Close defeat in Sydney Test Match still rankles Kumble

The Indians may have managed to keep their reputation intact despite losing the series against Australia but the defeat in the Sydney Test continues to rankle skipper Anil Kumble. 
 
India needed to bat out the last day to salvage a draw in the acrimonious Test marred by ugly gamesmanship and a racism row. But for once, the famed Indian batting order collapsed like a house of cards and the team was shot out with just eight minutes to go. 
 
Describing the Sydney defeat as the lowest point of the series, Kumble said, "Wish we could hang around for another eight minutes to save the match. We came so close to it." 
 
With the win in Sydney, Australia took a 2-0 lead in the four-match series to ensure that they retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy. 
 
India, however, did well to put the disappointment behind and upstage the hosts at Perth and Kumble said he was proud of leading the team at the WACA ground. 
 
"The way we recovered from the Sydney defeat and won at Perth was just great. What made it even more special is the fact that the entire team contributed. 
 
"We did not have any five-for or a century in the match and still we went on to win it," Kumble said. 
 
Reflecting on the series, the veteran spinner said the entire squad gave a good account of itself in the keenly-contested matches. 
 
"Ishant (Sharma), Irfan (Pathan), RP (Singh) - the entire pace attack did an excellent job and every batsman chipped in. 
 
"Sourav (Ganguly) batted brilliantly in the first two matches, Viru (Sehwag), Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid) and then (VVS) Laxman did well too," he said. 
 
"Viru is an integral part of the team and he can change the match alone. His part-time spin also came handy," Kumble said. 
 
The Indian skipper said having just one practice game, that too rain-marred, ahead of the important series hampered the visitors' preparations. 
 
Kumble refused to comment on chances of India pulling out of the forthcoming tri-series here in case the ban on Harbhajan Singh was not lifted. 
 
"It's premature to talk about it and I don't want to go into what might happen. There is a hearing and we are confident that we would get the right verdict," he said.

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India rise to second in ICC Test Cricket Rankings

A draw at the Adelaide was not enough for India to square the four-Test series against Australia, but the effort combined with win at Perth Test has lifted Anil Kumble and co. two places to second place in the latest ICC Test Championship table. 
 
India replaces Sri Lanka at the second spot with 111 points, two more than the South Asian neighbours followed by South Africa. 
 
India had entered the series in fourth place, just behind South Africa and Sri Lanka. 
 
Australia, which started the series on 143 ratings points, is still out in front by a distance despite losing two ratings points over the course of the series. 
 
With just four ratings points separating second-placed India from fifth-placed England and plenty of Test cricket to be played over the next few months, reshuffling of the positions is very much on cards. 
 
England will be the team that will get the first opportunity to take a shot at Anil Kumble's side and can jump from fifth to second if it clean sweeps the three-Test series against New Zealand. 
 

South Africa will get its opportunity to reclaim the lost place when it tours India in March for a three-Test series. 
 
However, if India wins the series, it will widen the gap between it and both Sri Lanka and South Africa, with the latter to tour England in the English summer for a four-Test series.

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Tendulkar's fifty steadies India on the opening day of the fourth and final Test at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday

Sachin Tendulkar completed an unbeaten half-century to help steady India's nerves after Australia knocked over their top-order on the opening day of the fourth and final Test at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

Tendulkar defied the Australian bowlers for two hours to reach tea on 55 with India 187 for four in their first innings after winning the toss and electing to bat first.

VVS Laxman was not out on 16 at tea, knowing he and Tendulkar will need a big partnership on a typically flat Adelaide pitch full of runs.

India were able to score at a brisk rate in the first two sessions but the loss of four wickets was a concern after they opted to go into the match with one less batsmen.

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson dismissed Irfan Pathan and Rahul Dravid before lunch, Brett Lee removed Virender Sehwag and Brad Hogg got rid of Sourav Ganguly before tea.

Pathan was promoted to open the innings after Wasim Jaffer was dropped to make way for spinner Harbhajan Singh, but the strategy did not work.

Pathan was named man of the match in Perth after an impressive all-round performance but is regarded more as a seamer rather than a batsman, although he has scored a Test hundred.

He batted for more than half an hour and hit two fours but departed on nine when Johnson found the edge and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist took a routine catch.

Dravid made 18 in a 48-run partnership with Sehwag before he also fell to a catch behind off Johnson, getting a thick edge to Ricky Ponting at second slip.

Sehwag, who returned to the Test arena for the first time in over a year in last week's third Test in Perth, struck six boundaries in a typically dashing innings.

He raced to his half-century off just 68 balls but fell early in the second session when he edged Lee to Matthew Hayden at first slip.

Ganguly made only seven when he was adjudged leg before wicket to spinner Hogg, leaving Tendulkar and Laxman to carry on.

Both men are playing possibly their last matches in Australia and are in great form after scoring hundreds in Sydney.

Tendulkar hit five fours and a six in his 55 while Laxman batted 45 minutes for his 16.

India beat Australia on their last visit to Adelaide four seasons ago and can square the series if they win again this time having lost in Melbourne and Sydney and won in Perth.

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India Australia Test 3rd Test Match - India turn up the heat on dramatic day 2

Australia's bid to break their own world record for consecutive Test wins was on shaky ground on Thursday after their batting collapsed on a dramatic second day of the third Test against India in Perth.

India bowled the Australians out for 212 in 50 overs then added 52 runs for the loss of one wicket, reaching stumps with an overall lead of 170 at the WACA.

Australia, who won the first two matches in the series to equal their own world record of 16 consecutive Test wins, looked to have gained the upper hand early in the day.

The hosts polished off the Indian first innings for 330 before lunch, capturing the last four wickets for just two runs.

However, their own batting crumbled on a scorching hot day where the temperature climbed past 41 degrees Celsius.

Indian spinner Anil Kumble joined Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne as the only players to claim 600 Test wickets while wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni took five excellent catches, including four off impressive left-arm paceman Rudra Pratap Singh.

RP Singh was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-68, while Irfan Pathan and teenager Ishant Sharma grabbed two apiece as the Indian seamers succeeded in rattling the Australians with their ability to extract movement both off the pitch and in the air.

The Australians lost their first three wickets before the total had passed 14, then their last five for 47 runs. Only Andrew Symonds (66) and Adam Gilchrist (55) saved them from complete disaster.

It was in stark contrast to the morning session when Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark combined to knock off the last four Indian wickets in 17 deliveries.

Clark trapped Dhoni lbw for 19 with a ball that straightened up and hit above the knee roll and had Kumble caught by test debutant Chris Rogers for one at gully.

Johnson dismissed Pathan for 28 when he struck him on the pads with a full toss in the next over then finished off the innings by dismissing RP Singh for a duck, caught in the gully by Mike Hussey.

FIRST TEST DUCK

Australia could hardly have made a worse start to their reply as Pathan, playing his first match of the series after replacing Harbhajan Singh, dismissed Rogers (four) and his fellow opener Phil Jaques (eight) in the same over before lunch.

Hussey registered his first duck in Test cricket when he edged RP Singh behind as Australia limped to lunch on 22-3 before the beanpole Sharma dismissed Ponting (20) and Michael Clarke (23) shortly after the re-start.

Symonds and Gilchrist steadied the Australian innings with a sixth-wicket partnership of 102 in 84 minutes before they fell in quick succession.

Symonds, who made a century in Sydney last week, struck eight boundaries and a six before he handed Kumble his 600th wicket, had a let off on three when Sachin Tendulkar dropped a routine catch at first slip.

But his luck ran out when he was caught at slip by Rahul Dravid after nicking a catch behind that deflected off Dhoni's gloves.

Gilchrist brought up his half-century with successive boundaries off RP Singh before he chased a wide ball and edged it behind, to trigger the late collapse.

India made a bright start to their second innings with Virender Sehwag reaching the close unbeaten on 29 but lost Wasim Jaffer for 11 with the total on 45, caught by Hussey at gully off Clark.

Pathan, promoted to nightwatchman, survived a hostile final few overs to remain unbeaten on two. His team are in a strong position to build a big lead with three days to go.

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The legend of Kumble continues to grow

The wait is finally over. India captain Anil Kumble joined the 600-wicket club on Thursday at Perth.

Kumble got rid of the dangerous looking Andrew Symonds to reach the summit that no Indian bowler has ever reached before him.

Captaining India can be a huge burden, especially when up against the best team in the world. Anil Kumble, though, as the cricket world has discovered over the last few decades is a cricketer who rises to the challenge in the face of adversity.

Kumble is the highest wicket taker currently in the series, the only Indian bowler who has consistently threatened the Aussies. Kumble announced his intent of leading from the front on day one of the series on Boxing Day - 5-84.

Over the years Kumble has been India's colossus; the man every Indian skipper turned to when a breakthrough was needed. He has been India's greatest match winner. In 41 Test wins he has been part of, Kumble has 279 wickets at an average of just 18.

Pakistan bore witness to Kumble's amazing skill. He ran though them on a memorable winter afternoon in Delhi - all 10 for 74 - only the second man to take ten wickets in an innings in Tests.

"It gives you a sense of satisfaction. After all the hard work that I have put in, it definitely gives you a satisfaction," Kumble told in an earlier interview of the feat.

And who can forget the joy on the face of the man when he scored his first ever Test hundred against England at the Oval; the only hundred by an Indian batsman in the series.

The happenings of the last week have elevated Kumble's status from just a mere statesman of the game. The legend of Anil Kumble is growing with every passing day.

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India Australia Test 3rd Test Match - Australia, India share honours on day 1

Rahul Dravid marked his return to form with a gritty 93, but India gifted a couple of wickets late in the day as Australia came back strongly in the third cricket Test in Perth on Wednesday.

Electing to bat, the visitors handled the extra bounce of the WACA track with aplomb but the late dismissals of Dravid and VVS Laxman in quick succession tilted the scale slightly in favour of the home team.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Irfan Pathan negotiated four overs with the second new ball to remain unseparated as India reached 297 for six at stumps on the opening day, which saw no unsavoury incidents on the field.

Sachin Tendulkar continued his good run with the bat, scoring a sparkling 71, but the Indians had themselves to blame for not finishing the day on a healthier position as both Dravid and Laxman got out to poor shots.

The visitors were cruising along comfortably at 278 for four but the complexion of the game changed in the last 20 minutes with part-timer Andrew Symonds bagging the scalp of Dravid and Brett Lee accounting for Laxman (28).

The pre-match hype surrounding the WACA pitch, regarded as the fastest in the world, came a cropper as the track did not have disconcerting pace or bounce to really trouble the Indians.

India got the best start of the series, with Virender Sehwag (29), coming back into the series after sitting out the first two Tests, and Wasim Jaffer (16) putting on 57 runs for the first wicket. Dravid and Tendulkar then consolidated the position for the team with a 139-run partnership.

Brett Lee was the most impressive of all Australian quicks, claiming 3 for 64, and turning the day on its head after India appeared to be in control.

Lee first dismissed a dangerous-looking Tendulkar though umpire Asad Rauf seemed to have misjudged the height of the delivery while ruling him leg before wicket.

This dismissal came at a critical time as Tendulkar and Dravid had put on 138 runs in nearly three hours of resolute batting.

Then, with shadows lengthening, Lee returned with the second new ball to claim Laxman who made an ungainly pull and was caught at mid-off by Tait.

Lee had earlier accounted for his bunny Jaffer, who fell to the express speedster for the fifth straight time in the series.

Jaffer, along with opener Virender Sehwag, had given India a rollicking start, with 50 raised from the first nine overs of the innings.

Sehwag, like Jaffer, fell to a catch behind the stumps with Mitchell Johnson making the initial breakthrough.

Dravid had no one but himself to blame for making an ugly slog against Andrew Symonds and lobbing a catch in the covers.

He not only denied himself a century and wasted his five-hour effort, but also exposed the new man Mahendra Singh Dhoni to the second new ball, just a couple of overs away.

Dravid, who batted for 276 minutes and hit 14 fours from 183 balls, was lucky to have been reprieved early in his innings when he was dropped at first slip by Michael Clarke off Lee.

Tendulkar batted for 128 balls and 173 minutes and hit nine fours during his impressive knock before being undone by Rauf.

Australia met with another success when left-handed Sourav Ganguly (9) guided Mitchell Johnson to the second gully Mike Hussey.

Sehwag, in the first session, slammed several fours on the off-side and appeared to have seized the upper hand when he cut a lifting delivery into Gilchrist's hands.

India quickly overcome the setback when Dravid was joined by Tendulkar, welcomed to the ground with a standing ovation by a nearly packed WACA ground.

Tendulkar, playing in WACA for probably the last time in his glittering career, played a gem of an innings where he deliberately tipped several strokes over the slip cordon.

Tendulkar unleashed several spectacular strokes in the afternoon, none better than the late tip which he executed on a Lee bouncer that hit the pickets over the slips heads.

He hit four such hits to the boundary and completed his half century with one such shot off Shaun Tait, having batted for 91 balls and hit eight fours.

Dravid too made several pleasing drives in front of the stumps and flicked with unerring accuracy.

The century stand between the two was up just before the tea break when Dravid drove Symonds into covers for a brace.

Dravid reached his half century with two fours in one over off Andrew Symonds, the second one a glorious off-drive that beat two fielders in the cover region.

The biggest disappointment for Australia was not only the WACA pitch but also the form of fast bowler Shaun Tait.

Tait was heralded as a wicket-taking machine before the match by captain Ricky Ponting but he was the easiest to negotiate for the Indian batsmen.

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India Vs Australia, 3rd Test, Perth - India lose openers after good start

Australia captured two quick wickets to put the brakes on India's strong start to the third Test at the WACA in Perth on Wednesday.

Mitchell Johnson dismissed Virender Sehwag for 29 and Brett Lee removed Wasim Jaffer for 16 as Australia fought back to restrict India to 74 for two at lunch on the opening day.

The tourists had made their best start to the series when Sehwag and Jaffer put on 57 for the opening wicket in the first hour but the Australians struck back after the drinks break.

Both batsmen fell to regulation catches behind the stumps to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

Sehwag, making his first Test appearance in over a year, was first to go. The dashing right-hander had played and missed several time but struck six boundaries before his luck ran out and he got a thick edge off left-arm paceman Johnson.

Jaffer, who kept his place in the side despite failing to make a big score in the first two Tests, adopted a more cautious approach on the notoriously fast and bouncy WACA pitch.

He batted for over an hour and a half, striking two fours, before Lee found the edge.

Rahul Dravid, back in his preferred batting position at number three after opening in the first two Tests, was unbeaten on two at lunch with Sachin Tendulkar not out 13.

The opening session was played in good spirits after both teams promised to be on their best behaviour after the ugly fallout to the last match in Sydney.

Relations between the two teams slumped to an all-time low when the Indian cricket board threatened to cancel the rest of the tour after spinner Harbhajan Singh was found guilty of racially abusing Andrew Symonds.

The Indians lodged a counter claim of abusive language against Brad Hogg but dropped the charge and the threats to abandon the tour after the International Cricket Council agreed to a range of compromises.

Harbhajan was allowed to continue playing in the series until his appeal is heard after the final Test while West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor was sacked for his performance in Sydney.

Despite being cleared to play, Harbhajan and Hogg were both left out of their sides with both opting for an extra seamer.

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India Vs Australia Test Series - Build-up to Perth has been fiery

The 'peace talks' between rival captains Ricky Ponting and Anil Kumble notwithstanding, Adam Gilchrist says the two teams will enter the Perth Test with fire in their bellies.

The Australians are pushing for a record-breaking 17th straight win and the Indians, who are 0-2 down in the series, are desperate to make a comeback.

"This game I'm sure will have a bit of build-up to it and there will be a bit of fire in everyone's bellies at the start," Gilchrist was quoted as saying in 'The Age' .

However, the wicketkeeper-batsman felt the two sides are professional enough to keep their focus on cricket.

"... I think both teams are professional enough that once the ball's bowled we'll just get underway and just get back into cricket mode," he said.

The build-up to the Perth Test has been sullied by off-field controversies on umpiring blunders and a racism row, requiring intervention from the ICC, which sent chief referee Ranjan Madugalle to broker peace between the two captains.

According to both Ponting and Kumble, the meeting helped clear the sir on several contentious issues.

Gilchrist said the Aussies were desperate to clinch their 17th consecutive win.

"We're desperately keen to get this 17th win, we also want to win the series (Australia lead the four-match series 2-0), we don't want a drawn series even though we've retained the (Border-Gavaskar) trophy," he said.

"It's great there's so much excitement about this Test match. A lot of people would say it's a dead rubber, but it's far from that," Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist, who was in the Steve Waugh-led team which won 16 successive Tests before being beaten by India in India, said he never thought that he would get another opportunity to be a part of the same record again.

"Every player would love to be part of that team if it was to happen, because having had that experience before and setting a record that I thought would never be broken and it's now been equalled, everyone would be excited to be part of a team that sets a new record," he said.

The stumper, who overtook Rahul Dravid's record of longest unbroken Test run with 94 matches, said he was proud to have the record under his belt.

"Justin Langer always said the greatest characteristic or sign of a true champion is longevity, because they've been around long enough to show their skill and their wares over time in various conditions," Gilchrist said.

"So that's a nice little something to reflect on and know that I've been able to do it and stick around and haven't missed a Test match, which is a big thrill, a big honour" he added.

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Preview: Australia Vs India, 3rd Test, Perth January 16 - 20

Cricket has been through fire and brimstone in the aftermath of the second Test in Sydney, which was filled with controversy. Anil Kumble accused the Australians of not playing in the spirit of the game; the Australians said Harbhajan Singh racially abused Andrew Symonds; the Indians in turn charged Brag Hogg for using offensive language and somewhere in the midst of all that, the ICC removed Steve Bucknor from officiating in the third Test.

But the score line reads 2-0 in Australia's favour ahead of the third Test in Perth, one that India must win in order to keep their hopes of drawing the series alive. The pitch at the WACA is expected to be fast and bouncy, and will suit the Australian pace attack which is likely to be strengthened by Shaun Tait. India have to ponder over two spots in their batting order; Wasim Jaffer hasn't been able to cope against the new ball, while Yuvraj Singh has been clueless against Brad Hogg.

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Ishant stars with three wkts, ACT XI 187/5 at tea

Ishant Sharma did well enough on the second day of the practice match against the ACT Invitational XI to seal his spot in the Indian team for the third Test against Australia starting in Perth on January 16.

The lanky Delhi pacer captured the first three wickets to fall as ACT XI took tea at 187 for five.

Ishant's spell of six overs should see his name pencilled in for the Perth Test, with the WACA pitch known to assist pace and bounce.

Western Australian Chris Rogers, in line for a call-up to the Australian team if Matthew Hayden does not recover in time for the third Test, did his cause no harm with an innings of 60 off 92 balls which had five hits to the fence.

His namesake John was unbeaten on 57 at the tea break with wicketkeeper James Crosthwaite on two.

The opening combination of Chris Rogers and Ed Cowan resumed at 10 for no loss this morning and took the total to 41 before the latter played on to Ishant for 14.

Ishant then proceeded to trap J Dean leg before for a duck and had skipper Mark Higgs (1) caught behind when the batsman went for the pull shot.

Harbhajan Singh got into the act after lunch and got Chris Rogers lbw.

R P Singh also had Randall Starr lbw for 27 after he and John Rogers had added 74 for the fifth wicket.

Irfan Pathan, VRV Singh and Pankaj Singh also had decent spells without any rewards.

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Indians ready to travel

The crisis surrounding the Indian tour of Australia seems to have blown over, if temporarily, with the Indian board, whose top brass met in New Delhi on Tuesday night, saying the tour would continue "for the present". In Sydney, the Indian team prepared to travel to Canberra, 48 hours after their scheduled departure.

With the issue of umpire Steve Bucknor resolved earlier in the day, the crucial decision before the board's working committee was to frame a response to the three-Test ban on Harbhajan Singh. It had come under severe pressure from the players to take a strong stand on the issue and there were fears it would make the tour conditional to a clean chit for Harbhajan but its eventual public statement allowed wriggle room for all sides.

A statement issued after the meeting said the working committee "took note of all relevant circumstances and developments and decided that Indian team tour to Australia should continue for the present." The board, it added, will "review the tour and all other developments continuously."

The qualification in the statement was clear elsewhere in the statement, which asked Sharad Pawar, the board president, to use all possible resources to clear Harbhajan of the "obnoxious and baseless allegation", terming the ban" uncalled for, unjustified, patently illegal ... [and] unacceptable". Harbhajan was charged with racial abuse of Andrew Symonds and found guilty under Level 3 of the ICC Code of Conduct.

The BCCI will also request the ICC appeals commissioner to expeditiously process the appeal but did not specify whether he had been asked to complete the process ahead of the third Test in Perth, which begins on January 16.

In Sydney, the news of the board's decision came in the dead of night but it prompted a press conference in the Indian camp at 3a.m. on Wednesday morning. The team's assistant manager, MV Sridhar, said the team would proceed to Canberra, the venue of the next match, with the understanding that the board would ensure its concerns were taken care of. He said the players were hoping for a resolution to the ban issue within seven days.

Asked about the mood in the team, Sridhar said: "I will be lying if I said the players are not disappointed but they understand the procedures involved and also know the responsibility they have of representing the country."

The team, which is expected to leave for Canberra sometime on Wednesday, was in visibly upbeat mood through much of Tuesday. After spending Monday largely indoors and in deep and visible disappointment, they emerged on Tuesday morning and spent some time on Sydney's Bondi Beach. The body language through the day was visibly upbeat and it was learnt that by late evening they had started packing for Canberra, where they are scheduled to play a representative XI in a two-day game from Thursday.

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Australian Cricket has gone to its farcical limits

I am not sure why Indians have still not packed their bags. What stops them?

Is series and cricket more important than national pride?

Revered Australian cricket writer Peter Roebuck has echoed the sentiments I am having right now aptly in his column in Sydney Morning Herald

Here are some snippets from his column:

RICKY PONTING must be sacked as captain of the Australian cricket team. If Cricket Australia cares a fig for the tattered reputation of our national team in our national sport, it will not for a moment longer tolerate the sort of arrogant and abrasive conduct seen from the captain and his senior players over the past few days. Beyond comparison it was the ugliest performance put up by an Australian side for 20 years. The only surprising part of it is that the Indians have not packed their bags and gone home. There is no justice for them in this country, nor any manners.

How could that catch even be considered?

The Indians were convinced Ponting grounded a catch he claimed on the final afternoon at the SCG. Throughout those heated hours, the Australian remained hostile, kicking the ground, demanding decisions, pressuring the umpires. So much for the corporate smile that has been produced these last few years.

The worst of Australians came at the last when they did even have the decency to shake hands with Indians.

Probably the worst aspect of the Australians' performance was their conduct at the end. When the last catch was taken they formed into a huddle and started jumping up and down like teenagers at a rave. It was not euphoria. It was ecstasy. They had swallowed a dangerous pill called vengeance. Not one player so much as thought about shaking hands with the defeated and departing. So much for Andrew Flintoff consoling a stricken opponent in his hour of defeat.

No doubt, Ponting has lost respect worldwide with his arrogant and rash behaviour. He should be sacked right away !

Ponting has not provided the leadership expected from an Australian cricket captain and so must be sacked. On this evidence the time has also come to thank Hayden and Gilchrist for their services. None of them are bad fellows. All will look back on this match not as their finest hour but their worst. Obviously a new captain and side is required. But that is a task for another day. It is possible to love a country and not its cricket team.

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Harbhajan banned for three Tests; India to appeal

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was on Sunday night banned for three Test matches after the ICC Match Referee Mike Procter upheld the Australian charge that he had racially abused their all-rounder Andrew Symonds, a decision against which the Indian team will appeal within 24 hours.

Procter gave a marathon six-and-a-half hour hearing to Harbhajan, who denied the charge and was supported by skipper Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, manager Chetan Chauhan and media manager M V Sridhar during the deliberations.

Procter also heard Symonds, who was backed by Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke along with team manager Steve Bernard, who attended the hearing to testify against the Indian spinner.

After the hearing, which went beyond 2 am (Sydney time), there was no official word about the verdict but informed sources said that the three-Test ban was being slapped on Harbhajan, who is fully backed by the BCCI and the team. 

The appeal will be made to the Commissioner of Appeals and pending the appeal, the off-spinner can continue to play.

After the hearing, Sridhar had said that they had not ruled out returning home, but the BCCI later played down the threat.

Meanwhile, the Indians have also filed a complaint against Australian spinner Brad Hogg for using abusive language during the ill-tempered second cricket Test.

The Indian team lodged the complaint against Hogg duringthe hearing, giving a new twist to the simmering feud betweenthe two sides.

BCCI officials promptly said that they would appeal against the three-match ban imposed on Harbhajan.

Board Vice-President Rajiv Shukla said in New Delhi theyhad not yet received any communication from the InternationalCricket Council regarding the ban.

"Nothing has been communicated to us yet. But if a ban isimposed, we will appeal against it within 24 hours. Harbhajanwill appeal and the BCCI will also appeal," Shukla said.

BCCI's Chief Administrative Manager Ratnakar Shetty saidit was an "unfortunate" development.

"There was no evidence against Harbhajan so I don't knowhow they could arrive at such a conclusion."

When asked what the Aussies brought to the hearing whichresulted in a verdict in their favour, Shetty said "we are notconcerned about what the Australians think."

Harbhajan was charged under rule 3.3 of the ICC's Code ofConduct that deals with using language or gestures thatinsults a person on the basis of race, religion, colour,descent or national or ethnic origin.

The off-spinner vehemently denied saying anything racialduring the altercation.

Sridhar said both sides were together during the hearinginto the alleged racial abuse.

"We are extremely disappointed since we feel that thereis no evidence against Harbhajan," Sridhar told waitingreporters after the hearing.

The three-match ban came as a surprise for the Indians asboth the on-field umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson hadgone on record as saying that they had not heard anythingoffensive being said.

The hearing was originally scheduled for Saturday but Procter agreed to a request by the Indian management to deferit by a day.

Harbhajan was charged last night under Level 3 of the International Cricket Council's Code of Conduct following hisrun-in with Andrew Symonds at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor after the third day's play following a complaintfrom Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

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Australia beat India in Sydney thriller

Australia beat India by 122 runs in an amazing finish to the second Test in Sydney on Sunday to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and equal their own world record of 16 successive victories.

Part-time spinner Michael Clarke captured three wickets in five deliveries to wrap up an incredible victory with just seven balls remaining after India looked to have done enough to salvage a draw.

"Michael Clarke's got the golden touch, hasn't he?," said Australia's jubilant captain Ricky Ponting.

"That's an unbelievable win, almost as good as any I've been in."

The tourists were faced with the daunting challenge of batting through 72 overs to salvage a draw on a turning Sydney Cricket Ground pitch and keep the series alive but came up agonisingly short.

They made no attempt at chasing down the 333 they had been set to win win after Australia had declared on 401-7 but held out realistic hopes of hanging on for draw when they started the second last over with three wickets in hand.

ASTONISHING OVER

But Clarke, who had managed just one run with the bat in the match, produced an astonishing over to seal Australia's win.

He had Harbhajan Singh caught by Mike Hussey at slip for seven then trapped RP Singh leg before wicket for a golden duck then finished off the match when Ishant Sharma nicked one to Hussey without scoring.

"I was fortunate to pick up the last three," Clarke said. "But it was really because of the work of the others today."

All-rounder Andrew Symonds also picked up three wickets and followed up his unbeaten hundred from the first innings with a brisk 61 to win the match of the award.

He and Hussey, who made 145 not out in Australia's second innings, piled on the runs in the extended opening session to allow Ponting to declare at 401-7 and push for an unlikely victory.

India's hopes of saving the match suffered an early setback when they lost out-of-form opener Wasim Jaffer for a duck in the first over then the prized scalps of Sachin Tendulkar of 12 and VVS Laxman for 20 after lunch.

Laxman, who made 109 in India's first innings of 532, departed for 20 when he was trapped lbw by Stuart Clark then Tendulkar, who made 154 not out in his first knock, fell for 12 when he dragged a short ball from Clark onto his leg stump.

DECISIVE MOMENT

Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly steadied the innings but the decisive moment came early in the final session when Dravid was wrongly given out for 38 by West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor.

Dravid had successfully held the Australian bowlers at bay for nearly two and a half hours when he was given out caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist off the bowling of Symonds, even though television replays clearly showed he had not made contact.

The incident was just the latest in a series of umpiring errors that have dogged the match.

There was no doubt about the next dismissal when Yuvraj Singh departed for a duck in the same over, also caught behind, but Ganguly stood his ground on 51 when he edged a low catch to Michael Clarke at second slip, believing the ball had not carried.

Wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Indian skipper Anil Kumble occupied the crease for more than an hour before Dhoni made the mistake of padding up to Symonds and was given out for 35.

Kumble, who took eight wickets or the match, batted for more than two hours to make an unbeaten 45 and seemed to have saved his team when he was forced to watch the last three wickets fall from the non-strikers end.

Hussey, who had resumed on 87, had earlier completed his eighth Test century to lift his career average to 84.80 from 20 Tests while Gilchrist and Brad Hogg sacrificed their wickets cheaply in pursuit of quick runs.

The Indians lost last week's first Test in Melbourne by 337 runs and cannot reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as Australia are the current holders.

Jaffer's place in the team for the next Test in Perth is sure to come under review after he was caught at third slip by Clarke off the bowling of Brett Lee for a duck.

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Hayden helps Australia build lead in India vs Australia, 2nd Test at Sydney

Matthew Hayden scored his second century of the series on Saturday to equal Don Bradman's career tally of 29 Test hundreds and provide Australia with a glimmer of hope of pressing ahead for victory over India in the second Test.

The left-handed opener followed up his hundred from last week's first Test win in Melbourne with a stylish 123 to guide Australia to 282 for four at stumps in their second innings.

They accepted an offer to go off early for bad light on the fourth day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Mike Hussey was also closing in on a century after ending the day unbeaten on 87 with all-rounder Andrew Symonds on 14 and Australia 213 runs ahead after trailing by 69 on the first innings.

Australia started the day on 13-0 and looking to score quick runs in the hope of pushing for a victory to equal their own world record of 16 consecutive Test wins.

But their chances suffered a setback when they lost two wickets before lunch and two after tea while play was delayed three times because of rain.

A draw is now looming as the most likely result with more showers forecast on Sunday, although Hayden and Hussey have given Australia the chance of possibly making an early declaration to push for victory on the last day.

HITTING POWER

Hayden batted with a runner for most of his innings after injuring his right thigh but the problem did not affect his hitting power.

The Queenslander raced to his hundred off 160 balls and cracked a dozen boundaries in his 291-minute before he was caught by Wasim Jaffer off Anil Kumble in the last session.

Kumble then dismissed Michael Clarke for a golden duck when he found the edge and Rahul Dravid held a sharp catch at slip.

Hussey was dropped by Yuvraj Singh on 41 on the last ball of the morning session and made the Indians pay for their mistake by cruising past his half-century and sharing a 160-run partnership with Hayden.

The pair had come together early in the day after opener Phil Jaques departed for 42 and Ricky Ponting fell for one.

Jaques put on 85 with Hayden for the opening wicket but threw his wicket away when he holed out to Yuvraj in the deep off Kumble. Ponting was caught by VVS Laxman at silly point off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh.

The India off-spinner has dismissed the Australian captain eight times in eight Tests and celebrated his latest success in boisterous fashion with an animated sprint towards the dressing rooms.

Harbhajan scored a half-century in India's first innings of 532 but is facing a charge of racial abuse after Ponting lodged a complaint against him following an incident with Symonds on Friday.

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India Vs Australia 2nd Test Match, Sydney - Tendulkar's century puts India in front

Sachin Tendulkar provided a masterful demonstration of batting to give India an unexpected but fully deserved lead in the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Tendulkar defied Australia's feted bowling attack for almost seven hours, striking 14 boundaries and a six to chalk up his 38th Test hundred and guide the tourists to a massive total of 532, 69 more than Australia's effort of 463.

Tendulkar was still unbeaten on 154 when he eventually ran out of partners, departing the ground to a standing ovation as he put India in a strong position to ruin Australia's bid for a world record-equalling 16th straight Test win.

The Australian openers Phil Jaques (eight not out) and Matthew Hayden (five not out) wiped 13 off the deficit by the close of play but the hosts face an uphill battle winning the match with rain forecast over the weekend.

Australia were extremely confident of steamrolling the Indians after crushing them by 337 runs in Melbourne last week but struggled against an inspired batting line-up on a flat pitch that has yielded more than 1,000 runs in just three days.

GILCHRIST MILESTONE

Express paceman Brett Lee (5 for 119) was again the pick of the bowlers, bagging his eighth five-wicket haul in Tests, while Adam Gilchrist took three catches to join South African Mark Boucher as the only wicketkeepers to claim more than 400 dismissals.

However, even they were was unable to find a way to remove Tendulkar, who may be making his last Test appearance at the SCG.

The 34-year-old scored an unbeaten double-century on his last visit to Sydney four years ago and now averages 326 in four Test appearances at the world's third oldest Test ground.

He received great support from former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who made 67, and tailender Harbhajan Singh, who frustrated the Australian bowlers with an daring 63.

Ganguly struck seven boundaries and a six to get the Indians off to a flying start after they resumed on 216-3 but his enthusiasm got the better of him when he threw his wicket away, miscuing a drive off spinner Brad Hogg straight to Mike Hussey at mid-off.

Australia briefly looked to have regained the upper hand when Lee dismissed Yuvraj Singh (12), then Mahendra Dhoni (2) and skipper Anil Kumble (2) to reduce India to 345-7 after lunch.

But Tendulkar and Harbhajan safely steered India past Australia's total with a 129-run partnership, a record eighth wicket stand for India against Australia.

Harbhajan was caught by Hussey off Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark got rid of RP Singh cheaply before Lee finally finished off the innings with a return catch off Ishant Sharma, who made 23 in a last wicket stand of 31 to ensure Tendulkar passed 150.

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Australia bow to very, very special batsman in 2nd Test Match between India Vs Australia at Sydney

In the same way the rest of the world does not understand why it took Michael Hussey so long to get a Test, Australians can't believe VVS Laxman always seems on the verge of being dropped. While most touring batsmen are frightened whenever they see baggy green, the colour turns Laxman on and allows him to lose the cloud that hangs around him everywhere else.

He is no longer a one-day player and if this series was in another country it would be his name that was raised whenever talk turned to dropping an Indian batsman. Nobody here can work out why it is even considered. The word "Laxman" causes two reactions from Australian players: they cower at the thought of the previous treatment and praise him like a deity.

They have seen such an angelic man turn wicked at home and away, where his brutally refined strokes generate inward and outward awe from his peers. He plays in a way even the most talented Australians dream of. Standing tall on his toes, his caresses seem from the past, when boundaries were painted rather than powered. Hearing the ball concertina into the bat is the only disturbance as his back-lift drops into the follow through.

It is a swing the Australians have got to know well over the past decade and his 109 was Laxman's fifth hundred against them in 18 Tests. Young children mark Christmas and birthdays years ahead on their calendars and Laxman must do the same with his Australia appointments. Ricky Ponting probably does it too and spends months praying Laxman has a quiet series, like he did in 2004-05. A special page is saved for the SCG.

Eight years ago at the ground Laxman left behind his insecurity and swept Australia for 167, an innings that gave him the confidence for his epic 281, which led to the end of Steve Waugh's winning streak at 16. When Laxman is partnered with Rahul Dravid the sight is even more frightening for Australia, who are aiming to level Waugh's record over the rest of the week.

Dravid and Laxman turned the 2001 Test in Kolkata before combining on the previous tour in Adelaide to set up another rare defeat. Laxman eased to 148 in that game before adding 178 in the final match in Sydney. This innings has joined his bulging file of outstanding achievements against Australia.

Waving boundaries off both feet through cover, he transfixed the SCG crowd during the second session that revived India and the series. Mitchell Johnson was taken for 18 from five balls as Laxman split a crowded offside field and when he grew bored of hitting to cover, he worked towards square leg and mid-on with shots few Australians would have considered - or known how to play.

Unlike in Laxman's previous splurges, Australia were not flattened by his attacking bursts. Rather than trying to dismiss him with each delivery, which had added to their problems previously, they were able to stick to their preferred tight approach and limit the damage. His output was reduced from 57 off 47 deliveries to a strike-rate of 76.76 when he chipped to Hussey at short cover. It was a surprise end to a wonderful innings. As Laxman walked off the SCG the supporters again knew they had seen something very, very special.

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Symonds rescues Australia after shaky start - India Vs Australia 2nd Test Match at Sydney

Andrew Symonds scored an unbeaten 137 to rescue Australia from a shaky start as the hosts reached 376 for seven at stumps on the first day of the second Test against India on Wednesday.

Brad Hogg (79) and Ricky Ponting (55) also posted half-centuries as the Australians, chasing a record-equalling 16th straight victory, fought back after an early collapse at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

India appeared to have the Australians in trouble when Rudra Pratap Singh (4-108) and Harbhajan Singh (2-88) ripped through the top-order in the first half of the day but Symonds and Hogg put the home team back in control with a brilliant display of big-hitting.

The pair came together after lunch with Australia reeling at 134-6 but added 173 runs in a record seventh-wicket partnership at the venue.

Australia lead the four-match series 1-0 after easing to a 337-run victory in last week's first Test in Melbourne.

Sachin Tendulkar chipped in with three sharp catches at first slip but it was the superb bowling of R P Singh and Harbhajan threatened Australia's bid to equal their world record of 16 consecutive Test wins.

R P Singh dismissed openers Phil Jaques and Matthew Hayden in the first hour of play then snared the scalps of Mike Hussey and Adam Gilchrist after lunch as the Australian middle-order inexplicably crumbled on a flat pitch ideal for batting.

Harbhajan triggered the collapse when he trapped Australian captain Ricky Ponting leg before wicket for 55 then added the scalp of Michael Clarke for one when he failed to offer a shot to a ball that hit him flush on the pads.

Australia lost four wickets for 15 runs in five overs to slump to 134-6 before all-rounders Andrew Symonds (39 not out) and Brad Hogg (48 not out) steadied the innings with an unbroken partnership of 80 in just 74 minutes.

R P Singh picked up his first wicket in the third over of the day when Jaques slashed at a short ball and top-edged a simple catch to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni.

Jaques had been a model of consistency since earning a recall to the Australian side since the retirement of Justin Langer, scoring 50 or more in each of his last six Test innings, but fell one short of matching the world record for consecutive test 50s.

Hayden, who was man of the match in Australia's 337-run win in last week's first Test in Melbourne, departed in the ninth over when he was squared up by R P Singh and edged the ball to the safe hands of Tendulkar.

Ponting and Hussey set about rebuilding the Australian innings with a 92-run partnership for the third wicket only to fall within two balls after lunch.

Ponting survived a confident appeal for caught behind off Souruv Ganguly on 17 then a missed stumping chance from Harbhajan on 31 to bring up his half-century before his luck deserted him.

He had just struck his ninth boundary when he was given out lbw after getting a thick edge to a ball that went on to strike his pads.

Hussey was then caught by Tendulkar off R P Singh before Harbhajan trapped Clarke and there were signs of panic when Gilchrist departed for seven, also caught by Tendulkar off R P Singh, before Symonds and Hogg restored some calm with six boundaries each.

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India Vs Australia 2nd Test Match Live Cricket Streaming from SCG, Sydney

India and Australia are going to play the second test of the series from 2 January 2008. India lost the first test earlier this week. So, the Indian players will have to work very hard to come back in the series by winning the match. On the other hand, Australian players would love to win the match. They are on a winning streak for quite sometime and they would love to whitewash India in the series.

The match will start on Wed 2 January 2008. The only bad part is that the match will start very early Indian time (04:30 AM).

Australia vs India 2nd test match will take place in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

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