After a hard fought battle in Mohali, India and Australia head to Bangalore for the second and final Test of the series. Australia will be aiming to turn around the result in Mohali to avoid dropping down the ICC rankings to fifth.
The final two days at Mohali were pulsating cricket, with wickets falling regularly and the battle between the two sides fantastic and exactly what Test match cricket can offer.
VVS Laxman was superb, and having played very little role in the match due to injury, his innings was out of the blue and was the reason the Indians got over the line.
The umpires did play a significant role in the final days of the Test. Billy Bowden and Ian Gould were very good for the first couple of days but their performance dropped away and was below standard when the match was there to be won.
The Umpire Decision Review System will not be used again and it’s time the ICC steps in and makes it a rule that the system is used in all Test matches.
Another aspect the ICC may need to look at is rotating the umpires in matches played in difficult weather conditions. The conditions in Mohali were hot and humid and five days in the middle can take its toll and may have played a role in the poor decisions late in the game.
Possibly three umpires can rotate throughout the game to ensure they are fresh and can be in the best physical and mental state to make the correct decisions.
India have been forced to make two changes, with Gautam Gambhir and Istant Sharma both out with knee injuries. Murali Vijay and fast bowler Sreesanth are the likely replacements.
India will be happy with their fightback on day four with the ball and then the Laxman-inspired effort on day five, but none of their batsman scored centuries in Mohali and they will need runs from the top order in Bangalore.
Sharma is a massive loss and puts further pressure on Zaheer Khan to lead the attack.
Australia’s attack faces the prospect of not having Doug Bollinger, who is in doubt with an abdominal injury.
Like in the lead-up to the first Test, Peter George will shadow Bollinger and come into the side if Bollinger doesn’t come up. Marcus North continues to put more pressure on his own spot with his lack of runs, but his bowling is helping him retain his spot and he will play in Bangalore.
Nathan Hauritz would be nervous after an average performance on day five and the Australian camp will consider Steve Smith but probably go with Hauritz.
Skipper Ricky Ponting returned to form in Mohali and was tragically run out when a century beckoned. Last time in Bangalore, he scored his only century on Indian soil.
Bangalore is a bat first wicket, with the side that wins the toss electing to bat 17 out of 18 times. The only side that elected to field ended up losing the match.
There have been eight draws in Bangalore and the ground isn’t India’s favourite.
India have won only four out of the 18 Tests played, while the Australians have two wins and two draws in their outings at Bangalore.
Australia lost in Mohali due to a collapse on day four. Prior to that, the match was headed for an Australian win or more than likely a draw.
Australia desperately needs to avoid these collapses as they are costing them Test matches and should they do that, they are every chance in Bangalore.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was looking comfortable at 67 off 40, until this moment when he hit the ball into his own stumps!
The Aussie made his 50 off 37 balls, for his fourth half-century of the season as his Sunrisers Hyderabad went on to beat Rajasthan…
Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. This quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein, but nobody knows if he…
This series’ twelfth and final team has a distinct West Indian flavour at the top of the order, and a domineering captain.
Mitch Marsh has been appointed as Australia's men's Twenty20 captain, set to lead a squad to the World Cup that does not include Steve…
Australia are set to turn their back on rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk’s whirlwind IPL form and drop Steve Smith in their T20 World Cup…
