India fight back after a lacklustre performance

It was a mixed day for India on the field against Australia in the second test match at the GABBA in Brisbane. At the end of the day’s play India went back to the dressing room with few positives and quite a number of disappointments.

Steve Smith after his Ton, Source: AP

Australia started the day at 221/4 with Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh unbeaten at the crease. It was a great start by India as they got the wickets of Mitchell Marsh (11) and Brad Haddin (6) very quickly with Australia’s score reading less than 250. It seemed that India had got the Australians by their neck. But it was not to be. Steve Smith and Mitchell Johnson stood up to the occasion and built a partnership of 148 runs to take the advantage away from India. That was not all. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood then for the last wicket added 51 more runs in the end. It was really disheartening to find that the Indians could not get the tail-enders out even after they had got the main stem of the batting line-up broken. But that does not deny the fact that Mitchell Johnson (88), Mitchell Starc (52) and Hazlewood (32) did not bat well. Also Steve Smith’s innings was an excellent one considering the situation of the match as well as the Australian dressing room. It was a perfect example of a captain leading from the front.

Steve Smith being bowled by Ishant Sharma, Source: AP

India after conceding a lead of 97 runs had to bat well in the last session to stay in the match. And they did just that. The Indian dressing room would have been happier had the score read 71/0 instead of 71/1. But overall it was a good solid start to the second innings. Murali Vijay was the only man out. He looked very good for yet another big score but was bowled by Mitchell Starc delivery which left him caught in two minds in the end edging it to the stumps when on 27.

For India it’s a big day ahead both in context of the match as well as the series. A good batting performance can save them the test match. Not only that, India can also think of a win if India can set the Aussies a big target. India is capable of doing that and they have showed that in the three innings that they have played as far in the series. So keep your fingers crossed as an intriguing day of test match cricket awaits us tomorrow.

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About Argha Ghosh

An ardent follower of sports and die-hard Manchester United fan, Argha's ultimate dream is to watch a Manchester derby from the Stretford End at the Old Trafford.