India Vs Australia 4th Test day 3 Review

 Welcome to another review and it is day three which is so called the moving day in a test match.  And this day is the defining day whether the test match sheds India's way or the Aussies' way.  Because India having been already two down had to put back a fight on to stay alive and Australia will do anything they could to get this match done within another day.  If you have not yet read yesterday's review, please click the link that follows.  India Vs Australia 4th Test day 2 Review.  So let us get to the first session.

Day 3-Session 1:

          The play started 30 minutes earlier today as more than 30 overs were lost yesterday.  Rahane and Pujara came in and started to play as they used to, they slowed down the innings Pujara got out just after India crossed the 100 run mark.  Out of form Agarwal then joined Captain Rahane at the crease the run rate didn't get up throughout the first session as the first session had something for the bowlers as a result of the rain.  Just when the session looked getting India's way Rahane was perfectly set up by Mitchell Starc.  Rahane had been edging balls towards the slips trying to drive but he had been lucky, finally Rahane got out to Mitchell Starc as Wade took a good catch.

  Then, Pant joined Agarwal who was set at the crease.  And India batted out the rest of the first session which was a pretty long one.  The run rate was very low and India had lost 2 crucial wickets.  And didn't really score much runs, so the game still didn't shift either way, but India were going towards a downward spiral. And the teams went on to lunch and we knew that the next session is going to be a cracker.  So let us get to the post lunch session. 

Day 3-Session 2:

          Pant and Agarwal came out to bat and India were desperate for a partnership.  But that was not the case though.  Agarwal got out just at the wrong time, just at the start of the second session.  So now India were in trouble lost half of the side inside 200.  And in came Washington Sundar at no.7. He came into the squad to replace Ravindra Jadeja and he showed good character in doing that.  Sundar battled out the bouncers well and was giving good resistance for Pant.  And Pant hit some glorius shots but again got out the wrong moment.  He tried to glide bouncer bowled by hazlewood through the gully region which was pounced by the giant Cameron Green.  Green took a wonderful catch to dismiss Pant.  And now India were 186/6, as an Indian I really thought that is the game.  As I said which team makes most of Day 3 has the advantage.  And up to the moment, Australia had the upperhand.  And if they had managed to get the tail out within 250, the game would've been well and truly theirs.  But that didn't happen though.  Sundar and Shardul Thakur displayed one of the best ever batting performances coming in at 7 and 8 respectively.  They respected the bowlers equally and took their chances when they were needed to be taken.  Shardul Thakur played out Lyon in the best ever way that a batsman can play him.  And Sundar was a rock, defending out balls at will but also finding the odd boundary here and there.  But Thakur was the aggresor. He made the runs at a better pace than Sundar.

  And Suddenly the score got past 250.  And these both also made a record stand for the 7th wicket for India.  India Went on to tea in the hope of coming back into the game, after the steady display from Sundar and Thakur.  Even after a slump early on to the session, their bouncing back ability won the session for India.  

Day 3-Session 3:

          After crossing 250, I thought, "It would be good if they get to 300".  Do you know what they did? They do crossed 300 and both of them got past their fifties.  Everyone knew Thakur was a capable batsman, but never expected him to score a very crucial knock like he scored today.  I thought he could get 20-30 runs but he doubled it and got to 67.  The Australian Bowlers had no answer whatsoever.  They couldn't do anything even with the new ball in hand.  In fact Thakur and Sundar played the new ball a lot more comfortably.  With this partnership, India proved their showcasing of mental strength to the world, because, throughout the series, India fell into a hole and bounced back to win or draw the test match.

  They bounced back at melbourne after a humiliation at Adelaide.  After being dominated for the 4th days, they bounced back to draw the game at Sydney.  And here at Brisbane, from a point where 250 looked unassailabe, India now were eying 350.  But Thakur for a moment lost his mind and started to attack and also paid the price as cummins Pierced through him to get him out for 67.  And the score was 309/7.  With 60 to lead, India pushed on again, but Saini perished quickly, Sundar tried hard, but was lacking support and finally he too perished to Hazlewood.  But then, Siraj displayed outrageous batting as he started attacking Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood.  He hit two wonderful boundaries, especially the one that he hit backwards.  And finally Hazlewood got his wicket and also his 5-for as India ended their Innings traling by only 33 runs.  After the end of the Indian Innings, the score was 336 after a 111.4 overs.  10 overs were still remaining in the day as the Aussies came on to bat.  And Natarajan was swinging the ball very well, but he could not find the correct line and length.  Warner counter attacked Siraj who had been troubling him this series.  And Sundar bowled 1 over for his part and Natarajan finished off the day.  Only 6 overs were bowled out of the available 10 and Australia had a good start.  And to be fair Warner is in great touch.  And the pitch also has nothing to offer the bowlers except that pinch of swing.  So we could expect a high scoring day tomorrow.  And For Now, I leave you with the highlights of Day 3.  India Vs Australia Day 3 Highlights.