Anyone who’s captained a cricket team knows that a good declaration is all about the timing.

With Australia Day and Republic Day being celebrated on either side of the Indian Ocean, both teams in Adelaide were wanting to claim the spoils for their country.

With the final Test of an already-confirmed series thrashing leaving only pride for India to play for, it never seemed so far away when Australia declared at 7/604 on Day 2 in Adelaide.

If someone had turned on their telly without knowing the Fourth Test in Adelaide had started, they could easily have assumed they were watching highlights from Perth or Sydney.

Australia has wrapped up the Third Test in Perth, by an innings and 38 runs, to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in emphatic style.

After the pulsating display David Warner put on in the evening session on Day 1, there was always a chance that events on Day 2 would pale into insignificance.

It’s always a good start to your day as a captain when you win the toss, especially when you winning the toss has been a less than 50/50 prospect.

He might make it in Melbourne, they said, but if not, he’ll definitely get it in Sydney.

The SCG started Day 3 all pinked up for recognition of the late Jane McGrath, and the exceptional ongoing work of the McGrath Foundation in its work in the fight against breast cancer.

Don’t you love it when hopeful predictions turn prophetic in their accuracy?