For Steve Smith, the picture was perfect on a sun-lit Wednesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He will freeze the frame.
His dream run continues. Smith joined Jack Fingleton, Everton Weekes and Ken Barrington as the only batsmen to make four successive centuries in the first innings of a Test here on Wednesday.
Smith was only the third batsman — the legendary Don Bradman and Jacques Kallis being the other two — to make hundreds in four consecutive Tests of the same series.
The roar that greeted the Australian captain’s fourth hundred will ring in his ears for a long time. Smith’s bat has been as large as his appetite for runs.
A toothless Indian attack struggled, the prolific Smith batted his way into the record books, the Indians had to cope with Mitchell Starc’s speed on the second day of the fourth Test.
After the host declared at 572 for seven — the first time the top six Australian batsmen have crossed fifty in a Test innings — India was 71 for one at stumps.
Opener K.L. Rahul impressed. Perhaps, the tumbling catch he held at deep mid-on in the afternoon to dismiss Joe Burns instilled a dose of belief in him. The nightmare of MCG was behind him.
The heat was on India after Murali Vijay nicked a delivery angling across from Starc. Regrettably, the Aussie gave the Indian opener a ‘send-off.’
Rahul (31 batting) appeared assured and elegant in the cauldron. He looked technically sound, solidly getting behind the line.
The manner in which he swayed away, dropping his wrists, to a nasty short-pitched delivery from Starc was an encouraging sight. When the left-arm paceman pitched full, he was straight-driven.
And a smooth-stroking Rohit Sharma (40 batting), promoted to No. 3, pulled Starc and then waded into off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The cynosure
In the morning, the sensational Smith was the cynosure. He makes interesting study as a batsman. The Aussie has a sizable back-lift - the willow comes down from second slip – but the bat is pleasingly straight while meeting the ball.
He also has a slight trigger movement forward but does not commit himself on to the front foot. If the length demands, Smith can shift his weight on to his back leg with ease.
Smith does not grip the bat low which improves his fluency and repertoire. His cover-drives were rasping, and on-drives delicious.
The Indians bowled with more control in the first session but the field placements did not make much sense. Having a short cover and a short mid-on is usually done in the later stages of a Test, when there is a hint of uneven pace or bounce in the wicket.
Then, these become catching positions if the batsman, attempting a drive or a flick, miscues the shot.
On the first two days of a Test though, particularly on this surface where the bounce has been even so far, these are wasted positions. India’s best chance was to have a ring field and create stress.
To make matters worse, Bhuvneshwar Kumar appeared to be struggling with his fitness. He operated at a friendly pace – it does not make a good sight when the ‘keeper stands up to a paceman in Australia.
India’s close catching continued to disappoint. This time Vijay floored Shaun Marsh (on nine) at slip after the southpaw edged Ashwin.
Earlier in the day, ‘keeper Wriddhiman Saha had failed to hold a leg-side inside edge that Ashwin induced from Smith (on 111).
The lapse did not prove costly as Smith fell soon, attempting to drive a Yadav delivery that deviated away.
Watson (81), applying himself, looked on course for a long awaited hundred when he miscued a pull off Shami.
The Indian tactics continued to be mystifying. It was hard to comprehend why Suresh Raina’s occasional off-spin was brought in soon after Burns (58) — arrived at the crease. It released the pressure on Burns, who progressed to bat with confidence.
Shaun Marsh’s timing was in evidence again; a whip off the hard-working Shami was all about quality. Marsh (73) cut with panache but eventually succumbed to the stroke off Shami with Saha holding a sharp catch. Towards the end, Harris launched into a tired Bhuvneshwar with a flurry of boundaries.
Scoreboard
Australia — 1st innings: C. Rogers b Shami 95 (160b, 13x4), D. Warner c Vijay b Ashwin 101 (114b, 16x4), S. Watson c Ashwin b Shami 81 (183b, 7x4), S. Smith c Saha b Yadav 117 (208b, 15x4), S. Marsh c Saha b Shami 73 (116b, 9x4, 1x6), J. Burns c Rahul b Shami 58 (114b, 10x4), B. Haddin (not out) 9 (11b, 1x6), R. Harris c Ashwin b Shami 25 (9b, 5x4); Extras (lb-6, w-7) 13; Total (for seven wkts. decl. in 152.3 overs): 572.
Fall of wickets: 1-200 (Warner), 2-204 (Rogers), 3-400 (Watson), 4-415 (Smith), 5-529 (Marsh), 6-546 (Burns), 7-572 (Harris).
India bowling: Bhuvneshwar 34-5-122-0, Yadav 27-5-137-1, Shami 28.3-3-112-5, Ashwin 47-8-142-1, Raina 16-3-53-0.
India — 1st innings: M. Vijay c Haddin b Starc 0 (3b), K.L. Rahul (batting) 31 (71b, 2x4), Rohit (batting) 40 (76b, 3x4, 2x6); Total (for one wkt. in 25 overs): 71.
Fall of wicket: 1-0 (Vijay).
Australia bowling: Starc 6-2-17-1, Harris 7-1-17-0, Hazlewood 4-1-10-0, Lyon 8-1-27-0.
