At the start of this Perth test against India, Australia was chasing one world record. Now, Ricky Ponting’s men will have to break several records to achieve an unheralded seventheen straight test win.
Australia will need 413 runs in the fourth innings to steal a match in which they have been behind in almost throughout. No Australian side has achieved a total that large to win a test, while the West Indies successful chase of 418 against Steve Waugh’s men in 2003 is the only time in a history a target of such magnitude has been run down.
The Australians climbed back into the match in the first session of day 3, reducing the Indians to 5/125, then 6/160. With the Indians holding first innings lead of 118, a target circling 320 seemed likely.
Enter VVS Laxman.
Laxman was instrumental in breaking Australia’s 16 test match winning streak in 2001. If India denies Australia a seventeenth straight win in this run, the stylish right-hander would have again played a significant role. Laxman batted carefully with MS Dhoni (38) and RP Singh(30), finishing with a vital 79.
Brett Lee finally removed Laxman – the final wicket – to claim his third for the innings. Stuart Clark took 4/61, while Shaun Tait’s test career must surely be in jeopardy. The SA tearaway was hardly used by Ponting, bowling eight wayward overs, for a return of 0/33.
The Australian’s will face a maximum of eighteen overs in the Perth sun before stumps on day three.
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