With Australia 333 in lead, and last man standing, India can fancy their chances on final day
May be required to score at four runs per over, which, on paper, is doable
If only the top order can stand up, NOW!
Who says the days of Test cricket are over! The home of the longest format of the game, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), has seen record crowds throng the massive stadium to watch the Boxing Day 4th Test match for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which has sprung new surprises every single of the four days which have gone by, with a thrilling finish in prospect on the final day on Monday.
After the fluctuating fortunes, brilliant bowling performances, and remarkable resilience shown by the lower order batsmen from both sides, it’s anybody’s game at stumps on the fourth day.
The home team’s tail wagged and wagged, after another top order batting collapse, triggered once again by the wizardry of Jasprit Bumrah, this time ably supported by an inspired bowling effort by Mohammed Siraj. From attempting to make quick runs, their focus shifted to saving the match.
(LATEST UPDATE: However, the hard work of the Indian bowlers was negated by yet another top order collapse, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc sending back the top three batters – Rohit Sharma (9), KL Rahul (duck) and Virat Kohli (5) – with just 33 runs on the board in 26.1 overs, leaving the young Yashasvi Jaiwal and Rishab Pant to hold the fort.)
From 91/6 at one stage, the Aussies held on to dear life, with No. 3 batsman Marnus Labuschagne managing to survive long enough to get to 70, and captain Pat Cummins again making a solid contribution of 41 runs. The unbeaten 55-run last wicket stand between Nathan Lyon and local hero Scott Boland further solidified the Aussie position by taking their total to 228/9. They lead by 333 runs by virtue of their 105 run first innings advantage.
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The Aussies may not have reached this far had young Indian batting sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal not had his worst nightmare in the field. The usually safe hands floored as many as three catches at crucial moments of the innings.
Considering what the Indian batting line-up, especially the lower order, is demonstrably capable of, and should top guns Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fire too, the Aussie team management would want the last wicket pair to occupy the crease for a little longer on the final day and add a few more valuable runs, thereby obviating the possibility of an Indian win while trying to force a win.
For India, it would take the biggest successful fourth innings run chase at the MCG, but the famous Gabba Test of the 2020-21 tour should act as a reminder to the Aussies that nothing is beyond the Indian team’s potential abilities.
However, Marnus Labuschagne believes the conditions at the MCG are trickier. “The seam movement’s probably been the same, but just the amount of bounce is significantly lower. So, that makes for pretty tricky batting,” he is reported to have commented on the prospects for the final day’s play.
As things stand, Australia will have around 90 overs to capture 10 Indian wickets, while the visitors will need to score at around four runs per over to decide who heads into the final NRMA Insurance Test at Sydney starting Friday with a decisive lead.
The second slot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, to be played at the Lord’s in June 2025, is also at stake for both sides. Australia is currently ahead of India in the race to clinch the second slot, and a win at MCG would make their passage easier. South Africa have already made it to the WTC final with a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Test match which ended at the Centurion on Sunday.
India still fancy their chances of making it a hattrick of WTC final berths if they win both Tests in Melbourne and in Sydney and take the series 3-1, leaving the rest to other outcomes.
Earlier in the day on Sunday, India’s overnight hero Nitish Reddy’s innings, and with him India’s, ended with the addition of only 11 runs, reducing India’s deficit to105.
As expected, Nitish Kumar’s inspiring knock appeared to infuse fresh confidence and determination in the Indian team, and both Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, who shared the new ball, came hard at the Aussie openers, who had little answer to their seaming deliveries. Bumrah tasted first blood, taking sweet revenge for his first innings hammering by teenage debutant Sam Konstas, castling him through the gate for just 8.
Though Akash Deep equally troubled the top order batsmen no end, he was not so lucky with wickets.
First change Mohammed Siraj looked a different bowler altogether. His inspired spell saw off the other shaky opener Usman Khwaja (21), whom he clean-bowled, and Steve Smith (13), who edged an almighty heave at a widish ball to Rishab Pant behind the stumps.
Then came Bumrah’s blitz in his three-over second spell when he got rid of the dangerous Travis Head (1), for the second time in the match, Mitchell Marsh (duck), and Alex Carey (2). Australia lost 4-11 in 21 balls to crash from 2-80 to 6-91, and Jasprit Bumrah took 3-3 in 11 balls.
