MCG Test: India fails to capitalize on Bumrah’s brilliance

Melbourne: As we approach the rare fifth day of a Test match, the prospect of what is to come is tantalizing. Very few sports give you the opportunity to go back, switch off and restart like Test cricket does, and that’s what makes the second innings such a tantalizing prospect. You can stare at a deficit, but there is a clear opportunity to leave it all behind and start again.

At the conclusion of the fourth Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia were leading by 333 runs. The highest successfully chased run at the MCG is 332/7 by England in 1929. The highest successfully chased target at the MCG this century is 231, but despite this the hosts resisted the urge to call the innings.

Maybe they weren’t willing to risk it, or maybe they felt there wasn’t enough for the bowlers after struggling on the wicket all day. Not yet. Either way, the Indian team would have liked not having to bat late in the day. After long hours on the field, no batsman wants to settle for a short session.

It was a turbulent day, thanks largely to the consistent brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah (24-7-56-4), who had the Australians on the mat at 91/6. But a mix of dropped catches (three from Yashasvi Jaiswal alone) and determination ensured that Pat Cummins and Co. ended the day on 228/9. Mohammed Siraj also impressed with 3/66 after a disappointing first innings.

At the heart of Australia’s comeback on Sunday was Marnus Labuschagne, who appeared to have returned to his usual bliss as he made his crucial 70. He was the only batsman who played Bumrah with any degree of confidence and his runs went a long way to pushing Australia’s total into safe territory.

With memories of some of India’s famous chases still alive, the hosts kept a close eye on the wicket and its activities. Will it get to the point where hitting becomes more difficult on Day 5?

“I probably can’t predict tomorrow,” Labuschagne said. “But I can just talk about today. I think from the first innings there was obviously some movement. There was a lot there. It was probably hard work in that first over, especially in the first 40 to 50 overs. But as the game progressed the momentum became more and more inconsistent.

“So we just get more balls hitting the stumps. More balls slip through. And we get that clear from the data. And that’s probably the biggest difference. The seam movement was probably the same.”

Normally the pitch doesn’t suddenly straighten up on the fifth day, but that would mean hitting will be difficult for much of the fourth inning as well. Many will be talking about a win, but a look at how the Australian innings unfolded showed that India will have to exercise great caution.

Australia lost regular wickets throughout the day, with their highest partnership (57 runs) coming only after the Indian attack broke the top order. Labuschagne found a capable and willing partner in Cummins, and his attitude helped the team out of a potentially dangerous situation. And then, as the innings seemed to be drawing to a close, Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland put up an unbroken stand of 55 runs for the final wicket.

It also ensured Australia played time. If India is given too much time, they may face a chase. Maybe it still is, but the timing has to be right now and the guests won’t try to get too aggressive too soon.

Is it too early for Indian fans to dream of a Gabba-like miracle? Labuschagne believes there are some important differences.

“The wicket at the Gabba was flat,” said the Australian No.3. “From my memory there were some cracks there but the main part of the wicket was really nice. It was like a two-wicket from Day 2 to Day 1. It was pretty solid. The ball had, you know, a little bounce to it, as is usual in Brisbane, but it was a nice wicket.

“And we were also able to win the series in the test. So we had to try to set a sum. And ideally we would have liked to have given India more in this game and probably bowled a few overs less, but because we had to win we had to risk it a little more.”

India is yet to get the last Australian wicket and doesn’t want to get ahead of itself. But going into the final day with all four possible outcomes is a blessing for true Test cricket fans. Of course, teams may decide at some point that a draw is their best result, but for now we can all dream a little.