Gabba Test headed towards a draw; KL, Jadeja play vital knocks
The Indian team, adorned with batting stalwarts, narrowly escaped being embarrassed on the Brisbane Gabba ground. First KL Rahul and then Ravindra Jadeja faced the Australian bowlers bravely and tried to save India the blushes by scoring half-centuries, after which the last pair of Jasprit Bumrah (10 not out with a six in 27 balls) and Akash Deep (27 not out with 2 fours and a six in 31 balls) batted brilliantly and somehow saved India from the embarrassment of facing follow-on. When Akash Deep crossed the cut-off score by hitting a four off Cummins, the celebration in Team India’s dressing room was worth watching. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma were dancing with joy, while only after this Akash also hit a six off Cummins. There has been a partnership of 39 runs between them. India scored 252 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 74.5 overs on the fourth day, while the Australian team had scored a mountainous score of 445 runs in the first innings. The last time the Indian team could not save the follow-on in the Oval Test against England was in 2011.
KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja’s struggling innings
There were two big partnerships for India. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja added 67 runs for the sixth wicket, while Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy added 53 runs for the seventh wicket. Earlier, playing ahead of their third day’s score of 51 runs for four wickets, the Indian batsmen showed fighting spirit and Rahul proved to be a troubleshooter. Rahul was lucky to get a lifeline from Smith at second slip on the first ball of the day while Pat Cummins was the bowler. Rahul was on 33 runs at that time.
Australia had placed three slips and a gully fielder for him so that Rahul could be forced to make a mistake. But Rahul waited for loose balls and did not take any risk. Cummins also bowled him balls outside the off stump which he either left or played defensively. On the other hand, captain Rohit Sharma (10) failed once again. He stuck his bat on Cummins’ ball falling on the off stump and Alex Carey behind the wicket dismissed him with agility.
Josh Hazlewood injured, may hardly be able to play further in the series
Meanwhile, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood left the field due to a calf injury, due to which the host team missed a bowler. Hazlewood may be out of the series. Earlier, KL Rahul was deprived of a century and got caught by Steve Smith at first slip on Nathan Lyon’s ball on a score of 84. Many had raised questions on giving preference to Jadeja over R Ashwin and Washington Sundar, but this all-rounder proved his usefulness.
Jadeja the batter steps up
Jadeja’s average in Australia is now 54 and in the previous last four innings here, he has scored unbeaten 65, unbeaten 28, 57 and 81 runs. He completed his 22nd half-century in Test cricket in 89 balls. Nitish supported him well and showed defensive play by saving the wicket. He was unlucky that Pat Cummins’ bouncing ball hit his stumps. After this, Jadeja was caught by Marsh on Cummins’ ball on a score of 77 runs. He hit 7 fours and a six. At present, Akash Deep and Bumrah are on the field and these two will start the Indian innings tomorrow.
