Innings end Australia 7 for 604 dec and 5 for 167 (Ponting 60*) lead India 272 by 499 runs
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Australia have set India 500 to win the fourth Test in Adelaide after
Michael Clarke declared early in the second session on the fourth day.
The Australians batted for only three overs after lunch for the addition
of 13 runs, with Ricky Ponting remaining unbeaten on 60 and Brad Haddin
on 11.
Australia had such a huge advantage that India could realistically not
win. The highest chase in all of Test history was the 418 that West
Indies achieved in Antigua, and the best at Adelaide Oval was the 315
that Joe Darling's Australians chased down against England at the venue
110 years ago. All Clarke needed to make sure was that his bowlers would
have long enough to dismiss India.
As Homer Simpson once pointed out after observing that it was time to
play the waiting game, "the waiting game sucks. Let's play Hungry Hungry
Hippos!" It was time to get the board games out in the first session as
Australia accumulated more and more runs, without any sense of urgency,
with both teams waiting patiently for Michael Clarke's declaration.
Australia added 104 in the first session for the loss of two wickets.
Clarke had just started to lift his tempo against the spin of R Ashwin
when he feathered a catch behind for 37 off Umesh Yadav, and Michael
Hussey was judged lbw to Ishant Sharma for 15.
As the innings moved on, India's batsmen could see that some runs
remained in the pitch but the surface was only going to become more
difficult, perhaps another reason for Clarke delayed his declaration.
Whatever the case, India will now have to survive for the best part of
five sessions to get away from this contest with a draw.
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