Australia’s Chris Rogers and Shaun Marsh leave India facing tall order

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/dec/29/australia-chris-rogers-shaun-marsh-india-third-test-cricket-day-four

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India were facing a struggle to stay alive in their Test series with Australia after the home side piled on the runs in the third Test at the MCG. After conceding a first-innings deficit of 65, the tourists were unable to get through Australia’s batting second time round and the home side were 278 for seven and with a lead of 343 before rain stopped play just before lunch on the fifth day.

Such an unlikely chase looks well beyond an India side who have folded already on the tour and if that proves to be the case again the four-match series – which they trail 2-0 – will be gone. Chris Rogers and Shaun Marsh kept them at bay this time, scoring 69 and 62 not out respectively, and the tourists’ cause looks forlorn with the hosts’ lead approaching 400.

India had resumed day four on 462 for eight, and Mitchell Johnson soon took the wickets of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav. David Warner and Rogers then set about adding to Australia’s lead, the former making 40 before he went leg-before to Ravichandran Ashwin. Shane Watson added 17 until he nicked behind off Ishant Sharma, who looked increasingly dangerous as the old ball started to reverse swing on the deteriorating pitch, while the captain Steve Smith – with three hundreds in a row – made only 14.

Rogers reached his 50 off 81 balls but when he went leg-before to Ashwin and the debutant Joe Burns followed for nine, Australia were teetering on 176 for five. Marsh was at hand, however, and though Brad Haddin failed to stick with him, Johnson hung around for 15 and when he went to Shami, Ryan Harris made an unbeaten eight to give Marsh company. “Any score on the final day is going to be tricky [to chase]” Ashwin said. “It’s a Test match. That’s why you call it a Test match, because it tests every single aspect of your game and your attitude. It’s going to be hard work, but we’re up for it.”

“Ishant got the ball in the right areas,” Warner said. “And with the older ball he manages to get a bit of reverse swings and he can go both ways. He’s played a big role in these last three Tests.”