IND V AUS | BORDER - GAVASKAR TROPHY |
4TH TEST, GABBA | BRISBANE
DAY 1 REVIEW
On a day when three India bowlers, two debutants, took their maiden Test wickets, the team erred on an equal number of occasions that may prove fateful for them.
First the errors and their consequence:
1. Skipper drops Labuschagne
India's stand-in captain, Ajinkya Rahane has been the epitome of a calm, composed and patient player from the time he took over from Virat Kohli.
Friday was that rare occasion when India's cricket fans and his teammates saw Rahane let go a crucial catch from the bat of Australia's main scorer in this series, Marnus Labuschagne.
The batsman, who seemed to be batting at a pace similar to Cheteshwar Pujara, was on 37.
Labuschagne gets a life! 😰
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021
Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/IzttOVtrUu pic.twitter.com/8FoaapsPGe
2. Another drop, another life
Labuschagne lived another batting life as he was dropped again in the slip, a mess up between wicket keeper Rishabh pant and first slip fielder Pujara, when on 48.
As a result of these spurned opportunities, the batsman ended up scoring a ton (108) before debutant T Natarajan sent him back for his second wicket on debut.
"I tell myself to be cool, when you get to a hundred just carry on. It's about how that moment is, I don't plan my hundred celebration. Little bit disappointed that I got out," ESPNCricinfo quoted Labuschagne saying.
3. You see Green, Opposition Red
Australia's batsman-who-can-bowl allrounder, Cameron Green was happy to live on after he was dropped by Shardul Thakur off his own bowling, when on 14.
Green took the life as a blessing and stitched an unbroken 61-run stand with his skipper, Tim Paine.
These three errors and the omission of spinner Kuldeep Yadav from the playing 11 may prove detrimental to India's progress in this final of four Tests.
India's Probable Strategy
The inclusion of Mayank Agarwal instead of Yadav suggests coach Ravi Shastri, Rahane and vice captain Rohit Sharma (considering he was consulted) want to either bat Australia out or pack enough arsenal to ensure the opposition is not able to claim 20 wickets in this match.
With the inclusion of Thakur and Washington Sundar, both potential allrounders, Team India have made clear they have batsmen up until No. 8 and who collectively can wear out the Aussie quartet of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
This way, when India succeed in etching out a draw, they'll be retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Batting legend whose name adorns the trophy, Sunil Gavaskar, as commentator, feels India's story since 1932 has been that they take the first five wickets in a Test innings efficiently, then struggle to dismiss the last five wickets.
The Little Master may have said this in jest or from experience and not as a prediction expert.
However, India's 4-Test old collective bowling experience will need to pick up the gauntlet and prove Gavaskar wrong.
Australia's 6th wicket partnership is unbroken at 61 runs and the team is on 274 for 5. Gavaskar feels the game is 50.5 percent in favour of the hosts and 49.5 with India.
You, India's ardent cricket fan would want Rahane and his men to strategize better before they take the field on Day Two, Saturday. You'd also want them to repeat their CIA (Character, Intent, Attitude) qualities during the remaining days of this Test.
Could India's rookie bowlers bundle the Aussies out under 400?
Observing the way they bowled their heart out on the first day, restricting Australia to below 400 is achievable, even without Navdeep Saini, who is the latest addition to India's woeful injury list with a groin strain.
And could India's top order ensure they bat only once in this Test?
This too is achievable, provided the team thinktank do not tinker with the budding opening pair of Sharma and Shubman Gill and hoping The Hitman doesn't lose his wicket to an impulsive shot.
India's batting strength in this Test possess the skill. They now need to believe and show that where's there a will, there's a way.
India's three bowlers who claimed their maiden Test wicket. A memorable feat:Maiden Test wicket for @Sundarwashi5 and it is a biggie!
Steve Smith is caught brilliantly by @ImRo45 at short mid-wicket. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND
Details - https://t.co/OgU227P9dp pic.twitter.com/TFYk203Guk
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021
First Test wicket for @Natarajan_91 👏.
Wade departs for 45.
Live - https://t.co/bSiJ4wW9ej #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Q0kOX0YCmb
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021
Perfect start!
Maiden Test wicket for @imShard and maiden Test catch for @Sundarwashi5. The fast bowler strikes off his first ball in the match. Harris gone for 5. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND
Details - https://t.co/OgU227P9dp pic.twitter.com/IoM7LNbca2
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021
Maiden Test wicket for @Sundarwashi5 and it is a biggie!
Steve Smith is caught brilliantly by @ImRo45 at short mid-wicket. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND
Details - https://t.co/OgU227P9dp pic.twitter.com/TFYk203Guk
First Test wicket for @Natarajan_91 👏.
Wade departs for 45.
Live - https://t.co/bSiJ4wW9ej #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Q0kOX0YCmb
Perfect start!
Maiden Test wicket for @imShard and maiden Test catch for @Sundarwashi5. The fast bowler strikes off his first ball in the match. Harris gone for 5. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND
Details - https://t.co/OgU227P9dp pic.twitter.com/IoM7LNbca2
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