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India vs Australia 4th Test Day 3 preview: Visitors eye wiping of tail; hosts aim for lead

India will be under pressure as Australia will push to wrap up their first innings early on Day Three, and earn a lead.

India are still © AFP
India are still 52 runs behind Australia’s 1st innings total  © AFP

India will be under pressure as Australia will push to wrap up their first innings early on Day Three, and earn a lead even if it happens to be of a slender margin in the ongoing final Test at Dharamsala. India are behind by 52 runs in the first innings, having reached 248 for 6 at stumps on the second day. The onus will be on the ever-dependable Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja to steer India out of trouble, as not much batting is left in the hosts’ ranks since they opted for a five-pronged bowling attack for the fourth Test. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Australia, 4th Test at Dharamsala

While India looked to play attrition cricket and tried setting up yet another big first innings total, the visitors did well to pull things in their favour by taking out four batsmen from India’s middle order. Australia were able to accomplish a favourable final session all because of Nathan Lyon, who took his wickets tally to 18 in the ongoing series, and put his side in front as far as the game stands right now. However, the visitors cannot rest their laurels as India have Saha in their ranks, who is known for his invaluable partnerships with the tail-end batsmen. Saha’s role has often been crucial in getting his side back into contests more often than not.

Not to forget, India also have Jadeja batting on 16, having already clobbered two massive sixes to bring down Australia’s lead to 52 by the time play got over on Sunday.

India resumed their innings on a confident note on the second day morning with both Murali Vijay and KL Rahul looking to play long innings. However, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood tested them persistently. While Cummins peppered Rahul with a flurry of well-directed short balls which were skilfully dealt by the batsman, Vijay and Hazlewood fought their battle in the channel outside the off stump. KL Rahul admits it was a horribly executed pull shot

Amid the bouncers, Cummins presented a delivery in the zone where Rahul likes to drive, and the batsman went for it. The ball took an outside edge but Matt Renshaw could not grab it as it flew over him. Later in the day, Cummins produced another edge — this time off Saha’s bat — but Renshaw dropped that one too.

For India, Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara have been the heroes so far with both the batsmen getting their respective half-centuries. India would have liked both Rahul and Pujara to convert their starts, but it was not meant to be. Rahul was fluttered with a verbal exchange with Cummins shortly after the lunch break and fell to a short, wide ball, for 60.

Pujara continued to bat the way he did in Ranchi, signalling doom for Australia once again. But out of nowhere, Lyon found rhythm in the final session to snaffle 4 wickets, and peg India back in their march towards a big total in the first innings. Strategy was to stop Rahane from playing sweep, reveals Lyon

Heading into the third day, India will aim to bat for as long as possible and get closer to Australia’s first innings total of 300. Saha was batting on 10 not out accompanied by Ravindra Jadeja on 16, but India do not have much left in their ranks as they opted for five bowlers for the Dharamsala Test.

On the other hand, Australia will want to wrap up the Indian innings quickly on the third day and bat well for the one final time in the series. They do not have a lot of runs in their lead to daunt the Indian tail, which means the visitors will have to ensure they get to a safe total first.

The wicket at the HPCA Cricket Stadium in Dharamsala remains excellent for batting and bowlers have got something out of it as well, but it has not crumbled as of yet. The Test hangs in balance as of now.

India will be under pressure as Australia will push to wrap up their first innings early on Day Three, and earn a lead even if it happens to be of a slender margin in the ongoing final Test at Dharamsala. India are behind by 52 runs in the first innings, having reached 248 for 6 at stumps on the second day. The onus will be on the ever-dependable Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja to steer India out of trouble, as not much batting is left in the hosts’ ranks since they opted for a five-pronged bowling attack for the fourth Test. 

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