Picture : BCCI / Twitter
New look Australia finally found some ways to win a Test match. It came in the second Test against India at the new stadium at Perth. The Aussie seam bowlers and backed up splendidly by spinner Nathan Lyon, had India batsmen rattled and powered their side to a series levelling win by 146 runs
Setting India a target of 287, India were down and out and barely managed a total of 140 . For Australia Nathan Lyon (3-39) and Mitchell Starc (3-46)were the heroes. Lyon took as many as 8 wickets in the match . And has now taken 16 wickets in two Tests so far. And two Tests more to play in the series.
On the fourth day itself with India at 112 / 5 the writing was clearly on the wall. It was only delaying the inevitable. Hanuma Vihari ( 28 ) and Rishabh Pant ( 30) stood for while and then they both fell. India were bowled out .
Team India’s team management once again committed tactical blunder , going into the match without a specialist spinner, Vihari with his slow spin was no challenge for Australia. The likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja were left cooling their heels in the dressing room.
With the series now 1-1. India will really have to play out of their skins to win the Test series. The two sides now face each other in the traditional Boxing Day Test at Melbourne before the decider in Sydney.
Team India especially skipper Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri will have plenty to think about the playing eleven when they take the field at the MCG. Another selection blunder could well cost India the series.
