Scoring rate: India drives home the advantage
If you are a cricket enthusiast, irrespective of the format, then the First Test between India and Australia must have already grabbed your interest. The topsy-turvy path of the test match in the first two days matched the tension of a thrilling limited over version of the game. If Australia snatched the advantage from under India’s hands through Tim Paine and Mitchell Johnson early on, Virendra Sehwag stole the limelight later on to hand over the reigns to India.
If you are a cricket enthusiast, irrespective of the format, then the First Test between India and Australia must have already grabbed your interest. The topsy-turvy path of the test match in the first two days matched the tension of a thrilling limited over version of the game. If Australia snatched the advantage from under India’s hands through Tim Paine and Mitchell Johnson early on, Virendra Sehwag stole the limelight later on to hand over the reigns to India.
Known for their brisk scoring patterns, the Australians played on the contrary; better to say they were forced to be careful by a handicapped Indian bowling attack. An injured Ishant Sharma being missing in action, India continued with three full time bowlers in Zaheer, Harbhajan and Pragyan to keep the visitors under pressure.
The wicket, on the second day, improved a few notches to make batting easier. Paine and Johnson capitalised to take Australia to 428, scoring at close to 3 runs per over – quiet low by Aussie standards. It was in the scoring rate that India scored the biggest victory early on. Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir started knocking the cherry all around the ground, showing little respect to any Aussie bowler.
Both the openers, however lost out to Johnson but by that time, India managed to drive home the point. The positive intent with which India is replying would push the Australians back by quiet a few yards, for sure. But Test cricket being a game of patience and strategy, India would now do well to bat positively but carefully to overhaul the target of 428. That’s a tough challenge no doubt, as the Aussies are masters of the waiting game.
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