Former and current Australian skippers made double tons to ensure Australia finish another day on top and a series whitewash is very much a possibility. Michael Clarke entered the test match with a whitewash in mind and it couldn’t have been a more perfect first two days for the hosts. Clarke and Ponting were involved in the highest partnership ever at the Adelaide Oval.
Once the first half an hour went wicket less for India, it was a combination of masterful batting display and poor bowling and fielding by India as both Clarke and Ponting reached double tons. Once that was achieved, Indian fielders were waiting for the declaration to happen. Eventually Australia declared at 604 for the loss of 7 wickets thereby leaving India to face 21 overs for the day.
India wanted their stand in captain, Virender Sehwag to fire on all cylinders but that was cut short when he lobbed a full toss straight back to Peter Siddle. The Delhi opener’s wretched tour continued with another failure in this series. Dravid was yet again bowled through the gate while trying to play through the off side to a ball which jagged back a little to disturb the stumps. The delivery from Hilfenhaus hit Dravid on his right elbow before crashing on to the stumps to be bowled out for the sixth time in this series. India reached 61 for 2 as Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar took India to stumps.
The 22 yards at Adelaide Oval is the best for batting in this series as the Australian batsman showed it for most part of 2 days. It will be up to the Indian batsman to score some runs and end this series well in order to take the momentum through to the One Day series.
