Twitter Reactions: India’s dramatic collapse squanders early advantage as Australia steamrolls to victory

Things escalated rather quickly on a day that started with India 62 ahead of Australia.

By Pratyay Tiwari

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Joe Burns and Matthew Wade
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Joe Burns and Matthew Wade. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 W 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 W 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 W 0 0 0 0 W 0 0 0 W 0 0 0 4 W 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 W W 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 W 0 1 0 4 0 0 0. It is no secret code that will open the doors of a mysterious vault. That is how India rammed itself into a historic abyss. So, if you woke up some 30 minutes late to witness the action on the third day of the first Test between India and Australia, you missed an unprecedented collapse and of course, some incredible spells of fast bowling.

Things escalated rather quickly on a day that started with India 62 ahead of Australia, and while everyone was busy contemplating about what a match-winning score for India would be, the Australian pacers, especially Josh Hazlewood had some other plans. Setting the tone early for his pacer-mate, Pat Cummins undid Jasprit Bumrah, the night-watchman, who popped back a simple return catch for the pacer.

India’s horrific collapse 

Neither of the teams could have anticipated the horrific, nightmarish collapse that would follow. Cummins soon struck through a delivery that left Cheteshwar Pujara with no other option than attempt. Nipping just enough from the right-hander, the ball kissed the outside edge of Pujara’s bat and carried easily to the keeper. The others followed the lead as India crumbled like a deck of cards. Josh Hazlewood struck on the first ball of his spell as he made Mayank Agarwal walk back; undoing him by the extra bounce and the angling in delivery, which took the outside edge and landed again in the gloves of Paine.

Australia soon made this a template, and every ball would manage to flirt with the outside edges of the Indians’ bat. Ajinkya Rahane similarly fell to Hazlewood, and so did Hanuma Vihari and Ravi Ashwin. Eyes and hopes were stuck on Virat Kohli, however, full delivery outside the off-stump from Pat Cummins at a rather drivable length lured him as another outside edge flew, though this time in the slips to Cameron Green. At 36 for 9, a nasty short delivery from Cummins hit Mohammed Shami on his arm, which forced him to be retired hurt, and India was wrapped up for their paltriest Test score ever – 36.

Australia rolls over

Needing merely 90 runs for the win, the Indian bowlers failed to make the ball talk as Matthew Wade and Joe Burns added 70 for the opening stand. A run-out dismissal led to the end of Wade (33 from 53) towards the fag end of the innings, whereas Marnus Labuschagne fell to Ashwin after he skied on to midwicket. Making his mark and utilizing the opportunity to perfection, Joe Burns slammed a half-century – 51 from 63 – to take Australia to one of the easiest chases ever.

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