AUSTRALIA will make an early declaration on Saturday, setting up a thrilling finale to what has turned into a fiery first Test against India in Adelaide.
The Aussies went to stumps at 5/290, a lead of 363 runs going into the fifth and final day.
Day four will be remembered for two fiery exchanges — the first involving century maker David Warner, and the second featuring the more mild-mannered Steve Smith.
Re-live those two incidents and all the big moments from an explosive day’s cricket in the blog below.
SCOREBOARD: AUSTRALIA vs INDIA
6.10pm — MITCH MARSH MAKES RAPID-FIRE 40
AFTER a brief but entertaining fireworks display, Mitch Marsh is gone for 40 off just 26 balls.
His innings included three sixes in one 24-run over off spinner Karn Sharma.
5.50pm — WARNER FINALLY GONE
THE Indians will be glad to see the back of David Warner, who has bowled around his legs for 102 by spinner Karn Sharma for 102, his second ton of the Test match.
5.35pm — TENSION BOIL OVER ... AGAIN
FOR the second time today, things have gotten heated between Australia and India.
The first time it involved the notoriously fiery David Warner.
But the second time featured the mild-mannered Steve Smith.
Spinner Rohit Sharma appealed for an LBW against Smith and the batsman was heard saying, “I was halfway down the pitch.â€
Sharma looked at Smith and yelled: “What? What?â€
The incident came after Warner mocked bowler Varun Aaron earlier in the day.
Watch a video of Warner’s heated exchange in the video player above
5.30pm — WARNER SCORES BACK TO BACK TONS
“HE really has turned into a super player, a world-class player,†Shane Warne said as David Warner registered his second century of the Test, to go with his 145 in the first innings.
It was not without controversy, however, being bowled off a no ball, dropped and also getting involved in a heated exchange with the Indians.
Australia has moved 3/199 and the lead is out to 272.
4.45pm — MICHAEL CLARKE GONE
THE skipper is out and Varun Aaron — the bowler involved in an earlier altercation with David Warner — is the wicket-taker.
Clarke was slashing at a good-length ball outside off-stump and nicked it through to the keeper, making way for seven.
Warner is still there on 90, having just been dropped in the slips and earlier earned a no-ball reprieve.
Steve Smith joins him with Australia 3/169 in its second innings, a lead of 242.
4.10pm — INDIA STRIKES BACK
AFTER an eventful lead-up to tea, the Indians struck back firs thing after the break with Mohammed Shami bowling Shane Watson for 33 with a beautiful late inswinger.
The wicket brings captain Michael Clarke to the crease as he continues to play through injury.
Clarke joins Warner (70 not out) with Australia 2/140 in its second innings and holding a 213-run lead on day four.
3.30pm — TENSIONS BOIL OVER
A NO BALL that saved David Warner has fired up tensions between the two sides.
Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron ran down the pitch celebrating and yelling, “Come on! Come on!†after thinking he had bowled the Aussie opener.
When Warner learned of his reprieve, he looked at Aaron and mockingly said: “Come on! Come on!â€
It was unnecessary from Warner, particularly with all the talk about the renewed spirit of cricket of late, and angered the Indian players as words were exchanged and Indian captain Virat Kohli became involved.
The altercation came a day after Mitchell Johnson and the Australian players showed great compassion after Kohli was hit in the head by a Johnson bouncer in the wake of Phillip Hughes’ death.
FULL STORY: Tensions flare in first Test
HOW’S this for a sequence of events.
Channel 9 puts up the poll showing 96 per cent of viewers think David Warner, currently on 66, will go on to make a century.
Next ball ... BOWLED.
But wait, the replay shows it’s a no ball.
Warner gets a life.
3pm — BOYCE’S GATTING BALL
THIS is a pretty cool video of Queensland spinner Cameron Boyce producing his answer to Shane Warne’s “Gatting Ball†in the Sheffield Shield today.
2.40pm — WARNER CRACKS ANOTHER 50
CAN anybody stop David Warner?
The opener has followed his first innings ton with another classy half century as Australia moves towards a 200-run lead.
2.20pm — ABBOTT’S INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE
GOOD news out of the SCG, with Sean Abbott overcoming the darkest two weeks off his life to produce an incredible bowling display.
1.50pm — ROGERS FAILS AGAIN
UNDER pressure opener Chris Rogers has again missed out, falling for 21 after attempting to sweep spinner Karn Sharma but only succeeding in scooping the ball to mid-wicket.
Shane Watson has joined David Warner (17 not out) at the crease, with Australia 1/40 — an overall lead of 113 runs.
12.50pm — AUSSIES OFF TO STEADY START
THERE have been no fireworks yet from David Warner as he and opening partner Chris Rogers make a watchful start to Australia’s second dig.
The Aussies are 0/32 after 10 overs at lunch, an overall lead of 105 runs.
MORE: Nathan Lyon’s best Test performances
12pm — INDIA ALL OUT FOR 444
THE Australian bowlers, led by a five-wicket haul for spinner Nathan Lyon, have bowled out India for 444 to take a 73-run lead into the second innings in Adelaide.
Lyon was the hero, taking 5/134, while Peter Siddle took 2/88 — and dropped a dolly of a catch.
Watch the video of Peter Siddle’s dropped catch in the video player below
11.50am — NATHAN LYON ON FIRE IN ADELAIDE
SPINNER Nathan Lyon is ripping through the Indian tail, picking up the wickets of Wriddhiman Saha and Ishant Sharma in the space of three deliveries for a five-wicket haul.
The Indians are now 9/424 in reply to Australia’s 7/517 (dec).
11.40am — PETER SIDDLE DROPS A SITTER
PETER Siddle copped it from the Channel 9 commentators after dropping the easiest of catches in the deep.
Adding injury to insult, the ball slipped through his hands and hit him straight in the forehead.
“I’m sorry, but that’s just an absolute dolly,†said former Test skipper Mark Taylor.
11.30am — SIDDLE FINALLY TAKES A WICKET
WHAT a relief this moment must have been for Peter Siddle.
After 15 wicketless overs, the Victorian quick finally tasted success as he tore through Karn Sharma’s defence with inswinging full delivery.
Just one ball earlier, Siddle had a close LBW shout to Sharma turned down as it appeared to have pitched marginally outside leg.
11.15am — LYON BREAKS THROUGH
SPINNER Nathan Lyon has picked up the first wicket of the morning, dismissing Rohit Sharma caught and bowled for 43.
Lyon brought Sharma down the wicket with a beautifully flighted delivery, and the batsman only managed to chip it back in the bowler’s direction.
Karn Sharma has joined Wriddhiman Saha (21 not out) in the middle, with the Indians 6/399 in reply to Australia’s 7/517(dec).
10am — NATHAN LYON’S CHEEKY DIG AT INDIANS
AUSTRALIAN spinner Nathan Lyon took a sly shot at Indian quick Ishant Sharma ahead of the fourth day of the first Test.
Lyon has been the pick of the Aussie bowlers so far, taking 2/103 as India went to stumps on day three on 5/369 in reply to Australia’s 7/517(dec).
The offspinner particularly enjoyed getting extra turn out of the footmarks, which he put down to Sharma constantly running down the wicket — which is not allowed.
“We had big Ishant Sharma running down the middle of the wicket, bowling to David Warner around the wicket, so I am thankful for him making some footmarks for me and bowling around the wicket to Davey,†the cheeky Lyon said.
“I’m looking forward to bowling more into those footmarks and hopefully he bowls there again and does it for the whole series.â€