Day 2 of the emotional Australia Vs India Test began on an overcast note on Wednesday. With the Aussies on fire and the Indians sort of looking for cover, would rain fizzle out all the fiery action on field? However the day ended on a bright note for the hosts, with their score reaching 517/7 and both skipper Clarke and Smith getting to their centuries.
Michael Clarke and Steven Smith began the proceedings for the Australians, while their Indian counterparts began with Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma bowling in tandem. The results were pretty much like Day 1, with the runs coming along thick and fast. With both inching towards their centuries, the Indian bowling not just looked lacklustre, it also looked helpless.
At the end of the 100th over and the beginning of the drizzle, the Australians were at 400/6, going at 4 runs an over, with Clarke on 85 and Smith on 93. It started pouring down a bit heavily, which was when the match was delayed. However, it resumed, with Smith getting to his ton and dedicating it to Hughes in the midst of an emotional applause from the spectators.
Karn Sharma began a new spell and it was nothing new, really. Clarke went about his usual business, welcoming Karn with two boundaries, just when rain interrupted play again. A little later after play resumed again. Clarke brought up his 28th Test ton, with Australia at 426/6 in 105 overs.
The Indian bowlers continued getting clobbered and missed opportunities threatening to hurt the visitors later on. After the 110th over, there was a brief shower again. The Indian team must have been thanking its stars, but what also could play as a big factor is the wet outfield and pitch, which could come into play when the Indians bat. Not good, at all.
With Clarke on 109 and Smith on 147, it didn’t look like the Australians were in any hurry to declare, when play resumed in the 11th over. This time though, the batting was quieter. In the 120th over, Karn Sharma finally got rid of Clarke on 128 off 163 deliveries, with Mitchell Johnson walking into the middle. The Australian scorecard read 517/7 in 120 overs at stumps on Day 2. A tall total, overall.
The Aussies might bat for sometime tomorrow and then call in the Indians to attempt to chase it down. A difficult task it would be for the visitors, because the playing conditions wouldn’t really assist abtting, unless of course, the Sun God decides to give them a fair chance. The key would be for the Indians to first wrap the Aussie innings quickly, not giving them the psychological advantage of declaring the innings and then ensuring that the openers see of the first few overs carefully and then lay a foundation for the rest of the team to build on.
Couldn’t get simpler, could it?