AUS vs IND Day 3 Report: After being on the front foot for most parts of Day 2, and walking into Day 3 with their noses in front, Team India got a rude shock as we were reminded once again about how unpredictable cricket, especially Test cricket, can be. Starting the day 62 runs ahead, the Indian fans would never in their wildest dreams have thought about the nightmare that was to come their way in the Pink Ball Test at Adelaide.
All out for 36. The lowest ever score in a Test innings in the last 65 years. India’s lowest Test total ever. Only the second time that no batsman from a side has managed double digits in an innings. As the plethora of records came tumbling out, the Indians were left hurt and heartbroken as they saw their hopes of gaining a 1-0 lead slip away in such a harsh manner. To make matters worse, the Australian openers proved that there were no demons on the track as they chased down the target of 90 in no time to ensure the match ended in two and a half days.
Also Read: Australia vs India: Cameron Green is the best we have seen since Ricky Ponting, says Allan Border
The day started with India hoping to expand on their lead but the innings turned around in no time, with Pat Cummins, who ended with 4 for 21, leading the way. He got the wicket of nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah, who chipped a return catch to Cummins, but it was the crucial wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara that really sent India on the back foot.
Pujara, who had grinded out the bowlers in the first innings, is often criticized for his batting approach, but the essence of the player was brought to the fore as he fell for a duck. The batter played a ball that angled in but nipped away after pitching. He managed to get a big outside edge to the wicket-keeper Tim Paine, and soon India were without their anchor, who has stood tall series after series in hostile conditions and against a threatening bowling attack. The introduction of Josh Hazlewood in the 13th over of the innings provided Team India with no respite as the fast bowler got the wickets of Mayank Agarwal, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin in almost identical ways – forcing them to edge to the keeper.
Only Virat Kohli, who tried to drive but fell after edging to gully, and Wriddhiman Saha, who played towards mid wicket, fell in a different manner. Kohli, who was unlucky to be run out in the first innings on 74, will return back to India after this game and will miss the remaining three Tests for the birth of his first child. His departure will be a further blow to the visiting team, who are also waiting on the X-ray scan reports of Mohammad Shami.
The fast bowler was hit on his bowling arm by a short ball by Pat Cummins, and was forced to retire. He did not bowl in the second innings, and if he does not recover in time, Team India will not only go into the Boxing Test wounded mentally but also without their biggest bowling match-winner. With Ishant Sharma already out of the series due to an injury he sustained in the Indian Premier League, the Indians will be desperate for Shami to get back to full fitness.
Set a target of just 90, the Australian openers Joe Burns and Matthew Wade started off with intent and aggression as they piled on 70 runs in no time. Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav, the new ball bowlers, were unable to get their line and lengths right, as they leaked runs by bowling consistent loose deliveries. Though India eventually managed the wickets of Wade and Marnus Labuschagne, it did not help bring solace to a team that were blown apart in the first hour of play.
India’s batting in the SENA countries, where the ball is moving, is a serious worry. In the last 15 games, the Indians have lost five or more wickets for less than 100 runs in all SENA countries on 11 occasions. In the last six innings in SENA nations, they have scores of 165, 191, 242, 124, 244 and 36, which implies a deeper problem that needs immediate attention. The bowling attack of the side have upped their game in the last three years, but with batting performances that was witnessed today, there is little that the likes of Bumrah and Shami can do.
Brief Scores of AUS vs IND Day 3: India 244 and 36 all out (Josh Hazlewood 5-8, Pat Cummins 4-21) lost to Australia 191 and 93/2 by 8 wickets
