Australia’s Ashes preparations hit the buffers

Australia’s preparations for the upcoming Ashes series, which starts later next month, aren’t going exactly to plan. Ricky Ponting’s men suffered a dramatic one wicket defeat in the first Test of their two Test series against India. The defeat meant Ponting is still waiting to register his first win in India as Australia’s captain.

Ashes betting note how it was a disappointing result for Australia who posted a first innings score of 428, thanks to a stylish century from opener Shane Watson as well as a very useful 92 from wicketkeeper Tim Paine. Mitchell Johnson’s 5-64 ensured Australia took a first innings lead of 23 into their second innings.

Australia’s second innings was where it all went wrong, the visitors all out for 192, with only four batsmen reaching double figures. India didn’t make it easy for themselves, taking it down to the last wicket, with Ben Hilfenhaus’s 4-57 giving Australia a sniff of an unexpected victory. India hung on though an took the lead into the next Test in Bangalore.

Chasing 216 to win, India cut it pretty close as VVS Laxman’s unbeaten 73 helped the host to a narrow win. India resumed the final day on 55-4 and with the match firmly in the balance. Sachin Tendulkar started the day with night-watchman Zaheer Kahn at the crease and started the day well, with Tendulkar hitting Aussie spinner Nathan Hauritz for two graceful boundaries. The partnership was broken when Kahn edged Hauritz to Michael Clarke in the slips, who made no mistake.

Tendulkar reached another milestone when he took his score to 35, taking his total Test runs in 2010 to 1,000. It was the sixth time in the batsman’s career that he has achieved the feat. Kahn’s dismissal brought Laxman to the crease, after he had been put down the order due to his ongoing back trouble. VVS looked in good touch straight away, hitting consecutive fours of Hauritz to take India past the 100 run mark.

The experienced duo looked dangerous and the cricket odds backed them to take India to victory until Doug Bollinger sent in a dangerous short ball, forcing Tendulkar to steer the ball straight towards the grateful grasp of Michael Hussey at gully.

MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh quickly followed Tendulkar back to the pavilion both scoring just two. That brought Ishant Sharma to the crease, where he equalled his best ever Test score of 31, before Hilfenhaus grabbed his fourth wicket to bring out number 11 PP Ojha. The tail ender did his job though and he and Laxman hung on to reach their target.