1st Test - Australia v India @ Pune - Day 3 Review
Ruthless Australia Crush India To Go 1-Up
Australia has completed a stunning upset victory over India crushing the hosts by 333 runs inside three days in Pune. On a dry, cracked pitched that turned from the first ball of the day, the tourists were meant to be cannon fodder, but they didn't read the script comprehensively outplaying the hosts in all three facets of the game. On Day 3, Captain Steve Smith completed another inspired century and was well supported by another fighting performance from Australia's lower order. Smith's 109 helped Australia compile an excellent score of 285 in the 3rd Innings of the match, on a deteriorating wicket, which took India completely out of the game requiring 440 to win the Test Match. For Smith it was his 18th Test century and, whilst it wasn't the prettiest, it might have been the most important and one of the most cherished in challenging conditions.
It was the fifth straight Test Match Smith has scored a century against India, but his first on Indian soil. Steven O'Keefe then took his second 6-wicket haul for the match, claiming 6/35 from 15 overs, as India were routed once again for just 107. O'Keefe held the astonishing match figures of 12/69 which are the best figures ever from an opposition spinner on Indian soil. Whilst his 6 wickets on Day 2 came somewhat out of the blue, O'Keefe was inspired from the get-go in the 4th Innings bowling with unnerving accuracy, getting some balls to grip and others to slide on. He was well supported by spin twin Nathan Lyon who claimed the other 4 wickets, as India were blown apart on the type of wicket on which they were meant to be formidable. The teams now get a full week off before a suddenly very appetising Second Test in Bangalore, as the hosts look to hit back and Australia look to cement their stranglehold on the series.
Frazzled India Blown Apart
Nothing summed up India's frazzled minds more than the sight of their superstar Captain, Virat Kohli, losing his off stump without offering a shot, and standing there for what seemed like an eternity. Maybe Kohli was genuinely shellshocked, or maybe he just needed a moment to digest the full impact of the nature of India's landslide defeat. India lost 14 wickets in this Test Match to defence shots as they were frozen to the crease and seemingly paralysed by fear. Their Top 5 batsmen had averaged 67 against left arm spin coming into this Test Match, however they had no answer to Steven O'Keefe here in Pune. That statistic doesn't make for pretty reading for a home side that went into this game on a 20-match unbeaten run at home, including 17 victories. India had not lost a Test at home since 2012, and had not lost a Test to Australia at home since back in 2004-05 to an Australian team containing the likes of Hayden, Ponting, Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath.
India's cumulative match score of 222 was the lowest combined score for two bowled out innings for any Indian side at home. It was the 3rd quickest time India had been bowled out in a Test match, lasting just 40 overs in the 1st Innings and 33 overs in the 2nd Innings. While their awful batting display will be at the centre of the blame and conjecture for their stunningly lopsided loss, India were sloppy and ragged in all aspects of the game. Their close in fielding was terrible as they put down Steve Smith to three relatively simple catches on his way to a century. India also appeared frazzled and desperate in their approach to reviews as they frittered them away in the field or wasted them with the bat. India used up all they fielding reviews on hopeful appeals and managed to overturn just 1 from 4 reviews with the bat. While their bowlers were not terrible, I thought their spinners bowled more bad balls than they did in the entire series against England in which both Ashwin and Jadeja were so dominant.
Renshaw Looks Like He Belongs
I have been slow to come around to Matt Renshaw, however he just keeps proving his doubters wrong with every performance. Renshaw was always likely to suffer a baptism of fire on his first tour to India, and had to endure the dreaded "Delhi belly" for most of this Test match, however he still managed to compile two high quality, determined and intelligent innings under the weather. Renshaw compiled 99 runs for the match, which was the second most for any batsman on either side, outside of Australian captain Steve Smith.However, at the moment there appears no stopping Renshaw enjoying the contest and making significant contributions each and every Test match. While people have lauded his temperament and ability to occupy the crease, for me if was his skill and execution with that bat that stood out here.
What struck me about Renshaw was that in a short space of time he appears to have developed a real game plan for this series. Many, including myself, thought he might really be exposed against the turning ball on dry wickets, however, if truth be told, he looked just about the most comfortable of any batsman in the match. Using his sizeable frame to get a big stride forward, Renshaw mixed attack with defence and used the sweep shot to good effect, keeping the pressure on the Indian spinners by lofting them down the ground on a few occasions. The youngster appears to be free of any mental demons, and the permanent smile he seems to play with suggests a bullet proof unflappability at this young stage of his career. I'm sure there will be form slumps and tougher times - even greats like Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke were dropped at one point early in their careers - but for now he looks like he belongs and is in for a long run int he side side as David Warner's opening partner.