Australia v India, 4th Test, Sydney, 3rd day

"India 5 for 342 (Kohli 140*, Rahul 110, Rohit 53) trail Australia 7 for 572 dec by 230 runs "

India will tour Australia to play four Tests and a triangular series. The first Test starts on December 9, 2014 at the Adelaide Oval. The last Test starting on January 6, 2015 will be played at Sydney. The last time India toured Australia they were whitewashed four nil and failed to reach the final of the tri-series that preceded the Tests. The unfortunate death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes has resulted in the tour itinerary being revised.

Apart from the Adelaide Oval, the other three venues for the remaining Tests are Adelaide Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground. Australia go in as favorites despite the fact that they were trounced two nil in the United Arab Emirates by Pakistan.

The loss to Pakistan apart Michael Clarke’s side has been in very good form. In the 2013-14 Ashes they hammered England five nil and then proceeded to beat South Africa on an away tour. India on the other hand have not won a Test away from home since 2011 against the West Indies. Thereafter their performance abroad has been terrible. They recently lost three to one in England in a Test series.

Before the England loss they were trumped in New Zealand and before in a two –Test series in South Africa. MS Dhoni’s men would be hoping to change all in the series against Australia.

Australia v India, 4th Test, Sydney, 2nd day

India 1 for 71 (Rohit 40*, Rahul 31*) trail Australia 7 for 572 dec (Smith 117, Warner 101, Rogers 95, Marsh 73, Burns 58, Shami 5-112) by 501 runs

Courtesy @ Cric Info

Steve Smith completed his fourth century in as many matches on Wednesday as Australia compiled a daunting first innings total in the final test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The Australian captain added to his incredible run of form against the tourists with a composed 117 as Australia, already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, declared on 572 for seven shortly after tea on day two.

In response to the huge total, India got off to a horrible start, losing in-form opener Murali Vijay for a duck on the third ball to left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc.

But Lokesh Rahul (31 not out) and Rohit Sharma (40 not out), brought back after being dropped for the third test in Melbourne, ensured there was no further damage and took India to 71-1 at stumps.

After Australia had resumed on 348-2, Shane Watson fell for 81 in the morning session with Shaun Marsh (73) the only batsman to get out in the afternoon. A half-century from Joe Burns (58) meant the home side's top six batsmen made at least a fifty.

Burns and Ryan Harris fell at the start of the third session to give India paceman Mohammed Shami his second five-wicket haul in tests.

Watson and Smith added 196 for the third wicket after openers David Warner (101) and Chris Rogers (95) put on 200 on Tuesday as Australia's top order cashed in on a flat pitch.

Smith continued his extraordinary run of form, following up his 162 not out in the first test in Adelaide, 133 in the second test in Brisbane and 192 in the third test in Melbourne with another hundred.

Resuming on 82, he reached his eighth test ton when he smashed a full toss from fast bowler Umesh Yadav for a boundary.

Australia v India, 4th Test, Sydney, 1st day

" Australia's top four hammer India "

Philip Hughes 1988-2014

Australia 2 for 348 (Warner 101, Rogers 95, Smith 82*, Watson 61*) vs India

David Warner's 12th test century and a bittersweet 95 from Chris Rogers put Australia on course for a huge total on an emotional first day in the fourth and final test against India on Tuesday.

Warner smashed 101 off just 114 balls while Rogers fell five short of a hundred as the Australian pair put on an even 200 for the opening wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Both were dismissed after lunch but new captain Steve Smith (81 not out) and Shane Watson (56 not out) ensured the hosts maintained their momentum with an unbroken third-wicket stand of 144 to take Australia to 348 for two at stumps.

Although Australia have already secured the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after wins in Adelaide and Brisbane, emotions were heightened for the final match because it is being played at the same ground where former teammate Phillip Hughes was fatally injured six weeks ago.

The death of the 25-year-old Hughes, who was struck by a short delivery in a first class match in late November, has hung over the entire series but has been brought to the fore in the New South Wales state capital.

Cricket Australia unveiled a memorial plaque outside the home side's dressing room on Monday, while both teams paid tribute to the left-hander before the game began on Tuesday.

Regular captain Michael Clarke, who tore a hamstring in the first test and is fighting to be fit for the upcoming World Cup, paid his own tribute to Hughes before the match.

"This is where he played his last game, this is where his spirit will live forever," Clarke told the Nine Network.

Rogers and Warner did exactly that after Smith, Clarke's replacement as skipper, won the toss and chose to bat on a flat pitch offering little assistance to the Indian bowlers.

BLISTERING START

They put on 123 in a blistering opening session with Warner pausing to kiss the pitch and signal to the sky when he reached 63, the score Hughes was on when he was hit by the ball.

Warner, who scored twin centuries in Adelaide, brought up his ton when he pulled Mohammed Shami to the deep square leg for his 16th boundary.

But he departed shortly after when he edged Ravichandran Ashwin to Murali Vijay at gully after he and Rogers had brought up their double-century partnership.

Rogers, who had made half-centuries in each of his last four test innings, was given a life on 19 when he was dropped by Lokesh Rahuon at second slip but once again missed out on triple figures when he got a thick edge from Mohammed Shami that crashed into his stumps.

Smith has already scored three tons in the series and continued his rich form by notching up his 10th half-century in tests as the hapless Indian bowlers went wicketless in the final session.

Watson, who has failed to convert his starts in the series, looked solid on his way to his 24th test fifty but was lucky to survive an edge in the last over off Umesh Yadav which flew through the hands of Ashwin at first slip.

AUSTRALIA: DA Warner, CJL Rogers, SR Watson, SPD Smith (capt), SE Marsh, JA Burns, BJ Haddin (wk), MA Starc, RJ Harris, NM Lyon, JR Hazlewood

INDIA: M Vijay, KL Rahul, RG Sharma, V Kohli (capt), AM Rahane, SK Raina, WP Saha 9wk), R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, UT Yadav, B Kumar

Australia Vs India 4th Test , 2014

Starc Repalce Johson © Getty Images

Australia have made one change for the fourth and final Test against India on Tuesday, confirming that injured bowler Mitchell Johnson has been replaced by Mitchell Starc.

Skipper Steven Smith said Monday that paceman Johnson, who has a hamstring strain, would “probably” have played at the Sydney Cricket Ground match beginning Tuesday had the four-Test series been in the balance.

“I think there’s no secret there’s a pretty big summer coming up,” Smith said.

“We want him to be fresh for the One-Day International (ODI) and World Cup coming up. We don’t want to risk him.”

Australia Playing XI – David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Steve Smith (c), Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin (wk), Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Ravi Shastri 'bullish' about India's Test future

@Cric Info

India team director Ravi Shastri is "bullish" about the Test side's future, saying that the key was to develop an attack that could take 20 wickets on a regular basis. The deciding factor in the ongoing four-Test series, which Australia won after maintaining their 2-0 lead by drawing the third Test at the MCG, according to Shastri, was the difference between the bowling groups: Australia's had experience and India's did not.

"There's hard work ahead no doubt," Shastri said. "Primarily, we have to get or develop bowlers who can get 20 wickets regularly. But I am extremely bullish. The most important thing is we have got an aggressive mindset. Let's talk 12-15 months down the road."

India will be led by Virat Kohli in the final Test in Sydney, following MS Dhoni's sudden retirement from Test cricket at the end of the third match in Melbourne, a development Shastri said had left the dressing-room "stumped". However, he said the change in leadership was unlikely to affect the players' mindsets.

"In my days, I played under several captains, none of whom were alike," Shastri said. "Captains have their own personalities and the best ones make players adapt to their thinking and methods."
It was an unexpected decision no doubt, but a courageous one. In my esteem Dhoni has gone up by miles. He hasn't waited to complete 100 Tests and all such pointless statistical stuff. He didn't want any farewell fanfare. That shows his character. He's different and quite remarkable."
Ishant Sharma,most experienced player in the Indian Test side now has been appointed as vice-captain of Indian Cricket team.
Source :- CricInfo

AUSTRALIA V INDIA, 3RD TEST "5TH DAY"

"Australia run out of time, but win series"

3rd Test: " India hold nerve to draw MCG Test against Australia"

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin frustrated Australia's push for victory on day five of the third test in Melbourne on Tuesday, but the draw was enough for the hosts to complete an emphatic 2-0 series win with a game in hand.

Full Score Card

Joining Dhoni at the wicket, No 8 batsman Ashwin was nearly caught behind on one by Shane Watson who dived across from first slip but put down a sharp one-handed chance.

Both batsmen survived a number of false shots but showed grit to play out the remaining overs.

Australia may ponder the wisdom of their relatively late declaration, having already constructed a lead of 326 runs by stumps on day four, but were in no mood to hurry proceedings with only a draw needed to make the Sydney test starting on January 6 a dead rubber.

””” Brief Scores ”””

Australia 530 (Chris Rogers 57, Shane Watson 52, Steven Smith 192, Ryan Harris 74, Brad Haddin 55; Umesh Yadav 3 for 130, Mohammed Shami 4 for 138, Ravichandran Ashwin 3 for 134) and 318 for 9 decl. (David Warner 40, Chris Rogers 69, Shaun Marsh 99; Ravichandran Ashwin 2 for 75, Mohammed Shami 2 for 92, Ishant Sharma 2 for 49, Umesh Yadav 2 for 89) drew with India 465 (Murali Vijay 68, Virat Kohli 169, Ajinkya Rahane 147; Ryan Harris 4 for 70, Mitchell Johnson 3 for 135, Nathan Lyon 2 for 108) and 174 for 6 (Virat Kohli 54, Ajinkya Rahane 48; Ryan Harris 2 for 30, Mitchell Johnson 2 for 38, Josh Hazlewood 2 for 40).

Australia v India, 3rd Test, 3rd day

"India 462-8 at stumps on day 3 chasing Australia’s 530"

" Kohli Un beatable 169Runs "

No reason to respect Johnson - Kohli

India were 462 for eight wickets at the close of day three of the third test in Melbourne on Sunday, in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 530.
India: 462-8 (M. Vijay 68, V. Kohli 169, A. Rahane 147; R. Harris 4-69) v Australia: 530 (C. Rogers 57, S. Watson 52, B. Haddin 55, R. Harris 74, S. Smith 192; Mohammed Shami 4-138, U. Yadav 3-130, R. Ashwin 3-134)

Australia v India, 3rd Test, 2nd day

India were 108 for one wicket at the close of day two of the third test in Melbourne on Saturday, in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 530.

Smith Hits 192 Runs in 3rd Test Against India 2014

India 1 for 108 (Vijay 55*) trail Australia 530 (Smith 192, Harris 74, Rogers 57, Haddin 55, Watson 52) by 422 runs.

 On Christmas Eve, it was pointed out in a local newspaper that for all Steven Smiths 'recent achievements he had yet to conquer the MCG. Not once had he passed 50 in a Test match at Australian cricket's colosseum.

On a day of blue skies, a raucous crowd of 51,566, and some dreadful Indian fielding and bowling, Smith put that particular matter to rest. His 192 was a masterpiece of light and shade, determination and dominance, pace and patience. Smith was happy to play a minor role in no fewer than three significant partnerships on the second day, but in showing when to stick and when to twist he guided his side to 530.  

"Score Card From Sky Sports "

"Indian need Better Partner Ship if he wants to live alive in this test match "

Australia v India, 3rd Test, Melbourne, 1st day

"Captaincy fitting Smith well - Rogers"

 "Smith plays a shot during Boxing Day Test"

Australia 5 for 259 (Smith 72*, Rogers 57, Watson 52) vs India

From bashing big scores to firing back a few choice words at sledging opponents, the captaincy is fitting Australia's Steven Smith well, according to opening batsman Chris Rogers. Smith compiled a watchful half-century to see Australia to stumps at 259-5 on day one of the third test against India on Friday, continuing a stellar run of form for the baby-faced batsman nicknamed 'Smudge'.
Unbeaten twice in the series-opening test in Adelaide with scores of 162 and 52, Smith struck a match-winning 133 in Brisbane standing in for injured captain Michael Clarke to drive Australia to a 2-0 series lead.

Unbeaten on 72 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 25-year-old is in the box seat to helpAustralia seal the four-match series a game early.

"There's definitely an echelon of batsmen at the moment who seem to be above and beyond," Rogers, who scored 57 for his third successive half-century of the series, told reporters.

"Davey (Warner) to a certain extent and now Smudger (Smith).

"It's phenomenal to watch and great to be a part of. (Smith) is just growing day by day and it's scary to think how good he can be.

"Someone threw a ball back at him today and he had the confidence to say a few words back at him so it looks as if he knows he belongs and he knows he's one of the better players in the world at the moment."

Dhawan went from 100% to 50% when he dropped Watson's edge from Shami 10 minutes before the lunch interval, taking three bites at the ball before guiding it to ground. This reprieve, and a few other misfields, left Rogers and Watson to amble to lunch in happier circumstances than they might have imagined when Warner was dismissed.
A boundary to Watson from the final ball of the second over after lunch seemed to herald more free-scoring, but it was in fact the last such scoring shot for more than 16 overs. Australian progress was stymied by Shami and, particularly, Ashwin, who used his height and variations in pace to good effect.
Rogers went to his 50, as did Watson, but neither would go on. A Shami delivery of teasing line and in-between length found Rogers' outside edge on 57, and in the following over Watson swept across a straight ball from Ashwin and was lbw.
Understandably, Smith and Marsh took their time to avert further loss, but as tea loomed both had found something approaching a decent batting rhythm. Smith opened up the final session by sallying forth to deposit Ashwin into the long-off seats, but lost Marsh when he snicked Shami, firm-footed, through to Dhoni.

Australia v India, 2nd Test, 2014

India 408 and 1 for 71 trail Australia 505 (Smith 133, Johnson 88) by 26 runs

Steven Smith became the tenth Australian to score a
Test hundred on captaincy debut© Getty Images

In the usual round of pre-series predictions, many expected Steven Smith to be a dominant batting force against India, and some were bold enough to reckon he would be captain before the four Tests were through. But none had prophesied that it would take Mitchell Johnson until the series' eighth day to make a significant impact on events, nor that he would be doing so with the bat.

Smith's 133 was emblematic of his growth as both a batsman and leader: not since Greg Chappell against West Indies on this ground in 1975 had a first-time Australian Test captain marked the occasion with a hundred in his first innings. Johnson's boldest of counterattacks showed how dangerous he can be as a batsman, but also that it may have been wiser for India not to antagonise him when he walked to the wicket with Australia in some trouble at 6 for 247.

Their partnership of 148 in a mere 26 overs changed the course of the match, also clearing a path for Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood to prolong Australia's first innings until after tea. The final four wickets contributed more runs than the first six, opening up a lead of 97. India were bereft of ideas for stemming the flow, and when they finally batted Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara survived some searching spells in the evening session to go to stumps at 1 for 71.

A century in his first Test as captain underlined Smith's quality as a leader, his sixth hundred in 13 matches since notching No. 1 against England at The Oval in August 2013 sustaining Australia's innings. But Smith had needed help: the Australians were teetering when Johnson joined his captain. Indian attempts to get into the fast bowler's head with short balls and verbals appeared only to spur Johnson into a starburst of strokes, and he looked bound for a second century until snicking Ishant Sharma behind.

Like Rohit Sharma, Australian all-rounder Shane Watson also seems to be travelling in the same sinking boat as of now. Both have been getting starts and getting out, and that too to frustratingly soft dismissals. Unlike Rohit, who is a part-time bowler, Watson has an additional talent that of a medium pacer, who can chip in with wickets. But, considering his injury woes, Watson cannot be given a long enough bowl else he might end straining some part of his injured body. He did get Rohit out in the first innings, but that was more to do with a poor stroke than a good delivery. Considering his limitations with the ball, it is all the more pertinent that he delivers with the bat. 

Ishant and Varun Aaron had bowled morning spells that were respectively precise and hostile. Ishant deceived Mitchell Marsh with a break-back after the hamstrung allrounder shouldered arms, and Aaron pinned Brad Haddin with a bouncer that delivered a catch to short leg.

  

Australia v India, 2nd Test, Brisbane

Australia 4 for 221 (Smith 65*, Rogers 55) trail India 408 (Vijay 144, Rahane 81, Hazlewood 
5-68) by 187 runs.

HazleWood Inpires Australia,s Fight Back 

MS Dhoni's return for India will likely mark a change in approach for the visitors, more pragmatic than the death or glory surge authored by Virat Kohli on Adelaide's entrancing final day. Nonetheless, Dhoni may have learned a thing or two from how Kohli attacked, and by doing so brought India closer to competing with Australia than at almost any stage of the 2011-12 tour. If Mohammed Shami, Varun Aaron and Ishant Sharma can find the right lengths on the sort of surface they are seldom fortunate enough to bowl on, India may have a chance.

Match Stats

1.Steven Smith will be Australia's 45th Test captain, and youngest since Kim Hughes in 1979
2.Shaun and Mitchell Marsh are the first Australian brothers to play together in a Test since Mark and Steve Waugh played their last together against Pakistan in the UAE in 2002
3.India have never won a Test at the Gabba, but had the better of a draw on their visit in 2003. The last time Australia lost at the Gabba was 26 years ago, against West Indies.

Teams

India team: I Sharma,MS Dhoni,RG Sharma,V Kohli,M Vijay,S Dhawan,CA Pujara,AM Rahane,R Ashwin,VR Aaron,Shami Ahmed,U Yadav

Australia team: MG Johnson,SR Watson,BJ Haddin,RJ Harris,PM Siddle,DA Warner,SPD Smith,MR Marsh,Nathan Lyon,CJL Rogers,J Hazlewood,

SE Marsh,Mitchell Starc.

India lead by 187 runs at the end of Day Two of the second Test in Brisbane.

India : 

         408 (Murali Vijay 144, Ajinkya Rahane 81; Josh Hazlewood 5 for 68, Nathan Lyon 3 for 105) lead 

Australia : 221 for 4 (Chris Rogers 55, Steven Smith 65*; Umesh Yadav 3 for 48) by 187 runs.