The struggle for existence. We aren't trying here to explain any Darwinian theory but focusing on the trouble that Australia faced to keep their wickets intact on Day 2 of the second Test against India in Mohali on Saturday.
After India posted a formidable first innings score of 469 earlier in the day, the visitors lost early wickets and were struggling at 102 for 4 at stumps.
Matthew Hayden (0), Ricky Ponting (5), Simon Katich (33) and Michael Clarke (23) already find themselves back in the pavilion, with the Aussies still 367 runs short of the Indian target.
Michael Hussey (37 not out) lived dangerously, but the one real chance he offered went between the 'keeper and first slip (Rahul Dravid). However, he survived to fight another day and will carry forward Australian hopes on Day 3 largely with the tail.
For Australia, to make anything out of their remaining wickets in this innings, they have to follow another of Charles Darwin's theories, 'survival of the fittest'.
Morning session (26 overs, 90 runs, 1 wicket)
Contrary to the plethora of broken records on Day 1, the second day started on a sedate note.
While it was consolidation on the minds of the Indians -- a bid to build on the spectacular final session on the opening day, which saw the home team put up a competitive score as its batsmen simultaneously set new benchmarks -- for Australia, it was all about getting the early breakthroughs, keeping the Indian total as low as possible and then going after it full throttle.
And to give Ricky Ponting's men their due, they were the first to strike. Night-watchman Ishant Sharma was the only wicket to fall, dismissed in the fourth over of the day for 9.
Resuming at the overnight score of 311 for 5 the Indian batsmen began cautiously before breaking the shackles with a boundary each -- Ganguly off Brett Lee and Sharma off Peter Siddle. The latter shot proved a costly affair though.
The Australian debutant's maiden Test ball had crashed into Gautam Gambhir's helmet on the opening day; on Saturday, he had his revenge for that early boundary just four balls later, digging one deep enough for Ishant to only fend it to Simon Katich at leg gully.
India 326 for 6 and stage set for stand-in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to make a grand entry.
The 27-year-old did not disappoint his fans, beginning his innings with a bang, a boundary off Lee and a huge six over fine leg off Siddle. The latter was the first of the Indian innings.
The present captain combined with former captain to put on a fifty run stand in only 67 deliveries. And no prize for guessing who was the dominant partner in that partnership.
Dhoni continued with his aggression and reached 45 -- his highest score against the team from Down Under. In five previous Tests against the Aussies, Dhoni could muster only 150 runs @ 16.67, with a best of 38 at the WACA earlier this year.
At lunch, India were 401 for 6; Dhoni was unbeaten alongside Ganguly (91 not out). India had assimilated 90 runs in the session in 26 overs for the loss of Sharma's wicket.
Post-lunch session (18 overs, 68 runs, 4 wickets)
The second session of the day began with two impending personal landmarks Dhoni five runs short of his maiden fifty against the Australians and Ganguly nine runs short of his 16th Test century.
The 27-year-old from Ranchi was the first to the post, hoisting Cameron White off the last ball of the first over after lunch for a huge six. It was Dhoni's 10th half-century in Test cricket.
A few overs later, Ganguly flicked a White delivery to the square leg boundary to bring about his hundred. It was the 36-year-old's second century against Australia -- after the 144 he scored at Gabba (Brisbane) in December 2003. This seems quite strange considering the fact that a bulk of Ganguly's overall Test runs (1254 out of 7062) had come against the team from Down Under.
However, Ganguly perished soon after that. In the first ball of White's next over, he chased a delivery going wide of off-stump and succeeded in giving a simple catch to Lee at mid-off.
Ganguly faced 225 balls, and, more importantly, stayed on crease for 319 minutes, for his 102, inclusive of just eight boundaries. His departure ended a useful 109-run partnership (with Dhoni) for the seventh wicket. India 435 for 7.
Seven runs later, White struck again, cleaning up Harbhajan Singh (1) to reduce India to 442 for 8.
Zaheer Khan (2) then joined Dhoni for a brief 27-run stand, with the captain letting himself loose, before the former was run out by Lee. India 469 for 9.
Siddle then trapped Dhoni plumb in front to ensure there was no further addition to the Indian score.
Dhoni scored 92, missing out on what would have been only his second Test century. His aggressive knock was replete with eight hits to the fence and four huge ones over it. The Indian innings lasted 44 overs on Day 2 and in that time they added 158 runs while losing the remaining five wickets.
Australia had a disastrous start, losing Matthew Hayden (0) to the third ball; it was the third time in three attempts in the series that Zaheer Khan got the better of him, this time bowled off an inside edge.
Katich and Ponting ensured there was no further damage in the six overs bowled before tea.
Post-Tea session (87 runs, 34.5 overs for 3 wickets):
The post-tea session began in worst possible manner for Australia, with Ricky Ponting being dismissed in the second over. Australia's captain (5) did not make any addition to his pre-tea score. He survived a loud appeal in Sharma's first over after the break, but three balls later was trapped plumb in front, the fourth instance that Sharma scalped him this year. Australia 17 for 2.
However, Katich and Hussey, both 33 but having a combined experience of only 55 Tests, combined forces to start the rebuilding process. Both the left-handers were in good form of late. While Hussey had scores of 145 not out (Sydney) and 146 (in the Bangalore Test) against India this year, Katich had scored exactly a 100 runs in the Bangalore Test (66 and 34 in the two innings respectively).
The duo looked good in their 45-run stand till Amit Mishra, playing his debut Test, got Katich (33) to drag one onto his stumps. Certainly, not a bad wicket first up for the Delhi spinner.
Australia 62 for 3. Katich's well-composed innings contained six sweetly-timed hits to the fence and he was definitely looking dangerous.
Thereafter, there was a 40-run fourth wicket stand between Hussey and Michael Clarke (23) before Mishra struck again to dismiss the latter in what eventually became the day's last ball.
The final session of play, was, by far the best. Not in terms of statistics but in terms of quality. While the Indian bowlers attacked full throttle, the Aussies had to fight hard to stay afloat.
The first session had witnessed 90 runs in 26 overs (only one wicket) being scored while the second 81 in 24 overs (for five wickets). The third session ensured runs 87 runs in 34.5 overs for three wickets.
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