[NomadSK]

Very un-Australian, Labuchange protecting Aussie skipper from facing Bumrah, wow.

What Rohit is to India, Marsh is to Australia.

What an atrocious body language after a catch drop, as if he himself have been a savior of Indian team. Will twiddle his thumb all day, but will go ballistic at Jaiswal. What a weird character, shouldn't be even close to Indian team, unless he scores a 4th innings 100. What was Kohli doing, should have tried to take the catch on rebound, he simply stood there and let it plop to the ground. I have noticed him losing his position at slips so many times, with arms up even before the ball is in game, so how he can take some quick chances like today which will come your way. Damn, they need to go back to the drawing boards.

That's the beauty of test matches, at almost end of Day-4, all results are still possible.

Last session acceleration looks out of question now, thanks to Bumrah the beauty, they can't risk losing for winning now, catch 22 situation.

Time to grab some popcorns (salty), can't afford caramelizing.

[harry10]

Jaiswal drops might cost the game.
Inexcusable at this level.

Cummins bowls beautifully and then bats well when needed. Always leading from the front. And then there is our good for nothing Captain.

Just as I was typing. Siraj got the wicket of labs.

[jkrishnakj]

One of either Virat or Rohit have to come good for us, in the 4th innings if we fancy a win here. Ofcourse, subject to a target lesser than 300.

Clearly, we can't leave it to our middle and lower order to save us again.

I'm hopeful. Fingers crossed. Tomorrow is going to be fascinating.

[Asish_VK]

Originally Posted by Revvatron

Agreed. But that reaction from our captain was not needed on thay drop catch. I don't remember Kohli or anybody else reacting that way when they were captain.

He always behaves like this. Abusing team members for even silly mistakes, as if he is perfect even though he's the weakest link in the team.

Originally Posted by Revvatron

I still think it is in our grasp completely. Aussies bowlers look tired and I think we are capable of chasing 300 like last time. All we need is two good quick innings.

Hmm.. with 2 free wickets, 2 bowlers with 0 batting techniques and current form, it looks difficult.
That being said, I wish for big innings from both Kohli & Rohit, India wins the match and both of them retire after this match with some pride.

[AtheK]

Bowlers doing what they have been doing from so long now, so one thing is certain we will not have a draw here, one team will go on to win this. Seeing how brittle our batting is, Australia definitely is the favorite, but I hope the two seniors have one last fight left in them.

[rx100]

No idea why the field setting is very defensive against no 10 and 11 instead of attacking. And we are burning the DRS just for the sake of hope, may bite back at a crucial situation.

[Asish_VK]

My god this is frustrating! Number 10&11 facing 50+ balls (as I type this). Very defensive field setup. Looks like Rohit want to delay second innings so that lesser chance of loosing the match

[creative420]

Damn this tail is wagging too much!

[Asish_VK]

Originally Posted by creative420

Damn this tail is wagging too much!

100+ balls ! Shows how clueless the captain is. Burnt all the reviews in the process.

[jkrishnakj]

A 54+ run partnership for the 10th wicket. I didn't see any plans for getting them out. It was almost as if they were waiting for one of them to get out on their own. And well, they wasted 3 reviews on this last pair. Very very frustrating. This partnership will give the Aussies a scent of victory now on the last day.

[NomadSK]

After a long wagging tail and wait, India to chase 333+ runs and counting in the last innings, already looking a daunting task, but gettable on this pitch, if they toil hard and play good cricket. Also at least there won't be any declaration debate this time.

Bumrah the 4fer and breaking the back of Aussies is the story of the summer. Looks like he has to do this till he dies, there should be labor laws specifically for this and Sharmaji should be arrested for exploiting, damn this guy is a bowling machine with 24 overs. Also Sharmaji's taking DRS reviews are as bad as his batting. Boland should coach both Pant and Kontas. How crucial would be last wicket partnership of runs, only time will tell.

One thing is for sure, expect Aussies to come super hard at Indian batsmen tomorrow on 5th day, key would be the opening partnership to blunt the attack at least the first onslaught of 10-12 overs or Sharmaji going hammer and tongs, lets see ! And they will get another new ball to have one more final burst.

But there's a conundrum for Rohit. The score is already looking pretty decent and competitive.

And finally big thanks to the curator for making a phenomenal pitch which made the test to last full 5 days and having something or the other for players and keeping us on toes.

Till last night some of the members thought it was a Joke and now it's a reality even with 2 less batsmen, we can get these runs. Whatever the result, it's a win for Test cricket.

How many times 300+ score has been chased at MCG ? I would still give 60/40 in favor of Australia. 40 only because I'm an Indian.

Quoting myself, this is what I had said a day before and few members thought it was a joke. Now it's time for our GREAT captain and his partner in crime Ex-Captain to redeem themselves somehow.

Originally Posted by NomadSK

Day 4 - India reduce the deficit to 100 odd runs.

Australia play out the day around 250-275 runs

That gives India to chase 375 on day 5 in 90 odd overs. That’s quite gettable on this placid flat drop down pitch.

With Rohit smashing a 70 ball century and redeeming some pride before going in oblivion. I know high hopes !!

Time to tune for SA vs Pakistan test match !

[Revvatron]

Aussies would have taken this at the beginning of the day. Probably 15-20 overs quicker but now they are ahead and India has to bat out of their skin to get the victory. Now we need more than 2 batsmen to perform well.

[harry10]

In all honesty.
Forget about winning now and play for draw.
This score is more than what we chased at Gabba.
Wicket on a no ball surmised the session for India.

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

Till last night some of the members thought it was a Joke and now it's a reality even with 2 less batsmen, we can get these runs. Whatever the result, it's a win for Test cricket.

Still a joke, chasing 333 with our fragile batting in 4th innings. I would be happy to be proven wrong, but I would consider it a victory if they are able to bat 90 overs tomorrow and get a draw. The last wicket partnership killed it for us, a 280 run chase would have still looked a possibility, hoping against hope that sharmaji made some runs.

But credit to Bumrah for making a match out of this and making Australia bat whole day long, if they had got runs quicker and had a go at us for 10 overs we would have been 30/3 at this point, with both Sharmaji and Kohli Sahib back in dressing room.

[Shumi_21]

Guys the reviews reset after 80 overs, so Rohit was absolutely right to take them.

Edit: I got it wrong, the 80 over review reset has been changed.

Number 10 & 11 playing out almost 20 overs shows beyond doubt that there are no demons in the pitch. Imagine guys like Smith, Head, Marsh & Carey rampaging on a this pitch. The only demon was Bumrah who just might have saved the game for us yet again.

Lyon and Boland looking to block everything gives the impression Australia are not confident with the runs they have on board. Else they would have had a crack at an out of sorts Rohit & Jaiswal who had an absolutely horrendous day. Both now get the opportunity to rest, regroup and start afresh tomorrow. I think Rohit realised this too, that's why he stopped attacking Boland & Lyon and let them play to their heart's content.

Rohit has been off tactically in general, but today was a day he got a lot of things right, especially how he used Bumrah in short bursts. Although it was heartbreaking to see Jasprit being denied a five wicket haul because of a no ball. Im sure he'll get it tomorrow!