45HG

According to someone on cricinfo, it's the first time in test history there have been two 250+ run partnerships in the same innings.

When we bowl them out in under 90 overs, I'll get back to you. There's a bit of irony bemoaning a personal milestone for Sachin, considering Clarke was well on his way to the highest score ever. In the scheme of things, obviously you'd go the win. But in 20 years time I won't remember who won the test, we won in Melbourne and I left early, but I'd certainly remember seeing Clarke create history. Oh well, can't change it now.

I don't like the declaration. Obviously it's best for the team, but just so much could've happened!

We're 4 minutes shy of halfway in the test. The statistician in me just wants them to bat. And bat. And bat.

Much like Gilly's when Hayden scored 380

Maybe - but they're still less combined than the highest ever partnership on its own! Ridiculous. He's certainly going for it now, at about a run a minute. If he lasts til tea he'll pass 400.

Whoops. Australia 3-37 - would you call that a hole? 1-565 runs later and Clarke on 304*. Would love to see a first rate player from NSW!

Can't for the life of me figure out why Sehwag was bowling straight after lunch. Absolutely brilliant innings from the skipper. Incredible innings. Well done!

I thought that they were playing Ashwin ahead of Singh?

Statsguru. *Would also like to add that, obviously, he's a long way from those records. Starting fresh today, to talk about him scoring 130 today is a massive ask.

That's a strange comment. If he passes Hayden (scoring 130 more today) how would he have to bat better than yesterday to make 20 extra runs? The highest score for a number 5 is 304 by the Don. Clarke is currently 4th on the list. Ironically, Foster's SCG runs record was scored when he came in at number 5. Lara came in at 4 when he scored the second highest score on the ground.

Just of note, Clarke is the first Australian since Ponting to score a double century. And the second since Gillespie! (Maybe Pup is playing his last test...) In the other game, Kallis made a suberb double century in his 150th in front of his home crowd. De Villiers made 100 off 176 balls and ended up 160 off 205. Brutal. The declaration came 5 overs too early for him!

Hats off to Clarke. An absolutely fabulous innings to date, which should rightfully put a few people back in their place (for a while at least). A matured batsman and, from what it seems, person. Highest score by an Australian at the SCG.

I think 5 suits him for now because he is fast becoming, if he isn't already, Australia's best batsman. He could probably bat anywhere, I'd rather see him in earlier.

Agree completely re: Mcdermott. I'd also like to again highlight how impressed I, for one, have been with Clarke's captaincy. When he took over, I was a little sceptical. However, when each batsman comes to the crease, Clarke seems to have a plan in mind from the get-go and isn't afraid to back himself. His use of the 3 fast bowlers has also been impeccable IMO. I think this stems from his captaincy in the one day format where he's more inclined to rotate bowlers quickly. The Indian batsmen have never really seemed to be able to get used to a bowler before they are then faced with a refreshed bowler. Good start. Clarke should also, IMO, be batting at 3.

Just out of interest, these are his stats for his two previous series': India v Aus: 0/100, 4/57 India v Aus: 1/77, 1/27 6/261 at 43.5. Aus v Eng: 1/60, 0/82 Aus v Eng: 0/53, 1/16 Aus v Eng: 2/83 Aus v Eng: 3/121 7/415 at 59.28. Now I certainly wouldn't have agreed that he was "rubbish," but even by admiting he was worked on his game you must see that he's not the same bowler. He is certainly a more aggressive, tactical bowler who has seemingly added an extra yard or so of pace. Not sure what the Starc reference is related to.

I think you're being quite disingenuous to suggest Hilfenhaus hasn't worked a lot on his game in the last 12 months and changed a great deal. As an aside, Sachin average 24.5 at the SCG when Mcgrath plays. Without Mcgrath, he averaged 634.

You got your wish, Macca. If only Spurs had have held on!

Should be 186...

Where'd you find those odds?

Agreed.

So...you wouldn't always bat, hence you agree with us. I'm glad we settled this.

Whelan, Grimes, Mckenzie, Trengove, Robertson, Woewodin, Neitz, Schwarz, Farmer, Frawley. Obviously weighted more heavily towards recent players and I could've chosen heaps more that I've enjoyed watching.

Why do people bring up these horrible memories?

Kasabian are genuinely unreal. Finally getting to see them in Jan. Same week the future Mrs. and I are singing Laura Marling, she's also brilliant.