SCG adds to Test series run feast

This is one Test match Mitchell Johnson and his sore hamstring might not mind sitting out.

Despite hopes and predictions to the contrary, yet another batsman-friendly pitch has led to a runfest in the fourth Test between Australia and India at the SCG.

Australia’s pace spearhead Johnson bemoaned the lack of pace and bounce in the wickets at Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne in the lead-up to the final Test.

Johnson expressed his desire for an SCG greentop before withdrawing with his hamstring complaint following his heavy workload on benign pitches.

But it hasn’t turned out that way as Australia posted their fourth successive 500-run plus first innings total in the series in the lead-up to tea on the second day.

It’s in contrast to last summer, when Australian coach Darren Lehmann criticised curator Tom Parker’s green-tinged wicket after Australia wrapped up the fifth Ashes Test inside three days.

The summer before Sri Lanka were beaten inside four days.

Parker said before the Test started on Tuesday that the wicket was “probably not as green as last year”.

He did, however, predict some bounce. But that hasn’t eventuated.

Some wayward Indian bowling and poor catching helped an impressive Australian batting performance on day one as they moved to 2-348 at stumps.

Steve Smith and Shane Watson continued that theme in the first session on day two, as the stand-in Aussie skipper notched up his fourth successive hundred in Test matches this summer with 117.

Watson added 81, as the pair put on 196 for the third wicket.

That came on top of Tuesday’s run feast, when David Warner (101) and Chris Rogers (95) put on 200 for the first wicket.

Shaun Marsh and Joe Burns also notched up half centuries.

It is the first time in the history of Test cricket, that Australia’s top six have all scored 50 or more in the same innings.

“I would love to be out there in the middle, especially on this batting wicket,” injured Australian captain Michael Clarke said.

“I think it certainly shows it is going to be hard to take 20 wickets for either team.”

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