After Day 1, many Indians believed that India has performed well, forgetting that Aussies have 6 more batsmen to bat and who are no pushovers for India which is anyways bad in packing the tail. No surprises that the last 5 wickets added 269 runs today in only 52.3 overs. Smith missed his double century, bud Haddin joined the list of Aussies regaining form while from Tail Harris did the damage now. Indian response has been not bad though finishing at 108/1 with the customary first wicket fall of Shikhar Dhawan.
2014-2015 Indian Tour of Australia: Schedule
There are more records for Dhoni and his boys as another whitewash is looming large.
- India conceded its 6th 500+ total in 2014 equalling the record of England (2006).
Only 5th time India conceded three consecutive 500+ totals.
29.38 average of tailenders vs India is the worst for any team in 2014.
26 number of times Indian bowlers conceded 100+ runs in 2014 snatching the record from England whose bowlers conceded 17 times in 2002.
Other Records
- 4th 50 makes Murali Vijay the first Indian opener in Australia to achieve the feat breaking Gavaskar’s 3 50s record.
3rd consecutive century for Smith gets him in the league of Hayden who was the last Australia to achieve the feat (That too against India).
7th occasion when Dhoni had 5+ dismissals in a Test innings.
Starting the day at overnight score of 259/5, Haddin and Smith switched to ODI mode. The strategy of bowling short ball failed again as Haddin comfortably regained his form scoring much needed half century (55), and more importantly adding 110 runs for 6th wicket. Johnson could score only 28 runs as he added 50 runs with Smith for 7th wicket. Ryan Harris showed his batting skills as he plundered 88-ball 74 runs to add 106 runs for the 8th wicket. Lyon could score only 11 runs in his partnership of 48 runs with Smith for 9th wicket. Hazlewood remained unbeaten without facing a ball as Smith was finally bowled at 192 runs on 305 balls with 15 4s and 2 6s as Aussies finally folded at 530 runs.
All the four Indian bowlers completed century. Ishant (0/104) again remained wicketless as he was in the first innings, 4 years before. Umesha Yadav (3/130), Shami (4/138) and Ashwin (3/134) can be considered successful as they got wickets.
Coming to bat with a weight of 530 runs and fear of another whitewash behind them, Indian openers started cautiously. But Dhawan again gave away his wicket scoring 28 runs in 51 balls after adding 55 runs for 1st wicket. Vijay (55) and Pujara (25) took India to 108/1 at Stumps as India faced 37 overs in the day.
Ryan Harris (1/19) was the successful bowler while others Johnson (0/24), Hazlewood (0/19), Watson (0/14) and Lyon (0/32) kept the pressure on.
Indian captain and Indian bowlers failed with their strategy. Day 3 will show if the batsmen have any skills to challenge the Aussies or Dhoni and Co are in hurry to start New year celebration day in advance by losing again with a day remaining.
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