Sometimes the words just fit the moment: Assad Hasanain, of the excellent AssadHas, shares five of his favourite pieces of commentary. Assad tweets @assad_hasanain.

Cricketing viewership in recent times has become something of an ordeal. The Arun Lals, Russel Arnolds, Danny Morissons, Jayasurias, Ian Healys and Athar Ali Khans of the world have introduced me to a previously unthinkable phenomenon…watching cricket on mute.

As subtlety continues to disappear and the men behind the microphone continue to fall in love with their own voices, cricket commentary appears to have become more of an exercise in stating the obvious. While the stellar team of Atherton, Gower and Hussain is still holding the fort in English cricket and Benaud, Crowe and Jackman provide much needed relief in matches involving their respective countries, the standard of commentary overall has slipped rather embarrassingly in recent years.

My discontent with the utter tripe insulting my ears during cricket matches often has me longing rather wistfully for better times in cricket commentary; times when the words fit the occasion; when commentary was not an annoying sideshow and actually provided context and emotion to a moment.

Iftikhar Ahmed’s commentary on Miandad’s last ball six at Sharjah is a piece for the ages. Even though the game happened years before my passion for cricket was tickled, the infectious excitement in Iftikhar’s voice instantly transforms me to that quite marvelous era of Pakistan commentary. It was a time when Qureshi and Iftikhar held the reins of Pakistan commentary, when the impact of radio made cricket commentary a profession only for the true orators.

Iftikhar’s voice reflects an almost disbelief at the miracle that has just unfolded in front of the viewers’ eyes and his comments scream out the passion that every Pakistani viewer feels at that historic moment in Pakistan cricket.

Richie Benaud’s memorable vocals behind Wasim Akram’s legendary dismissal of Alan Lamb provide insight into a different school of commentary. As Imran brings in his chief ward to land in the killer punch, Benaud and Tony Cozier are leading the commentary.

Akram bowls a sensational delivery and knocks over Lamb.Notice how the tone of Benaud’s voice does not change and there is no audible excitement in his voice. Instead, his speed of delivery picks up with the excitement of the occasion and culminates in the punchline.. “Allan Lamb has been cleaned up. Perhaps…..”.And then he pauses. It’s the pauses that make Benaud the legend that he is. It may be his mastery of delivery, or the fact that he weighs every word carefully. And then he delivers the verdict. “so too England”.

As Akram hits the top of his mark for the next ball, Tony Cozier is reeling off the names of English batsmen to follow. “Lewis, Reeve, Pringle, Defritas…Fairbrother is still there”….As Akram castles Lewis with a devilish in swinger, Richie Benaud pulls out another classic..Rather than shout out an excitable two liner ala Tony Grieg or Bill Lawry, Benaud plays off quite brilliantly off Cozier’s last comment….”Subtract Lewis from that list…Wasim Akram is on a hat-trick”….It was fitting that five of the greatest minutes in Pakistan cricketing history were accompanied not by an excitable commentator eager to hog the mic but by a brilliant orator who knew not to steal from the moment.

David Gower’s brief tribute to Tendulkar upon his entrance into Lord’s captured my imagination. Gower is an old favorite. He speaks with the same eloquence as his batting, it’s an almost lazy, casual play of words delivered in his own inimitable style.

Similar to Benaud, what stands out with Gower’s commentary are his deliberate and immaculate pauses. Notice in this case the subtle emphasis on the words “legend” and “demigod”…As the cameras seek out the crowd, Gower improvises on the spot with a delicious one-liner taken from a banner…”Lord at Lord’s”..It was just about the most perfectly executed little tribute I’ve ever heard in cricket commentary.

Once upon a time when Ravi Shastri did not have drunken outbursts on TV, he used to be a half-decent commentator. A game from the Champion’s Trophy gives me goosebumps every time I listen to the commentary (listen to the clip below at 7 mins -49 secs). Asif and Shoaib have both been banned on the eve of the trophy and Pakistan’s hastily assembled band of backup bowlers have managed to restrict Sri Lanka to a gettable total.

Pakistan’s batsmen, in true Pakistani fashion, blunder their way towards the total. With the ending in sight Razzaq decides to finish the game off in a blaze of glory. As the ball sails into the night sky, Ravi Shastri’s powerful voice booms in the background, “……its vintage Pakistan here…….”. It was a dialogue that captured everything that’s maddening and captivating about Pakistan cricket in one simple syllable. The victory really was a Pakistan classic, secured against all odds, in the backdrop of a disaster that had left them defenseless on the eve of battle. Ravi Shastri recognises the sentiments of the Pakistani viewer and his comment puts the appropriate close on a night of swinging fortunes.

Nasser Hussain’s eloquence and charisma as a commentator makes the Sky commentary team a listener’s delight. In this example from Pakistan’s tumultuous last tour of England Saeed Ajmal is announcing himself as Pakistan’s next great spinner. After tormenting England in a test match at Edgbaston, Ajmal is out to prove that his strong performance was not a one off.

The doosra that clips the inside edge of Morgan’s bat is a gem, the commentary if possible is epic. Hussain sums up the brilliance of Ajmal in one poetic sentence…”Ajmal, the destroyer at Edgbaston…is weaving his magic at the Oval”….It might just be the sheer eloquence of Hussain’s delivery, but his point left me infactuated with Saeed Ajmal.

My bias against commentators stating the obvious notwithstanding, Bill Lawry’s commentary to close out the 92 world cup still sends shivers of excitement down my spine. As Rameez Raja circles around to complete the catch, Bill Lawry’s shrieking tones capture the emotion of the moment to perfection. ” It’s up in the air, this could be victory it is! Pakistan win the world cup.

A magnificent performance in front of 87000 people. Imran Khan has led his side to victory. What a great victory.” It is the brilliance of Bill Lawry that while his commentary lacks in thought or originality, the sheer emotion in his voice is enough to keep the average viewer engaged. In this case Lawry’s voice adds color to a quite glorious moment in Pakistan’s sporting history.Contrast this to David Lloyd and Wasim Akram’s rather bland performance in Pakistan’s T20 victory, and one realizes how a passionate commentator can often capture the essence of a great moment.

It’s a tricky business judging cricket commentary. While nostalgia, national prejudice and sentimental attachments to the personalities behind the microphone inevitably color the listener’s view, cricket fans generally appear to be united in their disapproval of the utter garbage being paraded around the cricket world as ‘commentary’.

For the time being, we can at least console ourselves with the thought that for every ‘tracer bullet’ that heads to the boundary, every ‘Karban Kamaal catch’ that is completed successfully and every ‘match going right down to the wire’, there are still some sane voices left behind the microphone. And the next time we find ourselves cringing at a Tony Greig cliche, we can rest assured that a little gem from Richie Benaud is somewhere around the corner.

BEN ROBERTS ponders whether cricket coaches could gain inspiration from the 2011 movie Moneyball which tracks the story of Oakland A’s Billy Beane crafting a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis and statistics.

I might as well throw my voice into the vortex of latter opinion and desire that has been borne out of 2011′s release of the film Moneyball. I only recently got around to watching this film, and enjoyed it immensely. The film’s release has awoken the rest of the sporting world to a concept that was not even new in the period portrayed in the movie, but has been around for over 30 years. Suddenly everyone wants a piece of the action, and to find the killer measurable statistic for their sport of choice that separates the wheat from the chaff.

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Australia need some Mike Hussey heroics: image (c) Herald Sun

Welcome to this live blog of all the major moments on day 4 of the Boxing Day Test. After chaos reigned supreme on day 3 with 15 wickets, who knows what to expect from another action packed day 4?

Australia lead by 230 and have 2 wickets remaining. Virender Sehwag at the press conference last night said that India would feel comfortable chasing down anything under 300. You can’t help but think Australia would be favourites with that sort of lead.

But India start the day as slight favourites on the hunt for two quick wickets.

There has been no Segway drama this morning which I’m sure everyone will be glad to hear.

10:36am Pattinson majestic as he drives Yadav for Four in the second over of the day

After an innocuous first over from Zaheer Khan, James Pattinson caresses Yadav through the covers for four. He has timed that incredibly and it races to the boundary.

Healy is still banging on about crashing the Segway on Channel 9. Just drop it mate!

10:45pm Hussey is trapped by Yadav but Erasmus turns down a stifled appeal

That one looked pretty adjacent. India appeal emphatically from behind the wicket but Umesh Yadav’s heart isn’t really in it. Umpire Erasmus gives it not out but replays and Hawkeye show that one should have been given. That puts DRS watch at 3-3 now. Even stevens. Just like this match!

10:48 Huge Appeal again as Khan Smashes into Hussey’s toes

This time Ian Gould gives it not out. That looked out but replays show the impact was marginally outside the line. Zaheer Khan is cranking it up today. No deliveries under 130kmph today. It looks like something is going to happen every ball.

10:52 Yadav Has Hussey Caught Behind Down the Leg Side

Dhoni catches it down the leg side and there is a huge shout. Erasmus gives it not out but hotspot shows that Hussey edged it. He’s been out twice already this morning. That makes it 4-3 on DRS Watch in favour of Australia now.

Ian Healy for Channel 9 says it’s the wrong decision but not a bad one. Go figure.

10:59 Khan Get Hussey Out Caught behind

Khan has squared Hussey up there and catches the shoulder of his bat in the process. Dhoni snaffles an easy chance and Ian Gould puts up the finger.

Australia are 9/197 and have a lead of 248.

It has been an enthralling morning.

11:13am Zaheer Khan Drops a Skier from Pattinson

Yadav bounces Pattinson and he skies it towards fine leg. It dissects Dhoni and Khan running it but Zaheer gets there quite comfortably in the end. But he’s dropped it.

Every run counts. Now Pattinson confounds the mistake by pulling Yadav in front of square only two balls later. Vital runs. Lead at 262.

11:22 Hilfenhaus Gets in on the Act

Ashwin comes into the attack and serves up some absolute dross. Hilfenhaus spanks him through the covers and the lead moves to 269. Many more and Australia will be transforming into favourites.

The fields are really baffling this morning. Not much attacking going on and deep points, deep mid ons and more.

11:42 Hilfenhaus Drives Ashwin into the Wide Open Spaces for 4

What is MS Dhoni doing? The field is spread and Hilfenhaus drives it gloriously through the off side for four. They lead by 291 now and India don’t look interested.

History is on Australia’s side and they are surely in the box seat now. Pattinson and Hilfenhaus are good enough to pick runs off and India aren’t attacking whatsoever.

11:44 Finally Hilfenhaus Goes

He drives and edges Sharma to Laxman in the slips. That’s a valuable last wicket partnership of 43. India will need 292 to win. It’s got away from India here. They need to Sehwag to get them off to a flyer. Hold your hats!

Australia all out 240.

11:53am Australia take the field content with their mornings work so far

First ball of the innings belongs to Pattinson. He steams in with three slips and two gullys. He starts with a wide. That’s quite an anti-climax.

12:08 Sehwag edges over the slips

He’s got away with one there. He wafts at one outside off stump and it flies just over the slips. India are 14 without loss. His wicket is the prize wicket here. Quick runs could tilt this game in India’s favour.

12:19 Sehwag OUT Caught in the Gully

Sehwag slashes hard to Hilfenhaus. He’s thrown the kitchen sink at that but hasn’t got enough elevation on it to beat the in field. Hussey reaches for it and snaffles it with a bit of a leap. That is a HUGE wicket.

The Wall comes to the crease. India 1/17 needing another 275 for victory. That looks a long way off right now.

12:34: And that’s lunch! This match is the dictionary definition of “Delicately Poised.” The Indians will be umm-ing and ahh-ing about their current situation; they will be disappointed with the way Hifenhaus and Pattinson hit them around during the Australian last wicket pairing, and Viru will be kicking himself he got out in such a loose fashion, but that being said: game on. They’ll fancy their chances; so will the Australians. The Indians are 1/24.

Tense. Taut. Erasmus.

Dave Siddall will be back after the lunch break.

1:45 – Post-lunch catch up.

Dave’s still at lunch, so you’re stuck with me for the moment. India are 2/52 from 16, and the tension is palpable. Siddle, the brick-eating Victorian paceman, removed Gambir to bring Tendulkar to the crease, and was immediately greeted with a Sachin special – a gorgeous drive for three through cover. Once again, it’s the Wall and the Master who could change the game.

Michael Clarke is being understandably conservative with his bowling changes. He hasn’t been juggling the bowlers as much as he normally does because, if truth be told, Hilfenhaus and Siddle have been impressive thus far. James Pattinson hasn’t been as effective and I sense that his line is a little skew-wiff – he’s probably in that sportsman ‘numb state’ after spending excess time at the crease. His 37 was both gutsy and occasionally glorious, but he hasn’t been his usual self at the crease.

Dave’s back. Here we go, here we go, here we go~~-

1:58pm OUT Dravid Bowled. That is Massive!

Pattinson strikes. He steams into the crease and spears it into the stumps. Dravid plays down the wrong line and misses the ball by some distance. Pattinson has broken the partnership most likely to win this game for India.

He goes for 10 and Australia are in control with India 3/58.

Laxman comes to the crease. He is the Indian with the best second innings record versus Australia. The Little Master needs some help here.

2:07 Sachin Tendulkar Gets a Huge Stroke of Luck

Pattinson steams in once more. Sachin looks to flamboyantly leave a short of a length ball only to deflect inches past his own stumps. He picks up four and there are girly anxious screams ringing around the ground.

It’s heart in mouths time. So much rests on Sachin today.

2:11pm Sachin goes from Circumspect to Supreme 

He shows the full face of the bat to Hilfenhaus and strokes him back down the ground for four through mid on.

That’s drinks. India 3/68 and way behind.

2:20 OUT – Pattinson Gets Laxman caught at square leg by Ed Cowan

Fresh from beating Laxman’s bat twice in two deliveries, Pattinson tempts Laxman into playing a drive to the onside only to pick out Ed Cowan at square leg. Umpire Gould checks the front foot no ball to see if Pattinson overstepped. Replays show his foot landed centremetres behind the popping crease and then slid forwards. The third umpire rules that makes it a legitimate delivery. So he’s gone.

The Little Master could get stranded here.

2:24 OUT – Kohli Goes First Ball

Hilfenhaus smashes into Kohli pads. Rather than his stock outswinger, this one spears in and Kohli is absolutely plumb despite his disgruntled look.

Perhaps he thought the feeling of bat clipping pad was an edge. But replay and hawkeye confirm it was hitting falf way up the middle and leg stump.

It’s 5/69. Hilfenhaus has two, Pattinson has two, and Siddle one.

2:36 Dhoni Smashes a Six to get off the Mark

India need Dhoni to play a captain’s knock but what kind of shape should that knock tape. Well, he gets off the mark with a six.

2:39 Sachin Gone and India’s dreams shattered

Siddle comes into the attack and draws Sachin (32) into a drive which flies to Hussey in the gully.

Sachin leaves the MCG to a standing ovation. The entire ground is thoroughly disappointed. Everyone was praying for him to go on and make it a contest. With Sachin gone, so have India’s hopes.

Dhoni needs a miracle and to continue his brief assault if India have any chance at all.

Ashwin got a ton against the West Indies not too long ago so he should back him and bat in tandem.

3:15 That’s tea.

Siddle’s last over before tea includes three boundaries from India. One is a brilliant shot and two are streaky. Irrespective of how the runs come, these two have made it to tea but have a gigantic uphill struggle to get India back into this game.

3:37 Ashwin is gone straight after tea

Siddle strikes right away as he gets Ashwin with the short ball. Ashwin tries to fend but dollies the ball straight up in the air to the welcome hands of ed Cowan in the gully.

It’s just a matter of time now.

Zaheer Khan comes to the crease. Surely he won’t be as irresponsible as in the first innings. Dhoni needs a friend right now. India 7/117.

3:57 Pattinson gets warned for three consecutive bouncers

Ian Gould warns Pattinson and it’s jokes all round as Michael Clarke laughs and explains how he didn’t see the signals.

Harsha Bhogle comments on ABC Grandstand how things might have been different under Ponting’s captaincy. Maybe so but Ricky was fantastic and extremely frank at last night’s press conference.

4:00 Crazy o’clock time: How to make Test Cricket Sexy in Australia?

Nicko Hancock from The Sledge has the answer. Ideas include tattoos, Richie Benaud, wordplay and much more. Have a read here: Can Test Cricket Be Saved by Sexiness?

4:05pm Khan smashes a Six

He clears the front leg and smashes Pattinson for six down the ground.

4:06pm OUT Very next ball Pattinson gets his man the very next delivery

He backs away once more but this time it backfires dramatically as he gets an inside edge onto his thigh pad which pops up to ed Cowan at short leg.

4:10pm Talk turns to Man of the Match on ABC Grandstand

Hilfenhaus was amazing in the first innings with his five wicket haul. But you can’t help but feel the contribution of James Pattinson in every aspect was the most vital.

4:14pm OUT MS Dhoni goes for the old heave-ho and gets castled

Pattinson strikes again and MS Dhoni is gone. If there was a sliver of hope left, Pattinson just ate it up.

India 9 down. 150 runs short of the total. It’s just a matter of time now. Attendance confirmed – 25,865 will witness Australia’s victory.

4:39pm Yadav Smacks Lyon for Six

Australia are only a moment away from victory but Yadav skies it and clears the boundary at deep long on.

4:40pm 2 Balls Later He Cannot clear the ropes and Australia WIN

This time Dave Warner flies through the air and catches it metres inside the boundary rope. India are all out for 169. Lyon gets his first wicket of the match and all the Australian bowlers have chipped in for this victory.

Australia win by 122 runs with a day to spare.

This is a huge victory for Australia. The Baggy Green’s trio of quicks were immense throughout this match. With Patrick Cummins and Ryan Harris to come back in, things are looking great for the Australian near future.

India meanwhile can point to two pivotal moments in the match that cost them. First of all their first innings collapse meant they trailed by 51 runs when they should have posted a lead of 50-100 themselves.

Second of all, the woeful captaincy of MS Dhoni having had a brilliant 15 minutes first thing this morning. Pattinson and Hilfenhaus added 43 in a vital last wicket partnership and they were chasing close to 300 rather than 250 tops.

It’s worthwhile noting the performance of three of the Indian top 6. Gambhir, Laxman and Kohli between them have only made cumulatively 3o runs for the entire match.

4:53 James Pattinson is confirmed as Man of the match

He produced 6/108 for the game and contributed 49 runs only being dismissed once.

India emphatically won day 2 of the Boxing Day Test but Australia will be enthused by the late wicket of Sachin Tendulkar and the heroics of Peter Siddle.

India have the upper hand and will look to build a substantial lead as it looks a fine day for batting at the MCG.

And Australia need wickets fast. Follow the day unfold here as we share with you the major plays of the day.

10.20 am Healy Segway Accident this Time

Fresh from the Segway hilarity from the plays of the day on day 2, Ian Healy tried his luck on the cricket equivalent of the unsinkable ship grinning from ear to ear proclaiming how easy it was to drive. Moments later he too went arse over tit in the process making himself look a right tit. When will they ever learn!

image: (c) stuff.co.nz

10.31 Ben Hilfenhaus bowls Rahul Dravid second ball of the day

How things have  changed in a matter of moments! India went from 2-214 to 4-214 in a matter of minutes, albeit over two days.

Hilfenhaus, despite striking early on to dismiss Gambhir on day 2, was inconsistent and ineffective for much of the day. On day 3 he bowls an absolute jaffer to dismiss Rahul Dravid for 68 the second ball of the day. It came from absolutely nowhere and suddenly Australia are almost even-stevens in the match.

10:55 Cowan takes one to the face

Hilfenhaus bowls to Ishant Sharma who gets a thickish inside edge which should have been snaffled at short leg. Cowan, whose been in the wars with a sore back after his stoic batting on day 1, did not pick it up and it smacked him flush on the helmet.

Hilfenhaus is showing us he can be effective with the old ball as well as the new.

11:01pm Peter Siddle gets VVS Laxman caught behind in his first over of the day

Angry Peter Siddle bowls a ripper to VVS Laxman who is stranded on the crease and can only edge the ball to Brad Haddin. Laxman seems to get edgy if he takes a while to get off the mark and the pressure gets to him. That makes two wickets in two overs for Siddle and two wickets in Australian bowlers’ first overs for on day 3.

India are 5-221. Things have changed fast.

11.30 Hilfenhaus gets Virat kohli caught behind in his first over

After a brief interlude involving Nathan Lyon, Hilfenhaus comes back into the attack and finds Virat Kohli playing slightly loosely outside off stump who is caught behind once more. Three catches for Brad Haddin and three quick wickets for Australia have changed the whole complexion of this game.

Geoff Lawson on ABC Grandstand commentary slated Michael Clarke for bringing Lyon into the attack only minutes after Hilfenhaus took his first for the day and released the pressure momentarily for India.

India are 6/236 and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma looks like being stranded at this rate. Maybe India’s captain and talisman can reverse  India’s fortunes.

11.35 Shoaib Naveed for Pak Passion shares an interesting video in the press box of Kamran Akmal producing quite a shady piece of keeping in the infamous Sydney Test

11.44pm Hilfenhaus strikes again as Dhoni plays loosely to the freshly taken new ball

That was a really loose shot from Dhoni. He played with hard hands, away from his body and the ball flew to Mike Hussey in the gully.  Are India Australia in disguise? That is some collapse. They’ve now lost five wickets for 31 runs.

India are 7/245. 333 is looking a pretty rosy score for Australia. And Ishant Sharma is still deserted at the non-striker’s end.

12:07 James Pattinson has Ashwin plumb lbw but Umpire Erasmus has other ideas

This one is missing off, missing leg and cleaning up middle stump . Replays show it is a howler. That is another one for DRS watch.

The appeal was emphatic and it just looked out. But the decision goes in India’s favour once more.

12:10pm Hilfenhaus Ends Sharma’s Resistance and Claims five for

Ishant Sharma’s 103 minutes of resistance come to an end as Ben Hilfenhaus claims his first ever five wicket haaul in Test cricket. If yesterday he was struggling, today he has been nothing more than sensational.

Zaheer Khan comes to the crease as India are 8/254.

12:18 Erasmus gets it right

There is a huge appeal as Zaheer Khan is caught at short leg. But replays show it was flush off the thing pad. ABC Grandstand proclaim that DRS would have been on overdrive this Test match.

12:19 Pattinson bowls Zaheer Khan the very next ball

Khan is clearly unnerved by the previous delivery and attempts an audacious slog across the line only for James Pattinson to clean him up. India are now 9 down and have lost 7 wickets for 45 runs. That was a terrible shot. He shows no faith in Ashwin despite him getting a century vs the West Indies.

India’s partnerships from the 4th to 9th wkts yielded 45 runs, their poorest effort in almost 20 years.

This is incredible!

12:29 Ashwin Top edges Pattinson for Six

Vital runs for India as Ashwin top edges a sharp bouncer from Pattinson which flies over the keeper and goes for the maximum.

12:42 Peter Siddle wraps up the innings as Brad Haddin claims five for

7 wickets so far today for 60 runs as Peter Siddle draws the edge from Ashwin (an impressive 31) and the catch carries through to Brad Haddin who has five caught behinds for the innings.

That’s lunch. India are dismissed for 282 and trail Australia by 51.

1:20pm Australia Start the afternoon session leading by an unlikely 51 runs

Zaheer Khan is to bowl the first over. Can David Warner and Ed Cowan will be looking to put Australia even further in the box seat.

1;41pm Huge Shout as Khan Cannons into Cowan’s Pads

That was a massive shout. It looked pretty adjacent and only an inside edge would save him. Ian Gould says he hit it and replays and hawkeye prove Gould to be right. DRS Watch remains at 3:1 in favour of India as we speak.

1:50pm Dave Warner Chops on as Umesh Yadav Picks up where he left off

There are a lot of bowled wickets and a lot of chop on in this game so far. Dave warner is the latest to be dismissed in this way. The back of his bat has the sticker ‘Kaboom’ and that’s exactly what the ball does smashing into the timber.

Shaun Marsh comes to the crease on a pair with Australia 64 runs ahead. Australia 1-13.

1:54pm Ed Cowan Shoulders Arms and Yadav Traps him Plumb LBW

Now Cowan is gone. This is crazy. He shoulders arms to a Yadav thunderbolt that swung in late. There have now been 9 wickets for 84 runs in the day. The batsman’s paradise of the MCG is rapidly turning into a batsman’s graveyard.

This should have been the best batting day of the Test match but chaos is reigning.

Ricky Ponting comes to the crease and receives a standing ovation.

2:09pm Ponting produces the Shot of the Day as Ishant Comes into the Attack

He overtakes Steve Waugh for runs at the MCG with 1,285 and is now only second to Bradman himself. It was a majestic stroke played on his tip toes off the back foot, riding the bounce and stroking it to the point boundary.

The Sharma-Ponting dual is always an intriguing one. Sharma was arguably India’s most unlucky bowler in the first innings whose figures don’t reflect how well he bowled.

2:16pm Now Shaun Marsh Chops On

Shaun Marsh is the latest to chop on to a full pitched delivery from Yadav once more who now has 3-12. He’s been an absolute revelation and is proving to be India’s trump card as predicted in the Australia vs India Test series Preview. He currently has matched figures of 6-118 right now.

That’s now three of the Australia batsman who have played on in the match – Warner and Marsh this innings and Clarke in the first innings.

Speaking of Clarke, he comes to the middle with Australia 3-24.

2:23 Michael Clarke gets a Pair of Chopped on Dismissals as Ishant Strikes.

Welcome to crazy town. This is ridiculous. It’s 11-95 for the day and we are only half way through the afternoon session. Ishant bowls a full delivery and Clarke drives only to get the inside edge which cannons into his stumps.

You have to take your hat off to the Indian bowlers for pitching it fuller and attacking the stumps.

Mike Hussey comes into the crease on a pair and whips Sharma’s first ball through mid wicket for a couple and some momentary rest bite.  Australia are 4-27.

This time yesterday Tendulkar and Dravid were giving a batting masterclass scoring runs for fun.

2:45 pm Mike Hussey Produces Exquisite Drive to bring up the Australian 50

The Mike Hussey leave appears to be back. But when he is offered a half volley from Ishant Sharma he crunches it to the cover boundary and produces another contender for shot of the day.

Australia desperately need a partnership and it’s the two oldies who need to fight for their and Australia’s lives.

2:47 Khan Traps Ponting Plumb LBW but is denied by Umpire Erasmus

That is another one for DRS Watch but this time it is most definitely in the favour of Australia. Khan comes on and wraps the pads of Ponting who gets a big stride in. Hawkeye shows that that is hitting the top of middle stump. That is a vital lifeline for Australia and this time India will be pissed off.

Meanwhile Mike Hussey cuts for four and moves onto 18 from 15 deliveries.

3:08 Ponting Shoulders Arms to Ashwin who has a huge appeal

There is a massive appeal as Ponting doesn’t play a shot. That one turned enough to hit the stumps but bounced that bit too much. Erasmus on this occasion makes the correct decision as the Hawkeye replay shows. A dangerous game for Ponting but he got away with it and is batting pretty well since his lifeline.

Hussey and Ponting are batting well in tandem as they look to get Australia out of a whole.

Here is a Hussey stat for you: once he reaches 20, he averages 77 from there on in. He’s currently on 24.

3:27pm And that’s tea, a fascinating session as Ponting and Hussey steady the ship

Cucumber sandwiches all round!

4:06pm Australia bring up their century after tea

The evening session is now in full swing as Australia bring up their century. It seems like it’s only those people over the age of 36 who know how to bat on this surface. Hussey and Ponting have taking the momentum out of India for now and a huge partnership is required for them to come out of this day in a commanding position.

Australia are currently 4-80.

4:22 Ricky Ponting Records back to back half-centuries

Punter times it beautifully off the back foot but the ball doesn’t quite make it to the boundary. They run four and Ricky Ponting records yet another half century.

He gets a standing ovation from the crowd and has batted wonderfully.

Now it is Mike Hussey’s turn to try his luck being only a boundary away. He drives down the ground against Ashwin and can only get three as a misfield took the pace off the ball. Runs starting to flow freely here…

4:25pm Hussey Records a 50

This is vintage cricket from the old-timers. He brings up his fifty in 73 balls as he moves his feet to Ashwin and times it through mid wicket. They run three and Australia, you’d have to say, are now again in the driving seat.

The ovation he got was incredible. As big as Ricky Ponting’s!

4:30pm Hussey and Ponting share a 100 Run Stand

They record their 100 run partnership off 144 balls.

Our colleague called it pretty well after Mike Hussey’s third ball at the crease. Hats off!

This pitch is flattening out and is starting to look like the road we once thought.

4:46 Zaheer Khan Strikes!

Just as it looked like this partnership was turning into a match-winning one, Zaheer Khan strikes in his first over back into the attack and gets Ponting caught in the gully by Sehwag. Ponting fails to convert either of his back to back fifties but still a vital knock there.

Half of the MCG are on their feet to clap him off the G for possibly the last time.

Brad Haddin comes to the crease. You wonder if he’ll play his natural game. He’s got five for today. Can he go on to make amends for yesterday’s errors. This is a seriously riveting Test.

Australia 5/142 lead by 193 runs.

He starts with a Haddinesque shot chipping to mid on for a rather fortunate two. Geoff Lawson is not impressed on the ABC Gradnstand who does not like “dumb cricket”. He then goes on to say the word ‘dumb’ ten times in as many seconds.

Bhogle adds…

“It’s a thin line between being bold and stupid”.

4:58 Haddin is Gone!

Brad Haddin does not last long. To a ball he could leave quite easily, he opens the face and guides the ball straight to VVS Laxman at second slip off the bowling of Khan. Now Australia are in deep shit…

But don’t fear. Into the middle comes Australia’s finest all-rounder of the moment – Peter Siddle. Australia need him to provide the same resilience he showed in the first innings so that Hussey can build a decent lead.

Australia are 6/149.

They need a repeat of that partnership vs Pakistan in Sydney. You can’t help but think that India won’t be offering them much though.

5:25pm Dravid drops a clanger at first slip, Hussey survives

That could be so costly. Dravid usually snaffles them at slip and this one was regulation. He seemed to have it but it popped out. Ashwin who hasn’t troubled Hussey all day did him there but can count himself extremly unlucky.

That’s pretty much the first real chance that Indian has dropped in this match.

Australia’s lead stands at 214.

5:29 Now Siddle Goes too! Yadav gets his man

Yadav steams in and gets some away movement off the pitch. Peter Siddle fences at it and MS Dhoni takes a great catch diving to his right with two hands (unlike Brad Haddin’s failed one-handed effort yesterday).

Nathan Lyon is promoted up the order ahead of Pattinson and Hilfenhaus. Michael Clarke is probably looking for a batsman to occupy the crease as opposed to the hitters.

Eight overs left in the day. Australia are 7/163. 40,556 people at the G today officially confirmed.

5:34pm A Direct hit and Lyon is gone!

Hussey cuts to point and immediately goes for two. Lyon is slow to react but luckily Zaheer misses the stumps and there is no one there to collect. Lucky escape there for Australia. Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! rings round the stadium.

5:39pm The Plan Fails as Ashwin gets Lyon with the Carrom Ball

Ashwin set Lyon up there. He bowled offie after offie and then finally followed it up with the one that goes the other way. Lyon attempts to play it to the leg side but is trapped in front. Shane Warne would have been proud of executing a plan as cunning as that.

Pattinson comes to the increase with Australia eight down for 166.

6:01pm And that’s Stumps. Australia finish on 8/179 with a lead of 230.

Who does this day belong to? Well, it was another batting masterclass from some wily veterans, sandwiched between more batting collapses.

Australia having knocked over India cheaply in the morning would have envisaged being in a better spot come the close of play.

They’ll look to build a lead of 275+ to be overwhelming favourites tomorrow. You’d think they’ll need a lead of at least 250 to be competitive. There are no demons in this pitch. There are no demons in this pitch.

Day four is set to be a cracker.

Check out Blaise Murphet’s View from the Press Box on Day 3

Join me for more action as it happens on day four!