Daijiworld Media Network

Adelaide, Jan 26: Day 3 of the Adelaide test and today should be the best day for batting. Will India make it count? A warm welcome to the final test between Australia and India. It is Australia Day today and Republic Day in India as well. A truly magnificent day for cricket in Adelaide. We are all set to witness some fab cricket.

Ricky Ponting: I'm very humbled. I have tried to give my best for Australia for the last 15 years. My wife and I have started the Ponting foundation to help kids battling cancer. We have raised over 9 million since we started. We are very proud to receive the award. Australia Day is a day we love to play on. The Indians would be doing so likewise on their Republic Day. We need to have a good day, India need to have a good day as well. We need to work extremely hard to take 20 wickets. We need to hold our chances, India put down a couple of chances yesterday and one can't afford to do that on this.
Pitch report: The cracks haven't opened up still due to the grass on the pitch. The ball might reverse after 60-70 overs says Waz. Perfect batting conditions and not much help for the spinners as well as there is no rough to work with.

RickEyre on twitter captures it beautifully: Today India celebrates the anniversary of becoming a republic. Australia celebrates the anniversary of colonial settlement. #australiaday

Match state of Day 4: nothing new. Australia declared after putting up a huge score thanks to double tons by Clarke and Ponting. India's reply started with a 20 odd opening stand. Then Sehwag failed again. And then Dravid was bowled again. Gambhir has got a start, and has Sachin for company. An out of form Laxman, a young Kohli and a keeper who is playing his second game form the rest of the batting line up.