Story ICC Best Of The Rest Championship

[Short Leg]

Defient Australian's Fight Back ​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 5/283 - 73 overs
Stumps - Day 2

Langer 114(217)*
Gilchrist 57(55)*

Pathan 2/132
Khan 0/32
Kumble 1/47
Harbhajan Singh 2/24
Tendulkar 0/33

Australia trail by 200 runs

Langer and Gilchrist took it throught to stumps nearing the hundred partnership and breathing a new life into the Australian camp that was suffering from a middle order collapse. Australia still with alot of work to do but they are on track to first innings points if Gilchrist can get to 100 and Langer can keep his concentration levels up after batting for a long period of time already in this match.

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Adam Gilchrist brought up his quick fire 50 just before stumps to amze this Kolkata crowd with some class and brute force.

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[Short Leg]

How Do They Sleep When The Deck Is Turning?​

1st Tvs Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 6/304 - 80 overs
11:26am - Day 3

Langer 123(239)*
Gilchrist 67(72)

Pathan 2/132
Khan 0/38
Kumble 1/47
Harbhajan Singh 3/34
Tendulkar 0/36

Australia trail by 179 runs

Adam Gilchrist's high risk style of play finally brought about his downfall. A ball that pitches outside the left handers leg stump which span back sharply to take the timber as the keeper-batsman attempted to slog across the line. Australia getting closer to the Indian total but still with work to do. The tail is capable of getting the score up there and they will need to do so.

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Gilchrist's entertaining innings comes to an end​

Shane Warne will take an attacking role like Gilchrist. Langer who has batted through the entire innings so far is still hanging in there.

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[Short Leg]

Kumble On The Money​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kokata
Australia 8/389 - 97 overs
12:43pm - Day 3

Langer 154(286)*

Pathan 2/147
Khan 0/52
Kumble 3/53
Harbhajan 3/54
Tendulkar 0/61

Australia trail by 94 runs

Just when you thought you'd seen it all in this match and Australia would get back in the match and take control through there tailenders but then Kumble stepped in.

Taking two wickets back to back including Warne and Lee Kumble was then on a hattrick which Bracken managed to negotiate. Still just under a hundred runs down Australia may have to conced innings points in hope of a outright victory.

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Warne went edging to the keeper Dhoni whilst Lee recieved a juicey half tracker that he attempted to smash for six but only managed a top edge to be back in the pavillion.

The will power of Justin Langer is outstanding here as he refuses to quit despite the lack of long term support from the other end. Can he carry his bat through the entire innings.

Nathan Bracken should set his first goal at lasting until the lunch break here on Day 3.

 

[Cricket_60]

They are in a much better position then I thought they would be...

 

[langerrox]

go langer

 

[Short Leg]

Aussie Battlers ​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 8/414 - 102 overs
Lunch - Day 3

Langer 166(307)*
Bracken 12(13)*

Pathan 2/156
Khan 0/52
Kumble 3/53
Harbhajan Singh 3/54
Tendulkar 0/77

Australia trail by 69 runs

This match may come down to who wants it more as yet again Australia just wont go down. This time Nathan Bracken is staying there with Langer as Australia continue to score at around a hundred runs a session. Just 69 runs behind now gives Australia a much more realistic chance of victory although they must bat well.

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The spinners have been great for India and they really have been dominating the bat at stages in the innings. However when blokes like Gilchrist and Warne has gone after them they do retreat.

A big session for both teams here as Australia need too bat it out with just two wickets remaning. Those two wickets will be the ones India will be looking to pick up quickly as they require as big a lead as possible if they are to beat this champion team.

 

[Short Leg]

go langer

Yeah JL is a champion bloke

 

[Short Leg]

Langer's Fairy Tale Comes To An End​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia 9/419

Justin Langer departs from the middle after his great knock that contained 169 runs. Battling fatigue Langer played a lazy shot against Kumble's top spinners and was castled.

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Kumble now has 4 wickets as Glenn McGrath comes to the crease as the last man in.

 

[Short Leg]

India Cling Onto First Innings Point's​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia All Out 453 - 112.3 overs
2:29pm - Day 3

India lead by 30 runs

India have managed to bowl out Australia eventually and narrowly claim innings points. It could have been over quicker but a tremendous display of guts from opener Justin Langer and some haandy lower order run making got Australia right into the mix. There is a real belife within the Indian team now that they can win this match as they went into there huddle.

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India are ontop and should win the game if they have time on there side​

Time may play a key role in this match as India will need to allow at leased 100 overs to bowl out Australia as this pitch is still a belta. A strong top order display is required to get India away to the kind of run rate that they achieved in the first innings.

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[Cricket_60]

Definitely a draw now. Unless the Aussies pull off a miraclules bowling effort :upray

 

[Short Leg]

McGarth Learn's Of The News​

During the change of innings Glenn McGrath recieved a phone call from back in Australia where he was told of the news that his wife Jane had been diagnosed with cancer for the third time. Glenn said a few words to the media to let everyone in on what action he would be taking in the immediate future.

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I will be flying back to Australia straight away to be with my family and i will take no further part in the match or series. The twelth man will be my replacment. I apoligise to my teammates for letting them down but they understand what this means to me. Cricket Australia have given me the ok to go home and right now thats all i want to do. I dont know when i will be back to international cricket but it wont be for a few tours atleased. My family takes top priority in these times.

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A very unfortunate event from anyones point of view. Australia's job now made even harder with McGrath and them may need to explore abit with there bowling options. It now seems only winnable for India from this time on.

Updates on Indias innings will be tommorrow afternoon sometime because its my grand final in the morning.

 

[alfa_beta]

Nice story!

 

[Short Leg]

Thanks for the encouragment boys

 

[Short Leg]

Late Swing Causes Problems​

1st TVS Test - Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India 2/7 - 5 overs
2:53 - Day 3

Gambhir 4(12)
Dravid 0(1)
Sehwag 1(15)*

Lee 1/4
Bracken 1/4

India lead by 37 runs

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Early problems for India at the start of there second innings as Lee and Bracken have caused massive problems with newly found late swing. Gambhir was bowled through the gate by Bracken and Lee got through Dravid first ball he faced.

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India are facing the razor wire if they lose anymore wickets within this session. The little master needs to get his team out of the hole thats just been dug. Sehwag may just keep a lid on his attack for now.

How will Australias attack hold up after the new ball when they cant turn to McGrath? Theres only one place to fin out.

 

[Cricket_60]

Great start Aussies :happy