Wherever Virat Kohli exists, there is hope. There are few reasons for Indian optimism as they pursue a target of 444, but one of their players finished the day unbeaten on 44, and as long as he remains, so will their optimism. Mohammed Shami appeared remarkably relaxed as he declared with a smile, “We will win the match tomorrow.”
They are 164 for 3 overnight, with Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane batting, and must make 280 runs to win on a ground where no Test team has ever scored more than 262 runs in a chase.
It was evident from the beginning of India’s innings that there was no lack of belief, either in the stands or on the pitch. However, in a run chase where they needed everything to go their way, it took just over seven overs for them to receive conclusive evidence that it would not, as Shubman Gill was caught by Cameron Green in another spectacular diving catch.
As Green fell to the ground, it was unclear whether the ball had been grounded.
This is the second Test since the International Cricket Council banned the use of soft signals, and Richard Kettleborough, the TV umpire, forced a lengthy delay while he watched the same few camera angles so many times that he was certain he had no idea what to do. “He could have taken more time,” stated Shami. “This is the final of the World Test Championship, not a regular game. He should have examined more thoroughly and zoomed in.” Either choice would have been entirely understandable, but he was forced to choose one.
Gill walked off the pitch to chants of ‘Cheat! Cheat! Cheat!’ from the stands. He subsequently tweeted a still image of the ball that appeared to be on the ground, accompanied by two magnifying glass emojis and a facepalm. “I knew I had it immediately,” Green insisted. “I realize it appears odd, but I knew immediately that I had contracted it. In the excitement of the moment, I believed it to be spotless.”
India had decided that if a positive outcome was unattainable, they would at least go down fighting. They hit as many fours in the first 55 deliveries of their innings as Australia did in the entire morning session, plus a bonus six.
Cheteshwar Pujara struck three fours in his first nine balls, indicating that Gill’s departure had little impact on their strategy.
They scored 91 runs in 19 overs, putting them on pace for victory. Australia then substituted Nathan Lyon.
Five deliveries into the off-spinners first over, Rohit Sharma swiped, missed, and was subsequently leg before wicket. In the subsequent over, Pat Cummins bowled short at Pujara, who attempted to assist the ball over the cordon but instead nicked Alex Carey’s gloves with an attempted uppercut. It felt like a few decisive minutes.
Australia’s plan is hard to criticise, but their fourth-day batting was uninspiring. Since they arrived in this country, their players have been bombarded with questions about the current England team’s high-octane approach to Test cricket, to which they have generally provided diplomatic responses. Brendon McCullum appeared to be the recipient of the cricketing equivalent of two raised middle fingers and a pair of exposed arse cheeks for the better part of half the day. Last week, the New Zealander stated, “We must amuse and captivate children.” Australia responded, “I believe you’ll find we do not.”
Carey, who scored 41 of Australia’s 68 runs in the first session and looked composed, gave the Aussies early impetus.
Green, who took 95 balls to achieve 25 runs, remarked, “He’s batting beautifully.” “He has undoubtedly invested a great deal of effort over the past few months to get into a really good place. He is back to being his aggressive and optimistic self, and he has shown intent from the first ball.”
Carey scored at a rate of 4.03 runs per over in the morning. While Green, Marnus Labuschagne, and Mitchell Starc scored at a combined rate of 1.7.
Cummins declared when Carey, the only Australian to excel in both innings, was unbeaten on 66.
As they labored in the field, perhaps a sense of fatalism had descended upon India by then. Australia scored twice by edging the ball through the legs of a fielder; Carey sent the ball flying between the second and third slip, but neither fielder moved – Pujara was closest but caught a cold (ironically, given that the temperature was 29C and he was wearing a jumper). India is down, but not yet eliminated.
