SCG Test day two: Australia rolled for 181 to give India first-innings lead in fifth Test

“A different brand and different style of cricket yesterday. We saw runs and wickets right the way through the five days in Melbourne. Yesterday, batting became a lot more difficult…I think it will be a lot the same today: the wicket will offer a lot for the fast bowlers, so I think batting will be difficult once again,” Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7 and 7plus.

Sunil Gavaskar also shared his thoughts.

“I’ve got to say the last two wickets, the runs they added, buoyed the Indian team so much that when they came for those last three overs before the end of the day’s play they were in a different space, they were really charged up,” he said.

“And that’s exactly what they need to be. To be able to restrict the Australians to a score which will not hurt them.

“Whether they take a lead, a short lead, or whether they concede maybe a 30 or 40 run lead, that will keep them in the game. They’ve got to be at the Australians just like they were yesterday in the last three overs.”