Oz tour of India, Feb 9 - March 22

[bigfluffylemon]

Australia win a match that after the shambles of a tour, they probably shouldn't have done, but some great bowling and a shambolic pitch let them in.

Both teams now a lock for the WTC final I think.

[mikesiva]

Australia 78-1

Head 49*

Ashwin 1-44

Australia win by nine wickets.

[sussexpob]

Can complain about the pitch, but Australia made 275/11 on it, which does not suggest it was impossible.

Hearty congratulations to the Aussies.... as we discussed last week, its near on impossible to win against India at home. 4th test they have a chance to take the series win away too, which I wouldnt bet on, but going home with one win is an achievement

[GarlicJam]

Australia win a match that after the shambles of a tour, they probably shouldn't have done, but some great bowling and a shambolic pitch let them in.

Valid points, but I reckon you undersell Australia's efforts and turnaround here. Yes, the state of the pitch made the match a heck of a lottery, but Australia were ahead of the game all the way through, so that shows that they were making the lottery balls fall in their favour, more often than not - which after the embarrassments of the previous two tests, this was a major win.

A 9 wicket win is generally looked upon as a hiding. I know that this could easily have been a 3 wicket win, but starting the third day, the chances of India winning were very low.

A very satisfying win.

[alfie]

Indeed a very commendable win by an Australian side that could easily have given up the ghost after that shambles of a second innings last match - and the loss of their skipper among a number of other selection ups and downs. Their whole approach on this tour seemed muddled before : but they switched on this week and completely outplayed their - possibly overconfident ? - opponents. Top marks for resilience

As for India : obviously they remain a strong team , especially at home. But they were in trouble in the previous match and arguably triumphed as much from Australia's ineptitude as their own skills : so when you now look at what happened in this game it is reasonable to suggest that they may no longer be quite the powerhouse we have seen over the last few years.
The bowling is very good , of course. Lots of good spin options , and even without Bumrah , a nice collection of seamers. But the batting ? The absence of Pant and the continued decline of Kohli has revealed a lot more vulnerability than we had come to expect. Rahane is gone and Pujara may be nearing his finish despite his brave efforts yesterday : whether the young guns with good white ball records can replace them we will no doubt discover in time. Indian selectors might have their thinking caps on tonight.

Not saying they are suddenly rubbish , by the way ! But perhaps this might have Australia - and other teams - a bit less ready to concede in advance when they are greeted by a tricky pitch ...

[GarlicJam]

As for India :.... they were in trouble in the previous match and arguably triumphed as much from Australia's ineptitude as their own skills : so when you now look at what happened in this game it is reasonable to suggest that they may no longer be quite the powerhouse we have seen over the last few years.

I don't know that India have necessarily been diminished by this loss. It may well be "the loss that they needed to have". A good kick up the pants does many a team some good.

I agree about them being overconfident. If the series had been on the line, it may well have ended differently. That, coupled with Australia's far more positive approach to luck.

I would not be surprised to see Aus cop another spanking next test. I wouldn't be pleased, either.

[bigfluffylemon]

I did say there was some great bowling. Australia deserved the win, no doubt, and I am pleasantly surprised they came back. I agree there might have been some hubris from India.

[GarlicJam]

I reckon there is also a case of Australia being spooked by the whole playing in India thing, even well before getting there. The uneven-looking pitch at Nagpur may even have been a successful effort at adding to this.

The next test will be interesting.

[alfie]

Next match will certainly be interesting ! Agree that this loss might well be the spur India needed to up their game ; but I maintain reservations about their batting. We know how good Lyon is ; but two rookie spinners have also turned in very good figures during these matches already and I'm not sure that has happened to India for a while - even on spin-friendly surfaces.

Of course Murphy and Kuhnemann may turn out be the heirs to Warne but I will withhold judgement on that for a bit

[Durhamfootman]

morale boosting win for Australia

did the change of captaincy make a difference?

[sussexpob]

did the change of captaincy make a difference?

Maybe a little.... but I think the sandpaper shoved in his trousers needs to take a lot of the credit

[bigfluffylemon]

Pitch got an official poor rating.

[Durhamfootman]

and what action will be taken?

good that it backfired

[GarlicJam]

Aus win the toss and choose to bat. Unchanged side. India have brought in Shami in place of Siraj.

Shami started off with a wildly swinging deliveries, ones that give the 'keeper a hard time and added to the scorecard early on. Yadav was also a bit awry. When he finally gets a good one, Head nicks it and the 'keeper puts down a simple catch.

0/24

[Durhamfootman]

Australia taking their time. Khawaja and Smith digging in. 128-2 after 50