Australia vs India: India Comeback in Style Claiming Boxing Day Test
Coming back from a loss is never easy in test cricket. Add to that the shame of scoring the lowest test score in decades and their captain and Men’s Cricketer of the decade leaving on parental duties, no one gave India a chance in the boxing day test at the MCG. Donning the skipper’s role for the rest of the series, all eyes were on Ajinkya Rahane to see how he lifts the team after the disaster at Adelaide. The MCG witnessed one of the best batting displays in recent years, as Rahane scored arguably the best hundred of his Test career in the first innings.
Hope in the absence of the best
Ajinkya Rahane proved his class, as the absence of Kohli was not at all felt by the Indian camp. With a neatly crafted 112 in the first innings, Rahane with the help of Jadeja put 326 on the board. Debutant Gill impressed with the bat in both innings, contributing 45 and 35* which puts Mayank’s place in the team in danger as Rohit is set to come back for the next test.
Australia started the second innings on the back foot trailing by131. The perseverance of the Indian bowlers never allowed any Australian batsman to put a big score on the board as they could only score 195 and 200 in both innings. The most surprising failure of the Australian batting lineup was Steve Smith, who is yet to score in the double digits in this series.
Ashwin vs Smith
Adjudged the Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade, the Aussie once again fell prey to Ashwin’s tactics in the first innings. In his own terms, “I’ve sort of let him dictate terms and that’s something I’ve probably never let any spinner do in my career. I’ve sort of taken it to them, been a bit more aggressive, and made them change things.” Ashwin continued to dominate Smith in the second test as Smith clipped one to Pujara off Ashwin in the first innings, walking back for a duck. He was avoiding the Indian spinner in the second innings. That didn’t work for long, as Smith exposed his leg stump and was bowled for 8 by Bumrah.
In the past Smith has stepped up when the team needed him. It is not common to see him without a big score for long. He builds his innings patiently, a trait not found in a lot of modern-day batsmen. Once he gets settled, there is no stopping him. Although unorthodox in his style, the Aussie does not have any major batting flaws which could be exploited. India never gave him the chance to settle down in any innings, quickly bringing in Ashwin and attacking as soon as he came to the crease. The trick worked, as they silenced the beast for 2 straight games.
With scores of 1, 1*, 0, and 8, Smith has never looked more out of form in recent times. Take away his name and his achievements, his performance would have put his place in the side under scrutiny. With the series level and two more games to play, Australia would be counting on Smith to get back to form quickly and not let Ashwin get to this head.
India will be looking to carry this momentum into the new year, as they face off Australia in the 3rd test of this series on January 7th in Sydney. Rahane and his men will be going for the kill as a battered and tired Australia will be counting on their big guns to step up.
