3rd Test: Kohli falls after tea, India four-down against Australia

Kohli struck another gritty half-century to remain unbeaten on 54 off 98 balls with seven fours and added 85 runs for the fourth wicket with Rahane (33 batting) after India were left struggling at 19 for three losing Shikhar Dhawan (0), Murali Vijay (11) and KL Rahul (1).

Earlier, Australia declared their second innings at 318 for 9 at lunch, taking a 383-run lead, thanks to Shaun Marsh's 99 off 215 balls with 11 fours and two sixes.

When India started their second innings, Dhawan was out leg before in the second over to Ryan Harris. In his second Test innings then, debutant KL Rahul (1) was promoted to number three as a strategic decision, with the Indian team management denying any injury to Cheteshwar Pujara.

Much like in the first innings, Rahul played a poor shot to get out, this time pulling a wide rising delivery from Mitchell Johnson (1-24) as Shane Watson (0-10) ran back from first slip to complete the catch.

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3rd Test, Day 4: Australia 261/7 againt India at stumps, lead by 326 runs

Leading 2-0, Australia need only draw the Melbourne match to wrap up the four-match series and India face a Herculean task to keep the contest alive for the final test in Sydney next week.

The highest successful fourth innings chase at the MCG was achieved by England in 1928-29, when they compiled 332 for victory.

Though India's batsmen have proved the equal of Australia's bowlers for much of the series, the flat MCG wicket began to show signs of uneven bounce late in the day and the hosts laboured to 261-7 at the close.

Perhaps mindful of India's first innings 465 completed earlier in the morning, Australia opening batsman David Warner said his team would seek more runs on the final day's play, which will have an extra six overs to compensate for a one-hour rain delay after lunch.

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3rd Test, Day 3: Kohli falls, India 462/8 against Australia at stumps

Resuming the day on 108 for one in response to the hosts' first innings score of 530, India lost their overnight batsmen early but Kohli (169), registering his third ton in this series, and Rahane (147) made sure that their stand is the highest for India in Australia at the MCG for any wicket.

The visitors ended the day on 462 for eight as they still trail by 68 runs at the end of Day 3. Aided by five dropped catches, India responded well only to lose a bit of a momentum in the end as new-ball bowler Ryan Harris returned with figures of 4-69.

Pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson (1-133), who bled runs through the day, also got Kohli caught behind to get a consolation wicket as umpires called stumps.

Getting into heated exchanges with Johnson at different stages of his innings, Kohli was dropped on 88 by Shane Watson (1-65) at first slip in the 85th over and made full use of the spill.

Kohli, recording his ninth Test ton, mixed the right dose of caution and aggression in his 272-ball stay, his innings laced with 18 boundaries.

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1st Test: Australia 354/6 against India at stumps on day 1

Opting to bat first, Australia rode on Warner's 10th Test century and were cruising along comfortably before India struck three vital blows at the fag end of the day to reduce the hosts to 354 for six at the Adelaide Oval.

The home team was comfortably placed at 258 for two when Warner became debutant spinner Karn Sharma's maiden victim, which triggered a collapse of sorts with Mitchell Marsh (41), night-watchman Nathan Lyon (3) and Brad Haddin (0) falling in quick succession to help India stage a fightback.

Steven Smith was unbeaten on 72 when stumps were drawn for the day with four balls still to be bowled.

Earlier, the stadium witnessed a gamut of emotions before the commencement of the match as spectators clapped for exactly 63 seconds as a mark of respect for Hughes. Both teams wore black arm bands while the Australians had Hughes' Test cap No 408 inscribed on their jerseys.

But nothing was more poignant than Warner, who was at his attacking best, but at the same time was finding it difficult to keep his emotions under check.

When he reached a personal score of 63, he raised his bat and looked heavenward as a tribute to his mate.

On reaching his century, Warner again broke down and skipper Michael Clarke, batting at the other end, came over and gave him a hug.

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India hold closed training session wearing black arm-band

Hughes, 25, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Sydney where he was battling for life after being hit by a bouncer from Sean Abbott during a domestic match between South Australia and New South Wales on Tuesday.

To honour the Australian batsman, the Indian team did not use the main ground at Adelaide Oval and each and every single member of the visiting contingent sported a black arm-band as a mark of respect for the departed cricketer.

South Australia Cricket Association, meanwhile, laid out his cap, jersey and bat at the centre-wicket of the ground in Hughes' memory.

Later the association's CEO Keith Bradshaw held a press conference in which he thanked everyone for the warm wishes received for Hughes and his family in this tough hour.

"I would like to send our love and support for the Hughes family in these troubled times. There really are no words that we can use to express our feelings of hurt and sadness at the moment. We would like to thank everyone who was with us in the support and care of Phillip Hughes," he said.

"Phillip was loved by us all. He was loved by everyone. He was a remarkable talent and a remarkable person. In the short time he was with us here at South Australia, he attended many coaching clinics for our children. He had a real passion for doing that and the children loved him and he will remain a hero in their minds forever," he said.

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Tendulkar's career would have been incomplete without World Cup : Akram

In a column for the ICC on the eve of 100 days to go for the World Cup, Akram, who played in four ICC Cricket World Cups against Tendulkar, wrote, "Personally, I think a World Cup triumph completes the career of a professional cricketer and the testament to this are the reactions of Sachin Tendulkar when he lifted the World Cup in his sixth attempt in Mumbai in 2011."

"These were an expression of total satisfaction from a modest and humble player who wanted to win the World Cup so desperately. On 2 April 2011, Tendulkar engraved his name in gold as the greatest, most accomplished and complete cricketer."

Akram won the World Cup with Pakistan in 1992, skippered the side to the final in 1999, and was a member of the sides that reached the semi-final in 1987 and quarter-final in 1996. However, his last World Cup appearance was a forgettable one as Pakistan failed to reach the Super Six stage.
  
"In contrast, there are some of the modern day icons who have never tasted a World Cup success. Ask Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and Jacques Kallis, and they will tell you what is missing from their distinguished careers," he said.

"Likewise, talk to Mike Gatting and he will share his regret of playing a reserve sweeping shot in the 1987 World Cup final, and I am sure the drop catch of Steve Waugh in Headingley in 1999 still haunts Herschelle Gibbs. Similarly, Waqar Younis will be cursing his early career fitness issues which forced him to return home just before the start of the 1992 World Cup."

Akram was the player of the 1992 World Cup final in Melbourne, and is the third leading wicket-taker in the World Cup history, behind Glenn McGrath (71) and Muttiah Muralidaran (58), with 55 wickets. In 2009, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

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