110/8
Red Rover
Ashwin was excellent, yat again. Good win for India.
Vital for Australia now that they don’t let the positives from the first two tests get lost by being beaten badly in the remaining two.
Imperative also that they drop those fucking Marshes and put Khawaja back in asap.
42/1 to 112 all out. Shaun Marsh was Australia’s top scorer in that test. His first innings knock of 66 held the innings together for Australia and gave them a handy 87 run lead.
1 Like
Shat the course 
2 Likes
Knocks of 8 & 28 in Bangalore and bringing the game into disrepute.
Australia captain Steve Smith “crossed the line” by breaking rules on getting help from his dressing room with the decision review system, India skipper Virat Kohli says.
Smith, 27, was caught looking up to his side’s camp as he considered reviewing an LBW decision in Australia’s second Test defeat in Bangalore.
“There is a line that you don’t cross on a cricket field,” said Kohli.
Smith admitted his actions, saying “I shouldn’t have done that.”
He added: “It was a bit of brain-fade on my behalf. I think it was the first time it’s happened.”
Smith was immediately waved off the field by umpire Nigel Llong as he looked to the Australia dressing room following a chat with non-striker Peter Handscomb, having been given out LBW for 28 to Umesh Yadav.
However, Kohli, 28, alleges he saw Australian players looking to the dressing room for DRS assistance on two other occasions while he was batting.
“When [Smith] turned back, the umpire knew what was going on exactly,” he added.
"I pointed that out to the umpire as well that I had seen their players looking upstairs for confirmation.
"We observed that, we told the match referee and the umpire that it’s been happening for the last three days and it has to stop.
“Sledging and playing on the opponents’ mind is different. I don’t want to mention the word, but it falls in that bracket. I would never do something like that on the cricket field.”
Asked by an Australian reporter if “the word” was cheating, Kohli replied: “I am not saying that, you did.”
Smith’s actions were also condemned by former India batsmen Sunil Gavaskar and VVS Laxman.
“It was quite blatant and Peter Handscomb suggested to Smith and then Smith asked the guy at the dressing room,” said Gavaskar.
“I don’t think that was in the spirit of the game. We have to see what the ICC and match referee do.”
Laxman tweeted: “Really disappointed with the way Steve Smith looked at the dressing room to take a review. Totally against the spirit of the game?”
1 Like
Great man to hit a second innings century when Australia already have a 200+ first innings lead and want to set up a declaration.
2 Likes
Not officer class
2 Likes
Aussies lost the match in the final session yesterday when Pujara and Rahane put on a century. Chasing anything over 150 a stretch on that pitch, got a good few grubbers and lots of turn. Very impressed with the Aussies in general over the first two Tests though, proper application with the bat and wicket taking spinners. Everything they haven’t been in Asia for a decade or so.
Mitchell Marsh seems a bit pointless in the circumstances. Don’t really need a third seamer and he’s a bit shit anyway. Get a proper batsman in.
Odd looking pitch in Dunedin. Faf chose to bat and NZ playing two spinners, but it looks a bit damp. Soithee dropped. Not much in it for the seamers first few overs, bit of swing for Boult. Patel in now already.
My word, that’s a lovely bouncer from Wagner to get Duminy. Two in the over.
"It’s that unexpected closeness – the heat and pressure of a big Indian loss first-up, then a brilliantly close-fought second contest – that has created fireworks on the field. The evaporation of calm and composure, the furious emotion. Two captains at each other all day, then carrying it on in their press conferences. Virat Kohli, all spiky angles in haircut and stubble and edge of tongue, abrasive and combative. Steve Smith’s sweat-soaked hair held back with a headband as he yanked his helmet off for the most guttural of his many century celebrations. Players from each side following their lead into mutual antagonism. All contrasted with Matthew Renshaw, collecting runs and abuse at the top of the order with equal serenity, smiling sweetly from the milky face of a trainee priest. "
Geoff Lemon with a great article about the series so far.
Advantage Australia at stumps on day one of the third test in Ranchi.
Flat track bully Steven Smith scoring a second century in the series. He’s 117 not out in a terrific partnership with Glenn Maxwell worth 159, the big show in 82 not after batting beautifully.
299/4 in a pitch that isnt giving much to the bowlers despite three wickets in the first session. Looks like a good toss to win and hopefully there will be something decent in the pitch for the long awaited secind test appearance of Pat Cummins (it only took 6 years).
Was he sanctioned for cheating and bringing the game into disrepute in the last test?
He wasn’t Geoff, no.
Shaun Marsh failing again, out for 2. Thankfully Mitchell had to go home, but they need to drop Shaun. The Australian top order is brittle enough without him as the weak link. Especially with Khawaja waiting in the wings, utter madness.
Play underway Day 2, Virat Kohli still off the ground after he hurt his shoulder diving to stop a boundary yesterday.
Maxwell gets his maiden test century, delighted for him, he’s shown he’s not just the big show and can bat patiently and intelligently. Of course he has to do it again, but this is a great sign for a man with huge potential that so far has not been shown in test cricket.
And with that, Maxwell is out for 104 from Jadeja’s bowling.
Wade’s in now, so the Australian innings may not last much longer, especially with Starc out (though Cummins can throw it around a bit). Will Smith carry his bat?
Smith carry his bat? He didn’t open the batting.
1 Like