Chennai Test - India vs Australia

Commentary Transcript - Morning session

Prem > And here we go -- the final day, of one of the best Test series in recent memory.

Prem > The players are out there, and play is about to begin. And frankly, I find myself wishing the whole thing could be done all over again. Sort of like having stumbled on a brilliant book, and suddenly realising as you turn a page, that you have come to the final page and soon, the whole experience will end.

Prem > With Warne's wicekt falling off the last ball of play yesterday, it is Waugh on 43 and Gillespie, the new man, to begin for Aus in the morning, Aus needing to do a bit of crease occupation, and at the same time score runs. Nilesh Kulkarni to bowl, again the packed leg side field wtih the left arm spinner coming over the wicket and bowling well outside the leg stump

Prem > Nilesh getting some turn here, from line of leg, across the right hander, thick edge but into the ground and fielded at slip. 131 ahead Aus, and a maiden for starters.

Prem > For Australia, a simple equation -- if the lead is say 180 or so, and India has 60, 70 overs to get it, they know that by simply batting out the overs, India will win, because there is no way you spend that much time at the wicket and not get that many runs. So -- Aus need runs, but also needs to remove overs from the total of 90 possible, so that they can then attack the batting in the last innings. Harbajan to bowl the second over

Prem > Gillespie on strike and an arm ball outside off for starters. 241/7 Aus, bajju again, this one turns in and stays low and gillespie defends

Prem > Bajju, with slip, silly point, leg slip and short square around him, pushes his pad at the next ball, on off and middle turning to leg. Well forward, no damage. And again, the pad into line -- not sure that this should be a ploy for Gillespie, if he pads an arm ball on that same line, he is as dead as warne was last night. Another maiden, 241/7 the score at the end of the over

Prem > Nilesh Kulkarni, resuming the line outside leg to Waugh. The idea seems to be to dry up waugh and attack the others -- but the catch with doing that for too long is that India might waste a lot of overs and leave itself that many less for going for the draw. Driven by Waugh, and a bad bit of fielding by Ganguly at mid off, didn't even try to bend, did some fancy footwork and a single becomes four. 245/7 and Aus 135 ahead

Prem > That was quicker, outside leg and left alone by Waugh. He will be content to do this all day -- hit when he can, stand around the rest of the time. It is the Indians who have the upper hand, ergo, it is for the Indians to really attack at both ends. Nilesh again, and again very wide of leg and very full, left alone, four in the over, 245/7.

Prem > Harbajan resumes. To Gillespie who resumes pushing his pad at it, with slip, leg slip, silly point and short square in place. Ball two, edge onto pad but it falls at his feet, no chance

Prem > Bajju again, to Gillespie. Tries to turn, dangerous shot, in the air and very close to Das at short square but wide enough to beat him. Bajju again, and a defensive prod. 245/7.

Prem > 135 ahead aus, Bajju with the ball floated wider of off turning in and gillespie pushes the wrong line but luckily does not touch. In again, the offie, and once more, pad into line and a maiden. 245/7

Prem > NIlesh resuming, with the slip and the man under the helmet on the on, to Waugh and a good ball that, hits the rough just outside leg, and turns, waugh takes it on the elbow

Prem > bad ball next, wide of leg and going straight, waugh doesnt even have to play

Prem > And again. Outside leg, going through straight. End of the over, 245/7.

Prem > Harbajan to resume, with four round the bat. good ball, some curve and landing on off, gillespie defends

Prem > Gillespie content to put his front foot half forward, here, then wait for the ball to pitch, and play as late as he can. good work this by the tailender, intent on just hanging out there. This time, on middle, Gillespie pushes, in the air but out on the on side and well short of mid on. No danger. and now a bit of a natter between bajju, sachin and saurav

Prem > Good work that. A short mid on brought in after that conversation and Bajju again bowls the same line, and Gillespie plays on the on, in the air but just inches wide of the man at short mid on. Single to the more orthodox mid on, the ploy almost worked, but in the event, a single, 246/7 and waugh on strike now to Bajju and defending. End of the over, 136 ahead, aus

Prem > This is so much better -- NIlesh around the wicket now, hitting the rough and look at that ball go!!!! It is bouncing, turning, having the batsman in all kinds of trouble so why on earth can't he be asked to bowl this line to Waugh as well? Some kind of rule which says Steve Waugh should not be attacked, perhaps? 246/7 Aus, Gillespie hanging on for dear life there, end of the over

Prem > Bajju, and there goes Steve Waugh. That was brilliant -- floated that right up, into the rough, made it turn and bounce, got Waugh pushing, found the edge, onto the pad, and a simple take by Das at short square. 47, and yet to get that second innings fifty he has been looking for. More to the point, the tail now wide open, 247/8 the score.

Prem > Bajju now to Miller, four round the bat. Miller struggling there. He is trying to put his body behind the ball and keep the bat out of line as much as possible. Not a good ploy when the ball is bouncing this way. End of the over, 247/8

Prem > 8 overs, 5 runs, and the one big wicket this morning and Nilesh now continues, left arm, around the wicket to Gillespie who is intent on pushing defensively.

Prem > Nilesh, arm ball butt wrong line on leg, gillespie content to use his pad

Prem > 246/8 the score, and gillespie grimly defensive through that over, Nilesh looking to hit a line around off where the cracks are, but straying more to middle and therefore not really getting the jump and turn he needs. Might be an idea to use Sachin now to wrap this up, his turn, both ways, is way beyond what the likes of Gillespie and Miller know how to handle.

Prem > Ow. That one from Bajju came in, got Miller on the glove, landed in front of him, terrific effort by Dighe to dive forward, but just couldn't get there. Next one, again the glove as the ball kicks off the rough, but just short of Das at short square this time.

Prem > Another over gone, Aus 246/8 and leading 136. And there goes another stumping chance -- arm ball fired through quick, Giullespie forward, misses, Dighe too upright to a ball going low. That was a clear stumping, fumbled.

Prem > 136 the lead, Nilesh again and Gillespie this time in line and defends

Prem > Bajju to continue. Bowling to Gillespie, turn and bounce, played down the wrong line but the turn hits the batsman on the body. In again, to the lanky quick, who plays that well in the end, waiting then pushing it down at his feet as it turns in at him from off.

Prem > End of the over, both batsmen intent on nothing more than just hanging in there. From one point of view, it isnt bad as strategies go, the more overs they use up -- and they have used up 12 so far -- the less they give the Indians. The less the Indians have, the more risks they have to take. But for it to really work, they have to use up something like 40 or so of the 90 overs avaialble today and somehow, I dont see that happening. Miller, 11 balls and yet to score, facing Nilesh.

Prem > Miller looking a bit edgy there, went down the track and flashed into a drive, found the fielder at cover. That was a bit tentative, that waltz, and if you aren't sure when you go down the track, the stumping is always on -- asuming of course that Dighe actually grabs the ball.

Prem > 247/8 and Bajju resumes to Gillespie, four up close to the bat, but that short mid on not there now. Gillespie on the back foot, defensive.

Prem > Bajju, and that one jumped and turned but Gillespie did very well to spot it and let it go

Prem > Gillespie, this one turns from Bajju and it is played to short square leg. 251/8

Prem > Test. Bajju now going round the wicet, and that has done it. Hit leg, bounced, Gillespie foxed by the new angle, pushed at it, and straight to leg slip and that was very intelligent bowling by the offie. 247/9 now the score.

Prem > Correction, it is 251/9. While attending a phone just now, a ball keeping low beat Dighe and went through for four byes, those are the runs I missed.

Prem > Miller drives, the first ball of Nilesh's over, quick single taken, throw from cover a touch too high and that gives McGrath time to get his bat in. 252/9.

Prem > 142 ahead, Aus. Nilesh, and McGRath pushes. thick edge, past the keeper, down to third man, two. 254/9.

Prem > Oh, what a line to bowl now -- on leg stump line turning in, and McGrath sweeps, gets enough bat on it to take it to fine leg, four. 258/9 and now 148 the lead

Prem > 17 runs and two wickets so far, this morning, 258/9 Aus, 148 ahead, and Harbajan with six to his name, in again. Miller facing him. Right arm, over the wicket. He defends, ball lodges in his pad, no damage.

Prem > Good ball, more loop, more turn from just outside off, miller defends

Prem > Next ball, Miller sweeps, misses, huge appeal, but that was off the pad and the pad in any case was outside the line, so neither lbw, nor catch, was on.

Prem > 258/9 the score at the end of the over, and proceedings now have the air of a stage wait before the real drama begins. ONe thing for sure -- when the Indians bat, the Aussies will be all over them, be fun to see. 16 overs have been bowled this morning for 17 runs -- and 74 overs remain in this game.

Prem > Nilesh Kulkarni, and McGrath pushes him out on the on, and gets the run. 259/9 and the lead now 149

Prem > Nilesh now to Miller. Cuts, and finds the single to point. 150 the lead now, as Aus moves to 260/9

Prem > Now this is really silly cricket. The tail out there, and what does India do? remove two of the four close in fielders, push the field back, and go on the defensive!!!! McGrath cuts and gets two to backward point, then drives and mid off is standing right back on the line like it is Hayden out there, they walk a single. Being aggressive, as a captain, when responding to newspaper columns or to spectators is one thing, a little bit of that aggression shown here would help the team more, though. End of the over. 263/9 the score.

Prem > drinks on the field, back in a minute.

Prem > Oh fish. Post drinks, ball one, Surav Ganguly of all people at silly point. McGrath pushes, simple catch to ganguly and down she goes. 263/9.

Prem > And McGRath adds insult to injury by sweeping the next one, gets one more, off the top edge but safe, to fine leg.

Prem > Finally!!! Bajju fires that down very fast, very full, bang on middle and he's gone, plumb. Miller sweeping, missing. 264 all out Aus, 155 for India to win. And Bajju now has 15/217 in the match off 80.2 overs -- the second highest haul by any Indian bowler in a Test. And the highest three-Test aggregate of all time by an Indian. He leads the Indians off the field, and deserves every bit of the applause he gets.

Prem > A breather here, we will be back with the Indian innings in two minutes.

Prem > And here we go -- everyone out there now, Das facing McGRath with two slips in place, Aus trapped between needing wickets and not being able to give away runs, and this field is intended to be defensivive. 70 overs for India to do this in, so that is not an issue -- they can play calm, cool cricket.

Prem > Mcgrath to Das. Ball one, short, lifting on middle and Das plays it nicely out on the on, single, 1/0 chasing 155.

Prem > For Ramesh, two slips then a fourth slip and gully, but fullish length this ball and on middle, ramesh flicks and finds short midwicket, no run

Prem > Only four teams have won a test here at the MAC batting last, the highest has been 124/7 against the Windies way back in 1979 when HIrwani did his heroics.

Prem > McGRath to Ramesh. Lift outside off, and Ramesh watches it go

Prem > The highest score in the fourth innings here, wsa India/s 347 which tied that famous Test. Meanwhile, McGrath puts one in the slot just outside off and Ramesh immediatley on to it, reaching for the drive, playing it well through extra cover, four. 5/0

Prem > 150 more to get, and that one is angled across, Ramesh lets it go, India 5/0 at the end of the first over, 150 to get, 69 more overs to do it in

Prem > Gillespie in to Das. Two slips, two wide gullies. Gillespie has been fast and incisive all through this series, and will have to be at his best here. Meanwhile, sightscreen problems, lull in play.

Prem > The problem persists -- the screen covering the hoarding seems to have stuck, not shutting properly.

Prem > The problem persists -- the screen covering the hoarding seems to have stuck, not shutting properly.

Prem > And finally, it is all sorted out, and Gillespie ready to bowl to Das, after a 14 minute break. ON off, and Das defends.

Prem > good ball, came in off the seam, das defends.

Prem > 5/0 india, chasing 155. Gillespie in again, lovely line outside off and left alone. 68 overs to go after this one is completed, 150 more to get

Prem > Gillespie, quicker, fuller, on off and again, das nicely forward and defending

Prem > Gillespie, shorter, on off with just a hint of movement in, and das again content to defend.

Prem > Gillespie, to Das. Quick, just outside off, Das into line, plays it out on the off side, no run, 5/0 india, 68 overs to go, 150 more runs to win.

Prem > McGrath, to Ramesh. On off and Ramesh using his feet here, comes forward, plays out on the off, no run

Prem > All it takes to win here, really, is the nerve to stand out there and let the good balls go. With this many overs, the runs will come -- rushing it is what will cause problems if wickets fall in a heap, as they did when Aus pushed it a bit too hard yesterday. In again McGrath, and he defends.

Prem > McGrath, to Ramesh. Short, outside off, nicely cut away but finds Steve Waugh at gully, no run

Prem > McGrath to Ramesh. That was the bad line, too full, on middle, and Ramesh flicks, long chase for Langer, bad running, just two which is lousy considering Langer had to chase from short square leg almost to the midwicket boundary. 7/0 India. McGrath again, this one on off, gently played but nicely down the line and into the gap past mid off, two more. 9/0.

Prem > McGrath now goes round the wicket to Ramesh, the more dangerous line to the left hander, two slips and two gullies in place, lands on off and Ramesh into line, plays it back down the track. End of the over, india 9/0 chasing 155 to win, and 67 overs more to go

Prem > Gillespie, with India chasing 155, 9/0 and 67 overs including this one to go, short, outside off, an excellent shot that, cut well, and Ponting fields brilliantly at point, that was four but not a single run given in the end. 9/0 India

Prem > 146 more to get, India, Gillespie to das and again, the cut, but this time, played with a shut face, guiding it past point, no chance for Ponting, four. 13/0 India.

Prem > Oh boy@!!! That was real quick, beat Das, got the genuine edge, and flashed between slips for four, no one really trying for that one. Bad miss by the Aussies and four more to India, 17/0 at the end of 4 overs chasing 155. McGrath, round the wicket to Ramesh and played out to midwicket. no run.

Prem > Nice little cut there from Ramesh, down to third man, single. 18/0.

Prem > McGath, to Das. On off, and played out back down the track. NO run

Prem > McGrath, short, lifting and Das up on his toes, playing it down. this is the 5th over of the indian innings, of a total of 70 that remain to be bowled. chasing 155, india. 18/0 on the board. and das forces off the back foot on the line of off, finds cover, no run

Prem > And that is the wicket -- Short ball, Das flashes into the hook, too much bounce there, gets the top edge straight up in the air and down McGrath's throat and that is the first wicket gone. Das out for 9, India 18/1.

Prem > laxman the new man in, but it is Ramesh now facing Gillespie. 18/1 india, chasing 155. Sorry for the interruptions in commentary, we are having some problems with the vsnl line here.

Prem > Gillespie in again, to Laxman with Ramesh ahving taken a single, hits line of off, and laxman forward, defending. 19/1 india

Prem > India, with 136 still to get, batting 19/1, 7th over in progress with 63 more to go, and mcgrath goes round the wicket to Ramesh, bouncer and he goes under it

Prem > McGrath, for what should be the last over before lunch. To Ramesh. Shot -- short, outside off and Ramesh flashes into the cut, gets on top of it, hits it down, beats point, four. 23/1 india. 132 more to get

Prem > mcgrath, angles the next one in and ramesh defends, playing out to point. no run

Prem > McGrath, quicker and on off, on the angle, played out to cover, no run.

Prem > 23/1 india, mcgrath again to ramesh, pushed back down the track and a good stop by the bowler, and that is lunch. India 23/1 at lunch off 7 overs. 63 more to go. Ramesh batting 14, Laxman 0. And with that, we are shutting down and will be back in 40 minutes. *gone*

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