A great choice from Aaron as to who to take his first cap from. VVS Laxman does the honours. Ken lets us know that Merv Hughes made his Test debut versus India at Adelaide and ODI debut versus Pakistan at Adelaide. We are ready to go here. Ishant Sharma has the new ball in hand, Adrian Barath takes first strike. Three slips, a gully, a short leg in place

9.15am Between them this whole West Indies XI has scored 5,767 runs. That puts the absence of Shiv in perspective

Darren Sammy has won the toss, and West Indies will bat first. Sammy says his side will approach the Test like it did the first game. Whoa. More bad news pouring in. Shiv Chanders not playing. The calf strain has kept Shiv out. Kieran Powell plays in his place. West Indies could do without this

MS Dhoni says it is not too bad a toss to lose, and that the Wankhede wicket does something all five days. Big news from the Indian camp too. As expected, Virat Kohli is playing. And Varun Aaron has got himself a debut here. In place of Umesh Yadav. Dhoni is quick and relieved to point out that it's not an injury that has kept Yadav out. Fair enough. They want to see Aaron before the selection for Australia, but personally I would have rested Ishant Sharma. Aaron comes from the same state as Dhoni - Jharkhand. Today we get to properly watch him. "Is Varun Aaron the first player to make both his ODI and Test debut in the same stadium against different teams ?" Ankeet, I don't have an answer, but that's a decent spot

9am A word on the pitch before toss. As usual, it is the typically fair Wankhede surface, or at least it looks so. The red soil will provide decent bounce. There is a decent-but-not-alarming grass cover on it, which should keep the wicket together. There is some moisture on, which means even if you lose the toss you are not too disadvantaged. Traditional thinking: win the toss, bat first and see off the first session

8.45am Bad news to start the Test with. Kemar Roach is down with gastroenteritis. So no three-fast-bowlers-plus-Sammy attack even if West Indies thought of it. Shane Shillingford is not feeling great either. Ravi Rampaul is fit again, though. Toss in 15 minutes

8.30am Lakhs of people travel from Mumbai's suburbs to the town for work everyday. The most preferred mode is the trains, which leave every four minutes in the rush hour of the morning and can sometimes be packed with as many as 4,500 people each. The last station in town is called Churchgate. Two minutes from Churchgate is the Wankhede Stadium. How many of the lakhs in town today and over the rest of the week will go there to watch India play West Indies? Tickets are as cheap as Rs 50 (US$ 1) per day. There is a healthy queue of kids who look like students outside the entry to East Stand. Those fifty-rupee tickets are being made full use of. If you can't make it to the Wankhede, and if you are away from TV, we are always there. Welcome to the coverage of the final Test of the series

0.1

Sharma to Barath, no run, starts off with a half-volley just outside off, driven to mid-off. Good start for the batsman, feeling the middle of the bat first ball

0.2

Sharma to Barath, no run, aha. Movement. Short of a length, just outside off, and despite a scramble seam it moves a touch away, beating the Barath bat

0.3

Sharma to Barath, no run, this one shapes in from a similar landing. Barath is right behind it and defends

0.4

Sharma to Barath, no run, fuller, around the sixth-stump line, Barath moves across and defends solidly to cover

0.5

Sharma to Barath, no run, Strange. This is short of a length, left alone outside off, and bounces well short of Dhoni. Hmm

0.6

Sharma to Barath, 3 runs, length ball on the pads, clipped away past midwicket for the first runs of the Test

Time for Varun Aaron now. His first ball in Test cricket. Three slips and a gully in place. Eric Simons, the bowling coach, reads a newspaper. Aaron waits for the problem by the sightscreen to be sorted out

1.1

Aaron to Barath, no run, The quick man's first ball in Test cricket doesn't carry to the keeper. Not Aaron's fault, though. Bowled at 135ks, shortish outside off, left alone

1.2

Aaron to Barath, FOUR, a half-volley follows, 135.5ks again, and Barath drives it through the vacant cover region

1.3

Aaron to Barath, no run, the slips are excited but Aaron is not. This one angles into the pads, beats the bat, and hits him in front of leg. Clearly headed down

1.4

Aaron to Barath, no run, short of a length, outside off, 138ks, left alone. Good carry this time

1.5

Aaron to Barath, no run, short of a length again, just outside off, fended to cover

1.6

Aaron to Barath, no run, well wide outside off, and Barath doesn't have to play at it

KB to face for the first time

2.1

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, length, middle and leg, defended towards mid-on

2.2

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, length ball, not too wide outside off, defended to mid-off

2.3

Sharma to Brathwaite, 1 run, tucked away off the pads to get off the mark with a single to long leg

2.4

Sharma to Barath, 1 leg bye, misses out on a leg-side offering, but gets the leg-bye

2.5

Sharma to Brathwaite, 1 no ball, short of a length, outside off, KB behind it in defence. Sharma oversteps

2.5

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, length, around off, angling in, driven to mid-off

2.6

Sharma to Brathwaite, FOUR, thick edge, but also played with soft hands. The ball dies straight into the ground, and travels between third slip and gully. KB pushes outside the line and played away from the body, but with soft hands

Empty stands all around at the moment

3.1

Aaron to Barath, no run, wide length ball, left alone easily

3.2

Aaron to Barath, no run, Nice. Aaron has built up some pace, and this is the best ball he has bowled so far. Short of a length, just outside off, hits the seam and kicks and moves away. Bowled at 141ks. Misses the edge

3.3

Aaron to Barath, no run, Length ball outside off, 143ks, AB doesn't play at it

3.4

Aaron to Barath, no run, Barath looks to turn this off the pads, but the bat face closes too early, and he is hit on the pad

3.5

Aaron to Barath, no run, short of a length, around off, 142ks, AB right behind it in defence

3.6

Aaron to Barath, no run, more good pace, the speed gun says only 139ks, but this hits the shoulder of the bat after pitching on a length. AB not in trouble, though

4.1

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length, angling into the body, looks to turn this to leg, but ends up playing it back to Sharma. Early into the shot

4.2

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, short again, 142ks, it nips back in a touch, KB keeps it down, towards cover

4.3

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, slightly fuller, but not driveable. KB stays back to defend it to mid-on

4.4

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, length ball, just outside off, defended to cover

The ball is out of shape already, and is being changed. It hasn't quite been hit around, seems like a case of the bad apple. "WI XI may only have 5,767 but their last 4 batsmen have 1342 runs between them while India XI's last 4 only have 442 runs between them. Which means that if the top 6 batsmen of both the teams fail, WI will own India." A little big "if", isn't it, Sandeep?

4.5

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, length ball, 140ks, hits the bat hard, defended to mid-on

4.6

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, short, moving in towards off, KB gets behind it, but is surprised a touch by the chest-high bounce. Drops the bottom hand as he defends

5.1

Aaron to Barath, no run, beaten by the pace this time, this is a rapid delivery, into the pads, and he is late in trying that flick

5.2

Aaron to Barath, no run, bouncer, 141ks, but down the leg side, and easy to avoid

5.3

Aaron to Barath, no run, Beaten. This one pitches short of a length, just outside off, makes him play for the angle, and then holds its line to beat the edge

5.4

Aaron to Barath, no run, short of a length, into the pads, pushed to mid-on

5.5

Aaron to Barath, no run, short of a length, well outside off, left alone

5.6

Aaron to Barath, no run, punched away square, but can't beat point. Three maidens in a row

6.1

Sharma to Brathwaite, 1 run, juicy half-volley on the pads, clipped away for a single

6.2

Sharma to Barath, 2 runs, nice punch. Short of a length, wide, he doesn't quite move close to the line, but he doesn't go hard at it either. Places it wide of cover

6.3

Sharma to Barath, no run, length, angling in towards off, stays back to defend this back to Sharma

6.4

Sharma to Barath, no run, short of a length, on off, AB is back and defends this to leg

6.5

Sharma to Barath, no run, short and wide, and even though it moves in after pitching, Barath doesn't need to play at it

6.6

Sharma to Barath, no run, short of a length, well wide, no need to play at it

7.1

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, short again, 141ks, chest-high bounce, KB defends this into his toes

7.2

Aaron to Brathwaite, 1 run, cut away, a short-arm cut really, not the full-blooded one. Placed wide of point for a single

7.3

Aaron to Barath, no run, on the pads, but Barath finds square leg with the flick

7.4

Aaron to Barath, FOUR, leg-side gift, glanced away fine. It is actually a very nice, he is back, the ball's line is on leg, but the bat face closes late enough to place it fine of fine leg

7.5

Aaron to Barath, no run, left alone outside off

No movement at all for Aaron so far. I know pace is a good thing, and there is no substitute, but I hope the selectors haven't written off Praveen Kumar

7.6

Aaron to Barath, no run, length ball outside off, left alone off the back foot

Spin already. This over-rate - 8 overs in 45 minutes - can do with a lift. Here's Ojha. A slip and two silly points in

8.1

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, no turn, which beats the inside edge, and the extra bounce hits him high on the pad

8.2

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, length ball on the pads, no turn again, defended to leg

One of those silly points moves to short leg

8.3

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, KB well forward to defend this back to Ojha

8.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, slower through the air, tossed up outside off, left alone. It turns away too

8.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, length ball, into the pads, can't get it past square leg

8.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, 3 runs, slightly short, and KB rocks back to cut it away in front of square

"I think when your top 6 have 132,305,776 runs between them, your bottom 4 probably isn't a major concern..." Unless you are South Africa, Smudgeon. Wanderers being case in point

9.1

Aaron to Brathwaite, 1 run, short of a length, into the body, tucked away for a single

9.2

Aaron to Barath, 3 runs, half-volley on off, driven with an open face, not hit too hard, but into the gap between point and cover

9.3

Aaron to Brathwaite, 2 runs, another nice shot, punched away from outside off, to the left of cover. Again doesn't hit it too hard, just places it

9.4

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, left alone outside off, 143ks, but doesn't make him play

9.5

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, looks to cut this, no feet, not close to the line, ends up bottom-edging it. Safe

Two slips and a gully now

9.6

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, length ball outside off, pushed to mid-off

"Sid, you have written off Aaron after 3-4 overs! and you expect the selectors not to write off PK! pls give him some time .. at least this Test!" No Rakesh, I haven't written him off. Not by a long distance. I just made a larger observation that pace should not be the single obsession

10.1

Ojha to Barath, no run, tossed up outside off, defended off the front foot

10.2

Ojha to Barath, no run, turn this time, AB is back to a fullish delivery, and gets a thick and soft outside edge

10.3

Ojha to Barath, no run, presses forward to defend this to cover

10.4

Ojha to Barath, FOUR, driven off the front foot for what seems like a single to wide of mid-off, but Ishant is a bit clumsy in the dive, and it goes for four

10.5

Ojha to Barath, no run, Yes-no between the wickets. AB pushes this to pint, and sets off. KB responds. AB turns his back then. KB makes it back in time. All's well. They have a chat to make up

10.6

Ojha to Barath, no run, length ball on off, defended off the front foot

11.1

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length, middle and leg, pushed to mid-on

11.2

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, Beaten. Short of a length, holds its line outside off, KB pushes at it inside the line

11.3

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length, but well wide of off. KB doesn't play at it

11.4

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, length ball, middle and leg, pushed to mid-on

11.5

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length, just outside off, defended back to Aaron

11.6

Aaron to Brathwaite, 1 run, Dhoni has nearly drop-kicked Barath. This is tucked away off the pads for a single past square leg. Barath wants the non-existent second, and is sent back. Dhoni is excited and rushes in to collect the throw, and his momentum carries him smack into Barath. They are both fine, and can do with a drink

12.1

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, flighted around off, well forward to defend it to silly point

12.2

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, another flighted delivery on middle and leg, defended back to Ojha

12.3

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, drives this flighted delivery past silly point but can't beat cover

12.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, flatter, lower trajectory, defended back to Ojha

12.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, tosses this one again, not much turn, easily defended back to Ojha

12.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, goes wide of the crease, but KB doesn't let it do anything upon pitching. Smothers the turn

Sharma replaces Aaron now

13.1

Sharma to Barath, 1 run, short of a length, pushed to the left of cover, with soft hands, takes an easy single

KB uses the bail to re-dig his guard

13.2

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, punched away outside off, can't beat point

13.3

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, another punch, again to point

13.4

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length, around off, defended off the back foot

13.5

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, short and wide, the ball moves back in, and stays low too. Beats the cut, and bounces well in front of Dhoni

13.6

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length, well outside off, left alone, decent carry

Silly point is out now

14.1

Ojha to Barath, no run, flighted on middle and off, defended to cover

14.2

Ojha to Barath, no run, tossed up, middle and leg, blocked back

14.3

Ojha to Barath, no run, defends this to cover

14.4

Ojha to Barath, no run, nice dip on this one. This seems like a full toss, but dips on him to york him. Dug out to leg

14.5

Ojha to Barath, no run, well forward to defend this flighted delivery outside off

14.6

Ojha to Barath, no run, slower through the air, short of driving length, defended off the front foot

15.1

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, length ball, middle and off, pushed back, Sharma makes a diving save to his right

15.2

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, digs this one in short, easy to duck under. Dhoni collects it head high

15.3

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length, into the pads, defended to short leg

15.4

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length, flicked away from outside off, one-bounce to short leg

15.5

Sharma to Brathwaite, 1 run, plays away from the body, but forces this wide of point for a single. Not much movement to bother them

15.6

Sharma to Barath, no run, length ball outside off, KB covers the stumps with a stride, and then shoulders arms

16.1

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, defends this well in front of his body, but manages to keep it down

16.2

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, fullish, on the pads, flicked uppishly past short leg

16.3

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, tossed up well outside off, left alone as it straightens

16.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, length ball, middle and off, flicked to mid-on

16.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, tossed up on middle and leg, defended back

16.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, 1 run, strays down the leg side, worked away for a single

17.1

Sharma to Brathwaite, 4 leg byes, fired down the leg side, KB fails on the glance, but picks up four leg-byes

17.2

Sharma to Brathwaite, 2 leg byes, down the leg side again, misses on the glance again, but takes a couple of leg-byes

17.3

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, length ball on off, KB plays back, gets an inside edge onto the pad

17.4

Sharma to Brathwaite, 1 run, nicely tucked away off the pads for a single. Quick work from Aaron at long leg, and the rocket throw, keeps them down to one, and brings a cheer from the sparse crowd

17.5

Sharma to Barath, FOUR, wide half-volley, Barath shuffles across into the line of the ball and drives it between mid-off and extra cover. All along the ground

17.6

Sharma to Barath, no run, short of a length, middle and off, right behind it in defence

Time for some R Ashwin. A slip and a short leg in

18.1

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, offbreak outside off, defended off the front foot

18.2

Ashwin to Brathwaite, FOUR, Is that a strategy? To not let Ashwin settle? This is the most aggressive shot KB has played. This is a flighted delivery, KB shimmies down a touch, and lofts this over midwicket

18.3

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, turning into the pads, can't beat short fine leg

18.4

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, defended to short leg this time, with the turn

18.5

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, flatter delivery but full, and KB is well forward to defend

18.6

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, shorter, KB goes deep into the crease to defend

Chirag: "The way these openers have managed to see off the new ball shows a great deal of improvement in their attitude and approach. Commendable performance since that first-innings debacle in Kolkata." Ojha gets a change of ends

19.1

Ojha to Barath, no run, slightly short of a length, AB not to the pitch of it as he looks to defend. The ball turns and bounces. Hits the shoulder of the bat. Into the ground

19.2

Ojha to Barath, no run, closer to the pitch of the ball, and defends solidly

19.3

Ojha to Barath, 1 run, pushed straight to deepish mid-on and takes an easy single

19.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, Beaten. This is well bowled. It dips, it drifts in sightly, pitches middle and off, and then turns away sharply to miss the edge

19.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, slower through the air, defended towards short leg

19.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, pitches outside leg, turns towards the stumps, defended back to Ojha

20.1

Ashwin to Barath, no run, flighted outside off, turning in towards off, defended back to him

20.2

Ashwin to Barath, no run, slightly shorter, Barath chooses to stay back and defend in front of leg

20.3

Ashwin to Barath, no run, turn for Ashwin, into middle and leg. Barath stays back in defence

20.4

Ashwin to Barath, no run, presses forward and then goes back to defend again

20.5

Ashwin to Barath, no run, short, stays a touch low, Barath blocks it back

20.6

Ashwin to Barath, no run, presses forward again, the ball dips a little. AB goes back swiftly and defends to short leg

21.1

Ojha to Brathwaite, FOUR, short, on off, turning away, KB rocks back, and cuts it solidly past point

21.2

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, slightly fuller, and KB is well forward. Watches it turn away outside off, and leaves it alone

21.3

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, well forward to defend this straight delivery back to Ojha

21.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, tossed up on off, KB stretches forward again and sends it back to Ojha

21.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, quicker, flatter, into the pads. KB can't beat short leg

21.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, 1 run, slightly short, and KB is quick to go back, and cut this in front of square for one

22.1

Ashwin to Brathwaite, FOUR, turning well down the leg side, KB opportunistically acts swiftly and gets some bat on it to beat Dhoni

22.2

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, pushes this to cover, wants a single, but he has pushed it too hard and is sent back

22.3

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, quick work from Kohli at short leg, who throws the ball to try to catch the overbalanced KB short. Nearly cleans up Dhoni with it

22.4

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, blocked back to the bowler this time

22.5

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, half-volley around off, driven to cover

22.6

Ashwin to Brathwaite, 1 run, short of a length, he goes deep into the crease, and opens the face to place it wide of slip

Brathwaite hogging strike here. has taken singles off the last ball so the last two overs

23.1

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, flat delivery outside off, KB goes back, covers the stumps, then leaves it be

23.2

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, into the pads now, defended to leg

23.3

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, flighted outside off, KB covers the line of the stumps, and then shoulders arms

23.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, flighted on middle and leg, defended back

23.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, 2 runs, too straight, worked away from outside leg, gets two runs as this is placed fine of fine leg

23.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, quicker through the air, around off, KB caught in tow minds. He wants to leave the ball, but it goes straight with the angle, and hits the shoulder of the bat. It doesn't carry to slip, though

24.1

Ashwin to Barath, 1 run, turning into the pads, worked away for a single

24.2

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, flighted outside off, covers the turn well and defends it to cover

24.3

Ashwin to Brathwaite, 1 run, more flight, KB stays back this time, dabs it to the left of backward point, and takes a single

24.4

Ashwin to Barath, 1 run, teasingly flighted, overpitched, middle and leg, driven wide of mid-on for one

24.5

Ashwin to Brathwaite, 1 run, sharp turn but well down the leg side, worked around the corner

24.6

Ashwin to Barath, no run, quicker delivery, on the pads, flicked uppishly, but doesn't carry to short midwicket

25.1

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, flighted on middle and off, turns slightly, defended easily

25.2

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, slower, higher, outside off, driven to mid-off

25.3

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, length ball, on the pads, straightens, pushed back to the bowler

25.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, flighted on middle and leg, flicked into Kohli at short leg

25.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, slight turn away as this pitches outside off. Defended to cover

25.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, length, middle and leg, blocked back to the bowler

26.1

Ashwin to Barath, no run, topspinner, just outside off, stays back to defend

26.2

Ashwin to Barath, no run, fuller, slower, defended outside off

26.3

Ashwin to Barath, FOUR, short and wide, and despite the turn back in, he has cut this nicely for a four past point. He doesn't keep it down, but doesn't have to bother about any catching men past slip

26.4

Ashwin to Barath, no run, flighted on middle and leg this time, defended back to Ashwin

26.5

Ashwin to Barath, FOUR, full toss on off, hit hard into the ground with an open face. Beats cover easily. Not missing scoring opportunities, the key difference between WI's approach here and in Delhi

26.6

Ashwin to Barath, no run, quick delivery, just outside off, defended to cover

27.1

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, tossed up on middle and leg, driven straight to mid-on

27.2

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, slower through the air, KB is right forward to defend this under his eyes

27.3

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, brave leave, this is tossed up just outside off, KB has read this is not an arm ball, and shoulders arms

27.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, fuller, straighter, blocked back

27.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, presses forward, then rocks back, opens the face in front of the stumps, but can;t beat backward point

27.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, defended solidly off the front foot

28.1

Ashwin to Barath, 1 run, flighted outside off, driven to deep point. Four minutes before lunch may not be the best time to spread fields

28.2

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, flicks this uppishly, not quite to the pitch of the ball. However, it goes wide of the outstretched hand of Kohli at FSL

A backward short leg comes in too

28.3

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, turning sharply into the pads, placed between the two short legs

28.4

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, tospinner, middle and leg, defended to short leg

28.5

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, short this time, pulled away wristily, but can't beat square leg

28.6

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, flighted outside off, defended to leg, between the two short legs

29.1

Ojha to Barath, no run, length ball outside off, turning away, left alone

29.2

Ojha to Barath, no run, overpitched, driven to mid-on

29.3

Ojha to Barath, no run, flighted outside off, AB moves across to cover the line, and then defends

29.4

Ojha to Barath, no run, nicely defended off the front again

29.5

Ojha to Barath, no run, bowls this on middle and leg because Barath has been shuffling across. defended solidly again

29.6

Ojha to Barath, no run, smothers this back to the bowler to finish off a very good session for West Indies

That's lunch at the Wankhede. The West Indies openers have done really well here. They key has been that they haven't got bogged down even with defence being the primary thought on their minds. They need much more, though. Remember there is no Shiv in this Test. And India, well they got the over-rate spot on, despite having bowled only 8 overs in the first 45 minutes. Do join us around 12.05pm

Welcome back. Out come AB and KB. It is hot at the Wankhede, the hottest place in Mumbai city. I am told this is "winter", though. Here is Ashwin, who should be used to such heat, playing in Chennai

30.1

Ashwin to Brathwaite, 1 run, length ball outside off, doesn't turn in, KB opens the face late and takes a single

30.2

Ashwin to Barath, no run, half-volley outside off, driven against the turn, but can't beat cover

30.3

Ashwin to Barath, no run, toppie, around off, stays back and defends

30.4

Ashwin to Barath, no run, short of a length, doesn't turn much, defended off the back foot

30.5

Ashwin to Barath, no run, shuffles across to smother the turn on this one

30.6

Ashwin to Barath, 1 run, this one doesn't turn as much as AB expects it to, and he takes the single off the thick outside edge

Sharma gets another spell. This one will test his endurance and fitness

31.1

Sharma to Barath, no run, starts short and wide, AB doesn't go after it so early after the break

31.2

Sharma to Barath, no run, fuller, straighter, pushed to mid-on

31.3

Sharma to Barath, no run, short of a length, on off, gets a thick inside edge onto the pad

Short midwicket comes in

31.4

Sharma to Barath, no run, short of a length, wide outside off, no need to play at it despite the movement in

31.5

Sharma to Barath, no run, length ball, middle and off, angling in, defended to mid-on

31.6

Sharma to Barath, no run, drives a length ball with an open face, but can't beat short cover

Two short legs for Ashwin to KB

32.1

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length, quick, KB stays back and defends

32.2

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, stays back again to one pitched slightly fuller. No problem defending

32.3

Ashwin to Brathwaite, 2 runs, Nearly a catch for that backward short leg. KB looks to play this around the corner, the ball turns in sharply from outside off, takes a thick inside edge, but the the chance goes low and right of Laxman, who is a touch slow in his reaction

32.4

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, and he stays back again, this time the ball doesn't turn in and beats the edge

32.5

Ashwin to Brathwaite, FOUR, presses forward this time, but sees a long hop and pulls it off the front foot. Once it has missed short leg there is no stopping it

32.6

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, defended off the front foot

33.1

Sharma to Barath, 1 run, length ball outside off, punched away to deep cover for one

33.2

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, short and wide, cut away without any feet, doesn't get the timing or placement on it. Fielded by point, who has come in for KB

33.3

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, fuller, angling in towards off, pushed to mid-off

33.4

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, full, on middle and off, driven back at Sharma, who looks at a reverse-flick at the non-striker's end, but Barath is back in his crease

33.5

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, looks to punch this away from his body. No feet again. Gets an inside edge onto the pads. Even after hitting the pad, the ball could have hit the stumps, but it bounced in the crease, and then went over the stumps

33.6

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, wide length ball, left alone

34.1

Ashwin to Barath, no run, length ball, toppie, stays back to defend it

34.2

Ashwin to Barath, no run, flighted offbreak outside off, defended to cover

34.3

Ashwin to Barath, no run, defended to cover again

34.4

Ashwin to Barath, 1 run, quicker offbreak, on the pads, worked around the corner

34.5

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, fullish offbreak, middle and leg, turning in, KB makes sure he presents it the full face

34.6

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, this is slightly shorter, he closes the face on it, one bounce to short leg

35.1

Sharma to Barath, no run, good delivery, short of a length, middle and off, nips back in, hits him high on the pad

35.2

Sharma to Barath, no run, this is outside off, outside enough for him to not play at it

35.3

Sharma to Barath, no run, length ball outside off, pushed to cover off the front foot

35.4

Sharma to Barath, no run, bouncer now, ducks under it, and it flies over middle and off

35.5

Sharma to Barath, no run, length ball, angled towards top of off, defended solidly off the front foot

35.6

Sharma to Barath, no run, Beauty. Sharma is working hard in this spell. This length ball draws him forward, but he can't drive at it. Not full enough for that. Then the ball holds its line, missing the edge by inches

Goes round the stumps

36.1

Ashwin to Brathwaite, 1 run, angling across him, opens the face, places it past slip

36.2

Ashwin to Barath, 1 run, overpitched outside off, driven wide of mid-off for one

36.3

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, full outside off, stretches forward and defends

36.4

Ashwin to Brathwaite, 1 run, worked away off the pads for a single

Back over the wicket

36.5

Ashwin to Barath, 1 run, waits for this to turn into his pads, and works it around the corner

Round the wicket to KB

36.6

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, this one doesn't turn in after pitching around middle, KB does well to recover and defend it back

37.1

Sharma to Barath, no run, short of a length, around off, defended to cover

37.2

Sharma to Barath, no run, short of a length outside off, left alone

37.3

Sharma to Barath, no run, nice delivery, pitched in a similar area, and then nips back in, with good bounce. Inside edge onto the pad

37.4

Sharma to Barath, no run, short of a length, well outside off, left alone

37.5

Sharma to Barath, no run, length ball outside off, defended off the front foot, with an open face

37.6

Sharma to Barath, no run, Uppish. AB drives at a length ball, and is not in control entirely. The ball bounces short of pint, though

Round the wicket to KB

38.1

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, flighted on middle and leg, defended back

38.2

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, offbreak on the pads, defended between the two short legs

38.3

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, flighted on middle and off, a near full toss really, but he has hit it back to Ashwin

Back over the wicket

38.4

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, quick offbreak into the pads, defended watchfully

38.5

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, slightly short, he rocks back and cuts to Tendulkar at point, and the sparse crowd finds a voice

38.6

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, turning into the pads, can't beat short fine leg

39.1

Sharma to Barath, no run, opens the face on this short-of-a-length delivery, can't beat point

39.2

Sharma to Barath, no run, short of a length, outside off, left alone, but Dhoni collects it in front of his face

39.3

Sharma to Barath, 2 runs, another inside edge, he has been finding it without results. Slight movement in as he looks to drive this lenght ball, the thick inside edge gets him a couple wide of square leg

39.4

Sharma to Barath, no run, quick length ball, on off, asking for a watchful defensive shot. He has hit the bat hard in this spell

39.5

Sharma to Barath, 1 run, full, middle and off, pushed wide of mid-off

39.6

Sharma to Brathwaite, no run, defended off the front foot, towards cover

40.1

Ashwin to Barath, 1 run, turning into the pads, worked around the corner for one

40.2

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, flighted outside off, smothers the turn after moving forward

40.3

Ashwin to Brathwaite, 2 runs, only slightly short of a length, and he rocks back to cut this in front of square - a century opening, only the second such for WI this year. Appreciated by the crowd too

40.4

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, full on off, driven back to Ashwin

40.5

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, tossed up on middle and leg, turning in, defended watchfully

40.6

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, quicker offbreak, starts just outside off, Kb stays back to defend this in front of off

Varun Aaron comes back

41.1

Aaron to Barath, no run, starts short of a length, outside off, left alone

41.2

Aaron to Barath, no run, bouncer over the stumps, doesn't bounce too high, he has to act fats to duck under it

41.3

Aaron to Barath, no run, sucker ball followed by the bouncer, and he nearly gets a maiden wicket. AB drives away front he body without any feet. beaten. Berates himself after that

41.4

Aaron to Barath, no run, this one nips back in a touch, again he has to hurry into a defensive dab at it

41.5

Aaron to Barath, no run, tries the wide outswinger again, but Barath doesn't go chasing this one

41.6

Aaron to Barath, no run, another wide outswinger, and AB resists again

Ojha replaces Sharma, who has bowled a testing spell

42.1

Ojha to Brathwaite, FOUR, Fifty for KB. Gets a loosener from Ojha, an rocks back to cut it from in front of the stumps. Not many standing in the team balcony. There was a yawn or two visible. Solid effort nonetheless

42.2

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, flighted on middle and leg, defended

42.3

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, right forward to smother the turn here

42.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, quicker one, slight extra bounce, hits the shoulder of the bat, but doesn't go up in the air

42.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, flighted on middle and leg, defended back to him

42.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, fuller, quicker, outside off, defended to cover

43.1

Aaron to Barath, no run, short of a length, just outside off, good bounce, he is on his toes to defend

43.2

Aaron to Barath, no run, this is wide outside off, left alone easily

43.3

Aaron to Barath, no run, full, outside off, driven nicely, can't beat cover

43.4

Aaron to Barath, no run, testing short ball, around off, not too high, AB has to sway out of the line. The ball swings after passing the stumps, Dhoni can't collect cleanly, but AB has switched off already and doesn't take the bye

43.5

Aaron to Barath, 1 run, pushed wide of point for a single

43.6

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length, into the body, defended to leg

44.1

Ojha to Barath, no run, short of a length, quick, stays back to defend this outside off

44.2

Ojha to Barath, 1 run, slower through the air, middle and leg, worked around the corner for one

44.3

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, length ball, around off, defended to mid-off

44.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, well forward to smother the turn here

44.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, 2 runs, A break in concentration, but doesn't cost them. KB looks to late-cut a lenght ball, straight to first slip. But it doesn't carry as he has rolled the wrist on it. Through Dravid's legs it goes

44.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, defended to cover this time

45.1

Aaron to Barath, 1 run, short of a length, around off, pushed with an open face, gets a single

45.2

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, length ball, middle and leg, defended to mid-on

45.3

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, uppishly played towards cover, but it stays in the air only for a brief moment

45.4

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, testing delivery. Every time he has pitched up, he has looked more impressive. On a length, just outside off, swings away, beats the drive

45.5

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, this one angles into the pads, pushed to midwicket

45.6

Aaron to Brathwaite, no run, short of a length outside off, doesn't bounce much, Dhoni takes it on the half-volley

Time for a mid-afternoon drink

"It might 'only' be WI's second century opening partnership - But no other side in the world has that many. I guess there haven't been that many tests this year." Ben, been a strange year then

46.1

Ojha to Barath, no run, tossed up outside off, slow through the air, defended watchfully

46.2

Ojha to Barath, 1 run, gets a little impatient, jumps out of the crease, not to the pitch of it, and ends up heaving. The thick inside edge gets him the single to bring up his fifty

Over the wicket now

46.3

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, turning away just outside off, defended off the back foot

46.4

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, straighter delivery, doesn't turn much, defended back

FSL moves much straighter

46.5

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, defended off the front foot, back to Ojha

46.6

Ojha to Brathwaite, no run, flighted outside leg, doesn't kick it away, prefers defending

47.1

Aaron to Barath, no run, length ball, middle and leg, hits the high part of the bat. Defended back to him

He pulls out of this delivery twice. Some problem with the run-up

47.2

Aaron to Barath, no run, short and wide, looks to cut, but misses

"PDUA - Please don't use abbreviations!" Pratsy, LHYMYP - Like how you made your point

47.3

Aaron to Barath, no run, short of a length, middle and off, shuffles across to defend this to leg

Loses the run-up again, and pulls out of the delivery. Correcting the imbalance created by the India bowling at more than 15 overs an hour. Goes round the stumps now

47.4

Aaron to Barath, no run, short of a length, angling across, defended to cover off the back foot

47.5

Aaron to Barath, no run, loses the run-up again, almost halts before getting into the delivery stride, much like Nagraj Gollapudi of Cricinfo does. The resultant delivery was quicker than Gollapudi has ever bowled, though. Left alone outside off

47.6

Aaron to Barath, 1 run, looks to work this full delivery to leg, gets a leading edge that goes to cover, along the ground

"Why is R Sharma named as replacement and not playing today?He gave a few interviews talking about his plans for Test debut." Manfred, the selectors can't ever win, can they? What if Kohli got injured playing football or kabaddi on the morning of the match? Ashwin comes back

48.1

Ashwin to Barath, 1 run, flighted outside off, pushed wide of cover for one

48.2

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, turning into the pads, worked to square leg

48.3

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, flighted outside off, defended off the front foot

48.4

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, topsinner, just outside off, stays back to defend

48.5

Ashwin to Brathwaite, FOUR, slightly short, and that's enough for him to stay back and pull away for four

48.6

Ashwin to Brathwaite, no run, turning sharply into middle and leg. He looks to make room, but is cramped, and ends up dabbing it to point

49.1

Ojha to Barath, no run, short of a length, just outside off, defended off the back foot

49.2

Ojha to Barath, FOUR, goes aerial, not entirely in control, but he has picked a sparsely populated area. Gets this off the inside half of the bat, but goes wide of mid-on

49.3

Ojha to Barath, no run, defended to leg

49.4

Ojha to Barath, 2 leg byes, fired into the pads, concedes leg-byes

49.5

Ojha to Barath, no run, quick again, on off, defended from the crease

49.6

Ojha to Barath, no run, slower through the air, middle and leg, driven back to Ojha