Hello 49204084041, India cries wrong number in Australia
By: Auri Ghosh
Tags: Australia, Cricket, India, Sports, Adelaide

India in the second innings of the Adelaide test recorded what’s their lowest ever test score, a score of 36/9, and with that they beat their previous lowest, a total of 42 recorded against England in 1974. A new record India seriously could have done without!

A score of 36 ensured that India went from a position of strength, a lead of 53 runs in the first innings, to setting Australia a modest total of 90 to win the first test. Australia obliged and finished the contest off with 8 wickets in hand. What’s worse is that Md. Shami, one of India’s fast bowling mainstays, ended up with a broken arm and is probably out of the test series.

Indian first innings

India won the toss and chose to bat first. On an Adelaide wicket which is typically slow on the first day and speeds up considerably on days two and three, this was a stroke of luck for India. However, India started poorly, the woefully out of form Prithvi Shaw getting out early, but consolidated well with Pujara and Kohli to get to around 180 odd for the loss of just three wickets.

As things were looking bright and beautiful for India, disaster struck. Ajinkya Rahane called Kohli for a nonexistent single, and once Kohli was mid pitch, turned his back on him. Having played a masterful innings thus far, and while looking set for another test hundred, Kohli perished for 74. This triggered a collapse of sorts and India folded for a modest 244.

Australian first innings

The Australian team has been struggling with their batting too, and their top order has missed David Warner like a fish misses water. The Indian bowling on the other was immaculate.

The pacers were patient. And the Indian bowling innings unfolded like a Quentin Tarantino classic, a typical slow burner. Slowly but surely the Indian bowlers spread their tentacles and in no time the Australian top order had been sent back to the pavilion, at one point Australia were reeling at 111/7.

Tim Paine played a captain’s innings, scoring 73*, and taking Australia close to India’s first innings total.

But again the old habit of not being able to finish off the tail came back to haunt them, and Australia ended up posting 191. A total of at least 50 runs more than what should have been. A lead which should have been at least a 100 ended up being a mere 53.

Indian second innings

With a lead of 53 runs, India was still the popular choice for running out winners in this one, but what unfolded on the third morning was beyond comprehension. A batting collapse of epic proportions, which left even the most garrulous of commentators dumbfounded.

Hazelwood and Cummins run riot, picking up 9 wickets between them and all but guaranteeing an Aussie win at Adelaide. In under an hour India had surrendered and given the test match away.

4 9 2 0 4 0 8 4 0 4 1 — this was what all the eleven Indian batters scored, not one making it to double figures.

Australian second innings

Cummins gave Aussies the early breakthroughs on day 3

The Australian batters rode the euphoria of their bowling innings. They knew they had only 90 to get and they batted accordingly, flaying at deliveries outside the off stump and dispatching anything on the pads. India was a bowler short having lost Shami to injury, and it showed.

In the end Australia were comprehensive winners by 8 wickets.