THIRD TEST, Delhi (day two, close):
India 613-7 dec v Australia 50-0

By Ben Dirs

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

AUSTRALIA FIRST INNINGS

STUMPS

1136: Good session that for Australia, they did what they had to do, batting out the overs - but if you're an Aussie fan, you'd have to worry about some of the turn India's two spinners were getting. Thanks for sticking with it and I'll see you I don't know when.

1131 - 50-0 Injudicious shot from Katich in the circumstance, slashing outside off-stump and the ball skewing away for four. Lbw appeal from Kumble - the most optimistic question since Chamberlain said to Hitler "any chance of you not invading Poland?" - and that's stumps.

1127 - 46-0 Katich tucks Mishra round the corner for one. Too short from Mishra and Bully Boy Hayden muscles him through the covers for four. One over to come.

"Funny you should mention that Stuart Clark reminds you of Terry Alderman - I was thinking yesterday that Simon Katich put me in mind of Dean Jones. Get Punter to grow a 'tache and get him to chow down on some of those jammy dougnuts you are throwing around and hey presto - David Boon!"
Mike Parkin, Bucks, in the TMS inbox

1124 - 41-0 Kumble gets one to spit out of the bowler's footmarks and it beats even Dhoni and runs away for four. Difficult to see the Aussies making the follow-on on this evidence, this looks ominous for the tourists. But that's a peach of a shot from Katich, moving his feet and lacing Kumble through the covers for four before gliding him through third-man for another.

1120 - 28-0 Mishra is pretty slow, even by spinners' standards, and therefore Katich is trying to get his feet moving. That's a huckleberry! Mishra gets one to spin back a mile and strike Katich on the pads, but Umpire Bowden says it hit him outside the line, and rightly so. Mishra changes to over the wicket and he looks to be a beautifully put together bowler.

1117 - 27-0 Kumble puts a few extra revs on the ball and Hayden shoulders arms, but the ball strikes him well outside the line. The Aussies watchful against Kumble, it's against Mishra that they might try to get runs.

1112 - 27-0 Spin from both ends - leg-spinner Amir Mishra, who made his debut last time out, is into the attack. Katich uses his feet and jabs Mishra through the covers for two. Two short legs for both Hayden and Katich. Two more for Katich with a turn off his pads and Mishra has a go from around the wicket... Katich lunges and covers up.

1109 - 22-0 Kumble gets one to explode off the surface and that's not good news for Australia. Katich feels for one and edges past first slip, all along the ground for a couple.

1105 - 18-0 Sharma striving for a yorker and Katich flips him through square-leg for four. Just under half an hour left and here's skipper Anil Kumble. He quite likes this ground, he took 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in 1999 and averages 15 per wicket on this pitch.

"Hold on for a minute before giving jammy donuts out willy nilly, anyone can say no one has done it without doing their homework. What if they are proved wrong and the feat has been achieved, the donut is gone and you're left to feel a like a sucker! I am not saying it has been done but I once gave away a jammy donut before I checked and I have regretted it ever since."
Robert Davies in the TMS inbox

1059 - 14-0 Hayden hits his first boundary, a drive through wide mid-off and he follows up with a cheeky clip through mid-wicket four another four. No problems for the Aussie openers so far, I think we might see a couple of overs from Kumble before stumps. Nine overs left today.

"Did anyone see Gilchrist on the news here two nights ago at his book launch? He was asked 'How do you think Australia can improve the bowling?' His answer: 'Bring back Warne and McGrath'. Gilly new when it was time to go."
Aido in the TMS inbox

1055 - 6-0 Some pretty confident chat emanating from this office this morning with regards England's chances in the Ashes next year. I'm not so sure. I'd take this Australian batting line-up over England's bowling attack any day, and I've got a horrible feeling that Stuart Clark could prove to be a real thorn in England's side. Shades of Alderman... Katich finally off the mark with a clip off his pads for four off the bowling of Sharma.

1044 - 2-0 Hayden nurdles Sharma round the corner for one. Simon Katich, the angriest man in Delhi (apart from Sharma's barber) yet to get off the mark.

1041 - 1-0 Hayden is off the mark with a drive into the covers for one. A clean pick-up from Gambhir might have made that interesting. RAHUL IN SINGAPORE HAS WON A JAMMY DONUT! It is indeed the first time two batsmen have scored double tons in the same innings against Australia.

1035 - 0-0 Sharma is Norris on the Spot from the off. Sharma's hair looks very inviting at the moment, I'd like to bury my head in it and fall asleep. India, for some reason unknown, have only got two slips in for Katich. Mind you, you can never be too careful, they have only got 613 on the board. Who's India's skipper, Eeyore? Sharma kicks off with a maiden.

1032 - 0-0 Hayden and Katich in the middle and they'll face 16 overs this evening. Hayden to take strike and Zaheer spears his first ball down the leg side. Lovely line from Zaheer, just outside Hayden's off-peg and angling back in. Hayden, who has had a stinker of a tour so far, survives the over.

"Even as a Pom I agree with Nathan - Johnson, Clark, Lee will always be a handful in England and Watson and Siddle are decent bowlers. The Aus v SA series will be a much better indicator for next years Ashes, although this India tour certainly won't have helped the Aussie bowlers confidence. Think England could be on the wrong end of a similar pounding in a few weeks' time."
Michael in the TMS inbox

INDIA FIRST INNINGS

"As a teacher I have to point out the error in your grammar; 'my jobs taken'. That should read 'my job's taken'. As the BBC have such high standards, can I have your job please? The only thing that's keeping me motivated this rainy morning is the thought of the Aussies being annihilated in the Indian heat."
Jass in the TMS inbox

1022: That was agonising for Australia and now the big question is: will this pan out to be an even more agonising draw, or will India's spinners do some damage and win the series? I believe that's the first time two Indian batsmen have scored double hundreds in the same innings. I believe...

1017 - 613-7 dec Laxman finally on strike and he dabs Clarke round the corner to move to 198. Anyone who can find out if any side has ever scored two double hundreds against the Aussies gets a jammy donut. AND LAXMAN DOES IT! He marches down the track and smears Clarke to the wide long-on fence for four and that's the declaration.

1012 - 609-7 Zaheer gets width from Johnson and slaps him through point for four. Johnson tests Zaheer out with another bumper and Zaheer, eyes closed, hoicks him round the corner for two. And that's brutal from Zaheer, getting his left leg out of the way and clubbing Johnson over mid-wicket for six. Actually, the man upstairs (not God, but SL Shastri) decides it was a four, not a six.

1007 - 598-7 Zaheer gets his leg out of the way and heaves Clarke over mid-wicket for four to move to 17. Two more for Zaheer with a carve into the off-side and there's an exaggerated forward defensive from Zaheer to finish the over - I get the impression the Indians are enjoying this a little bit more than they'd care to admit. Five ball over in the previous over, it's all getting a bit confusing to be honest and I can barely see the screen.

1004 - 590-7 Zaheer laces Clarke through the covers for four. Bit of beef out in the middle - Johnson bowls on short and Laxman tucks him square, but Umpire Bowden rules it a dead ball because Laxman ran on the pitch. Not sure what that's all about, and neither is Laxman. Johnson digs in a nasty bumper and it comes off Zaheer's gloves for four.

"Please remember that India has always been the toughest tour in the world. It was not long ago that we had probably our strongest ever side and we were just able to beat India. Credit to India in that they are manhandling the Aussies. Other nations beware thinking that we are on a downhill slide to cricket oblivion."
Nathan in the TMS inbox

"How come Duncan gets the couch in the TMS inbox? I've been standing for ages and my varicose veins are killing me."
Paul in Lancs in the TMS inbox

0951 - 574-6 Kumble uses his feet and clips Clarke over mid-wicket for one. Laxman scampers one before Kumble plays a crackerjack shot, advancing down the track and lofting Clarke over extra-cover for four. I feel a bit sorry for Australia. Is that like feeling sorry for Genghis Khan when he was feeling a little bit dicky?

"I don't see a problem with keeping them out there in the heat to really drain them. Then give them an hour of hell when the light isn't as good and it's cooler to be in the field�" James the geophysicist in the TMS inbox

0947 - 568-6 Johnson, bowling to a 7-2 off-side field, sticks one on the stumps and is sweetly timed to the mid-wicket fence. One more courtesy of a dab to third-man and Kumble nicks a single with a tuck to square-leg.

0945 - 562-6 Three singles from Clark's over. Sorry Dunc, my jobs taken, by me. But I think there might be a job going at Radio 2 if you want to give them a shout. "When was the last time two batsmen scored double hundreds against the Aussies in the same innings?" asks Charles. Dunno, but I'll endeavour to find out.

"Having been told that my job is now redundant, I'm searching for new employment whilst watching this fantastic Aussie bashing. Can I have your job please Ben?" Duncan Clark on the couch in the TMS inbox

0939 - 558-6 Surely India aren't waiting for Laxman to reach his 200? Can't see any other reason why they're still out there. Lovely glide from Kumble for one off the bowling of Johnson. Laxman nurdles Johnson round the corner for a couple and that's his second highest score in Test cricket - 181. Two more for Laxman with a flick off his pads and this Aussie team are sagging on the ropes now awaiting the bell.

0931 - 551-6 A dreamy flicked on-drive from Laxman for four followed by a gossamer glide to the third-man fence. Johnson bearing the brunt of Laxman's artistry. Oh Anvay (see below), you are awful... but I like you...

"How Ponting must be wishing now for a huge hole to appear in the middle Firoze Shah Kotla pitch for him and his team to dive in, and stay there till eternity rather than experience the agony of another painful defeat at the hands of their new found nemesis."
Anvay, Pune, India, in the TMS inbox

0927 - 542-6 Kumble chips Clark over cover and runs two before lofting him just wide of the diving Watson at mid-off for four. Ponting looks a bit teary, like a small boy who's been abandoned at the school gates by his mummy.

0924 - 536-6 "When will India declare?" emails Carole in Maidenhead. Not entirely sure, but there seems to be some activity in the Indian camp, it looks like a decision might be imminent. Either that, or someone's passing round a copy of Tit-Bits. Johnson back into the attack and India milk him for four singles, including a very classy looking cut shot from Kumble.

0918 - 532-6 Clark with a hint of swing into the right-handed Kumble, but it's a bit late for that. A single from Kumble brings up the fifty partnership. Big up yourself Laura. You, madam, are a ruddy legend.

"Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie both scored double hundreds against Bangladesh in the first innings earlier this year."
Laura in the TMS inbox

"I must admit that I am thoroughly enjoying watching the annihilation of this Australian side but then I am brought down to earth when I realise that it's England up next - what a team this Indian side is. And not only a good one, but one that is very entertaining as well. Perhaps only having a two Test series is not so bad for England after all."
Barrie in the TMS inbox

0914 - 530-6 Laxman opens his shoulders, reaching outside the off-stump and smearing White one bounce into the long-on fence. Kumble plays a similar stroke, but this time Watson saves in the deep and limits Kumble to two. Stand by for some hammer...

0912 - 524-6 One for Laxman with a prod to point. I expected Laxman to be hitting it to all parts here, but he's happy working in singles at the moment. Not Kumble though, he moves to 21 with a club off Clark to the long-on boundary.

0907 - 519-6 Lovely easy drive from Laxman off the bowling of White. Two for the shot and he follows up with a dab for one wide of point. When was the last time two players scored double-tons in the same innings? Laxman now 163.

0904 - 515-6 Before anyone else emails in, I should reiterate that Gambhir is the first left-handed opener to score a double-hundred against Australia and he equals Ravi Shastri's best score for an India opener against Australia. Here's Clark with a 7-2 field to Laxman and that's a maiden over.

0841 - 515-6 Wrong line from White and Kumble paddles him fine for four. He likes that shot. And that's tea time. See you in 20.

0838 - 509-6 White over-pitches and Laxmanleans into an extra-cover drive that runs away for four. Laxman and Kumble pick off Katich for five singles.

0830 - 500-6 Laxman waits on a Katich delivery and whips him round the corner for one. Kumble skips down the pitch and slams the ball straight through Katich's fingers and to the wide long-on boundary. Kumble follows up with a sweep fine for four.

0826 - 491-6 Cameron White is back into the attack. Laxman picks him off to mid-wicket for one. Still 15 minutes until tea, India would like to have their feet up with 500 on the board.

0820 - 490-6 There's Laxman's 150, and that's his fourth against Australia. The milestone came courtesy of a nudge past short leg for one. And Kumble is off the mark with a handsome sweep shot for two. Hussey, who must have the same life coach as the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, dives full length to prevent the four.

0818 - 487-6 Watson strays onto Laxman's pads and the tall right-hander whips him through mid-wicket for four. Minimum of fuss, this boy is one class operator. The Aussies must absolutely hate him. Laxman nicks the strike with an ease into the covers.

0804 - 472-5 Dhoni dabs Katich to third-man for a couple before playing a peculiar little deflection round the corner. Dhoni's good to watch - while some great players make the game look simple, Dhoni has the ability to make a simple game look incredibly complicated.

0801 - 469-5 Paul (see below), can I ask what you do for a living? Whatever it is, you're in the wrong job. Just a single from Watson's over, a glide through the gully region from Laxman.

"I can see why you're being so good to K (see below) with his betting thing. He's probably just woken up to find policemen in his room and himself arrested for a crime he knew nothing of. He'll spend the next month in some kind of nightmare state where the more he tries to persuade the unforgiving courts of his innocence the more guilty he's likely to feel deep down inside, until the point of no return. So it's good of you to give him a break."
Paul in Lancs in the TMS inbox

0756 - 468-5 That's marmalicious from Dhoni - he heaves Katich through mid-wicket for four before playing a more authentic stroke for four through the same area. And a six! Dhoni advances down the track and muscles the ball over the boundary rope. The Aussies had started to throw a few punches back in recent overs, but they're back on their knees again.

0754 - 454-5 Uppish from Laxman, forcing off the back foot, and the ball drops just short of Katich at short cover. What a shot that is from Laxman, whipping a ball from outside off-stump through wide mid-on for four. Laxman now has 142 from 227 deliveries.

0749 - 450-5 Full-bunger from Katich but Dhoni makes a right pig's ear of the stroke, looking to clobber the bowler over mid-wicket and getting a leading edge. All of a sudden it's raining chances. Dhoni steps back and again looks to smash Katich over mid-wicket but hits too straight, but Katich is unable to take a very difficult chance. Thanks to his stop, however, Umpire Dar still has a head.

0743 - 450-5 The next question is, how long will India bat for? I'd imagine they'll look to declare late in the day and have eight to 10 overs at the Aussie openers. Typically wristy cut from Dhoni for one. A let-off for Laxman - thick outside edge but Haddin and Hayden can't decide whose the catch is and the ball runs away for four. For the record, that should have been Haddin's.

0740 - 445-5 Dhoni is the new batsman and he'll fancy racking up a few quick runs on this deck. Katich has bowled well over the two days. The problem for Australia is, if Katich is finding turn, what are the Indian spinner going to do? Dhoni is off the mark with a cut for one.

"Can I just get your view on the likely outcome of the Test? PaddyPower of Irish bookmaker fame have the draw as the most likely outcome. Should we not be lumping on an Indian win at 11/10?"
K in the TMS inbox

0729 - 443-4 That knock from Gambhir equalled the highest by an India opener against Australia - Ravi Shastri also scored 206 in Sydney in 1991. Ganguly is the next man in and it would be nice to see a breezy 50 from the Princely One. Katich on to bowl and Ganguly is off the mark with a tuck to square-leg for one and he follows up with a thump through the covers for four.

0717 - 434-3 Ponting strays onto Laxman's pads and is clipped through mid-wicket for one before Gambhir latches onto a short ball and smashes it over mid-wicket. Gambhir follows up with a glide to third-man for one.

0707 - 418-3 Punter's seen enough - he's going to have a bowl! Bit of width from the Australia skipper and Gambhir steers him through point for one. Laxman prods Ponting into the covers for one before Gambhir drags a short one through mid-wicket to move to 199. Not a terrible first over from Punter, but it's only Punter...

0703 - 415-3 Gambhir now five runs short of his first Test double ton but he moves to 196 with a drive through point. Full-bunger from Lee and Laxman picks up one to mid-wicket. One more for Gambhir with a clip to mid-wicket.

0659 - 410-3 Haddin goes up for a caught behind against Laxman, but it brushed his pad.

"Reply to Brendan (see below) - You'll see what cricket is like with the two best bowlers in the world, wait for Ishant and Zaheer in the Aussie innings." Gowtham, Bangalore, in the TMS inbox

0655 - 409-3 Laxman twirls Lee through mid-wicket for a couple and picks up another run with a similar stroke. A single for Gambhir before Laxman stands tall and eases Lee through point for four. That's a doozy of a stroke, and Ponting has another nibble at his nails. This partnership now 252 from 399 balls, the Aussies getting their trousers pulled down.

0647 - 401-3 Gambhir brings up the India 400 with a flick through mid-wicket off Clark. When Bob Willis approached the crease, he always put me in mind of a man running from the police with a small dog in tow, the leash held beside him in his right hand. News on some naughty boys: Gambhir and Watson will be punished for their handbags yesterday, say the ICC.

0645 - 399-3 Hello again! Players are back out and Laxman scores off Lee's first ball, a fiddle to backward square-leg for two. You don't bowl there to Laxman - the tall right-hander flips Lee through mid-wicket for four more. Lee digs in a bumper and Laxman ducks underneath it with the minimum of fuss. Andy, Brisbane, I'm sure Walcott and Gomez would be breathing sighs of relief were in not for the fact they've both passed on to that great pavilion in the sky. Wonder if they have Battenberg cake up there?

"Re run-ups, the first strange run-up that caught my eye was Andy Caddick's; starting very low and suddenly springing up at the end as if he was ready to clear a hurdle positioned just before the crease. And I may be wrong, but I seem to remember Shoaib Akhtar running in with both hands by his side like a school teacher running across the playground to tell off a naughty pupil."
Richard, Hong Kong, in the TMS inbox

"In my previous experience of records being mentioned in this live text, and invariably what happens shortly afterwards, I'm betting Walcott and Gomez were breathing a sigh of relief as soon as they saw your reference to them, and Gambhir to fall agonisingly short of that first double century."
Andy, Brisbane, in the TMS inbox

"Re 'he really is a Monet of a batsman' (0553). Do you mean he looks lovely from a distance but a bit ropey close up?"
Sudhakar in Lymm, up early watching the cricket live on a dodgy subcontinental website, in the TMS inbox

"So this is what cricket is like without the two best bowlers in the world. I had kind of forgotten the '80s."
Brendan Parnell, Melbourne, in the TMS inbox

"Re: "Ponting reacts as if he's just been turned away from the gates of heaven." Better get used to that Ricky! The way you 'play' this beautiful game, with your 'win at any cost' attitude, you're heading for a long elevator ride downwards, followed by an eternal bike ride on the river Styx... Nice to see the Aussies struggling though!"
Brian in the TMS inbox

0558 - 393-3 Haddin standing up to Clark and he appeals for caught behind against Gambhir, before apologising to Umpire Dar for his over-enthusiasm. Gambhir moves to 191 with a super glide to the third-man fence. Ponting buries his face in his hand - as India crank the heat up, the Aussie skipper seems to be wilting. And that's lunch - 97 in that session, the partnership 236, Australia almost out of this series... see you in 40... a clarification: no left-handed opener has ever scored a double-ton against Australia...

"I always thought Shane Warne waddled towards the crease like a fat Australian bloke waddling towards the crease - but then what would Ponting give for that fat Australian bloke now?"
Simon, Milton Keynes, in the TMS inbox

0549 - 383-3 No opener, apparently, has ever made an double ton against Australia in the history of Test cricket. That's a pretty extraordinary stat. Gambhir moves to 184 with a turn off his legs. An umbrella of fielders behind Gambhir's bat, but the left-hander still manages to find a gap and moves to 186.

"Anyone who goes back to the '50s will tell you that the most curious run-up ever was performed (sic) by Doug Wright (Kent & England). Let me see if I can remember it... walk back (orthodox), turn (orthodox) then hop, pause, step, quick-quick, slooooooow, hop, jump, stop for a cup of tea, jump left, skip to the right... deliver... most probably an unplayable skidding leg break."
David, Spain, in the TMS inbox

0545 - 378-3 Maiden over from Johnson, Laxman must wait for his ton... Gambhir tucks White off his hip for one and here's Laxman on strike once more... Laxman has a dab at a ball that stays low - he looks very anxious - and still he can't break the tape, Clarke saving a drive in the covers.

"This is when the quality of the captain comes out and he needs to stand up to the plate. Don't hold your breath."
Tim from Brisbane in the TMS inbox

0538 - 377-3 A half chance! Gambhir lunges forward, edge and Hayden is unable to get a hand to the ball diving to his right. Very, very difficult, but the reactions from the Aussie players say it all - it's all getting very painful out there now, Ponting reacts as if he's just been turned away from the gates of heaven. Gambhir picks up four before Laxman moves to 99 with a nudge and go.

0532 - 371-3 Gambhir eases Johnson into the covers for a couple before shuffling across his crease and fending some Johnson rib music down to fine-leg for one. Here's Laxman... Johnson tosses up a juicy one outside off-stump but Laxman watches it go through. No ton for Laxman in that over...

0528 - 368-3 Any more amusing run-up analogies? Oh yeh, and thanks for the weather update, it's absolutely brass monkeys in Blighty at the moment. Two singles from the over of White before Laxman pushes him to deep cover for a couple. VVS now on 98, two short of his 13th Test ton and, remarkably, his sixth against Australia.

"Re run-ups, I suspect Brett Lee is a bit like Juantareno, opening his legs and showing his class, and surely Harbhajan looks like a trainee semaphore message sender?"
Roger, in Sydney where it will be 36C tomorrow, in the TMS inbox

0526 - 364-3 That's a good, probing over from Johnson, a maiden...

0520 - 364-3 Gambhir comes over all Strictly, dancing down the track and clipping White to the deep mid-wicket fence. Cracking shot that. This pair have now put on 200. Short outside off-stump from White and Gambhir cuts to deep point for one. The record for the fourth wicket partnership on this ground is 267, made by Clyde Walcott and Gerry Gomez in 1948.

0516 - 356-3 Gambhir walks into a cover-drive and Clarke saves again. The Aussies still throwing themselves around in the field. Gambhir steers Johnson into the covers for one before Laxman turns him round the corner for a single of his own.

0512 - 354-3 Time for a bit of spin and it's Cameron White to the fore. And that's a good first over from the Victorian, every ball flighted in the corridor outside Laxman's off-stump. A maiden and White might just have booked himself in for a serious stint.

0510 - 354-3 Johnson, angling the ball across Laxman, is steered wide of gully for four. Super shot, Swiss timing. Johnson then serves up that rare beast, a Test match wide. Laxman clips Johnson through mid-wicket for a single. Johnson gives Gambhir some width and the left-hander carves him through point for another four. Rob (see below), yes, I think I made a mistake on Johnson's run up, it looked shorter than it was when he started bowling yesterday. As for Flintoff, I think he approaches the crease like a man running across hot tiles towards an outdoor swimming pool.

"You said yesterday morning (0512) that Mitchell Johnson has a stubbly little run up. I'm not sure about that but I remember he appears to pause in the middle of his delivery stride. Thinking of run-ups, do you think it's fair to say that Flintoff minces to the crease?"
Rob, in Santa Barbara, California, in the TMS inbox

0500 - 342-3 A new weapon for Gambhir, think he bust his old one playing that prod in the previous over. Laxman picks up a single off Lee with a tickle off his hip. Drinks.

0452 - 341-3 Gambhir plays and misses - but that's not a lot of use to Australia. Gambhir prods into the off-side and that sounded very clunky, as if he's playing with an upright hoover. Lovely shot from Gambhir next up, clipping Johnson through mid-wicket for a couple.

0447 - 338-3 Gambhir twirls Johnson through point for one. This is all getting a bit miserable for Ponting and Australia - Laxman slaps Johnson through mid-wicket for four and the Aussie skipper looks as if he has just been shown the workings of his own soul. Good reply from Johnson, hurrying Laxman with a bumper. Laxman hooks, and the ball lands just short of Katich on the square-leg boundary. Laxman moves to 84.

0440 - 329-3 Laxman stands tall, swivels and whip-cracks Lee to the mid-wicket fence. Good comeback from Lee, getting one to rare up at Laxman and take the glove. The ball loops down to third man for another four. I don't want to get too excited, but as an England fan I can't help thinking next year's Ashes series might be reasonably interesting. This bowling attack doesn't look too crash hot to me... then again, I sort of wish they did have a half-decent spinner because I've got a horrible feeling a certain someone might be persuaded to come out of retirement... and I'm not talking about Tim May...

0436 - 320-3 Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson into the attack. A wide delivery from Johnson but Gambhir misses out, Hussey making a fine stop on the bounce at backward point. Hussey would still be throwing himself about like a ruddy madman with India on 300,000-3. That's a maiden over from Johnson.

"Is anyone else thoroughly enjoying watching Australia not being able to handle what they've dished out for the last 15 years?"
Andy, Brisbane, in the TMS inbox

0432 - 320-3 Just Hayden in at slip and the fielders scattered all over the park. It's as if the Aussies have had a very big falling out. Gambhir piles into an off-drive but doesn't time it and only picks up one. Laxman stands tall and steers into the covers for a single before Gambhir flips off his hip to nick the strike.

0426 - 315-3 Laxman mis-times a cut shot but picks up two before creaming Clark through the covers for four. Dreamy shot that. Michael Clarke pulls off a fine stop in the covers, just as a little message to the Indians that his side haven't given up just yet.

0423 - 309-3 Touch from Gambhir, playing Lee late and twirling him through third-man for four. This is now the highest score by an Indian opener at this ground, passing Vijay Merchant against England in the early 1950s. Lee putting everything he has into every delivery, but he's not getting anything out of this pitch, it's got the consistency of one of my mum's dumplings.

"It's only day two, but is too early to hope that India lose? You see, after days of noisy Diwali crackers, my mom tells me that my dog's still shaking with fear and hiding under the bed. I doubt if her tiny heart will stand another lot of crackers if we win."
Miriam in the TMS inbox

0418 - 305-3 Width from Clark and Laxman, with a wild and windy waft, misses out. Deliberate from Laxman, dropping the hands and angling the ball past gully for four. That's India's 300. Clark digs in three successive short deliveries and Laxman yanks the last away for a couple.

0414 - 299-3 Lee from around the wicket and Gambhir on-drives for one. The left-hander's on-driving was top drawer yesterday. Lee digs in a tempter outside Laxman's off-stump and the batsman thinks about climbing into it before thinking again. One for Laxman with a clip through mid-on

0409 - 297-3 Clark gets one to nibble past a nervy prod by Gambhir, but that's Gambhir's 150 courtesy of a clip off his pads for one. Good knock this, and it could be the knock that ensures India win the series.

"All the talk here in Melbourne is about Gambhir's various adventures with Messrs Watson and Katich yesterday. The local rag this morning berated GG for 'deliberately' striking Watson after the all-rounder 'accidentally' got in Gambhir's way - fine unbiased reporting if I ever I saw it. I have to say that if I was bowling and being liberally flogged all over the pitch I'd be keeping a low profile rather than giving it out quite as much as our dynamic duo did yesterday. Still, can't wait for today's action now!"
Jon, Melbourne, in the TMS inbox

0405 - 296-3 Righto, we're just about ready. New ball only four overs old and Lee will be hoping there's something in this pitch this morning... BIG SHOUT FIRST BALL! But Umpire Bowden had no problem declaring that not out, it was swinging way down leg. Laxman looks to have lost none of his timing, unfurling a couple of elegant drives that are fielded in the covers. Maiden over to start.

0350 - Morning all, or whatever it is where you are in the world. Massive morning this for both sides - indeed, it could be the session that decides the series. A few wickets for Australia and they'll feel they've still got a chance of winning this Test. But if Gambhir and Laxman are still there at lunch, India will be very hard to beat, especially with skipper Anil Kumble back in the side.

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