India 252 for 9 wickets (Rahul 84, Jadeja 77, Cummins 4-80, Starc 3-83) behind Australia by 193 runs
In Hazlewood’s absence, his two great fast-bowling partners took over the heavy workload, bowling 60% of the 74.5 overs of India’s innings, with Pat Cummins taking four wickets and Mitchell Starc taking three.
However, his efforts could not stop India from crossing the magical figure of 246. KL Rahul survived a dropped chance on the first ball of the day – a sign of Australia’s luck – and scored 84, and Ravindra Jadeja contributed 77 brilliantly controlled runs, mainly on a new-ball pitch with the old one. Carrying the entire burden of countering weak attacks using the ball. When Cummins dismissed Jadeja on a well-directed short ball, India were still 33 runs short before Australia were asked to bat again.
It was when Aakash Deep, in a partnership of extraordinary assurance, joined forces with Jasprit Bumrah – Bumra ended the day with a control percentage of 86 and Aakash 90 – that reflected Australia’s tough conditions. It also showcased the pair’s skill and flexibility with the bat. Bumrah hit Cummins for a six while scoring 10 runs in 27 balls, while Akash hit two fours and a six and scored 27 runs in 31 balls.
It was Akash who took India past the follow-on mark by lobbing Cummins over the leaping gully fielder. Two balls later, he cleared his front foot and hit a powerful six over wide long-on. That was the last scoring shot of the day and the umpires called the players off the field after one more ball due to bad light.
It was another stop-start day at the Gabba, although not to the extent of the third day, and if it helped save Australia’s weak attack from exhaustion, it also took more time away from the match. Only 57.5 overs were possible in the day.
By its end, Australia had been left unsettled by events at the beginning. Cummins’ first ball of the day went to Rahul in the corridor and he sent it straight to Steven Smith at second slip. Smith is one of the world’s great slip fielders – he demonstrated this later in the day – but this time the ball bounced off the heel of his hand.
Immediately after this, Cummins hit hard and dismissed Rohit Sharma with a brilliant innings of one or two. First, he took a short throw to the back of his ribcage, which did not allow him to connect with the bridge. Then he shifted the ball full and outside the off stump. Rohit couldn’t move far enough to play this ball safely – and his front shoulder was also exposed – and his attempt to drive ended up going wide of the keeper.
At this time India’s score was 74 runs for 4 wickets and it had faced only 23.3 overs. However, the entry of Jadeja calmed him down, and he settled into an innings where his control percentage remained in the mid-90s throughout. It helped that Hazlewood walked off the field soon after Jadeja came in, after bowling only one over, and it helped that the ball stopped seaming and bouncing as it did when it was new, but Jadeja Batted with an organized gameplan. This ensured that he made the best of his circumstances.
Many more to follow…
Karthik Krishnaswamy is assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
