India vs Australia 2nd Test Day 3: Australia Levels Series
Australia won the Adelaide Test by 10 wickets and leveled the Border-Gavaskar series
- India vs Australia 2nd Test Day 3 : Australia crushes India by 10 wickets
- India slide to third in WTC standings after embarrassing loss to Australia.
- Travis Head and Mitchell Starc shine as Australia annihilate opposition.
Australia Shines, India Struggles Yet Again
Australia sealed off the Border-Gavaskar Trophy second Test by scoring an impressive 10 wickets over India and leveling the series at 1-1 with an impressive win at Adelaide. Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney chasing 19 runs left no scope for any dramatic finish and finished off the game in just 3.2 overs.
It was a defeat for India, not just in the series but also against their ranking in the World Test Championship. India fell to third position in the points table, with 57.29 percent, behind Australia with 60.71 percent and South Africa at 59.26 percent.
India’s batting blues continue
Again, India’s frail batting line-up could not come good again. Having just managed 180 runs in the first innings, India was bundled for 175. But while Nitish Reddy showed some resistance to the extent of twin scores of 42, the remaining line-up failed to take off.
Major Moments of the Fall
- KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma failed to convert starts.
- Rishabh Pant looked promising enough but his knock was not continued at the end.
- Australians’ bowlers mercilessly exploited India’s vulnerabilities against movement and pace.
This poor performance continues a worrying trend that has begun since the New Zealand series when they had failed to respond to pace and seam conditions.
Australia’s Pink Ball Dominance
Australian extended their phenomenal record in Day-Night Tests, with only one loss against the West Indies in January 2024 at the Brisbane.
Mitchell Starc claimed 8 wickets of the game, tearing into India’s top order with sizzling inswingers.
Pat Cummins: Took five wickets in the second innings, just like a captain’s job.
Travis Head: Blitzed his way to a stunning 140 off 141 balls, the fastest pink ball Test hundred really mirroring Australia’s attacking ethos.
The pristine record of Australia with the pink ball now serves as a warning for teams while visiting their home turf.
Related Stories
1.India On The Brink Of Collapse As Travis Head Shines On Day 2 Of Adelaide Cricket Test
2. India batting struggle: All out for 180 on Day 1 against Australia in Adelaide Test
WTC Impact: India slips to third
Loss for Adelaide has huge ramifications on the campaign in World Test Championship. India lost it by WTC percentage points:
- Before the game, 61.11%
- After the game: 57.29%
Australia’s Rise to the Top
- Previous : 57.69%
- Now 60.71%
South Africa Second in Line
- 26% current percentage points
With only one win in the four Test matches that are now going to be played, India’s qualification to the WTC Final remains precarious.
Key Takeaways from Day 3
- Australia’s bowlers were just on fire: Starc and Cummins, each and together, mercilessly took 15 wickets in the match.
- Indian batting continued to go terribly : except Nitish Reddy, nobody applied the required technique or temperament to Test cricket.
- WTC Table Shake-Up: India’s embarrassing loss handed the top spot back to Australia while South Africa drifted into second place.
Look Ahead
The series is currently at 1-1, and the next Test will be very crucial for both teams. India needs to correct some batting frailties and figure out how to tackle the potent bowling attack of Australia. Australia will look to build momentum and consolidate their position in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the WTC table.
