Right then. That, folks, is that. A cracking series filled with high quality spin bowling, some truly wonderful batting, a spectacular batting collapse and loads of chat about the surfaces used. It ended in a dribbling draw but the first three Tests were captivating.
I’m off. Catch you all down the road for the white ball stuff. Here’s the report on the game. Keep an eye out for Geoff’s colour to come.
Best to you all.
Finally, finally, it’s the Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma:
It was fantastic. Right from the word go. All the Test matches we played there was something in it for everyone. We understand the importance of the opposition. We stand here with the result which we;’re happy with. There were challenges but at different times we were able to respond to it.
With the result 2-1, we knew how important it was to start the series well. The Delhi Test was something I’m really, really proud of. It showed a lot of character and fight and what the boys have in them.
When you’re playing such a gruelling series, you wan’t everyone to come to the fore. A lot of guys bailed the team out of tough situations. That’s what Test cricket is.
[On his performance]. I’m quite satisifed. I could have done a little better. personal milestones, I keep that aside. What the team is after, that is what I’m focussed on. I’m happy where we stand as a team.
Finally, we’ve got two players of the series. It’s India spin-twins. It’s Ravichandran Aswhin and Ravindra Jadeja:
Aswhin: We wouldn’t be as lethal without the other one. He gives me freedom. Credit to him.
Jadeja: “It’s good bowling with him. We share information, if the ball is turning, what field we should set for a batsman. I’m not happy with my batting in this series [despite a crucial 70]. I want to work harder and more focus on my batting.
Aswhin: “the conversations [about field placings etc] have increased over the last two years. I’ve learned what helps him over the years. We’ve had good conversations. Some land up with wickets and some are just funny.
Jadeja: “He has a great cricket brain. He understands every team in the world.”
Axar Patel gets a gong for cracking a mighty six. Hard to keep track of all the individual awards flying about. Shubnam Gill also picks one up for his contributions.
But the player of the match is Virat Kohli. Here he is:
To be honest the expectations that I have on myself as a player are more important to me [than the external pressure]. I felt that I was batting well from the first innings in Nagpur. We tried to focus on batting for as long as possible. I did that on a few occasions but not to the capabilities I’d done in the past. But there was the belief that I was playing well.
There was relief, but from the point of view that I was playing the way I wanted to play. I wasn’t desperate. There wasn’t relief from an achievement perspective. I don’t need to go out there and prove someone wrong. People have that belief in me but I have to keep doing that as well to keep justifying being on the field.
When I was 60 not-out overnight, we thought about playing positively. But we were a batter less so the plan was to bat time. I was happy with the tempo. The way the innings went they put some nice fields and not providing many boundary balls. In the end we got the result from the batting point of view that we wanted.
Steve Smith on the strange end:
Yeah, it did end slowly but it was an enjoyable series to be a part of. It was great fun to be involved in.
We started to play a lot better as the series went on. That hour of madness in Delhi really cost us. But we fought back in Indore and in this game as well. Unfortunately he wicket was probably too flat for a result, but good cricket all the same.
[The young spinners] bowled really well ion their first series. They played with great composure. And Nathan Lyon keeps getting better and better.
Dravid continues with a look to the white ball series against the Aussies and then the WTC final to come:
We’ll celebrate this for starters. It’s been a long hard month and a half. Will be a lot of logistics to work out. We’ll prepare the players as best we can. We’ll think about [it all] once we’ve celebrated.
Rahul Dravid is up next:
It was a really hard fought series. There were moments where we put under pressure by a really good cricket team and we responded. When we needed someone to step up we found it. From Sharma at the first Test and bookended by Virat’s 183 here. For three of the Tests we responded very well.
Our fight stood out. Whenever we were under pressure and had out backs to the wall – like in Delhi and here after losing the toss – we had to respond and had to find people to step up and we always found that. People want to take responsibility and we showed fight throughout the series.
[On Gill] It’s been a very exciting time for Shubman. For us, a young player coming through, really exciting to see him maturing and taking on that responsibility and putting up the kinds of performances that his standard and skill demands. He’s a lovely kid and works hard.
We were watching [the game in Christchurch]. It was close and exciting. We were following it during lunch. It’s nice to make the WTC final. It’s not easy.
Our good mate Adam Collins grabbed this snap of a rare sighting. Glad he enjoyed it at least.
Cheteshwar Pujara! Bowling leggies to the top two ranked batters in the world. Love to see it. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/InedFWRXZU
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) March 13, 2023
Gill on Kohli:
It’s easy [batting with him]. The focus is on him and that takes the pressure off you.
Lyon on his younger spin mates:
They should head home very proud of what they’ve been able to achieve. Hopefully I’ve been able to help the start of their journey a little easier.
Shubman Gill on Lyon:
He’s always on his mark. We tried to put him under pressure but he’s always on his mark and challenges you as a batter.
It’s the pace and the areas he bowls. He doesn’t give much to the batsman., He doesn’t give you half volleys or short balls. That is quite amazing. It’s difficult to score runs off him.
Updated
Nathan Lyon on the telly now:
It’s been a tough challenge, but it’s been rewarding. Our group can take a lot out of it. It’s always a great challenge coming here and is something I love doing.
It was a totally different surface. Was pretty hard to bowl but that’s on us to get the batters to play false shots. It was pretty challenging.
16 consecutive home series wins for India. That’s what you call dominance.
Aussies grind out draw as India win series 2-1 (Australia 175-2, Labuschagne 63, Smith 10)
The umpires have brought at end to the drab farce and the players are shaking hands. This fourth Test ends in a draw as India take the series 2-1. These two teams will meet again in London in the English summer as they compete for the World Test Championship final.
Updated
“Evening Dan,” good evening to you, Phil Withall. All well with you I hope.
“The joys of test cricket have been perfectly summed up today. The thrilling finish of the New Zealand win against Sri Lanka provided a wonderful example of what five days can deliver. This test has shown what five days of attrition can deliver."
“Both matches are examples of cricket’s magnificence. Long may It reign.”
Absolutely. If you don’t love this game when it’s India v Australia on a dull surface, you don’t deserve it when it’s New Zealand v Sri Lanka by the abrest if margins. Or something like that.
78th over: Australia 175-2 (Labuschagne 63, Smith 10) Pujara into the attack! And someone on the BT comms has just compared his action to Shane Warne’s. You don’t need me to tell that it’s nothing like the great man. It is leg spin and it’s landing on the pitch, but that may be where the comparisons end. One run to Labuschagne at the start of the over before Smith defends five dot balls.
Updated
“For every effort England and New Zealand make (in their home grounds, of course) to make test cricket enjoyable, Sri Lanka and India bury them six feet underground! Cricket in the sub-continent must be banned!”
That’s a little harsh Krishan Moorthy. It’s been a pretty good series in my opinion. Every now and then you’ll get a track like this one. I’ve seen some pretty boring cricket played in England. But your’e mostly right of course. This is veeeeeeeery dull.
77th over: Australia 174-2 (Labuschagne 62, Smith 10) Shubnam Gill comes on to bowl. Because why not? And we have a run! Labuschagne works a flat and fast one through square leg for a single.
76th over: Australia 173-2 (Labuschagne 61, Smith 10) Axar bowls with a round arm. No run. He flights one up a little bit. No run. He’s darting it in with a straight high arm. No run. He drifts onto Smith’s pads. No run. He’s full around leg stump. No run. He adjusts and aims for middle. No run. Four maidens in a row.
75th over: Australia 173-2 (Labuschagne 61, Smith 10) A third consecutive maiden brings drinks. Not much to report on. A bowler turns his arm over. A man holding a bat defends without any intent on scoring. Fielders stand in the field. A wicketkeeper keeps wicket. If you’re trying to convince your friends and family that this silly game is worth their time, please don’t turn the telly on now.
74th over: Australia 173-2 (Labuschagne 61, Smith 10) Oh but that’s a jaffa. Axar has this ability to produce a ball like that. Pitches on off stump so Smith has to play it. It grips and turns sharply, beating the outside edge by a distance. Nothing much else from that maiden over but I do like watching Axar bowl. Shame he didn’t get to bowl more in this series.
73rd over: Australia 173-2 (Labuschagne 61, Smith 10) Another maiden. Jadeja this time. Too full to trouble the batters. Any turn, and there’s not much, is easily smothered. Going through the motions now. Remember, we’ll call this a day at 81 overs.
72nd over: Australia 173-2 (Labuschagne 61, Smith 10) Two for Smith. Five dots and then he rocks onto the back foot to clip a couple behind square.
Question time. Who’s your pick for player of the series. Hard to look past the highest wicket taker Aswhin, but Axar being the third highest run scorer with three important half centuries in the lower order as well as handy overs could put him in the conversation.
71st over: Australia 171-2 (Labuschagne 61, Smith 8) Two more for Marnus. He starts theis Jadeja over by cutting a short one away for two behind deep point. Good fielding down there to prevent the boundary.
70th over: Australia 169-2 (Labuschagne 59, Smith 8) Just the one off that Axar over. It’s off Labuschagne’s blade as he cuts a shortish ball to deep point and they walk through for a single.
69th over: Australia 168-2 (Labuschagne 58, Smith 8) A maiden for Jadeja to Smith. Full lengths until he drags one down and Smith slaps it straight to point for no run.
68th over: Australia 168-2 (Labuschagne 58, Smith 8) Two for Marnus off his outside edge down to deep third. It’s good bowling from Axar who has looked threatening today. Lovely flight and good use of angles. That one hurried Marnus after skimming off the surface.
Have you seen this yet? Stop what you’re doing an watch this NOW!
The longer you watch, the better it gets... 😅pic.twitter.com/SduS1XEwcJ
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) March 13, 2023
67th over: Australiua 166-2 (Labuscagne 56, Smith 8) Jadeja replaces Aswhin and he’s given the same treatment from Smith who slaps a cut behind square for four.
“Morning Daniel,” good morning Krishna Moorthy.
“Is there a possibility of Australia declaring or will the batting practice continue with the final parody of the Indian wicket keeper bowling the last over?”
I think we’ve got more chance of Bharat bowling than the Aussies declaring, especially with their skipper at the crease.
66th over: Australia 162-2 (Labuschagne 56, Smith 4) A maiden from Axar to Marnus who is in line and stoic in defence. Axar mixing his pace up to keep the batter guessing but he has all the answers.
65th over: Australia 162-2 (Labuschagne 56, Smith 4) Smudge is off the mark with a beautiful lofted drive after skipping down the track to Ashwin. Full extension if the hands and all timing, didn’t try to whack it too hard.
Here’s an interesting stat. Worth noting that only two of the supposed ‘Fab Four’ are on this list.
Among the 139 Test batters with 10+ centuries, only nine scored a century more frequently than once every 3.5 Tests:
— Michael Appleton (@michelappleton) March 13, 2023
🇦🇺 Bradman, 1.79
🏝️ Headley, 2.20
🏝️ Walcott, 2.93
🇦🇺 Smith, 3.20
🏝️ Weekes, 3.20
🏴 Sutcliffe, 3.38
🇦🇺 Hayden, 3.43
🇳🇿 Williamson, 3.44
🇵🇰 Younis Khan, 3.47
Just been informed that we have to play at least 81 overs before this can be called prematurely. We’ve played 64.
John Ellis captures the true meaning of this plodding affair:
“The point of this is batting practice against India fir the WTC in June!”
Quite right, John. It all makes sense now.
64th over: Australia 158-2 (Labuschagne 56, Smith 0) That is a wonderful ball to bring the session to a close. Past Labuschagne’s bat to close out a maiden and a mini spell that has nabbed the breakthrough. I’m off to make a quick cuppa. Speak soon.
63rd over: Australia 158-2 (Labuschagne 56, Smith 0) Top shot, Marnus. A whipped drive off the back foot pierces the off side field and scampers away for a boundary. Too right. That was dross from Aswhin. Marnus then squeezes a single past point. One more over before tea.
Rob Moline is in touch re Tests ending on the final delivery:
“I‘ve got an idea the original tied test Australia v. West Indies back in 19960 or whenever finished on the last scheduled ball of the five days. The 8th ball of the final over. Australian batsmen were running for the wining run, but one was run out so a tie. Not a win, but still a result on the last scheduled ball of the five days.”
Quite right. Here’s the scorecard, in case you’re interested.
Updated
62nd over: Australia 153-2 (Labuschagne 51, Smith 0) DROPPED! That’s a top nut from Axar that catches the outside edge of Steve Smith but it’s dropped behind the stumps. One of those ones that either sticks in the ‘keeper’s gloves or it doesn’t. This clatters into Bharat’s pad instead. Another maiden. All of a sudden this feels like a Test again.
61st over: Australia 153-2 (Labuschagne 51, Smith 0) Aswhin hurls down a maiden. He’s much flatter than Axar and Marnus is happy to play with soft hands and a flat bat.
60th over: Australia 153-2 (Labuschagne 51, Smith 0) A wicket maiden for Axar Patel who castles Head with a ripper of a delivery, though on second viewing it was a loose stroke from the set batter. Now we really must ask what the point of all of this is. There’s no chance India are going to win this. Then again, Test cricket has served up some weird morsels lately.
That’s Axar Patel’s 50th Test wicket in 12 matches. He’s the fastest slow left armer to reach the milestone for India.
WICKET! Head b Axar 90 (Australia 153-2)
Oh no! What a shame. Travis Head falls 10 runs short of what would have been a richly deserved ton. It’s a classic left arm finger spinner dismissal to the left handed batter. He’s dangled one outside the off stump and invited the booming drive only to turn it back through the gat and clip the top of off. Deliciously flighted and Head takes the bait. He’ll be so disappointed but you can’t blame him for trying to play against the turn. He’d been in complete control throughout.
59th over: Australia 153-1 (Head 90, Labuschagne 51) Right then, Head is within 10. Can he get there? He’s got three more with a couple towards deep square and a single to fine leg. Moving nicely. He’ll deserve his ton if he reaches it.
“Daniel, mate, don’t mean to be rude but ‘New Zealand have won the test by two wickets’ doesn’t really do justice to the drama.”
Hi John Pagani. Thanks for dropping in. You’re not being rude. You’re spot on. What drama from earlier in the day!
“Two weeks after beating England by one run, they beat Sri Lanka by scoring the winning run *from the last ball of the test match.* I mean the winning run is always scored from the last ball, but this was the last ball scheduled from five days. Has this ever happened before? Let alone the two closest results not being ties ever, in two consecutive matches against two different opponents.
”It’s amazing!”
It certainly is. Every time you think New Zealand are buried in a Test they pull off something remarkable. It’s probably why they’re everyone’s second favourite team.
58th over: Australia 150-1 (Head 87, Labuschagne 51) Marnus has a milestone! It’s come on the last day of the tour but Labuschagne has finally passed 50. It’s taken 150 balls, he’s worked hard, but after clipping a boundary past square leg and then taking a couple off his hips wide of fine leg, he’s afforded the opportunity to raise his bat.
57th over: Australia 144-1 (Head 87, Labuschagne 45) Ashwin returns, because why not. He’s a lovely operator so I’m happy to see him bowl. He’s getting it to spit on occasion. Look, it’s a flat deck, so when I say ‘spit’ I’m using that term rather loosely. Anyway, two singles and a leg bye off the final ball in that one.
56th over: Australia 140-1 (Head 86, Labuschagne 44) Shot Marnus! It’s a half volley on his pads and he’s never going to miss out on that. Just a gentle lean forward and a turn of his wrists sees it skim across the outfield like a water striding insect. A single apeiece earlier in the over keeps the score ticking along. For what it’s worth, the Aussies lead by 49)
55th over: 134-1 (Head 85, Labuschagne 39) Ooo, that’s a nice ball from Jadeja and it turns before catching the outside edge of Labuschagne’s bat. But he’s played that with the softest of hands so it just trickles behind square for a single. Head picks up a single and a two in that set as well. There’s an appeal for leg before as Head lunges forward and seems to make contact with the ball with his pad before clonking it with his bat. Sharma thinks about the review but just gets on with it.
54th over: Australia 130-1 (Head 82, Labuschagne 38) A bowling change. Yadav on for Shami. Labuschagne works one down to deep third before Head slaps a four to the cover fence. That was flat batted with disdain. Perhaps the only reason we’re continuing with this procession is to encourage Head to reach three figures. He’s just a few lusty blows away.
53rd over: Australia 124-1 (Head 77, Labuschagne 37) A maiden from Jadeja. There’s a bit of excitement as Marnus drops his bat at the non-strikers end. Yup, that’s what we’re counting as excitement in this one at the minute. An aerial shot of this gargantuan and cavernous stadium shows how empty it is on the plodding Monday morning.
52nd over: Australia 124-1 (Head 77, Labuschagne 37)Shami after drinks from around the wicket. Head is seeing it like a pumpkin and creams a drive down the ground. Bu Shami shoots out a size 11 and stops it. He switches to over the wicket and Head middles a lovely flick to the man down in the deep. It’s good cricket but it all feels a little pedestrian.
This drinks break is taking an age. Possibly a sign that the players aren’t too keen to get going. Who can blame them. This game is dragging to a pretty tame end.
Get a load of this. It’s always worth a gander when a batter is bowled but the bails don’t move. Even more so when the wickets light up!
This had to be the craziest moment of this WPL, hands down! 🤯#WPL2023 #WPL
— Cricket Queens (@cricketqueens) March 12, 2023
pic.twitter.com/pjWt2iQiRL
51st over: Australia 123-1 (Head 76, Labuschagne 37) Jadeja continues and Head is looking to smear, not drive, smear anything full. One trickles to the man at coer but another is clubbed down the ground for a single. Marnus is on the defence until drinks are brought out to the field.
Top work Angus. Thanks for a mighty shift across the series. Hi everyone. Here we go, one last time.
Updated
50th over: Australia 122-1 (Head 75, Labuschagne 37) With one leg-bye from the over, Australia safely 31 runs ahead and Travis Head anointed as the next Australian captain, I will retire from the OBO stage and allow my colleague Daniel Gallan to take strike. Thanks for joining me today and during the series. It’s been beaut. Happy trails!
49th over: Australia 121-1 (Head 75, Labuschagne 37) Here’s a head-scratcher for you. If Pat Cummins doesn’t return as captain and Steve Smith retires or begs off as a permanent replacement, does the captaincy pass to Travis Head? At 29 he is the right age, having debuted for South Australia as an 18-year-old and earned his Test cap at 25. He’s been in and out of the side since but is now in the greatest form of his career, leading from the front with bat and attitude. Sounds like a skipper to me. Just a single from this over.
48th over: Australia 120-1 (Head 75, Labuschagne 37) The hundred partnership is up for Head and Labuschagne. It’s been a good one. Tough batting at first but it is definitely getting easier as the day has drawn on and the ball has softened. Head proves the point, flaying Mohammed Shami to the boundary for FOUR.
47th over: Australia 112-1 (Head 70, Labuschagne 36) Head moves to 70 by walking a single from Jadeja like he’s strolling a Willunga beach with a can of West End Lager in hand. He’s been out there for 127 balls now striking at 55 with eight fours and two sixes.
46th over: Australia 111-1 (Head 69, Labuschagne 36) In the air. In the gap! Head takes four more from Axar Patel’s tenth over. He didn’t get it cleanly but the force of the inside edge was enough to send it all the way. Head deserves a century here. He’s batting with freedom and flair and determined to end this tour on a high note after the terrible lows of the first two Tests.
45th over: Australia 105-1 (Head 64, Labuschagne 35) Now that’s a Head shot! Two steps down and an angled slice to send Ashwin over gully for FOUR. Australia take a couple of singles as India loosen their grip. And the shackles are off as Head steps forward and drives Ashwin down the ground and over the fence for SIX! Twelve runs from the over and that magnificent heave brings up the hundred for Australia. They now lead by 14.
44th over: Australia 93-1 (Head 53, Labuschagne 34) FOUR from the first! Patel put it on leg stump and Labuschagne helped it all the way to the boundary. With that shot the deficit is no more and Australia now lead by 2 runs.
43rd over: Australia 89-1 (Head 53, Labuschagne 30) Travis Head now has 13 half-centuries to his name from his 35 Tests. He had already proved himself one of the cleanest hitters and most exciting counter-attackers in the game but he’s shown real mettle and character to come back from the selector’s insult to drop him for the first Test in Nagpur. Ever since his rightful reinstatement to the XI he’s made that axing and the theory that he can’t play spin look like twaddle.
42nd over: Australia 88-1 (Head 53, Labuschagne 29) India’s intensity has dropped significantly since they got news they were heading to the WTC final. The Hindi chatter has risen in volume and merriment too, as Head takes two from Patel and then follows it with a smart late cut for FOUR. That’s his fifty and a good one it’s been. Given Head’s success at the top of the order and David Warner’s steep decline it will be hard not to keep him as opener for the Ashes.
41st over: Australia 82-1 (Head 47, Labuschagne 29) Head shimmies one around the corner for a single leaving Labuschagne to survive a weird appeal. Marnus threw his arms in the air after that ball zipped past the bat but Bharat has taken the bails off and squawked for a stumping. Replays show both feet grounded and perhaps one in Bharat’s mouth after that time-wasting effort. Labuschagne makes amends, stepping back to flatter ball from Ashwin and cutting sweetly through cover to register a FOUR, his third of the innings.
40th over: Australia 77-1 (Head 46, Labuschagne 25) Axar Patel bowls a rudimentary maiden to Labuschagne but Marnus looks like he wants to be there at the end so the weapons stay holstered, the bat is five foot wide and it’s a maiden. Australia now trail by 14 runs.
Updated
39th over: Australia 77-1 (Head 46, Labuschagne 25) Sweep and a miss! Travis Head has been disciplined so far and the bogey shot has been firmly under his baggy green cap… until now. Ashwin drew him out but dropped it short and Head put a big hoof down the wicket and reached for it via the sweep. But he missed and it caught a bit of shirt before narrowly missing the stumps.
Updated
38th over: Australia 77-1 (Head 46, Labuschagne 25) News just in: New Zealand have won the first Test against Sri Lanka by two wickets, thus ensuring India’s safe passage into the World Test Championship final at Lords against Australia. Meanwhile back in Ahmedabad, Marnus Labuschagne has driven Patel through extra cover. Nice shot but he only gets two for it.
Updated
37th over: Australia 75-1 (Head 46, Labuschagne 23) Welcome back, folks! An intriguing second session awaits. India bowled superbly in the first two hours and if they do so again, and get just reward for their labours, this Test may yet have some twists. Travis Head doesn’t look fazed. He jabs a single from the first ball after lunch leaving Labuschagne to fend off a ball that grips and bounces. Kohli goes crazy with an appeal at slip but he was unsighted and Ashwin looks at him like stern schoolmaster and shakes his head. Just two from the over.
Chris Murdoch has been in touch…
“Hey Angus, If we can’t organise lead up matches, could we at least play 5 Tests? For mine the series, as a competition between these two teams, has become more interesting as the series has gone on. I’ll be sorry, regardless of the result of this one, to see it end.”
You and me both, Chris. But we’ll get a “fifth Test” between Australia and India in the form of the World Test Championship final in June PLUS we have three ODIs between these nations starting on Friday. That should prolong the summer vibes before the footy scarves come out of the shed (if they haven’t already).
LUNCH Day 5: Australia 73-1 (Head 45*, Labuschagne 22*). Australia trail by 18 runs
As the players take the 96-step stairway to the dressing-rooms, both teams will be smiling, I’d venture. Australia have chiselled 70 runs for the loss of just one wicket and India have attacked with vim to give themselves every chance of wickets. A draw seems most likely but Australia ain’t out of the woods just yet.
India will also enjoy the news that New Zealand have rallied in Christchurch and now have Sri Lanka on the ropes, needing just 38 runs to win the first Test with five wickets in hand. If the Black Caps ice that win, India are officially a lock for the World Test Championship on June 9 against Australia in London and this Test gets a sequel of sorts on the grandest stage of all.
Will the Aussies break the shackles after running down this lead? Or will India put the fear of Ganesha into them with a clatter of fast wickets? We’ll find out after the break when this road of a pitch hosts the penultimate session of the series.
36th over: Australia 73-1 (Head 45, Labuschagne 22) Last over before Lunch and it’s Yadav spearing it in at Head. He squirts an attempted yorker fine for a single off the first ball leaving Labuschagne to flat-bat the next five and reach the sanctuary of the lunchtime buffet intact. Enjoy your Gujarat thali, Marnus!
35th over: Australia 72-1 (Head 44, Labuschagne 22) Weird but effective! Labuschagne leapt out to Ashwin’s first ball and tried to defend with both pads at once. Instead it squirted off the bottom edge and got him a single. Big appeal against Head on the fourth ball and Ashwin likes it so much India will review. It definitely hit Head’s front pad and caught him in front, as his bat snagged slightly on the back of the pad as it came down. Onfield decision is NOT OUT but India will review. Replays show it not turning enough so the decision will stand.
34th over: Australia 70-1 (Head 43, Labuschagne 21) India feel the need for speed. Umesh Yadav is replacing Ravi Jadeja at the Adani end. This is his first over for the innings and he’ll be hunting for a hint of the reverse swing that got him wickets in Indore. It’s been a rollercoaster series for the 35-year-old wannabe policeman. Yadav’s coalminer father passed away on the eve of the third Test in Indore and his daughter was born on the eve of this Ahmedabad Test. Despite such momentous events Yadav has played both games and bowled well, if a tad errantly. He gives away just two from his first over today.
33rd over: Australia 68-1 (Head 41, Labuschagne 21) India are bowling well but Australia are fighting hard. Head and Labuschagne take another three from this Patel over to make this partnership 55 runs from 135 balls, a good recovery after the early loss of nightwatchman Matt Kuhnemann.
32nd over: Australia 65-1 (Head 40, Labuschagne 19) Close but no donut, Ravi! Jadeja gets a straight ball to bite out of the rough and swish past the edge of Labuschagne’s angled bat. Super ball! This pitch has been a road most of the time but occasionally a speed bump pops up like that to give the batters a scare.
31st over: Australia 65-1 (Head 40, Labuschagne 19) Dangerous! Head swooshed at Ashwin outside off and was beaten for pace. But he returns the dose on the next ball driving pat deep mid-off for a well-struck FOUR. And he flashes again at the next, and he’s beaten for pace by Patel but he’s flashed hard enough to get a bottom edge on it and send it squirting to fine leg for another FOUR. Good over for Australia. It bring up the fifty partnership between these two and takes the deficit down to 26 runs.
30th over: Australia 57-1 (Head 32, Labuschagne 19) Slow, straight, fast, flat, floaty, wide. Ravi Jadeja is throwing down a mixed bag at varying speeds, anywhere from 75-95kph. But Head get him away through midwicket for a run and Labuschagne leaves one that’s too close for comfort to off stump. He shakes his head and looks to the heavens for an explanation. The answer? Take two from the last and give the strike back to Travis Head for a bit.
29th over: Australia 54-1 (Head 31, Labuschagne 17) Head punches Axar Patel’s first ball to long-on for a run. There’s an appeal for LBW next ball and it looked close but replays showed the impact outside the line so good call by Sharma not to review that one. Australia now trail by 37 runs.
28th over: Australia 53-1 (Head 30, Labuschagne 17) Arms go up but the ball stays down. It was a slightly dicey late cut by Labuschagne but he sliced it fine enough and flashed sufficiently hard to land it at Kohli’s feet and it gets him two runs from Jadeja’s excellent eighth over.
27th over: Australia 51-1 (Head 30, Labuschagne 15) Head chops, Sharma changes. After that lovely lofted six in the last over India captain Rohit Sharma has brought Axar Patel back into the attack. He bowled a maiden with his first and only over so far and he starts around the wicket to the right-hander Labuschagne before switching to over the wicket. Patel is delivering at a flatter trajectory to Ashwin but without the fizz. Just a single from the over ensues.
26th over: Australia 50-1 (Head 30, Labuschagne 14) UP AND OVER! Head was never going to be tied down for long and sure enough, after a period of containment, he skips down and dispatches Ravi Ashwin over the long on fence. SIX! But he retreats into his shell for the next five ball. Fifty up for Australia. They trail by 41 runs.
25th over: Australia 43-1 (Head 25, Labuschagne 14) It’s an enthralling passage of play as Australia fight for every runs and India hunt for wickets. Australia make it 41 runs from 19 overs with a well run two by Head.
24th over: Australia 42-1 (Head 23, Labuschagne 13) Big appeal by Ashwin! It hit Labuschagne’s front pad but he was backing away and it looked to be going down leg stump. India don’t review and rightly so as replays show a fifth stump line. Head swishes at Ashwin’s next ball and there’s OOHs and AAHs all round but no noise on Snicko and that’ all that matters. A maiden unspools.
23rd over: Australia 42-1 (Head 23, Labuschagne 13) “C’mon lads. C’mon LADS!” cries ‘keeper Bharat. But it’s c’mon Aussie as Travis Head bring the deficit to 50 by smashing Jadeja down the ground for a lovely FOUR. The next ball is a beautiful riposte – it jags back low and lethal and Head has to chop down to keep it off his pads. India are mixing up their lengths and Australia are hopping around like black cats on white coals.
22nd over: Australia 37-1 (Head 18, Labuschagne 13) A lively morning! India have removed the nightwatchman Matt Kuhnemann courtesy of a dodgy LBW but Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne have held steady to chew up 15 overs and add 30 runs. They now trail by 58 runs. And it look like Rohit Sharma isn’t going to die wondering today. He has brought back his big gun Ravi Ashwin from a new end and sent Axar Patel back to his field spot after just one over. He’ out there to watch Labuschagne go over the top again for FOUR. Nice use of the feet by Marnus. He swung with the spin and didn’t try to overhit it, just two bounces and into the rope. Australia chipping away at this deficit. It’s now down to 54.
21st over: Australia 33-1 (Head 18, Labuschagne 9) Jadeja is back at Ashwin’s end and Labuschagne takes an easy single. Travis Head does much better, leaning deep into the crease and driving past mid off for a powerful boundary. Jadeja brings him forward to the next – it’s a desperate lunge not a confident hot-step – and it hits pad first but the India appeal is half-hearted at best.
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20th over: Australia 26-1 (Head 13, Labuschagne 7) Sharma pulls a switcheroo. Ravi Jadeja is getting a rest at this end after just two overs and left-arm twirler Axar Patel gets a whirl. Although his late-order batting has been brilliant, Patel’s exciting bowling has played second fiddle this series. Last I looked, he had just one wicket from the four Tests and was still hunting his 50th career scalp.
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19th over: Australia 26-1 (Head 13, Labuschagne 7) Good duel hapoening here between Head and Ashwin. The latter giving full vent to his attacking instincts, the former reigning his in to play the responsible anchor innings his side needs. After a run of maidens, we finally get a single as Head bunts and runs. Labuschagne does much better, skipping down to Ashwin and lofting on the up to plonk it just short of the boundary rope. FOUR!
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18th over: Australia 21-1 (Head 12, Labuschagne 3) There’s a distinct echo in the Narendra Modi Stadium today. That happens when you’ve got 132,000 capacity and only 2000 show up. It also means the consistent backdrop to every batting stroke is bright orange seats. Not that anyone will take photos of that over as Labuschagne blocks out another maiden from Jadeja.
17th over: Australia 21-1 (Head 12, Labuschagne 3) Head rushes forward to negate the spin of that Ashwin ball but the second step had to be much quicker than the first to do it. Ashwin loves it and sends the next ball down slower and it skews slightly off the bat but not enough airtime for a cry of ‘Catchit!’ Head goes back to go hard at the next one but he chops straight to a fielder and can’t score. Another maiden.
16th over: Australia 21-1 (Head 12, Labuschagne 3) India make their move, resting seamer Mohammed Shami and bringing Ravi Jadeja into the attack. They have three fielders around the bat for Head and are chuntering madly between deliveries to keep the energy up and sow seeds of discontent in the batters. Head doesn’t mind. He drives down the ground and it misses the stumps and Jadeja’s outstretched hand to allow a single. It allows Jadeja to tempt Labuschagne forward with a ball that pitched on middle and then jagged away from the bat. Watch out Marnie! Australia trail by 70 runs.
15th over: Australia 20-1 (Head 11, Labuschagne 3) Ashwin has Labuschagne on the hop here. He is pitching into the rough and finding spin and skid, varying his flight and pace to keep the batters guessing. Labuschagne doesn’t look very comfortable but he survives the maiden over.
14th over: Australia 20-1 (Head 11, Labuschagne 3) Lavish leaves by Labuschagne are the order of the day for the first three. But Shami makes him look a goose on the fourth ball, angling it back in and almost taking the edge. In this series, from eight innings, Labuschagne has 181 runs at 30 and has never bested the first innings 49 he scored at Nagpur. This is the 28-year-old’s first tour of India and he has perhaps over-thought the conditions, evolving every innings while moving further and further from his natural game. But he gets off the mark here with a cutely clipped three off his toes to cut the margin to 71 runs.
13th over: Australia 17-1 (Head 11, Labuschagne 0) “Lovely lovely Ash!” says the wicketkeeper KS Bharat. And indeed, Ravi Ashwin is bowling a lovely line, trying to pin Head within his crease but the South Australian has his feet moving and he leans back to leg to punch through offside. That sort of dancing won’t displease Ashwin and he keeps Head pinned for a maiden.
12th over: Australia 17-1 (Head 11, Labuschagne 0) Head takes two from Shami’s first ball to move into double figures. And then he cuts square for a single. Head looks confident as always but that confidence has undone him in the past. When it comes off it is beautiful to watch. When it doesn’t it can look decidedly ugly. Will Head let his bat have its head? Or will Head pull his head in? Time will tell. Labuschagne plays out four dots.
11th over: Australia 14-1 (Head 8, Labuschagne 0) Australia are one wicket down and India have their tail up. What can Marnus Labuschagne bring to the rescue mission? The world’s No 1 batter has not had a happy series so far and chopped on cheaply in the first innings. Can he find himself runs today for a silver lining to a stormy tour? Let’s hope he has better luck than Matt Kuhnemann who has been given out despite replays showing it was missing leg stump.
WICKET! Matthew Kuhnemann LBW Ashwin 5 (Australia 14-1)
Ashwin magic! The wily spinner floated it a little flatter, dropped it a little faster and sent it skidding through and it shot past the bat into the pad. Kuhnemann played around it and really didn’t have a hope… particularly when Travis Head broke the bad news that he wouldn’t be wasting a review on a nightwatchman.
10th over: Australia 14-0 (Head 8, Kuhnemann 6) Shami has the speed gun twitching at 135kph and he gets Kuhnemann twitching at a ball outside off. Lovely stuff by the veteran seamer and danger signs for Australia. Kuhnemann performs extravagant leaves to the next two. It’s a tough assignment at the best of times, being a nightwatchman, let alone against the new ball. But in a move of reckless foolhardiness or accidental bravery, he takes a single from the last to retain strike to Ashwin.
9th over: Australia 13-0 (Head 8, Kuhnemann 5) It’s believed Usman Khawaja’s leg injury will see him will bat at No 7 today. We may find out for sure shortly because India have a ring of close-in fielders breathing down Matt Kuhnemann’s neck and yammering at any ball that doesn’t hit the middle of bat. He does well to squeeze Ashwin away on the leg side off for a run and get Head on strike.
8th over: Australia 12-0 (Head 8, Kuhnemann 4) Mohammed Shami is rumbling in and Head straight away takes him on, clipping a ball on leg stump to the rope. Valiant attempt to save it don there but unsuccessful. Head registers his first four of the day. Good test for Head today. Will he play his natural game and attack? Or curb his naturally aggressive instincts and defend?
7th over: Australia 8-0 (Head 4, Kuhnemann 4) With six overs to navigate last night and Usman Khawaja injured in the field, Australia have an un familiar opening partnership at the crease: middle-order barnstormer Travis Head and three-Test tweaker Matthew Kuhnemann as nightwatchman. Their job was to survive and they did. What’s the job brief today, I wonder? It will be Head facing up to Ravi Ashwin for the first over of the day and to get us underway Head drives through the offside to take a single. Next ball Kuhnemann edges past Kohli at slip for a four. Australia trail by 83 runs
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And here’s Geoff Lemon on King Kohli’s return to form…
For those who came in late, here’s a wrap of Day 4…
Preamble
Howdy cricket lovers and thanks for joining us for day five – yes, DAY FIVE – of the fourth Test between Australia and India. Angus Fontaine here to call the final day of what has been a weird, wonderful, always entertaining series.
With 1,054 runs and 20 wickets over four days, this Test has been an anomaly. Prior to this, across three matches, we’d had 91 wickets across seven days. Those Tests were played on spinning wickets but this one has been played on a road. Yes, it has given us glorious centuries by Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green on day two and yesterday a famous 186 by Virat Kohli – his first Test ton in 1206 days – but has it given us a contest? Today will give us our answer.
After Australia posted 480, India replied with 571 – a lead of 91 runs. So, with one day to play, the equation today is pretty simple, right? India must attack and take 10 wickets to win and Australia must defend those 10 wickets for a draw.
But nothing in this series has been cut and dry – except the pitches which have been cut and dried by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to maximise the home side’s advantage and scupper any chance of Australia winning.
That fiendish plan worked a treat in Nagpur and Delhi when Ravi Ashwin destroyed Australia’s batting to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But the plan backfired in Indore when Steve Smith’s men turned the tables and won by nine wickets. With the series still up for grabs, the BCCI have rolled out a road to ensure, at worst, a high-scoring draw and, at best, a series victory.
The other key factor here is the invisible “fifth Test” looming between these nations – this one to be played in London in June between the two top-ranked sides on the planet for the World Test Championship. Australia have already qualified but India need to win or draw this Test to meet them in the WTC final.
The team vying to steal India’s spot is the seventh-ranked Sri Lanka who are currently touring New Zealand in a two-Test series. They need a 2-0 victory to displace India and are currently looking good to take the first Test.
So there’s plenty at stake, not least the pride of the nations these sides represent. Will Australia attack and chase the win, however unlikely? Or will they defend to save the draw? And will India attack to win the Test? Or defend to save the draw and risk Sri Lanka beating New Zealand twice in a row?
It’s a head-scratcher alright. But the men with the answers will be out there shortly to sort it out and give us one more glorious day of Australia-India cricket, so buckle ‘em up and batten ‘em down.
