Australia 530 All Out (SPD Smith 192, RJ Harris 74, CH Rogers 57, BJ Haddin 55, SR Watson 52 , Mohammad Shami 4/138 , UT Yadav 3/130, R Ashwin 3/134 ) India 108 /1 ( Murali Vijay 55* , S Dhawan 28 and Chetashwar Pujara 25*)
The feature of the second day Boxing Day Test was spectacular power hitting by young Australian Captain Steve Smith and dynamic partnership with late order batsmen led Australia to a commanding position with a mammoth first innings total of 530 all out.
India also made a determined response through in-form batsman Murali Vijay rallying around with an unbeaten 55 and India ending the day on 108 for the loss of S Dhawan.
India will have to climb the Himalayan peak still with a deficit of 422 runs and 223 at least to avoid following on. Even a draw from here will assure Australia retaining the Border Gavaskar trophy.
India handicapped by only four men attack struggled to bowl consistently well and had to succumb to brutal battering by Smith and co as all four bowlers conceded over 100 runs each. Dhoni appeared clueless Smith and co let loose reign of terror. He could try any part-timer to dislodge the partnership of Johnson–Smith and Smith–Harris.
Sami, Ishant, Yadav and Ashwin all leaked runs and almost batted India out of the test. Indian batting which let them down on the first day did not show much improvement. Dhoni alone took four catches and accounted for one stumping.
Australia started the day at 259/5 with the situation still balanced. Quick wickets could still tilt the balance in India’s favor. But Smith looked very solid and dynamic and Haddin was effervescent.
Some 110 runs sixth wicket partnership created soild foundation for Australian late middle order launch onslaught on listless Indian attack.
Mitchel Johnson and Ryan Harris partnered Smith in taking Australia from a position of strength to a commanding situation. Smith blew away the Indians with a scorching 192 hammering 15 gorgeous fours and two towering sixes.
Harris was his partner in destruction with 88-ball 74. The ferocity of attack was like an all-enveloping Tsunami which swept away feeble Indian attack. Shami took 4/138 but he bowled too many loose deliveries and was belted all around the park.
Harris and Smith did not spare Yadav, Ashwin and Ishant also. 530 runs at 3.71 runs per over is one of the most aggressive test innings in modern day cricket. The gamble of appearing with only four front line bowlers boomeranged. Dhoni for reasons unknown did not even try part timers in efforts for breaking the partnership.
Stroke play of Smith and Harris and their brilliant running between the wickets was the feature of the days play. So many twos were turned into three and even, several times, they took four by running. Indian fielding for most part remained sloppy. Ashwin who bowled on a tight length in most of his earlier overs was also taken apart. Finger spinners can hardly make impression on Australian wickets.
After such a blitz, usually the defending side gets panicked. But credit must be given to Indian batsmen that they held their nerves and handled Australian pacers quite comfortably.
Vijay looked at his brilliant best and Pujara also started well. Indian response of 108/1 could not yet give them comfort but at least did not melt the resistance. They had to bat with their skins out to save this match.
The first session third day will determine which way the match will be heading. Vijay and Pujara were looking solod.
With Kohli, Rahane, debutant Rahul and Dhoni still to come, unless Mitch Johnson appears with his magical spell, India should not get blown away. But the must bat positively. There is lot of time and sessions left in the match. There can be so many twists and turn yet.
BDST: 1947 HRS, DEC 27, 2014
