India-Australia Sydney Test - Day 2

Day 2 of the Sydney Test was the best day of the series so far from India's point of view. They struggled early in the day to dismiss the last three Australian batsmen. They eventually did so thanks to a bold LBW decision from Steve Bucknor against Brett Lee (the impact was slightly outside off stump), catch in the deep by Sourav Ganguly off Mitchell Johnson, and a more conventional LBW against Stuart Clark.

It was Kumble who took the tail end wickets. Andrew Symonds, after yesterday's heroics was subdued and added only 25 to his overnight total, while Australia added 87. Australia ended on 463 all out, an amazing recovery from 6/134. Rahul Dravid and Wasim Jaffer had to face three torrid overs before lunch and neither of them managed to get off the mark.

Brett Lee bowled a superb spell with the new ball and Wasim Jaffer seems to struggle with his pace and line. Lee's dismissal of Jaffer was a classic pace bowler's dismissal. Lee bowled a flawless line and Jaffer's strategy was to ignore everything outside off stump and wait for Lee to bowl at him. In the process, Jaffer tended not to cover his off stump, like he normally would. The killer yorker when it came, was aimed at the base of off stump rather than at the base of leg stump. It was also delivered from slightly closer to the stumps than usual. Jaffer was beaten by the line and the pace as the ball swerved just a little towards slip as it sneaked past his bat and clipped the base of off stump. Jaffer will be disappointed by this dismissal for it is rare for a specialist batsmen to get yorked.

At the other end, Rahul Dravid had managed to survive a pacy spell from Mitchell Johnson, who clocked consistently in the mid 140's. He too continued his policy of ignoring everything outside off stump, but did so successfully. VVS had arrived at the other end, and before long, it was as though Laxman and Dravid were playing different games of cricket, on different pitches against different opposition. VVS timed nearly everything perfectly, and seemed very happy to hit balls which were not quite rank half volleys. He seemed to read the line and length of the ball very early and find the gaps at will. Before long, he had Ponting placing short cover fieldsmen to him. In one sizzling over off Mitchell Johnson, he took 18 with four silken boundaries and a brace. He race to his half century at better than a run a ball. Dravid kept him company at the other end and didn't seem to be too perturbed at not being able to score. The post lunch session belonged to VVS Laxman and India went into Tea on Day 2 at 1/101.

Australia changed tactics after tea. Ponting pushed the field back and settled down to frustrate Laxman. Rahul Dravid seemed to sense this threat to the momentum of the Indian innings and was much more positive after tea time. He had made 18(82) in the post lunch session. After tea, he made 35(72), while Laxman, who had made 73(71) in the post lunch session, made 36(71) in the post tea session. Both players looked to get on with it. Dravid seemed to relish the advent of Bradley Hogg and took him on. Laxman was intent on milking the spread out field. Just when it seemed that it would be a perfect day for India, Rahul Dravid was dismissed two balls after reaching his half century, caught in no man's land trying to late cut a shortish ball from the persevering Mitchell Johnson, managing only to cue end it to Mathew Hayden at first slip.

In the next over from Bradley Hogg, VVS Laxman was lured into a drive outside off stump and spooned a soft catch to Michael Hussey at short cover. Laxman seemed to be beaten by the drift and the flight, and the ball seemed to hit higher on the bat than he would have liked. After a stand of 175, both batsmen had been dismissed within two runs of each other. With just 40 minutes or so left in the days play, Australia were suddenly presented with an opportunity to change the course of the Test match.

Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly over 240 Test matches of experience between them, and it showed. It was still a good wicket, and both played normally. It helped that both have been in good touch. If Rahul Dravid's play hinted that India consider Bradley Hogg to be "money of jam", then Tendulkar and Ganguly's approach confirmed it. Tendulkar slogged over mid on for four, and such was his wind up on that stroke that it was as though he wanted to deposit the ball out into the car park. Ganguly played expertly and looked untroubled, until he came up against Lee, and Lee let him have some chin music (prompted by Ricky Ponting from slip). He swayed out of the way of the first one, but went for the second one and got a streaky top edged four over the wicket keepers head. At the other end Tendulkar looked untroubled.

So India ended the day at 3/216, still 247 runs behind the Australian first innings. The first session of the day tomorrow will be crucial, especially with rain forecast on Day 4 and parts of tomorrow and Day 5. This may not be completely in their hands though, for the umpiring continued to be dodgy for the second day running today.

Andrew Symonds was probably granted a wish by the Gods - "thou shalt not be stumped", for Dhoni made a very persuasive appeal today, and Bucknor refused to refer it, even though it seemed worthy of closer scrutiny. Later, when India were batting, it appears that the ball which dismissed Wasim Jaffer was a no ball. The Australian commentary team illustrated the difficulty of adjudicating the front foot no ball rule, especially with someone like Brett Lee who has a habit of dragging his front leg. But the fact remains that in most other games, no balls are called quite accurately. There was also a very close LBW appeal against VVS which looked quite Out. He was caught on the crease in front of middle and leg. Bucknor turned that appeal down. In fact such was the umpire's plight that when Gilchrist failed to make a collection down the leg side off one that seemed to touch Rahul Dravid's glove on the way, I thought I saw Umpire Benson let out a sigh of relief! Ricky Ponting did not claim a catch which he might have on another day.

One hopes that the umpires will have put these two days behind them when they take the field tomorrow. By any standards, they have had a poor Test match. But if it goes down to the wire and they make further errors, then the criticism they have faced today will seem like polite conversation. Thankfully the players seem to realize that they're having a tough time and haven't resorted to appealing for just about anything.

Right now the game is evenly poised. Tomorrow will be an important day.