If the intensity was somewhat missing from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia made sure that Rohit Sharma’s men could take nothing for granted with an exhibition of raw pace along with controlled seam movement in Adelaide.
The comprehensive victory in the series opener in Perth could have given India a head start but the home team made full use of their pink ball expertise in the second Test. Shedding their soft image, the Australians sent across a stern message with their 10-wicket victory.
They were ready to work up a confrontation and never allowed themselves to be intimidated by India’s young brigade. The rapid change in their body language showed in the way they peppered the Indians with short-pitched stuff.
Going into the third Test in Brisbane on Saturday, expect something similar.
“Yeah, potentially. It (short ball barrage) worked out in the Adelaide Test. It’s always on the back of your mind as a bit of a plan B,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said at the match-eve news conference. “It worked in Adelaide, so I’m sure we’ll give it a shot at some point (in the third Test).”
Only a couple of years ago, South Africa were razed to the ground in two days though that wicket had a fair sprinkling of grass.
The Indians are not going to feel threatened bysuch tactics. “I think they got one tail-ender and another (lower middle order) batter out with short ball. So, I amactually not aware what success he is talking about,” Shubman Gill retorted.
“The intensity is the key, mental intensity in these conditions,” Gill said.
The Gabba pitch has already seen a transformation over the past two days. The grassy look has given way to a “sun-baked” wicket though it is expected to retain its pace and bounce. The prospect of rain and cloudy atmosphere could give it a further twist.
The Australians have already decided on including a fit Josh Hazlewood for Scott Boland after an extended practice stint at Allan Border Field on Thursday afternoon.
But the Indians remain undecided on their bowling combination. Akash Deep has put himself in the reckoning for a place in the playing XI with an impressive showing in the nets, but head coach Gautam Gambhir may give Harshit Rana an extended run. It will not be about how effective Jasprit Bumrah will be, but how much support he gets at the other end.
But it will be more about how the batters come up in the Test. A first-innings average of 18.65 runs per wicket is a true reflection of the frailty of the batting of both the teams. Rohit Sharma’s form will again come in for intense scrutiny. His batting position too remains a matter of much debate. There have been calls to return to his usual self of opening the innings after a fling at No.6.
The Gabba is no more considered a fortress for Australia. They have lost two of their last four Tests here, after losing nothing in 32 years.
“Toota hai Gabba ka ghamand (The Gabba’s pride has been shattered)" reverberated through the whole of India once Rishabh Pant hit the winning runs during their last tour in 2021. Will it be a similar script this time too?