Mohali Test: Day Two Review: Australia Face First Inning’s Deficit

India ended the day as positively as they could have, taking the wicket of Michael Clarke in the most Indian-est of fashions.

Debutant Amit Mishra, who earlier struck in his third over on debut, picking up the well set Simon Katich as his first wicket in Test cricket, bamboozled Clarke with a googly, coming from around the wicket to the right hander, Asad Rauf adjudging him leg before wicket.

The Australian inning started in a very similar manner to the first Test match, Matthew Hayden falling for yet another third ball duck, Zaheer Khan getting his victim for the third successive inning. Done in by a sharp, trademark Khan in-swinger, Hayden’s departure left his team at 0 for 1.

In walked captain Ricky Ponting, and for a while it seemed the duo were set to shut the Indian bowlers out of the game, just like they did at Banglore, managing to go into the Tea break with the score at nine for the loss of one.

But disaster struck second over after tea, Ricky Ponting falling LBW to his latest Indian nemesis, Ishant Sharma, for a paltry five.

Mike Hussey and Katich steadied the ship for a while, thereafter, producing the most successful partnership of the day for the Oz team, 45 runs for the third wicket.

Katich’s departure in the 22nd over of the day saw the Aussie score card read 62 for three. The pressure seemed to be telling on the visitors, Hussey and Clarke managing only eight runs in the next eight overs.

For a brief period after the 31st over it seemed as if the Australian duo would take complete control of the game, with both batsmen finding gaps with consummate ease.

But Clarke’s departure off what was the last ball of the day left Australia in dire straits.

Earlier in the day, Ganguly and Dhoni piled on the agony for the Australian quickies, once Ishant Sharma’s resistance came to an end, courtesy debutant Siddle.

Dhoni was in particularly devastating mood, bringing up his fifty with a six off Cameron White, his second of the day. At one point the Indian captain was striking at 80 per 100 deliveries, while Ganguly provided steadying effect to the Indian inning.

Ganguly got an emotional century, his 16th, with a boundary, only to get out one over later.

The rest of the side fell like nine pins, both Khan and Harbhajan Singh unable to repeat their Bangalore performances.

Dhoni was last man to be dismissed, LBW to Siddle, in what can be called a slightly suspect decision, the Indian inning folding at 469.

Australia will be looking for a big partnership between Hussey and either Haddin or Watson, whoever comes in next.

Watch out for Hussey, in good form, and looking to rescue his team. A big hundred from him should put Australia right back in it!