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Australia vs India: Melbourne Test 2nd Day
As the cricket lovers in India seemed anxious before the start of the 2nd Test between India and Australia at Melbourne on Saturday due to loss of potency in the team after Virat Kohli’s return and Mohammad Shami’s rule-out due to injury, the reality was not the same.
On Saturday, on the first day, it was Jasprit Bumrah whose splendid bowling and noticeable captaincy from Ajinkya Rahane prevented Australia to seal its authority on India as their innings ended in 195 only. Bumra who was in brilliant form in India's last tour of Australia two years ago had scalped 4 wickets for 56 runs from his 16 overs. R. Ashwin gave him perfect assistance by capturing 3 wickets for 35 runs in 24 overs. The debutant Siraj’s name should be mentioned also as he scalped 2 wickets giving away 40 runs, one of the two wickets was Australia’s top scorer, Marnus Labuschagne who, after playing 132 balls was caught by Gill at 48. Rahane earned accolades for guiding the team, especially for field placements and change of bowling according to batsmen’s weakness.
Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal were brought into the side as well as Mohammed Siraj, the fast bowler made his debut replacing Shami, and experienced Rabin Jadeja returned to playing eleven, recovering from a concussion which forced him out of the T20 series and the first Test.
India Vs Australia: Melbourne Test 2nd Day saw India more proficient and dominating over their fancied opposition thanks to a magnificent unbeaten 104 by Ajinkya Rahane and brilliant support by Rabindra Jadeja with another unbeaten 40 and an impressive start from debutant Shubman Gill with neatly played 45 in 65 deliveries. India is 277 for five at stumps with an 82-run lead in the first innings after the rain played spoilsport
The beginning of India Vs Australia: Melbourne Test 2nd Day was under the control of Australian bowlers. Pat Cummins exhibited an inimitable eight-over spell that dismissed Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara within three runs. Pat Cummins took 2 wickets for 61 runs in 22 overs. Michell Starc also was equally sharp and penetrative as he was able to break Rahane’s bastion, forcing him edging twice but unfortunately did not get the desirable wicket. The left-arm fast bowler also bagged two wickets at the cost of 61 runs from 18.3 overs.
India Vs Australia: Melbourne Test 2nd Day had a debutant opening batsman for India as Gill, before being caught by Paine off Cummins, had dished out an impressive 45 off 65 deliveries. He hit eight fours while his opening partner Mayank Agarwal could face only six deliveries before being LBW to Starc without scoring. Pujara also was not able to settle on the crease. He as usual had faced 70 deliveries, hit one four also but never looked comfortable before caught by Pain behind the stumps off Cummins. Then Melbourne saw Rahane and Jadeja’s gallant fight, the partnership of 104 runs.
Rahane completed his 12th Test century, has played 200 deliveries so far and his only 12 fours to show his grit and indomitable spirit. Even hit by Starc’s one short-pitched delivery on his hand Rahane had to take physio’s help, making a pause of the game and during this period rain stopped the day’s play. Rahane's innings has been hailed by 'innings of a lifetime'! Virat Kohli who is in India now has showered applauds to Rahane for his courageous innings in his tweet. Simultaneously, former Indian cricketers like Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, and all-rounder Tom Moody hailed Rahane's innings as one of the finest in recent times in their tweets. Hanuma Behari and Rishav Pant however could not stand by their captain as Behari was out for only 21 runs playing in 66 balls while Rishav Pant also caught by Paine off Starc for only 29 runs.
After both the wickets fell shortly within only 57 runs, Jadeja came in and his unbeaten 40 out of 104 deliveries also was of an utmost characteristic where he has hit 3 fours.
However, Australian skipper Tim Pain became the fastest wicketkeeper to have picked up 150 dismissals behind the stumps.
Australia vs India: Melbourne Test 3rd Day updates:
India’s overnight score of 277 for 5 ended at 326 on the 3rd day morning on Monday. The skipper Ajinkya Rahane who was on the stumps with a brilliant unbeaten 104, had to return to the pavilion, being able to add only 8 runs. The misunderstanding with RabindraJadeja on the non-striking end caused the unfortunate run-out for Rahane as that turned out the key factor behind India's collapse of the last 5 wickets within only 32 runs. After Rahane was run out for 112, Jadeja who also gave superb assistance to his captain, being unbeaten 40, got out at 57. Michell Starc finished with 3 wickets for 78 while Nathan Lyon 3 wickets for 72.
Australia, trailing 131 runs behind, had to face the initial shock given by Jasprit Bumra and R. Ashwin as they are languishing at 3 for 95 in the second innings. Still, 36 runs behind in the second innings Mathew Wade has alone been fighting with an unbeaten 40 off 133 deliveries. Bumrah, Ashwin, and Umesh Yadav have scalped one wicket each as Australia lost three early wickets, especially they are on the back foot after the departure of Steve Smith, the man who was puzzled and bowled by a superb Bumrah delivery for only8 runs.
