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Smudge’s Golden Grab: Here’s another look at Steve Smith’s incredible catch to dismiss Pujara and the praise it drew from Nathan Lyon’s at last night’s presser. Is this the moment that wins Australia the Test at Indore?
Cheteshwar Pujara, who top-scored in India’s second innings with 59, last night give a hint on the mindset India will take into today and the challenge facing Australia’s batters:
“It’s a tough pitch to bat on. It’s not easy, you need to trust your defence, make sure you need to get to the pitch or if it’s short, play off the back foot. 75 may not be too many, but there’s a chance. You need to attack and defend, a mix on this pitch. If you keep defending, one ball will bounce and hit your glove.”
Some food for thought… if India defend 76 runs today it will break the 141-year-old record of the lowest score ever defended by any team in Test cricket history, currently held by England in 1882 who defended 85 runs against Australia.
For those who came in late, here’s Geoff Lemon’s Day 2 report…
Preamble
Hello cricket lovers! Welcome back to Indore for the third – and final – day of this third Test between India and Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
We’ve had breathless cricket for the first two days – wickets tumbling, umpires fumbling, batters crumbling – and we have a breathtaking scenario on the table for today: Australia require 76 runs for victory. India need 10 wickets.
Ordinarily, it’d be cut and dry. Australia’s batters go out hard and lose a couple of wickets in the quest but chase 76 down easily. But nothing about this series has been ordinary, most of all Australia’s extraordinary batting collapses.
In Nagpur they lost six for 68 in the first innings and then the deeper implosion of 10 for 84 in the second. In Delhi, from a position of strength, they were shredded again, losing eight wickets for 28 runs. And here in Indore, after another bright start in which they batted patiently and built a valuable lead, they bled six for 11.
So make no mistake, folks: 76 runs today is an Everest.
India will back themselves to take 10 for 74 and win this Test. On a pitch in need of an exorcism, with a trio of hungry master spinners and cheered on by a home crowd, you’d better think twice before betting against them.
But a lot about this Australian side is improved. Cam Green’s selection has improved their batting and bowling. Nathan Lyon rediscovered his mojo to take 8-64 and stop India’s lead reaching triple figures. Steve Smith’s captaincy has been inspired, with astute bowling changes, good reviewing and a magnificent catch at slip last night to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara for 59. And Travis Head opening today in place of David Warner inspires hope not dread.
Australia start favourites but India will fight to the last ball. If the first two Tests have proven anything, it’s that cricket in India can change very, very quickly. Where will the day take us? Who will pass the test and lead their team to victory?
We’re about to find out, so strap in and fire up! Play will be underway shortly.
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