India seems to have the best combination to play in Australian conditions. They possess batters who can play drives on the up, execute ramp shots for balls directed with extra bounce, and negate swing on offer with precise foot movement whilst avoiding poking at deliveries pitched on the fourth stump, hence the list covers all ticks from a batting perspective. Look at their bowling, controlled line and length, unplayable inswingers, and beautiful back of a length deliveries, tempting the opposition to fish at them, including sharp men in catching possession.
They, in their own backyard, lacked certain skill levels on handling spin against the less favoured black caps, Came to Australia as underdogs, minus 3 of their regular players, and outplayed the home team. This is a historic win. This also proves the depth in Indian Cricket and for the Australian supporters the nightmare that India have never lost a Border Gavaskar series after winning the first Test.
As stated by me from the cow corner, a target of 534 runs with 2 days of batting and that too against Bumrah and company Ltd is a herculean task on any venue in the world even if a team has 11 specialist batters.
Let’s unfold the centre pitch drama now. Jasprit Bumrah, who won the toss on day one, would have been tempted to bowl first on a relatively dry surface with grass on it. A pitch like this is ideal for himself and his bowling cordon with a three seam bowling attack and just one specialist spinner, Washington Sunder, in the park whilst his two main world class spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja were kept out.
The Indian captain Bumrah, one of the best new ball bowlers in all three formats, decides to bat first, an unselfish decision that Mathew Hayden stated as a brave conclusion.
Eye brows and coutch critics would have come to critical conclusions when the Indian batters were bowled out for 150. Even the experts in their wildest dreams would never ever have expected India to bowl out Australia in their own backyard for 104 runs with man of the match Jasprit Bumrah scalping 5 for 30.
Some critics were even of the view that it was a flash in the pan bowling performance, and the mighty Australian batters just had a bad day in office .
Eyes were opened when India at the end of day 2 was 172 for no loss, Jaiswal unbeaten on 90 and make shift opener K.L.Rahul a pivitol 63 not out.
Come day 3, the reality of the Indian depth, their talent, and skill levels unfolds as they carter and take the Australian bowling to the cleaners with a massive score of 487 for 6 wickets declared Jaiswal 171, ever green Virat Kholi 100 not out recording his 30th century, breaking a great Sir Don Bradmon record with the unsung hero effort of K.L.Rahul a match winning 71 , not forgetting the contribution of Nitesh Reddy who made 41 in the first innings and his valuable will contribution of 38 in the second innings.
Like I mentioned, Australia needed a riplys, believe it or not performance even by their own standards to win or draw this Test match when day 3 ended with the home team on 13 for 3 wickets, an early indication of the inevitable.
Today, Australia was bowled out for 238 runs. The top order displayed early signs of the Bumrah virus as they huffed and puffed, tasting their own medicine, which they dish out to subcontinent teams, especially at Perth.
This pitch is not as quick as the WACA, but the bounce is more unforgiving .
HiTravis Head made 89 Mitch Marsh 47, whilst the rest of the batters will not peep into the score book.
Bumrah 3 wickets for 42 runs was adjudicated as the man of the match for his 8 wicket haul . Mohd Siraj 3 for 51, new kid on the blocks Hitish Rana 2 for 68 with Washington Sundar 2 for 48 did the demonstration role to secure one of the most comprehensive wins for India.