Indians survive on draw emotion
Tourist’s resilience frustrates Australia
INDIA have redefined themselves as a cricket nation by overcoming broken bones and busted limbs to chisel out one of history’s finest escape acts at the SCG.
Australia is facing the embarrassing prospect of surrendering their second straight Border-Gavaskar trophy at home and must lift for a do-ordie series decider at the Gabba.
There was no semblance of an excuse for the home team, who won the toss and incapacitated two Indian players, yet could take only three wickets on a day five SCG pitch as India showed their resilience for the second time this series to record a famous draw.
One of those incapacitated was Rishabh Pant, who after copping a bruising blow to his elbow two days ago, which stopped him from wicketkeeping in the previous innings, bravely walked out and made a match-defining 97.
The other debilitated man was Ravindra Jadeja, who, despite padding up to bat with a broken thumb, was not needed because of a 42.3 over stand between Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin — themselves beaten and bashed.
The unheralded Vihari is one of Test cricket’s most unlikely heroes. Despite tearing his hamstring at the start of his innings, which started at 1.52pm, he saved the game with an extraordinary 23 not out from 161 balls to deny Australia four-and-a-half hours later.
His brave stand at the SCG will go down in cricketing folklore and was aided by an equally courageous Ashwin (39 not out), who faced 128 balls of his own despite copping several brutal body blows from Pat Cummins, which damaged his ribs and rendered him unable to even sit down.
“It was really special. It was as good as a victory,” said Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane, who had watched his team bounce back once to win in Melbourne after the 36-all out capitulation in the first Test.
“Vihari, Ashwin, Pujara,
Rohit and also Rishabh Pant. Everyone contributed to the team’s cause but those two guys in the end batted almost two-and-a-half hours for the last session.
“They’re a world class bowling attack. Credit to all the guys the way we played throughout the Test match.
“We always knew Ashwin’s ability as a batsman and Vihari showed he actually can bat and bat really well.
“The message at tea was just hang in there, play one ball at a time, one over at a time. Don’t look too far ahead. With five overs to go we were counting each and every delivery.”
Australia dropped four catches — including three by Tim Paine, with the Australian captain turning in the most forgettable Test match of his otherwise impressive tenure as national skipper.
Paine’s frustrations overcame him for a second time in this Test, after he had been fined for swearing at an umpire. An unsavoury verbal slanging match with Ashwin as the game was slipping away on Monday was another poor look for the team, particularly after all the work has been put into changing the team’s image post Sandpapergate.
“Obviously we wanted to win the game and I thought we created enough chances to do so,” said Paine, who took responsibility for his drops and bad language and vowed to improve in Brisbane.
“I wouldn’t say it’s deflating. There’s still a lot of positives out of the game. I thought it was an awesome game of Test cricket. But we’re clearly disappointed not to get a win.”
This was India at their brave best finishing on 5-334 and only 72 runs shy of victory.
Despite the unsettling allegations of fan racism and the distraction of agitating about a boycott on playing the fourth Test in Brisbane, India showed incredible focus to fight for survival against all the odds.
Early on India was paying $51 to win the Test, but with Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara (77 off 205 balls) at the crease, they screamed into $6 to chase down a record-breaking 407.
Steve Smith even resorted to mischievously scratching a new guard for Pant on the pitch during a drinks break, with the Australians desperate to find anyway to dislodge the punchy left-hander.
When Lyon (2-114) finally got Pant out swinging for his hundred right before the second new ball, it threatened to be the turning point in the day.
Particularly when Pujara followed him nine overs later thanks to a lion-hearted effort from Josh Hazlewood.
Most teams would have folded at that point. But Vihari — who was demoted below the injured Pant in the batting order and had struggled in the first two Tests — stood up to be counted, with a 23 that had all the value of an unbeaten 100.