Reported By:
| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Sep 29, 2017, 06:45 PM IST
We come to the end of an extremely entertaining Test match. We'll join you for the Boxing Day Test
Steve Smith is the Man of the Match. "Extremely satisfying," he says. "The boys played some very good cricket the last four days and it's very satisfying to come out with a win", says Smith. When asked about his personal experience as the captain he says "First day was very tough, the boys were dropping like flies. Credit to how they came out and bowled on the second morning. They restricted the Indian batsmen to 408. First innings runs are crucial here and getting a lead of 90 was handy."
To be a good captain one needs to have a good attack and he couldn't agree more on that. "Josh Hazlewood is an outstanding bowler and he's started extremely well for Australia. A fifer on his debut in the first innings and a couple in the second. Mitchell Johnson, Mr. Reliable, as always and hopefully that will continue for the next few matches. I don't think it was advisable [winding up Johnson], and that partnership really set the game up for us. It's always tough playing against India, they've played some extremely good cricket and we just won the key moments. It's been an amazing thrill over the last week to captain this side, the boys have been outstanding and backed me up nicely. Its a very satisfying victory."
MS Dhoni: "It's not about how near you are, it's about what actually happened. The first session today was a big debacle for us. There was a lack of communication in our dressing room over whether Shikhar will go into bat or Virat. We did not handle that situation well. We should have stayed at the crease for sometime but were not able to do that. We were having a bat at the nets, the wickets were not very good and he got hit. Didn't react too badly so we thought he was fine to bat. By the time he came in he was in a lot of pain and unable to bat. We were only able to give Virat 5-7 minutes notice to Virat. That created some unrest in the dressing room. I think Mitchell batted really well. Once you get close to the new ball, the ball goes soft and the bowlers get tired. He started playing his shots and he was a little lucky too. Nothing went to the fielders and he was able to score. I'm pretty happy with how we have played. We have shortcomings but I'm happy how the bowlers have shaped up. We have tried both five bowlers and an extra batsman, but neither has really grabbed the opportunity. They are a talented side and they have self-belief. For a few of them they are coming here for the first time and they haven't really succumbed to the pace factor. It's a pleasure playing in front of a big crowd in Melbourne. It's a special day as well (Boxing Day) and hopefully it will be good for us."
Australia deserve the victory. India like every other time exposed the chink in their batting armoury, in both innings. At 247 for 6 yesterday, with Australia 161 behind, they could have pressurised the home team and gotten into a winning position. Instead, they conceded a lead of close to 100, and their batsmen disappointed yet again. Johnson who ran riot with his fiery burst played the decisive innings yesterday. He turned into one of the world's most terrifying bowlers set India a measly target of 128 and that was not going to be enough.
This is only the fifth time that a team has lost in four days after scoring 400 in the first innings. Australia have been the winning side in four of those matches. The run rate over this Test match was an eye-popping 4.12 - the fastest ever in a Test match in Australia.
There is no point saying "had India got 60 more runs". They didn't. #INDvsAUS — Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) December 20, 2014
20 overs- 111/3
16.2 overs- 58/3
14 overs- 68/2
Smith dropped! Smith 10 off 24, Rogers- 42 off 45
Indian bowlers continue with last ditch efforts as Australia on the verge of clinching second test
12 overs- 48/2
Rogers going strong on 30 off 37 balls
Smith looks little fragile, time to get him asap before he settles in #INDvsAUS how abt Ashwin other end??
— Mohan Bonda (@bonda0123) December 20, 2014
9 overs- 40/2
Australia close in on target; need 88 runs to win
7 overs- 25/2
Rogers- 15 off 20, Steve Smith- 2 off 4
OUT! Ishant is on fire as he delivers another blow. Two quick wickets for Australia. He bowls a well-directed bouncer, at head height. Watson unsuccessfully goes for a hook and top-edges it high in the air, but Dhoni, makes no mistake in pouching that one. SR Watson c Dhoni b I Sharma 0 off 8b
6.3 overs- 22/0
5 overs- 18/1
looks like ishant sharma is pumped up #INDvsAUS
— sushruth rao (@sushruth_rao) December 20, 2014
OUT! David Warner departs as Dhoni makes no mistake in collecting the edged delivery bowled off Ishant's over. Dhoni makes no mistake to pouch an easy shot that came off the outer edge.
Big wicket! Dangerman has gone early. There was seam and edge.
DA Warner c Dhoni b I Sharma 6 off 12b
4 overs- 17/0
After an easy start for Australia, Indian seamers must bowl better to contain them after the visitors set a small target to chase. Oz at the moment in a hurry to finish this match and take a 2-0 lead over India.
#INDvsAUS The Experts-"Australia has not opened its account after one over. Pitch is demon. India can win!!!"
— SANJEEV KUMAR (@sanjeevmedia) December 20, 2014
2 overs- 2/0
Ishant Sharma has got the new ball.
Australia open with Chris Rogers and David Warner.
Johnson finishes with four wickets. A real gamechanger with both the bat and ball, and Australia now need to chase 128.
India 224 all out as their second innings come to an end
OUT! Johnson to Yadav. It's full and wide, Yadav goes for the big drive. This time he edges it through to Haddin
UT Yadav c †Haddin b Johnson 30 off 42b
59.1 overs- 203/8 WICKET! Shikhar Dhawan is trapped LBW by Nathan Lyon while trying to sweep it down the legside. What an innings by the left-handed batsman.
S Dhawan lbw b Lyon 81 145b
57 overs- 195/7
Dhawan- 77 of 136, Yadav- 9 off 24
Yadav playing a strong supporting role, just what India need at this point.
Time for Indian tail-enders to show some character like the Australians.!! @ImIshant @VarunAaron @BCCI #AcidTest #INDvsAUS
— Avinash Kumar (@avinash_iitdhn) December 20, 2014
#INDvsAUS Excellent supporting role being played by Yadav. India lead by 100.
— Ravi Shukla (@rkshukla) December 20, 2014
53 overs- 183/7
Dhawan- 67 of 121, Yadav- 7 off 15
Completely in love with what attitude Dhawan is showing on the ground.. off the field does not matters what is spoken about..!! #INDvsAUS
— Mahaveer Singh (@smahaveersingh) December 20, 2014
50 overs- 172/7
Umesh Yadav- 7 off 13, Dhawan- 56 off 105
HALF CENTURY for Shikhar Dhawan! Scores 56 off 105 balls. Much-needed half ton to help a struggling India
Lunch- Day 4
47 overs- 157/7. Not a very fruitful first session. Mitchell Johsnon the hero this morning ran through the Indian batting line-up. Australia on the brink of a victory, unless Dhawan and the tail can turn it around. Dhawan didn't come out to bat in the morning as a reslt of a wrist injury suffered at the nets. Johnson with his fiery pace ensured India went from 71 for 1 to 87 for 5.
OUT! India in real trouble as they lose Cheteshwar Pujara. Hazlewood to Pujara, OUT, got him! Pujara pushes the bouncy ball outside off stump, and it hits high on his bat, near the handle, and gifts ut to Lyon at point.
CA Pujara c Lyon b Hazlewood 43 off 93b
7:15 IST Saturday, 20 December 2014
42 overs- 129/6
Dhawan- 27 off 76, Pujara- 41 off 87
40 overs- 127/6. India lose a flurry of wickets amidst a total collapse.
India lead by 27 runs.
Shikhar Dhawan has come in despite being advised to rest. Goes against medical advice. Will he be able to stabilize the innings?
When India win this game, India will call it one of their greatest wins - possibly their greatest. #INDvsAUS
— Paul Dennett (@IndiaInOz) December 20, 2014
India have lost the sixth wicket this morning as the top order came down crumbling, lacking any sort of resistance.
OUT! What is goin on! Starc to Ashwin, OUT, gone. One more bites the dust! Ashwin was shuffling across, looking to defend. The ball goes off something and goes through to the keeper. The umpire raises his finger and Ashwin has to go.. His bat came down straight. Its an inside edge as Haddin takes a simple catch
R Ashwin c Haddin b Starc 19 29b
DRINKS BREAK
35 overs- 110/5
India need to regroup and show some batting maturity to avoid a humiliation at the hands of Australian bowlers. Currently Pujara and Ashwin at the crease.
Shikhar Dhawan is all padded up and it seems he will be able to bat and hopefully save India the blushes.
34 overs- 102/5. India lead by 5 runs.
Whatta beautiful shot! Ashwin plays freely yet again as he slams a boundary to end the over.
Ashwin- 14 off 23, Pujara- 20 off 56
OUT! Hazlewood to Dhoni! That was plumb in front and India are collapsing! Dhoni does his usual walk down the wicket and looks to clip but misses the delivery that was bowled on an off-stump line . The ball crashes into the pads and the players appeal. The umpire without much thought and quickly gives it out after the players appeal for a LBW. Thatt's a massive wicket for Australia.
28.5 overs- 86/4
Can't believe I woke up early to watch this collapse #INDvsAUS
— Vikas Jain (@DevilKaAdvocate) December 20, 2014
OUT! The fiery quick Johnson bowled an incredible spell this morning. This time his victim is Rohit Sharma. Rohit was not required to do that but he still hangs his bat out. The zooming delivery takes a thin edge through to the keeper after Rohit tried to evade it from his body.
OUT! Mitchell Johnson has struck again! Johnson is on fire! Rahane was in no position to do anything about it as he faced an inevitable delivery. He raised his hands went up to shield his head and the ball popped up for a simple catch to backward point. They're checking for no-ball, and it's a very very close call. Johnson was lucky as a tiny bit of his heel was behind the crease after landing.
if mitch bowls 10 more overs, we may have an innings defeat #WWOS #INDvsAUS
— Arvind Iyer (@brkneck) December 20, 2014
Ajinkya Rahane c Lyon b Johnson 10 off 11 balls.
Ajinkya Rahane comes in to bat
26.1 overs- 76/1
OUT! Early morning blow for India as Virat Kohli is dismissed by Mitchell Johnson. Kohli shuffles across to fend it away from his body. The ball clips the inside edge of his angled bat and onto the stumps. Kohli seemed unhappy but that is a huge wicket for Ausssies. The umpire even checked for the no ball but Johnson was just fine.
There was more bad news for the visitors as Shikhar Dhawan did not come out to bat as a result of a wrist injury suffered in the nets.
Good Morning! We are back with our coverage of the Brisbane test on Day 4.
Welcome to Day 4 of the 2nd Test between India and Australia in Brisbane. The match will begin at 5:30 am IST and will be covered live by dnaindia.com.
India had Australia at 247/6 on the morning of Day 3, but then frittered away the advantage with some poor bowling. All bowlers - Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav and R Ashwin - bowled too short and offered up gentle lines to the likes of Mitchell Johnson to go after. The Australian speedster duly smashed 88 off just 93 balls. Johnson tore into the Indian bowling and some misplaced banter from Rohit Sharma only served to energize him further. Here's our entire live coverage from Day 3
Johnson was not the only star of Day 3 however. Mitchell Starc hit 52 coming in at No 9 to destroy Indian hopes of a first innings lead. This was after captain Steve Smith had been dismissed for 133, his second century of the series and the first time he was out. Then Nos 10 and 11, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood chipped in with useful runs. Smith was delighted at the turn of events and hailed Mitchell Johnson.
It is testament to how poorly India bowled that the last two wickets scored 107 runs even after the Johnson blitz. Australia ended the day 505 all out, and then took the wicket of Murali Vijay to leave India 71/1 at stumps. Read the whole match report from Day 3.
For India, the only positive on Friday were the early bursts from Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron. India will attempt to revive their fortunes on Day 4 by putting in a good batting effort. The goal must be to bat out the day and then look at whether they could give Australia something substantial to chase in the 4th innings.
For complete coverage of the India-Australia series, including latest news, photos, videos, opinions and more, click here
