India's bowlers recaptured the spirit that had animated them in Melbourne to fight back on the second day of the third Test here at the WACA.
But such was the cumulative effect of their batsmen's failure, on the first day, and David Warner's balanced belligerence, spread across two and a half sessions, that despite managing 10 wickets for 155 runs, India trailed Australia by 208 on the first innings.
India had a session to bat on Saturday evening. And that's when the wretchedness of this tour, as if it were possible, grew even more miserable. Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, and V.V.S. Laxman left in such a hurry — hustled by pace and bounce, worked out by swing and control — that the mortifying possibility of a two-day finish loomed like a foul-smelling troll. India kept it at bay, only just.
Rahul Dravid (32 batting) and Virat Kohli (21 batting) took the touring side to stumps on 88 for four. Another 120 is needed to trouble Australia to bat again.
Many of the 14 wickets that fell on Saturday, certainly the four Indian ones, and Warner's 180, in contrast, showcased the WACA's singular dichotomy: the extra speed and lift make it an extremely difficult place to get started, but once the batsmen that get past that phase, with skill and no little luck, run-making can become a pleasure, for the pace and bounce can be harnessed.
Gambhir and Tendulkar were dismissed by Mitchell Starc — deliveries on either end of the spectrum, deliveries that showed how devastating the tall, young left-armer can be when he gets it right. Gambhir was bullied by a bouncer that didn't just soar, it also seamed from leg to off to be fended to gully; Tendulkar fell over a fast in-swinger, and while the great man didn't seem happy with the ‘lbw', it was out.
Sehwag and Laxman were consumed in the corridor by Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus respectively, the batsmen's lack of footwork — and inadequate adjustment by the hands that have covered for this weakness so well, so often — contributing to the dismissals.
Dravid, with a greater emphasis than normal on strokeplay, and Kohli, looking as if he belongs, kept India in the Test. These two and the ones that follow, effectively the lower-order, require a comeback at least twice as good as the one the bowlers managed on Saturday morning.
Yadav strikes
Umesh Yadav ignited the turnaround when he put a ball from around the wicket through Ed Cowan's defences. Cowan had batted solidly and industriously for his 74, the glide past gully fetching him good returns. But he couldn't weld bat and right pad securely together on this occasion, right after drinks.
Shaun Marsh and Ricky Ponting didn't last long. Marsh, the local boy, got one from Umesh that climbed on him from just short of a length; the angle across the left-hander played its role, for it's difficult to cover on a bouncy pitch. Laxman completed a sharp catch at second slip, moving smartly to his left. Ponting, who had been gifted a half-tracker by Umesh, received something altogether less pleasant: a sharp in-swinger that had him falling over before flattening the middle stump.
Warner, at the other hand, continued to show what can be achieved with a keen eye, strong shoulders, and quick arms. From a low, stable base, head steadier than a paperweight, he picked the length up freakishly early. Thus was he able to strike, with a short back-lift, deliveries as fast as 140 kmph straight down the ground for six. Till his dismissal, Warner also exhibited a shrewd batting brain: he was always on the lookout for the short single, his speed and endurance ensuring twos and threes were run regularly; when he was struck a painful blow on the elbow, he knocked the ball around for the easy runs on offer before he regained feeling in his arm.
Warner received a life on 126, when Kohli, filling in for Dravid at first slip, put down a chance off Zaheer Khan. But it was M.S. Dhoni's catch; the keeper didn't move.
Zaheer and Ishant Sharma formed a heroic partnership under the merciless sun after lunch. Ishant had Warner well caught by a back-and-side-stepping Umesh, the thickset left-handed opener undone by boredom more than anything else.
Zaheer showed his mastery from around the wicket, manipulating the ball into straightening to have Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin caught behind. Zaheer enjoyed the Haddin dismissal, a cricketing putdown after the verbal spat.
Umesh earned his first five-wicket haul; R. Vinay Kumar took his first Test wicket; Siddle helped himself to 30: these were the events of note, as Australia was dismissed for 369.
Sadly for the Indians, any good cheer they may have experienced was soon to die; the hundreds of seagulls that waited expectantly may well have been vultures.
Keywords: India's tour of Australia
simply Indian cricket team lacked imagination to tackle good but not lethal bowling attack it seems that Indian batsmen cannot play good fast bowling the three seniors sachin,dravid laxman should gracefully retire after this series and there should be revamp in administration of bcci with the size of population and the enthusiasm of cricket in India it makes no sense why a world class team cannot be produced .moreover Indian have made ordinarily cricketers there god sachin has never been able to win matches outside India. Indian bowling has never been a great force winning on Indian soil is not a great deal as the pitches are tailor made for lousy player.
We can't blame totally our players,because they are playing too many matches. Why don't we give chance to our youngsters? BCCI should plan in such a manner that our young players get chances. Another point is our senior players are becoming old and there should be a compulsory retirement.India is very big nation with huge potential players. If the authorities make search in rural areas they can get good potential fast bowlers and batsmen.Don,t see only cities come to places like Usilampatti and Theni and select people. Give them proper training and expose them. There should be no bias in the name of language or religion. Consider all as Indians. Definitely Indian cricket will be always the number one in the world.
Dhoni and the manager have no courage and do not take any risks. Why take 16 players and select only the same 11 for every test in hope rather than on reality ? You are only demoralising the other five.
While most of the senior players have been criticized and cries of 'drop them' are loud, no one seems to notice that failure of the "God of Cricket" has done nothing to hang on in the Team India. His failure to get his 100th,hundred has been demoralising to the rest of the team, who are forced to live "His" dream century and the nightmare when he fails. It is high time he was taken off the pedestal, and made to realise that his dismal performance has been the bane of the Team India. Bashing Dhoni is possibly the last thing that should be done for what can one man do when there is so much rot. Indians in general should stop making "heroes" of mere mortals and stop watching the game as if this is the only past time we can think of. Bid "Good-bye" to cricket for some time and the Players would know that they are not hype-worthy.
What is surprising about the miserable performance of our dhonis team? Is it not wellknown that we Indian have never faced fast bowler any time. Sunil gavaskar had indeed foreseen and in public made a statement that we are going to lose the entire series. If there is too much of cricket cauing wear and tear of the player keep off IPL and t 20 eries and come back to form to keep upmother india pride.
It is well known that there is a lot money and the benefecieries care a damn for the overworked player when it come to money. and the cheers that the cheer leaders bring.Less said about it ..better..Does the reader agree?
Seeing Kohli the way he played i think it is high time for retirement of some of the senior players.
I don't understand what they are doing !!! having such a batting lineup they were not able to score the 1 individual Australian score which is 180 by warner !i think we need to learn to show victory symbol 'V' not the middle finger ! isn't it ?
...test match over in 2 and half days....its great...time for team india for sight seeing...!!!!!time for Sachin to take retirement and say good bye with grace..same for dravid too..now the wall is no more a wall there are cracks in it now...sachin n dravid say good bye now...
I have not noticed how many days before a match the team arrives in Australia. If it is a week, it might be an idea to give them more time to settle in, get used to the summer situation ( the sun shines beyond 8PM) and on hot days of "merciless sun" (as your reporter phrases it), the nights do not get any better. In preparation for a match under these circumstances it would seem that the players would have to toughen up, and train in extreme weather conditions in India.
Please Email the Editor