India lead the series by eight to seven

If we take the first two days of each test, and dissect it session by session, that should be the result in favour of India.

Day one at Melbourne

The first session belonged to Australia. 111 for none was something everybody expected of the pair of Phil Jaques and Matthew Hayden, and they did exactly that. Tearing apart the Indian bowling attack with ease.

India hit back in the second session, bagging three wickets for 102 runs. However, the honours were shared in that session as despite Indian inroads, the Australians were still at 213 for three.

The third session undoubtedly belonged to India. They snared six more wickets for 124 runs. Australia were poised to get just about 350, at least 150 less than they would have expected to be their 1st innings score.

Day two at Melbourne

After reducing Australia to 343, the Indian reply was too feeble and too slow. The honours in this session clearly belonged to Australia. Thirty-one for two was not exactly the kind of start India will looking at. All thanks to Dravid’s inability, as opener, to find runs.

The Second session again belonged to Australia. A highly inadequate 122 for five at lunch meant India were well and truly on the back foot.

The third session had, predictably, India getting bowled out for 196, giving Australia a massive 1st innings lead of 147.

So after the first two days of Melbourne test, India had won just one session compared to four by Australia, and it found reflection in a thumping Australian win.

Day one at Sydney

The First session had Australia leaving for lunch at 95 for two, with both the openers dismissed cheaply. The honours were even as it was Australia who had opted to bat first. They could have been India’s had Ponting been given out by Benson.

However, there was a big role reversal in the second session. India were all over Australia, at one stage reducing them to 134 for six. A score of 214 for six at tea was some kind of recovery thanks again to men in white coats, but the honours undoubtedly belonged to India.

However, by losing just one wicket between tea and close, and ending the day at 376 for seven, Australia had wriggled out of the hole, snatching back the initiative.

Day Two at Sydney

The first session on the day two again belonged to Australia as they piled up massive 463 runs.

Even as it looked all over, thanks to a brilliant 73 by Laxman between lunch and Tea, India were back in the game at 101 for one. A score of 216 for three at close meant, India, despite losing the wickets of Dravid and Laxman, looked set for a reasonable score to challenge Australia.

So, the Indian performance was much better on the 1st two days at Sydney, as they won three sessions compared to two by Australia. It could have found reflection in the eventual result as well, but for umpiring errors.

Day one at Perth

The 1st session on Day one belonged to India as, on a pitch as scary as Perth (at least before the match started), they had piled up a good 74 runs by lunch, while losing only two wickets.

The second session saw Tendulkar and Dravid consolidating the gains. Not a single wicket was lost while 103 more runs were added. That was some kind of rarity for a visiting team at Perth.

The final session had Australia pegging India back with four wickets, including the crucial ones of Dravid and Laxman towards the end. The Final session honours should be considered as gone to Australia.

Day two at Perth

It was India’s best day on the tour, when they translated promise into performance. The 1st and the 3rd sessions belonged to India on a day, which saw them bowling out Australia for just 212.

However, the second session, with that tremendous fight back by Gilchrist and Symonds, can be considered shared as India did threaten greatly by picking up Ponting and Clarke very early in the session.

So the first two days of Perth had Australia dominating just one session compared to four by India. The exact reversal of what happened at Melbourne.

In nutshell, if we take the 18 sessions held so far on the first two days, India, as we assess, are leading by 8 to 7. However, they did manage to squander some of the advantage on the remaining days. So how they perform today will be crucial. The groundwork has been done. Its time to make it count.

Other links for Day Two
India have Australia by the scruff of the neck
The best ever quote on Kumble
A sullen, forlorn Bhajji, whose bunny was stolen a...
How were you dismissed Dad!
As they go into day two, Points India must not los...