There has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the media and in cricket commentary over the past 48 hours over the selected squad and eventual playing XI for the Australian team that took the field for the 4th Test of the series against India in Sydney. Plenty have decried that the two who were dropped, Aaron Finch and Mitch Marsh, deserved another chance and perhaps in different positions which would improve their chance of success. Others thought that the wrong people were chosen, especially given their own form leading into the match. Others still put forward their own solutions, many from far left field in order to change Australia’s fortunes. A couple of the few sensible and thoughtful thinkers and writers on cricket felt that the selectors have simply ignored form (which they claim to be using as their selection guide) and are just choosing the people they want to believe in. At the end of the day, yet another that India has dominated throughout this series, the only thing that matters is that Australia is at long odds of saving this series against a team that man-for-man is far better than they are.
It is fair to say that the rub of the green ran with India again today. Kohli called correctly at the toss again and once again got first use of a wicket that looked fairly docile from the outset and can only deteriorate as the match progresses. Of course most thought the same about the Melbourne wicket until both teams had batted on it, and much the same may well be seen to be the case here. There was no swing again after ten overs, and little turn to speak of for Lyon when he bowled. There were also a number of inside edges that somehow missed the stumps on their way to fine leg, and three or four popped balls off gloves that fell safely away from fielders. When you are winning, those things go for you, and India took full advantage.
In the long run, India’s batsmen looked confident and wanted to bat long, and Australia’s bowling at times looked lethargic and uninterested. Apart from Rahul’s early departure the Indians batted like they wanted to win a Test match. Agarwal continued on from where he left off in Melbourne, and fought through a concerted short pitched barrage from the Australian pacemen in amongst it. He had some luck but stuck to his guns until he was eventually outfoxed by Nathan Lyon and holed out to long off. Kohli went in with an attitude of batting Australia out of the game, but was found out just after tea caught off his gloves down the leg side. Australia has done a pretty fair job of restricting Kohli in this series. He has 282 runs at 40.28, something that Australia would have taken if offered at the start of the summer. Rahane too looked comfortable but was undone by a Starc ripper that climbed off a good length, while Vihari benefitted from some tired wayward bowling at the end of the day.
All of the batsmen above walked in support of Cheteshwar Pujara who again played the Australian bowlers like he was facing the Albion Park Under 13 attack. He left deliveries that other batsmen played at, he patted back 140kph deliveries like they were medium pace, and he pounced on anything short or wide and hit them to the boundary. At 130 not out at stumps off 250 deliveries, he has just ground Australia into the dust. It is his sixth century against Australia, the most he has scored against any one nation. Though Australia must have had plans to bowl against him, they have appeared clueless. He had some fortune today, twice inside edging past his stumps, but there is little going on that looks even close to finding a way to dismiss him. In an age of T20 cricket techniques and batting styles, Pujara is a Test match batting template that shows it can still be done in the old fashioned way.
It would be easy to blame the pitches this season for Australia’s difficulty in bowling India out, and there is a certain amount of disappointment that must go into that. However, Australia decided against playing a Test against India at the ground where they have had the most success, the ‘Gabba, and instead played on grounds with the three most docile pitches in the country. That hasn’t helped. But that still doesn’t excuse the fact that the four pronged bowling attack has not been lethal at all this summer. It has been rare to see any real passion from our bowlers in their spells, or even when they have taken wickets. 12 months is a long time in cricket, and last season there were wide smiles most of the time. The lack of success has obviously grated on the four and it shows on their faces and in their body language. We still won’t know just what the wicket is like until Australia bat on it, but certainly our bowlers looked down and beaten today.
At 4/303 at stumps, India now own how this game progresses. As much as they would like to win this match, they only have to draw this Test to win the series and that will be at the forefront of their minds. If they could bat for the majority of tomorrow they would likely have established a lead of 500, from which it would be almost impossible for Australia to secure a victory. As much as it would be great to play entertaining cricket, surely India will continue on as they did today and ensure they are in the drivers position come stumps on day two.
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