Spin twins have a batting day out

For India to have any chance of squaring the series at Adelaide, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble were going to have to do something special. But even the most optimistic fan couldn't have expected that they'd do Australian hopes so much harm with the bat. When they came together with the score 359 for 7, Ricky Ponting must have harboured hopes of batting before lunch.

By the time Kumble was out 11 balls after tea, a further 167 had been added, and a decent total had metamorphosed into an imposing one. Even Ishant Sharma, who had never reached double figures in first-class cricket before this series, played his part, contributing 14 to a last-wicket stand of 58 that thwarted Australia for 123 balls.

India's tail showed that they could bat on the tour of England, where Kumble got a century at The Oval, and they've been just as impressive here. RP Singh played a vital hand in Perth, and Harbhajan's more mature approach today was a revelation.

You expect Kumble to knuckle down, but Harbhajan has usually been known to come out blazing. But while he did play some cavalier strokes, he was also sensible enough to ride out the odd pace storm, until what he called a "stupid shot" sent him on his way for 63.

Kumble's cover-drives off Stuart Clark were magnificent, and they also showed just how good a pitch it was. Australia will need to make best use of it tomorrow, before the odd gremlin starts to appear.

Just over a year ago, Paul collingwood and Kevin Pietersen punished Australia in similar fashion in the second Ashes Test. Australia then slumped to 65 for 3 before Ponting and the two Michaels, Clarke and Hussey, resuscitated the innings.

The 21 overs before stumps passed without too many alarms for Australia's openers, and India will have to be on their guard for day three. They need only look back at what happened to England to realise the perils of allowing the intensity to drop even a little against a team of this quality.

The day dawned with expectations of a Tendulkar double-century, but a self-inflicted blow on the knee ended those hopes. He had batted quite beautifully till then, finding the gaps cleverly and striking the ball with power and panache.

The one disappointment was MS Dhoni, whose lean run continued with an uppish slash to deep point. He has the lowest strike-rate in the series after Rahul Dravid, and perhaps the grafting game isn't for him. Maybe he needs to think hard and trust the methods that brought him into the limelight in the first place.

Harbhajan reckoned that the circumstances - runs on the board, and a pitch that should take turn later - were perfect to knock Australia off their perch, but he also admitted that it was a very good pitch to bat on. We'll know how accurate his assessment is on day three, but first, India will have to get past Matthew Hayden, who went past Allan Border as the highest run-scorer against India.

It would also help if the Indians catch better than Australia did. The tally of dropped catches and stumpings now stands at 15, perhaps the worst fielding from an Australian side since the 2005 Ashes. Even the best are vulnerable when subjected to intense pressure, and we'll only know how costly those mistakes were once this enthralling series comes to an end.   

Comments

[bunty]

well played bhajji and kumble; india now need to try to restrict oz to 450 or so and score 200+ overcoming adelaide 3rd innings jinx- for that laxman at no 3 and dravid at 5 may offer best chances; a 4th innings target for oz of at least 275-300 is essential for advantage (target of 225 would be interesting but advantage oz) as curiously 4th innings are less tricky at adelaide than 3rd; ishant has bowled beautifully and may be the key bowler; things may change on last 2 days but so far as when india play here earlier the wicket is curiously slightly less helpful to spin than its reputation; uneven bounce and reverse swing tend to be bigger factors; what happened to the post tea breeze that aided kapil's swing in 85?

[a don]

Welcome to the 21st century. Europeans dominating the tennis and Inida stamping itself as the possible next cricket powerhouse.

[Dileep]

Not sure this pitch will behave the same way though. And in any case, I think India should be aiming to get Australia out for less than 400 first. That will be tough enough because the pitch is a batting paradise right now. I think Hayden could well be the key. Get him early, and there might just be a few jitters.

[Tarun Y]

Dileep,

What are you views on the third innings at this ground? It seems that midway on day 4 it becomes an absolute nightmare to bat on.

In 03-04, Agarkar (with support from Kumble) bowled Australa out cheaply, and then in the last Ashes, Warne and co. bowled England out cheaply.

What do you attribute this to, and what must india do in their 2nd innings?