[DigitalOne]

What an incredible innings by the youngster Nitish Kumar Reddy at a very critical juncture for India. Cometh the hour, cometh the man !

[harry10]

NKR take a bow.
Probably the best 100 overseas in recent times.

Washi too was brilliant. Rock solid defense.

Bad light is helping out this game to be a draw but anything can happen.

[Shumi_21]

What's most impressive about NKR is his mental strength, in Mumbai cricket circles we call it the "khadoos" mentality. Basically it means to find a way to perform when the team is in dire straits. Nitish has done exactly that, in Perth and Adelaide he was the top scorer for India, when the top order was shot out for not many runs.

And today with brilliant support from Sundar who made a fighting 50 himself, NKR was able to drag India from a sureshot defeat when Pant and Jadeja were dismissed early to a shot at drawing or maybe even winning this game. NKR & Washi have shown they can perform under pressure, and can definitely be a long term number 6 & 7 for us.

[AtheK]

Well done Mr.Reddy, You have won hearts across the globe today. Australia will have to bat minimum two sessions now, thanks to these heroics by Sundar and Reddy.

If we can bowl tight and get a couple of players early, they might have to bat half of third session also, that said with just 9 players and 3 batsman and three all-rounder it will be tough for us save the game batting whole of last day.

[Geo_Ipe]

Originally Posted by Shumi_21

Unpopular opinion, but I don't think nudging an opposition player is bad. But Kohli should have gone after someone of his own stature like Smith, trying to bully a 19 year old doesn't cover Virat in glory, much to the horror of his "alpha male" fans. And by running Jaiswal out and then nicking off himself, Kohli has decisively turned the game in Australia's favour.

Originally Posted by AtheK

Also Kohli bullying a 19 year old kid making his debut, what a shame, aggressive nature is one thing, but that was in such bad state, good he got booed. Seems he had a word to say to some spectator as well while returning to dugout after getting out. This guy has lost it.

King Kohli has become Knucklehead Kohli today! Supposed to be the top cricketer of his generation, has years of experience, yet chooses to bully a 19 year old! Pathetic! He thinks he can make up for his failures with the bat with these antics!! Anushka, please talk to your husband - he may listen at least to you!!

Enjoyed watching test match cricket after so many years today! What a knock by Reddy! I love it when youngsters grab the opportunities given to them. GG - please bat him at #5 next test! Not telling Rohit as I don't believe he sldesserves to be captain anymore, or even be in the playing 11 for that matter. Also, what a gritty display by Washington - played 150+ balls with nearly no close calls! Reddy couldn't have reached his ton had Washington not remained at the crease for so long!

[NomadSK]

Day 4 - India reduce the deficit to 100 odd runs.

Australia play out the day around 250-275 runs

That gives India to chase 375 on day 5 in 90 odd overs. That’s quite gettable on this placid flat drop down pitch.

With Rohit smashing a 70 ball century and redeeming some pride before going in oblivion. I know high hopes !!

Finally good to see some grit to fight the match out after a long long time, that too with almost newbies, justifies more of selection of Jurel/Sarfaraz/Prasid in place of blokes who aren’t anymore motivated to put in their best.

Even the last BGT was won on shoulders of Sunder/Shardul/Natrajan etc, time to back the talent and forget the balance.

[rx100]

What an iNKRredible 100 by NKR! Although I rated him very highly from his initial IPL days itself, I was very skeptical with his inclusion in test squad ahead of a proper bowler, but oh boy, he proved me wrong! what a calm and composed character he is, with proper technique too.

Originally Posted by NomadSK

Australia play out the day around 250-275 runs

That gives India to chase 375 on day 5 in 90 odd overs. That’s quite gettable on this placid flat drop down pitch.

With Rohit smashing a 70 ball century and redeeming some pride before going in oblivion. I know high hopes !!

Wake up, wake up! It’s time to move on to the next place, Nomad!

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

With Rohit smashing a 70 ball century and redeeming some pride before going in oblivion. I know high hopes !!

Tell one more please

In his current form i will happily take a 30 in 100 balls, not that it seems possible. He should just retire by end of this match and give us a chance with bumrah as captain.

[SoumenD]

Australia will bat 2 & a half sessions and leave us with an almost impossible 350+ target. In last 15 odd overs we will loose our star batters and once again it will be left to NKR, Washington, Jadeja to save the match with some support from KL & Jaiswal maybe

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by rx100

Wake up, wake up! It’s time to move on to the next place, Nomad!

Originally Posted by AtheK

Tell one more please

One more - Kohli also fires a quick 50, Pant plays a Pujara type innings and Siraj takes a 5fer

I know I know this will happen only when pigs would fly. But then we have been pretty unpredictable team lately. So fingers crossed.

I want a win, either Australia or India, but god damn no draw.

[Shumi_21]

Guys we may be in with a chance here. Mitchell Starc was wincing in pain holding his back later in the day and was getting physio treatment between balls almost constantly while fielding on the boundary. Boland also confirmed Starc has a "niggle" in his back or ribs. If true, then India really have a chance to get whatever total Aus eventually set.

The Aussies are already a bowler short, and the potential loss of Starc, or at least him being impeded by back pain to not be at his best, leaves Cummins, Boland & Lyon to bowl bulk of the second innings. There is a small chance, but Siraj & Akash would have to bowl out of ther skins tomorrow to support Bumrah.

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by Shumi_21

Guys we may be in with a chance here. Mitchell Starc was wincing in pain holding his back later in the day and was getting physio treatment between balls almost constantly while fielding on the boundary. Boland also confirmed Starc has a "niggle" in his back or ribs. If true, then India really have a chance to get whatever total Aus eventually set.

The Aussies are already a bowler short, and the potential loss of Starc, or at least him being impeded by back pain to not be at his best, leaves Cummins, Boland & Lyon to bowl bulk of the second innings. There is a small chance, but Siraj & Akash would have to bowl out of ther skins tomorrow to support Bumrah.

You conveniently forgot that we are also two batsman short, so we are still handicapped.

[PPS]

I do not know whether its Agarkar or Gambhir who insisted on having Reddy in the Squad, but whoever it was deserves massive credit! Don't think he did that well even in the 'A' games. But kudos to him for consistently being the top scorer in the team & now getting a Test 100 at MCG. His performances deserve a promotion in the batting order to no.5 or 6. Pant should now be demoted to no.6 or 7 since the Aussies have figured him out.

Winning is too far-fetched right now but we need a lot of rain once again to settle for a draw. There's nothing alarming in the pitch but our insipid batting lineup doesn't inspire confidence.

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by Eddy

It is stupid of Gavaskar to be this harsh on Pant.

As long as these shots come off way more often than they don't, he should go on. He has been our best test batter in the last few years.

With three fielders at third man, fine leg and deep square leg, clearly Aussies had an exact plan for him for this particular shot only and he fell into their trap, so clearly it was either him being stupid or lack of match awareness or the machoism backed by IPL contract. It’s simply embarrassing when at that level you fell in the trap of the opposition team which was clear to everyone and Gavaskar rightly vented it out. There’s a very thin line between being brave and being stupid at that level. And today he wasn’t brave for sure.

Earlier it might have worked for him on many occasions but that doesn’t mean he will keep risking his wicket for some weird shots atleast not in test cricket format, with a trap set for him. Past performances are no Gurantee of future outcome. Now in hindsight, Jurel would have been best bet in this series as a WK/batter, but we play heroes and at times talent is wasted in the dugout.

[padmrajravi]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

Now in hindsight, Jurel would have been best bet in this series as a WK/batter, but we play heroes and at times talent is wasted in the dugout.

Even as a wicketkeeper, Jurel seems to be a much better bet. Pant misses many simple chances.