Smith-Johnson partnership turns the tide

India 71 for one at stumps after conceding a lead of 97

December 19, 2014 10:59 am | Updated November 17, 2021 11:06 am IST - BRISBANE

Steve Smith hit a century to give Australia a narrow advantage on day three of the second Test against India in Brisbane on Friday.

Steve Smith hit a century to give Australia a narrow advantage on day three of the second Test against India in Brisbane on Friday.

Winning teams blow away the tail. India though continues to run into roadblocks when it has an opportunity to finish the innings off.

On another blistering day here, the attack lost the plot. Not only did the chance for a sizable lead disappear for Mahendra Singh Dhoni & his men but India ended up conceding ground to Australia.

Mitchell Johnson, better known for his destructive bowling exploits, blitzed a 93-ball 88 when Australia was in a hole at 247 for six on day three of the second Test on Friday.

Tail wags

Then, even as Steven Smith crafted a rousing 133 in his first innings as Test captain, tailenders Mitchell Starc (52), Nathan Lyon (23) and Josh Hazlewood (32 not out), ensured Australia reached 505, grabbing a lead of 97 at the Gabba.

India, losing the in-form Murali Vijay — the opener attempted to leave a Starc delivery but was done in by the bounce as he played on — was 71 for one at stumps.

Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan (26 batting) and Cheteshwar Pujara (15 batting) had to survive some testing bowling, particularly from Shane Watson who consistently moved the ball both ways.

For other bowlers, though, there was pace and bounce in the pitch but not much movement off the seam.

There is plenty of cricket left in the match — Australia will have to bat last — but India will be disappointed at letting the host slip away.

It’s crucial to have a set of plans against the lower order batsmen. Johnson and Starc have some ability with the bat but the Indians should have cramped them for room, not given them width to exploit.

Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav in particular, either bounced too many deliveries or over-pitched in their bid to send down yorkers. What they failed to do was to bowl length balls on or just outside the off-stump.

Smith, his bat broad and heart large, strung what could eventually turn out to be a game-changing 148-run partnership – the right-left combination disrupted the Indian attack’s line — for the seventh wicket with the rampant Johnson.

Classy batsmanship

Smith’s batsmanship was classy. The alignment of his feet and bat as he drove down the ground presented a majestic sight. And then he punched with panache off his back-foot.

He combined solidity with exciting stroke-play in a rather seamless fashion.

The right-hander picked the length in a jiffy to cut, and, pulled with confidence. The manner in which he skipped down to Ashwin underlined his batting’s inherent qualities.

While aggression cannot be faulted as long as the line is not crossed, the Indians might have provoked Johnson in getting into a counter-attacking mode.

Words were spoken to him by the Indians after he arrived at the crease and then Johnson was bounced repeatedly.

He responded in the only way he knew – with a blaze of strokes.

Johnson pulled, hooked, cut, slashed, guided, made room to smash the ball through covers and got back to force off the back-foot. The left-hander made capital use of the space he was provided.

When Ashwin flighted, Johnson even walked down for a six over long-on. The assault was brutal. Rain had stopped overnight but it was raining boundaries at the Gabba. It was only when Ishant Shama finally got a length ball to angle across Johnson — this kind of delivery should have been sent down much earlier — did the paceman secure the nick.

Ishant soon castled Smith with an off-cutter, but there was more sting in the Australian tail. Starc, emphatic with his pulls and drives, strung associations with Lyon and Hazlewood that hurt India.

There was less spin for Ashwin — he eventually dismissed Starc — the sphere tended to skid through for the off-spinner.

India made all the right moves in the morning. Ishant bowled the right length and nipped the ball back. Mitchell Marsh shouldered arms to see it hit the top of the stumps.

And Aaron delivered a mean short-pitched delivery which Brad Haddin could do no more than fend into short-leg’s hands. Then, hurricane Johnson altered the script.

Scoreboard

India — 1st innings: 408.

Australia — 1st innings: C. Rogers c Dhoni b Yadav 55 (79b, 10x4), D. Warner c Ashwin b Yadav 29 (28b, 6x4), S. Watson c Dhawan b Ashwin 25 (29b, 4x4), S. Smith b Ishant 133 (191b, 13x4, 2x6), Shaun Marsh c Ashwin b Yadav 32 (70b, 5x4), Mitchell Marsh b Ishant 11 (34b, 1x4), B. Haddin c Pujara b Aaron 6 (12b, 1x4), M. Johnson c Dhoni b Ishant 88 (93b, 13x4, 1x6), M. Starc b Ashwin 52 (59b, 6x4), N. Lyon c Rohit b Aaron 23 (23b, 3x4), J. Hazlewood (not out) 32 (50b, 7x4); Extras (lb-4, w-5, nb-10) 19; Total (in 109.4 overs): 505.

Fall of wickets : 1-47 (Warner), 2-98 (Watson), 3-121 (Rogers), 4-208 (Shaun Marsh), 5-232 (Mitchell Marsh), 6-247 (Haddin), 7-395 (Johnson), 8-398 (Smith), 9-454 (Lyon).

India bowling: Ishant 23-2-117-3, Aaron 26-1-145-2, Yadav 25-4-101-3, Ashwin 33.4-4-128-2, Rohit 2-0-10-0.

India — 2nd innings: M. Vijay b Starc 27 (39b, 4x4), S. Dhawan (batting) 26 (65b, 2x4), C. Pujara (batting) 15 (35b, 2x4); Extras (lb-2, nb-1) 3; Total (for one wkt. in 23 overs): 71.

Fall of wicket: 1-41 (Vijay).

Australia bowling: Johnson 8-3-29-0, Hazlewood 6-0-24-0, Starc 4-1-10-1, Watson 5-3-6-0.

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