Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Mohammed Siraj’s heartfelt tribute in broken English after India’s T20 World Cup victory went viral on social media, and rightly so. “I only believe in Jassi (Jasprit) bhai, game-changer player he is.” Time and again, Jasprit Bumrah has been the man to turn the game around for India, no matter the conditions, match situations, or format. His presence inspires his teammates and changes the course of the match.
This was evident in Perth as well. After India posted a modest 150 in the first innings, a challenging few days seemed inevitable. Stepping in as captain, Jasprit Bumrah rose to the occasion and took the first three wickets, including a golden duck for Steve Smith, and bowled a brilliant spell that played a key role in India’s victory. Despite the pitch offering assistance to fast bowlers, it was Bumrah’s craftiness that made the most of those opportunities, especially as the pitch eased on day two.
In the second innings, Bumrah’s strategy was flawless. He had Head, who had been troubling India, in his sights. He bowled consistently straight, not giving Head any room, before mixing it up with a short ball, then a fuller length delivery that forced Head to play a risky shot, resulting in his dismissal.
As a captain, Bumrah was proactive and selfless. He even sacrificed the end with more bounce and assistance, allowing his other pacers to bowl from it on day four. Though he was on the verge of a five-wicket haul, Bumrah chose to let the younger bowlers shine in the final overs, a decision that earned him immense praise. India came into the series with questions about their bowling attack and doubts over Bumrah’s ability to shoulder the burden alone. However, Bumrah has now proven those doubts to be unfounded.
Two Debutants: Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana marks their way!
India had some tough calls in terms of selecting playing XI ahead of the Perth Test. In the end, both Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana were handed their maiden Test caps. Despite having limited first-class experience, both youngsters delivered big time, showcasing their readiness for the international stage.
Reddy was a standout, top-scoring in the first innings with a fearless 41 on a spicy pitch. In the second innings, he supported Virat Kohli during his 100, finishing with a quick-fire 38 off 27 balls, helping India declare. His fearless approach under pressure signals a bright future ahead. He also contributed with the ball, positioning himself as a potential solution to India’s seam-bowling all-rounder problem.
Rana was aggressive and confident in his debut, troubling the Australian batters with his pace and bounce. He even forced a well-set Travis Head to exclaim “Ooh bounce” during his innings. Though he struggled with line and length in the fourth innings, his potential is clear, particularly on these kinds of pitches. He made his mark with a stunning delivery that dismissed Head in the first innings.
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The Emergence of New King and Return of Old King!
Australia has traditionally been the proving ground for cricketing greats, and Yashasvi Jaiswal has certainly established himself among them. After a duck in the first innings, Jaiswal returned with a magnificent 161 in the second, facing 297 balls to secure his fourth score over 150. His emotional celebration upon reaching his century spoke volumes, and with an average of 58.07 after 15 Tests, Jaiswal is undoubtedly here to stay.
After a challenging few years, with his Test average dipping below 47 and a long wait for a century, Kohli found his rhythm in the second innings. He batted aggressively as a declaration loomed, bringing up his 81st Test century with a big smile, signaling his return to form. With more Tests to come in the series, this is a worrying sign for Australia.
Crisis in the Aussie Dressing Room
Australia’s senior batters, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, have been struggling for form, averaging just 29.38 and 23.57 respectively in the past year. Their dismissals in the Perth Test raised further concerns about their mental state and place in the team.
Labuschagne was dismissed for just 2 in the first innings and was trapped lbw without offering a shot in the second. Smith, on the other hand, was dismissed lbw first ball in the first innings and could not cope with a back-of-a-length delivery in the second.
Captain Pat Cummins played down the lack of contributions from his key batters, but with Usman Khawaja also averaging only 30.60 in the last 12 months, Australia’s middle order seems to be in crisis.
Australia’s Bowlers Fatigue
In a long Test series, teams often try to seize early momentum to carry them through. However, India’s batters took charge, wearing out Australia’s ageing bowlers. The trio of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc bowled a combined 111.4 overs, with Nathan Lyon adding 44 more.
India’s second innings stretched across 134.3 overs, making it the third-highest number of overs Australia has bowled in a home Test. In comparison, India’s five bowlers only bowled 110 overs across both innings, ensuring fresher legs for the next match. With 11 days until the next Test, Australia will need to recuperate physically and mentally while reassessing why they were outclassed by a relatively inexperienced Indian bowling attack on their home turf.
