Australian media toasts rare success in India

melbourne — Hailing the Australian side for winning its first Test in India in 13 years, the media Down Under said Steven Smith’s team is capable of conquering the series itself for the first time in over a decade.

Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe was praised for his “superhero” performance in Australia’s stunning 333-run win inside three days.

“History has been made. Australia has won its first game in India in almost 13 years. Steve O’Keefe has put his name on an honour board among the very best the game has ever seen and India is in shock,” a write-up in The Australian newspaper said.

“A billion plus people didn’t see this coming. A good 20 million plus Australians were of the same mind. Nobody outside the camp gave Steve Smith’s men a chance, but they romped it in. The best bit? They beat the Indians at their own game,” it said.

It was Australia’s first Test win in India since 2004 and ended the hosts’ unbeaten streak of 19 Tests.

The Sun-Herald hailed O’Keefe’s 12-wicket haul in the match along with skipper Smith’s fighting first century in India and his 10th as Australia’s captain. “Steve O’Keefe led Australia to one of its greatest Test victories on Indian soil with a superhero performance that rewrote the record books and humiliated the shell-shocked hosts inside three days,” the Sun-Herald said.

“Australia will head to Bengaluru for the second Test with genuine belief they can pull off what only a few days ago seemed like mission impossible and win just their second series on these shores since 1969.”

A report in Sydney Morning Herald said India’s new-found resolve to use the Decision Review System (DRS) backfired spectacularly in the first Test loss to Australia.

“There were a range of different factors that led to Australia recording their first Test win in India since 2004. The tourists were much better in the field, while they outperformed the top-ranked Test side with bat and ball,” the newspaper said.

The Sunday Telegraph heaped praise on O’Keefe for shattering 84 years of Test history in the subcontinent.

“Written off as the worst Australian team to ever tour cricket’s most imposing fortress, a great sporting upset is now firmly on the cards,” it said. — PTI