- Australia 288-5 defeated India 254-9
- Jhye Richardson took player of the match honours
Related: Inexperienced Australians shock India in first ODI
It got pretty close in the end thanks to that late work from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who did what most other batsmen couldn’t do and found runs at a decent clip.
India shouldn’t have got anywhere near it after losing three wickets with four runs on the board. Dhawan, Kohli and Rayudu all fell, and Rayudu used India’s only review despite being plumb. That meant Dhoni couldn’t use it when he shouldn’t have been given out. He put on 137 with Rohit, and I can see that some Indian fans are already bagging him for batting too slowly, but if he’d got out there would have been no chance.
50th over: India 254-9 (Bhuvneshwar 29) The Stoin to finish things off. Bhuvi toe-ends a slower ball way up in the air but again it lands between a couple of pursuers. So once Shami gives the strike back, Bhuvi clears his front leg and slams the ball through cover for four!
Perhaps a reminder to Kohli and team management that hey, I’m a pretty useful cricketer in both disciplines.
49th over: India 247-8 (Bhuvneshwar 23) Siddle is only bowling his 8th of the innings, and it’ll be his last. Chance for a cheap wicket. Or a chance to be carved over point by Bhuvi for four. Which is what happens. Where was this guy while Rohit needed a buddy? Goes over cover for a couple more, as well as taking ones from the yorkers with ease. This is how Kuldeep gets strike from the last ball, and he pulls around to long leg in the air. This time, Khawaja has calmed his nerves. He can handle this.
48th over: India 238-7 (Bhuvneshwar 15, Kuldeep 2) Oh, Bhuvi came to party! Slaps Stoinis over mid-on for four, then opens the face and stylishly square-drives him behind point for more of the same. Walks across to off stump and misses a scoop, then nails a hook shot past a diving square leg for one.
I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly: my body too Bhuvi-licious for you babe.
47th over: India 227-7 (Bhuvneshwar 5, Kuldeep 2) Now then. Can Jhye Richardson get a five-for? Bhuvi hits one in the air but safe. Kuldeep gets a couple of singles. Bhuvi digs out a couple of yorkers. Richardson finishes with 4-26 from his 10 overs.
46th over: India 223-7 (Bhuvneshwar 3, Kuldeep 0) If someone had gone with him, they could have done this in a waltz. Rohit Sharma is extraordinary at the top of the order. No wonder they keep wanting him to make it work in Test cricket. He’s gone now, and the game is Australia’s, with 66 runs needed in 24 balls and the bowlers holding the bat.
Singles won’t cut it from here. Two of them from Stoinis, then he bowls very wide of off stump trying to land the wide yorker. Tries again and dishes up a sloppy full toss, which Rohit equally sloppily slaps over mid-off for four. This whole passage of play has been like throwing a pot of pasta sauce against the wall. Rohit knows he has to keep going, so he heaves again, and this time it won’t fall safely. Glenn Maxwell comes in from deep midwicket, and he’s the best in the business when it comes to fielding.
What a solo performance from Rohit Sharma.
45th over: India 214-6 (Rohit 128, Bhuvneshwar 0) Terrific over from Richardson. Mixes in a couple of slower balls, the bouncer, and makes sure Rohit can only get a single, then Bhuvneshwar Kumar can’t get off strike. Takes four precious deliveries out of the equation. It looks too steep for India now, at 75 in 30 balls. Need a couple of 20-run overs.
The WA Mafia gets the swordsman. Richardson bowls short to the left-hander. Jadeja has both feet off the ground as he plays the uppercut, but gets too much height on the shot. Marsh at deep backward has his heels near the rope again but knows where it is. Snared.
44th over: India 214-5 (Rohit 127, Jadeja 8) They just can’t get a roll on. No batsman tonight bar Rohit has been able to work the strike with any ease. Jadeja gets blocked up again by Rohit, then runs a desperation single. With two balls left in the Stoinis over, something has to give. So Rohit range-hits a ball into the second deck of the Members Pavilion. Then follows up with a perfectly pulled four splitting the two boundary riders at midwicket. Crisp.
76 needed from 36.
43rd over: India 201-5 (Rohit 116, Jadeja 7) Rohit lines up Lyon and goes downtown once again. Can he possibly reel this in? It will take even more hitting. But that was a gorgeous straight hit, huge, never a moment of doubt that it would make the crowd. And Lyon comes back to tie up Jadeja once Rohit gives up the strike.
89 from 42 balls. Impossible once. Not any more.
42nd over: India 193-5 (Rohit 109, Jadeja 6) Rohit is feeling the pressure now: if you wanted to be harsh you could say a little of it is self-imposed. Jadeja works two and then one, before Rohit tries a big launch against Maxwell. Skews it, skies it, but it drops out at midwicket with everyone back on the fence. Then Maxwell bowls one that slips from his hand, a high full toss, and Rohit makes a mess of the swing but his top edge flies away through slip for four.
That helps, but they still need 96 from 48.
41st over: India 184-5 (Rohit 103, Jadeja 3) I’m not sure about the approach of still working singles with 10 overs to play. They take four runs from Lyon’s over. Four! Singles!
40th over: India 180-5 (Rohit 101, Jadeja 1) He’s certainly caught up after that enforced slow start. India remain in the game purely because of Rohit’s innings. He has three centuries (and a 99) in his last six ODIs on Australian soil. Doesn’t mind it here. Very muted celebration after flicking two runs off his pads, just a quick glove-punch and wave, though Jadeja hugs him and Rohit ignores it. Shades of a teenager with a parent there. But it’s because Rohit want to finish the job, not worry about the plaudits now.
Four runs and the wicket from the Richardson over, India need 109 from 60 balls.
Bowled off the edge! Went for a big hook shot and didn’t get it. Maybe for the best for India, because Karthik was struggling and they need someone who can feed Rohit the strike. Jadeja is next.
39th over: India 176-4 (Rohit 98, Karthik 12) Finally DK goes for one, a big bottom-handed whip across the line at Siddle that only fetches him one run to the square leg sweeper. Rohit resumes strike: he has to do the damage. Knows it. Tries. Big pull shot, hanging in the air. Mistimed, floating rather than soaring, but it finds the gap between deep square leg and long-on as they both run around. Four. Drives hard to mid-off next ball but can’t beat Finch. Cover point and long leg are the other two boundary riders. Five in the circle. So Rohit goes again, pulling the off-cutter through midwicket for four. Then gets down on one knee, across to Siddle bowling fuller and wider, and scoops it for four more! Three in the over, and a century beckons.
India need 113 from 66.
38th over: India 163-4 (Rohit 86, Karthik 11) Richardson returns. Short and fast, like a neat whisky. He’s barely conceded a run today, having bowled at the start when the rebuild was on. But he carries that form on, zipping through Rohit with a ball that nearly bowls him, and going for two singles in the over. The asking rate creeps up.
126 in 72.
37th over: India 161-4 (Rohit 85, Karthik 10) Nearly through! The Dorff gets a big toe-end edge from Karthik, which squeezes through the gap, bounces in front of off stump, then bounces over. Karthik responds with an aerial flick that lands in front of the deep square leg fielder. Rohit bottom-edges a pull shot to fine leg for two, after charging to shorten the length. Smart play, didn’t nail the shot. So he plays a classic straight drive instead for two more, walking at JB again. Behrendorff just got a finger on it, slowing it down, and nearly knocking it back onto the stumps behind him as well. Could have had a run out to his name had that worked out slightly differently. Rohit taps a single, then it’s Karthik’s turn to edge a pull past the keeper for two runs. All glove, not much love.
Target: 128 from 78.
36th over: India 153-4 (Rohit 80, Karthik 7) Perhaps Rohit is just happy to give Karthik the time to get his eye in, knowing they can both hit the rope at a great rate later. Rohit takes a single by finding a gap, Karthik takes four balls to manage to match it. Stoinis has 0-28 from his six overs.
35th over: India 151-4 (Rohit 79, Karthik 6) So now things have gone quiet again. Not a whole lot of intent from these two to score in the last few overs. Behrendorff gets through a set for three singles, and has 2-31 from his nine. You’d want to motor soon, needing 138 from 90.
34th over: India 148-4 (Rohit 77, Karthik 5) Marcus Stoinis, he of the shirtless net sessions, will not mind the dot balls. Rohit gives up a couple after Karthik gets off strike. When Karthik gets back, he edges fine to third man for a couple, willing the ball to go for four but not able to summon the psychic potency.
India need 141 from 96.
33rd over: India 144-4 (Rohit 76, Karthik 2) Dinesh Karthik is off the mark immediately by gliding a single. Replays confirm that the previous ball was smashing middle stump, but pitched outside leg. Morally I don’t mind some of those going the bowler’s way: if you miss the shot, you’re liable to get out.
Harsha Bhogle sat down next to me a few minutes ago to announce that Jason Behrendorff looks like a young George H. W. Bush. I was taken aback by the suggestion, but once you think about it for a while it does start to grow on you.But then, so does ringworm.
No reviews, but I’m not sure that was out. The left-armer bowls full, Dhoni misses the flick and is hit low on the pad. I think that was just outside leg stump. But nothing can be done once the finger goes up. Breakthrough, but Dhoni has done a job to get India back in the hunt. Now it’s over to DK.
India are out of reviews and Dhoni has to go... #CloseMatters#AUSvIND | @GilletteAUpic.twitter.com/WRYVQPxwIM
32nd over: India 140-3 (Rohit 74, Dhoni 51) That strike rate for Dhoni looks horrible, but when you consider the situation when he walked to the crease it’s understandable. He does need to make up a fair bit of that difference though. Gets to the milestone with a powerful on-drive from Stoinis, punches gloves briefly, waves the bat once, and gets back to work. Been there, done that.
A couple more singles from the over. India need 149 from 108 balls.
31st over: India 134-3 (Rohit 73, Dhoni 46) Better from The Dorff. Dhoni finds the field three times, then flays at a ball and gets his edge beaten as Behrendorff pulls back the length. In the end there’s just a single from the last ball. Top comeback.
Here we go. Kruder & Behrendorffmeister. Iconic.
30th over: India 133-3 (Rohit 73, Dhoni 45)“Dhoni, Dhoni, Dhoni!” goes the chant around the SCG. Terrific atmosphere today, the joint is full. The crowd is jumping as Dhoni flicks Lyon square and once more races back for the second. The joint is heaving as Rohit lifts another six into the midwicket stands, this time down at the Members Pavilion. His fourth of the night, India’s fifth.
156 needed from 120 balls.
29th over: India 124-3 (Rohit 67, Dhoni 42) Dorff, Dorff, Dorff. No, it’s not a car with a large stereo system pulling up outside. It’s Jason Behrendorff. Bowling a wide. Being scooped by Rohit over the batsman’s own head for four. Being lofted over mid-off, shot of the day from Rohit, clean and clear for four. A dozen from the over. The partnership at 120. The target at 165 from 21 overs, 126 balls. Could they?
28th over: India 112-3 (Rohit 58, Dhoni 41) Lyon down on one knee pleading for the wicket of Dhoni, but only surrendering yet another leg bye. Rohit edging wide of the keeper for two. Four from the over.
27th over: India 108-3 (Rohit 55, Dhoni 41) Whatever you think of his batting, Dhoni’s running is still top notch. Shuffles at Richardson to open up some space at point, slices the ball there deliberately, and makes it back for two as deep backward runs around. Had to be fast. Was. A subsequent single to a similar area raises the 100 partnership. Richardson hits the pad and gives the most half-hearted appeal. Quarter-hearted. Sliding down leg. As is his next ball, even more so, conceding a wide. Then off the pad for a leg bye. Wanting to give the extras column a workout. Seven from the over.
26th over: India 101-3 (Rohit 53, Dhoni 38) Lyon is parsimony personified. Despite the six-hitting, he’s still bowled six overs for 26 runs. They only get two singles from him, and one of those leaves Dhoni flat on his face in the dirt having to dive in at the non-striker’s end. The hundred comes up for India.
25th over: India 99-3 (Rohit 52, Dhoni 37) Richardson returns. Dhoni isn’t bothered by the pace, happy to dab it away. Four runs, all in ones. The run rate is nudging 4 now, and the required rate is steady enough at 7.6.
That means 190 runs are needed from 25 overs, or 150 balls.
24th over: India 95-3 (Rohit 50, Dhoni 36) Snappers ahoy: Glenn Maxwell’s into the attack. Didn’t get a bowl when Steve Smith was captain but he does under Aaron Finch. Dhoni comes awkwardly across his front pad to a couple, then drops to a knee and whacks a sweep shot that’s nearly caught at square leg. Inches from the fingertips of Richardson diving to his left, then hits the boundary. Dhoni gets a single, then Rohit slashes wide outside off and edgesover backward point for four.
23rd over: India 79-3 (Rohit 46, Dhoni 31) There’s another four, a veritable glut of them. Rohit through cover this time. Plus three singles from Siddle, and the partnership is worth 82.
22nd over: India 79-3 (Rohit 41, Dhoni 29) Stoinis bowls short, Dhoni pulls, and it’s nearlysnared at midwicket. Siddle dived away to his left but the ball went just over him. Looks like he got a touch, because it slowed up and only went for two runs. A single, a single. A wide. A single. The collection continues.
21st over: India 73-3 (Rohit 25, Dhoni 40) We waited, and it came. First ball of the over. Siddle bowls outside off, not too short, but Dhoni was able to get low and play a cut shot anyway, finding the gap behind point for four! A rare and exotic four. Then celebrates with a very nice leave of the next ball. Punches a single into the covers. This is classic MSD stuff. Just take it deep, as has always been his motto. Karthik and Jadeja to come can hit, but you don’t want to leave them too much to do.
20th over: India 68-3 (Rohit 20, Dhoni 40) Stoinis uses the same line of attack, but the batsmen milk it a bit more successfully this time. Five singles and a brace, Dhoni still sharp between the wickets.
The @scg Cricket Ground DJ has had a very good day. It can get a whole lot better if he plays Careless Whisper when Maxwell comes on to bowl. #AUSvIND
19th over: India 62-3 (Rohit 38, Dhoni 16) Nice little dab from Rohit earns him three from Lyon, running the ball fine. Dhoni tries to smack one into the midwicket gap, but drags it flat and squarer and it bounces in front of the sweeper in front of square.
18th over: India 57-3 (Rohit 34, Dhoni 15) Marcus Stoinis will have a bowl. He’s the one India have to target, but he’s also a skilled operator bowling at the death in T20 cricket. Variations, accuracy. Sometimes bowling a bit slower than others can help in this format. He’s bowling into the body, looking to prevent swinging room, and it works with four singles shovelled into the leg side.
A stat from the telly says that no Indian team has got this deep into an ODI innings without hitting a four. Ever. Which would be great news for Australia if not for the ones clearing the rope.
17th over: India 53-3 (Rohit 32, Dhoni 13) It’s worth a mention that India have scored three sixes and no fours so far in this innings. They’re going at 2.88 per over needing 7.22. Australia’s 288 is looking pretty good (though that doesn’t change the fact that batting in that fashion will get Australia rinsed at the upcoming World Cup).
Make that four sixes. Having blocked out the first five balls of the over, Rohit keeps them guessing by shimmying a pace down the wicket and setting off a shuttle launch. It soars high, high into the blue Sydney sky, a real steepler that would have cleared any church in the world. It drops into the crowd at midwicket in front of the O’Reilly Stand.
16th over: India 47-3 (Rohit 26, Dhoni 13) They ease off again versus Siddle, happy to glide three singles and avoid attack.
What a fate, Megan. What a fate.The one thing you can say for sure is that Peter Siddle would still come out of Jumanji cheerful.
This from @GeoffLemonSport’s live blog on @GdnAusSport had me picturing Siddle trapped in some kind of cricket Jumanji for the past 9 years. pic.twitter.com/fCbgEeR4m0
15th over: India 44-3 (Rohit 24, Dhoni 12) Rohit with another smear for two and then a single from Lyon. The 37-year-old Dhoni comes on strike. Does he still have it? Yes, at least against this ball, he does. Cannons the shot over wide long on for six, dropping to a rapturous crowd clad in Indian blue. The noise coming up to us on the level above is clamorous.
14th over: India 35-3 (Rohit 21, Dhoni 6) The Hitman decides it’s time to go. Comes down the wicket to try lofting Siddle, but only slices him high over backward point. Lands safely for two runs. Nothing risky about the next shot though, hooking the bouncer for six! Got every bit of that one. Then a single to keep the strike. Nine from the over. The required rate is just past seven.
13th over: India 26-3 (Rohit 12, Dhoni 6) Nathan Lyon is bowling beautifully, denying Dhoni any space to swing. Dhoni comes down the wicket three times, four times, but can only get the ball back to the bowler from each. It’s a maiden! The fifth in 13 overs.
The ground DJ is trying to get things moving with this number. The ground DK is Dinesh Karthik, who just has his initials on the back of his shirt. Baller move.
12th over: India 26-3 (Rohit 12, Dhoni 6) Peter Siddle has got his lime-green collar popped, a gold sweatband on his left wrist... incredible areas. Goes up for a huge retro appeal as he hits Dhoni on the pad. Going down leg. Australia have no review left, luckily, or they might have blown it on that. Dhoni drives a single, and that’s the only score from the over.
I joked about going scoreless before, but Rohit is 12 from 33 and Dhoni 6 from 29.
11th over: India 25-3 (Rohit 12, Dhoni 5) Here’s another retro pick in Nathan Lyon. Australia tried to stack the ODI team with T20 players last November, and when that didn’t work they’ve stacked it with Test players instead. Khawaja, Marsh, Handscomb through that middle. Four runs from Lyon’s over.
10th over: India 21-3 (Rohit 10, Dhoni 3) Here we go, here we go. Peter Siddle, for his first delivery in ODI cricket since 2010. Last time he played he was bowling with Mitch Johnson, Nathan Hauritz and Clint McKay. He got rained off partway through an over. Now he can finish it. It’s a beauty, too, beating Dhoni’s edge a couple of times and costing just one run plus a leg bye.
9th over: India 19-3 (Rohit 9, Dhoni 3) They are really taking it easy, this Indian pair. Trying to survive for now. Behrendorff goes for just two.
8th over: India 17-3 (Rohit 8, Dhoni 2) Richardson bowling, three singles from the over as the calm-down period continues.
7th over: India 14-3 (Rohit 6, Dhoni 1) Behrendorff to Dhoni, pitching up and testing him. MS can’t put him away, and it’s another maiden. “Targeting the stumps of the new batsman,” emails Daniel Guidone. “Why didn’t the test quicks do this?
6th over: India 14-3 (Rohit 6, Dhoni 1) Richardson loses his rhythm and bowls a couple of wides. He’s a short man, relative to other fast bowlers, and runs in with pumping angular elbows. Delivers with a flurry, and fast. Dhoni can’t get a run, defending several then mistiming a pull, until the last ball of the over. Inside edge, thigh pad, runs away behind square, and it’s a low-key way to score his 10,000th ODI run for India (having also scored 174 playing three official ODIs for an Asia XI).
5th over: India 11-3 (Rohit 6, Dhoni 0) To continue the catalogue of eventfulness, Behrendorff bowls a no-ball. Oversteps, and the free hit is signalled. Like stealing from Smaug, Rohit is awakened from his slumber and descends to pillage the folk of Dale. Or Jason, in this case. Flicks off the pads to deep backward square. It’s almost six, it’s hanging. Shaun Marsh knows he can’t dismiss the batsman so he doesn’t bother trying to catch it, he just volleyballs it back into play. But his heel has kissed the boundary padding, so it’s six nonetheless.
4th over: India 4-3 (Rohit 0, Dhoni 0) Richardson with the double-wicket maiden.And now we’ve got two of the keenest early blockers in the world at the crease. We might go scoreless until the 30th over here. Then chase the target anyway.
Below is the fate that Australia just avoided.
Virat Kohli batting second in ODIs since the start of last year:
112, 46*, 129*, 75, 45, 140, 107, 33*. #AusvInd
If you’re confused by that scoreline, it’s 3 wickets for 4 runs. Rayudu doesn’t last either, hit on the front pad by a ball that cut in a bit. He reviewed it, and it was smashing leg stump. So the review is gone along with three batsmen. And MS Dhoni comes to the crease in the fourth over. Scenes.
They don’t come any bigger than that! Richardson gets the wicket. He didn’t exactly do Kohli for pace, as that flick off the pads came right out of the middle. But maybe the pace made Kohli mistime fractionally so that it went in the air at catchable height to square leg. Stoinis snaffled it.
3rd over: India 4-1 (Rohit 0, Kohli 3) The Dorff to continue. It’s easier to type. Something about the sequence of letters confuses the fingertips. Kohli is away with a couple through cover, then runs a single behind point.
2nd over: India 1-1 (Rohit 0, Kohli 0) Massive cheers of course as Virat Kohli comes to the crease. The best ODI run-chaser the game has ever known. This target is merely mid-range for him. Will he carry on his stellar 2018? Won’t get the chance to face a ball, as Jhye Richardson is bowling to Rohit who remains in Test match mode. That was a good fast over too. Looked brisk even from the press box.
This just in from a CA spokesperson. “Steve Smith will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair a ligament in his right elbow. He is expected to wear a brace for six weeks before commencing rehabilitation. Return to play time frames will be clearer once the brace has been removed.”
1st over: India 1-1 (Rohit 0) Righto, away we go. With the ball in hand it’s the new Big German Disco, inheriting the title from Ben Hilfenhaus. The heir to the title is Jason Behrendorff. He bowls a few dotties, coming left-arm over the wicket to the right-handed Rohit. But fifth ball of the innings strikes Rohit on the pad.
They go up for a review, Australia. It’s one of the worst reviews of all time. It’s pitching outside leg, hitting the batsman outside leg, and going over the stumps. Aside from that he was stone.
How good that must feel on debut. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/1fSdG9O5Bw
Great shot. (Photographically.)
Oh yes, gold caps and hats!! pic.twitter.com/f6NNH4WGmq
This is on the speakers at the SCG. Temper Trap. A real feel-good tune.
Refresher: Glenn Maxwell in the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
G1 v : 66 off 40 (Aus W)
G2 v : 1 off 3 (Aus L)
G3 v : 88 off 39 (Aus W)
G4 v : 102 off 53 (Aus W)
G5 v : DNB (Aus W)
G6 v : 44 off 29 (Aus W)
G7 v : 23 off 14 (Aus W)
G8 v : DNB (Aus W)
Carelesssss whissperrrrrs...
"Did he bat at 7? Did he? That's what I'm asking you. Careless whispers, eh?" https://t.co/43hfO8OQxQ
Hello friends. Thanks Adam. He’s right, you know: it looks a pretty decent score, but then the ease with which shots were played on this wicket, and the way the innings unfolded, 280 could have been more like 330. Not sure why you’d take your player with the best strike rate in the team, and I think the best in the world for players averaging over 30, and stick him way down the order to come in with 16 balls to go. While playing three anchor-role batsmen through the middle order. Strange strange days down south.
And that’s me done. Some thoroughly uninspiring batting salvaged somewhat by that final flourish. I’ll leave it with Geoff to track India’s pursuit of 289. Bye!
50th over: Australia 288-5 (Stoinis 47, Maxwell 11) BIG from Stoinis, climbing into a full toss from Bhuvi, putting him into the midwicket seats. He swings again, the top edge clearing the fielding circle and running down to third man for four! I don’t want to go on about it too much, but where was this when they were four down an hour ago? Stoinis has found his groove but has only just passed a strike rate of 100 in this final over. Another top edge just lands in front of point, the single giving Maxwell two balls to play with. SHOT! He gives it a flick of the wrist from a ball that would have missed off stump, directing it expertly over square leg for four. On his hands and knees, he digs out the wide yorker to finish, Stoinis scampering back fortwo. That’s it, Stoinis unbeaten on 47 (43) Maxwell 11 (5).
49th over: Australia 270-5 (Stoinis 36, Maxwell 5) Stoinis into the 30s with a whack over midwicket that just makes it to the rope after pitching and losing speed. With Maxwell his partner, there is no doubt they are taking two from the next clip to square leg - that’s intent! An excellent shorter ball from Shami, cutting back off the seam, denies a run from the fourth ball but a single down the ground. Maxwell one chance, giving it his best to clear cover with a committed upper cut, but deep point keeps it to two.
48th over: Australia 259-5 (Stoinis 27, Maxwell 3) Maxwell deflects his first ball to third man for what becomes two after a misfield, then taking one to mid-off. Can Stoinis complete the Bhuvi over with a boundary? Nup, it’s one to point.
Maxi with 2.4 overs left to make a ton for Langer.#AUSvIND
Handscomb finds Dhawan at deep point, the catch safely pouched. He should have fell the ball before, Rayudu charging in so hard in from the rope that he not only dropped the catch but parried it over the crossbar, into the crowd.
47th over: Australia 248-4 (Handscomb 67, Stoinis 25) Shami is doing his bit to help the home side set enough runs that Kohli can reach three figures in the chase, spraying one wide down the legside then another over Handscomb’s head. Stoinis tried to split open midwicket earlier on but didn’t get enough on it, nor did Handscomb towards extra cover. The more senior man tries to swing into the O’Reilly Stand to finish but the top edge lands inside the fielding circle.
Good news from Warwick Baker, our evacuated correspondent from the Churchill Stand: he’s been upgraded to a corporate box! Drinks on him!
Not giving Maxwell a bat when trying to post a score is the equivalent of being 5/80 chasing 260 and telling Michael Bevan he’s coming in at 10
46th over: Australia 240-4 (Handscomb 63, Stoinis 23) Shot! He can do it, Handscomb, there is no doubting this, which only makes the last half an hour the more frustrating. Facing his first ball of the new Bhuvi over, the Victorian captain comes down the track to meet the ball, slaying it over extra cover for four. Stoinis’ turn and he tries to ping out to midwicket but doesn’t make full contact. The 50 stand is raised with the shot, in 50 balls. Handscomb again gets the ticking over to finish, picking up a full toss slower ball over square leg into the gap. 11 off it!
45th over: Australia 229-4 (Handscomb 54, Stoinis 21) Jadeja on, back to Plan A! After so successfully taking the attack to Kuldeep, the seven runs collected here are all to the sweepers, all without attacking the boundary through the air. The spin twins have finished their work and they have been fantastic, Kuldeep taking 2/54 and Jadeja 1/48.
44th over: Australia 222-4 (Handscomb 51, Stoinis 17) A SIX! The first of the innings! THEN ANOTHER! The first of these, via Stoinis, ends up the second deck of the Members Stand, picking Kuldeep up off a length. Inspired by it, perhaps, Handscomb does the same from the final ball for the same result. HOW ABOUT THAT? Having a pop with wickets in hand might be worthwhile!
“Australian selectors surely operating some sort of Antipodean double-dealing sporting version of a John Le Carré novel,” emails Brian Withington. “‘The Guy who Stayed in the Cold’ or maybe ‘Tinker, Tailor, Maxwell, Bye’. All designed to confuse English and lull them into a false sense of security before World Cup and Ashes. Inscrutably deep stuff.” Yes, that’s what they’re doing. All about that false sense of security, they are.
As the rule of thumb goes, if you double the score at the 44th over...
43rd over: Australia 208-4 (Handscomb 45, Stoinis 10) Jadeja’s turn to squeeze, six runs taken all in the small currency, no risks at all. I can’t believe how bad this is.
42nd over: Australia 202-4 (Handscomb 41, Stoinis 8) This is extraordinary batting. They’ve picked up three from the Kuldeep over, all singles, without even looking to hit - or clear - the boundary. Have these blokes not watched any ODI cricket in the last three years? You’d think they were new to the format. No other team does this.
You still have to pay your ball fee if you don't bat, Glenn. #AUSvIND
41st over: Australia 199-4 (Handscomb 40, Stoinis 6) Handscomb finds the sweeper along the ground, good stuff. Stoinis takes three balls to beat the ring for one. Going well. Four from the first ~explosion~ over. Yes, well bowled Shami. Still. Fair dinkum.
40th over: Australia 195-4 (Handscomb 38, Stoinis 4) Kuldeep’s eighth over and it adds to the strangle. Four singles were found but all with maximum safety. Handscomb missed out on a long hop too, hitting it straight to point. We’re finally into happy hour with 1/57 added between overs 30 to 40. At least they have made it to over 40 with wickets in hand; that was the point, I think. “If they go at ten an over from here they’ll go close to 300!” jokes Geoff Lemon. “That’s a monster score, nobody chases that.” Ben Jones adds: India will win this nine wickets in hand with 74 balls remaining.
39th over: Australia 191-4 (Handscomb 36, Stoinis 2) Shami just sent down the 39th over an ODI at the Australian number five and number six that went for just two singles. Forget defending the World Cup, they will be hard pressed beating a much-improved Afghanistan in their tournament opener. Especially if the track is spinning.
38th over: Australia 189-4 (Handscomb 35, Stoinis 1) Singles along the carpet for the three remaining Kuldeep balls to complete his successful over, Stoinis off the mark. “Retro jersey, retro scoring rate,” says Kiran Kumar. I’d show you the dismissal but the clips aren’t often posted on twitter from those that can when Australia are doing poorly.
The ball from Kuldeep which dismissed Marsh spun 3.8°, more than any of the last 10 balls Kuldeep bowled to the Aussie No.4. Marsh was trying to up the pace, but a 77kph big spinning ball was a very tough ball to hit over the rope. #AUSvIND
Kuldeep is brought back and has a wicket from his third ball! Marsh, to his credit, tried to take him on but didn’t make quite enough contact, holing out to long-on. His 70-ball innings comes to an end, bringing Maxw..., I mean, Stoinis to the middle.
37th over: Australia 185-3 (Marsh 54, Handscomb 32) Up comes the 50-partnership with the second of four singles in the Bhuvi over, the aggression shown from his previous set shelved for now. It was nice while it lasted, I guess.
“From The Big Show to The Big No Show,” emails Ian Forth. “Though somehow I don’t think that’ll be the title of Maxwell’s autobiography. I’m a little ignorant here, what is he supposed to have actually done to upset the Powers That Be? Score runs too fast?”
36th over: Australia 181-3 (Marsh 53, Handscomb 30) Marsh locks up his World Cup spot (for 2023, hiyooooo!), raising his 13th ODI half-century with a stand-and-deliver smash through midwicket. Handscomb completes the over with just about the shot of the day so far, driving through cover between two fielders for another four. That’s Khaleel’s eighth over and surely the final one he’ll deliver here, his analysis 8-0-55-0.
35th over: Australia 171-3 (Marsh 48, Handscomb 25) Consecutive fours! Strike lambs! Handscomb is the man, steering Bhuvi past point then creaming him to wide long-on. The Victorian is up to a run a ball, Marsh 48 from 64 at the other end.
“People have been evacuated from the bays at the SCG due to a structural problem with the roof,” reports Warwick Baker. “There are many irate fans. Because they have been redirected to standing areas in the Bradman Stand.”
34th over: Australia 160-3 (Marsh 47, Handscomb 15) Khaleel again, the one bowler that the Australians are happy to at least try and attack. And Marsh goes at him! Hurrah! It comes off an edge but over the cordon and far away for four. After the customary singles, it is an over of nine. Party on! Drinks.
33rd over: Australia 151-3 (Marsh 42, Handscomb 11) Bhuvi is on and nearly gets a return catch gifted first ball from Handscomb, just outside his reach. This won’t surprise you: five of his six balls here are dots. Good stuff boys, let’s see him off. Imagine how hard Eoin Morgan must be laughing if he’s watching this somewhere.
32nd over: Australia 150-3 (Marsh 42, Handscomb 10) Lovely defensive posture from Handscomb, really getting in behind Shami. We’re joking around in the press box: we know Australia want to play more like England at the moment but not the 2015 model. Shami misses his bumper, a wide called, with four singles to the sweepers.
“Despite that Rayudu over and the all pace attack selection blunder,” emails Abhijato Sensarma, “Virat’s captaincy choices have been spot-on, exemplified by near perfect execution. For a long time, I thought he was too one-dimensional - this tour has gone a long way in changing that general perception.”
31st over: Australia 145-3 (Marsh 40, Handscomb 8) Jadeja nearly pulls off another three-single over but Handscomb jumps on a marginally shorter ball to finish, placing it nicely through cover for four. More please, immediately, or let Maxwell at it.
“It is hard to see where Glenn Maxwell sits in the modern Australian team,” laments Jim Maxwell on ABC. “Now he’s not even deemed worthy of a top six spot in the one-day team.”
30th over: Australia 138-3 (Marsh 38, Handscomb 3) Righto, so double 30 as they say - 276. Imagine England or India setting up an innings like this? They don’t, not in this era. Shami sent four dot balls to Handscomb to begin. Sure, he is new to the crease but the field is out and his job is to accumulate singles from the get-go. Two from it.
29th over: Australia 136-3 (Marsh 37, Handscomb 2) Handscomb does walk out where he was listed at number five, off the mark with a single to long-off first ball, Marsh getting one to midwicket before Handscomb again plays down the ground.
“The poor run rate,” says Patrick Hargreaves “India arent bowling hand grenades. Is it a mindset or a form thing? No six hit yet or attempted. Looks like everyones batting for their place not the win.”
India's last 18 results chasing 280 or less in ODIs (most recent first):
WWTWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW#AUSvIND
Sweeping conventionally, Khawaja missed the ball, crashing into his front pad below the knee. He sent it upstairs but DRS showed it to be clipping middle and leg. The partnership of 92 for the third wicket comes to an end.
28th over: Australia 132-2 (Khawaja 59, Marsh 35) Khaleel has been the least effective of India’s seamers today, back now for his sixth over. Two wides in this set won’t help his confidence, every legal delivery scored off too. Good thing that Kohli got a couple out of Rayudu so that the left-armer will only be required to send down eight.
“The longer you go with Maxwell sitting in the sheds is a waste of talent,” says Gilchrist, suggesting that he should be promoted at the fall of the next wicket. I’ll believe it when I see it.
27th over: Australia 123-2 (Khawaja 55, Marsh 32) Another four for Khawaja with the reverse sweep, a shot that is quickly becoming one of his most dependable. He can’t back it up, though, Jadeja finishing his over with four dots on the bounce. Can’t be having that in the 27th over of an ODI.
26th over: Australia 119-2 (Khawaja 51, Marsh 32) Into the second half of the Australian innings with Shami back into the track for Rayudu. “You normally would double the score at 30 overs,” says Warne, right on cue. “But you can probably make that 32 overs now with the players so powerful.” Khawaja takes one to square leg, bringing up his half-century in his first innings back in the canary yellow. Two singles to finish, Marsh to cover and Khawaja long on. That makes three from it, of course.
Usman Khawaja is looking increasingly fluent here. He's only scored at 3.31rpo against the seamers, but the slight release in pressure from Rayudu has allowed Khawaja to up his scoring rate v spin to 5.07rpo. Not explosive, but he's gently accelerating. #AUSvIND
25th over: Australia 116-2 (Khawaja 49, Marsh 31) The batsmen exchange singles to long-on but that’s their lot, Jadeja getting through the set in no more than 60 seconds.
24th over: Australia 114-2 (Khawaja 48, Marsh 30) They go after Rayudu! Khawaja tickles the first ball of the over fine for four then stands back to slap an “absolute pie” (as described by Shane Warne on the telly) to the square leg rope for four more. Ten off the over from India’s sixth bowler. That might be it for him. “You can feel the momentum building now,” says Gilchrist. That might be a fraction optimistic.
23rd over: Australia 104-2 (Khawaja 39, Marsh 29) There is that reverse, Khawaja getting into position early and clearing square leg to get himself another boundary. Lovely cricket. It has taken a while, but I reckom he might have just found his groove.
22nd over: Australia 98-2 (Khawaja 34, Marsh 28) Rayudu, the sixth bowler, is on with his offies. Not a bad shout from Kohli to squeeze out a couple of overs from him now while Australia are battling to shift gears. Marsh gets two from the first ball but only one other single. Guess what? Three from it.
21st over: Australia 95-2 (Khawaja 34, Marsh 25) Three dots to begin for Jadeja to Khawaja, one of those prompting a visit to the third ump after Dhoni got the bails off. Khawaja paddles a couple to finish, having reversed for the first time a few overs back.
20th over: Australia 91-2 (Khawaja 31, Marsh 24) Marsh puts away a long-hop from Kuldeep, cutting hard behind point, the ball beating the sweeper to the rope. Four other singles along the way makes this the most productive over in some long time.
“It’s really great that the ICC have allowed them to play the fifth day of the Test even though it was rained out,” says Pat Noone, another member of the CricProf Massive.
19th over: Australia 83-2 (Khawaja 29, Marsh 18) Five singles this time, in a row! As a bloke once said several thousand times to the Australian people: what a time to be alive.
18th over: Australia 78-2 (Khawaja 27, Marsh 15) We’re back with Kuldeep from the Paddington end, now into his fifth over. I wonder whether Kohli will bowl out his ten straight, per what England did with Moeen a lot last year? He slips through this set giving up only three singles. Half the overs today must have gone for three singles. Yuk.
“Other instances aside,” begins Vasu Chaurey, “it’s really nice to listen to Warne commentate while Kuldeep is bowling. Low-key wholesome. I agree with him too (“It’s really nice to see a leggie bowling in the mid 70s. He’s able to do that because he can beat the batsmen in flight.”), it’s a delight.”
"Maxi, it's simple: you need to make more hundreds."
"Maxi, you're batting at seven."#CrystalClear
Glenn Maxwell is the only top-order batsman on either side today with a career scoring rate of quicker than a-run-a-ball. #AUSvIND
17th over: Australia 75-2 (Khawaja 26, Marsh 13) A huuuuge roar goes up around the SCG when Jadeja as announced. There are a lot more people in today than on the opening day of the Test, the vast majority wearing blue. I can’t wait to get down there with them during the run chase later when Kohli is better, they’re the best fans in the world when their team is on top. Back to the middle, Jadeja darts in his six deliveries for just the three singles, in keeping with the dreary theme of the innings so far. Drinks!
At the drinks break, Australia are already well behind in this contest. According to WinViz, they have a 28% chance of victory - can they come back into this one in Sydney? #AUSvIND
16th over: Australia 72-2 (Khawaja 25, Marsh 11) Khawaja picks the Kuldeep wrong’un this time, pulling hard into the gap for four. He’s 25 from 42, which isn’t pretty, but he absolutely cannot throw it away now. He has to be there in an hour, at a run a ball from this point forward. Capiche?
15th over: Australia 66-2 (Khawaja 20, Marsh 10) Four for Australia, albeit via Dhoni who doesn’t cleanly take a Shami delivery that bounced on the way through to him. Three other singles to the sweepers. Khawaja, at last, into the 20s.
“Replays showed Hawk Eye declaring the ball to be pitching outside leg (the Shami appeal),” notes Vasu Chaurey. Fair enough. “Also, 12.2 and 12.3 were absolutely brilliant to watch (Shami to Marsh).” What a fantastic bowler he has evolved into.
14th over: Australia 59-2 (Khawaja 18, Marsh 9) Khawaja nearly carves Kuldeep back onto his stumps, cutting the wrong’un close to his body; the shot that did Carey in. It’s the third dot ball on the bounce, followed by three singles. I know it’s early, but Australia are already in a world of pain.
Accurate stuff from Kohli's quicks so far. 59% of the deliveries from India's seamers have been on a good length, between 6m and 8m from the batsman's stumps. That's the highest figure India have recorded at this stage of an ODI innings since the 2015 World Cup. #AUSvIND
13th over: Australia 56-2 (Khawaja 16, Marsh 8) DJ Shami to Shaun Marsh, a match up he will fancy for all the obvious reasons. In keeping with that expectation, he finds his inside edge to begin, then beats his outside edge, then does it again. Sigh. Oh, that’s better, Marsh clipping off the pads for four to give him a bit of relief.
Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell is batting at seven today.
Since the 2015 World Cup, 96 batsmen have faced as many deliveries in ODI cricket as Glenn Maxwell. Only two have scored quicker than the Australian. He's currently on the scorecard to bat at No.7. #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/TXDY7RJfK2
12th over: Australia 52-2 (Khawaja 16, Marsh 4) Much better batting, the Australian pair finding the sweepers from five or six Kuldeep deliveries to get them heading in the right direction through this all-important accumulation period.
11th over: Australia 46-2 (Khawaja 14, Marsh 0) Ohhhh, how is that not given out? Shami its Khawaja on the pad with a slower ball and is insistent! It’s not given. Dhoni gives the bowler the option to review but he says no. Oh dear, the replay shows Khawaja back on his stumps dead in front. Oh well. The No3 responds next ball, as is the custom, with a drive through the covers for four. Shot.
Bad news for people who like special things: James Pattinson is injured again.
It’s the wrong’un again from Kuldeep! Into the attack and striking inside an over! Carey went back in his crease playing for turn away from his blade, setting up to cut. When the ball came back his way, he didn’t quite adjust the stroke well enough, edging into the hands of Rohit at slip. Great captaincy getting on his gun spinner inside the power play.
10th over: Australia 41-2 (Khawaja 9, Marsh 0) A power play worth 41. “It’s cute that you are trying to win the 2015 World Cup,” sledges Ben Jones, CricViz young gun, to my left. He’s enjoying this a lot more than the home fans are. Welcome to the middle overs.
9th over: Australia 37-1 (Carey 20, Khawaja 9) Shami gets his first twist of the day, running towards us from the Randwick End. To Khawaja. Another fine over from India, as poor as it was from Khawaja to only score from the final ball, the new man locating his inside edge early on then beating the outside of the blade with a ripper.
Early signs from the Cricket Ground DJ are strong, this his latest mid-over offering. As I’ve said time and again, that’s my true dream job. And I’m daring to dream. Oh! And now this after this Shami over and I’m officially overheating in the press box.
8th over: Australia 35-1 (Carey 20, Khawaja 7) Shot! Carey flicks up the back leg on contact with his flick through midwicket, as if he’s the batsman down the other end. Unfortunately, it is one of only two balls scored off from Khaleel’s over. They may be in the 1986 kits but The Wombats had it right when talking about Australia’s first ten overs here - they’re bringing back 1996 with their current run rate of 4.38.
7th over: Australia 30-1 (Carey 16, Khawaja 6) Khawaja drives twice to fielders in the circle to start the Bhuvi over, getting off strike to midwicket. Carey takes a couple off his hip but that’s their lot. Back to back overs with only three runs taken. This isn’t good.
6th over: Australia 27-1 (Carey 14, Khawaja 5) Khaleel gets one to kick up at Khawaja to begin, played nicely with soft hands. He then finds his outside edge, spitting away through the cordon. It should be one but they get an overthrow when the ball hits the stumps when returned causing a brief moment of chaos as the Australians raced back. The two need to get busy now, this power play only has 24 balls remaining.
5th over: Australia 24-1 (Carey 14, Khawaja 2) Just one scoring shot from the over and it is a boundary, Carey playing from the crease in front of point with a well-timed push that makes it to the rope. Bhuvi beat him earlier in the over with a beauty and kept him honest after the four, bang on that off-stump line. A good early contest.
4th over: Australia 20-1 (Carey 10, Khawaja 2) Good work here from Alex Carey. He is the vice-captain of this side for a reason, well respected for his leadership skills. Khaleel oversteps for a second time already to make things a fraction easier, Carey cleaning mid-on with the free hit to record his first boundary. Later in the set he frees his arms to go over the cordon for a second four. More, please.
“You must be excited,” emails Amod Paranjape. “Bhuvi is back.”
In all international cricket since the start of 2018, Aaron Finch averages 6.22 against seam deliveries that were projected to hit his stumps. #AUSvIND
3rd over: Australia 10-1 (Carey 1, Khawaja 2) Khawaja defends a few to get his eye in, taking the final ball of the set behind square for a couple to get off the mark. I can hear some grumbling behind me in the press box from a couple of former Australian batsmen. “Shocking shot,” says one of Finch’s dismissal. Here it is.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar picks up his 100th ODI wicket in style.
Stream live via Kayo HERE: https://t.co/rHhkFrd50M#AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/jNeP2XuWRK
Through him! Just a little bit of movement off the seam, enough to slip through the gap between Finch’s bat and front pad. Goodnight Saigon. And that’s Bhuvi’s 100th ODI wicket. What a lovely way to get there, picking up the Australian captain.
2nd over: Australia 8-0 (Carey 1, Finch 6) Khaleel gets the new ball, in his seventh ODI. He’s already played under three captains, according to the ABC call. He oversteps early on but Finch doesn’t make contact with the free hit. He does strike well to finish, off the back foot through cover for three. Six from it.
1st over: Australia 2-0 (Carey 1, Finch 1) It takes Carey four balls to get off the mark, doing so with a push into the covers, racing to the danger end. Finch’s turn and they are up for leg before first up! Not out, says Blocker Wilson, the ball making contact outside the line according to the replay. The captain gets his day started with a single from the final ball, keeping the strike.
The players are out in the field! Bhuvi has the ball in his hand, Alex Carey taking the first delivery. Here we go. PLAY!
We’ve just had the Indigenous welcome and the national anthems out in the middle. “My wish list is simple,” emails Neil Brandom. “Maxwell a ton and 5 wickets. Australia to win? No that would be asking for too much.”
If he does achieve the latter, I’ll be invading the pitch in celebration. It has been a big week for the Maxwell Mafia, that’s for sure.
I was pondering loudly yesterday. Is the decision to deck Australia out in retro kits from 1985-86 the best cricket news in Australia since Sandpaper? Well, maybe the Dubai draw. But this must be slotting into second, making so many people happy.
That summer, the home side dominated the tri-series against India and New Zealand. More impotantly, Allan Border found the formula he required to win Australia’s first World Cup 18 months later with Marsh, Jones, Boon, McDermott, Waugh and Reid.
#ausvind ODI series starts
Hoping the boys can hold up the Davis/Srikkanth like AB and the boys did in the day pic.twitter.com/ip6ZtYBRbS
Hardik Pandya has actually been sent home. I missed this earlier today, reports that he now will face the BCCI music for some fairly low-rent comments he and KL Rahul made on a talk show last weekend.
Meanwhile, I don’t want to make too much of this (what on Earth was his manager doing allowing this to happen?) but I have to share with you Monty on Mastermind.
Absolutely incredible performance from Monty Panesar on Mastermind. pic.twitter.com/2N3nfNFk60
The pitch. The new normal in this format is quickly becoming 350 - this is certainly the expectation of England and India ahead of the World Cup. I noticed yesterday they had prepared the “400” graphic for the scoreboard. Had India batted first, perhaps.
Today's @scg pitch. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/ViCnktqMeY
The teams as named at the toss.
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (wk), Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle, Jason Behrendorff
Aaron Finch has won the toss and what a relief that will be for the hosts - they need eveything to go right. “The middle overs are an area we really need to brush up on,” he said. “It is about keeping wickets in hand for the back end.” On the new (retro) kit: “Isn’t it brilliant?” More on those shortly!
Virat Kohli acknowledges that he, sure enough, would have batted first too. But with a top three that have collectively averaged in excess of 250 in 2018, it won’t bother the boys in blue too much. I’ll have India’s XI with you as soon as we get the team sheets.
And welcome to the SCG for it, on a stunning day. It is expected to be hot here this afternoon and the pitch looks as it should, so we should be in for tons of runs.
For Australia, this is just about last chance cafe in terms of finding a combination that can work for their World Cup defence in six months from now. They have been dreadful in this format of the game of late, winning just three of their last 21. Yes, Smith and Warner will help, but this problem started well before then.
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