Aussies hanging on
20 October, 2008

Harbhajan Singh collected three top-order wickets and Ishant Sharma snared a brace to leave India on the brink of victory over Australia after day four of the second Border-Gavaskar Test.

Off-spinner Harbhajan and paceman Ishant showed up frailties in Australia's batting line-up as the tourists crumbled to 5-58 at one stage in pursuit of 516 for an improbable win.

Michael Clarke (42 not out) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (37 not out) staged a recovery of sorts as the Australians ended the day on 5-141, still needing 375 runs to triumph.

A hundred from Gautam Gambhir (104) and half-centuries from Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Singh Dhoni had set India up with a massive lead in quick time.

The hosts had already laid the foundation with a first-innings lead of 201 and Dhoni declared India's second innings closed at 3-314, leaving Australia with a daunting total to chase.

Matthew Hayden, who had scores of zero, 13 and zero on the tour so far, and Simon Katich set about taking the attack to the Indian pacemen and partially succeeded as they hit the new-ball bowlers out of the attack.

Dhoni, however, brought on Harbhajan and the off-spinner immediately forced the breakthrough in spite of the ball being fairly new.

Hayden had made 29 from just 18 deliveries when he attempted to sweep Harbhajan, but instead was rapped on the pads.

Katich (20) fell shortly after, square-driving Harbhajan only for Sachin Tendulkar to take a fine catch at point.

Ishant had skipper Ricky Ponting (two) bowled with one that nipped back sharply off the pitch and knocked back off-stump, while Harbhajan trapped Michael Hussey (one) in front to leave Australia in tatters at 4-52.

That became 5-58 when Ishant sent back Shane Watson for two, catching him on the crease and hitting him on the back pad as he shaped to defend.

Clarke, who has made little impression so far on this tour, was then joined by Haddin, however, and the two halted the rampaging Indian bowlers.

They added 83 runs for the sixth wicket by stumps, smashing six boundaries apiece as they safely negotiated a probing line from the spinners at the end.

In the morning, Gambhir and Sehwag had picked up from where they had left off on the third day, hitting the bowlers around the park as they put on another 82 runs to their opening-wicket partnership - already worth 100 overnight.

Gambhir, resuming from his overnight 46, was almost done in by a touch of nerves at the start.

The left-hander presented Clarke with a run-out opportunity off the first ball he faced, edging a delivery from Cameron White which was put down by Hayden at first slip, and gave Brett Lee another run-out chance a little later as he inched towards his half-century.

Once past the mark, however, the 27-year-old was more fluent.

He stepped out to hoist White for a six over mid-on and continued to find the ropes almost at will as he raced towards a century.

Sehwag had hit a few blows of his own, slamming Shane Watson past square leg for his first boundary of the day and thumping White over mid-on for another.

The belligerent opener, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Monday, survived a collective appeal for caught behind off Mitchell Johnson, umpire Asad Rauf remaining unmoved.

Replays suggested Sehwag had indeed nicked the delivery, but it proved not to have been a costly call for the Australians as Sehwag fell two runs later, edging Peter Siddle to wicketkeeper Haddin.

Dhoni promoted himself up the order, quick runs and maintaining momentum evidently weighing heavily on the India captain's mind.

The move paid off as runs flowed.


Dhoni added 42 quick runs for the second wicket with Gambhir, the latter notching his second Test century in the process.

Gambhir was dismissed just before lunch and Dhoni was joined by Sourav Ganguly (27), the two adding 66 runs for the third wicket.

The Indians had hammered an astonishing 130 runs in the first session.

Dhoni was unbeaten on 68 and Sachin Tendulkar was on 10 when the declaration was made.

India wraps up victory
21 October, 2008

Zaheer Khan made short work of the Australian tail as India secured a 320-run victory in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Left-arm paceman Zaheer claimed three wickets in his first two overs as Australia crashed from 5-141 overnight to 8-144.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra completed the rout by picking up the last two wickets as Australia, chasing a target of 516 for an improbable win, were eventually bowled out for 195.

Zaheer ended a blossoming partnership between Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke by bowling Haddin with the last ball of his first over.

Just one run was added to their sixth wicket stand, already worth 83 overnight, when Haddin was bowled by one which came back slightly off the pitch.

Haddin failed to add to his overnight score of 37.

Zaheer struck twice again off consecutive deliveries in his second over, first removing Cameron White (one) and then Brett Lee (zero).

White traded flash for prudence, slashing at an away going delivery and only edging to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Lee was done in by one which moved slightly off the seam, knocking back off stump as the tailender shaped to defend.

Mitchell Johnson saved the hat-trick by playing forward and defending solidly.

He briefly held up India's charge, putting on 50 runs with Clarke for the ninth wicket and in the process showing runs could still be had from the fifth day's pitch.


He struck four boundaries in his 26 before offering a simple return catch to leg spinner Amit Mishra.

Clarke, meanwhile, reached his ninth half-century, getting past the mark by scampering through for a couple of runs courtesy of a mis-field in the covers.

He was the last man out attempting to pull Mishra through midwicket where Sehwag pulled off a smart catch to bring up India's biggest victory over the World Champions in terms of runs.

The third Test starts in Delhi on October 29.

Gambhir puts India on top
29 October, 2008

Opener Gautam Gambhir completed an impressive century as India gained the upper hand on the first day of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

India began badly, losing Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid in quick succession at the start, but Gambhir steadied dressing room nerves as the hosts recovered admirably to finish the day in a strong position.

At stumps, India had reached 3-296, with Gambhir still batting on 149 and VVS Laxman on 54, the two having added 139 runs in an unbroken stand for the fourth wicket.

Gambhir had also pieced together a profitable 130-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, with the world's most prolific scorer adding 68 runs of his own before he fell on the stroke of the tea interval.

Australia paceman Brett Lee had found rare success with the new ball, accounting for Sehwag for just one run in only his second over of a fiery spell with the new ball.

Lee, who had a meagre four wickets in the first two matches, trapped Sehwag in front, catching the explosive opener on the crease with one that veered in slightly.

Johnson, who replaced Lee after the paceman had completed his first spell, struck another blow by dismissing Rahul Dravid for 11 in his first over.

Dravid's dismissal was more a case of poor shot selection rather than fine bowling from Johnson.

The former India captain chased a delivery pitched well outside off stump and only managed an edge which Matthew Hayden held neatly at first slip.

India were precariously placed at 2-27 when Tendulkar joined Gambhir at the crease.

Gambhir got off the mark with a square-driven boundary off Lee, but withdrew into a shell as wickets fell at the other end.

Tendulkar immediately relieved some of the pressure as he confidently negotiated the Australian bowlers. Determined not to go the Dravid way, he chose to leave deliveries sent wide of off stump, but hit Johnson for consecutive boundaries in one over as India eclipsed the 50-run mark.

Gambhir got to his own half-century immediately after leg-spinner Cameron White was introduced into the attack for the first time in the second hour after lunch.

Gambhir stepped out and drove through mid-off for a boundary and then nudged White to third man for three runs to get to the half-century.

White, Australia's only specialist spinner, conceded 27 runs in four overs as he was hit out of the attack.

Tendulkar reached his half-century, the second in the series and 51st in his career, but fell shortly later when he edged Johnson to Haddin, presenting the left-arm paceman with his second wicket.

Gambhir, who had struck only his second Test century in the second innings of the second Test at Mohali, only went from strength to strength.

Circumspect in the morning, he had rediscovered his old aggressive self as the day wore on.

The left-hander brought up his century with a six off Shane Watson, stepping down the track to thump the medium-pacer over mid-off.


Gambhir had consumed 190 deliveries for his 100, but remarkably the second 50 of his innings came off just 69 deliveries.

Laxman, who had joined Gambhir at the fall of Tendulkar's wicket, had in understated fashion brought up his own half-century.

Laxman had hit only three boundaries in his 50, but it came off just 70 deliveries even as Ponting turned to the left-arm spin of Simon Katich for a breakthrough.

The run flow - Laxman and Gambhir were scoring at just under six an over at that stage - ebbed significantly thereafter, but the wickets stayed intact.

India applies screws
30 October, 2008

VVS Laxman Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman both hit double centuries as India all but batted Australia out of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Gambhir hit 206 - the maiden double century of his career - and Laxman made an unbeaten 200 before India declared its first innings on 7-613.

Australia openers Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich made a determined start to their reply, closing the day on 50 for no loss.

Hayden, who has managed a meagre 42 runs in the first two Tests, was on 16 not out at stumps with Katich on 29, the duo having successfully seen off 15 overs from the India bowlers, including seven overs of probing spin.

Australia had begun the day with optimism and banking on the second new ball to break the partnership between Gambhir and Laxman, which was already worth 139 overnight.

Those hopes quickly faded and turned to frustration as Gambhir and Laxman quickly accelerated out of the blocks.

The duo harvested 97 runs in the first session, Laxman picking boundaries at will in typically wristy fashion.

The middle-order batsman brought up his 13th Test century and sixth against Australia with a cover-drive to the boundary off spinner Cameron White and went past the 150-run mark - for the fourth time against Australia -with a single off Katich.

Gambhir slammed 26 fours and a six, before being bowled by Shane Watson, four and a half sessions after he first came out to bat.

Watson was pressed into service for the first time on Thursday, well after lunch, and the all-rounder immediately struck by getting rid of the left-handed opener.

Gambhir attempted to steer a delivery to third man, but an inside edge cannoned on to his stumps. Gambhir and Laxman's partnership yielded 278 runs in 72.1 overs.

The second hour after lunch was Australia's most successful period of a long day as they snared Sourav Ganguly (five) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (27) in addition to Gambhir.

Ganguly, playing his last match at the Feroz Shah Kotla, attempted to drive Katich on the up through the covers only for Ricky Ponting to scoop up a catch at short cover.

Dhoni presented Katich with a difficult return catch almost immediately after he came to the crease.

Katich stuck out a hand, but failed to grasp it. Dhoni looked in ominous form, hitting Katich for consecutive boundaries and a six in one over while thumping Watson for consecutive blows in another.

Watson, however, was to have the last laugh, inducing a drive from the wicketkeeper-batsman which he edged straight behind to Brad Haddin.

India captain Anil Kumble got his team past the 500-run mark with successive boundaries off Katich and smashed a total of seven fours in all before falling to Mitchell Johnson.

Laxman eventually reached his double century by clubbing Michael Clarke for two over mid-on and Kumble declared immediately after.

Laxman's previous double century - 281 at Kolkata - also came against the world champions.


Johnson finished the innings as Australia's most successful bowler, having taken 3-142 as Watson claimed 2-66. Brett Lee also bowled with pace and venom, particularly with the new ball but could not manage another wicket after taking Virender Sehwag early on Wednesday morning, finishing his innings on 1-119.

Hayden still confident
01 November, 2008

Australia opener Matthew Hayden admitted he went back to basics en route to a critical knock of 83 on the third day of the third Test against India.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting had ridiculed India at the start of the series by suggesting the hosts played old-style cricket, claiming his tourists would offer "new-age cricket" and score at four runs an over.

But needing to help avoid the follow-on after India posted a huge score of 613 for seven declared, Hayden played the old-fashioned way and was rewarded with a solid total.

Hayden put on 123 runs for the opening wicket with Simon Katich, and Australia ended the day on 338 for four, 275 runs behind India's first innings score.

"With 600 on the board, it required a more traditional type of innings," Hayden said.

"Today I really set myself to bat a long time and took advantage of the loose ball.


"I felt relaxed from ball one, and through last night as well."

Hayden had accumulated a meagre 42 runs from the first two matches, twice being dismissed for ducks.

His return to form is certain to boost Australia, who are already 1-0 down in the series and still facing a formidable task over the next two days in the third Test.

Hayden, however, believes Australia could still clinch a draw and save the game.

"It was frustrating for the top three batsmen to fall after getting half-centuries, but it was still a very good day for Australia," Hayden said.

"Four for 300 was a good result.

"We're very confident, we've got a good batting line-up to come."

Hayden praised the Indian bowlers, saying they had done a fine job in the circumstances.

"Anil (Kumble) and Amit (Mishra) bowled admirably well today," he said.

"Interestingly, Sehwag also got some spin from the new ball. He bowled really well. He had spin, speed and variation.

"He (Sehwag) is not a big turner of the ball like Harbhajan Singh, but he knows the conditions really well.

"There are some challenging conditions to face, especially with spin, but it is one we are going to enjoy."

Part-time off-spinner Sehwag was pressed into service after Kumble injured his finger while attempting a catch and was forced to leave the field.

Sehwag picked up three of the four wickets to fall including Hayden, whom he trapped leg before.

Sehwag said India could still force a win in the remaining two days.

"The match is not in anyone's favour just yet," he said. "We will have to see how it goes tomorrow morning. But I think it will not be easy to save a match on this wicket.

"The ball is now spinning from the rough on the edge of the wicket, but once the pitch cracks, it will make batting difficult. Anil will return tomorrow and he will bowl a lot better than I did today.

"Australia will find it difficult."

Sehwag said the wickets were a bonus as he was only trying to restrict the runs.

"Anil was injured so someone had to bowl," he said. "I got this opportunity to bowl 20 overs after a long time. I just wanted to contain the runs and that's what I did and in the process also got the wickets.

"Now I have a chance to claim my first five-wicket haul."

Clarke boosts Australian hopes
01 November, 2008


Michael Clarke and Brett Lee A fortuitous century from Michael Clarke helped Australia slam the door on India's hopes of a victory on the fourth day of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Clarke, dropped on 21, 90 and 94, rode his luck en route to 112, leaving Australia in position to clinch a draw which would give it a chance of saving the series.

Part-time off-spinner Virender Sehwag completed a five-wicket haul as Australia was eventually bowled out in the last session of the day for 577, only 36 shy of India's first-innings score of 7-613 declared.

India then lost quick wickets at the start of its second innings and closed the day on 2-43.

Clarke's hundred, his eighth in Test cricket, saved the day for Australia, but it had looked an unlikely feat at the start.

Clarke was handed a reprieve in just the fourth over of the day when Ishant Sharma put down a straight forward chance at long off.

The New South Wales batsman skipped down the track in an attempt to cart leg-spinner Amit Mishra over the in-field, but hit straight to Ishant, who grassed the regulation catch.

Sehwag had dismissed Shane Watson (36) quickly enough in the morning, but his attempts to add a fifth victim to his haul were twice stymied by poor fielding, Clarke being the beneficiary on both occasions.

Clarke attempted a slog-sweep off the spinner, but the delivery took the top edge and ballooned to VVS Laxman at long-off. Laxman, however, dropped what ought to have been a simple catch.

Four runs later, Clarke swept Sehwag again, this time straight to Mishra at deep square leg. Mishra advanced a touch, but failed to grasp cleanly.

Clarke then brought up his century by swatting a short ball from Sehwag through covers. Only six boundaries and one six studded his eighth Test century.

He finally holed out in the deep to Zaheer Khan, presenting Mishra his second wicket.

Clarke had constructed crucial partnerships worth 73 for the fifth wicket with Watson and 109 for the seventh with Cameron White (44).

Watson was the first to go in the morning, the all-rounder falling after putting on a show of belligerence.

He took 10 runs off three deliveries from an Ishant over and hit a total of eight boundaries, six of them coming through the third man region.

But his resistance ended when Sehwag got one to turn sharply from outside off stump beating Watson as he moved back to defend.

The ball spun enough to clip the top of leg stump.

Kumble, who missed most of the third day due to a finger injury sustained in the morning session, plunged into attack immediately upon returning to the field after 14 overs had been bowled.


He finally picked up his first wicket of the series, getting rid of Brad Haddin.

Haddin skipped down the track to hit Kumble over the top, was beaten by the flight and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had the bails whipped off in a flash.

White showed admirable diligence and patience as he kept out the Indian bowlers, before being bowled via an edge by Sehwag.

Kumble then mopped up the tail, trapping Brett Lee (eight) in front and shortly after running back to collect a catch from Mitchell Johnson (15) off his own bowling, ending Australia's innings.

India then saw opener Sehwag bowled by Lee for 16 and the decision to send in a nightwatchman backfired as Ishant capped a poor day by falling to Stuart Clark for one.

At close, Rahul Dravid, who was rapped on the forearm by a bouncer from Clark, was batting on five and with him was Gautam Gambhir on 21.

India leads the four-match series 1-0.

Kumble bids farewell in Delhi draw
November 02, 2008

A FAREWELL spell from retiring captain Anil Kumble added poignancy to the drawn conclusion of the third Test after India foiled slim Australia hopes of victory.

The Indians declared after tea at 5-208, an overall lead of 244, with VVS Laxman (59no) and Sourav Ganguly (32no).

Sachin Tendulkar (47) and Gautam Gambhir (36) provided time-sapping resistance in the early passages at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.

Australian openers Matthew Hayden (16no) and Simon Katich (14no) then played out a token eight overs to reach 0-31, Kumble fittingly taking the new ball on a dusty subcontinental wicket for the last time after announcing his retirement earlier in the session.

In an unrepresentative finish to a career that gleaned 619 Test wickets - the third most of all time - Kumble's final ball was a full toss struck to the straight fence by Hayden.

However the close of play brought a more fitting moment as members of the Indian team - including captaincy successor Mahendra Dhoni - carried Kumble for part of his lap of honour.

The teams now travel to Nagpur for Thursday's final Test, with India holding a 1-0 lead.

Brett Lee (2-48), Stuart Clark (1-22) and Mitchell Johnson (1-23) earlier put in dangerous spells, bending their backs in a last despairing effort to wrench a result from a pitch that did not deteriorate as both captains expected it would.

All-rounder Cameron White (1-23) was not employed by captain Ricky Ponting until the match had been virtually decided, but he bowled tidily when given the chance and dismissed Tendulkar for the second time in the series with a rare ball that turned.

Given his success in the first innings, it was puzzling that left arm wrist spinner Simon Katich was not used for a single over.

Gautam Gambhir (36) was again a thorn in the side of the Australians in the morning, seeing off the bowlers until Johnson won a dubious lbw verdict from umpire Aleem Dar.

Australian desire to win bubbled over in the final moments before lunch, Johnson exchanging harsh words with Laxman to attract a word of warning from umpire Dar.

Tendulkar batted sensibly and with the freedom he has shown since becoming Test cricket's highest run scorer.

Rahul Dravid, though, was not so successful, unable to survive Lee's initial burst which saw the Australian gain a hint of reverse swing to complicate matters for the batsmen.

Only 10 runs came in eight overs before Lee delivered a yorker that shaped in enough to disturb the stumps via an inside edge.

At the other end, Clark gave Gambhir a working over, varying his lines and lengths from around the wicket and on one occasion delivering a grubber that touched Gambhir's bottom edge before dribbling through to 'keeper Brad Haddin.

Tendulkar was less troubled, and unfurled the odd sweet drive to take the lead beyond 100.

He and Gambhir would have taken the home side to lunch but for an error by Dar, who failed to accurately gauge that the inswing on Johnson's delivery to Gambhir had to take the ball past leg stump.

Shane Watson (0-26) had reason to feel aggrieved in the afternoon when he had a very legitimate lbw appeal against Tendulkar denied by the same umpire, and it was left to White to dismiss him, nicking a catch to slip.

Sachin ton hands India edge
06 November, 2008

Sachin Tendulkar A century from Sachin Tendulkar guided India to 5-311 at stumps on the opening day of the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, giving the hosts the edge in the decisive match.

Tendulkar, who was dropped on 85 and 98 and also survived a run-out attempt just after passing his half-century, took an age to bring up his 40th Test century but eventually got there deep into the final session.

The champion batsman became the first player in Test match history to record 40 hundreds and also overtook Australian legend Allan Border as the man to score over 50 more times than anyone else (now 91).

His 109, allied with half-centuries from Virender Sehwag (66) and VVS Laxman (64), put India in a strong position after the first day.

Sourav Ganguly, playing his final Test match for India, was still batting on 27 at the close with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on four.

Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza, who was picked in place of paceman Stuart Clark, proved expensive on his debut but still claimed a three-wicket haul (3-138).

Sehwag and his new opening partner Murali Vijay (33) had exploded off the blocks after Dhoni had won yet another toss for India.

The two plundered 70 runs in the first hour as they pushed the visitors, 1-0 down in the series, on to the back foot.

Australia's new-ball bowlers Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson sprayed the ball around, although the tourists did have their chances.

Sehwag had an inside edge off Johnson miss off-stump by a whisker while another top-edge flew over the slip cordon.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting had handed Krejza the ball as early as the 12th over and Sehwag immediately responded by hitting him for a boundary and a six in that first over.

Vijay took to his first Test with gusto only a day after being rushed into the side to replace the banned Gautam Gambhir.

A flurry of boundaries marked the first hour as India went into the first drinks break firmly on the front foot.

Shane Watson, however, severed the burgeoning opening partnership getting steepling bounce and inducing an edge from Vijay which was grasped behind by Brad Haddin.

Sehwag brought up his half-century - off just 45 deliveries - by turning the spinner through square leg for a single and looked set to make a big score when he chopped a delivery from Krejza back on to his stumps.

Ponting persisted with Krejza although the off-spinner leaked 34 runs in his first four overs and was rewarded when the debutant disposed of Rahul Dravid (zero) for his first Test wicket.

Dravid had lunged forward to defend a delivery that kicked up, the edge flying to Simon Katich at short leg.

Tendulkar, who had walked out to the crease with India in a spot of bother at 3-116, steadied the ship in the company of Laxman.

The two, although conservative in approach in contrast to the openers, were no less effective as they added 146 runs for the fourth wicket.

Laxman, playing his 100th Test, was all timing and placement and he reached his half-century off 126 deliveries, hitting four boundaries along the way.

Then, much against the run of play, Krejza sent Laxman back to the pavilion. The right-handed batsman moved to make room to cut Krejza on the off, but the ball spun sharply and caught the top edge which Haddin snaffled.

Tendulkar's century looked anything but assured as he was dropped twice.


Johnson made a mess of a fairly straight forward chance as Tendulkar looked to hit over the top and miscued.

Lee dropped another similar opportunity, Krejza being the unfortunate bowler on both occasions.

Johnson, however, made amends as he caught Tendulkar on the crease, wrapping him on the pads as the batsman had shuffled back to defend. Billy Bowden upheld the appeal for leg before.

Ganguly and Dhoni then carefully watched out the remaining overs.

Krejza rips through tail
07 November, 2008

Jason Krejza Australia off-spinner Jason Krejza picked up eight wickets on debut as India were bowled out for 441 midway through the afternoon session on day two of the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Krejza got rid of Mahendra Singh Dhoni (56) just after the India skipper had reached his half-century, the 12th of his career.

Dhoni's departure ended a sixth-wicket partnership worth 119 with Sourav Ganguly, who was also a victim of the spinner in his final Test before retirement.

Krejza picked up Ganguly two deliveries after he had disposed of Dhoni, the left-hander falling for 85.

Ganguly tentatively poked at a delivery from the rookie, but a thick edge flew to Michael Clarke who snaffled a brilliant catch at first slip.

Krejza then picked up two wickets in as many deliveries, bowling Zaheer Khan (1), via an inside edge, and Amit Mishra (0).

Krejza was denied the hat-trick, but soon sent back Ishant Sharma for a duck, caught by Simon Katich at short-leg.

Krejza, overlooked for the first three matches of this series, finished with figures of 8-215 from 43.5 overs.

Earlier, Ganguly and Dhoni had taken India to a commanding 5-404 at lunch.

Runs came in a steady flow right through the session - 93 in all from 26 overs - but remarkably most of them through strong running between the wickets as the duo consolidated.

Dhoni, playing a dominant hand in the partnership earlier on, struck the first boundary of the day in the seventh over when he whipped Brett Lee through square-leg.

Ganguly got his first boundary in the next over, square-driving left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson and then hit Krejza for a six over long-on as he slowly came into his own.


The 36-year-old brought up his 34th half-century by pushing Krejza through mid-off for a couple of runs.

Dhoni had grown in confidence, audaciously reverse-sweeping Krejza to good effect despite a slip being in place as he closed in on his half-century.

The run rate dipped in the last half-hour before lunch as Australia's bowlers, Shane Watson in particular, channelled deliveries in the corridor outside off stump.

Australia lost key opener Matthew Hayden before tea, the burly Queenslander run out attempting a quick single to Murali Vijay at mid-on.

Hayden looked in good nick, hitting three fours in his 16, before a rush of blood resulted in his dismissal with Vijay's throw shattering the stumps.

Simon Katich remained unbeaten on 18 with captain Ricky Ponting on seven not out as Australia reached 43 for one at the interval.

Krejza: Dravid the best
08 November, 2008

Australia's Jason Krejza revealed claiming the scalp of Rahul Dravid has so far been the stand-out moment of his stunning Test debut against India.

An eight-wicket haul by the off-spinner enabled Australia to battle their way back into the fourth Test in Nagpur on Friday, Krejza's efforts seeing the hosts slump from 311 for five at the start of the day to 441 all out.

Krejza dismissed Dravid, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman on Thursday before picking off Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in quick succession just after lunch on day two.

He then dismissed Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra and Ishant Sharma as India's tail faltered, but he revealed it was his maiden Test wicket that will live longest in the memory.

"The first wicket definitely was my most memorable and getting Rahul Dravid was great," he said.

"I had worked it out in my mind and it came out as I had planned."

The New South Wales player was overlooked for the first three Tests of the series after struggling in a warm-up match at the start of the tour.

However, the lack of a quality specialist spinner had seen Australia fall to a 1-0 deficit in the series, and Krejza was handed his first Test cap for the final game of the series.


Krejza added that the dismissal of Ganguly - his fifth wicket of the match - was key, coming as it did in the same over that he had sent Dhoni back to the pavilion and also ushering in India's ineffective tailenders.

"Ganguly's wicket was crucial," the 25-year-old said.

"His wicket was a good one for me. There isn't much help bowling against left-handers and to get him we had to change our field a bit."

"I gave myself more protection so that I could attack and got him."

Krejza's eight wickets were expensive - coming at a cost of 215 runs - but he was nevertheless delighted with his overall performance.

"It was important for us to get those wickets," he said.

"I was just trying to keep my emotions under control. It's a bit of a blur still."

"It's incredible to achieve a feat like that against the best players of spin in the world."

Krejza's efforts ensured the tourists had plenty of time to rack up a decent first-innings reply. Simon Katich hit 92 not out as Australia reached stumps on 189 for two.

Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting the wickets to fall.


India seizes control
08 November, 2008

Shane Watson India turned the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series back in their favour by claiming three quick wickets before tea on the third day to take the shine off Simon Katich's earlier ton for Australia.

Katich, handed a huge slice of luck when he was dropped on 94 by Rahul Dravid in the second over of the day off Ishant Sharma, made 102 as he and Michael Hussey paired for a gritty 155-run stand for the third wicket.

But Hussey was dismissed 10 runs short of a century while Michael Clarke (eight) and Shane Watson (two) were also sent back to the pavilion in quick succession as Australia slipped from 3-231 at lunch to 6-280 by the tea interval.

Brad Haddin and Cameron White were both unbeaten on seven as Australia reached the break still 161 runs adrift of India's first-innings total of 441.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had surprisingly rested on his heels in the morning as the bowlers played a waiting game.

Zaheer Khan and Ishant concentrated on a line outside off stump in 18 overs of unbroken pace in the morning, a tactic that almost paid off when Katich fell into the trap, edging to first slip only for Dravid to drop the chance.

Katich, who resumed from his overnight 92, completed his century by steering Ishant to third man for his ninth boundary of the innings, but fell to a reverse-swinging yorker from Zaheer just before lunch.

India conceded just 42 runs in the first session of day three as Hussey continued to offer resistance, bringing up his half-century with an edge which fell between Dravid and VVS Laxman in the slips.

But the left-hander eventually fell to a fine piece of fielding from debutant Murali Vijay for 90.


Hussey steered a delivery from Harbhajan Singh just past Vijay at silly point and set off for a single. Vijay, however, lunged and collected, throwing the ball back to the middle which Dhoni deflected on the stumps with Hussey short of the crease.

Clarke had already been sent packing by that point, Ishant inducing an edge which was caught behind by Dhoni.

Watson fell when he reached forward to defend a top spinner from Harbhajan only to have the ball roll back and rattle the stumps.

Haddin and White were subjected to an intense examination from India's spinners but survived unscathed to the interval.