All Monies’ Worth
It was the most watched Test Match in the history of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and it would be an understatement to say that the spectators had their monies worth. An incredible Test Match which swung like a pendulum and finally rested on the side of Australia. India capitulated post tea in a dramatic final session on the last day to handover Australia a famous victory.
India Fight Hard
India fought hard after Australia had scored 474 runs in the first innings on the back of a tremendous century from Steve Smith and a belligerent 60 from debutant Sam Konstas. Nitish Reddy staged a remarkable rearguard action with Washington Sundar to close in on Australia’s total. And then the magician called Bumrah had Australia reeling at 91/6 with an astonishing burst of fast bowling.
READ Nitish Reddy Conquers The ‘ G ‘
The Strong Australian Tail
First Labuschagne and Pat Cummins and then the last pair of Lyon and Boland fought tooth and nail and survived whatever India hurled at them. The tail wagged so prominently that it left India bruised. India’s chance of winning at the MCG took a beating as they were set a mammoth 340 runs to win on the last day.
India Struggling at Lunch
Pat Cummins bowled brilliantly and had the wickets of a hapless Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in one over which nipped in the bud any chances of India chasing the target. Worse to happen was Kohli edging a Starc delivery to be caught in slips at the stroke of Lunch. India was struggling.
Jaiswal-Pant Defy Australia
Jaiswal and Pant weathered the storm post Lunch and defied the Australian Bowlers to remain unbeaten at Tea. However, post Tea saw huge drama unfold as the Australian perseverance and patience paid off.
Pant Holes Out Triggering A Collapse
Travis Head was introduced into the attack post tea which turned out to be an inspired change. Pant miscued a pull of a shortish ball from Head and holed out to Mitch Marsh at wide long-on. The 88 run partnership between Pant and Jaiswal was broken. Boland got Jadeja next with a ball that kicked off a bit more than usual with Jadeja edging to Carey. Nitish Kumar followed next with a superb catch from Smith at slips off Lyon. Indians were 6 down in a hurry.
Australia Romp Home
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s stoic vigil ended soon after with the young southpaw gloving one to Carey off Cummins. Though the snicko showed a flat line, the third umpire relying on visual evidence ruled Jaiswal out stirring a bit of a controversy. Nothing was going India’s way. Akashdeep was next caught by Travis Head of Boland at Forward Short Leg. Bumrah edged one to slips and Siraj was caught plumb in front off Lyon. Australia had romped home.
India’s Undoing
India lost 7 wickets for just 34 runs after tea, one of the many collapses seen off late with the Indian batting. Once again the bowlers gave everything and the batters let the team down. Though the MCG pitch was a bit up and down, the shot selection from Indian Batters proved their undoing.
A Below Average Batting Performance From India
Rohit Sharma reeling under a woeful spell of form and the Inconsistencies with Virat , KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have hurt India big time. Though Pant’s shot selection in both innings brought Australia back into the game, the overall performance from batters barring Jaiswal and Reddy has been below average.
A Critical Test At Sydney Awaits
The batting issues have resulted in India losing 5 of their last 7 test matches with the Border Gavaskar Trophy slipping away slowly and the WTC Final appearing more distant than ever. The Sydney Test commencing on the 3rd of January is an extremely critical encounter that India has to win.
Australia has ended 2024 on a high, while the Indian think tank is left to ponder.
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