The Anatomy of a Chase
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Australia never loses at the Gabba / Gabbatoir
No team ever scores over 200 in the 4th innings at the Gabba / Gabbatoir (Let’s not forget that Pakistan chase from a few years ago)
India was bowled for 36 a month or so ago.
Nathan Lyon is playing in his 100th test; just you wait.
This is Australia.
“Can’t wait until you get to the Gabba”
Oh, and those cracks on the pitch
All the drums were beating before today’s play that an Australian win was a formality and that Australia would take their rightful place as the best test cricket country in the world, and that the ICC Test rankings are a rort.
And when Rohit Sharma, who you would have thought was one of the batsmen more likely to be a significant factor, went to a rare held catch by Tim Paine early it seemed like India may have decided a draw was a good result.
The bipolar partnership between Pujara and Gill was wonderfully symbiotic and kept all options alive.
But they had clearly planned this in two ways. Both options open.
From a batting perspective they decided that Pujara was going to be the guy playing for a draw and that Gill, and Rahane and Pant who followed, would score the runs. Both options covered.
From an Australian bowling perspective they decided they would just defend Cummins, arguably the star of the day, while attacking the others; particularly a clearly physically sub-par Mitchell Starc. Cummins was the attacker; Starc was pummeled.
Rahane injected some pace into proceedings, and sent out a message of intent, before letting some IPL auction thinking get in the way of things; the only real mis-step from India all day.
Then, calling in Pant a position higher than normal proved to be the master stroke.
Meanwhile Australia was disintegrating with some really odd DRS calls. If a batsman charges two strides down the pitch and it hits him above the knee roll then that’s not really out.
It allowed Pujara to carry on as he was; by this time smashed around to all parts of the body, while Pant was put in charge in scoring management.
He took his time to get in, but once Pujara had gone he did The Michael Bevan role to perfection.
This has been one hell of a series. India had that 36, then spent most of their tour in an ambulance. They copped shit, and they gave it back.
And in the end they kept their calm.