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After just one century across the first three Tests, there’s been triple tons in Ahmedabad: Usman Khawaja’s sublime 180 and Cameron Green’s maiden 114 for Australia. And yesterday, India’s Shubman Gill joined the Hundred Club.
Here’s how Geoff Lemon saw the Indian young gun’s masterpiece…
Much of the debate this morning will be about India’s approach. Will they chase victory (and revenge for their humiliating nine-wicket loss in Indore) by attacking Australia’s bowlers? Or will they stonewall and let the game drift to a draw, content to take the series 2-1 and knowing Sri Lanka must beat New Zealand 2-0 to have a hope of usurping them in the World Test Championship final?
How do you reckon they’ll play it? Drop me a line and have your say.
For those who came in late, here’s the overnight report…
Preamble
Howdy cricket fans! Angus Fontaine here welcoming you back to Ahmedabad for the fourth Test between India and Australia and a rare Day Four in this strange but beautiful Border-Gavaskar series.
India are slowly but surely hunting down Australia’s total of 480. The home side finished day three at 289 for 3, trailing by 191 runs. Today they will look to pull ahead and set Australia a fifth-day target to win this Test and take the series 3-1. Only then can India guarantee their place in the World Test Championship final at The Oval in London in June, against Australia.
The hero for India yesterday was young gun Shubman Gill with a career-best 128. The recalled 23-year-old had strong support from Rohit Sharma (35), Cheteshwar Pujara (42) and Virat Kohli (59 not out) on a pitch packing precious few surprises. Australia’s spinners took three wickets – one apiece to Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon – and slowed India’s chase without stopping it.
Kohli is 41 innings without a century but yesterday notched his first fifty in 15 trips to the crease. The King looks in ominous form and, together with in-form allrounder Ravi Jadeja (16*) will resume today with attacking intent. That’s good and bad news for Australia. Good because it presents an opportunity to take wickets from risky shots. Bad because their ascendency in this Test could slip away very quickly if these two stroke-makers get going and run riot.
Either way, we’re in for an exciting day of cricket, so buckle ‘em up and batten ‘em down, we’ll have all the action shortly.
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