Injury-hit Australia are fighting hard to avoid a likely defeat after reaching 8-170 at lunch on day five of the third Test against India.
Australia hold an overall lead of just 79 runs. Brad Haddin is 23 not out with Mitchell Starc on nine.
Michael Clarke dropped down the order three spots to No.6 because of a back injury and made 18 runs. The skipper could be in doubt for the fourth and final Test in Delhi on March 22.
Clarke’s vice-captain Shane Watson, one of four players suspended for the third Test over the homeworkgate affair, was en route to Delhi on Monday after returning to Sydney for the birth of his first child.
Having been labelled a good team man only “sometimes” by Cricket Australia’s high performance chief Pat Howard last week, Watson is now facing the prospect of leading the side in the fourth Test if Clarke is ruled unfit.
The latest twist in the Watson saga comes after the two-time Allan Border Medallist had called his ban harsh and claimed he was considering his playing future.
Watson now says he has had several fruitful discussions with Howard.
“We are both now on the same page and are really looking forward to working together to get Australia to be the best team in the world,” Watson said on Monday.
“I’m entirely committed to the team and being the best player I can be.”
Phil Hughes, with only 27 runs in his first five outings in the series, provided the only highlight of Australia’s second innings with a fine knock of 69.
Australia had resumed on 3-75. Spinner Pragyan Ojha dismissed nightwatchman Nathan Lyon caught behind for 18 with the total on 89.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed Clarke’s wicket for the fifth time in the series, caught at bat-pad.
Hughes received a howler of a decision from umpire Aleem Dar who adjudged the left-hander lbw to spinner Ravi Ashwin.
Moises Henriques (0 and two) completed a forgettable match when he was caught and bowled by Jadeja and Peter Siddle (13) was bowled by Ojha at 8-143.
Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who was ruled out of the third Test with an ankle injury, will be reassessed for the Delhi match.
Trailing two-nil, Australia need to win the third and fourth Tests to square the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
