India v Australia, Third Test, Chandigarh

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1st Test
Fri Feb 22 - Tue Feb 26
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local
12:00 WST | 14:30 CST | 15:00 EST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

2nd Test
Sat Mar 2 - Wed Mar 6
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local
12:00 WST | 14:30 CST | 15:00 EST
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

3rd Test
Thu Mar 14 - Mon Mar 18
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local
12:00 WST | 14:30 CST | 15:00 EST
Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

4th Test
Fri Mar 22 - Tue Mar 26
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local
12:00 WST | 14:30 CST | 15:00 EST
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi


India:
Shikhar Dhawan, Murli Vijay, Virender Sehwag, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, M S Dhoni (c),
Rabindra Jadeja, Bhubhneshwar Kumar, Ravi Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Ashoke Dinda

Australia:
Michael Clarke (c), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell,
Moises Henriques, Nathan Lyon, Xavier Doherty, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird

Budhi Kundaran's decades old record of the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper is now broken by the Indian captain.

Dhoni is on 199, and there is a stumping appeal against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He looks alright, yeah, he's safe!.

Double hundred for the Indian captain. What an innings from Mahendra Singh Dhoni!!!!!.
Hundred partnership up as well.

Still trying to pressure Bhuvi with close fielders...but to Dhoni they're just putting it there and hoping... Hard to say what they can try ! sometimes you just have to say "OK , too good "

Double century up

Henriques to try his luck now. Seems not too long ago he bowled Harbajhan and Australia had hopes of a modest deficit...this partnership has been a real heartbreaker for them and it is going to take a massive effort to save this game from here.
I'm sure Clarke will be up for the fight but he is going to need a few mates...

Stumps on day 3, The captain led India to a position of dominence with an absolutely fabulous innings. 206 not out. 515-8. When Ravichandran Ashwin was 7th out, India were 372-7. Nothing more needs to be said!.
And a superb,, sensible supporting act from Bhuvneshwar Kumar as well.

Wow. Double ton for Dhoni in a brisk fashion. That is surely the innings which has won this Test Match for India - they're too far ahead surely?

They probably are , Duty...

Australia under Clarke don't fold easily , but they have a tough task to get out of this one. Enough there for the spinners to make batting again - when they eventually get them out ! - a rather daunting prospect.

Rather extraordinary innings by the Indian captain Dhoni.

His hitting power has never been doubted. But the way he played with Kumar was very impressive.

The way he's going he could end up with 300...

As I predicted Lyon was exposed. His limited skills aren't enough for a long Test career. He had beginners luck at the start of his Test career, but he's showed recently he doesn't have the cricketing brain to get wickets or keep it tight when the going gets tough.

what a knock from Dhoni!!!!

3-fer for Lyon..

Patto the star so far though IMO

MSD!

How much deeper will Australia get buried today?

I think India's lead has already put this match in the 'only one team can win it' basket. Led by Dhoni and ably assisted by Kohli and Sachin - they have almost certainly put this test out of reach for Australia.

Full kudos to Pattinson (and Lyon to a degree) but it confirms that India have a more potent spin attack suited to their home conditions and that our batting (save for Clarke) still have a long way to go dealing with the likes of Ashwin.

Even a lead of 50 would have been a hard task. 150? Forget it. I can see us struggling to even reach that with 5 wickets still intact. Could be all over later today folks.

India 567-9. Dhoni was out for 224, Pattinson getting him to glove an attempted hook to Wade. The 9th wicket went down at 546, after putting on 140. Now Bhuvneshwar has started playing his shots, and Ishant Sharma is good enough to hang in there. The lead is getting closer to that 200 mark.

India are allout 572. Peter Siddle gets the last wicket, Bhuvneshwar Kumar the last man out, he provided excellent support to the skipper, and then played his shots to stretch the lead further.

David Warner has some gastro problems and hence Shane Watson's back up opening the innings.
India opening the bowling in the 2nd innings with Harbhajan and Ashwin.

Australia at 6s and 7s already struggling with the turn.

Watson and Cowan are into the 10th over in their partnership. They scored only 16 runs so far, but Australia need to keep their wickets safe, runs can come later. Said that, they shouldn't get too bogged down, on this track, a ball with their name is sure to come along sooner or later, and if they are not really able to score much, they would find that the team is stuck despite them batting out a few overs.
But 17 without loss is fair enough under the circumstances.

Now Ravindra Jadeja is brought on.

Australia looked like they would go to lunch with some hopes as the openers gainly resisted for an hour or so, but the last ball of the session, Ravichandran Ashwin accounted for Shane Watson to ensure India's firm grip on the session. Australia are 34 -1 at lunch on day 4, trailing by 158 runs. They have a huge fight up their hands to save this match.

Of the 23 overs, Harbhajan has bowled 11, even more than R Ashwin did. Ravindra Jadeja bowled 3 good overs. Noone can now complain about Dhoni not giving Bhaji a long spell. But Harbhajan hasn't done anything to deserve his captain's backing.

The 2nd one down, Cowan gone for 32, LBW to Ashwin after resisting hard.

Ashwin strikes again! 64/2.

Phil Hughes the new batsman

After surviving a close call for a close in catch due to an umpiring error, Hughes gone next ball without scoring. Jadeja gets his man, Australia 65-3.

He didn't last long did he?!

The Australian skipper now joins David Warner. He'll be hard to dislodge, and Warner has really stuck it out so far, playing against his natural instincts.

Virat Kohli has put down Michael Clarke of R Ashwin. The Australian captain celebrates wby smashing Ashwin for a 6 and a 4. And all of a sudden the Australian innings has gone all busy!. Clarke is taking the spinners on, the bowlers should not digress, they should keep bowling full to him even if he's coming down the wicket every now and then, there is enough on this track to keep the bowlers interested even against such a good player of spin like Clarke.

This is been a counterattacking partnership so far between Clarke and Warner. As Clarke arrived at the wicket, Warner too, has rediscovered his natural attacking game all of a sudden. Separating these 2 will be key for India, another hour of them, that lead could quickly come down.

Would you believe it???? Harbhajan Singh gets a wicket!!!.

Australia looks like their backs are up against the wall. But with Clarke there you just never know. A very good player that.

Edit: Maybe if people stays with him. Does look a bit dire now after that one.

VVS Laxman thinks umpire Kumar Dharmasena has had a very good game apart from that Michael Clarke decision!.
Yet another reason as to why he was a terrific batsman and a poor commentator, on top of his statement on Dhoni not letting Harbhajan gain confidence!!!. Perhaps coaching would be a better option?

Looks like this will be a heavy defeat for the Aussies. Wondering if they can bounce back like England did. Personally I don't think so as they will not be able to field 2 quality spinners, so will struggle to win matches in India I feel.

Siddle departs to a (missed) heave across the line. 138/7 and Australia are sinking fast.
Does not look as if India will have to bat again.

How quickly a match can turn...Just after tea yesterday India were seven down and still trailing ; but a couple of hours of MS Dhoni magic destroyed Australia both on the scoreboard and in terms of belief - and we all knew in our hearts what was going to happen today. A bit of Clarke bravado apart it has all been downhill.

Australia are now down for 175, still 17 runs away from making India bat again. Ravichandran Ashwin gets 5 in the 2nd innings to take his match tally to 12 wickets.

Just 5 away now, can they do it?

Just 3 away, Australia are gettin closer.......

Its official, India will have to bat again.

Henriques has gained considerable respect here, particularly with the bat. He has found a way that works for him in dealing with spinning conditions and played couple of fine hands.

Not long to go now, msp. Well played India.

Good to see Sharma with a smile for once too.

Henriques is now denying singles and trying to protect Lyon.
Well, we have something interesting here, Ishant Sharma is getting a bowl!.

msp83 wrote:Henriques has gained considerable respect here, particularly with the bat. He has found a way that works for him in dealing with spinning conditions and played couple of fine hands.

He looks very comfortable compared to many other Aussies. Maybe he's got distant ancestor's in Goa?

VVS again, 'not a bad idea to bowl some slower ones, Pattinson did vary his pace'.
What VVS forgets is that Pattinson bowled on average pace of 145 KPH, when he bowled at 150 or 130 KPH, there was a point to it. Not too sure about those who bowl at early 130s and late 120s!.

Second 50 of the match for Moises Henriques. Excellent debut in tough conditions.

Think Bhuvi should also be given an over if Bhaji failes to do the job in this over.

So the lead is stretched to the extend of Australia being able to take out the Indian openers. They don't really believe in setting up double digits partnerships for the first wicket these days!!.

The last wicket partnership is now worth 32.

Another 15 minutes to end the day's play. Can Australia hang in there till then?
Now Ravindra Jadeja back on, replacing Harbhajan Singh.

The new ball is due in another 2 overs. Think Dhoni should take it, the new ball might just turn a bit more quickly off the pitch and come off quicker.

Seems like Ishant's Sharma's work in this test is over, Ashwin's back on after a couple of overs from Ishant. Henriques continues to play his shots with great success!.

The match is heading towards the 5th day here. India can claim the extra half-hour if there is a chance of a result, but if the Australians can stretch the lead to 30-40, we might have to have the last day.
Another poor call from the umpire, another LBW denied.