Cricket Unadulterated

Is this one of the best comeback of recent times? This will be asked many times in the future when we look back.  We were thrilled to have Kaushal Dongre joining us in this episode.  After being bundled out for 36 in the first test at Adelaide, it was always going to be an uphill task for India to make a come back in the series. Many "experts" had written off India with 4-0 whitewash.  In the absence of key players - Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma; it was going to be the biggest test after a forgettable outing in Adelaide for this relatively young Indian side. Ajinkya Rahane, stand in skipper led the side from the front with one of the best innings under pressure and finest Test hundreds right there at the top with Lords century. India went into the Test match with 4 changes. Every player chipped in with important contributions.  Debutants Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj were brilliant in their first game and we're right on the mark  Australia after winning the toss elected to bat first at MCG. Jasprit Bumrah was excellent to start with. So were the field placements. Rahane was very proactive and made a bold call to bring the premier off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the first session ahead of seam bowler Mohammed Siraj. Ashwin was terrific and once again foxed Steve Smith in the first innings. Bumrah picked up 4 wickets, Ashwin was excellent as well and picked up 3/35. Siraj got two wickets as well. Gill replacing Prithvi Shaw at the top started confidently, survived close calls on 2-3 occasions but looked at ease for the major part of the innings.  Rishabh Pant didn't have the best of the matches keeping wickets to the spinners. But when he came out to bat, the intent to score runs was there and he scored a quick 29.  At 173/5, India looked like they might not take a substantial lead with just the allrounder to come. However Jadeja was outstanding with the bat, played a mature knock and gave good company to Rahane. Australians were poor in the field. But that should not take any credit from Ajinkya Rahane in what can be called as one of the best innings which we have witnessed and will be remembered for a long long time to come. In the second innings, Matthew Wade and Cameron Green made useful contribution along with Pat Cummins which ensured Indians had to come out and bat again. Chasing 70, India lost Mayank Agarwal and Pujara with the scorecard reading 19.  That's when Shubman Gill and Rahane ensured, there were no further jolts and ensured one of the best Indian test victories outside Asia.   With Umesh Yadav injured, T Natarajan might make his debut at Sydney. What a brilliant story it has been for him. Coming in as a net bowler to making his ODI debut, T20 debut and probably his Test debut on the same tour is simply nothing short of a fairy-tale. We are very excited to see him bowl in Sydney. For Australia David Warner has indicated that he will be back on the XI although he has not recovered completely. Will Pukovski has also been added on the squad and will make his debut. With Warner and Pukovski at the top, Wade who made a gritty 40 in second innings at Melbourne will go back to the middle order which would mean Joe Burns and Travis Head will have to miss out.  In the last segment we have tried to explain what the current WTC qualification scenario is for the top 3 ranked teams currently-  Australia, India and New Zealand .

It took us more than 24 hours to process what unfolded in front of us. What looked like a nice perfect weekend turned out to be a nightmare for the Indian cricket fans as India was dismissed to their lowest Test total. Their previous lowest total came against England in England when they were dismissed for 42 in London. To make matters worse; India's strike bowler Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the Test series due to fractured arm which he sustained while he was batting.

#AustraliavsIndia

Will India retain the Border Gavaskar trophy? India will aim to win the series. However, this would be a huge challenge for India without Kohli from the second test and with the return of modern day great Steve Smith and Warner for Australia.

India will be playing their second pink ball test and will have to face one of the best bowling attacks in the form of Hazlewood, Starc, Cummins and Lyon.

Australia have a top order worry and will miss Warner- Pukovski in the first test. Marcus Harris and Shaun Marsh might open in Adelaide.