Yet again, India’s top order crumbled on a stop-start day. Finally, when a downpour made a decisive intervention and put paid to any further chances of play, India had limped to 51/4 in their first innings. Divine intervention (rain, bad weather) spared their blushes for the day at least. Heavy rain is predicted for the next two days too, and it appears to be the visitors’ only hope to save this game.
A couple of years ago, Cricket Australia changed the Kookaburra ball to be used in Tests Down Under. The new variant doesn't get much softer when it gets old, but it doesn't swing either after 30-odd overs. From around 35th over to 80th is the best period for batting. Steve Smith and Travis Head capitalised on that on Sunday. For India to get to the 35th over, the top order needed to show more application. They failed.
IND vs AUS: India need course correction against rampant Travis Head
Australia continued to bat in the morning and took their score to 445. The way the rain has been playing peek-a-boo in Brisbane, the hosts might rue their decision to bat that long. They didn't need to. This Indian batting is bereft of runs and short of confidence. A lot of players in this batting line-up are prisoners of poor shot selection. There is a reason why India haven't posted a single 300-plus first-innings total in their last five Tests, getting folded up for less than 200 on four occasions. Young players are failing to learn from their mistakes. Virat Kohli is facing a technical issue in terms of negotiating deliveries in the off-stump channel.
This is how things unfolded, as India batted at the Gabba. Yashasvi Jaiswal got a half-volley around middle and leg from Mitchell Starc and chipped it to Mitchell Marsh at forward square leg. The shot was on, but the execution was poor.
Shubman Gill took the bait, as Starc tempted him with a delivery well outside off. He drove it hard and the ball flew to Marsh at gully.
Kohli chased a wide one from Josh Hazelwood and was out caught behind. In 2003-04, after not scoring too many runs in the first three Tests against Australia, Sachin Tendulkar decided to shun the cover drive as he went to the fourth Test in Sydney. A magnificent double-century ensued, and over 436 deliveries, the master batsman didn't play a single cover drive. He eschewed his ego.
Kohli was expected to emulate his idol, especially at a time when he is stabbing at the balls that are leaving him. The shot he tried to play was on against an old ball, on a flat pitch. The way Kohli got out was disappointing.
IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah shatters Kapil Dev's big Asian record after one-man show in Gabba
Rishabh Pant was done in by seam movement against Pat Cummins. KL Rahul looked assured at the other end, but the cream of India’s batting is gone.
“These youngsters, they have so many shots, maybe sometimes they are spoilt for choice,” Sunil Gavaskar told the host broadcaster, probably with a hint of sarcasm.
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