A chance for the most vulnerable to stand up
India's fightback on the fourth day has set the stage for a fascinating climax to the first Test, writes Peter Roebuck in the Age
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
India's fightback on the fourth day has set the stage for a fascinating climax to the first Test, writes Peter Roebuck in the Age. An interesting feature of the final day, he writes, will be the contest between the "most vulnerable" cricketers, the struggling Indian middle order and Australia's inexperienced bowling attack.
By stumps, much more will be known about the ability of this Australian attack to take wickets on a pitch deteriorating slower than expected. Among the pacemen, Mitchell Johnson has been a handful without ever looking likely to run amok while Brett Lee deserved a better return. Handicapped by a wonky elbow, Stuart Clark was serviceable while Shane Watson's strength was an asset on a grudging surface.
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If anything, the Indian middle order will feel the squeeze even more than the visiting bowlers. India has a match to lose and the senior batsmen have positions to protect. Remembering the form some of them showed down under a few months ago, Australians may be surprised to hear that half of India is ablaze with the call for youth.
Siddhartha Talya is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo