The Border-Gavaskar Trophy slipped out of Australia’s grasp in the space of one manic session yesterday in the fourth Test in Dharamsala.
When Australia dismissed India for 332, limiting them to a lead of 32, the match was dead even. The tourists had the chance to set a target of 200-plus, which would have been a difficult chase on this lively pitch.
So, halfway through the final Test of this absorbing series, Australia were in a decent position to launch towards the most unlikely of series victories. Instead, they had two of their worst sessions of the tour, collapsing to 137 all out before wasting the new ball just before the close of play with some loose bowling.
In those two sessions, Australia badly missed the discipline and determination which had helped them get within striking distance of winning a series in India for the first time in 13 years.
The Australia we saw after lunch yesterday had more in common with the one which floundered in Sri Lanka last year than the outfit which obliterated India at Pune and scrapped for a rousing draw at Ranchi.
» Australia vs India 4th Test scorecard
Earlier, in the first session, star Indian all-rounder Ravi Jadeja frustrated the Australians, unfurling big shot after big shot and riding his luck to a crucial knock of 63 from 95 balls.
That was Jadeja’s second half-century on the trot, following on from his 54no at Ranchi. His 96-run stand with keeper Wriddhiman Saha (31) hauled India back into the Test after they had looked at risk of a significant first-innings deficit.
In the end it was pace prodigy Pat Cummins who accounted for both men. First he sucked Jadeja into playing a loose drive at a wide, full delivery. Then he directed a ferocious bouncer at the throat of Saha, who could only fend it in the air to slip.
Cummins bowled beautifully throughout that innings and deserved much better figures than 3-94, having had two catches turfed off his bowling.
Unfortunately for Australia, Cummins was not able to find the right length in the six-over new ball burst before stumps. The Indian quicks had earlier showed that it was back-of-a-length deliveries which were most likely to rear sharply or move off the seam.
Cummins and Hazlewood too rarely found that length, regularly floating up full deliveries which were easy to drive or leave. The reality, though, was that Australia’s bowlers were being asked to produce something miraculous in the last innings of the series because of the ineptitude of their batting colleagues.
The rot started with opener David Warner, who has had an absolutely wretched series. Warner has only made one half century in this series and that was a very scratchy knock in the first dig of this Test when he was dropped first ball.
Australia desperately needed the veteran to make a significant contribution in the second innings but, even after being dropped once more early in his innings, he was soon out for six feeding the slips cordon.
That brought to the wicket skipper Steve Smith, who majestically clipped his first ball through square leg for four and cruised to 17 off 14 balls. Aiming for another boundary through the leg side Smith inside edged an attempted pull shot on to his stumps.
Without Smith to carry the batting, Australia needed one of the less experienced players to step up. Rookie opener Matt Renshaw couldn’t, edging behind off the bowling of India’s super-impressive paceman Umesh Yadav.
Then Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh fell to spin in quick succession, leaving Australia in a crevasse at 5-92 at tea. Their hopes of setting a defendable total rested with Glenn Maxwell.
The cavalier all-rounder looked in supreme touch, unfurling a range of gorgeous strokes as he cruised to 45 from 60 balls.
His innings ended in typically unusual fashion when he was deemed not to be playing a shot to a Ravi Ashwin off spinner that pitch just outside his off stump and would have clipped leg.
Keeper Matt Wade and Cummins offered stout resistance, defying the Indians for 15 overs.
The problem was that neither of them played a shot in anger as they scored at just one run per over during that partnership. On a wicket offering significant help to the bowlers, against an accurate attack, such excessive caution was not wise – it was a mere matter of time before they were dismissed by a cracking delivery.
Wade did not show any aggression whatsoever until he had lost Cummins, O’Keefe and Lyon. Then he cracked 15 runs off 11 balls, before he was left stranded by Hazlewood, underlining just why the keeper should have played his shots far earlier.
Of course, the blame in this Test does not lie with Wade, who has batted well at Dharamsala.
The likes of Warner and Shaun Marsh, in particular, have let their side down at key moments.
As a result, the Australian bowlers have today been handed the cricketing version of ‘Mission Impossible’ – securing 10 Indian wickets for 87 runs or less.
Basil
Guest
How do you explain the 7/84 in Alice Springs in the Final?
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
@Christo the Daddyo lol! @Jwedlake the last thing that smith can do is to drop warner at his own disposal, simply doesnt seem to have such character of a leader where as warner clearly is an imposing personality who even now can easily make a yes man out of smithy no matter how many runs he scores and no matter how many times warner fails, thats why i believe everything will fall in place for australian cricket if CA could just interchange their current designations!
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
Australia still can walk with their head high . They showed they are not just here to compete but win as well .Credit to Australian Team
Rock
Guest
Definately agree with your last statement. Both even for me.
Joe McGrath
Roar Rookie
In a conversation discussing the best of Kohli, Root, Williamson and Smith, if you're going to use career averages it's well worth noting that only one of them started down the order as a leggie. He's averaged heaps more than 60 since he's been played as a batsman. From an Aussie perspective it's a shame Williamson could be the better bowler now.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
So Ronan, is Lyon’s effort therefore less valuable because we didn’t win? He set that first innings up, yet our batsmen let us down (again). Lyon was brilliant in the first innings of that game but, with Australia holding an 87-run lead, Lyon went missing in the 3rd innings and India were able to set a tough target for Australia. It was still a great Test from Lyon. But the difference is that SOK dominated both innings at Pune and absolutely obliterated India, where Lyon had no impact when the game was still on the line in the 3rd innings at Bangalore. That is undeniable. Overall, I think both had equally good series.
Brasstax
Guest
Its these "little things" that decide contests in top level test cricket. Good teams are those that seize those small moments and drive home the advantage when it really matters which India have been able to do.
Cav
Guest
Bit late to start talking about Khawaja now the series is lost to India, he could have been the difference, better off looking for those responsible for his non selection and get rid of them first before this happens again. Cav
Rob
Guest
How long have selectors and Lehman been trotting out the line that Maxwell doesn't score consistently. Then they pick Shaun Marsh. Mitch Marsh gets selected ahead of Maxwell scoring 2 fifties in 35 bats and selectors and Lehman trot out the line Maxwell needs to be scoring 100"s. Warner has been terrible and not just with the bat. His fielding let the team down in the 2nd Test loss.
George
Guest
And stuffed up loads of DRS calls. He had minimal impact beyond sledging. Nevill should never have been dropped in favour of an attack dog for Smith.
qwetzen
Guest
Moose, haven't you ever noticed that NSW players *never* get the vitriolic attacks that Others do? And btw, I recently suggested that Warner should be punted to which *fx: cough* someone replied that you couldn't because he had 'presence'.
Berno59
Guest
Hey Pedro the Maroon, read your comments and I agree with you. I think ever since Australia were rolled for 47 in Capetown batting collapses are like a cancer with Australian test teams since that fateful day. Steve Smith is a class batsman and scores runs anywhere in the world. The rest of the top six, well you wouldn't bet on them to get you home. Unless of course, they are filling their boots scoring runs on flat, docile roads here in Australia. Overseas teams once feared Australia in Australia but look at the conditions now. No wonder our quicks are breaking down bowling their guts out for little reward while a bevy of flat track bullies inflate their batting averages at whim. You are right about Shaun Marsh, he isn't the future, injury prone, ordinary in the field now too. I agree with you about Warner too, he has proven himself to be a flat track bully. He'll score heavily on our flat, lifeless pitches, which hide our batsman's technical deficiencies overseas, just look at Trent Bridge 2015, all out 60. Yes, test cricket is tough, that's why it is called 'Test' cricket, a test of your mental toughness, your ability to play the game and pride in pplaying for your country.
qwetzen
Guest
Why is it that you are *completely* unable to recognise the fact that Lyon played a good sized bite of the series with an injured spinning finger? Jeez! I even wrote in the next sentence to the one you quoted; "It wasn’t for Lyon’s dodgy digit the stats would have been conclusive." "and SOK actually bowled Australia to a win, whereas Lyon’s best effort was in a loss.". Brilliant. So it's Lyon's fault that we couldn't win another Test. Got it.
Beauty of a geek Brains of a bimbo
Guest
Yes okeefe not lyon
rock
Guest
So Ronan, is Lyon's effort therefore less valuable because we didn't win? He set that first innings up, yet our batsmen let us down (again). I'd say that they were pretty identical, both looked better in different games. However, apart from Pune SOK has looked not to threatening but kept it tight & Lyon looked threatening in all tests apart from Ranchi (his digit didn't assist either) where no bowler did.
rock
Guest
Add Sayers to that list as well (who may even be ahead of Bird).
doogs
Guest
I agree if you are going to criticise people then do so to others equally deserving. Warner has been ordinary overseas. That is true. But following your rationale so have many others overseas. Actually most of them. There are not that many that stand out batting outside their country. So it is fair of you to criticise Warner, but why not look at others yourself. Would that be fair comment?
ViratKohli
Roar Rookie
"At stumps on day 2 Australia were clearly ahead in this Test and in a great position to pull off an incredible series win." Where did that come from?? Which match are you talking??? Ind were trailing only 63 runs and had 4 wickets in hand with both jadeja and Saha batting.
doogs
Guest
I disagree. I think Smith is a good captain. I am sure he does not get it right all the time but he is doing a good enough job. People were screaming and whining for Clarke to move on as he was divisive in the team - apparently. According to commentators and players Smith is well liked and has the full backing of the team. He also kept his calm when Kohli was giving him a spray. As for Maxwell being the best looking batsman compared to Smith made me gag. Great to see him in the team though.
doogs
Guest
That phrase has been over-used. Maybe think of another one. Mix it up a bit