SECOND TEST, Mohali (day three, close):
India 469 & 100-0 v Australia 268

By Pranav Soneji

606: DEBATE Discuss the day's play on 606 after 0900 BST

1234 So India have established a 301-run lead, I can imagine lots of bish, bosh bash tomorrow morning as India look towards another 150-200 runs before setting an impossible target for the tourists. I don't think I can remember seeing Australia so toothless in a Test match for a long time. Mark Mitchener will be your host tomorrow, it's been emotional.

DAY THREE CLOSE: INDIA 100-0

1229: India 100-0
Cameron White lolls in for the final over of the day, not you would know watching Virender Sehwag, who attempts to slog-sweep the leg-spinner to Nepal, but manages an under-edge mow to deep square leg. Gambhir guides a ball off his pads to square leg, bringing up the 100 for India and umpire Rauf signals the end of a dominant day for India.

1221: India 87-0
Cameron White comes on for his first joust of the second innings, but with absolutely no spin, a bit like a broken washing machine. And he leaks too, two more runs to the total.

1217: India 85-0
Gambhir dices with danger when he attempts a quick single straight to the hawk-like Michael Clarke, but he is promptly told to return to his crease by his opening partner. Both men fashion singles. All very easy.

1213: India 83-0
Lee, bowling to an empty slip cordon, continues around the wicket, only to dish up the ideal half volley for Gautam Gambhir to tuck into, dispatching the ball through extra cover for his fourth boundary. More singling, this time with another off-side dab while Virender S whips off his pads.

"I bet the Aussie selectors are rueing their decision to play a Test with a three-man bowling attack. Watson and White seem like low quality part-timers! It looks like Troy Cooley will have his work cut out with these chaps."
Tom via the TMS inbox

1208: India 77-0
A rare Ponting misfield allows Virender Sehwag to run through for an extra run after punching the returning Mitchell Johnson to cover. Sehwag compounds the Australian captain's misery further by whipping Johnson through mid-wicket with a ball that pitched on his off stump. Remarkable.

1203: India 69-0
Both openers are playing beautiful strokes around the PCA Stadium, but with the field spread it's only ones and twos on offer with Lee charging in and getting a bit of reverse swing.

1159: India 67-0
Virender Sehwag spots a wide Pete Siddle slower ball and absolutely hammers it over mid-on for a one-bounce four. Brutal stroke. He follows that up with a single to overtake his partner on 33.

1154: India 61-0
India capitalise on an overthrow, doubling up Gambhir's quick single to point before sending a dab down to third man to move to 32.

"India and Bangladesh right now lead their respective Antipodeans opponents by exactly the same score in their second innings (249). Can you have a look in Wisden and see if this is the first time two teams from same continent have been in the same position against two teams from another subcontinent on the third afternoon of a Test match being played at home in the leading two teams' subcontinent. It's important, I think."
Paul in Lancs

I have seven elves poached from Santa working on this very matter now. Meanwhile (Jacques) Rudolph is working out the exact width of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's bat while some other BBC types discuss a hybrid Strictly Come Dancing with Ready Steady Cook - Strictly Come Steady Cooking, whereby all contestants do paso dobles with a leek and get sauteed in a white wine sauce if they get booted off. I think it may catch on.

1147: India 58-0
Virender Sehwag throws the rotis at a Peter Siddle slow, wide and full delivery which is spanked through extra cover for the opener's third boundary of the innings, taking him to 29. Time for drinks - I reckon the Indians could probably carry on batting and still bat as they are right now.

1142: India 54-0
More singles than a nightclub in Corfu as both openers fill their boots from Mitchell Johnson's fourth over.

1138: India 51-0
Gambhir brings up the Indian 50 as Siddle strays on his pads, clipping two runs down to third man. All too easy for the Indians as Ponting goes all one-day field mode.

"The big Canadian guy on Whose Line Is It Anyway was the great Mike McShane, also to be seen as Friar Tuck in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves."
Bill via the TMS inbox

Thank you Bill, turns out Mike McShane is, in fact, American. What's all that aboot? You don't see Tony Slattery much on TV these days. Or that really tall bloke who was in the firing squad in Blackadder Goes Forth when Edmund gets court-martialed for shooting General Melchett's prized carrier pigeon, Speckled Jim.

1133: India 48-0
Lovely wristy flick from Sehwag as he turns the ball through mid-wicket from outside off stump for two, former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin would have been content with that. Meanwhile Gambhir shells another front-foot drive past Cameron White at mid-off for his third boundary, taking him to 26 with his partner on 22 going at over four runs an over.

1129: India 41-0
Gambhir flicks a very fine glance off Pete Siddle past the despairing dive of Brad Haddin for the fourth boundary of the innings. he could have had a fifth with another delicate dab, this time through third man, but Mitchell Johnson makes a smart diving stop to keep the batsmen down to two.

"Talk about defensive field by Ponting. I thought he said AUS play attacking cricket and IND played defensive last week just saving the match. Isn't that what Ponting is doing now?"
thecricketer11 on 606

1124: India 35-0
Johnson james down a yorker, only his direction is a little off. Not that it bothers Sehwag, who angles his bat down fine for the ball to race away through the vacant third slip area for a very well placed four. Classic Sehwag, improvisation at its finest - someone get him on Who's Line Is It Anyway? Whatever happened to that programme? Ryan Styles was always my favourite. And that big fat Canadian bloke. Not John Candy (RIP).

1120: India 30-0
Lovely front-foot punch off Peter Siddle from Virender Sehwag, who crunches the ball through cover beyond the onrushing deep point fielder for four. The Indians are looking thoroughly at home here running singles all over the shop.

1116: India 25-0
Lee didn't last long, we've got Johnson charging in now. India's openers are ticking along nicely, with a three singles and an overthrow for good measure from the first three balls. Sehwag punches a triple down to deep wide mid-on (sorry for the baseball-speak) and that's a good over for the hosts.

1109: India 16-0
Siddle sends down a maiden to Sehwag, who's looking to score runs most of the time - only the defensive field does not allow him to. The Aussies are bowling with a "scrambled seam" - already looking to rough up the ball a bit and get it to reverse-swing as soon as possible.

1106: India 16-0
A lovely punched back-foot drive from Sehwag earns him a smart single, while his opening partner pierces the infield with a checked drive from a Brett Lee slower ball. This is more like it - the pair run through for another Australia-style quick single, dropping the ball with no pace.

1102: India 11-0
Excellent running between the openers sees the total boosted by three from Peter Siddle's second over. Absolutely no demons on this pitch so far, the bounce and pace has been consistent, giving the batsmen plenty of confidence to play their shots without too much fear.

1057: India 8-0
Lee goes around the wicket to Gambhir to restrict the width, but nothing too much to worry the left-handed opener from Delhi, the first over scares long gone. Just one from the over, a nurdle to square leg from Sehwag.

1053: India 7-0
Peter Siddle charges in but can't quite get his line right as both openers collect easy singles, while his final ball of the over squares up Gautam Gambhir, but the ball squirts along the ground to point, so danger averted.

"Let the Diwali crackers (Sehwag/Dhoni and the rest) start firing! What a good Diwali gift it would be to the nation to win this Test. Hats off to the Little Master as well."
Shenzy, Dublin, Ireland

1048: India 5-0
Drama first ball as Lee gets a ball to swing back viciously into the pads of Gautam Gambhir, prompting Lee to go absolutely ballistic with his lbw appeal, he thinks it out, his team-mates are convinced he's out but Asad Rauf is unmoved - and quite right too. Replays clearly show the ball would have missed leg stump, top officiating from the Pakistani umpire. Gambhir then plants his front foot down the pitch and spanks the most idyllic cover drive for four, while the final ball of the over goes the same way, only for a man positioned at deep point to cut off the boundary.

"Surely The Brothers Karamzov (see 1016), with it sweeping portrayal, in a time of immense material and psycho-social change, of dysfunctional individuals unable to cope with excesses of both sensuality and rationality (Simon Cowell?), and therefore ultimately all complicit in the horror of the main act, is a key text book for the X-Factor participants."
Paul in Lancs

"If India win this one comprehensively - nail in the coffin for Kumble?"
Seb, in Cape Town

INDIA HAVE NOT ENFORCED THE FOLLOW-ON
As expected, Dhoni opts to bat again, giving his bowlers a well-earned rest and allow his batsmen licence to batter the Australians for a quickfire 250-300 or so. "Dashing innings at the top of the order skipper?" says Virender Sehwag.

1031: Australia 268-9
Johnson moves Australia to within one run of the follow-on target - which seems increasingly irrelevant as it looks certain Dhoni will bat should India dismiss the tourists under 269 - with a huge thump over the bowler's head for a massive six. Fetch that.

1023: Australia 262-8
Short leg VVS Laxman wears one on the shin from Mitchell Johnson, who launches into a short Mishra delivery. Fortunately for the fielder, he was wearing shin guards. And even more good fortune, he probably saved a four too. At the other end, Watson caresses a drive through extra cover for a doozy of a boundary, while a single off the final ball of the over takes him to 78.

1016: Australia 257-8
Mishra beats Johnson with a brute of a wrong'un - it's fair to say Mitchell Johnson had about as much of a clue as an X-Factor contestant explaining the plot of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Brothers Karamzov. Meanwhile Watson marmalises a short Harbhajan delivery through square leg for four.

1010: Australia 252-8
Nice-looking on drive from Johnson as Amit Mishra opens up from around the wicket. The leggie goes back over after three deliveries, but it's all straight bats from the tail-ender. It's a double tweak attack with Harbhajan in action, but the off-spinner leaks three runs without looking particularly threatening as Australia pass he 250 mark.

1003: We're back.

"I reckon that Watson will answer his critics and make a century. Does anyone else think so?"
Pommyadam on 606

He's only got 34 runs to go, but the question is: can Johnson and Siddle hang around long enough with the tweakers causing mayhem?

TEA: AUSTRALIA 249-8

0944: Australia 249-8
Watson nudges yet more runs through the slip area for two off Harbhajan and the final ball before tea races away for a fine four behind square as Australia move to within 20 of the follow-on target. Time for cucumber sandwiches.

0939: Australia 243-8
A double bowling change from Dhoni as Amit Mishra takes over from Ishant Sharma, but the leggie can't quite get his line and length right as Watson punches through a single before a stray ball on leg is worked for two off his pads by Johnson. More encouragingly, he's still getting the ball to turn.

0930: Australia 240-7
Ah, Zaheer is back, just a change of ends for left-armer. But no change in fortunes, although no further runs are added to the total.

0925: Australia 240-7
And with that, Dhoni makes his first bowling change with the second new ball, bringing back Harbhajan for Zaheer. Lee sends his first delivery through the covers for two more to move to 35.

0921: Australia 238-7
Hmmm, it's all up and down for India's bowlers as Ishant drops short for Watson to swat him away to the deep mid-wicket boundary for four. Interesting dilemma for Dhoni, how to get rid of this flourishing partnership...

0915: Australia 233-7
Watson gets a thick inside edge to Zaheer attempting to play to off, only for the ball to squirt away to leg for a single.

0909: Australia 231-7
Brett Lee unleashes the shot of the day, a perfect straight drive past partner and non-striker Watson for four exquisitely timed runs off Sharma. Lee, sensing the aesthetic beauty of the shot, holds the follow-though pose for two seconds to ensure the photographers get plenty of opportunities to frame that moment. However, he fails to nail two rank deliveries, missing out on free runs.

"With Australia at 170ish for 7 I was still shocked to read people discussing the merits of enforcing the follow-on. The Aussies have one of, if not the, strongest lower orders in the world. India need to focus on getting 10 wickets before thinking about 20. Hopefully that will jinx Watson and Lee."
Rick T, Dubai

0905: Australia 226-7
Zaheer continues bowling, holding the ball across the seam rather than the conventional seam-up grip to speed up the scuffing process to aid the ball to reverse swing as early as possible. Lee feathers an under-edge, but once again the ball falls short of Dhoni behind the stumps. The Indian captain may want to consider standing a foot or two further up. Good bouncer from the final ball of the over floors Lee into evasive action.

0900: Australia 225-7
Watson drives straight at Ishant, who fails to gather the return and the duo run through for another excellent single. The running between the two wicket is, along with the contrast in spinners, the stand-out difference between the two teams. Ishant mixes up his slower balls, but his line needs a little adjustment.

0854: Australia 224-7
Watson looks as if he's batting in slippers, his movement and strokeplay is looking assured as he thumps three very attractive drives straight at fielders before turning a ball away from his body for another well-taken single.

"Is it worth mentioning that Bangladesh-NZ is turning into a nail-biter in Chittagong (Chottogram more authentically)? Or is no one really that bothered? In which case I'm sorry I mentioned it."
Paul in Lancs

0850: Australia 223-7
Sharma takes the first over with the new ball and floors Lee with his first delivery, a short, sharp ball which thumps Lee in the back as he takes evasive action. Sharma gives him the eyeballs, only for Brett Lee to blow him a kiss back. The crowd are clearly loving this, gladiatorial would be word to describe this ding-dong battle. Lee moves on to 27 with a smart push off the back foot through cover for two.

0842: Australia 221-7
With the new ball due imminently, Dhoni summons Zaheer Khan back into the attack as Lee hits a beautiful boundary on the up straight past the bowler with no more than a front-foot push, bringing up the eighth-wicket pair's 50 partnership. These two are fast becoming a right royal pain in the backside for India. Some eyeballing theatrics from Zaheer and Lee ensures the over is lively. Lee punches a drive back at Zaheer, who attempts to shy at the stumps despite the fact the ball is not in his hand. Lee calls Zaheer's bluff by shouting "YES" as if he's setting off for a quick single, only for Zaheer to scamper for the ball. Cue a beaming grin from Lee, although Zaheer looks as if the Australian fast bowler has poured petrol in his tomato soup.

0829: Australia 210-7
Watson tucks into a short Mishra delivery, rocking on to his back foot and smashing the ball over the mid-wicket boundary for a maximum before a nudging a single for his best Test score to date, 48.

0827: Australia 203-7
Ishant Sharma comes back into the attack as Dhoni attempts to look for the last vestiges of reverse swing. And immediately Sharma is up with what looks like a certain lbw appeal against Shane Watson, only for umpire Koertzen to disagree. Watching the replays, it's difficult to see what was wrong - Hawk-Eye says the ball would have uprooted his middle stump. Understandably India's fielders are slightly agog. In defence of Rudi, I had initially thought there was an inside edge when I watched it in real time, only for the replays to show no contact was made with willow. Watson moves to 41 with a flick towards square leg for two.

0820: Australia 200-7
Lee extends takes an enormous stride to meet Harbhajan's over, ensuring there is no gap between bat and pad. The fast bowler has enough of the defending and smotes Amit Mishra down the pitch with a well-struck straight drive for four. Lee then uses his feet and skips down the track, lofting Mishra over mid-off for four very confident runs, moving him to 20 and the Australian total to 200.

0813: Australia 191-7
Watson continues to grow in confidence, forcing Harbhajan to adopt a round-the-wicket strategy. His second ball flies off Watson's thigh pad and runs down fine for four leg byes. Meanwhile a nudge off his legs sees the Queenslander move on to 38. Mishra begins the 75th over, five more overs until the new ball. No alarms for Watson until his last delivery bites off the pitch and catches the shoulder of Watson's bat, only for the ball to loop harmlessly to where short point would have been stationed.

0806: Australia 186-7
Harbhajan, face smeared with sunscreen, continues to twirl around off stump, but Watson is batting exceptionally well, using the depth of his crease to give himself extra time to play the ball at the last moment. Maiden over. The next over sees Lee skip down the track to meet the aerial bombardment from Mishra, which will hearten the Delhi Daredevil no end.

0800: Australia 186-7
Lovely lines from Harbhajan, who probes the off stump line, although his last delivery is too straight as Watson pushes off his pads for two to reduce the follow-on target by two more runs. Lee attempts to turn Mishra through the vacant mid-wicket area, only to get a leading edge through point for two. He latches on to a short delivery outside off stump, crashing the ball through cover off the back foot for a welcome boundary.

0752: Australia 178-7
More easy singles for Watson, who pushes Mishra through the covers. Lee unravels a textbook straight drive back at the bowler, who makes an absolute farce of his attempt to stop the ball, requiring a smart sliding stop from Zaheer Khan to prevent a boundary. Mishy beats Lee with that googly - it's like trying to pick up a ton of eggs.

0748: Australia 175-7
Harbhajan gets a ball to turn viciously from outside off stump to Watson as a huge puff of dust explodes off the surface. However, the all-rounder gets an all too easy single with mid-on back on the boundary. Naive captaincy from Dhoni? Possibly.

0744: Australia 174-7
Mishra is really floating up his leg breaks, tempting Brett Lee into a false stroke. It's the cricket equivalent of dangling chocolate eclairs and jam doughnuts in front of the eyes of a hopeless dieter - sooner or later something has to give.

0739: Right, we're back out at the PCA Stadium.

"Would it be more beneficial for India to enforce the follow-on and bat last on the more worn out pitch or to get more runs on the board to defend on day five?"
Jon,(Adelaide) English and supporting India

Good point Jon, something I've just been discussing with my esteemed colleague. I think enforcing the follow-on would be the wrong move for India, especially on a pitch which will only deteriorate further to help their spinners on days four and five. If I were Mahendra Singh Dhoni, I would bat again, get Virender Sehwag to cause bedlam at the top of the order, batter a quickfire total of 250-300, declare at some point during the first session on day four and then watch the Aussies squirm attempting to play out for a draw against two rampant spinners turning the ball from the rough. Granted, easier said than done.

LUNCH: AUSTRALIA 174-7

0702: Australia 174-7
Shane Watson plays it straight - quite literally - with the last over before lunch, batting away all of Harbhajan's offerings with defiant defence. Another successful session for the hosts, who lead by a massive 295 runs. The tourists need another 95 to avoiding batting again. Time for a spot of luncheon.

0658: Australia 174-7
Another good over from Harbhajan, who has a useful shout for lbw against Brett Lee turned down by Rudi Koertzen. Replays clearly show contact was made well outside the line of off stump. Fair play to Lee, who collapses on one knee and sweeps a straight ball to fine leg for a single. The next over sees Mishra stray down leg as Lee dispatches the ball fine behind square leg for four. But the leggie beats the number nine's outside edge with the perfect leg-spinner's delivery - the kind of ball England fans were so accustomed to seeing whenever Shane Warne plundered in an Ashes series. Mishra oversteps as Lee works a single towards point, but it's all looking rosy for the 25-year-old from Delhi.

"I know I'll regret asking this, but how many runs do Aus need to avoid the follow-on?"
Cale (Sydney)

The target is 269 - so at the moment the Aussies are 107 runs short. Hope that wasn't too painful.

0641: Australia 162-6
Bhajji goes around the wicket as he attempts to unravel Cameron White's defences, but the leg-spinner is so far presenting a straight blade plonked right next to his front pad. The first ball of Amit Mishra's 12th over finds its way to the boundary after Watson helps it around the corner. The all-rounder collects two more when he picks a googly and guides the ball through mid-wicket.

0635: Australia 156-6
Harbhajan has the ball on a piece of string, landing the ball on almost the same spot for six deliveries. The usually uninhibitive Cameron White has to curb his instincts and defend, it's all about survival right now. Amit Mishra comes on at the City End and beats Watson with the dreamiest of leg breaks, Shane Warne material. Lots of loop, getting the ball above the batsman's eyeline, coupled with in-drift. White gets off the mark with a controlled dab past first slip.

0628: Australia 154-6
A thick outside edge from Watson once again runs behind square for a boundary to third man, bringing up the 150 for Australia. Watson adds four more, this time with slightly more conviction, with a controlled dab through the third slip area taking him to 23. Interesting to note that 50 runs have been scored behind the wicket on the off side.

0620: Australia 146-5
Watson nicks a another probing Zaheer delivery outside off stump, but the ball falls short of the diving Dhoni, who cannot prevent the ball running away for a boundary. The Aussie pair exchange singles but there are still plenty of sniffs about.

0615: Australia 140-5
Harbhajan comes on for his first twirl of the morning and the off-spinner tosses plenty of flight and fizz, earning lots of encouraging turn in the process. But Haddin plays the over very well, getting right on top of the ball and offering nothing.

0611: Australia 140-5
Zaheer isn't really stepping on the gas this morning, well down on his pace from Saturday. Haddin pulls a leg-side single before Watson opts to leave a ball which outrageously flirts with his off stump before thudding into the gloves of MS Dhoni.

0602: Australia 139-5
Excellent variation from Sharma, who tries the outswinger and the slower ball to bamboozle Haddin, but the Aussie wicketkeeper, who fell to a slower ball from Sharma in Bangalore, isn't having any of it, fashioning a single to square leg.

0558: Australia 138-5
Watson absolutely nails a short Zaheer delivery, but he only earns one run for his pull shot as it cannons into the legs of Rudi Koertzen, who jumps the wrong way attempting evasive action. Nails from Koertzen, who refuses to give his leg a bit of a rub - he even manages a smile. Legend. Haddin, meanwhile, is fortunate to be still at the crease after an inside edge comes within a cat's whisker of his leg stump before the ball races away for four.

0553: Australia 132-5
Haddin digs out a low, inswinging delivery from Ishant - jeez that wasn't too far from getting through his defences. Ishant overcompensates with an inswinger which thuds into Haddin's pads and rolls away to fine leg for two leg byes.

0548: Australia 130-5
Another probing over from Zaheer, more wobbles left and right and Shane Watson watchfully defends with a straight bat.

"Sorry to bring in statistics so early in the morning, but when was the last time Australia were forced to follow-on?"
James in Virginia

As far as we can remember, the last time Australia followed on was in the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in 2005. Prior to that, the last time they were asked to bat again was against Pakistan in Karachi in 1988, where someone called Iqbal Qasim took nine wickets and someone else called Ian Healy made his Australia Test debut. Ladies and gentleman, a round of applause for my colleague Ollie Brett for digging those nuggets out.

0537: Australia 122-4
Zaheer throws in the bouncer after three full deliveries, but Watson fails to properly connect with his pull shot, but still manages to collect a run for his troubles. Hussey adds another to the tally with a push through point.

0532: Australia 120-4
Hussey flicks off his pads as Ishant strays leg side to collect two more runs to move to 43. Sharma, hair bouncing like a shampoo advert, then beats Hussey next ball with a delivery which leaves him just outside off stump. Australia need another 150 to avoid the follow on.

0527: Australia 118-4
Amit Mishra takes a blow and in comes the multi-talented Zaheer (I assume he can do lots of other things, like hoovering, washing and errr, sock-darning), who manipulates the ball both ways, beating Watson with a wonderful outswinger tempting the all-rounder to swish at fresh air outside his off stump. Maiden over.

0522: Australia 118-4
More reverse for Ishant, who sees Watson dink the ball through the third slip/gully area for another boundary. Another run is added to the extras tally when the pair run through for a leg-bye.

"Excuse my ignorance of the rules of cricket, but why didn't Watson have to face one ball against Mishra last night rather than roll it over for today?"
Tim, lounging by the pool with a few tinnies in sunny Australia

A very valid question Tim. Because Clarke was dismissed in the last over of the day, which went beyond the 4:30pm cut-off time, it would have taken too long for the new batsmen to come out to face just one delivery. Oh yes, the pedants' favourite - cricket has laws not rules. And yes Tim, I hate you. I hate you for your pool-lounging, tinnie-drinking, sun-roasting ways.

0517: Australia 113-4
Beautiful flight and drift from Mishra, absolutely perfect position of the seam as it pitches and takes the edge of Watson's bat as it squirts past slip for a single. Mishra wants to go around the wicket to Mike Hussey, who asks for the sightscreen to be moved. Simple request. Errr no. The sightscreen is stuck and at least 20 people are pointing fingers claiming to be expert sightscreen movers. After what seems like an eternal age, the screen is eventually moved and Mishra serves up a happy birthday long-hop outside off stump, which Hussey clatters to the boundary for four.

0506: Australia 107-4
Hussey drops his hands and prods an Ishant Sharma delivery with a dead bat to steal a very sneaky single. Early reverse swing for Ishant, who gets the ball to curve inwards to new batsman Shane Watson. The number six gets a thick outside edge to run down to the vacant third man boundary for a four before he is beaten outside off stump. My colleague reckons it's a mistake not to open with two spinners, something I have to agree with.

0501: Australia 102-4
Amit Mishra bowls a nice flighty leggie to finish off his ninth over having dismissed Michael Clarke with the penultimate ball of day two.

"G'day! Crikey, Australia are in a bit of a hole, eh? Strewth, I reckon they're facing a fair dinkum bit of hard yakka if they want to get out of this. Still, Hussey's a good bloke and true blue through and through...if anyone can get runs, it's him. India's bowlers are just a bunch of tall poppies, if you ask me; with a fair bit of mateship, digger spirit, hard-but-clean playing, and carefully applied mental disintegration, Australia have got a chance. Oi!"

James in Virginia via the TMS inbox

"Bunch of tall poppies"? That's a new one on me, I like it though. I would like you to describe the current American presidential election using the Aussie vernacular. The players are out and Amit Mishra will bowl the last delivery of his ninth over.

0455: So no Andrew Symonds or Adam Gilchrist to get them out of a potentially precarious hole. However, with Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and the explosive Cameron White, the tourists have the potential to turn this game on its head, but all three will have to pull out something pretty special to get them anywhere near India's total as they trail by 367 runs, 168 runs short of the follow on.

0449: Morning, afternoon or evening, depending on which part of the world you are in. If you are in London W12 like me, my commiserations. if you are in somewhere where umbrellas are compulsory in all drinks because it's so hot, even lizards rub on suntan lotion, I hate you.

So we're set for a thoroughly enthralling third day of a thoroughly enthralling second Test of a thoroughly enthralling Border-Gasvaskar series. Amit Mishra's brilliant dismissal of Michael Clarke two balls before stumps will have hurt the world champions something chronic. The ball is starting to turn for both Mishra and Harbhajan Singh, so expect the two spinners to get through a momumental amount of work today. However, with first Test centurion Mike Hussey at the crease, anything really is possible.