After the disappointment of losing the first test convincingly by eight wickets, India’s cricketers started the second test in positive fashion. In the first test, the 2011 World Cup winners were well beaten and were skittled out for just 36 in the second innings.
That effort in the second innings for India, was their lowest score in their proud test match history. The lowest score before their effort in the first test, was a paltry 42 against England in 1978. India, were coming into this test, very much looking to restore their pride.
This task was made all the more difficult after regular captain and star-batsmen Virat Kohli played his last test match of the tour (attending the birth of his first child). If trying to get back into a series on Australian attack against an Australian attack that includes Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and the brilliant Josh Hazelwood wasn’t tough enough.
The hosts Australia, after an initial wobble at 38-3, were able to recover with a fourth wicket stand of 88, but the partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head would be broken by the irreplaceable Jasprit Bumrah, who had the latter caught by stand-in test captain Ajinkja Rahane for 38.
At that stage the score was 124-4, and there appeared to be no reason for any panic stations. What unfold would be what can only be described as utter chaos as six wickets would fall for just 71. So, after a brilliant bowling performance where Ravi Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, helped restrict the hosts, India got their innings off to the worst start.
Mayank Agarwal, who impressed in the Indian IPL, has struggled in the test series so far, being dismissed for a duck. Any hopes of India repeating their 36 all out, look to have been dispelled with Shubman Gill, who also impressed in the IPL, scoring 28 on debut.
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The Bearded Captain 