5.47pm Raining again at the MCG. Covers are on. Gnasher says warm-ups are still going on and the big sheet is now being removed. The pitch covers are being pulled off now. Play will resume at 5.55pm. No overs lost. The players are all ready to go.
5.20pm Another underwhelming day for Australia. It's become so common on this tour. Doesn't look like the rain can save them anymore as the weather seems to be holding up fine. They need to bowl seriously well. Not impossible. This is a slowish surface, a bit two-paced and a bit of variable bounce as well. But they will have to pull more than their share of weight with the ball.
India handed out a debut to Vijay Shankar, and he seemed to do fine with his gentle medium pacers, producing nice and accurate lines and keeping it tight. Buvneshwar Kumar set them up for this failure by nipping out the openers in quick time. Finch tried all he could - including standing several yards outside the crease - to counter his swing, but once again fell victim to the inswinger. All he had to show for all that effort were 14 runs. But India's hero with the ball was Yuzvendra Chahal. This was his first game of the series, replacing Kuldeep Yadav, and he's created history. His figures are the best for any bowler in an ODI in Australia. It's a record he shares with Ajit Agarkar. No spinner before Chahal had ever managed to grab six wickets in an ODI in Australia, so this has been a historic day for him.
Australia have managed just 17 boundaries in the 47-odd overs they have bowled. It all paints an ominous sign, really. India's top-order is among the most domineering and overpowering in world cricket. Barring the entire top-order collapsing, this will be uphill for Australia. We'll be back with the chase in due course.
Karthik Rajagop: "I am missing the aggressive attitude and the well known fighting spirit from the Aussies!"
Abbas: "For me, Shami should be the third seamer along with Bhuvi and Bumrah, and Bhuvi and Shami to open with new balls. Shami has shown a great control with the new ball in this series and that's very good for Team INDIA for the world cup."
B Stanlake b Mohammed Shami 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
END OF OVER:48 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 229/9 | RR: 4.77
- Peter Siddle9 (9b)
- Billy Stanlake0 (0b)
- Yuzvendra Chahal10-0-42-6
- Mohammed Shami9-0-46-1
A Zampa c Shankar b Chahal 8 (14b 0x4 0x6) SR: 57.14
END OF OVER:47 | 8 Runs | AUS: 227/8 | RR: 4.82
- Peter Siddle7 (5b)
- Adam Zampa8 (12b)
- Mohammed Shami9-0-46-1
- Yuzvendra Chahal9-0-40-5
END OF OVER:46 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 219/8 | RR: 4.76
- Adam Zampa7 (11b)
- Yuzvendra Chahal9-0-40-5
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar8-1-28-2
PSP Handscomb lbw b Chahal 58 (63b 2x4 0x6) SR: 92.06
END OF OVER:45 | 9 Runs | AUS: 216/7 | RR: 4.80
- Adam Zampa4 (6b)
- Peter Handscomb58 (62b)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar8-1-28-2
- Yuzvendra Chahal8-0-37-4
Jarrod: "Maybe opposing sides should play a 4 pronged spin attack against the Aussies considering how bad we are at playing it at international and domestic level? Although in saying that they can't play swing (Trent Bridge all out for 60) or stump to stump medium pace (Mohammed Abbas) either..."
