Thanks to the pathetic umpiring display during the Australian first innings between India and Australia,which actually motivated India to surpass the first innings total of Australia and reached 532 all out, thanks to the 38 th century of our little master Sachin Tendulkar who remained not out on 154 with a very valuable and vital 8th wicket partnership between Sachin and Harbajan of 126 runs with valuable contributions from other tail enders,R.P.Singh and Ishant Sharma and to gain a first innings lead of 69 runs over Australia.
Australia at the end of the fourth day scored 282 for 4 at a breezy pace, with the major contribution from Mathew Hayden who scored his 29 th century, equalling the record of the legendary Sir Don Bradman of 29 test centuries, while the latters avarage stood at a whopping 99.99, Mathew Hayden’s average is 53+.Now Australia is 213 runs ahead of India and they may perhaps declare their second innings tomorrow morning, i.e on the 5 th day by setting a challenging target for India to chase on the worn out 5 th day pitch.
The moot question that lies before us is will India chase the target, win the test to level the series 1-1 and to keep the other two tests more alive and interesting or will they be on a defensive mode and try to save the test and manage a draw.If India win or even manage a draw on the fifth day over Australia in the second test, the winning streak of the Australian team will come to an end dashing their hope of 16 th successive test win on a trot.It should be noted that in the year 2003, it was India that stalled the winning streak of Australia then.Hence, the second test is interestingly poised on the fifth day.
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