Twitter Reacts As India Assert Themselves Into A Dominating Position Via Another Imperious Bowling Display

By Yash Mittal

Updated - 28 Dec 2020, 01:33 PM

Ravindra Jadeja, Tom Moody,Ddeep Dasgupta,India, Australia
Ravindra Jadeja [Photo-Twitter]

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An outstanding display of bowling by Team India despite an injury to Umesh Yadav has helped the visitors assert themselves into the driver’s seat as Australia finished the day at 6/133 and an overall lead of 2 runs.

Starting the day at 5/276 with an overall lead of 82, India needed Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja to stick out and negate the first hour and hopefully take the lead past the 150-mark.

The pitch showed enough signs of getting eased out, giving the duo a brilliant opportunity to stretch the lead and bat Australia out of the game.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 28: Ajinkya Rahane of India (L) speaks with Ravindra Jadeja of India after being dismissed by run-out  (Photo by Daniel Pockett – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

But, once again an untimely run-out proved to be India’s undoing. Ajinkya Rahane was the culprit when he ran out skipper Virat Kohli in Adelaide, this time he was the victim, as Jadeja, in an attempt to get to his 50, called his captain for a quick single, one that eventually led to Rahane ending up inches short of the crease.

With the pitch not doing anything, Mitchell Starc resorted to bodyline stuff against Ravindra Jadeja. The all-rounder resisted the urge to not take it on for some time before he ran out of patience and holed out to Pat Cummins at deep midwicket.

Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc celebrates a wicket with his teammates (Credits: Twitter)

Post Jadeja’s wicket, it was always going to be a matter of time before Australia mopped up the tail and it happened exactly that, as India lost their last three wickets for 20 runs with Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood knocking over Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah in quick succession to ensure that India ended up with a lead of 131.

 

Australia succumb to the relentlessness of Team India bowling attack, Again!

Trailing by 131 runs, Australia needed their opening pair to knock off a significant part of the lead without losing a wicket but Umesh Yadav’s jaffa, one that pitched on middle before seaming away wickedly to completely square-up Joe Burns, ensured that that wasn’t the case.

However, India were dealt with a huge blow when Umesh Yadav, who was in the midst of a brilliant spell, pulled up during his follow-through.

Joe Burns. (Credits: Twitter)

Matthew Wade and Marnus Labuschagne regularly rotated strikes during the initial part of their partnership to ensure that Indian bowlers had to constantly change their lines. While Wade was very patient, Labuschagne looked far more assured on the crease.

He, however, rode his luck once again survived a close LBW call on the bowling of Mohammed Siraj as ‘Umpires Call’ once again came to his rescue. But just as the partnership was beginning to develop, Ravi Ashwin once again proceeded to nip it in the bud courtesy a quicker on middle and leg, one that Labuchagne edged it straight to first slip.

India, Australia, Steve Smith
Steve Smith was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. (Credits: Twitter)

Steve Smith nearly fell to the leg-slip trap of Ashwin again but the ball just evaded the fielder, ensuring that Australia went into the final session at 2/65.

His luck, however, ran out after the Tea break as he once again fell into the leg-stump trap, this time against Jasprit Bumrah after he was beaten for pace while trying to glance it, only to see the ball dislodge the bails.

Matthew Wade and Travis Head threatened to wipe out the remaining deficit during their 27-run stand for the 4th wicket before Ravindra Jadeja trapped the opener plumb in front with a quicker delivery to end his 137-ball vigil.

India, Australia
Mohammed Siraj [Photo-Twitter]
Rahane immediately brought Mohammed Siraj in the attack and the move paid immediate dividends as Travis Head threw his hands at a length delivery outside off-stump to give an easy catch to Mayank Agarwal in the slip-cordon as Australia slipped to 5/98.

The Australians continued to slide further in the dumps as Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Tim Paine, who got a slight feather while trying to cut him off the backfoot. The on-field decision was not-out but India reviewed it immediately. Interestingly, Hotspot did not show any spot on the bat but RTS did show a spike, which was enough to overturn the on-field call.

India could have dismissed Pat Cummins as well but for Rishabh Pant, who dropped a straight-forward catch off Ashwin. Cummins and Green ensured that Australia lost no more wickets and went into stumps six down.

 

Here’s how Twitter reacted-

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1343396862619955201?s=19

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1343357530953687040?s=19

https://twitter.com/im_yash2307/status/1343352740366307328?s=19

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