Crushed in a session: Australia fall to India in ‘horror show’ defeat
Nagpur: Australia were dealt a brutal reality check in their quest for world domination by India’s spin masters as the tourists crashed to a humiliating defeat in the first Test inside three days.
The visitors’ spin plans are in ruins and so too will be their bid to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy if they cannot find a viable method to negotiate the sleight of hand of old foes Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja before the second Test starting Friday in Delhi.
More questions will be raised about Australia’s preparations for this series after they were pummelled by an innings and 132 runs in a performance every bit as dispiriting as any from the 4-0 whitewash under Michael Clarke in the infamous Homework-gate tour of 2013.
India’s Ravichandran Ashwin, left, celebrates his five-wicket haul with his teammates after the dismissal of Australia’s Alex Carey.Credit:Rafiq Maqbool, AP
When Usman Khawaja departed early, there was a sense of inevitability about the game though to lose all 10 wickets in a session showed a worrying lack of fight. Their total of 91 was their second-lowest score against India, bettering the 83 they made in 1981 at the MCG.
The visitors’ belief a few days training in Bangalore would have them physically, mentally and technically ready to breach India’s fortress was shown to be folly.
It may have them in a fresher state of mind for the back end of the campaign but by then the series is likely to be gone unless there is significant improvement – and fast.
On a pitch where Nathan Lyon struggled to extract much assistance, Ashwin ran through the visitors with alarming ease, finishing with 5/37, while Jadeja claimed two wickets – including that of Marnus Labuschagne.
Despite fielding six players from their valiant 2017 campaign, Australia have gone backwards in their approach to spin.
Even Steve Smith, the only player to offer any meaningful resistance, was bowled twice – once from a no-ball – after being beaten on the inside – a mode of dismissal he and his teammates trained intently to avoid six years ago.
With the exception of Smith, Australia’s batters had no idea how to face decade-long tormentors Ashwin and Jadeja, and Axar Patel.
Those pinned to the crease, such as David Warner and Matt Renshaw, were sitting ducks. The more proactive batters, Peter Handscomb and Alex Carey, lacked the skill to carry out their plans.
There are already calls for changes to the team. Former great Mark Waugh, a selector during the 2017 campaign, has urged selectors to recall Travis Head and Cameron Green. The latter, though, is still under an injury cloud with his finger.
Head was sensationally dropped for the first Test based on perceived weaknesses against spin, but is now seen as a potential saviour simply by missing out on the horror show.
“Next Test there has to be changes,” Waugh said on the commentary. “There have been too many bruises from this game to move forward [with this side].
“If Cameron Green is fit, he has to come in and Head has to come back in. I know it is tough to give certain players just one Test but you have to think on your feet and go with your gut.
“India is a tough place to regain form because it’s all consuming sometimes.
“I thought Head was unlucky, maybe he might not have made runs in this Test but he deserves a spot. He was the leading batsman this summer and bowls off-spin.
“Green should be back if he is fit.”
In a match where there were few positives for Australia, Todd Murphy shone like a beacon. The debutant finished with the stellar figures of 7/124 – the fourth-best return by an Australian man on debut abroad. Only Bob Massie, with twin bags of eight, and Jason Krejza have fared better.
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