Sydney: “We could debate on the likely target for India and so on, but the elements may well have the last laugh,” the iconic Sunil Gavaskar told The Telegraph at the end of a truncated fourth day at the SCG.

That, indeed, remained the biggest worry as even worse weather is forecast for Sunday when the curtain comes down on the second 3mobile Test.

Whatever the outcome, Matthew Hayden has already posted another hundred — his 29th, placing him on a par with Sir Donald Bradman.

Sourav Ganguly, of course, could have got his on the previous day. He’d fallen for 67.

Both Hayden and Sourav took questions from the media on Saturday evening — the day, by the way, saw poor umpiring (this time from Mark Benson) for the umpteenth time in the Test. Again, the Indians were at the receiving end.

The following are excerpts from what Sourav and Hayden said:

SOURAV GANGULY: It’s not that we’re out of the Test... It still is a good wicket... There’s turn, yes, but not dangerous... One can’t say that a draw is the most likely result... Let’s see how the morning goes... It’s an early start... I wouldn’t like to comment on the umpiring decisions... You’ve been watching the match... I can’t say whether walking is or isn’t the way forward... I’d reacted on getting out yesterday (Friday) because I’d been batting well, was well set and there was the opportunity for a big hundred... Brad Hogg deceived me in the air and I probably could’ve played better... He’s not the worst bowler around... He’s done well in the first two Tests, but it’s still early days for him in Test cricket... Ricky Ponting’s a great player and we’ve been lucky to (regularly) get him early... What do I feel about Harbhajan (Singh) celebrating the way he did? Well, the good thing is that he stayed on the field! The Australians win because they’ve got quality players, not only because they’re aggressive... As for Yuvraj (Singh) and (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni not getting runs, all I’ll say is that don’t make anybody champions in two days and don’t pull them down in two days...

MATTHEW HAYDEN: I think there’s enough time to force a win... We’ve given ourselves the best chance of doing so... I don’t know what the target could be... Could be 260... The bounce has gone out of the wicket and batting isn’t easy... We’d desperately like to win and can make it really difficult for India... I think we’re in a slightly stronger position... You don’t ask records to appear in front of you... We’d be going for it, not only driven by the fact that, if we do win, then we’ll be equalling our record of 16 consecutive wins... As for our batsmen accepting the offer of light, I think Australia had much more to lose in that situation than India... I’m happy that I’m on a par with Sir Don... Longevity has been a part of our success and I very humbly accept the privileges offered by the game... I haven’t thought of dedicating this hundred to anybody... Yes, I did get out playing the reverse-sweep, a shot I’d never played before... I took lots of flat white coffee to keep my concentration during the rain-forced breaks... It’s for the first time that I had a runner in Tests and I had a giggle that it was my captain, Ricky Ponting... He did most of the mid-pitch talking...