India was well within reach to thump Australia by a massive margin with the hosts reeling on 12 for 3 chasing a mammoth 534 victory target following the twosome heroics of 22 year old Yashasvi Jaiswal from the new order who crowned himself with a dream debut century 161, and Virat Kohli of the old guard as the 36 year old notched his 30th test century of exactly 100 not out breaking the legendary Sir Donald Bradman’s record of 29 on a dramatic third day of the first test match at Perth today.
Kohli rode a 16-month drought in silencing critics unleashing a mercurial back to form ton comprising 8 boundaries and 2 sixes to coming within reach of fourteen other players with more centuries and drawing level with Mathew Hayden and Shivnarine Chanderpaul with three others Steve Waugh, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, the immediate ahead of him with 32 each.
India’s stand in captain the gangling Jasprit Bumrah, who was the playmaker in pulling his side out of the doldrums of a first innings 154 to ripping out Australia for 104 with a 5 for 30 magical spell of pace bowling, was again right on spot with a 2-wicket grab to sounding the death knell to the Aussies trapping Nathen
McSweeney leg before wicket for a duck and Marcus Labuschegene in similar fashion for 3 while Mohammad Shami had night watchman the Aussie skipper caught by Kohli for 2
Australia was struggling on a pitch that India cartered the Aussie bowlers for 487 runs in their second essay after being bowled out for 150 in the first innings is a mystery in the recorders book.
The visitors, after bowling out the Australian batters in their own backyard for 104 runs, have dominated proceedings yet again with the unplayable weapon of Jasprit Bumrah with the scalping of his 5 victims in their first innings and ended the third day’s play by scalping 2 victims trapped LBW with his yorker length deliveries to which the home team seem to have no cure.
What’s up Australia is what the pundits and coutch critics will ponder, but the Aussies will live with the reality of the Bumrah nightmare.
A target of 534 is no easy equation even to the best in the world, be it home soil or any soil period. I still remember Steve Waugh, the former captain of the mighty Australian army in their sunshine day’s state, the dangers of a night watchman being dismissed.
Sadly, it has gone to pass today with Pat Cummins taking on this role, having no clue on how to handle the wrath of Jasprit Bumrah.
The Australian bowling attack having a few cracks in their own backyard is a cause for concern. Shane Warne and Glenn Magrath were the Aussie hunting pairs in the golden era, but today, that quality of spin and seam is a missing link with the current crop of Australian bowlers against world class batters.
Jaiswal 161, Virat Kholi, once again shut the mouth of his critics with his record unbeaten 100, whilst K.L.Rahul has proved that he is no mug with the willow even in the red ball format.
To state that Australia can save this game is a herculean task , hence, it’s fair to come to the conclusion that it’s not too much but almost a tag as impossible against the likes of Bumrah and company.