It all depends on how tomorrow goes. This line has been written and uttered every single day throughout the India vs Australia Test series. Yet almost after the end of play, neither India nor Australia is ahead. The same goes for the Sydney Test. 6 sessions are done, 23 wickets have already fallen, and the series is still on the line, yet we have no clear favourites. Australia could have been given a slight edge given Jasprit Bumrah is injured and it’s uncertain whether he’ll bowl again in Sydney. But, chasing any total here seems difficult.
Siraj & Prasidh shine after injury takes down Jasprit Bumrah
One mustn’t forget that Australia started the second day, trailing by 178 runs. Well, they were able to score just 174 runs for the loss of nine wickets. What’s worrisome is that Bumrah wasn’t on the field for the last five. If Team India can somehow claim the wickets of Alex Carey and Beau Webster, two of Australia’s best batters in this Test on a pitch that was easing up slightly, they might do something special even without their main man, Bumrah.
The other pacers have been side characters in the Jasprit Bumrah story so far. But, today, they came to the forefront. Mohammed Siraj finally showed what he was capable of. He took Sam Konstas and Travis Head in the same over and then claimed the final wicket of Scott Boland to wrap things up. Playing his first match of the India vs Australia Test series, Prasidh Krishna struggled with his length early but course-corrected and hit the jackpot.
The tall pacer got three of Australia’s four highest scorers (Webster, Carey, and Steve Smith). Nitish Kumar Reddy went for a few but got the wickets of tailenders Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, both of whom have frustrated Team India a couple of times with their late runs this series. But one can’t forget Bumrah. The Indian captain was the one who started it all with the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne before walking off minutes after the second session started.
Kohli-Gill disappoint, Rishabh Pant blitz shocks Australia
Although Team India’s bowling gave hope, their batting was woeful. The start was as good as it can get. Yashasvi Jaiswal smocked 16 runs off Starc, and everyone seemed chipper. But after a couple of good balls from Boland, Team India went from 42/0 to 47/2 as Jaiswal and KL Rahul walked back to the pavillion. As has been the case, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill failed once again. Like the first innings, Kohli nicked a ball outside while Gill walked out of the crease and was caught behind the stumps.
Rishabh Pant was a sight to behold. One can’t remember a better display of aggressive batting. After scoring 40 runs in 98 balls in the first go, Pant hit 61 runs off 33 balls. He started his innings with a six off Boland on his first delivery, who had claimed all three Indian wickets by then. The onslaught wasn’t there. He smashed Beau Webster, Boland, and Mitchell Starc on the way to the second-fastest half-century by an Indian batter, a record Pant himself holds.
For the time the wicketkeeper was on, Cummins had no idea what to do. But the Pant party had to stop. When it did, a wicket came soon. Nitish Kumar Reddy gave a dolly to the fielder at mid-off in what might be the worst dismissal of any Indian batter. Washington Sundar joined Ravindra Jadeja, and both took Team India to the end of play without a further loss of wicket. The lead stands at 142 with three batters left.
India vs Australia 5th Test: Brief Scores after Day 2
- India, 1st innings: 185/10 (Rishabh Pant 40, Ravindra Jadeja 26; Scott Boland 31/4, Mitchell Starc 49/3)
- Australia, 1st innings: 181/10 (Beau Webster 57, Steve Smith 33; Prasidh Krishna 42/3, Mohammed Siraj 51/3)
- India, 2nd innings: 141/6 (Rishabh Pant 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 22; Scott Boland 39/4, Beau Webster 24/1)
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