Australia’s bowling was not at its best on the day, even though the wicket was also offering nothing for the quick bowlers. Nathan Lyon again seemed more focused on the small patch of rough outside the right handers off stump and for awhile seemed to forget about everything else he could be bowling at. There’s no doubt that just about everyone in Australia though he should have a silly point to all batsmen, but after hearing Shane Warne say this endlessly for 24 hours it began to get a bit much for the casual viewer. Lyon eventually made the breakthrough to get Pujara after another 200-ball innings by bowling his best over of the Test, with each ball into the right spot. He then cleaned up, finishing with 6/117 as the Indians offered chances as they tried to hit him out of the attack. He didn’t have much luck in this innings but he also wouldn’t rate it as his best bowling performance either.
Mitch Starc took perhaps the worst 3/40 in Test cricket. He sprayed the ball everywhere giving Tim Paine nightmares and seemed incapable of getting the ball in the right spot. Even against the tail who he specialises in dismissing he wasn’t great, and though he did get those final wickets and didn’t leak runs (off the bat at least), his 3/40 off 22 overs really does make him look better than he bowled.
Pujara was rightly lauded for his innings, and Rahane also did well for his 70. It will be interesting to see how they go for the whole series as both were not lucky but had some fortune along the way. The way the day unfolded suited the Indians rather than the Australians, and despite the fact that they finished well ahead by setting 323 to win I’m not sure the Indian leadership will be completely happy with how the innings progressed.
With the pitch not a genuine fourth day wicket and still looking okay to bat on, Australia needed to find a way to get through to stumps with few wickets lost and as many runs as possible. It didn’t need the batsmen to allow themselves to give their wickets away, and yet that did happen again. Aaron Finch had another day will be tough for him to assess, being plumb LBW second ball but saved by Ishant Sharma’s no ball, and then caught in close right on tea which he didn’t review on advice from his batting partner, yet all evidence suggests that he didn’t get glove on it. It’s a tough one because you don’t want to be seen to burn reviews, especially at the top of the order. That won’t make Finch feel any better about it. What followed though was the onset of pressure to score when becalmed, and the loss of your wicket as a result. Harris tried to cut a ball that wasn’t there for the shot and was caught behind. Khawaja tried to hit over the top and edged to deep cover. Handscomb pulled in the air straight to mid-wicket which had been set for the shot. These dismissals in such a situation were well executed by Kohli and his bowlers, and the batsmen involved will be considering their consequences well not tomorrow.
Shaun Marsh has made it to 31 not out and Travis Head to 11 not out. Marsh simply cannot afford to fail. Australian cricket has invested too much time in his continued selection for him to fall over quickly tomorrow morning. He needs to justify the faith that has been shown in him and lead this team by his bat and at least give his team a chance to pull off a victory. Head helped saved the 1st Test against Pakistan two months ago and has shown he has the grit and determination to be a part of a historical chase. So too Paine and Cummins. It would be nice to see, but the head suggests that Ishant, Bumrah, Shamion day five to lose from this position.
Australia go into day five at 4/104, still 218 behind and with a mountain to climb to win the game. If the pitch does not deteriorate it is still within the realms of possibility, but it will require two or three innings of a lifetime from those left in order to achieve it.
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