The Two and a Half Day Affairs
The 3rd Test Match between India and Australia again ended in two and a half days. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been a limited affair when it comes to the number of days the 3 Test matches have lasted. To be precise only 7.5 days of cricket has taken place against the 15 days assigned. India were victorious in the first two, making easy meat of the Australians, while the third test belonged to the disciplined Kangaroos, who now will have their tail up as the series heads into the last match at Ahmedabad.
Scathing Criticism
After two dismal performances particularly with the bat, the Aussies came back strongly at Indore to pull one back. They were under the pump literally. The Indian Spinners had cast a web of sorts around them and then the scathing criticism back home by the greats of the game like Allan Border and Ian Chappel must have been difficult to handle. To add to their woes, their captain Pat Cummins had to leave for home to be with his ailing mother. However, what transpired at Indore, though surprising, was admirable from the Aussies.
The Three Defining Moments
The match moved so quickly that in two days 30 wickets had fallen. The pitch was frightening and demonic, not so much visually but surely in the mind of the batters. It required the old classical grafting at the crease ( much like the Pujara innings ), which in today’s times is difficult to see. That intense and extremely gripping contest between the bat and ball, the so called cat and mouse game is now a thing of the past. However, coming to the gist of the match, there were 3 defining moments which in my opinion had a tremendous bearing on the outcome of the match.
The No Ball
The Aussies wrapped up India for 109 on day 1. India responded with an early wicket of Travis Head and then came the first defining moment of the game. Ravindra Jadeja, who was bowling beautifully castled Marnus Labuschagne for a duck. As Marnus began to leave, the dreaded siren of a no-ball ringed the air. Jadeja had overstepped. It was a no-ball and Marnus was back in the crease. He and Usman Khawaja then added 96 priceless runs which eventually turned out to be the difference between the teams. Though Ashwin and Umesh Yadav in particular bowled superbly and polished off the last 6 Australian wickets for nothing, the 88 run lead which the Aussies secured on the back of the Labuschagne – Khawaja partnership was indeed a big one.
Shreyas Falls to a Khawaja classic
In India’s 2nd innings, post the fall of the first 4 wickets, Shreyas Iyer played a tremendous cameo. A couple of sixes and a few boundaries rattled the Aussies as India began to surge ahead. Shreyas was in the mood. He had taken the fight to the Australian camp, but Steve Smith introduced Mitchel Starc. Shreyas played a lovely drive ( though a bit uppish for the purists ) which was gobbled by Khawaja in a terrific catch at mid on. The ball was travelling but Khawaja took a fine low catch. A real classic, The partnership was broken when it was just gathering momentum. The Indians were pegged back again. This was a massive turning point.
Steve Smith’s leg slip Stunner
The Australians were keeping the Indians at bay, but with Axar Patel ( he has been India’s best batter in this series by a long shot ) and the gritty Pujara at the crease, the lead was expected to grow and anything beyond 120 would have been a tough chase. But then captain Steve Smith produced an absolute stunner at leg slip to send Pujara packing. A one handed ripper plucked from thin air broke the developing partnership and the last two wickets capitulated without any fanfare. Smith’s catch just nailed it for the Aussies. The lead was just 75 and the Kangaroos chased it down to record a famous win at Indore.
The Lyon of Indore
Nathan Lyon, the old war horse became the most successful overseas bowler in India and broke several records on his way to an 11 wicket haul in the match and was deservedly adjudged the man of the match. By virtue of this victory Australia have qualified for the World Test Championship Final. India has to win the 4th to ensure their qualification against Australial. An interesting finale to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy awaits us in Ahmedabad.
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