Pat Cummins gave Australia a fair chance to lead the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after once again tearing down India’s massive wall. The Australian Cummins eliminated Cheteshwar Pujara for the fourth time in three tests this summer on a terrific tourist Saturday, taking 4-29 to leave India all out for 244.
Australia then went to stumps on day three at 103-2 in their second innings, leading by 197, with Marnus Labuschagne unbeaten in 47 and Steve Smith 29. The two put up an important 68 on the third wicket after Will Pucovski (10) and David Warner (13) fell early. Smith tore off the covers with brilliance after doing the same in his first 131 innings, and while Labuschagne pounced on anything short.
India’s Tough Luck
It has been a tragic day in India with Ravindra Jadeja (thumb) and Risabh Pant (elbow) both needing a scan of the harsh injuries while the other men were beaten to a run-out.
But the Cummins’ heroism gave Australia a chance to finish 1-1 with one game left.
Pajara was the Indian wall stone on their victory trip last summer, but the series has continued to be beaten by Cummins. He scored the slowest half-century of his career on Saturday from 174 balls, but went two balls later when one from Cummins got big on him, brushed his glove, and carried through to Tim Paine. Australia’s attack leader now has the figures of 4-19 from 21 overs against Pujara this summer.
It was not the end of the deputy captain’s blows. He started the day by forcing Ajinkya Rahane to pick up 22, seaming one back at India’s skipper as he went to late cut. After removing Shubman Gill on day two, he also inflicted the pain to Pant’s elbow before Hazlewood had the beleaguered wicketkeeper edging shortly after on 36. Neither Pant nor Jadeja – who was hit on his left thumb by Starc – returned to the field.
Cummins Display Of Brilliance
Cummins then did the job on the field to finish off Ravichandran Ashwin in a 5-21 fall. Ashwin at first hesitated and then failed to put one final effort through the crease in what should have been an easy single.
Jasprit Bumrah also fell short of his ground to a brilliant direct hit from Marnus Labuschagne, who chased a ball from short leg, slid and threw down the stumps.
But even that wasn’t as good as the effort from Hazlewood in the morning session. Mid-spell, the 196cm quick moved low to his right to intercept a drive, throwing in one motion as he fell to claim a direct hit and catch Hanuma Vihari well short.
Meanwhile another daylight came when Australia failed to get Puara caught in a bat-pad off Nathan Lyon. The decision after the video went viral and there was no direct spike in the hot spot, angered Paine who asked referee Paul Wilson to “be consistent”. That is, in his words, for some “f***ing consistency”.
