Australia hand out knockout blows

Many things going wrong for India. Gambhir gets a dodgy decision. Dravid chases a ball. Sehwag confirms fourth innings incompetence (plus short ball willies). Raina shows he still cannot face short ball. Laxman out with bad back. And now, finally, to rub it all in, the captain decides to send out a nightwatchman. Really, MSD, really? (Sorry, I used that line yesterday too). This pushes two recognized batsmen further down the batting order. And again, it shows lack of backbone by the captain. Face the music, calm the nerves. Lead from the front. And all that.

Australia well ahead now (especially as they are past masters in creating pressure in precisely these kinds of situations), and the presence of SRT isn't really enough at this moment.

Mishra for #3

Amit Mishra could have scored himself a new nickname, Dizzy, had he played his cards right. Instead, he's gone and holed out to mid-off. Silly boy. You had a century there for the taking. When will you get such a chance again? The second test? Only if you get in again as a nightwatchman? What's that? That'll happen too? Fair enough. Still, Mishra's expression and body language as he walked suggests he knew just what he had consigned to the trash-heal (Gambhir's little shake of the head was another indicator).

OK, RD, your turn. Get on with it. Dizzy did his bit.