What are all those fielders for?

I missed out an opportunity to make my early call for this test, which right now looks like going the way I thought it would: toward a draw. Last night, when Australia began batting, I saw that Ishant Sharma, our premier strike bowler, was beginning his bowling spell with a score of 613-7 up on the board, but with a field of two slips and a widish gully. A big yawning gap lay where third or fourth slip might have been. Sharma would have been bowling his favored slanting line to (and across) the left-handed openers. Right there and then, I gave up. If India's captain cannot set attacking fields when he has 600 runs up on the board, then when can he? And then, this morning, when I awoke, Australia were 251-2, and the Indian team seemed to be doing something I'd seen them do many times in the past: drifting as the opposition held off their advances on a good batting pitch. The third wicket has fallen, but the captain still cannot give his spinners sufficient close-in support. Mishra is bowling without a silly-point! A leggie, with 600 runs on the board, with the opposition more than 300 behind, is bowling without a silly-point. I think I'll go back to sleep. (And this with Dhoni captaining!)

But more broadly, criticisms of the captaincy aside, this Australian batting performance is taking them closer to what could be safety. Work remains to be done, but the work required to force a win by India is steadily growing. Unless there is a cluster of wickets tonight.