India vs Australia - Third Test - Day 2, 3 & 4

Finally I get to post some positive words about these Test matches.

After being thumped for nearly two days and conceding 613 runs, Australia answered in the only way possible, if they were to maintain any semblance of dignity and any chance of retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy. 

After india's 7 for 613, Australia had to prove to India that this was a feather-bed wicket with lightning fast boundaries. In doing so, they had to undermine as must as possible, the dominant performances of the Indian batsman. And they did!

In a previous post I called for Australia to start batting like a team, and they did that too. Every recognised batsman getting above 50, they left India with such a small lead on the first innings that a win is now much less likely than a draw. Not only that, but snagging 2 India wickets in the evening of Day 4, is a gentle reminder to India that they are very beatable.

Without Gambhir next test, and with Kumble's finger sure to be troubling him, things have evened up a bit in the injury stakes.  (Not sure how bad Harbhajan toes is!) We now look like being in for a series deciding fourth Test.

I haven't been that optiistic that we'd be presented with a  pitch that the Aussie seam attack and second rate spin attack was capable of taking 20 wickets on. I have been expecting flat, dusty wickets which would pretty much ensure India hold on to their 1 nil lead - but I hear now that a new pitch has been installed at Nagpur and maybe, just maybe, there could be a little unpredictability about it.

A glimour of optimism flickers deep within, and the Australian side should at least go into the fourth test, with some momentum, at least as much as the Indian's can claim, abeit, needing to win!