da heads bet： Cricinfo presents the plays of the day from day three of the Adelaide Test
Cricinfo staff26-Jan-2008
Allan Border was one of the celebrities out to celebrate Australia Day © Getty Images
Adelaide comes alive
You couldn’t miss the fact that it’s Australia Day. More flags than usual were ondisplay and people made an extra-special effort to wear the green and gold.Adelaide residents are very proud of getting the Test back at this time of the year – it’srecent home has usually been in December – and so popular is the holiday that theday was a sell-out.A 21-gun salute and barely visible mid-day fireworks sparked the celebrations whilein town a parade of people wearing their national costume shuffled heavily along inthe dry-but-fierce heat. Many nationalities were represented including Chinese,Filipino, Belgians and Indians. For India, it’s Republic Day too, though the day ofindependence, August 15, tends to be a bigger deal.Teenage sensation
Ishant Sharma showed his ability to produce wicket balls was no Perth fluke when heupended Matthew Hayden with a classic reverse-swinging inswinger. Coming from aroundthe wicket, Sharma’s delivery swung through Hayden’s defensive effort and thumpedinto his off stump. Hayden was 103 and had looked as steady as the four AdelaideOval light towers. Sharma, the 19-year-old, had burst through again.Modus operandi
While none of the Indian batsmen were bowled in their innings, all three Australianwickets fell in that fashion. Phil Jaques will blame himself for swiping across theline to one that angled in from Kumble but Hayden and Michael Hussey wereundone by jaffas that swung into them. Ishant produced the ball of the day tocrash through Hayden’s defences while Irfan Pathan swerved one in to beat Hussey. Ona wearing pitch, expect more in this Test.Luck of the bounce
Trouble has followed Ricky Ponting during the series, but he was able to avoid whatwould have been an unfortunate dismissal to the courageous Ishant. While the Indiansappealed for an lbw decision, the ball popped over Ponting’s head and was droppingbetween the batsman and the stumps when it hit his bat. With Ponting looking towardsIshant, the ball was diverted from around leg stump towards off before skirting awayfrom danger.Pathan walks the line
Pathan was flirting with trouble all day. First he had a long chat withHayden when an lbw appeal was turned down before lunch, prompting Hayden towalk up to Billy Bowden and complain. Pathan later had an inordinately long appealagainst Hussey before being in the thick of action when Harbhajan Singhcollided with Ponting. Anything for a good verbal joust, it seems.