Shane Watson’s coming back – but is it enough to save Australia from a four-nil drubbing in India?
Australia have already conceded the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after India’s six-wicket win with 15 balls to spare on Monday in the third Test in Mohali, despite a brave last-day effort from the tourists.
Set 133 to win, India made 4-136.
Skipper MS Dhoni finished unbeaten on 18 after hitting three consecutive fours at the start of the 34th over to close the match.
Openers Murali Vijay (26) and Cheteshwar Pujara (28) shared a 42-run stand and Virat Kohli’s departure for 34 at 3-103 brought hard-hitting Dhoni to the crease.
Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar added just 13 runs off 33 balls and Tendulkar (21) was run out by David Warner at 4-116 with 4.5 overs left.
However Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja (8no) hit a flurry of boundaries in the next two overs to put the match in India’s keeping against an Australian side that showed plenty of fight on the final day’s play.
Earlier, Michael Clarke’s men resumed on 3-75 in their second innings and were bowled out for 233.
Phil Hughes regained form with a fighting knock of 69.
Clarke was clearly troubled by a back injury and was out for 18 batting at No.6.
The skipper could be in doubt for the fourth and final Test in Delhi on March 22.
Clarke’s vice-captain 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 “sometimes” by Cricket Australia’s high-performance chief Pat Howard last week, Watson is now facing the prospect of leading the side 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 constructive discussions with Howard after what Watson described as an emotional week.