There’s no doubt the Australian camp will be thrilled at the result in the first Test, which seemed a very long way away after both sides had completed their first innings.
India rightly earned a significant lead (that should have been even larger), but for some poor catching. Most cricket fans will only remember the series-opening day-night Test for India’s unbelievable second innings collapse, but at one stage in their first innings, Australia were 7 for 111.
Tim Paine managed to cobble together another 80 runs with Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood. In effect, three tail-enders stood between an okay first innings and a very poor first innings. The rest, as they say, is history.
There’s no doubt Australia will be confident heading to Melbourne, but that confidence cannot turn into cockiness or complacency.
For a start, India cannot field or bat that badly again. These are the two areas that let them down badly in the first Test. There’s little doubt they’ll be working hard on both these areas of the game over the coming days and Australia should expect significant improvement in both departments.
India also have fond recent memories of the Boxing Day Test.
If we look back to the last time these sides met at the MCG, India kept exactly the same Australian attack in the field for just over 169 overs, grinding out 443 runs and only losing seven wickets in the process. Jasprit Bumrah then had a field day, taking 6 for 33, restricting Australia to a first innings score of 151 and eventually running out comfortable winners by 137 runs and to a 2-1 series lead.
All of that action happened after Australia easily beat Virat Kohli’s men by 146 runs in Perth, with India only making 140 in its second innings. Naturally, Australia were both elated and confident coming into Melbourne in 2018, but a Cheteshwar Pujara masterclass in batting put Tim Paine’s men well and truly in their places and the Australians never recovered in that series.
Australia’s gloveman and captain, Tim Paine (Photo by Mark Brake – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Things are clearly different this time around in the India XI – Kohli, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami are now all unavailable. There’s no doubt the Indians will miss the class all three bring to the team, but they still have plenty of guys capable of stepping up, especially against an Australian batting side that looked distinctly frail in Adelaide.
Guys like Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant can take the game away from Australia in a session, that is, after Pujara has done his thing! Then Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj can take on a weak opening pair and an underperforming top order.
A further reason for the Australians not wanting to be complacent is because the Boxing Day Test is not one India needs to win. Of course, they’ll be doing their best to level the series, but a draw for them is not the worst result.
Remember, India hold the Border/Gavaskar trophy and only need to draw the series to retain it. They’ll seriously fancy their chances at the SCG, where they made well over 600 last tour and guys like Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Jadeja would be a handful.
If they draw the MCG Test and win in Sydney, Australia have to win in Brisbane and trying to force a result is a very hard thing to do, especially with unpredictable Brisbane weather a chance to play its part in the result.
Many are suggesting this series is already over thanks to the result in Adelaide, but it would be folly for Australian players to believe that and play accordingly. The Indian side is still chock full of talent and they will be smarting at the way they lost first up and keen to make amends for their fans back home.
The Boxing Day game could well be the defining Test of this series and Australia cannot afford to take India lightly.
If the team thinks it’s already got this series wrapped up, there’s every chance India could cause the same sort of embarrassment at the MCG as Tim Paine’s men did at the Adelaide Oval.
Paul
Roar Guru
and Rahane will be wanting to prove himself as a captain, so he won't be easing up.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
India have beaten us in what one series in the last however many years in Australia…., their King goes home, one of their most consistent bowlers breaks his arm, Australia’s Best bat made two runs last test…….. I think Australia are looking pretty. I won’t be going and putting anything on India to win the series, but if the Boss let’s me I might just put the mortgage on Australia to win the series….
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Ahhh the dulcet tones.....
bowledover
Roar Rookie
Agreed - not reason to be complacent at all. I also see a lot of people saying missing Kohli somehow deprives india of its 'drive'. I think maybe that is the 'old' indian team they might be dreaming of... because this new indian team even sans Kohli have plenty of drive, know how to win and want to win, but maybe just arent as aggressive as kohli doesnt mean it isnt there. I dont think Aus' top order batting woes are fixed at all. Burns has a decent 50 odd, but needs to back that up with something to show it . Also really hoping Marnus and Smith will hopefully show something of the form they had last year. Lastly, there is a question around Starc vs Pattinson for MCG, be interesting to see which way they go.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
" No it didn’t work both ways. Shots that fall short of fieldsmen aren’t catches" Ya it does. I can say it were genuine edges that were produced vs some rash shots from Aussies which probably they wouldn't have played if they were going after 180. That review alone could get 50 runs off the board & triggered a faster collapse. Indians couldn't catch because they can't field. Simple :laughing: "So you’ve already written off India’s chances completely. Hopefully your countrymen playing in Melbourne don’t think the same way" Yaa. But my countrymen won't let it that easy for 36, I can promise that :laughing: :laughing:
Paul
Roar Guru
"“which seemed a very long way away after both sides had completed their first innings.” The two best batting lineups in world cricket had been both rolled, one for under 250 and the other for under 200. Paine would have been worried big time, if Australia had to chase in excess of 170, I reckon. "“(that should have been even larger), but for some poor catching. Yaa, it works in both ways.” No it didn't work both ways. Shots that fall short of fieldsmen aren't catches. India grassed genuine chances, Australia missed one, from memory. “All of that action happened after Australia easily beat Virat Kohli’s men by 146 runs in Perth, with India only making 140 in its second innings.” My point here, is India has been in a similar position before, where they had to pick themselves up after what was a poor loss and they managed to win next Test. Why can't they do that this year? As for the MCG pitch, no-one, not even the curator, can be sure what sort of wicket will roll out, nor how each team will bat or bowl on it. That's one of the great beauties of Test cricket. “If India can make it 3-0 rather than 4-0 which i am pretty sure would be the result, i will give them much credit ????.” So you've already written off India's chances completely. Hopefully your countrymen playing in Melbourne don't think the same way.
Paul
Roar Guru
Nope, I have learned to live by the adage "happy wife, happy life". That's made me an expert in time management. Just as I hit the "submit" button, I heard her dulcet tones calling me then she appeared - with yet another list! :crying: I think many were predicting this series could come down to the two attacks but maybe it's about which batting unit can survive long enough. There's clearly huge room for improvement in the way both teams go about building a score. On paper, Australia is better placed, given it's playing at home and has two of the top 3 or 4 bats in world cricket, but I really think it would be a mistake to underestimate India.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
good read. but aint so sure if some points i get to agree with "which seemed a very long way away after both sides had completed their first innings." Because of 50 runs lead? In that case, can we get to agree that Aussies were better than india & well were on the track to win their first series in india during their last tour because after winning first match, Aussies also had lead in second match after first innings? That sounds weird. "(that should have been even larger), but for some poor catching." Yaa, it works in both ways. In first innings indians nicked everything except only to fall short of slip. Aussies skied those. All of the indian batters that scored 40+ should've gone in single digit, that's without considering the review. Paine scored 50+ after that dropped catch & lazania edged at 0. If i do the math, both of them should've been all out around 100-110. But then the question remains, if india was all out at 100, would aussies played same way they played? "All of that action happened after Australia easily beat Virat Kohli’s men by 146 runs in Perth, with India only making 140 in its second innings." Yaa. The only pitch that had bounce. MCG was low slow flat wicket. Not even those traditional hard flat wicket from 2014. Pujara is a dud outside his comfort zone. Barely averaged 40 in SA, his average in NZ & England is abysmal at best. They dished him out the best home condition outside home. Anybody remember how he was bowled by cummins delivery that stayed low & sneaked under his bat on day 2 pitch? "If the team thinks it’s already got this series wrapped up, there’s every chance India could cause the same sort of embarrassment at the MCG as Tim Paine’s men did at the Adelaide Oval." If india can make it 3-0 than 4-0 which i am pretty sure would be the result, i will give them much credit :laughing: Granted, aussie batting needs work. I would bring handscomb in place of head. Don't think burns is gonna be dropped after that, so opens with warner if he is fit. Wade is back to is position. I would go with hoff, cummins, patto in bowling. If the pitch is anything like it was during kiwi tour, this match should be over too within 4 days :laughing:
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Paul, you're a man after my own heart, with another great analysis so quickly after the last one, but please do tell, was this to get out of those chores you mentioned yesterday? :laughing: There's always room for improvement and Australia are not out of the woods yet, cracks were papered over in the batting department, especially. The bowling doesn't need much tweaking, if at all, and Cameron Green was a useful fifth bowling option in Adelaide. Top-order dilemmas have not been resolved, and there are still many questions, the answers to which aren't going to come easily.