FIRST TEST, Bangalore (day two):
India v Australia 430 all out (149.5 overs), India 68-0 (18.1 overs)

By Pranav Soneji

606: DEBATE Discuss the day's play on 606

So with a tear in the eye and a hanky on stand-by, we wave goodbye to day two but get thoroughly excited about day three, where Tom Fordyce will be your shepherd, guiding you to pastures green. As my four-year-old nephew told me last night: "TTFN - ta-ta for now".

DAY TWO CLOSE: INDIA 68-0 (18.1 overs)

"Sehwag being dropped was the best decision the selectors ever made, now look at him go! Another big ton on its way."
Ricky from Mars, via text on 81111

"To Paul in Lancs (at about 1139) - I hate to resort to pedantry, but it seems to be a big point that the Lehman's credit default swap black hole is $400 billion not �400 billion; however your other point about Pranav winning the Pulitzer for uncovering one of the best kept cleansing secrets is a moot one."
Sam, currently in a refugee camp outside Keighley in Yorkshire

1205 - India 68-0 (18.1 overs)
Blimey, where did that come from? Johnson sends down one delivery and the rain is absolutely pelting down. Quick as a flash the covers are on. It's fair to assume that's the end of the day's play with 9.5 overs remaining in the day, although "to assume is to make an ASS out of U and ME". I'll get me coat.

1201 - India 68-0 (18 overs)
A thoroughly uneventful and unmemorable over from Watson, which Gambhir defends. Maiden.

"Following on from your sweet-related discussions of yesterday, we got round to discussing favourite non-chocolate biscuits. A poor misguided woman in the office 'claimed' her favourite biscuit was a rich tea! Is it possible for that to be someone's favourite? They are so dry that you can get the same effect by sitting in the desert chewing cardboard with an electric fire turned on (assuming you can find an electricity supply - don't think I've thought that one through really). In your new role of King of all things edible, please point out the error of her ways."
Neil from Formby

I have nothing but utter disdain for the Rich Tea, the most pointless biscuit going. Garibaldis, Arrowroots and Nice are also equally as offensive.

1156 - India 68-0 (17 overs)
Johnson strays on to Sehwag's pads and a wristy yet powerful flick pierces through the leg side for his sixth boundary, which could have been his last after almost chopping Johnson on to his stumps. But - and typically characteristic of Sehwag - it bothers him not a jot as he opens the face of the bat, playing the ball late and guiding it down to the vacant third man boundary. Exceptional batting, especially with 11 overs remaining in the day's play. Sehwag moves to 39.

1151 - India 58-0 (16 overs)
Clark takes a rest and Victorian Shane Watson comes into the mixer, not that it bothers Sehwag, who lays into a nice leg-stump half-volley but only earns one run for his efforts with a man posted on the deep square leg boundary. No headlines from that over, a very linear effort with absolutely no wobble in the air or off the pitch.

1145 - India 57-0 (15 overs)
Sehwag comes perilously close to chopping Mitchell Johnson on to his off stump, but survives to take a single off the last ball of the over, a tuck off his hips to square leg.

"Blimey, Pranav. If what Ian in Oxford says is true, it looks like you've uncovered some kind of monstrous name-based cleansing programming taking place under our very noses. At the very least you'll be made investigative journalist of the year, 2008. This news is bigger than the breaking new of the �400billion credit swap black hole."
Paul in Lancs via the TMS inbox

1139 - India 56-0 (14 overs)
Sehwag nicks a Stuart Clark delivery, only for the ball to drop agonisingly short to Brad Haddin, who immediately signals the ball did not carry into his gloves. Very heartening to see, especially after all the ding-dongs in Sydney at the start of the year. Sehwag compounds Australia's misery further by guiding the ball between gully and second slip for four, the fifth of his innings, moving him to 32.

1133 - India 51-0 (13 overs)
Gambhir whips Johnson through mid-wicket with a wristy flick off his pads for a stunning four before a punchy drive earns him another single. Virender Sehwag tucks into a short ball outside off stump, grabbing a single with a man stationed at deep point. His opening partner then opens the face of his bat and guides Johnson's last ball past gully for another four to bring up India's 50. The four also rejuvenates the slumbering crowd as the openers share an embrace.

1129 - India 40-0 (12 overs)
A rare misfield from Ricky Ponting at mid-wicket allows Sehwag to run through for an easy single off Stuart Clark, who beats Gautam Gambhir with an absolute brute of a delivery, pitching on off before deviating off the pitch past the outside edge. Your archetypal Glenn McGrath stock delivery to a left-hander.

1124 - India 39-0 (11 overs)
Lee's five-over burst comes to an end, with Mitchell Johnson taking over his responsibilities. Sehwag stands tall on his back foot and punches the left-arm seamer through the covers for a single. So far no swing for Johnson though.

1119 - India 38-0 (10 overs)
No funny business from Stuart Clark, who bowls six dot balls, the final of which provokes a play and miss from Gambhir.

"Welcome to Oxford, Ian (see 1046)"
Ian, Oxford

"I agree with the Johnson/Cook observation Pranav (see 1105), although more specifically Johnson looks like Cook's dimmer, goofier older brother who's had a few brushes with the law."
JP in Retford, Notts

1115 - India 38-0 (9 overs)
Sehwag jumps up to fend off a short Lee delivery, only to be bamboozled by the lack of bounce from what looks like a slower delivery. Had that ball been straight, the opener would probably be back in the pavilion. He then punches the last ball of Lee's over through cover for a couple. Confident start by the Indians, although the pitch looks like it wants to have a say in the outcome of this match with the odd bit of unpredictable bounce.

1110 - India 35-0 (8 overs)
Classic Sehwag. He scythes Stuart Clark through point with an open face on the up for his third boundary in 16 balls. He has previously scored a 50 and a 100 on this ground. Clark once again strays on to leg with a shorter delivery, which Sehwag arrogantly clips around the corner for four, giving fine leg absolutely zero chance of cutting that off.

1105 - India 27-0 (7 overs)
"Come on Viru" shouts Gautam Gambhir as Lee oversteps the popping crease in his fourth over bowling around the wicket. After the promise of the first over, Mr Swing has officially left the stadium. Up and down, albeit at a thoroughly useful pace.

"Has anyone else noticed that Crystal Tips (from Crystal Tips and Alistair of early 1970s kids TV) is bowling for India?"
Andrew via the TMS inbox

That's way beyond my time Andrew, but I'll throw my thruppence in and say Mitchell Johnson and Alastair Cook are too similar in appearance for their own good.

1100 - India 24-0 (6 overs)
Gambhir and Sehwag have clearly had some form of conversation about picking up as many singles as possible, but against the Australians it's a whole different ball game. Sehwag has another close call after being called for a run by his partner as another Michael Clarke shy misses its target. Sehwag then latches on to a stray leg-side delivery from Stuart Clark, dispatching him through mid-wicket for a boundary. The bowler has a not unreasonable shout for leg before considered by Asad Rauf, but the umpire decides the ball was heading past and over leg stump.

1054 - India 19-0 (5 overs)
Virender Sehwag casually chips a couple straight over Brett Lee's head for two, while another straight drive is cut off by a sliding Mitchell Johnson, who burns his fingers over the plastic matting used by the sponsors to hawk their products. Don't think Mitchell will be one of their consumers after that effort.

1050 - India 15-0 (4 overs)
Virender Sehwag goes for a suicide single off Stuart Clark, running to the left hand of the deadly Michael Clarke at cover, whose underarm throw just misses the stumps with Sehwag a good foot out of his crease. A very, very useful lbw appeal is turned down by Asad Rauf, much to Australia's astonishment. On first sight I called it out, hitting the left-hander slap-bang in front of middle, but replays showed a big inside edge on to his pad. Excellent decision from the Pakistani official. And to really get up Australia's noses, Gambhir flicks a ball on middle and leg through mid-wicket and mid-on for four. Lovely shot, minimal follow through but maximum timing.

1046 - India 10-0 (3 overs)
Binga's radar is very much back in the mixer and Gautam Gambhir presents a full face to his six straight deliveries, although not much swing in that over.

"I'm from Lancs and I'm called Ian. I know a lot of Pauls though and they're all from Lancs. I moved to Oxford - I had to leave as I didn't fit in."
Ian via the TMS inbox

1041 - India 10-0 (2 overs)
Sumptuous back-foot drive on the up from Virender Sehwag, possibly my shot of the day, off Stuart Clark which crosses the boundary rope, narrowly avoiding the despairing dive of the chasing Mitchell Johnson. The next ball isn't quite as aesthetically pleasing, an ugly offside mow makes contact with nothing but fresh air as the ball squirts on the second bounce to Brad Haddin.

1036 - India 6-0 (1 over)
Brett Lee's loosener is the second quickest ball of the match - and there was discernable movement too, but the ball was sent down the wrong side to the left-handed Gautam Gambhir. But his radar is a little off as he sends down four byes with a stray delivery down the leg side, although Brad Haddin will feel rightly aggrieved the first runs of the Indian innings go down against him. Gambhir gets the first runs off the bat with an on drive through mid-on for two, he didn't time it right, but still effective nonetheless.

"Will someone tell Kumble that four bowlers are not enough to win a Test match. This is the worst captaincy I have seen in a while. When people like Sehwag, Sachin and Ganguly have both been known to break partnerships, why is he over-bowling just the four guys. He is just not thinking. It's probably old age."
Arjun from Chennai, India

AUSTRALIA 430 ALL OUT

"Re Rob's impending emigration (0858), I cannot believe he is even considering supporting either team, but particularly the Aussies, in the Boxing Day Test. Has the man no shame! Rob - wake up - you support neither! And anyway, you will hopefully still be drinking to the success of our (England that is!) boys victorious rout of the Indian old guard. Now buck up your ideas or I and all the Paul's from Lancs, of which there are many (you're right Phil), will be round to see you."
Gina, also in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

1015 - Australia 429-8 (149 overs)
The Huss launches into a short ball from Kumble which looks destined for the boundary, only to be denied by a flying dive from Harbhajan Singh, who cuts out two runs. A couple more singles sees Kumble go around the wicket, only to see Hussey reverse sweep him out of the rough for four. Extraordinary, he moves to 146.

"Phil in Cheltenham might well have ended up in Lancashire if Henry Tudor had got his priorities right after the Battle Of Bosworth and not gone around marrying Yorkshire lasses just to show he was boss and stop the fighting and become King of England and stuff. Wasted opportunity, if you ask me, and the real reason we haven't won the County Championship for so long."
Paul in Lancs via the TMS inbox

"My name is Paul, but I'm not in Lancashire. I was born in Lancashire though, does that help?"
Paul, Worcester via the TMS inbox

1000
Hello. We're back.

AUSTRALIA 416-7 (146 overs): TEA

"I was just wondering if there was only one Paul in Lancs, or is it just a coincidence that all the mailings from Lancashire are from people called Paul? Is everyone in Lancs called Paul? Can someone else not called Paul in Lancs confirm or deny this? Thanks."
Phil in Cheltenham (not in Lancs) via the TMS inbox

0940 - Australia 416-7 (146 overs)
The last over before tea sees Michael Hussey scything his 14th four of his innings down to the backward point boundary off Zaheer. Probably a little finer than where he wanted the ball to go, but still the same result. he moves on to 135, while Lee is unbeaten on 26 in a 54-run partnership. And umpire Koertzen takes the bails off and we're back in 20 minutes.

0938 - Australia 412-7 (145 overs)
Tremendous close-up of a policeman fast asleep among the many empty seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The M (thank you Wikipedia) stands for Mangalam, the first name of the former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and a Karnataka native. The slumbering policeman has been prodded awake - just pray the boss wasn't watching. Zaheer homes in on a leg stump yorker to Lee, but the fast bowler does well to jam his bat down and squirt the ball to safety. More text-book forward defensives from Lee to frustrate Kumble, who looks like a beekeeper attempting to count the number of buzzing things in his hive.

0929 - Australia 410-7 (143 overs)
Brett Lee swishes like a man possessed, throwing a kangaroo and a didgeridoo at a wide Zaheer delivery, which he edges down to the vacant third man boundary for four. More encouragingly for Zaheer, there is some reverse movement. Less encouragingly, his radar is in need of calibration. the next over sees Anil Kumble spit a vicious leggie on to the inside edge of Lee's bat, but the ball falls just short of Gautam Gambhir at short leg, who smartly takes the ball on the bounce. Kumble then has a useful shout for lbw turned down once again by umpire Rauf, who has been unmoved today. Someone check whether his right hand has been superglued to his trousers.

0921 - Australia 404-7 (141 overs)
Zaheer Khan breaks the spin strangehold in the faint hope of some reverse swing. We've had around 50 overs with the second ball, so there might be some movement on offer. However, it's a short ball which gets everyone excited as Lee loopily gloves the ball down towards square leg attempting a pull shot, but failing to get his bat around in time. Still, two more runs for the blond bomber. More Kumble leggies, but nothing to write home about. For all you 606 heads, we're open for business.

"All this talk of India's old guard is slightly hiding the fact that Australia's batting line-up is not exactly sprightly. The top-four have an average age of 34! After that the average is around 27, but they're not exactly piling on the runs at the moment."
Tim (Back in Burgess Hill)

Interesting to note the unAustralian scoring rate, but with so many singles on offer with Dad's Army spread across the field, the world number ones don't really need to maintain an onslaught of boundaries, especially on a surface like this. It would be a little silly to go hell-bent on smacking boundaries and needlessly giving your wicket away when there's more runs than a Calcutta backapackers' hostel on offer all over the park.

0912 - Australia 401-7 (139 overs)
Hussey calls for his Baggy Green as the spin onslaught continues, this time in the form of the underbowled Virender Sehwag, although saying that his first two balls are promptly dispatched to the extra cover boundary courtesy of two glorious drives from the more than proficient Brett Lee, who moves on to 16. Some nice chunky, fluffy white clouds doing the rounds in Bengaluru, to give the modern southern Indian city its native name. Hussey - who else? - brings up the 400 with a well-manoeuvred single around the corner off Karnataka home boy Anil Kumble.

"In Sharma's case I think one trouser slit (see 0839) will just be a letter box for that family of four living upstairs. The other one may be a Ganges flood release device of some kind."
Paul in Lancs via the TMS inbox

0905 - Australia 388-7 (137 overs)
Lee finds the boundary with a thin edge which runs down to the third man boundary, following that up with a lovely straight drive, which would have also found the boundary too but for a fingertip stop from Anil Kumble, who prevents two further runs from being added to the Aussie total.

0858 - Australia 382-7 (135 overs)
Brett Lee's forward defence is in good working order as he fends off Harbhajan, who has a half lbw appeal turned down. He doesn't do himself any favours bowling wide of the crease. The next over sees Asad Rauf turning down a typical Anil Kumble appeal, a flipper keeping low, skidding off the pitch just short of a length, but striking Lee outside the line of leg stump.

"I'm emigrating off to Oz at the end of October. Who do I support in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG? My new-found home nation and the arch enemy, or those ruddy Saffas, whom I really despise. Maybe I'll be washing my hair for that Test series."
Rob, sat at work not really caring too much because he is leavng next week in the TMS inbox

Rob old boy, fence-sitting is a thoroughly enjoyable past-time, I would rather spend my time sending an indecent amount of photos of sunshine, cold beverages and barbeques to everyone I know sitting watching "It's a Wonderful Life" while miserably working out how many of their presents they can fathom off to other people during the next year.

0848 - Australia 380-7 (133 overs)
Hussey uses the depth of his crease, using every centimetre available to step back and pull Harbhajan through mid-wicket for four. He follows that up with a thumping slog-sweep six over mid-on, forcing Harbhajan to abandon his flighty twirlers in favour of flatter darts. Ishant earns a breather as his captain assumes his bowling responsibilities at Brett Lee. But Binga nurdles a single through cover, a run which thoroughly annoys Kumble, who sees Mike Hussey regain the strike for the next over with a single off the last ball of his over.

0839 - Australia 368-7 (131 overs)
Michael Hussey absolutely pummels a cover drive straight at Virender Sehwag, who feels the force of the middle of Mr Cricket's chunky willow - and the opener is feeling it too. Strangely, I've just noticed both Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh have slits cut into the knees of their trousers - anyone know why? Hot knees? Easy access for scratching? Hussey probably doesn't care as he scythes a cut to deep square for a single, which isn't exactly top captaincy from Kumble as it was the last ball of the over. Time for a few beverages.

0831 - Australia 366-7 (129 overs)
Harbhajan has a more than useful shout for lbw against Brett Lee turned down by umpire Rudi Koertzen, who adjudges either contact was made outside the line of off stump, or the ball would have turned past leg. Take your pick, either way, enough doubt in his head to turn the appeal down. Nice ball from Harbhajan, who is suddenly getting some turn from his surface, which will please last man out Cameron White no end. The utterly irrepressible Ishant Sharma - one wicket shy of his fiver-for - charges in for his 29th over, but this time his slower ball is clocked by Hussey, who carefully watches the ball on to his bat.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the Aussies pushed hard here now to get to 400+ while leaving at least 30 overs to bowl at the Indians. "
Eirebilly via the TMS inbox

"On this matter of Sharma's hair and Vinay's comparison to Samson, the choleric Old Testament judge (0524). If we're going to go down that cricket-religion route, wouldn't a more culturally appropriate point of reference be the deity Shiva, whose capacity to tame the Holy Ganges with his hair is frankly much more impressive than just being strong enough to tear up lions, carry off city gates and knock down the odd temple?"
Paul in Lancs via the TMS Inbox

A presicent point from Paul - although I wouldn't be surprised if a family of four were discovered living in Sharma's hair, let alone the holiest river in India.

0811 - Australia 356-6 (125 overs)
The kerfuffle in the last over clearly hasn't had any impact on Hussey, who uses his feet to smash Harbhajan past the despairing dive of Zaheer Khan at mid-off for yet another boundary. At the other end, new-boy Cameron - who is a spit of Queens of the Stone Age leader singer Josh Homme in my very humble view - successfully negotiates his first runs in Test cricket with a flick off his pads through mid-wicket for two, he could have had more but Sachin Tendulkar's dive saved at least another run.

0746 - Australia 337-5 (119 overs)
After the spin drain of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, the latter opts to open up with Ishant Sharma, but the pace tyro drifts on to Mike Hussey's pads and is dispatched for three to deep square leg. There's a bit of debate about whether Kumble should bowl Sharma in short bursts rather than long spells. Meanwhile Haddin takes a single to Ganguly at mid-off. it seems the tactic is "where lurks Ganguly lurks a single". And by jove they're absolutely right.

0741: Hello team, we're back. My breakfast cereal tastes like wallpaper paste, but less tasty.

AUSTRALIA 333-5 (118 overs): LUNCH

0701 - Australia 333-5 (118 overs) Nice delivery from Harbhajan as Hussey inside edges a faster delivery around his leg stump, but inevitably the left-hander still manages to collect a single for his troubles. Virender Sehwag comes on for his first over of the day with his loopy off-breaks, but Brad Haddin hasn't read his partnership-breaking script as he rocks on to his back foot and spanks the ball through cover for a beautifully driven four. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is lunch. Like the first session of the first day, India failed to capitalise on their early breakthrough, especially as Haddin looked vulnerable early on in his innings. However, Mr Cricket looks as obdurate as bulletproof glass right now, unbeaten on 92 while Haddin looks comfortable on 26. Back in 40 minutes.

0655 - Australia 327-5 (116 overs) Hussey moves into the 90s with yet another easy single off Harbhajan, you could probably blindfold him and wrap his hands in cling film and he would still do exactly the same. Hussey, not Harbhajan. Kumble still can't find his 617th Test dismissal as he plods through his six deliveries.

0649 - Australia 325-5 (114 overs) The lush green outfield has shadows of various birds circling above, hopefully they're not vultures eyeing an Indian carcass or two on the field. Harbhajan has a not-too-shabby appeal for leg before turned down by Asad Rauf, although having a second look at that there's absolutely no way that was out having pitched a good six inches outside leg stump. Anil Kumble opts to go around the wicket to Mike Hussey for his 33rd over, but Mr Cricket just prods the Indian captain into the vacant point region with a fielder twiddling thumbs on the boundary. What would you think about when fielding? Work out how your stocks and shares portfolio after this week's markets crisis? Or who would win in a fight between a bee and a beetle? Hussey moves to 89, 11 short of what would be his ninth Test ton.

0641 - Australia 321-5 (112 overs) Harbhajan and Kumble continue to toil, but it's all too easy for Australia's batsmen right now. The singles continue, the drama is pretty much close to 0, although Haddin plays a very late cut off his middle stump, which excites the Indian captain until he sees the ball race down to third man for two.

0635 - Australia 314-5 (110 overs)
All too easy for Australia, who continue to rotate the strike courtesy of their brilliant running between the wickets, manipulating the various gaps in the field, as well as courtesy of some generosity from India's fielders. Just one from that Kumble over.

0631 - Australia 313-5 (109 overs)
It's turning into a bit of a grind for India with men spread around the field, as well as close to the bat. Almost a bit of drama from the last ball of the over as a Haddin flick falls just short of VVS Laxman at short mid-wicket.

0628 - Australia 312-5 (108 overs)
Stand and deliver stuff from Haddin, who smashes Kumble straight over mid-on for four. Minimum foot movement, maximum bat speed. Kumble responds with a seamer about 70mph, but the New South Wales keeper is having none of it and easily fends off any threat.

0625 - Australia 308-5 (107 overs)
Harbhajan's also mixing up his bag, tossing in darts along with the floaters, but not much is gripping in his Bangalore surface. In fact, I don't think anything has turned this morning. Haddin nicks a cheeky single off the last ball of the over.

0622 - Australia 307-5 (106 overs)
Kumble mixes up his deliveries like a blindfolded postman, tossing up googlies, leggies and toppies, only for Michael Hussey to caress a beautiful front-foot drive out of the rough through mid-off for four. Cracking shot.

0619 - Australia 303-5 (105 overs)
Double change for India with Harbhajan Singh talking over from the thoroughly impressive Ishant Sharma. I'm a big fan of Bhajji's wispy beard, not quite as hirsute as Bishan Bedi or Navjot Singh Sidhu, but distinctive nonetheless. In contrast, the clean-shaven Sourav Ganguly's throw at the stumps just misses as Brad Haddin scampers through for a very tight single. Replays suggest he would have made his ground if Ganguly had hit the stumps. But he didn't. So it's irrelevant.

0615 - Australia 300-5 (104 overs)
Time for a change says the captain, who brings himself on, although he cannot prevent Mike Hussey from bringing up Australia's 300 with a cheeky nurdle to backward point. No headlines from that over.

0611 - Australia 299-5 (103 overs)
Sharma induces a play and miss from Haddin with the second ball of his 23rd over, while his fourth - a skiddy inswinger - skims past the off stump after Haddin shoulders arms. Another good over from Sharma, the boy's definitely got heart although whether legs can hold out for a long spell...

0603 - Australia 298-5 (102 overs)
Zaheer opts for the Wasim Akram around the wicket option to the right-handed Haddin, but his first ball strays on to the batsman's pads and the wicketkeeper clips the ball between mid-wicket and mid-on for four, quality shot. Zaheer corrects his earlier error and finds a good line on off and middle, but can't find that decisive movement to penetrate Haddin's defence. Drinks are called with Mike Hussey looking as solid as an elephant sandwich on 74, with Haddin providing support on 10. Must be time for tweakage, non?

0557 - Australia 294-5 (101 overs)
Haddin squirts a thick outside edge just short of Anil Kumble at gully, which infuriates bowler Sharma, who despairingly cries "catch it", which his captain does, just not on the full.

0553 - Australia 292-5 (100 overs)
There's just no place to hide Sourav Ganguly in the field - Mike Hussey hits a drive to Ganguly at extra cover off Zaheer, only for the former Indian captain to completely miss the ball, which squirts away for a boundary. Don't worry Sourav, only the whole entire world saw that. More quality running between the wickets sees Australia collect another three runs - all singles. Too easy for the Aussies, surely something India coach Gary Kirsten has to address? Or maybe only after Dad's Army are calling in their pensions?

0549 - Australia 285-5 (99 overs)
Another good over from Sharma, although Haddin is not doing himself any favours with some injudicious shot selection.

"Ishant Sharma's the perfect candidate for a crowd tune, you hardly even need to change the song lyrics to Lennon's Instant Karma:

"Ishant Sharma's gonna get you,
"Gonna knock you right on the head,
"You better get yourself together,
"Pretty soon you're gonna be dead."

Pete in Sydney via the TMS inbox

Tremendous stuff Pete, my favourite sport-related song chant is still Manchester City's effort devised for former boss Sven-Goran Eriksson last season, which went:

"We don't need no Phil Scolari,
"We don't need Mourinho,
"Hey Thaksin, leave our Sven alone."

0544 - Australia 284-5 (98 overs)
Mike Hussey spanks two successive boundaries through the off side, opening the face of the bat for the first and guiding the ball through point before playing a perfectly straight bat to drive Zaheer through cover. The former Northants and Durham star is looking increasingly comfortable, which isn't exactly the greatest sign for Indian fans - Hussey could write a book on how to convert 50s into double and triple tons. I'd read it. I'm lucky to convert singles into doubles these days.

0538 - Australia 273-5 (97 overs)
Ishant is steaming in around 86mph right now, hair luxuriously tousled as he reaches the crease. His bowling is equally as impressive, with two singles conceded, one each for Hussey and Haddin.

0534 - Australia 271-5 (96 overs)
An attempted bouncer from Zaheer is treated with utter disdain as Hussey rocks on to his back foot and smashes the ball through square leg for the first boundary of the day. The left-arm seamer, one of the more proficient exponents of swing in world cricket, is not getting any discernable curve, especially with the ball coming back in to the right-hander. Not great for him, but his new-ball partner is making up for that.

0529 - Australia 263-5 (95 overs)
Ishant Sharma gives Brad Haddin a proper going over. After an ugly inside edge attempting to hack a rising delivery, the Aussie keeper shoulders arms to a ball which swings in considerably before kissing the bails before thudding into the hands of Mahendra Dhoni, who cannot believe it did not dislodge the bails from their place at the top of the stumps. Haddin is slightly more assertive with his last three deliveries, punching the ball confidently with a straight blade. But another useful over from Sharma, the first maiden of the day.

"If Ishant Sharma cut off his mane, would it not give him an aerodynamic advantage? Or does he think he is an Indian Samson?"
Vinay via the TMS inbox

0513 - Australia 258-4 (92 overs)
Here's a stat for you - 101 of Australia's runs yesterday were scored in singles, which tells you everything you need to know about the ungazelle-like Indian fielding. I've never actually seen a gazelle play cricket, or indeed field, but I'm pretty sure it would be more enthusiastic than some of India's more senior guard. Zaheer slants the ball across Watson, but can't find that cheeky curve which earned him Clarke's scalp. Watson nicks a single and not a lot else.

0509 - Australia 257-4 (91 overs)
Nothing astounding from Ishant Sharma as Shane Watson judiciously defends anything on his stumps and leaves anything outside. Don't forget to email over your thoughts via the TMS inbox or text 81111, otherwise I feel like I'm talking to myself, which sometimes is the only way I can get a good conversation, but not when the cricket is on.

0503 - Australia 257-4 (90 overs)
Watson gets a lovely juicy leg stump ball to turn off his legs for the easiest of singles. Sloppy from India, who really were shoddy in the field on Thursday. Mike Hussey doubles up and moves two runs short of his half century with a neat flick off his pads, although he opts to leave a ball which flirted just outside of his off stump. Interesting, although no swing so far.

0459: Right, teams are out and Zaheer Khan will start things off bowling to Shane Watson.

0456: So Thursday was Ricky Ponting's first century in nine Test matches in India, his 123 the highest ever by an Australian captain in the land of sickly soft drinks and Amitabh Bachchan. If you're unfamiliar with this particular name, he's probably the most famous man in India. The media coverage he gets in India makes Brad and Angelina look like a Big Brother Z list celebrity in comparison.

0454: Hello, anyone else itching for another day of M Chinnaswamy madness on day two of the Tour de Force that is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy? What have we learned from day one? Well, India are about as mobile in the field as the QEII zipping down the Norfolk Broads, that after 12 very tasty opening overs of movement and bounce, the Bangalore pitch looks like every batsman's dream and Ishant Sharma's hair makes Russell Brand's look like a combover.

So Australia have the thoroughly obdurate Mike Hussey at the crease on 46, while new man Shane Watson has yet to set foot on the pitch after Michael Clarke's late dismissal in the last over of the day, a wicket which gave India a haystack of hope after largely toiling for most of the day. Hopefully we won't have to endure any more debatable umpiring decisions either.