Test matches between India and Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy have had a similar plot line. They are atypically Bollywood-ish. The actors (read players) are playing the same characters again and again. For some, it is a role in which they excel; for others, there's simply no scope for experimentation. Many seem terribly bored at the frequency at which they have to perform the same role again and again.
Considering the number of times the two sides have played together in recent years, some of them simply sleepwalk.
There is that mandatory twist in the middle of the story -- read Australia having an upper hand in a session or so -- but the end is always a happy one: India retaining the edge.
Simply put, everything about the two teams is palpably predictable. Maybe, the hoi polloi is enjoying the slap-dash fare dished out on a regular basis, but its box office prospects in the long run look bleak, especially considering the fact that the characters are becoming increasingly monotonous.
The opening day of the third Test at the Ferozshah Kotla was no different. If Australia made early inroads in the first session, the hosts ensured they had the upper hand by close of play, having put up 296 for 3 largely due to two solid partnerships, between opener Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar (68), and Gambhir and VVS Laxman.
At close, Gambhir, who posted a back-to-back century in Tests, and was unbeaten on 149. Keeping him company at the crease was Laxman, unbeaten on 54.
India lead the four-match series 1-0 after winning the second Test in Mohali by 320 runs.
Morning Session: (Runs: 67, Overs: 26, Wickets: 2)
After winning what can potentially be a crucial toss, the ever-reliable Delhi duo of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag ambled along to the wicket, with the crowd cheering no holds-barred, expecting yet another opening partnership.
However, it did not materialise. In only the 13th ball of the Indian innings came the first casualty, Sehwag (1). He failed to negotiate a Brett Lee scorcher and was rapped on the front pad. The reliability quotient had gone for a toss with just five runs on the board.
Lee, under fire for his rather insipid performance thus far, was fiery in his opening spell, reaching 147kph on an average. The Indian batsmen somehow endured his spell, but Mitchell Johnson, Australia's most successful bowler in the series (nine wickets so far) and brought in to replace Lee in the 11th over, stuck almost immediately.
With his fourth ball, the left-armer had Rahul Dravid (11) flashing at an away-going delivery straight to birthday boy Matthew Hayden at first slip and India were reduced to 27 for 2.
And as if to rub salt to the wound, Johnson proved to be even faster than Lee, reaching 151kph. Australia's intentions were clear. They intended to do what they do the best: attack. Their fast bowlers were extracting good pace and bounce. And the main task for India at that point was to recuperate from the dual loss, rebuild the innings and ensure no further casualties till lunch.
Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar -- fresh from his record-breaking feat in the Mohali Test -- did exactly as the situation demanded.
Post-Lunch Session: (Runs: 91, Overs: 26, Wickets: 1)
India started the second session at a blistering pace. The total went from 67 to 100 in just 50 balls (8.2 overs), with both the batsmen displaying some exquisite timing and hitting boundaries all over the park.
Tendulkar soon reached his 51st Test half-century with a boundary off Clark, and Gambhir followed suit. Thereafter, it was the Indian batsmen who called the shots. The third-wicket partnership had yielded 130 runs.
The Australian fast bowlers, who had generated considerable pace in the morning session, paid the price for trying too hard in the second. And Cameron White paid the price for being Cameron White. The eyes of both the Indian batsmen lit up every time he came in to bowl, and they dispatched him with sheer disdain.
Boundaries soon started to come at a premium -- for once the effect of the recent global meltdown wasn't being felt at any place.
Tendulkar, after displaying some of his vintage touch for an aggressive 68, fell prey to Johnson -- caught behind by Haddin in the final over before the tea interval.
India were reduced to 157 for 3 and, more importantly, the vital third-wicket partnership coming to an end.
One gain. but all pain. That's how Australia's effort in the second session can be briefly summed up.
Post-Tea session: (Runs: 138, Overs: 37, Wickets: 0)
If Tendulkar dominated proceedings in the second session, the third definitely belonged to Gautam Gambhir (149 not out).
The southpaw, whose innings was patience personified, posted his second straight century, third overall, after tea -- he scored 104 in the second innings of the Mohali Test. On Wednesday he did it style, using his feet to lift a Shane Watson delivery over long-on for the maximum.
A six from his blade was rather uncharacteristic, but so was the fact that he got back-to-back centuries -- considering that he had to wait four years for his second. He went on to pass his highest Test score -- 139 vs Bangladesh in 2004.
And then there was VVS Laxman (54 not out), in a role he was so well over the years. The sangfroid in his demeanour was evident as he played the supporting role to the hilt, in the process scoring his 36th Test fifty.
Their century partnership for the fourth wicket came off just 117 balls and the duo had put on 149 by the end of the day's play.
The initial wickets were the only reward the Australian bowlers got from the wicket. Thereafter, it was only hard work and Tendulkar's wicket for their efforts, and not even a genuine chance offered.
