Behind the Indian resurgence in Melbourne after the winter of 36 were quiet resolve and meticulous planning.
Beneath stand-in captain’s Ajinkya Rahane’s harmless exterior lurks a ruthlessly attacking captain who does not miss a trick with his aggressive bowling changes and field placements.
If we go to the specifics, the manner India dismissed Steve Smith in both the innings is testimony to its think-tank. In the first Test in Adelaide, Smith perished to an under-cutter from the impressive R. Ashwin; it was a delivery of side-spin that went through straight when Smith played for turn.
This dismissal was playing on Smith’s mind when he faced the ace off-spinner in Melbourne in the first innings. Rahane had a ring of fielders around the bat for Smith. Among the catchers, crucially, was a leg-slip. This time, Ashwin spun one across Smith; it was a top-spin delivery. Smith, instinctively, played with the turn and was picked up at leg-slip.
In the second innings, an inspired Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Smith, who once again fell early. Now a batsman’s strength can also be his weakness. Smith has gathered a mountain of runs in his career by walking on to the off-side, leaving his leg-stump open - it is a bait for the bowlers - and when they attempt to knock the leg-stump, the Aussie picks them up for runs with whips and drives.
Worse, with the line being on the leg-stump, the pacemen, in particular, find it hard to shift back to off-stump. By the time they accomplish that, Smith would have dug in deep.
Now, how Bumrah got Smith out in the second innings at the MCG was all about precision and a little bit of trickery.
Once again, Smith moved towards the off-side, offering a clear view of the leg-stump, but Bumrah’s delivery was on a good length, so the Aussie couldn’t whip or drive, and the ball was also a tad slower. Smith missed, and the ball clipped the leg-stump bail. A decisive moment.
In the absence of David Warner, much for Australia hinged on Marnus Labuschagne and Smith. And Labuschagne was removed by Ashwin in the second innings with a little bit of sorcery.
This was again an under-cutter, angled across Labuschagne. The side-spinning ball zipped off the surface, took the nick and settled into slip’s hands.
There was a fighting hundred from Rahane, a classy debut by Shubman Gill, but it is the bowlers who eventually win you Tests.
And spare a thought for debutant paceman Mohammad Siraj, who moved the ball away, got it to nip back at a sharp pace and bowled his heart out. And Ravindra Jadeja pulled his weight as an all-rounder. This series now is wide open.
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