The Indian bowling was ground to dust by Australia on the second day of the second Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Resuming at 116/3, Australia piled on the agony on a hapless Indian bowling attack as they went on to add 366 runs in the day. In the process, they lost only one wicket, allowing Ricky Ponting to get to his first century in more than two years and Michael Clarke his first double-century in Test match cricket.
Australia’s score of 482/4 followed India’s 191 all out in their first innings and with three more days to go, the game seems to have slipped away from the Indian hands.
Neither Ponting nor Clarke wasted the opportunity to bat on a pitch as flat as the one at Sydney and rarely gave the Indian bowlers a chance. Clarke completed the century just before the lunch break while Ponting went on to get an emotional 100 after the interval.
India’s only success in the day came in the form of Ponting (134), when he edged Ishant Sharma to point but Michael Hussey picked up the gauntlet and did not allow India to get back. Clarke got to his double-century and then to an unbeaten 250 by the time the day ended, while Hussey was 54 not-out.
With a lead of 291 and six wickets still standing, Australia will look to ensure that they can keep India on field for at least the next two sessions. With Clarke having all the time in the world, it will not be a surprise if he aims at getting first to 300 and then also aiming for the world-record score of 400 on the third day.
India’s exit paths have been all but sealed and unless they are helped by inclement weather and a sudden and dramatic improvement in batting form, it almost looks like it is game over for the visitors.
