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Home , Ajinkya Rahane, Angelo Mathews, Dale Steyn, Kumar Sangakkara, Mitchell Johnson, Rangana Herath

MONDAY DECEMBER 29 2014 3658 SPORTCRICKET MONDAY DECEMBER 29 2014 DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU MONDAY DECEMBER 29 2014 59

THIRD TEST BOARD V MCG — DAY THREE Catch of the day and his career AUSTRALIA 1st Innings C ROGERS c Dhoni b Shami ...... 57 D WARNER c Dhawan b Yadav ...... 0 BEN HORNE blowtorch heading into the “I thought the ball was Indians S WATSON lbw Ashwin ...... 52 , but his going to drop about a metre S SMITH b Yadav ...... 192 drought-breaking half- short, so I set myself up to dive S MARSH c Dhoni b Shami ...... 32 took two all-time and spectacular grab may have forward and it carried further J BURNS c Dhoni b Yadav ...... 13 classic catches yesterday to regenerated his career. than I thought.” B HADDIN c Dhoni b Shami ...... 55 enter rare company as just the It was a memorable moment But later that morning M JOHNSON st Dhoni b Ashwin .... 28 fourth Australian wicketkeeper reminiscent of ’s Haddin made up for the R HARRIS lbw Ashwin ...... 74 to claim 250 career dismissals. famous athletic, full-stretch bumble the best way possible, N LYON b Shami ...... 11 It hasn’t all gone Haddin’s catch to dismiss in a dismissing Pujara with a catch J HAZLEWOOD ...... 0 Extras (1b 9lb 1w 5nb) ...... 16 way with the gloves this Test, 40-over match more than four described as the Total ...... 530 take up but his stunning full-length decades ago. greatest he has seen by a Fall: 0 (Warner), 115 (Rogers), 115 horizontal dive to his right on A photo in the Members’ Bar wicketkeeper at the MCG. (Watson), 184 (Marsh), 216 (Burns), just the second ball of day at the WACA captures the West Suspended at chest height 326 (Haddin), 376 (Johnson), 482 three showed that at 37 years Indian great looking over his above the ground, Haddin (Harris), 530 (Lyon), 530 (Smith). of age there are no worries shoulder to witness his demise. managed to clasp the ball in : I Sharma 32-7-104-0 (5nb), U about his agility. The vice- grassed the webbing of his right glove Yadav 32.3-3-130-3, M Shami 29-4- Then off the last ball of day Indian batsman Cheteshwar to mark his 250th, as Shane 138-4 (1w), R Ashwin 44-9-134-3, M three, a second magical catch Pujara with a simple chance off Watson ducked for cover Vijay 5-0-14-0. time: 590 mins. Overs: 142.3. to dismiss Indian centurion late on day behind him. off , two that would have kept him “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a INDIA 1st Innings fight to also featuring a full-tilt dive to up at night. better wicketkeeping catch on M VIJAY c Marsh b Watson...... 68 his right, will also lead highlight “It was a total misjudgment this ground than that,” Jones S DHAWAN c Smith b Harris...... 28 reels for years to come. on my part,” Haddin conceded said on radio. “He was C PUJARA c Haddin b Harris...... 25 Haddin was under the before play. Superman for a split second.” V KOHLI c Haddin b Johnson...... 169 A RAHANE lbw b Lyon...... 147 K RAHUL c Hazlewood b Lyon...... 3 MS DHONI c Haddin b Harris...... 11 R ASHWIN c and b Harris...... 0 M SHAMI not out...... 9 Extras (1lb, 1w)...... 2 Total ...... 8-462 Mitch Fall: 55 (Dhawan), 108 (Pujara), 147 (Vijay), 409 (Rahane), 415 (Rahul), 430 (Dhoni), 434 (Ashwin), 462 (Kohli). Bowling: M Johnson 29.2-5-133-1, R BEN HORNE Then Kohli on 88 nicked one be- Harris 25-7-69-4 (1w), J Hazlewood 25- tween Haddin and , 6-75-0, S Watson 16-3-65-1, N Lyon 29- 3-108-2, S Smith 2-0-11-0. but the keeper didn’t move and the Batting time: 537 mins. Overs: 126.2. AUSTRALIA were given a glimpse of first slip grassed the catch. their worst nightmare yesterday at the Lyon finally got Rahane lbw and MCG when Mitchell Johnson was also claimed the of debutant smashed around for the first time since Lokesh Rahul, but not before Peter THE TWEET his career renaissance before leaving Siddle had added to the clangers by “IS it a bird or is it a plane ... No it’s the field with a hamstring scare. dropping him the previous ball. Haddin!” The good news on an otherwise dis- Australian coach Darren Leh- — Former Aussie batsman Dean Jones astrous day three for the hosts was that mann gave his players a dressing marvels at Brad Haddin’s catch to Johnson returned and lion-hearted down for the spate of dropped catches. start the day, complete with a screen quick (4-69) stemmed the “It could have been a totally differ- grab of the wicketkeeper in full flight. tide late on as India finished on 8-462 ent day but it’s not,” Harris said. to trail by 68 runs at stumps. “(Lehmann) … was very disap- The bad news was the hosts squan- pointed with the fielding. We’ve got NO FREEBIES dered their stranglehold on the third pretty high standards. No one likes to THE first 402 runs of India’s innings Test when a brilliant 262-run partner- drop catches but that was well below came off the bat, breaking a 60-year ship from Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Ra- standard today. record. It took until the 107th over for hane showed how taking “You can’t give batsmen like Ra- Australia to concede an extra. down Johnson can expose Australia. hane and Kohli second chances be- Since took over as cause they do what they did today.” Australian captain everything he has A year after destroying England on Brad Haddin takes a spectacular diving catch to dismiss and THE NUMBER: 3 touched has turned to gold, but yester- Boxing Day, Johnson was taken apart (inset) repeats the dose to end Virat Kohli’s innings. Pictures: Colleen Petch THAT’S the amount of daily visits day he experienced utter despair and by Kohli and Rahane for figures of injured captain Michael Clarke is was exposed to criticism for the first 1-133 off 29.2 overs. His only joy came paying to his medical staff. The time for perceived defensive tactics. right at the death when Brad Haddin hamstrung batsman had surgery after Test greats and Bill took his second stunning screamer of Fiery customer happy to let Aussies know he only has respect for ‘a few of them’ breaking down in the opening Test Lawry questioned Smith’s fields defend- the day to finally send Kohli packing. Fired-up Virat claims Australia’s ‘big mouths’ just bringing out best in him and remains hopeful of being a part of ing 530 as a lack of pressure allowed Earlier, Kohli got his own back on the Aussie World Cup campaign. Kohli (169) and Rahane (147) to surge to Johnson when he smashed the pace- îGREG FROM BUCKLEBACK PAGE “I’mhad nota victory going toover out Kohli. there toBut take Kohli un- someoneJohnson’s doesn’t ongoing respect verbal me I’ve battles got thing that comes to mouth I don’t stay calm. I don’t mind. I will give it myself and take him on as well,” Aussie quick Ryan Harris, who has career-high scores during a stand in man to the fence on three consecutive necessarywon the day words with or a splendidchat from knock some- of nowith reason Kohli to went respect up them,”a notch Kohli after said. the respect.” on the field. Kohli said. “I don’t mind giving a taken four of India’s eight , said which they scored at 4.5 an over. deliveries. KohliINDIAN went firebrand up a notch Virat after Kohli the bowler blast- one.169, I’msharing going a out 262-run there to stand play cricket.for the bowler“I’m out fielded here a to play cricket, in his not fol- to Kohli revealed the Australians “It really excites me and brings word back and neither does he.” he had no issues with Kohli. THE MILESTONE Australia had another horrible day Two overs later, Rahane took over fieldeded his athird delivery Test in century his follow-through of the sum- fourth“There’s wicket no withgood Ajinkyareason I Rahaneshould earnlow-through anyone’s andrespect. threw As itlong back as I’m to- had labelled him a “spoilt brat”. the best out in me. They don’t seem Kohli said he was unaware of re- “I respect him and I know all the BRAD Haddin’s acrobatic diving catch in the field, grassing three catches and and clubbed the Australian spearhead andmer threw at the it back MCG towards yesterday the stumps, before respect(147). India someone reached unnecessarily 8-462 at stumps if they scoringwards theruns stumps, I’m happy hitting with Kohli it. If you on “I said ‘maybe that’s the way I am. to be learning the lesson.” ports Australia felt India would crack boys in the change rooms respect him to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara misjudging another to give India a for two fours over midwicket and an- hittingdeclaring Kohli he onrespected the upper only thigh some with of areon not.” day three in reply to Australia’s likethe upperit, good. thigh with his score on 84. I know you guys hate me and I like Kohli said he had told himself when placed under pressure. because he’s come out and his bat does yesterday brought up his 250th Test giant leg-up in their bid to keep the other through the offside. hishis score Australian on 84. opponents. firstKohli innings was of dropped 530. on 88 at slip in “I don’twas really really annoyed care what with they him think hit- that’,” Kohli said. there was no point backing off from “When you’re on top you can say the talking,” Harris said. “Where he dismissal. His average of 2.1 dismissals series alive. In the last over before the Since last summer’s Ashes, John- “IThe was future really Test annoyed skipper with was him out hit- on Johnson’sKohli next taunted over and the proceeded Australians, to asting far me as respectingwith the ball me and or me I told respect- him “So I don’t mind having a chat on his attacking stroke play after saying anything you want,” Kohli said. gets that from I’m not sure. There’s a bit per innings is only shaded by Adam new ball was due, spinner Nathan son rarely has been taken to breaking tingthe finalme with delivery the ball of theand day, I told caught him smashsaying any they hopes can’t the keep home their side mouths had of ing‘that’s them. not I’ve on, trygot toa nice hit the friendship stumps the field and it worked in my favour. a few words. “We are two-nil down and we still of banter out on the field but if that Gilchrist in the upper echelon of the Lyon dropped a sitter off his own point. But yesterday an aggressive ‘that’sbehind not off on, his try arch-rival to hit the Mitchellstumps claimingshut and athey big first-inningshaven’t learnt lead. their les- withnext time,a few notof them. my body’,” Kohli fumed. “I like playing against Australia “So I decided when he (Johnson) took them on today and showed doesn’t stay out there and comes out leaderboard. It was the best way to bowling to give Rahane a life on 70. India proved Johnson is still human. nextJohnson, time, asnot the my left-arm body’,” Kohli quick fumed. finally sons“I aboutrespect firing a few him ofup. them but if “But“I’m someone not going who out is there saying to any- take because it’s very hard for them to comes onto bowl, I’m going to back what we can do with the bat.” here, he needs to have a look at that.” bring up a 250 celebration at the MCG since … Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge on grand final day. Smith and Kohli breath of fresh air among old timers who are still producing goods THE STREAK 1143 days and counting. That’s how ROBERT CRADDOCK and Pakistan’s perfect time. He and the likes of BRENDON MCCULLUM (New Zea- of 60. It’s all there. This was the year this year, including 319 against Ban- freakishly talented multidimensional The cagey left-arm spinner, who has of the finest fast men of any era. long it’s been since Shane Watson has — are age 37. Kohli, and Sri land): Wonderful entertainer who has the boy became a man. gladesh, 221 against Pakistan and 147 cricketer who has played 97 Tests in taken over from Muttiah Murali- JIMMY ANDERSON (England): taken more than one wicket in a Test And the top five bowlers Lanka’s redefined himself as a Test player this YOUNIS KHAN (Pakistan): Just the against England. Averages 63 at a row. Has preserved his career bat- tharan as ’s No.1 bowler, His next Test will be his 100th and innings. In the 36 innings Watson has THE magic of Steve Smith and Virat on the annual wicket-takers’ are shaping as the poster year with two double centuries, a triple mention of his name will forever home and 53 away, which means he ting average of more than 50 despite will finish the year with 60 Test four more Test wickets will make since, he’s taken one wicket 16 Kohli has been the perfect Christmas list — , men of the future. century and rip-roaring 195 off 134 haunt Australian bowlers who found is a freak on home soil and still world the burden of wicketkeeping. Scored wickets, easily the most of any Test him England’s leading wicket-taker times and gone without on 20 gift this year for a game craving new Jimmy Anderson, Mitchell Here’s my World XI for balls against Sri Lanka last week. His his blade broader than a warehouse class on foreign soil. a Test ton against Australia in an- bowler. Accurate, patient and cre- ahead of . This was a occasions. young superstars. Johnson, and Dil- 2014. 33 sixes for the year is twice as many as wall in the recent series in the United ANGELO MATHEWS (Sri Lanka): other strong year. ative all at once, he took nine wickets typical Anderson year — tireless toil Just when historians were about to ruwan Perera — are also older DAVID WARNER (Australia): anyone else. Question marks remain Arab Emirates. Two hundreds and a Like Steve Smith he became captain MITCHELL JOHNSON (Australia): in an innings against Pakistan. netted him just one five-wicket haul pencil in 2014 as the year of the sen- than 30. No one has bettered his six centu- about his ability to tame the best at- double hundred in succession against of his country at 25 and hasn’t let His 22 wickets in three Tests sen- DALE STEYN (): Slick, but a solid spread of lesser hauls gave THEY SAID IT ior citizen, along came Smith and The moral? ries for the year and his 2014 strike tacks with just one century from 38 Australia represented the epic high- them down, averaging 90-plus this tenced the Proteas to a rare home professional and ruthless, he cleaned him 40 wickets at 22. “Mitchell Johnson is getting Kohli to stop them mid-sentence. is still essen- rate of 80 runs per hundred balls Tests against Australia, England and light of another great year. year. Scored Test tons against Eng- series loss as he left a path of destruc- up weak batting line-ups from the VIRAT KOHLI (12th man, India): hammered, absolutely hammered.” It was a close thing, though. tially the homeland of the makes him a true dam-buster. South Africa but his game has risen to (Sri land at Lord’s and Headingley. The tion which saw the premature retire- West Indies and Zimbabwe, scythed Had a horrible series against Eng- That was Bill Lawry as Ajinkya As the final round of Test matches strong, hardy veteran. Scored centuries in South Africa and freakish heights. Lanka): Debonair batsman whose World Cup could be the stage for ment of . His fire was through Sri Lanka on the spinning land in England but his three centu- Rahane belted three fours off one for the year draws to a close, two of It’s also searching for the as well as STEVE SMITH (Australia): What Test average of 58 makes him an him to blossom into one of the big- blunted by flat decks in the United deck of and picked up two ries against Australia in Australia Johnson over as the star seam bowler the top three run-scorers for the year new, young fresh stars, so Australia. Seems to be getting bet- more can we say? Five centuries plus underrated superstar if there is such a gest names in the game. Arab Emirates. four-wicket hauls against Australia shaped him as a true world-class per- slumped to the figures of 0-100. — Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara Smith has arrived at the ter by the year. a 97, an average of 87 at a thing. Scored more runs than anyone AB DE VILLIERS (South Africa): A RANGANA HERATH (Sri Lanka): in South Africa. Picks himself. One former and a player of rare charisma.

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