Australia captain Pat Cummins called it one of his country’s “great wins” after a dramatic final day of the fourth Test at the raucous Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Aussies stunned India by taking seven wickets in the last session of the day to win by 184 runs and more importantly take a 2-1 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy heading into the finale in Sydney starting on Jan. 2.
Cummins and his teammates were spurred on by huge crowds that filled MCG for five days even when it appeared the Test was headed for a draw. Not even the great Aussie Don Bradman could attract such a massive crowd on the final day that saw 75,000 walking through the turnstiles to take the five-day total to a world-record 373,691. “What an amazing Test match, I reckon one of the best I’ve been part of,” said man-of-the-match Cummins. “All week the crowd has been ridiculous.”
And the fans all with their jugs of beer were given a thrill like never before as the home team had India in a daze by taking seven wickets for just 34 runs as India was packaged for a meagre 155 after being set 340 in 92 overs.
And there was a stark contrast in the two dressing rooms. While the Aussies were full tilt into their traditional Foster’s beer and champagne the dressing room next door belonging to India was plunged into despair wondering what hit them. It was a shame that some sterling work by Jasprit Bumrah, the greatest fast bowler of this era, was flushed down the drain. Bumrah captured four for 99 in the first innings in Australia’s total of 474 thanks to a knock of 140 by Steve Smith. In the second innings Bumrah was at his magnificent best in grabbing five for 57 to restrict the home team to 234 after struggling at 91 for six at one stage. India was rescued by 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy who made 114 to help India fight back from 221 for seven to post 369. The first-time centurion combined with Washington Sunder (50) to take the score to 348 for eight. Earlier, 23-year-old opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal made a superb 82 before being run out.
Australia will be throwing caution to the wind in Sydney to pull off a win and that would assure it of a place in the World Test Championship at Lord’s in England in 2025 against South Africa.
India can also stay in contention to face South Africa by winning in Sydney but that’s not going to happen as this visiting squad is obviously plagued by dissent. Newly-appointed coach Gautam Gambhir appears to be out of his league and senior stars skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been a major disappointment. In fact, they would have done India a great service if they had retired before this tour Down Under.
In his last six Tests Sharma has appeared clueless. He has managed a meagre 123 runs and his tactical acumen on the field has been questioned. Sharma also came under fire in Melbourne for berating Jaiswal after the youngster flubbed a couple of catches instead of encouraging him. Kohli has been a disaster as well. The best batsman in the world in recent years has posted 7, 11, 3, 36 in his five at-bats and if his name wasn’t Kohli he wouldn’t find his name on the playing roster. Kohli also had Jaiswal needlessly run out in Melbourne when he had scored 82. Kohli also earned scorn when he went out of his way to bump shoulders with young Aussie superstar Sam Konstas. Kohli was booed by the crowd and the umpires rightly fined him 20 per cent of his match fees. What a shame that Kohli is ruining the great name he made for himself go to the dogs. The Australian media was highly critical of Kohli with one publication calling him ‘Clown’ for “pathetic bump” in Konstas’s debut. The chaos in the India dressing room started a couple of weeks ago when star all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin packed his bags and headed home following a showdown with the coach. So, things aren’t all honky-dory inside the confines of a dressing room filled with millionaires.
PROTEAS IN FINAL
South Africa has surprised itself by booking a spot in next June’s World Test Championship by holding its nerve to beat Pakistan by two wickets in the first Test at Centurion. In an exciting finish, South Africa managed to fight back from 96 for four to 99 for eight after being set 148 for victory. South Africa’s hero was star bowler Kagiso Rabada who came in at No. 10, and smashed 31 from 26 balls and starred in a 51-run partnership with fellow-pacer Marco Jansen. Scores: South Africa 301 and 150 for eight (Mohammad Abbas six for 54). Pakistan 211 and 237.
BULAWAYO RUNFEST
It rained runs in Bulawayo on Monday as the first Test between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan ended in a record-breaking draw thanks to steady rain. Zimbabwe put on a massive 586 in its first knock and Afghanistan replied with 699! Rahmat Shah (234) and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (246) shared in a 364-run third-wicket stand — a Test record for Afghanistan for any wicket. For Zimbabwe Sean Williams, Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett all hit centuries.
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