India 1st innings		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	G Gambhir	c Clarke b Pattinson	0	2	3	0	0	0.00
	V Sehwag	c †Haddin b Pattinson	30	83	51	4	0	58.82
	R Dravid	c Cowan b Siddle	5	42	33	1	0	15.15
	SR Tendulkar	b Pattinson	41	133	89	8	0	46.06
	VVS Laxman	c Marsh b Pattinson	2	10	9	0	0	22.22
	V Kohli	c †Haddin b Siddle	23	50	41	3	0	56.09
	MS Dhoni*†	not out	57	101	77	8	0	74.02
	R Ashwin	c Clarke b Hilfenhaus	20	48	39	1	0	51.28
	Z Khan	c Cowan b Hilfenhaus	0	1	1	0	0	0.00
	I Sharma	c Cowan b Hilfenhaus	0	2	6	0	0	0.00
	U Yadav	c †Haddin b Siddle	0	10	10	0	0	0.00
	Extras	(b 3, lb 6, w 2, nb 2)	13
	Total	(all out; 59.3 overs)	191	(3.21 runs per over)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	JL Pattinson	14	3	43	4	3.07	(1nb, 2w)
	BW Hilfenhaus	22	9	51	3	2.31
	PM Siddle	13.3	3	55	3	4.07	(1nb)
	MEK Hussey	2	0	8	0	4.00
	NM Lyon	8	0	25	0	3.12

	Australia 1st innings		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	DA Warner	c Tendulkar b Khan	8	3	6	1	0	133.33
	EJM Cowan	lbw b Khan	16	42	28	2	0	57.14
	SE Marsh	c Laxman b Khan	0	4	1	0	0	0.00
	RT Ponting	c Tendulkar b Sharma	134	332	225	14	0	59.55
	MJ Clarke*	not out	329	609	468	39	1	70.29
	MEK Hussey	not out	150	306	253	16	1	59.28
	Extras	(b 2, lb 13, w 4, nb 3)	22
	Total	(4 wickets dec; 163 overs)	659	(4.04 runs per over)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	Z Khan	31	4	122	3	3.93
	U Yadav	24	2	123	0	5.12	(2w)
	I Sharma	33	2	144	1	4.36	(1nb, 1w)
	R Ashwin	44	5	157	0	3.56	(1w)
	V Sehwag	23	1	75	0	3.26	(2nb)
	V Kohli	8	0	23	0	2.87

	India 2nd innings		R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	G Gambhir	c Warner b Siddle	83	217	142	11	0	58.45
	V Sehwag	c Warner b Hilfenhaus	4	14	8	1	0	50.00
	R Dravid	b Hilfenhaus	29	100	73	6	0	39.72
	SR Tendulkar	c Hussey b Clarke	80	213	141	9	0	56.73
	VVS Laxman	b Hilfenhaus	66	130	119	7	0	55.46
	V Kohli	lbw b Pattinson	9	35	24	2	0	37.50
	MS Dhoni*†	c & b Hilfenhaus	2	11	11	0	0	18.18
	R Ashwin	c Lyon b Hilfenhaus	62	102	76	9	1	81.57
	Z Khan	c Marsh b Siddle	35	36	26	5	1	134.61
	I Sharma	lbw b Lyon	11	38	35	2	0	31.42
	U Yadav	not out	0	17	14	0	0	0.00
	Extras	(b 6, lb 3, w 2, nb 8)	19
	Total	(all out; 110.5 overs)	400	(3.60 runs per over)

	Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
	JL Pattinson	23	4	106	1	4.60	(3nb, 1w)
	BW Hilfenhaus	32.5	8	106	5	3.22	(1w)
	PM Siddle	24	8	88	2	3.66	(1nb)
	NM Lyon	20	2	64	1	3.20
	MJ Clarke	9	0	22	1	2.44
	MEK Hussey	2	0	5	0	2.50

 Australia v India, 2nd Test, Sydney, 2nd day Ponting’s ton, Clarke’s double demoralise India

Michael Clarke scored all around the wicket during his maiden Test double-century

Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting have prior form in shattering Indian spirits at the SCG. Four years ago, they conspired to steal victory during a mad quarter hour late on the fifth day, when Clarke was handed the ball by the captain Ponting and took three wickets in an over. This year, they tortured India more slowly, with a partnership that lasted the best part of six hours and all but ensured Australia could not lose the Test.

Of course, since Kolkata in 2001, nothing has ever been truly certain in Tests between these two countries. But the drought-breaking century from Ponting – his first in nearly two years – and Clarke’s maiden Test double-hundred steered Australia into the kind of position from which it would take a Kolkata-like comeback to rescue India. They would need something very, very special.

The Sydney crowd had already witnessed the exceptional, from Clarke and Ponting. By stumps, Clarke was unbeaten on 251, having batted through the day, and it was not out of the question that he could become the first man to score a Test triple-century at the SCG. Michael Hussey had chipped in with 55 not out and Australia’s lead had ballooned to 291, with six wickets in hand.

Clarke’s innings was mature and mesmerising, but it was Ponting’s hundred that had really brought the crowd to life. Ponting had been starved of a Test century in his past 33 innings, and for the first time since the early days of his career had faced pressure to justify his place in the side. At no stage during his slump did he give up. It was somehow appropriate for a man who had fought so hard over the past few months that he was dirty and dishevelled when his hundred arrived.

The milestone came via a quick single, a poorly-judged one too, for a direct hit from Zaheer Khan at mid-on would have had Ponting run out for 99. He dived to make the crease and climbed up off the ground – the most fitting metaphor imaginable – with helmet askew and dirt all down his shirt and trousers. It was a sight that brought smiles from Clarke and even the umpire Ian Gould, and importantly from Ponting himself.

Amid all the debate over his form and his position in the side in recent months, Ponting had maintained that he was batting well. In this innings, he was. There were several classic Ponting pulls and his flicks through the leg side were a feature of his game. To some degree, he eschewed the typical Ponting back-foot drives through the off side, though that in part came down to the lines India bowled.

It was not until the second new ball arrived that Ponting departed, caught at point for 134 when he drove Ishant Sharma. Ponting walked off to a standing ovation, having joined his catcher, Sachin Tendulkar, and Jacques Kallis as the only men to have scored 40 Test centuries. His 288-run stand with Clarke, the highest fourth-wicket partnership ever compiled against India in Test cricket, had demoralised the visitors.

More was to come from Clarke, who had brought up his 18th Test century, and his fourth in his past 11 innings, with a perfectly placed cover-drive for four in the last over before lunch. His double-century arrived from his 284th delivery with a flick through square leg off Zaheer, and it brought a kiss of the helmet and a tear to the eye of Clarke, who is in his first home summer as Australia’s full-time captain.

Clarke scored his runs all around the ground, with cover-drives, off-drives, clips off the pads, pulls, cuts, lofts over the infield against spin – perhaps the only thing he didn’t attempt was a reverse-sweep. He was seeing the ball so well that he was able to walk across his stumps and down the pitch to turn good balls from the fast men into opportunities to score through the leg side. By stumps, he had the best score by an Australia batsman in an SCG Test, and needed 37 more to beat Tip Foster’s record for all-comers.

To cap it all off for Australia, Hussey joined in late in the day with some quick runs, including two consecutive fours followed by a six off R Ashwin. It was an immensely disheartening day for India, who could manage only one wicket throughout the day after 13 had fallen on the opening day. There were no-balls from the part-time offspinner Virender Sehwag, strange field placements from MS Dhoni and a general lack of spark, which was to be expected by the end of a long, hot day in the field.

In the first couple of overs of the morning, Dhoni had a man back at deep square leg when he needed to be on the attack, and later he removed all of his slips while Umesh Yadav was bowling, seemingly a concession that all he could do was try to slow the run scoring of Ponting and Clarke rather than try to get them out.

He can be rest assured that Clarke won’t be as defensive in the field when he gets his chance. Unfortunately for Dhoni, that might be a while off yet.

Australia v India, 2nd Test, Sydney, 1st day highlights

Australia on top after day full of wickets

In the 129 years since the SCG hosted its first Test, batsmen’s lives have been made infinitely easier. Pitches are now covered. Boundaries have been shortened by ropes. Helmets have allowed batsmen to hook with impunity, and they do so with heavier bats. It is to the credit of the bowlers that the contest between bat and ball remains gripping. So it was on the first day of this match, as James Pattinson and his Australian colleagues, and then Zaheer Khan for India, dominated proceedings.

By stumps on the opening day of the SCG’s hundredth Test, 13 wickets had tumbled – more than the 11 that fell on the first day of Test cricket at the ground back in 1882. India’s captain MS Dhoni chose to bat on a pitch that featured some grass, but his batsmen didn’t back him up. Dhoni was the only man to score a half-century in India’s innings of 191, which ended soon after tea, and it was the wrong way for India to start a Test in which they needed victory to retain a chance of winning the series.

Briefly, and surprisingly, their total appeared competitive, for Australia’s inexperienced top order wobbled to 3 for 37 against the swing of Zaheer. But through Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting, Australia wrested back the advantage. At stumps, their partnership had grown to 79, Australia’s score was 3 for 116, and Ponting (44 not out) and Clarke (47 not out) both looked in ominous form.

Things could easily have gone badly wrong for Australia after Zaheer’s early strikes. David Warner edged in the first over of the innings, the catch snapped up by Sachin Tendulkar at first slip after it bounced out of the hands of VVS Laxman at second. In Zaheer’s next over, his first ball caught the edge of Shaun Marsh’s bat and was taken by Laxman, placing Zaheer on a hat-trick.

It continued a disappointing return to Test cricket for Marsh, whose golden duck followed 0 and 3 in the Melbourne Test. This time he played limply at a ball he should have left alone, returning the favour from earlier the day, when Laxman fell to a similarly poor stroke that was edged to Marsh in the cordon. Both men would be happy with their catches, neither with their choice of shot.

Zaheer’s hat-trick ball was negotiated by Ponting, but a few overs later the opener Ed Cowan became Zaheer’s third wicket, trapped lbw for 16 to a ball that struck him just in line with off stump. It was a fine spell of bowling from Zaheer, but the partnership of Clarke and Ponting, both of whom played some fine pulls late in the day, gave Australia a strong chance of a first-innings lead.

But as India showed in their first innings, good starts from two men don’t necessarily mean anything. Dhoni finished unbeaten on 57 and Tendulkar, searching for his hundredth international hundred in the SCG’s hundredth Test, made a confident 41 but a distinct lack of support from the rest of the batting order cost India dearly.

Again, they were beaten by an excellent bowling performance from Australia’s three fast men, Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle, who between them collected all ten wickets. Watching the strongly-built Pattinson bound in and attack some of the world’s best batsmen, it is easy to forget how inexperienced he is – this was the first time he had played a first-class match at the SCG.

He betrayed no nerves and struck in the first over of the Test: his third ball pitched on leg and nipped away from Gautam Gambhir, who edged to first slip for a duck that continued his slump. It was tough going early on for India’s batsmen and Rahul Dravid departed for 5 off 33 deliveries when he inside-edged onto his leg off Siddle and was taken by Cowan at short leg.

That brought Tendulkar to the crease to a standing ovation, as is the case in every innings he plays these days, and he played some wonderful cover-drives as Siddle bowled full, seeking an edge. But while Tendulkar was calm and classy, his partner Virender Sehwag never looked completely settled.

There were a few typical Sehwag flashes and he was lucky not to be caught at second slip on 23 when he edged Hilfenhaus and Ponting put down a simple chance, and a Siddle offcutter beat the bat and sailed over the stumps. Sehwag’s luck ran out on 30 when he got a regulation edge behind off the outswing of Pattinson, who had returned for another spell and bowled full and fast to test the batsmen.

It was precisely that sort of delivery that Pattinson used to get rid of Laxman (2), a man who has tormented Australia over the years, especially at the SCG, where his Test average before today was 96.20. Laxman didn’t move his feet and wafted at a drive before he was well set – but it was Pattinson’s outswing that ensured the edge behind.

That left India at 4 for 72 at lunch, and although Tendulkar and Virat Kohli steadied and batted solidly in the half hour after the break, the wickets again started to fall. Kohli was done in by Siddle’s aggression – two bouncers were followed by a fuller outswinger and the batsman didn’t move his feet well enough, edging behind for 23.

Soon afterwards, Pattinson picked up the huge wicket of Tendulkar, who had looked good in his 41 but played on when he tried to drive a fullish ball wide of off stump. A ton of tons would have to wait. R Ashwin and Dhoni steadied the innings with a 54-run stand but in the last over before tea, Ashwin (20) edged to slip and off the next ball Zaheer fended a catch to short leg to put Hilfenhaus on a hat-trick.

After tea, Ishant Sharma survived the hat-trick ball but few more – he also gloved a well-directed Hilfenhaus bouncer to short leg. Siddle finished the innings by having Umesh Yadav caught behind for a duck off a full outswinger – India’s last three batsmen all made ducks. Australia’s lower order showed in Melbourne how important late runs can be; India may rue their tail’s inability to stick around and support Dhoni, who ran out of partners.

His decision to bat was sound, but much of India’s batting was not. Their chances might now rest with the bowlers.

Big Picture, Match Facts and Predictions

Even by Sachin Tendulkar's lofty standards, his record at the SCG is remarkable

Australia. India. The SCG. Four years ago, those three elements together sparked one of the most controversial Tests in recent history. It was a match of umpiring blunders, a racism allegation, excessive appealing and ugly behaviour all round. Fortunately for the integrity of this upcoming contest, several of the key protagonists are gone. Andrew Symonds has retired. Harbhajan Singh is no longer considered one of India’s two best spinners. Both of the umpires, who struggled to maintain control on the field, have stepped down from international cricket.

It was also a Test that went down to the wire, finishing late on the fifth day, as the shadows grew longer over the Sydney Cricket Ground. The fans will hope for a similarly tight finale this time around, albeit without the argy-bargy and ill feeling between the two teams. A memorable contest would be fitting, for this is the 100th Test to be played at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground. Only Lord’s and the MCG have hosted more Tests.

This time, the teams head to Sydney with Australia 1-0 up in the series, having won inside four days in Melbourne. India’s batsmen were the major disappointment in the Boxing Day Test. Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar all made 60s or 70s in the first innings but in the second, Tendulkar’s 32 was the best score. Chasing 292, that was vastly inadequate. Australia’s strong and consistent pace attack built pressure and the Indians could not show the skills that had earned them more than 53,000 Test runs collectively over their Test careers.

There is more of a chance of India’s batsmen enjoying the SCG. Sachin Tendulkar’s Test record at the venue makes for imposing reading. In four Sydney Tests, he has made 148*, 45, 4, 241*, 60*, 154* and 12. VVS Laxman’s Sydney efforts have been just as impressive: 7, 167, 178, 109, 20. But they and their colleagues will need to show significant improvements after last week if they are to level the series.

Form guide (most recent first)

Australia: WLWWL
India: LDWWL

Players to watch out for…

This time last year, Nathan Lyon had not played for his state in any format. Now he is a veteran of eight Tests. In a year full of impressive debuts by Australian cricketers, his is the most remarkable story. The Adelaide Oval groundsman who was asked by the state coach to bowl in the nets, Lyon has shown every club cricketer that there is hope. All you need is an opportunity. He wasn’t a key part of the attack in Melbourne, where the fast men dominated, but at the SCG, particularly later in the Test, he could be asked to bowl a lot of overs of offspin. Incredibly, Lyon has not played a first-class match at the SCG, traditionally the best venue for spin in Australia.

To watch Sachin Tendulkar upper-cut Peter Siddle over the head of the slips for six off the first ball after tea on the second day at the MCG was a sight to behold. Tendulkar played brilliantly in that innings and it was impossible not to anticipate his hundredth international hundred. Siddle ended that dream in the last over of the day by bowling Tendulkar for 73. It would perhaps be even more fitting if Tendulkar were able to reach his milestone in the 100th Sydney Test. He is the master of the SCG, and the only grounds around the world where he has a higher Test average are in Bangladesh.

Team news

Australia included Ryan Harris in the 12-man squad at the expense of Daniel Christian and Mitchell Starc, neither of whom made the starting line-up in Melbourne. However, the selectors chose to use the same XI as at the MCG, with Harris more likely for the third Test in Perth, where Australia might consider a four-man pace attack.

Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Ed Cowan, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Peter Siddle, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.

India’s batting was a problem in Melbourne, so they might consider including Rohit Sharma at the expense of Virat Kohli. Should Rohit play it will be his Test debut but he will bring plenty of international experience – he has played 72 ODIs and 22 Twenty20s for India.

India (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Virat Kohli / Rohit Sharma, 7 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh Yadav.

Pitch and conditions

The SCG pitch has traditionally not bounced as much as other Australian surfaces, perhaps one of the reasons it has been appreciated by India’s batsmen. But that character has changed, and the curator Tom Parker expects a similar pitch to that on which England’s swing and seam bowlers set up an innings victory last summer. It is worth noting, though, that in that Test England’s batsmen scored 644.

“In the last few years I think the Sydney pitch has changed texture from when it used to be a real dust bowl and really helped the spinners,” Michael Hussey said on Sunday. “The last few years it has been really seamer friendly and particularly tough for batting, especially early in the match. It definitely looks a lighter colour. Generally that’s the way it has gone over the years, it has slowed down a little bit and helped the spinners.”

The forecast for the first day is sunny and 28C, while there could be the chance of storms and showers over the next three days of the Test.

Stats and trivia

Sachin Tendulkar has the highest average of all Test cricketers at the SCG. In four Tests there he averages 221.33
VVS Laxman averages 96.20 at the SCG, a far cry from the 14.25 he averages at the MCG
The changes in Australia’s team from this time last year have been stark: only five men who played in the SCG Ashes loss are in the side for this Test
The only team to have beaten Australia in Sydney Tests in the past 15 years was England, who did it in 2003 and 2011

Quotes

“I am a bit nervous because the stars seem to be aligning with Sachin needing one more hundred in the 100th Test match in Sydney. He’s made runs here before. It’s a bit ominous.”
Michael Hussey is wary of the elusive milestone on everyone’s mind

“Well, he’s always close to a milestone. If you see his career in the last three years, whatever he has done, somehow he has been very close to a milestone, whether he’s playing the most number of ODIs or Test matches or the 100th hundred or all the things.”
MS Dhoni believes Sachin Tendulkar is under no pressure since getting to milestones is second nature to him

Incoming search terms:

• sri vs ind live cricket macht (3)
• ricky ponting mcg india (2)
• australlia vs india controversial test match highlights (1)
• Live cricket match of asia cup for vodafone (1)
• match2nd (1)
• sydney test score which made 241 (1)
• tendulkar which feild done 100th test match (1)
• vodafone series india vs australia 2nd test scorecard (1)
• vvs laxman 167 mcg scorecard (1)

Related posts: