There were talks of India winning the Border–Gavaskar Trophy 4-0 in India, triumphing in the first Test in Pune by a huge margin.
But what a transformation as Australia thrashed India by 333 runs in three days. Left-arm spinner Steven ‘SOKO’ O’Keefe was the chief destroyer with identical figures of 6-35 and 6-35 in each innings. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon and left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc (with bat and ball) were just as effective in breaking India’s invincibility at home.
All the wash-up from India vs Australia
» Match report
» Six talking points from the Test
» The Liebke ratings
» Australia embarrass India technically and mentally
» Australia must not repeat 2001 nightmare
Not to forget skipper Steve Smith’s century in the second innings on a dusty bouncy turning track against quality spin bowling. He was lucky to be dropped four times but hung on regardless. His 109 in the second innings outscored India’s totals of 105 and 107.
There is a proverb in an Indian language which when translated in English means, “One who digs a hole in the ground for enemies, falls in it himself.”
That is precisely what happened when India prepared a turning pitch to help their spinners but their batsmen fell to the Aussie tweakers.
The shoe was on the other foot as the India’s master batsmen lost their footwork – and their nerves.
India’s worst capitulation in Test history came on day two in their first innings. They were 3-94 but lost seven wickets for 11 runs to be out for 105.
Starc started the Indian slide by dismissing their top batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara for six and skipper Virat Kohli for a duck in the first innings.
Man of the match O’Keefe appeared batsman friendly when he started to bowl but once Smith changed ends for him he looked lethal as he took 6 for 5 in 4.1 overs. He carried on his devastating spell in the second innings to capture a 6-fer again.
His match figures of 12 for 70 are the best for an Australian bowler in India.
A happy skipper Steve Smith said at the presentation, “O’Keefe was outstanding. We’ve got some good players of spin and good spinners. It’s been 4502 days since Australia won a Test in India, I know it to the day!”
“A massive lead in, this wicket. When he [O’Keefe] pulled his length back slightly, it felt he’d get a wicket every ball. You need to have some luck on a wicket like that. It took a lot of grit and determination,” Smith said.
Now to Bangalore for the second Test starting next Saturday on fourth of March. It’s game on with the tourists on top.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Thank you, Sheek. But who is Kermis? Richie Benaud would have loved to mention about Lillee's bowling in those four Tests: "chew and chew, chew and chew, chew and chew and chew and chew".!!!
sheek
Roar Guru
Kermis, No other example of this comes to mind apart from Chandra as mentioned. however, i was always fascinated by Lillee's number of wickets taken his first five come back tests against England in 1974/75. He took 2 & 2; 2 & 2; 2 & 2; 2 & 2; 4 & 4 in those five tests. In the 6th & last test he took one early wicket before retiring from the rest of the match with a sprained ankle.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Nice one Kersi. Simply superb bowling by SOKO. He read the pitch beautifully, bowled within himself, didnt tweak the ball much, and let the Indians commit hara kiri. You cannot ask more from a spinner. On the same pitch, Ashwin didnt contrl the bounce and Jadeja kept tweaking the ball miles. Lessons they will both learn at some cost. But the high point for me for the supreme application show by Smith and Renshaw and the cameos from Starc in the face of an unfamiliar pitch. And the lack of application from the Indians at the same time. Well done Steve Smith and team! And Bravo O'keefe. It will a corke=r of a series as the Indians come roaring back and the Aussies pile on the pressure to keep their crucial 1-0 advantage and moral victory at the fore. Let the games begin, as they say!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Remarkably, in India's first innings of just 105, 64 of them were scored by one batsman, but then he was the first wicket to fall in the 7-11 collapse. So I'd suggest that to some extent you'd say Rahul stood up a bit to that point in the first innings.
kersi meher-homji
Guest
Thank you Mark L and Andrew Samson for the valuable twin-figure additions.
Mark L
Guest
Andrew Samson (AWSStats) tweeted those 2 instances too as the best in Tests. Plus also that SOK's effort is 3rd best in all First Class cricket (same figures in each innings) 7-52 H Trump Som v Glouc 1992 6-24 F Parris Sus cv MCC 1892 6-35 S O'Keefe A v I 2017
A keeper
Guest
Be interesting to see what changes are made for No 2 and beyond. Will India show faith? For Aus I expect the only change for no 2 will be Renshaw's pre match meal. However further failures by the Marshes and changes could come. Wade did well behind the stumps but still needs runs.
Adsa
Guest
It will be interesting where Indian grounds keepers go from here, do they go for the hose or the heavy roller?
Basil
Guest
Very gracious, Ritesh. Maybe, do you think,the opposition deserves some credit?
Man of....
Guest
Loved the proverb Kersi, it neatly sums up what happened. Do you consider it doctoring? If so, It must be seen as a weakness. Australia have not gone to such lengths to visiting tourists, nor do the South Africans for that matter. In fact we are a little too kind here with our pitches. We often produce roads for the Indians. I can't consider the Indians number one test nation when they act in this way. They appear to be flat track bullies. I expect India score about a thousand runs in the next test which will no doubt be low and slow.
Linphoma
Guest
I think there were two Melbourne tests that year - I was there in my only ever visit to the MCG. Can't recall if it was the first or second Melbourne test but I remember it was early in the New Year and Chandra fizzed through Simpson's babes on that last afternoon under overcast skies.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
A question to Roarers. How many bowlers have taken 6 wickets in each innings of a Test, conceding the same number of runs? Apart from Steve O'Keefe's 6-35 and 6-35 in the Pune Test. I can think of one instance. India's mystery spinner BS Chandrasekhar took 6-52 and 6-52 against Australia in the 1977-78 Melbourne Test. Any more such instances?
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Yes, Ritesh. It was humiliating. Not one Indian batsman stood up and said, "I'll bat till kingdom come", like Steve Smith said to himself. And the Indian bats have experience on turners against turners. Still congratulations to Australia for a magnificent victory; bravo the two Steves, the Lion-like Lyon, Starc and Renshaw.
SAVAGE
Guest
In any case, this would have woken the Indians up big time. Next game should be an absolute cracker, a bit of pressure, some verbal spice, looking forward to it.
Ritesh Misra
Roar Guru
Indeed a terrible performance by team India. This is their worst ever batting performance and the first time the team lasted only 74 overs for their 20 wickets. However the Indian team is certainly capable of having a quick turnaround and they will be looking for a good performance at Bangalore. Virat Kohli's home ground as he is the Bangalore IPL Captain will mean that home support for the skipper will be high, and i am sure he would like to put on an improved batting performance as captain which will also encourage the team to do better