Like with all terrific characters, it is difficult to keep Tim Paine down for too long. Australia's skipper showed yesterday that despite two fruitless days on the park, he hadn't lost his sense of humour as he answered a journalist's phone — doubling up as a Dictaphone — that went off during his press conference.

"Tim Paine here," he told the startled caller, then took a message and passed it on to the journalist. "Check your emails!" The fun and games didn't mask the enormous pressure Paine is under as Australia face the unenviable task of trying to save the final Test. India's 622 for seven declared has effectively killed off Australia's hopes of a series-levelling win, the only thing that remains now is to save face.