Maybe, it was befitting that the final act of an absorbing series came down to a last two innings shootout. India, save Rishabh Pant’s blitzkrieg, faltered. At lunch on Day 3 of the third Test in Sydney, Australia were 71/3, needing another 91 runs to win the game and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Anything still can happen in this glorious game of uncertainty, but the hosts will fancy their chances against a Jasprit Bumrah-less Indian attack.
On a pitch that still has enough for the fast bowlers, Australia are going at more than five runs per over. Both Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna have been loose, although the latter has taken three wickets. Steve Smith’s dismissal, in fact, has kept the door ajar for India.
After carrying India on his back for the whole series, Bumrah’s back developed back spasm. It provided the perfect metaphor, a bit serio-comic for the tourists. It also ensured that the final morning of the series wouldn’t feature a Bumrah versus Sam Konstats face-off. The young Australian opener gave Siraj the charge before giving up his stumps to Krishna.
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Poor team selection strategy eventually came back to hurt India. Washington Sundar hasn’t bowled yet in this game. He has batted at No. 8. Maybe, on this surface, India would have been better off playing an extra specialist fast bowler.
Earlier, India’s second innings folded up for 157, giving Australia a victory target of 162. The tail didn’t wag and the excellent Scott Boland returned with 6/45 and a 10-wicket match haul.
Irrespective of the outcome of this game, this will be remembered as Bumrah’s series. Going beyond his 32 wickets at an average of 13.06, the great fast bowler sent Nathan McSweeney to Shield cricket. He has all but ended Usman Khawaja’s career. And he has exposed the chink in Marnus Labuschagne’s batting armour.
India badly missed him on the final day.
Also Read: Rishabh Pant – The Turnaround Man of Indian Test Cricket
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