Australia’s hopes of a miraculous chase in the fourth innings of the ongoing Test match against India at the Optus Stadium are hanging by a thread, as they find themselves needing 307 runs to win with just two wickets remaining on Monday.
At the tea break on Day 4, Australia’s score stood at 227/8 after 53.4 overs, with Alex Carey (30 not out) at the crease. The Indian bowlers have maintained tight control throughout the session, and with Australia’s tail exposed, it is looking increasingly difficult for the hosts to stave off defeat.
The day began with Australia resuming their innings at 12/3, still 521 runs behind. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head were at the crease, providing the backbone of Australia’s counterattack. However, the Indian bowlers, especially the experienced paceman Jasprit Bumrah, had other ideas.
Australia’s innings took a turn for the worse when Bumrah dismissed Head in spectacular fashion. Head, who had been playing a counterattacking innings, seemed set for a big score, having struck eight boundaries in his 101-ball knock. Bumrah, however, devised a clever plan to unsettle the left-hander, targeting him with straight deliveries and cutting off any width outside the off stump.
Bumrah continued with a strategy of forcing Head into a defensive mode, even getting him to play an ill-timed flick. Eventually, Bumrah got the break-through with a full-length delivery, with Head edging a wide ball to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps, falling for 89.
India’s bowlers then capitalised on the pressure created by Head’s departure, and just a few overs later, Mitchell Marsh, the other key Australian batsman, was dismissed for 47. Marsh had been playing a gritty knock, with a few delightful shots including a couple of sixes and fours.
However, it was a ball from debutant Nitish Reddy that undid him. The delivery was back of a length, wide outside off-stump, but it kept low and Marsh attempted a cut shot. The ball found the thick edge of Marsh’s bat and crashed into the stumps. Reddy, who had been brought into the attack to provide fresh energy, picked up his maiden Test wicket, and the Australian hopes were dented further.
The Australian tail quickly began to fall apart. Starc, who joined Carey at the crease, had little chance to stabilise the innings. Washington Sundar produced a brilliant delivery that clipped Starc’s bat as he attempted a shot on the on-side. The ball flew almost behind short leg, where Dhruv Jurel, standing in the right position, stretched out his right hand and took a blinder of a catch.
Starc was dismissed for just 12, leaving Australia at 227/8 and effectively ending any realistic hopes of victory.
Before these wickets fell, Australia had been fighting back through some strong batting from Head and Marsh. Head was in aggressive mode, and his pull shots off the short deliveries were particularly impressive. He took on Bumrah, pulling him for a couple of boundaries before eventually falling to his tactics. Marsh had also been busy, driving the ball through the covers with authority and lofting the ball over mid-off for a six.
Bumrah and Sundar have been the standout bowlers for India, maintaining relentless pressure and breaking through the Australian resistance. Bumrah’s spell has been crucial in forcing Australia’s batsmen to play risky shots. His understanding of the conditions and how to bowl to set batters has been on full display, and his role in Head’s dismissal, using a combination of length and pace, has been textbook.
Sundar’s impact has been felt as well. The off-spinner was brought into the attack to slow down the scoring rate and build pressure. His breakthrough came with the dismissal of Starc, and his consistent lines and lengths have kept the Australians in check. Meanwhile, Reddy’s first Test wicket of Marsh was another important moment, with the bowler showing great composure in his debut outing.
At tea, Australia has just two wickets remaining and is staring down the barrel of a defeat. Carey, still at the crease, will need to show great resilience if Australia is to entertain even the remotest chance of a miracle. His task is to hold the fort, and with the tail exposed, it’s highly unlikely that he will get much support from the lower order.
The pitch, though showing signs of variable bounce, is still offering enough for the bowlers to capitalize on, and India’s bowlers will be keen to finish off the game quickly.
India, with their four remaining wickets, will be eager to wrap up the match in the final session. Australia will need a monumental effort to hold on, as they require 307 runs with just two wickets left. The Indian team, including Virat Kohli and Bumrah, will be feeling confident about completing the job, and all eyes will be on the bowlers to finish off the match.
