Day 1: Christmas Gifts
Friday, December 26 2003
Australia have managed to end a long day in the field in a respectable position thanks to soft dismissals of key Indian batsmen late in the day.
Few Boxing Day Test matches have had the hype and the aura of this. Australia, for once it seems, trail in a Test Series 1-0 and approach their traditional Melbourne feast in a tentative position.
The Australians had to gamble and take risks. Seemingly, the selectors led by example, leaving out workhorse Andy Bichel in favour of Nathan Bracken.
For the Indians, Irfan Pathan was replaced by the returning Zaheer Khan.
After being invited to bowl, the first hour of play encountered for some enthralling Test cricket where India were 0/24 after the first 13 overs - despite a butchered run-out by a dismal Brett Lee throw.
Within these 13 overs, the Indian opening pair Akash Chopra and Virender Sehwag copped 3 hits flush on the helmet between them, with Chopra looking worse for ware early in the session.
In the final over before drinks, Chopra survived a strong LBW appeal from Brad Williams' maiden delivery.
However, it was not until midway through the second session that the Australians tasted success, dismissing Chopra for 48 when he edged onto his pad, ballooning to Simon Katich at short leg from Stuart MacGill.
It was not Katich's first chance of the day - earlier, he dropped Sehwag in a regulation chance when the batsman was on 66.
Hero of Adelaide Rahul Dravid then joined Sehwag at the wicket (who at that stage was unbeaten on 80) and looked as polished as his last innings, moving along comfortably to steer his side safely to tea at 1 down.
As the Australians toiled away in what seemed a fruitless effort for a wicket, skipper Steve Waugh proved he still possessed the Midas touch when an ordinary delivery to Dravid found the safe hands of Damien Martyn - on 49, he became the first batsman to gift his wicket in the final session.
Enter Sachin. Despite all the hype of his 'poor form', the Little Master is said to be hitting the ball as well as ever.
Tendulkar's Christmas wish was not answered. It only took one ball - which he hit - to see his second 0 of the series.
Upon Waugh's introduction of Brett Lee, the speedster sprayed a ball towards the leg. Seconds later, he began celebrating when Adam Gilchrist pouched a sharp chance in his bright blue left glove to see the end of Tendulkar.
How the Little Master wishes his Christmas dreams came true. The Australians received their second gift in as many overs.
The re-introduction of Simon Katich provided an eventful sequence - a poor shot for no run from his first ball, a massive 6 to Sehwag over mid-wicket second ball from a full toss.
Third ball, however, he tried the double bluff with a second full toss. Yet this was not found in the Great Southern Stand - this was safely pouched by Nathan Bracken at deep long-on.
Sehwag fell agonisingly short of his maiden Test double hundred, dismissed for 195.
His 195 included a paltry 25 boundaries and 5 sixes, accounting for 130 of his runs.
The charismatic opener was perhaps the softest dismissal of the afternoon session - and of that there were 3. Australia had been given the best possible Christmas present, that of a lifeline.
Soon after, Lee grassed his chance of a second wicket when a regulation caught and bowled from Sourav Ganguly went begging. One would hope either way that Ganguly's grassing may have as significant impact as that of Sehwag.
At stumps, the captain was unbeaten on 20 despite an LBW appeal from the final delivery of the day and VVS Laxman on 6.
For the Australians, Simon Katich had the statistical highlight of the figures with 1/18. Stuart MacGill has claimed 1/70 and Brett Lee 1/80.
Skipper Steve Waugh claimed his 92nd Test wicket (and first since Robert Key in the corresponding match last summer), while Nathan Bracken and Brad Williams gave spirited displays without luck.
Progress Score: Stumps Day 1
India 4/329 (V Sehwag 195, R Dravid 49, A Chopra 48, S Katich 1/18)
Posted by Andre
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