Forget about an explosive start from india

When India start their innings , they will be in a defensive frame of mind, commented Gavaskar just after Australia crossed 400 runs.

That is understandable when you are chasing a total in excess of 400 runs because the first thought will be about saving the test.

Also, as going 0-2 down will curtail your ambition drastically to the thought of just saving the series.

That should be the only strategy available to India right now, and it will be a good one too unless they go ultra-defensive. Now in this test, if India are allowed a look in with nearly 50-70 overs left today, the two teams will still have a possible 320-340 overs left for the last three innings. Australia, one fears, will not be required to face more than 50 in their second essay unless India put up a great total. That would mean negotiating 125 to 150 overs in each innings for India.

That should be a tough job, but it is not impossible by any standards as the wicket is playing very true. Shastri believes that it is easy. In fact, the average second innings score at Sydney is close to 400, and that should give heart to India.

But once again, India will need to score too and not just preserve their wickets. Australians did that beautifully under pressure by trading in singles and twos when boundaries were not coming. India may not be allowed too many boundaries if Ponting's approach, alternating between offense and defense, is any indication.

Meanwhile, I am awaiting morning papers to read what they have to say about the umpiring goof-ups, which allowed Australia to escape from the gallows. Did not Navjot Sidhu say on NDTV that if Sachin is allowed three innings in one innings, he (Sidhu) would bet on him scoring a century every time!

Australia have lost their eighth wicket just now. Hopefully, there will not be any big partnership anymore in this innings.