Siddle strikes leave India facing follow-on

Lunch India 5 for 122 (Kohli 21*, Saha 5*) trail Australia 7 for 604 dec by 482 runs

India were in serious danger of facing a follow-on after Peter Siddle led a strong bowling performance from Australia on the third day in Adelaide. At lunch, India were in major trouble at 5 for 111 and were relying on Virat Kohli, who was on 21, and Wriddhiman Saha, who had made 5. Their problem was that not only did they trail Australia by a mammoth 482 runs, they still needed another 283 to avoid the follow-on.

On a pitch that remained good for batting, India could hardly have been more disappointed with their scorecard. By the time Australia lost their fifth wicket they had 520 on the board; India had 111. In the first session of the day they lost Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman as the pressure from Australia's bowlers and fielders built up.

Gambhir and Tendulkar survived the initial morning period and took their partnership to 47 before the introduction of Siddle ended the stand and gave Australia a major boost on the national holiday of both countries. He drew an edge from Tendulkar (25) and the ball flew low to second slip, where Ricky Ponting did well to get his fingers under the ball to take the catch.

Siddle proved himself Michael Clarke's go-to man when he also got rid of Gambhir for 34. Not for the first time in the series extra bounce troubled Gambhir, who fended a well-directed short ball that flew high into the off side and was snapped by Michael Hussey, who did well to run in from gully and take the catch diving forward.

It was a fine spell from Siddle, who entered the match with only one Test wicket for 241 runs at the Adelaide Oval. His strikers were followed by a wicket for Nathan Lyon, who turned the ball impressively and found an edge from VVS Laxman (18) when the batsman tried to run the ball fine. Brad Haddin completed the catch, and India's pain continued.

By lunch, Kohli and Saha had ensured there was no more damage, but India had only managed to add 61 to their overnight total. It was going to take something miraculous for them to avoid the follow-on.