Clever tactics and some dynamic pace bowling from Pat Cummins helped Australia keep India at bay on day three of the third Test yesterday.
On a docile Ranchi deck offering minimal assistance to pace or spin, Australia had to find innovative ways to challenge the home side’s commanding batting line-up.
Although there were stages at which Australia’s bowlers tired, most notably the last hour before tea, overall it was a wonderfully patient, disciplined and persistent bowling display.
In similar circumstances, England’s bowlers wilted repeatedly in their recent five-Test series in India.
In the final Test of that series England batted first and made 477 only to be trampled on by the Indians as they racked up 7-759 in reply. But, as we’ve seen this month, there is a significant gulf in class between the attacks of England and Australia.
Apart from champion quick Stuart Broad, no English bowler managed to consistently tie down the Indian batsmen. Australia, meanwhile, have been able to take control in the field via accurate, frugal spells from Josh Hazlewood, Steve O’Keefe and, in this Test, Cummins.
Australia blanketed the Indian batsmen in the opening session yesterday. Hazlewood, Cummins, O’Keefe and Nathan Lyon each maintained tight lines and lengths, allowing captain Steve Smith to set attacking fields.
Australia conceded just 73 runs from 30.4 overs in that session and, while they grabbed only one wicket, they were denied another by an umpiring blunder.
O’Keefe and Lyon were used as stock bowlers, with Cummins and Hazlewood the strike options. Hazlewood found some nice reverse swing but it was the younger quick who was most threatening, just as he had been on day two.
As I wrote in the lead-up to this Test, Cummins or James Pattinson were far better suited to partnering Hazlewood than Jackson Bird, who is very similar in style to Hazlewood.
On a pitch as unresponsive as this one, it is of great value to have a powerful, intimidating quick like Cummins, Pattinson or Mitchell Starc, who is out injured. Not only do they add crucial variety to the attack but they also have a way of belying the nature of the pitch to produce startling deliveries.
Starc did this in Sri Lanka last year, Pattinson in India in 2013, and Cummins has achieved it here in Ranchi. Given the lifeless state of the pitch it is quite remarkable he managed to get three wickets via short balls. When he bent his back Cummins was able to get the ball to leap startlingly towards the throats of the Indians.
It was this lift which undid KL Rahul late on day two and which accounted for both Ajinkya Rahane and Ravi Ashwin yesterday. In between those latter two wickets Cummins knocked over Virat Kohli, enticing an airy drive at an outswinger from the Indian skipper.
Through all this, classy Indian first drop Cheteshwar Pujara defied the Australians and, after a slow start, switched gears to score freely in the second session.
With Australia’s pacemen presenting the clearest danger, Smith instructed O’Keefe to bowl over the wicket and aim outside the leg stump of Cheteshwar Pujara, who continually padded balls away.
What on the surface appeared to be a defensive tactic in fact had an offensive edge to it. Australia managed to keep Pujara down one end of the pitch while their quicks targeted his more vulnerable partners. Pujara looked as though he could bat for months so it was a cunning ploy by the Australians and one which helped secure the wicket of Ashwin.
As well as Australia bowled and as sharp as their tactics were, Pujara still stands between them and a distinct advantage in this Test. With two days to go, this Test is beautifully poised.
doogs
Guest
your expectations of his living up to what you want him to be
Geoff
Guest
Turns out the Aussie bowlers capitulated just as the English did. England gave up 550 odd and Australia 602! Jeez. If this is the aussie attack doing remarkably well Id hate to see them at their less than penetrating worst Ronan.
spruce moose
Guest
Considering his approach to stump security i wouldn't even have him open up the front door. You could have walked through the gap between bat and pad.
saul
Guest
Warner should not be opening the batting his performance is a disgrace
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Cummins has bowled very well in unresponsive conditions but the value of the foot marks is clearly evident as Jadeja appears almost unplayable into that rough. Very similar to O'Keefe in the first test to the Indian right handers.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
If you are referring to Du Plessis' lolly-inspired ball tampering, it was cheating. He was found guilty of the charge, appealed but was unsuccessful in overturning the verdict. A fine and demerit points resulted. I am far more able to face the fact that Warner's away record is poor compared to his runs at home, than you seem to be to accept the fact that the South African captain cheated by changing the condition of the ball. I would also point out, that Warner's away from home struggles don't include South Africa, where he averages 90.50, after scoring 543 in three tests. That's 200 more than AB DeVilliers, who was the next highest run scorer for the series. Smith did the wrong thing and there should have been consequences beyond the on field loss of the review. Having said that, at least Smith was man enough to admit he had done wrong. More than Du Plessis, even though he openly stated he has always done it. He has always used foreign substances to change the ball condition. A self-confessed habitual ball tamperer.
Ozibatla
Guest
Expectations of what specifically?
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
I was trying to sell the virtue of a "left for left" replacement also. What would we know?
Craig
Guest
Given Cummins has comfortably been our best bowler, its not a great point.
Dave
Guest
This may turn out to be a very good point
Frik TwoPlusThree
Guest
Hey Hey The Ozzies are on the wire... he he . Serves them right Ronan had so much to say about the South Africans cheating (and it was not cheating but playing with the ball according to guidelines) but not much when Steve Smith cheats (he really looked up at the dressing room. Lets face fact Warner is hero (choke) in Australia but not much of a batsman anywhere else in the world. Go you good thing go... sounds like a hot curry too me. Viva India
qwetzen
Guest
Yep. And it's ironic that our best bowler could be a major help to an Indian win. "Pick the Dorf", I pleaded, "We need a leftie quick to rough up the pitch for our spinners!". But would they listen? "Nah, let's pick another rightie to make it harder for our legion of LH bats."
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
2 overs in 161 is a pretty clear sign of how little Smith rates Maxwell's bowling, but we knew that prior to the test starting. Given that Lyon has 'none for' from 38 overs and O'Keefe has 1 wicket from 56 overs, what harm could bowling Maxwell more possibly do?
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Have to agree with Allan Border's day 4 lunchtime assessment of the state of the game. Australia are officially in trouble in this match. No longer are we a chance to win this test, but India's chance of victory increases with every run scored and every minute of pitch wear.
qwetzen
Guest
Craig said: "Maxxy can bowl a few offices if required." It'd be good to see The Chair again...
Craig
Guest
If this test does end in a draw, and it's a big IF. I say, drop Lyon and fly over Pattinson. Maxxy can bowl a few offices if required.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Right now India are 6/397 with Pujara on 147 and Saha on 38, match is evenly poised. Australia failed to get a break-through in the first hour though the climate is cloudy today.
doogs
Guest
I think Smith's captaincy was superb. There is not much going on in the wicket so he just dried up the runs. His captaincy was consistently questioned during the Pakistan series and invariably he made the right call. Some of us self-entitled Aussies start pulling the lip when he does not bring on the bowler we want or set the field we want. Just let him captain and stop being so angry about the smallest thing
doogs
Guest
well i hope he lives up to your expectations one day
doogs
Guest
good point. I thought he was superb. He is still there. Some people just want everything their own way. He bats too slow, he bats too fast bla bla