravid dived to pluck that out of thin air can be seen, but won't be believed!

Prem > Bajju -- and Ricky Pointing to the wicket, and that was almost another wicket. Defended, in the air and the ball flashed just a fraction past short square leg. Very, very lucky there, Ponting. 193/5 at the end of the over and Harabajan doing the damage again, and not a second too early, this partnership was beginning to take the game away.

Prem > Sairaj continues. Steve facing. and one wicket more has the aussie tail coming up

Prem > sairaj, leg break, and waugh defends

Prem > 193/5 and 12 more overs to go. And waugh flicks, in the air but no short square, safe, single, 194/5.

Prem > sairaj now to ricky ponting. slip, silly point, short square. might help to have a gully in there too.

Prem > sairaj, and p[noting defends. on line of off, the leg break

Prem > steve batting 24. sairaj to ponting, on the back foot and defensive

Prem > End of the over. Aus 194/5. 12 overs to go still today, and with time on their hands, India can try and bowl more.

Prem > 18 ovewrs, 35 runs, one wicket so far this session, and one hour still to go.

Prem > Bajju continues. And that one jumped!!! Never mind Steve, even Dighe didn't have aclue on that one. In again, to steve, with a slip, leg slip, and short square in place. that one is angled to leg, waugh flicks and misses.

Prem > Steve flicks, out on the on, gets the single and brings Ponting on strike to Bajju. Thus far, Bajju has bowled 18 balls to Ponting, given four runs, and taken him out four times. And he beats him again, that is the arm ball, Ponting pushes and misses. Appeal for caught behind. That was the bad decision India was due -- there was a massive deflection, and Dhghe juggled and held, he was gone, but the umpire gives it not out. Bajju again. Ponting drives, finds mid on next ball. No run. 195/5. 85 lead.

Prem > That was a strange decision -- you can understand a faint nick, but that was huge. Thge only explanation possible is the umpire felt sorry for Ponting, or something.

Prem > Funniest bit about it is, Tony Grieg then tells us that Dighe has to be careful about appealing like that.

Prem > Steve Waugh this time, turns on the on and takes the single, ponting back on strike.

Prem > sairaj, and ponting down the track, hits it back, straight to Sairaj, caught and bowled chance and down she goes. Still to score, and should have been out twice. Another drife, and finally, one run to Ponting. 198/5.

Prem > Sairaj again, to steve waugh. 88 lead, Aus, and Waugh drives to cover, no run. 198/5.

Prem > End of the over, and it is Bajju again to Ponting. And why Ganguly doesn't ring Ponting around with five, six men, I don't understand -- that guy out there looks like someone tossed him a hand grenade with the pin pulled, and it was coated all over with gum. Turned square, first ball, thick edge, out to the off side, but no gully.

Prem > That one turned in, Ponting flicks, gets one to square leg. 199/5.

Prem > Bajju again, to Waugh. 199/5 the score. And waugh pushes with the turn, again das up close on the on fields, and fields well, no run. Bajju again. Waugh flicks, this time gets it past das, one more. 200/5 and 90 the lead

Prem > Bajju to Ponting, four round the bat, and ponting goes down the wicket and lifts -- over long on, six. That should in fact encourage the offie -- getting Ponting coming down to him, is how he got him twice, stumped with the one going through with the arm. this was the off break, and hit with the turn, good swing of the arms. 206/5 the score, 96 ahead aus with half the team in the hut

Prem > sairaj to resume. to steve waugh. two up close, and waugh cuts, beats point, single. 207/5.

Prem > sairaj now to ponting. three round the bat to him. goes down the track again, driving, but doesnt time it, to mid on, no run

Prem > tossed up this time, ponting drives, finds mid off, no run

Prem > flipper, and left alone. 207/5 aus. 97 the lead.

Prem > And in response to a mail asking who the umpire was, on the Ponting decision, it was Jayaprakash. Ponting, meanwhile, flicks again off the pads, two down to fine leg. 209/5.

Prem > Sairaj, and again the drive, finds the bowler but along the ground this time, no run, end of the over, 209/5.

Prem > steve waugh batting 28, ponting 10. dropped on zero after being given not out on the edge behind off bajju.

Prem > bajju to continue, and steve on strike and defending on line of off.

Prem > bajju, and waugh beaten by the arm ball, playing for the off breka, and lucky not to touch

Prem > 99 runs ahead aus. bajju in again, and that one jumped. waugh takes one hand off and just manages to control the defensive push. in again, and this time, on the back foot, thick outer edge to point, no run

Prem > bajju again to steve waugh. on off, and defensive push, ends the over, no run

Prem > and again, waugh drawn forward, defending. end of the over.

Prem > Sairaj again. Ponting tri9es to play to leg, gets the leading edge. lucky to se iot fall short of silly point. Nex tball, huge swipe, misses. 210/5 the score, and ponting this time, defends

Prem > 210/5 the score. Sairaj to Ponting. batting 10, and lets a leg break go.

Prem > siaraj, with slip, silly point now standing in front of square, and square leg and ponting drives, great diving stop at extra cover, keeps it to one. 211/5.

Prem > sairaj to steve. who defends on line of off. 101 ahead aus. sairaj again, to steve. defensive shot, end of the over, 211/5.

Prem > Bajju to Ponting. A flick, on the turn, and finds midwicket, no run. Bajju again, with slip, leg slip, silly point and short square. the off break and ponting defensive

Prem > bajju to ponting. who tries to do a mark waugh, turning off his hips, ball lands in front of dravid at leg slip, standing a bit wide in that position. again, and he's gone. Ponting pushes, gets bat onto pad, high in the air and leg slip holds. 211/6 and that is the third time Ponting is out in the innings, given once. Pushed too hard at the ball without getting to the pitch, gone for 11. 211/6 Aus.

Prem > Warne now to the crease, with three successive ducks to his name.

Prem > Two defensive pushes end the over, and again, Bajju proving a nightmare for the Aussies. One thing for sure -- Ponting wont play in the Aus one day squad -- he has completely lost it in the mind, the way he was batting today was unbelievable, the nerves raw and on the surface. 101 ahead, Aus, just four wickets in hand, and sairaj to steve, driven back, misfield by the bowler permits the single

Prem > That beat Warne. The leg break, bounced, warne beaten, dighe beaten too, yet again. four byes. 216/6 and one thing for sure, Dighe's keeping this match has been a horror story. And warne finally gets a single off the bat, next ball, playing to point and scampering like heck

Prem > 217/6 and Aus 107 ahead. sai, and steve drives and runs, single. 218/6

Prem > Sairaj, and again, warne pushes at a leg break down the wrong line, takes it on the pad. 218/6 aus

Prem > warne like pointing, figuring that it is a good idea to get what you can when youc an, goes down on one knee and smashes the last ball out to midwicket, four ends the over, 222/6.

Prem > Waugh batting 30. Bajju to bowl, three round the bat and waugh flicsk on the on and gets the single, brings warne on strike

Prem > Warne, batting 5, on strike to Bajju, still three round the bat and warrne goes down the track and realises he doenst know what that ball is doing, lets it hit the body

Prem > Bajju and the arm ball and warne again baffled and bajju really laughs there. he is enjoying this, making batsmen hop about.

Prem > a defensive shot and for once, it hits the bat to end the over from bajju, 222/6 aus

Prem > 27 overs and 64 runs, 2 wickets, so far this session. And Sivamani, one of the premier jazz drummers in the world., now drumming up a storm in the stands, the fans dancing. Sachin comes back for Siraj. Steve Waugh on strike and lets a leg break go

Prem > 113 ahead aus, 223/6 now, sachin in to his 11th over, and flights one to steve who hits it to midwicket, finds the fielder, single as he fumbles.

Prem > Sachin, to Warne. Slip and siully point, but no other close fielder, which is a touch strange. crowd starting a handclap, egging Sachin on. A few more fielders up close would eggo sachin on more, I would think -- and a leg break that turns two feet, from line of off.

Prem > sachin, and another leg break. warne this time, goes back, and pulls. single, 225/6 at the end of the over.

Prem > 225/6 and 75 overs gone. waugh batting 32. warne batting 6. ahead by 115. Bajju to Warne. Warne flicks, dangerously in the air but wide of short square. one more, 226/6

Prem > Bajju, and waugh defensive on line of off. 116 ahead aus. 226/6 the score. bajju again, to waugh. played on the on and das fields

Prem > that was a dangerous shot, forcing on the back foot to a ball bouncing, in the air but only one slip there, no gully, so single to point. 227/6

Prem > bajju to warne. defensive push. end of the over.

Prem > Tendulkar, and Waugh cuts. and cuts well, four. 228/6

Prem > Nilesh had the time to get down there and field, but lunged with just one hand, bad fielding and sachin glares. in again, and this time, waugh defneds

Prem > 232/6 and a full toss, pulled away, single out on the on.. warne on strike, plays to point, no run

Prem > next ball, the leg break and a flat arm pull wide of mid on gets warne four more. 236/6 the score, 126 ahead aus. now a drive, to cover, misfield but doesnt cost india anything that time

Prem > bajju to continue. to steve, who now seems content to defend. bajju in again, and this one hit away on the on off the back foot, single.

Prem > bajju, floated ball outside off, warne plays to cover, no run

Prem > derfensive prod this time, warne, bat onto pad but falls in front of him, no damage. bajju again, and warne again defends

Prem > another two, three overs possible today, though the mandatory 90 have been completed. 237/6 the score, 31 overs for 78 runs and two wickets after tea. Nilesh being given the ball now.

Prem > sorry for the break in commentary, meanwhile, nilesh to waugh and a lovely inside out drive straight down the field for four, steve waugh. 241/6 the score

Prem > last over of the day coming up. Warne to face, Bajju bowling.

Prem > warne on strike, and that was very close. left it alone, took it on the back of the thigh. not offering a shot. very close call that. Interestingly, very close that one but no appeal really from the indians, and cant see where that ball would have hit, but middle and leg. Bajju again, to warne round the wicket, warne recats to that one like you would to a snake, it hits his arm and goes ouit on the on. 241/6

Prem > Bajju again, back over the wicket now. and warne doing his best to make sure there wont be any more overs today. three balls to go. and warne defends

Prem > good ball that, warne pushes, in the air but out in front on the on side. no danger. you had to have a short midwicket to have caught that. 131 the lead. and a short midwicket now in. bajju to warne. and he's gone. again, let it hit the pad without offering the bat, and he's gone, rapped bang in front and that was a silly way to get out. 241/7 aus.

Prem > And with that, play for the day ends. Aus 241/7 and till play resumes tomorrow, take care all, bye, and gone.

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