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How Rahane's India plotted Australia's downfall in Melbourne

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.

Published : Dec 31, 2020 21:01 IST , CHENNAI

There was a fighting hundred from Rahane, a classy debut by Shubman Gill, but it is the bowlers who eventually win you Tests.
There was a fighting hundred from Rahane, a classy debut by Shubman Gill, but it is the bowlers who eventually win you Tests.
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There was a fighting hundred from Rahane, a classy debut by Shubman Gill, but it is the bowlers who eventually win you Tests.

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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