Simplicity’s the key

His partnership with Irfan Pathan, another young man with a great head on his shoulders, meant India had the best day of the series so far. Pathan clearly has batting plans and, for a young man not yet 12 months into international cricket, it is a sign of ambition; something we take for granted from international sportsmen but don’t always see.

And while they were together they actually converted a two into a three with some hard running and that this should be a matter of surprise is indicative of the lethargy India have shown.

Partnerships are built around singles, wickets are sometimes the outcome of simple line and length and fine innings are terminated by sharp moments in the field. India don’t do the simple things well enough, or indeed often enough, and when they do, like they did today, it is possible to achieve parity with Australia. This was an equal day but it might not have been if Harbhajan hadn’t run out a confident looking Matthew Hayden.

Harbhajan himself had a better day. He can be a stubborn, defiant character and for some reason anger has resided far too close beneath his skin. But he has talent, loads of it, and you saw it in the course of a probing spell in which he got Darren Lehmann out. He hasn’t had much bowling since returning from Australia late last year and it is safe to say that he can only get better as the series progresses.

But so far Australia have out-bowled India and McGrath has led the way again. Those obits will have to wait for he is still mean and stingy, still sure of where he is going to land the ball. Bowlers at a brisk medium pace who hit the deck haven’t always done well here but Australia, led by McGrath, have done their homework well.

With the pitches not offering much, they have bowled the right lengths, set good fields and not allowed the strokeplayers to get away. The slip cordon has been whittled down to just one and short cover and short mid-wicket have made their appearance.

This was a day on which Australia would have hoped to close the match. They are still favourites, still way ahead but haven’t gained too much ground from the end of day 2. If anything India gained some but they had given away far too much on the first two days.