SYDNEY: A hapless India faced the prospect of another humiliating defeat as Australia rode on skipper Michael Clarke's maiden triple hundred and Michael Hussey's 150 to score a mammoth first innings total of 659/4 declared and take complete command of the second Test on Thursday.
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At stumps on the third day, India were trailing by 354 runs after losing a couple of wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India face the daunting task of batting out two full days, which raises the possibility of an innings defeat in the match.
Opener Virender Sehwag (4) and an uncertain Rahul Dravid (29) were cooling their heels in the pavilion, leaving Gautam Gambhir (68) and Sachin Tendulkar (8) to fight. The visitors were 114/2 in their second dig in the 41 overs and nearly half the day of batting they got.
Gambhir has so far batted for three hours and struck nine fours off 124 balls. Tendulkar's grim 8 was made in over an hour's batting and he faced 42 balls.
Earlier, Australia continued their firm grip on the match by stretching their overnight score of 482/4 to 659 an hour after lunch without losing a single wicket.
Michael Hussey, overnight 55, remained unbeaten on 150 but the glory of the day belonged to Clarke who was left unconquered on 329, the highest score ever made at the SCG, which is hosting its 100th Test.
Hussey reached his century before lunch but Clarke had to wait till resumption to get to his triple century. The Australian captain, overnight 251, was slow to get off the blocks and had added only 42 runs by lunch as only 13 runs came off his bat in the first hour.
Still, Australia were past 500 runs in the first hour, a feat they had done nearly 22 months and 17 Tests ago -- against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton in March 2010.
All along, landmarks kept falling like nine pins against Clarke's name. When he had added seven runs to his overnight total, he overtook Ricky Ponting as the highest scorer ever against India. Ponting had made 257 in the 1999-2000 Test at Melbourne.
Clarke swept off-spinner Ashwin to square leg fence through a packed onside field to move to 280 which took him past 277 that West Indian legend Brian Lara made at this venue in a 1992-93 series.
Clarke stroked Ishant Sharma through the covers to become the highest scorer at the SCG, going past the 287 which R E Foster of England made in a 1903-04 series just a few minutes before the lunch interval.
Clarke cut another four in the same over, dangerously close to VVS Laxman at slips, to move to within seven runs of his triple century.
Hussey had reached his own hundred, his 16th in his 68th Test, and was unbeaten on 111 at lunch.
The pair raised the 200 for the stand when Hussey back cut Umesh Yadav crisply past the point boundary. It took 206 minutes and 307 balls for the 200-run stand.
By lunch, the two had put on 258 runs for the fifth wicket and the score read 583/4.
On resumption, Clarke reached the all-important landmark when he clipped Ishant Sharma to midwicket fence.
The two were still going strong when the declaration arrived as soon as Hussey reached his 150. Clarke was unbeaten on 329 at the other end and Australia had stretched their lead to 468 runs.
Clarke's score is the fourth highest score by an Australian in Test cricket, behind Matthew Hayden (380), Sir Donald Bradman (334) and Mark Taylor (334).
This was the 25th instance of a triple century in Test cricket. Only Bradman, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle are the four batsmen who have hit triple century twice in Tests.
That makes Clarke only the 21st batsman in game's annals to crack the code of a triple century.
For records, this is after 95 Tests that an Australian has thrashed a triple century. Matthew Hayden was the last one to do so -- a total of 380 against Zimbabwe at WACA, Perth in 2003.
In all, Clarke batted for 617 minutes and hit 39 fours and a six from 468 balls. Hussey batted for 312 minutes and 253 balls and smashed 16 fours and a six.
India began on a familiar dismal note when Sehwag cut an ordinary delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus to point where David Warner took a wonderful acrobatic catch.
But Gambhir was looking in fine nick as he hit a few glorious strokes in his 39 before tea. In the very first over itself, bowled by James Pattinson, he thrashed two cuts through point for boundaries.
He then twice drove Peter Siddle in succession to cover boundary. It was followed by a straight drive off Siddle which he executed with utmost aplomb.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, in his second over, the final one before tea, was hit for two fours by Gambhir -- both slammed through the cover region as India took tea at 53/1.
Gambhir duly reached his half-century in the final session, having taken only 54 balls and hitting eight fours.
Dravid, at the other end, hit a few fine strokes on either side of the wicket but he did appear a man with more than one worry in his head.
The veteran batsman once dangerously inside edged a delivery past his stumps for four and then fell prey in now all too characteristic fashion in this series.
Dravid came forward to an off-cutter from Hilfenhaus and left a little gap between his bat and pad. It was enough for the ball to sneak through and hit the top of the middle stump.
Dravid batted for 102 minutes and 73 balls for his 29 runs and hit six fours. He put on 72 runs for the second wicket with Gambhir.
Gambhir and Tendulkar dropped anchor and were just intent to see through the day. Overs after overs passed without a run being added to the total.
Gambhir took a run after being run-less for 34 balls and Tendulkar went past his three runs through a streaky four only after defending 51 deliveries.
In the dying minutes of the game, Gambhir received a chance when he edged an easy catch towards the wicketkeeper but Brad Haddin just couldn't lay his hands to the edge. James Pattinson was the aggrieved bowler for Australia.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Ind Vs Aus Test 2 Day 1 : Clarke, Ponting Dash India’s Hopes After Zaheer Strikes
Triple strikes by Zaheer Khan raised a glimmer of hope for India only to be dashed by an unfinished fourth-wicket 79-run stand between Australian skipper Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting on the first day of the second cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney Tuesday.
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Australia ended the day at 116 for three after dismissing India for 191 in the first innings of the 100th Test at the SCG. Clarke was batting on 47 and Ponting on 44 after Zaheer got rid of openers David Warner (8), Ed Cowan (16) and Shaun Marsh cheaply to reduce the hosts to 37 for three. Australia trail by 75 runs but have seven wickets in hand.
Zaheer (26) struck in the first over removing Warner, caught by Sachin Tendulkar – from V.V.S. Laxman’s assist. In his second over, Zaheer claimed the wicket of Marsh for a duck, this time Laxman not fumbling. Clarke denied Zaheer a hat-trick but the left-arm pacer soon proved why he was dangerous against left-handed batsmen by trapping Cowan lbw.
Earlier, the Indian batting collapsed yet again after a sterling display by the Australian pace battery. Fast bowling sensation James Pattinson (4/43) picked up the valuable wickets of opener Gautam Gambhir – off the third ball of the morning – and Virender Sehwag (30), V.V.S Laxman (2) and Tendulkar (41), who was again denied his much awaited 100th international century.
Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus picked up three wickets each. Siddle also claimed his 100th Test wicket.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on valuable 57, won the toss and elected to bat but the team suffered a massive blow when Pattinson dismissed opener Gambhir without a run being posted. Gambhir was caught at first slip by Clarke.
India were on the backfoot early at 2-30 after Dravid was caught at short leg by Cowan off Siddle.
Tendulkar received a huge cheer as he walked to the wicket. The cricketing world was eagerly waiting for the batting maestro to score his 100th international century on the historic occasion of the 100th Test match at the SCG. Tendulkar raised hopes with a flurry of boundaries off Siddle but soon started losing partners at the other end.
Sehwag, who was dropped by Ricky Ponting off Hilfenhaus (3/51) in the first over after drinks on 23, was dismissed for 30 while poking at an away delivery from Pattinson to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Laxman followed four runs later caught by Marsh.
India had lost four wickets in the first session, while Virat Kohli (23), after adding 37 runs with Tendulkar, was dismissed about half an hour after lunch, caught behind off Siddle (3/55).
Tendulkar and Dhoni’s repair act yielded just 28 runs and Pattinson removed the batting great, who drove loosely at a wide ball only to catch an inside edge and lost his bails. Dhoni then added crucial 54 runs for the sixth wicket with Ashwin that gave the innings some respectability.
Ben Hilfenhaus removed Ravichandran Ashwin (20) and Zaheer Khan in consecutive deliveries to leave India at 178 for eight and gave himself a chance of claiming his maiden Test hat-trick after the resumption of play. Ishant Sharma denied Hilfenfaus the hat-trick and Dhoni, sensing that he would soon run out of partner went all out slamming Siddle for three fours, the second a lovely punch off the back-foot brought up his fifty.
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Australia ended the day at 116 for three after dismissing India for 191 in the first innings of the 100th Test at the SCG. Clarke was batting on 47 and Ponting on 44 after Zaheer got rid of openers David Warner (8), Ed Cowan (16) and Shaun Marsh cheaply to reduce the hosts to 37 for three. Australia trail by 75 runs but have seven wickets in hand.
Zaheer (26) struck in the first over removing Warner, caught by Sachin Tendulkar – from V.V.S. Laxman’s assist. In his second over, Zaheer claimed the wicket of Marsh for a duck, this time Laxman not fumbling. Clarke denied Zaheer a hat-trick but the left-arm pacer soon proved why he was dangerous against left-handed batsmen by trapping Cowan lbw.
Earlier, the Indian batting collapsed yet again after a sterling display by the Australian pace battery. Fast bowling sensation James Pattinson (4/43) picked up the valuable wickets of opener Gautam Gambhir – off the third ball of the morning – and Virender Sehwag (30), V.V.S Laxman (2) and Tendulkar (41), who was again denied his much awaited 100th international century.
Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus picked up three wickets each. Siddle also claimed his 100th Test wicket.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on valuable 57, won the toss and elected to bat but the team suffered a massive blow when Pattinson dismissed opener Gambhir without a run being posted. Gambhir was caught at first slip by Clarke.
India were on the backfoot early at 2-30 after Dravid was caught at short leg by Cowan off Siddle.
Tendulkar received a huge cheer as he walked to the wicket. The cricketing world was eagerly waiting for the batting maestro to score his 100th international century on the historic occasion of the 100th Test match at the SCG. Tendulkar raised hopes with a flurry of boundaries off Siddle but soon started losing partners at the other end.
Sehwag, who was dropped by Ricky Ponting off Hilfenhaus (3/51) in the first over after drinks on 23, was dismissed for 30 while poking at an away delivery from Pattinson to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Laxman followed four runs later caught by Marsh.
India had lost four wickets in the first session, while Virat Kohli (23), after adding 37 runs with Tendulkar, was dismissed about half an hour after lunch, caught behind off Siddle (3/55).
Tendulkar and Dhoni’s repair act yielded just 28 runs and Pattinson removed the batting great, who drove loosely at a wide ball only to catch an inside edge and lost his bails. Dhoni then added crucial 54 runs for the sixth wicket with Ashwin that gave the innings some respectability.
Ben Hilfenhaus removed Ravichandran Ashwin (20) and Zaheer Khan in consecutive deliveries to leave India at 178 for eight and gave himself a chance of claiming his maiden Test hat-trick after the resumption of play. Ishant Sharma denied Hilfenfaus the hat-trick and Dhoni, sensing that he would soon run out of partner went all out slamming Siddle for three fours, the second a lovely punch off the back-foot brought up his fifty.
Ind Vs Aus Test 2 Day 2 : Clarke, Ponting Virtually Bat India Out Of Test
Skipper Michael Clarke notched up his maiden double hundred and Ricky Ponting ended his century draught to give Australia a massive 291-run first innings lead, ending the second day’s play at 482 for four in the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Wednesday.
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Clarke was batting on 251 along with Mike Hussey (55) and Australia seemed to have batted India out of the second Test having dismissed them for 191 runs in the first innings.
The 30-year-old Clarke and Ponting, who scored a near-faultless 134, punished the lacklustre bowling and crushed India with their 288-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Clarke and Hussey’s unfinished 157-run stand for the fifth wicket piled on the agony.
Clarke mesmerised the SCG crowd with a repertoire of shots and is now close to getting past England’s Reginald Foster’s 109-year SCG record of 287. Clarke has already surpassed his previous best score of 168 against New Zealand in Wellington in 2010.
Clarke also become just the 13th player to score a double ton at the SCG and surpassed the legendary Don Bradman and Doug Walters to become the highest-scoring Australian at the historic venue.
Clarke hit 24 fours and a six in a memorable knock on the occasion of the 100th Test at the ground.
Australia, resuming at overnight 116 for three, scored 366 runs for the loss of one wicket in the day. In every session, more than 100 runs were scored as they was nothing in the wicket that could have helped the Indian bowlers. Pacers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin each conceded more than 100 runs.
Clarke crossed the three-figure mark in the final over of the opening session while the 37-year-old Ponting achieved the 40th century of his 160-match Test career and his sixth at the ground shortly after resumption.
Ponting was finally dismissed for 134, caught by Sachin Tendulkar at point off Ishant with the second new ball, after a 288-run partnership with Clarke that helped Australia recover from 37 for three.
The only time Ponting came close to being dismissed during his 225-ball knock, studded with 14 fours, was when he scampered for a single to get his 100th run off Ishant. Zaheer fielded cleanly but his well-directed throw missed the stumps — had it hit, Ponting would have been more than a half-metre short of his ground.
But the cricketing gods were on Ponting’ side and the former Australian skipper picked himself up after the dive and with his shirt covered in dirt he raised his arms skywards to celebrate one of his most cherished centuries. It was a career-defining innings and will help Ponting retain his position in the Australian team until at least the end of the summer.
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Clarke was batting on 251 along with Mike Hussey (55) and Australia seemed to have batted India out of the second Test having dismissed them for 191 runs in the first innings.
The 30-year-old Clarke and Ponting, who scored a near-faultless 134, punished the lacklustre bowling and crushed India with their 288-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Clarke and Hussey’s unfinished 157-run stand for the fifth wicket piled on the agony.
Clarke mesmerised the SCG crowd with a repertoire of shots and is now close to getting past England’s Reginald Foster’s 109-year SCG record of 287. Clarke has already surpassed his previous best score of 168 against New Zealand in Wellington in 2010.
Clarke also become just the 13th player to score a double ton at the SCG and surpassed the legendary Don Bradman and Doug Walters to become the highest-scoring Australian at the historic venue.
Clarke hit 24 fours and a six in a memorable knock on the occasion of the 100th Test at the ground.
Australia, resuming at overnight 116 for three, scored 366 runs for the loss of one wicket in the day. In every session, more than 100 runs were scored as they was nothing in the wicket that could have helped the Indian bowlers. Pacers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin each conceded more than 100 runs.
Clarke crossed the three-figure mark in the final over of the opening session while the 37-year-old Ponting achieved the 40th century of his 160-match Test career and his sixth at the ground shortly after resumption.
Ponting was finally dismissed for 134, caught by Sachin Tendulkar at point off Ishant with the second new ball, after a 288-run partnership with Clarke that helped Australia recover from 37 for three.
The only time Ponting came close to being dismissed during his 225-ball knock, studded with 14 fours, was when he scampered for a single to get his 100th run off Ishant. Zaheer fielded cleanly but his well-directed throw missed the stumps — had it hit, Ponting would have been more than a half-metre short of his ground.
But the cricketing gods were on Ponting’ side and the former Australian skipper picked himself up after the dive and with his shirt covered in dirt he raised his arms skywards to celebrate one of his most cherished centuries. It was a career-defining innings and will help Ponting retain his position in the Australian team until at least the end of the summer.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Five Losses Have Hit Belief But We Will Bounce Back: Dhoni
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that five straight losses overseas have hit the “belief of the team” but believes that his boys are capable of bouncing back in the Sydney Test against Australia beginning Tuesday.
Dhoni felt it would be “premature” to write India off after the 122-run loss in Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.
“That is what you think (on writing India off in the series),” Dhoni told reporters at the pre-match press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
“If you see the kind of players we have got, that will be a very premature statement to make. What we have seen is, we have always bounced back and the Australian team will have to keep the pressure on the batting line-up and the bowlers. It is just that we have not performed in the first Test, and we will look to improve in the second.”
Dhoni said the five straight losses affected the morale of team but the players have learnt from each mistake made in the past.
“It does affect it (the belief) a bit, but it is not something to get bogged down about because we all know the reasons as to what exactly happened.”
“You learn a lot from the mistakes you make. So we are looking at the positives. In the last five Test matches abroad that we have lost, we have still had plenty of positives in those particular games,” said Dhoni.
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag failed to provide a good start at Melbourne with the southpaw struggling in both innings. Dhoni reiterated that India must start well to put pressure on Australia.
“Opening is a very crucial thing for us. Whenever we have done well, we have relied a lot on the opening pair. We don’t really want to put pressure on them, because if you see, Sehwag is the kind of batsman who loves to go out there and play his strokes and looks to put pressure on the opposition. Gautam equally complements Sehwag because he is someone who takes his time to get in. But if it is in his area, he loves to play his strokes. So overall, both batsmen really complement each other,” he said.
The skipper expected the pitch to assist pacers on the first three days and turn thereafter. India, unlike Australia, once again did not announce the playing eleven a day before the game. Dhoni said he preferred naming the team on the day of the game as it keeps everyone on their toes.
“I always like to announce the team on match day because I want all to be ready for Test match in case of a last-minute injury. Everyone is fit to play here and it is a big positive for us.”
The hype around Sachin Tendulkar scoring his 100th hundred in the 100th Test at the SCG is getting more intense. Dhoni maintained the frenzy did not affect the team, including the master blaster himself, and rather called it as a “big distraction” for the media.
“Well, he is always close to a milestone. If you see his career in the last three years, whatever he has done, somehow he has been very close to a milestone, whether he is playing the most number of ODIs or Test matches or the 100th hundred or all the things. Playing for 21-22 years and being at the top always, it is bound to happen.”
“I don’t think he personally thinks about it (the hundred) a lot. Of course, the quicker he achieves it, it will ease off whatever the so-called pressure is on him. He doesn’t really talk about it and it never feels as if he is under any sort of pressure,” he said.
Dhoni felt it would be “premature” to write India off after the 122-run loss in Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.
“That is what you think (on writing India off in the series),” Dhoni told reporters at the pre-match press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
“If you see the kind of players we have got, that will be a very premature statement to make. What we have seen is, we have always bounced back and the Australian team will have to keep the pressure on the batting line-up and the bowlers. It is just that we have not performed in the first Test, and we will look to improve in the second.”
Dhoni said the five straight losses affected the morale of team but the players have learnt from each mistake made in the past.
“It does affect it (the belief) a bit, but it is not something to get bogged down about because we all know the reasons as to what exactly happened.”
“You learn a lot from the mistakes you make. So we are looking at the positives. In the last five Test matches abroad that we have lost, we have still had plenty of positives in those particular games,” said Dhoni.
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag failed to provide a good start at Melbourne with the southpaw struggling in both innings. Dhoni reiterated that India must start well to put pressure on Australia.
“Opening is a very crucial thing for us. Whenever we have done well, we have relied a lot on the opening pair. We don’t really want to put pressure on them, because if you see, Sehwag is the kind of batsman who loves to go out there and play his strokes and looks to put pressure on the opposition. Gautam equally complements Sehwag because he is someone who takes his time to get in. But if it is in his area, he loves to play his strokes. So overall, both batsmen really complement each other,” he said.
The skipper expected the pitch to assist pacers on the first three days and turn thereafter. India, unlike Australia, once again did not announce the playing eleven a day before the game. Dhoni said he preferred naming the team on the day of the game as it keeps everyone on their toes.
“I always like to announce the team on match day because I want all to be ready for Test match in case of a last-minute injury. Everyone is fit to play here and it is a big positive for us.”
The hype around Sachin Tendulkar scoring his 100th hundred in the 100th Test at the SCG is getting more intense. Dhoni maintained the frenzy did not affect the team, including the master blaster himself, and rather called it as a “big distraction” for the media.
“Well, he is always close to a milestone. If you see his career in the last three years, whatever he has done, somehow he has been very close to a milestone, whether he is playing the most number of ODIs or Test matches or the 100th hundred or all the things. Playing for 21-22 years and being at the top always, it is bound to happen.”
“I don’t think he personally thinks about it (the hundred) a lot. Of course, the quicker he achieves it, it will ease off whatever the so-called pressure is on him. He doesn’t really talk about it and it never feels as if he is under any sort of pressure,” he said.
Sachin Will Not Score 100th Ton In Australia: Mcgrath
Australian fast bowling legend McGrath predicted that India’s Sachin Tendulkar will remain stranded on 99 international centuries at least for the rest of the summer.
McGrath said the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which will be hosting its 100th international Test, provides Tendulkar the perfect opportunity to achieve the milestone.
“Well the scene is set, there’s no doubt about that, Sachin’s a class player and to be sitting on 99 (international) hundreds is incredible,” McGrath was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“But I’m tipping our boys will hold him back for another few Tests. It would be nice to see Sachin get his 100th hundred first Test in the next series.”
Tendulkar scored his 99th international century in a World Cup group stage match March 12 against South Africa. Since then he has failed to notch his 100th hundred in the away series in England and at home to West Indies.
McGrath said the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which will be hosting its 100th international Test, provides Tendulkar the perfect opportunity to achieve the milestone.
“Well the scene is set, there’s no doubt about that, Sachin’s a class player and to be sitting on 99 (international) hundreds is incredible,” McGrath was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“But I’m tipping our boys will hold him back for another few Tests. It would be nice to see Sachin get his 100th hundred first Test in the next series.”
Tendulkar scored his 99th international century in a World Cup group stage match March 12 against South Africa. Since then he has failed to notch his 100th hundred in the away series in England and at home to West Indies.
Ind Vs Aus Test 2 Day 1 : Clarke, Ponting Dash India’s Hopes After Zaheer Strikes
Triple strikes by Zaheer Khan raised a glimmer of hope for India only to be dashed by an unfinished fourth-wicket 79-run stand between Australian skipper Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting on the first day of the second cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney Tuesday.
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Australia ended the day at 116 for three after dismissing India for 191 in the first innings of the 100th Test at the SCG. Clarke was batting on 47 and Ponting on 44 after Zaheer got rid of openers David Warner (8), Ed Cowan (16) and Shaun Marsh cheaply to reduce the hosts to 37 for three. Australia trail by 75 runs but have seven wickets in hand.
Zaheer (26) struck in the first over removing Warner, caught by Sachin Tendulkar – from V.V.S. Laxman’s assist. In his second over, Zaheer claimed the wicket of Marsh for a duck, this time Laxman not fumbling. Clarke denied Zaheer a hat-trick but the left-arm pacer soon proved why he was dangerous against left-handed batsmen by trapping Cowan lbw.
Earlier, the Indian batting collapsed yet again after a sterling display by the Australian pace battery. Fast bowling sensation James Pattinson (4/43) picked up the valuable wickets of opener Gautam Gambhir – off the third ball of the morning – and Virender Sehwag (30), V.V.S Laxman (2) and Tendulkar (41), who was again denied his much awaited 100th international century.
Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus picked up three wickets each. Siddle also claimed his 100th Test wicket.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on valuable 57, won the toss and elected to bat but the team suffered a massive blow when Pattinson dismissed opener Gambhir without a run being posted. Gambhir was caught at first slip by Clarke.
India were on the backfoot early at 2-30 after Dravid was caught at short leg by Cowan off Siddle.
Tendulkar received a huge cheer as he walked to the wicket. The cricketing world was eagerly waiting for the batting maestro to score his 100th international century on the historic occasion of the 100th Test match at the SCG. Tendulkar raised hopes with a flurry of boundaries off Siddle but soon started losing partners at the other end.
Sehwag, who was dropped by Ricky Ponting off Hilfenhaus (3/51) in the first over after drinks on 23, was dismissed for 30 while poking at an away delivery from Pattinson to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Laxman followed four runs later caught by Marsh.
India had lost four wickets in the first session, while Virat Kohli (23), after adding 37 runs with Tendulkar, was dismissed about half an hour after lunch, caught behind off Siddle (3/55).
Tendulkar and Dhoni’s repair act yielded just 28 runs and Pattinson removed the batting great, who drove loosely at a wide ball only to catch an inside edge and lost his bails. Dhoni then added crucial 54 runs for the sixth wicket with Ashwin that gave the innings some respectability.
Ben Hilfenhaus removed Ravichandran Ashwin (20) and Zaheer Khan in consecutive deliveries to leave India at 178 for eight and gave himself a chance of claiming his maiden Test hat-trick after the resumption of play. Ishant Sharma denied Hilfenfaus the hat-trick and Dhoni, sensing that he would soon run out of partner went all out slamming Siddle for three fours, the second a lovely punch off the back-foot brought up his fifty.
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Australia ended the day at 116 for three after dismissing India for 191 in the first innings of the 100th Test at the SCG. Clarke was batting on 47 and Ponting on 44 after Zaheer got rid of openers David Warner (8), Ed Cowan (16) and Shaun Marsh cheaply to reduce the hosts to 37 for three. Australia trail by 75 runs but have seven wickets in hand.
Zaheer (26) struck in the first over removing Warner, caught by Sachin Tendulkar – from V.V.S. Laxman’s assist. In his second over, Zaheer claimed the wicket of Marsh for a duck, this time Laxman not fumbling. Clarke denied Zaheer a hat-trick but the left-arm pacer soon proved why he was dangerous against left-handed batsmen by trapping Cowan lbw.
Earlier, the Indian batting collapsed yet again after a sterling display by the Australian pace battery. Fast bowling sensation James Pattinson (4/43) picked up the valuable wickets of opener Gautam Gambhir – off the third ball of the morning – and Virender Sehwag (30), V.V.S Laxman (2) and Tendulkar (41), who was again denied his much awaited 100th international century.
Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus picked up three wickets each. Siddle also claimed his 100th Test wicket.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on valuable 57, won the toss and elected to bat but the team suffered a massive blow when Pattinson dismissed opener Gambhir without a run being posted. Gambhir was caught at first slip by Clarke.
India were on the backfoot early at 2-30 after Dravid was caught at short leg by Cowan off Siddle.
Tendulkar received a huge cheer as he walked to the wicket. The cricketing world was eagerly waiting for the batting maestro to score his 100th international century on the historic occasion of the 100th Test match at the SCG. Tendulkar raised hopes with a flurry of boundaries off Siddle but soon started losing partners at the other end.
Sehwag, who was dropped by Ricky Ponting off Hilfenhaus (3/51) in the first over after drinks on 23, was dismissed for 30 while poking at an away delivery from Pattinson to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Laxman followed four runs later caught by Marsh.
India had lost four wickets in the first session, while Virat Kohli (23), after adding 37 runs with Tendulkar, was dismissed about half an hour after lunch, caught behind off Siddle (3/55).
Tendulkar and Dhoni’s repair act yielded just 28 runs and Pattinson removed the batting great, who drove loosely at a wide ball only to catch an inside edge and lost his bails. Dhoni then added crucial 54 runs for the sixth wicket with Ashwin that gave the innings some respectability.
Ben Hilfenhaus removed Ravichandran Ashwin (20) and Zaheer Khan in consecutive deliveries to leave India at 178 for eight and gave himself a chance of claiming his maiden Test hat-trick after the resumption of play. Ishant Sharma denied Hilfenfaus the hat-trick and Dhoni, sensing that he would soon run out of partner went all out slamming Siddle for three fours, the second a lovely punch off the back-foot brought up his fifty.
