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It was one of the most helter-skelter Tests ever played in Australia, with Mitchell Johnson’s menace proving the difference in Brisbane.
Australia claimed a 2-0 lead in their four-Test series against India, grabbing a four-wicket win on Saturday when they nervously chase down a target of 128 runs.
India and Australia both suffered sudden collapses on day four, with 15 wickets falling in total.
Johnson was fittingly at the crease when the hosts wrapped up the win in the 24th over.
“The boys were going after them to try and get the runs quickly tonight,” skipper Steve Smith said, defending the glut of wickets.
“There’s no hiccups there.”
The scoring rate for the entire match was 4.12 – a record high for a Test in Australia where at least 200 overs were bowled.
Smith was named man of the match for his 133, capping a stellar first Test as captain.
But the 25-year-old paid tribute to Johnson for the way he turned the game on its head with both bat and ball.
Johnson clubbed 88 off 93 balls on Friday.
He formed a seventh-wicket stand with Smith worth 148 runs, a Test record for the Gabba.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would be regretting how they welcomed Johnson to the crease.
“It (sledging Johnson) probably isn’t too wise, is it? It was just outstanding the way he came out … and took the bowlers on,” Smith said.
“It got them off their lengths a little bit and probably helped me out.
“That was a big turning point in the game.”
“And just the whole tail to get 500 runs in the first innings was crucial.”
It was the start of a dramatic turnaround in the game – the fifth occasion in Test history that India lost inside four days after making 400 or more in the first innings.
Johnson, who went wicketless in the first innings at the venue for the first time since 2010, sparked his side with the ball as India were rolled for 224.
The left-armer snared four wickets, including three in 10 minutes early on day four.
“He certainly turned it on today for that little spell, it really cracked the game open for us,” Smith said.
“All the bowlers to be fair produced the goods.”
The tourists resumed at 1-71 on Saturday, their woes starting before play when opener Shikhar Dhawan was hit on the wrist in the nets and retired hurt.
India slumped to 5-87 in the space of 6.2 overs, Johnson’s pace and bounce removing Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Sharma.
Rahane popped up a catch to Lyon at gully, while Sharma was caught behind.
On both occasions, third umpire Simon Fry took his time checking for a no-ball with Johnson’s foot barely behind the paint.
Dhawan returned and scored 81, while Ishant Sharma bowled a sensational opening spell to dismiss David Warner and Shane Watson cheaply.
But the tourists simply didn’t have enough runs on the board.
“It is disappointing … today’s first session was crucial and we didn’t handle it very well,” India captain MS Dhoni said.
“It’s important not to throw in the towel, it was good to see our bowlers running in and getting a few wickets at the end.”
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