Half a session of relentlessly accurate, world-class fast bowling is what it took to bring the Indian batsmen on their knees and eventually give in with 36 runs on the board.
It was bowling of the highest quality and proved too stern an examination for India to pass.
What works for India, though, is that this was the first of four Test matches, and the fact that it ended well inside three days provides plenty of time for the think tank to retrospect and work on some of the shortcomings.
So how exactly can India make their way back into this series?
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
1. Tell themselves that it was an aberration
Now, this in no way is suggesting that India put in even a half-decent performance on Day 3, but the last thing they’d want is to create self-doubt within the camp by telling themselves that they aren’t good enough. Test cricket is as much a mental game as it is technical.
You don’t get skittled out for 36 too often, and India should accept that it was an absolute freak of a performance from Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins that defied all sorts of cricketing logic, data and statistics.
2. Decisiveness in footwork
The batting coach, Vikram Rathour, has his work cut out for the next week or so. He must constantly remind his batsmen that the fundamentals of shot-making require preciseness of footwork, be it during defence or attack. More so outside of the Subcontinent, you must commit. As immaculate as Australia were with their lines, India were tentative with their footwork.
Just by looking at how Tim Paine played, one can learn so much. When he wanted to cut he rocked right onto the backfoot, and while in defence he got forward and played it like he meant it.
If India let the indecisiveness of Adelaide creep into Melbourne, the game could potentially be lost before it even starts.
3. Drop Prithvi Shaw
If it wasn’t evident enough from his batting, Shaw’s fielding was an accurate reflection of where his level of confidence stands. At this point, yes, there are technical flaws, but the mental demons are eating into his strengths as a cricketer.
For a free-flowing batsman like him, confidence is the name of the game. To maintain and lift that confidence, characters like Shaw require a bit of special care and must be looked after, perhaps even more than the rest. For his own sake India must drop Shaw and allow him some time off the game.
Years later, after scoring thousands of Test match runs, Prithvi Shaw will tell us of how tough a time this was and the fact that it proved to be the turning point of his illustrious career.
4. Lift the fielding standards
Going by the number of times that Jasprit Bumrah managed to induce chances, he should’ve had a fifer.
The fast bowlers are the heartbeat of this Indian team. The batsmen have been letting them down for a couple of years now, and if the fielders start doing the same, it won’t bode well for the morale of the side.
Neither the slip catching nor the outfield catching was up to Test match standards, let alone being suitable for the No. 3 ranked side in the world. Fielding posed an issue on the New Zealand tour, but it was let off as an exception. Now, it’s a reason for concern, and depending on the results that follow, it will only be highlighted further.
If India are to fend off the demons of Adelaide, the senior pros in Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane must assert themselves with big, mighty hundreds. The MCG will in all likelihood provide a flatter surface and India should at worst look to settle for a draw.
Going into Boxing Day, Australia hold a firm advantage and surely won’t shy away from a sledge or two on how this indeed will be remembered as ‘the summer of 36’.
Tanmoy K.
Guest
India need to replace their fielding coach Sridhar immediately with Jonty Rhodes, who was interested to do that service for India, to improve their fielding standards.
Tanmoy K.
Guest
In absence of Virat Kohli, India's middle order will be weakened for sure, as it's impossible to replace a batsman like him. But with the possible inclusion of Rahul, Gill, Pant and Jadeja they will increase their capacity of batting and bowling. Secondly Melbourne pitch with red-ball will not be that juicy like the Adelaide one.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Yeah if Kohli was still here I'd be thinking Caribbean 1999 ...
Chanon
Guest
Got a lot of respect for the Indian team as a whole but there fielding was atrocious and in the 2nd innings l don’t think they did too much wrong it’s just that Hazlewood & Cummings performed brilliantly! I’m sure there mind coaches will try some hypnotic treatment & get them cherry ripe for the Boxing Day test!
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
groan
Shaan Waseem
Roar Rookie
The only issue with India's batting in the first innings was that as always, it was centered around Kohli. Nobody apart from him looked convincing enough, and that is a bit of a worry at the moment. Some of the reports are suggesting that there is a bit of panic within the camp and that the BCCI is pulling up some of the senior players. I don't think that does any good, more so in the midst of a tour. On present form, maybe Rahul would be a better bet than Shaw. The issue with Shaw is that his patchy form has been on since the IPL and he seems to have lost faith in his technique, which is the worst space to be in as a batsman. Not that it's a valid excuse, but I felt that the fielders switched off and weren't expecting so many chances to come their way. Even they were taken aback. Gill was always the right pick and it's about time that India groom their future line of batsmen around him. A First Class average of 68 indicates just how good a talent he is!
Shaan Waseem
Roar Rookie
That's a good point. Nothing like the insurance of runs on the board. But, somewhere down the line, do you think Australia will want to bowl first at the MCG, just to play on the minds of the Indian batsmen?
Shaan Waseem
Roar Rookie
That brings about two questions; will quality players like Smith and Labuschagne continue to give so many chances to the opposition? And with Shami out, do India still have enough bite in the bowling attack to provide able support to Bumrah?
Shaan Waseem
Roar Rookie
I doubt Australia will make the mistake of taking Pujara or Rahane lightly. They've scored runs down under before and it's important from an Australian point of view to keep them silent. Pujara in particular, remains a potential threat.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Perhaps the ball was “hooping “ around too much on Day 3.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
India was terribly lucky in their first innings. I must have seen 7 or 8 chances that fell just out of reach of the Australians that on most days would have gone to the fieldsman. The first innings proved to be a false dawn.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Will the Indians now be known as the Adelaide 36er's?...
Paul
Roar Guru
Thanks for an interesting first piece, Shaan. I agree with some of your points but perhaps there are others you might want to consider. India actually outbatted Australia in Adelaide if you look at the respective first innings. There was a clear plan in place and for a lot of day one, it worked. They need to go back to basics, have a clear plan PLUS a clear way of implementing that plan which you alluded to, ie decisive footwork & decision making. I don't think there's any need for India to tell themselves what an aberration that second innings was, we all know it, so they can move on. I also don't think dropping Shaw will do the side any good when his possible replacement is not much better with the bat. I also don't think it will do him any good, dropping him after one innings, ( I don't count the second innings because everyone failed). A further thing India needs to do is really concentrate in the field. They are all perfectly capable of fielding well, they've done it many times in different formats, but staying focused and executing their skills in a Test match, is way harder. The final thing they need to do is trust each other to perform. This side, until fairly recent times was the best Test side in world cricket and rightly so. It has at least 4 or 5 guys who are top class, but even newcomers like Shubman Gill seem to have that something that defines them as a possible legend in waiting. If they have confidence each can and will do their respective jobs, they're perfectly capable of coming back from the loss in Adelaide.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
india must bat again at the MCG,and least make 350 1st Inns.then they must field better than they did which was very poor.they must let not Australia get more than 250 runs.2nd inn india must throw everthing even the kitchen sink at Australia,and let Australia chase at least 370 plus.If on other hand if Australia bat 1st it will be good night irene.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
The fielding is a big one. It cost you big time. Fix that and you're half way there I reckon.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
By showing they can do one better getting 26 next time :laughing:
McBumble
Guest
Beware the sleeping giant! India have the batting skill and talent to bite back and bite back hard. AUS will need to be wary, despite Kohli on his way back home, they still need to respect the opposition. I feel a draw or India to take the 2nd test. Australia's batting worries were all forgotten after the outstanding 2nd inns bowling.
josh
Roar Rookie
How does India respond to the humiliation of 36? By at least scoring 37.