Australia v India: Rohit Sharma wicket leaves hosts on top

Last updated on .From the section Cricketcomments252

Nathan Lyon
Lyon (fourth from left) dismissed Rohit for his 397th wicket in his 100th Test
Australia v India, Brisbane (day two)
Australia 369: Labuschagne 108, Paine 50; Natarajan 3-78, Sundar 3-89
India 62-2: Rohit 44; Lyon 1-10
India trail by 307 runs
Scorecard

Australia remain on top after a rain-shortened second day of the decisive fourth Test against India in Brisbane.

After resuming on 274-5, the hosts added a further 95 runs before being bowled out, with captain Tim Paine making 50 and Cameron Green 47.

India made a positive start in reply, reaching 60-1, but Rohit Sharma fell to Nathan Lyon for 44.

The tourists were 62-2 at tea and heavy rain meant there was no further play after the interval.

Australia remain favourites to win the Test and take the series 2-1, but any time lost favours India's hopes of a draw.

They only need to avoid defeat in order to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

Rohit wicket leaves Australia on top

Only 54.2 overs were possible in the day but there was enough time for the momentum to swing from one side to the other before eventually ending tilted towards Australia.

The home side began in the ascendancy as Paine and Green took the total beyond 300 - and their partnership to 98 - but they fell in consecutive overs as India hit back.

Paine edged an expansive drive to second slip and Green was bowled by off-spinner Washington Sundar.

But rather than quickly polish off the lower order, India's inexperienced attack were frustrated as the last three batsmen - Mitchell Starc, Lyon and Josh Hazlewood - added 55 between them.

Australia took a tighter grip on the game by dismissing opener Shubman Gill early - he edged Pat Cummins to second slip for seven - but when the stylish Rohit was moving serenely towards the half-century mark, India looked in little trouble.

Rohit contributed 40 to of a partnership of 49 with Cheteshwar Pujara before coming down the pitch ad chipping to deep mid-on to gift Lyon the first wicket of his 100th Test.

'We lacked that killer edge' - reaction

Former Australia bowler Stuart Clark on ABC: "Australia are in front but not by a massive margin.

"Rohit was so comfortable and India have a long tail. They don't have the luxury of Jadeja (injured all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja). They don't have the strength in batting to give away wickets like that."

Australia assistant coach Matthew Mott: "It was a pretty frustrating finish. Both teams bowled extremely well.

"We made a bit of an 'in-between' total. We can't hide the fact we would have liked a four at the front of the total. We just lacked that killer edge."

Former Australia women's spinner Kristen Beams: "It was really good Test cricket. Both teams will say they had chance to nail the other team and didn't quite do it. India started to get on top before his wicket was thrown away by Rohit."

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252 comments

  • Comment posted by Duquesne Whistle, at 08:02 16 Jan

    Fairly obvious, but Pujara & Rahane are the key to any hopes India have. Unless they put together a sizeable partnership, you can imagine the Aussie attack running through the middle order and tail.
    That said, India have shown good fight in the series already.
    Intriguing final test, deserves to go to the wire.
    Personally, I don't mind which of the 3 results this ends with, it's been a great watch.

    • Reply posted by gcostanza, at 07:11 17 Jan

      gcostanza replied:
      Watching on Sunday morning, I daresay you've not been disappointed!

  • Comment posted by MaksiNorway, at 08:53 16 Jan

    Is it true the groundsman takes the day off when India are batting and Smith will be looking after the pitch?

    • Reply posted by Barton St Battler, at 09:29 16 Jan

      Barton St Battler replied:
      Actually quite funny.

  • Comment posted by David McManus, at 09:19 16 Jan

    Those lower order runs by Starc, Lyon and Hazlewood may prove very important. Another great test match developing

    • Reply posted by tc, at 10:21 16 Jan

      tc replied:
      its over david mate, not a chance India will come back from this position now..theyve got literally no attack.

  • Comment posted by Thakur Vijay Chauhan, at 08:30 16 Jan

    Australia will win this test but it will not be classed as a great achievement against this B class Indian team which is minus many experienced players due to injury. However Rohit threw his wicket away and they missed catches which cannot be forgiven. Sledging also puts a bad taste in the mouth. It’s a gentleman’s game and should be played as one. Good old test cricket is sadly gone.

    • Reply posted by Vampire, at 08:40 16 Jan

      Vampire replied:
      Funny how Indians celebrated like tomorrow a narrow win 2 years ago against an Australian side excluding Smith and Warner. Not to mention the BCCI throwing their weight around and refusing to play at the Gabba.

  • Comment posted by Dave, at 08:14 16 Jan

    This is an India B team. The Indian management must take responsibility for not preparing properly for this Aussie tour. It's like the walking wounded and unfit players for India. Their slip catchers are badly positioned and need more practise. Where are their good bowlers ? A half decent Indian team can beat this Aussie team.

    • Reply posted by Vampire, at 08:43 16 Jan

      Vampire replied:
      Funny how Indians celebrated like no tomorrow a narrow win 2 years ago against an Australian side excluding Smith and Warner. Not to mention the BCCI throwing their weight around and refusing to play at the Gabba.

  • Comment posted by The Surgeon, at 10:13 16 Jan

    As an Englishman, can we stop these offensive comments about cheating? What Warner and Bancroft did, and Smith wasn't vigilant about as captain, was wrong. They've done the time - a 12 month ban from their own Board when the standard ICC penalty was just 4 demerit points as handed out to Atherton, Du Plessis and even Tendulkar. Frankly, I cringe when I read the football terrace vitriol on here.

  • Comment posted by chackt, at 08:23 16 Jan

    Far from over yet this one, lot depends on how much they lose to the rains. Two very good teams and India knowing they don’t have to win will feel confident.

  • Comment posted by Gabbagod, at 11:29 16 Jan

    Just home after a session at The Pineapple Hotel after an early finish. This Test is done .... Rain on Days 4 and 5. Congrats India on retaining the second most important trophy in Test cricket. Don't believe what you read, there was banter, good natured ribbing and nonsense but a great day was had by all.

  • Comment posted by Terry Mardi, at 08:29 16 Jan

    What a misleading headline. Designed as clickbait. I don't see Australia on top, even with Rohit's wicket.

    Come on BBC, you can do better than this

    • Reply posted by peter, at 08:45 16 Jan

      peter replied:
      Agreed,its evenly poised.

  • Comment posted by Changing Times, at 18:15 16 Jan

    Why does anyone respond to Vik?

    A quick look through his posting history shows he is an anti English, Liverpool fan. Given those facts, I'd wager he's a middle aged man from north of the border. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

  • Comment posted by R SundaraRajan, at 10:13 16 Jan

    The match is 60-40 in Australia's favour but if India manages to get a reply of 350 the pressure will be back on Australia to win a must win fight to regain the trophy while India needs a draw to retain the same.

    • Reply posted by tc, at 10:15 16 Jan

      tc replied:
      sorry Rajan, theres not a chance India can get anything of out this match now...unless its rained off.

  • Comment posted by Thewayitis, at 08:18 16 Jan

    Has Australia won all the tosses in this series ? Even then there still struggling to score past 400 against possibly a third choice attack (Wonder how Bumrah or shami would have bowled on this track)

    England will be chomping at the bit to get at them

    • Reply posted by Vampire, at 08:41 16 Jan

      Vampire replied:
      Factually wrong on the tosses - but hey since when has this site cared about the facts.

  • Comment posted by Barton St Battler, at 12:33 16 Jan

    Lots of ‘well it’s India’s B/C/D team’ so you should be winning by more.
    Whatever. Irrelevant. You can only beat the team who turns up. Much like England in Sri Lanka.
    Previous series are history, in the record book for all to see. It’s what’s happening now that counts, plus what’s ahead of you.
    England knows how much of a threat Australia are at home (or away for that matter) - end of.

  • Comment posted by DrCajetanCoelho, at 10:49 16 Jan

    Fine bowling by newcomers Washington, Natarajan, Shardul and Mo Siraj. Indian bowlers did a decent job against quality batters. With such a huge pool of talent in the country, India should keep on trying new players, getting a rotation system in place, offering the tired players time to recuperate. Ageing war-horses need to be deployed judiciously for specific missions. A long bench is the answer.

    • Reply posted by Kac83, at 11:21 16 Jan

      Kac83 replied:
      100% agree.

      The replacement bowlers ( every one of them, not one is a first choice starter ) have done admirably. In particular, I like Natarajan's line and length consistency, and have been impressed with Siraj from his first spell from back in his first game of the series.

      If you took out the top 6 bowlers from any other country, they would be much worse off already.

  • Comment posted by William, at 09:29 16 Jan

    India need their middle order to get big scores? If that happens then a draw looking likely? Aussies will be favoured to win this one!

  • Comment posted by RKP80, at 12:52 16 Jan

    If India are still batting at the close of play tomorrow, then game on with the weather questionable for Tuesday.

    One can only beat what is in front of you and India haven’t used injuries as an excuse which is a credit to them.

    Many should remember this group of Indian players have been in a bio bubble for 5 months and then treated like peasants by the Aussies. Even if India lose they win!

  • Comment posted by KentAussie, at 12:19 16 Jan

    I just come here for the Anti-Aussie chat.

    Never disappoints. Keep up the great work guys!

    • Reply posted by Stuart, at 13:49 16 Jan

      Stuart replied:
      The Aussies bring it on themselves by being the worlds least likeable team, and fans.

  • Comment posted by Football Jim, at 11:50 16 Jan

    Archer, Stone and Wood will wreak havoc on the ashes tour.

    • Reply posted by LILLIAN THOMSON, at 11:53 16 Jan

      LILLIAN THOMSON replied:
      On a night out with Stokes?

  • Comment posted by U18801456, at 08:56 16 Jan

    I hope it goes to the very last ball before the result is determined, and whichever one it is, the series has been great overall for any fan of Test cricket.

  • Comment posted by rhys, at 07:50 16 Jan

    Pujara daddy hundred tomorrow. This Test isn't over yet

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