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Australia A v India

Monday, December 22 2003

An unbeaten 131 from rising star Michael Clarke & some further hostile bowling from Australia A’s quartet of pacemen gave the second stringers the better of a draw against India at Hobart.

Starting the day in a delicate position at 3-57, the dynamic combination of Clarke & Brad Hodge soon began to put things right with a succession of boundaries square of the wicket, however Brad Hodge’s aggressive streak resulted in his undoing as the Victorian pulled Ifran Pathan to the boundary, only to under edge his next ball onto the stumps while attempting to repeat the stroke.

Cameron White was never convincing during his brief stay, pushing 5 nervous singles before he was well caught by Deep Dasgupta as square leg from a full blooded pull shot.
However from this point on Clarke took charge, following up a graceful cover drive with a deft late cut in an exhibition of strokeplay which reduced the Indians to spectators.
Clarke brought up his 50 shortly before lunch, a difficult chance to Murali Kartik at point being his only let off.

Wade Seccombe was quick to show his intentions after lunch, getting after left arm spinner Murali Kartik, however his stay was brief, caught by Sehwag off Kartik for an entertaining 27.
Clarke, initially slow after lunch, quickly found his feet again following Seccombe’s dismissal, the quick footed New South Welshman began to make Kartik pay for dropping him earlier on, at one stage belting the tweaker for 21 runs in two overs, to all but end Kartik’s chances of a Melbourne call up, while doing his own chances no harm.

Clarke brought up his century in spectacular fashion, lofting a waist high fulltoss from Kartik high onto the hill.

He then blasted 3 more sixes on his way to an unbeaten 131 from just 140 balls (12 fours, 4 sixes), Matthew Nicholson was caught behind off a Balaji leg cutter for an unconvincing 7, while Damien Wright finished unbeaten on 10.

Ifran Pathan was the pick of the Indian bowlers, finishing with 2-40, he bowled with pace & great control & appears likely to be retained for the Boxing Day test.

Meanwhile Balaji bowled well at times for his 3-87, however he generally lacked control & seems unlikely to come into the equation for Melbourne.

Set a near impossible 308 in 33 overs, the Indians seemed likely to bat out time, however a lively start from Sadagoppan Ramesh kept most pundits interested.

However Ramesh was soon out, top edging a pull from Damien Wright for 22, and as Ramesh left the field so did all interest in the game, Akash Chopra batting for a painstaking 63 minutes before registering his first run, drawing warm applause from the crowd when he finally did.
Paul Rofe was rewarded for his great perseverance with the wicket of Chopra caught behind for 25.
Parthiv Patel & Deep Dasgupta then batted out time, Cameron White finding some good turn & bounce in the final overs, in stark contrast to his flat first innings display.
India closed on 2-66.

Matthew Nicholson appears likely to be drafted into the Australian squad for the boxing day test after his superb first innings showing, if he plays it will be his second test appearance, 5 years to the day after his first.

While Ifran Pathan’s mature performance & the mediocre showing from Murali Kartik means India are almost certain to go into the boxing day test with 3 seamers & Anil Kumble.

Summary AUS A 5-311dec (Love 94, Rogers 70, Hussey 67, Nehra 2-33) & 7-241dec (Clarke 131*, Hodge 33, Balaji 3-87, Pathan 2-40)
Drew with India 245 (Chopra 46, Nicholson 4-25, Tait 3-85) & 2-66 (Chopra 25, Rofe 1-8)

Posted by DavidH