India almost eliminated from WTC contention after loss to Australia

MELBOURNE: After losing their last wicket on Monday, Australia worked fast to dismiss the entirety of India’s batting line-up within 79.1 overs, winning the fourth test of the series.

Australia triumphed in front of a historic crowd, as the fourth test of the series broke the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s attendance record. Over 350,700 people watched the clash between the two teams over the five days, beating out the previous record by 166.

Game Recap

Pat Cummins and Scott Boland took a combined six wickets as they dismantled India in the final innings of the fourth test. Cummins would get the first two dismissals in the 17th over, sending off India skipper Rohit Sharma after he attempted to whip the ball through mid-wicket. A late swing would result in Cummins’ delivery taking an outside edge before Marsh took the catch at Gully.

Sharma only made nine runs, but KL Rahul who replaced him did even worse, as he was sent off for a duck on the fifth delivery he faced. Cummins’ delivery found another edge and this time it was Usman Khawaja who made the grab at first slip.

Mitchell Starc took his first and only wicket of the innings next in the 27th over, dismissing Virat Kohli who failed to end his rut. The Indian star only made five runs before Starc’s delivery took an edge and Khawaja made his second catch.

Travis Head took his only wicket in the 59th over, as Rishabh Pant pulled the ball high but not long, allowing Mitchell Marsh to take the catch at long on.

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Not long after, Ravindra Jadeja was sent off as Boland got the first of his three wickets. Boland’s delivery struck the shoulder of Jadeja’s bat before wicket-keeper Alex Carrey made the grab.

Cummins took his third and final wicket of the day next, in what was the most controversial dismissal of the series. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made 84 runs up to that point, was dismissed in the 71st over. The delivery from Cummins appeared to brush against Jaiswal’s bat before Carrey took a catch, however the umpire didn’t seem to agree. Australia would review, but there was no spike on UItraEdge. However, after viewing many different angels of the delivery, the wicket was given. The umpire surmised that the ball must have deflected off the bat due to its change in trajectory.

Boland took his next two wickets shortly after, dismissing Akash Deep in the 77th after his attempt at defending resulted in another deflection that Head ended up catching at short leg. Jasprit Bumrah was sent off two overs later. After another thick edge, Steven Smith at first slip dove forward to make the catch.  

India were all out for 155 in their second Innings. Australia won by 184 runs and now lead the series two wins to one.

The loss for India means that they will need to win the next match, and for Australia to lose both their upcoming tests to Sri Lanka if they hope to make the ICC World Test Championship finals.

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