Krejza raises Aussie spirits
Saturday, 8 November 2008
An extraordinary debut bowling performance from spinner Jason Krejza transformed Australia's hopes in their must-win final Test against India, reports BBC.
Krejza took 8-215, the sixth best figures by a Test debutant - and also the most expensive - as the hosts collapsed from 422-5 to 441 all out.
Simon Katich (92) and Michael Hussey (45) then added an unbroken 115 to take the Aussies to 189-2 in their reply.
Harbhajan Singh took his 300th wicket but was outshone by the unsung Krejza.
Having been overlooked for the first three Tests in the series, the off-spinner with a distinctive crewcut already had three of the first five wickets to fall on day one.
And, while India did score heavily enough off his 44 overs to give themselves a decent total, he was Australia's only wicket-taker Friday.
India enjoyed a perfect start to the day, advancing a solid overnight position of 311-5 to a virtually impregnable one of 422-5 soon after lunch.
Sourav Ganguly, 27 not out overnight, began watchfully before driving Krejza for a straight six.
After reaching his half-century, he hit three further boundaries off Krejza, who was beginning to get turn and bounce without the results he merited.
An edgy late cut, again off Krejza, also disappeared to the boundary and at lunch Ganguly was on 80, Mahendra Dhoni 43, with their stand worth 101.
When Dhoni, who had batted with placid patience in the morning, muscled Mitchell Johnson to the extra-cover fence - and then edged a drive to third man for the four which brought up his fifty - a score well in excess of 500 looked inevitable.
But from nowhere there was mayhem as the last five wickets fell to Krejza for the addition of just 19 runs in the course of eight overs.
The 25-year-old's luck changed dramatically as he first bowled Dhoni behind his legs and two balls later had Ganguly edging a low left-handed catch to Michael Clarke at slip.
Although Harbhajan batted freely and without alarm in hitting an unbeaten 18, numbers nine to 11 had no answer to Krejza as a series of awkward defensive pokes brought three more wickets.
As a result, India's total was below expectations, but the consolation was that they had 11 overs at Australia's openers in the run-up to tea.
Krejza took 8-215, the sixth best figures by a Test debutant - and also the most expensive - as the hosts collapsed from 422-5 to 441 all out.
Simon Katich (92) and Michael Hussey (45) then added an unbroken 115 to take the Aussies to 189-2 in their reply.
Harbhajan Singh took his 300th wicket but was outshone by the unsung Krejza.
Having been overlooked for the first three Tests in the series, the off-spinner with a distinctive crewcut already had three of the first five wickets to fall on day one.
And, while India did score heavily enough off his 44 overs to give themselves a decent total, he was Australia's only wicket-taker Friday.
India enjoyed a perfect start to the day, advancing a solid overnight position of 311-5 to a virtually impregnable one of 422-5 soon after lunch.
Sourav Ganguly, 27 not out overnight, began watchfully before driving Krejza for a straight six.
After reaching his half-century, he hit three further boundaries off Krejza, who was beginning to get turn and bounce without the results he merited.
An edgy late cut, again off Krejza, also disappeared to the boundary and at lunch Ganguly was on 80, Mahendra Dhoni 43, with their stand worth 101.
When Dhoni, who had batted with placid patience in the morning, muscled Mitchell Johnson to the extra-cover fence - and then edged a drive to third man for the four which brought up his fifty - a score well in excess of 500 looked inevitable.
But from nowhere there was mayhem as the last five wickets fell to Krejza for the addition of just 19 runs in the course of eight overs.
The 25-year-old's luck changed dramatically as he first bowled Dhoni behind his legs and two balls later had Ganguly edging a low left-handed catch to Michael Clarke at slip.
Although Harbhajan batted freely and without alarm in hitting an unbeaten 18, numbers nine to 11 had no answer to Krejza as a series of awkward defensive pokes brought three more wickets.
As a result, India's total was below expectations, but the consolation was that they had 11 overs at Australia's openers in the run-up to tea.