Stoic resistance keeps tourists in the hunt
THIS is big. And it will get bigger. The last two days of one cricket’s finest series could shape the future of Australia’s Test side.
The pressure is on. Careers are on the line. What a fabulous finale. This series for the ages deserved nothing less.
India’s magnificent Bare Bones XI, putting in a performance which stands as an unforgettable gold stud in the history of Indian cricket — any cricket — has Australia in a sudden state of anxiety as they prepare to put their pedals to the metal to snatch back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
History insists touring teams cannot retain a trophy in Australia if they lose the first Test, every toss, their captain and eight more players through injury and play an attack which has a collective experience of four Tests in the decider. But India might do it.
If Australia gets out of trouble and wins the Test their house will seem in order despite the occasional bad paint job and dodgy fitting.
Lose it and suddenly every fringe issue becomes front and centre.
How long can Tim Paine continue as captain if he fails to conjure a win from this series?
Can Australia tolerate Matt Wade going a series without scoring a half century? What about the openers?
Why has Australian struggled to put this depleted Indian team away?
Is it a mindset problem or are India simply made from cast iron steel?
Australia has many questions to answer over the next two days in a match they must win. With bad weather lingering, do they force the pace or simply play normally?