The 2018 Boxing Day Test has gone right in every way for India and disastrously thus far for the Australians. After failing to bowl out the tourists during the first two days, Australia was quickly dismissed for 151 with non-conventional fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah taking 6-33.
India were able to declare again at 8-106 and even though Pat Cummins recorded his career best numbers. After he had dispatched India’s two most dangerous batsmen in Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara he was sitting on 4/2 and finished all up on 6/27 before Kohli sent his men back out into the field to finish the job.
When Harris and Finch walked onto the pitch they were staring at a 398 run deficit to chase down. A feat no team has ever achieved at the MCG. Australia had the best part of six sessions to retain their wickets if any other result but a loss was to be possible.
Finch went cheaply poking at a ball from Bumrah that would have gone much better off left alone considering the circumstances. He was caught in the slips by captain Kohli while just on 3 runs.
Harris didn’t depart much later, a ball from Ravindra Jadeja hit the rough and caught Harris off-guard which was caught at short leg by
Mayank Agarwal.
Usman Khawaja and Shaun Harris, the team’s two most experienced batsmen now hold the weight of the match, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and Australia’s chance of winning the series upon their shoulders.
