Plunder at Perth: India develops habit of breaching Aussies’ fortresses…!

This was a win for the ages, right up there amongst the greatest Indian wins in Test cricket. As far as comebacks go, at least overseas, it must rank as the greatest. In India, Kolkata 2001 is probably the greatest turn-around, with India winning after following on against Australia. This one comes on the heels of an unexpected and crushing 3-0 defeat at home to New Zealand, which ended a proud, decade-long unbeaten run at home.

Nobody had India as favourites going into this Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series, with most pundits putting it at 70-30 in Australia’s favour. Whatever chance the experts gave India was based on the last two series in Australia, which India won.

Electing to bat, a decision questioned by many, India could muster only 150. The familiar refrain on social and mainstream media was back again. ‘Here we go again’, most felt. Jasprit Bumrah, the stand-in captain, had other ideas, and bowled what most Aussie experts rank as one of the greatest spells by a visiting pacer. At Perth, the Indian captain thrust his foot in the door, bringing India right back in the game by dismissing Australia for 104. The other Indian debutant, Harshit Rana bowled with vigour and ended up with 3 wickets.

KL Rahul has been everyone’s favourite whipping boy of late, with his place in the side being questioned often. He is a great talent, but also an enigma that is yet to fully unravel. He captained India in Tests not too far back, in South Africa, but for some reason has never really cemented his place. When it comes to sacrificing for the team, he is always the first to put his hand up, as he did here too by opening in Jaiswal’s company.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is a once in a generation talent. After the first innings duck, he played what must be the most satisfying innings in his nascent 15-test career. More than the number of runs (161), it was the manner and poise that enthralled one and all. Having learnt from the earlier failure, he bided his time and respected the conditions before displaying his wide repertoire of shots, none more audacious than the half-flick, half-sweep off Starc for 6.

There is something about Perth and the great Indian talents early in their test careers. Every cricket aficianado will remember the then 18-year-old Tendulkar’s 114 at the WACA in 1992, an innings still talked about in Australia. And Virat Kohli’s 44 and 75 in 2012, that really cemented his place in the test side. The symbolic generational torch was then being passed from Tendulkar to Kohli, and now from Kohli to Jaiswal.

Kohli’s 81st international and 30^th test hundred was acquiring the undertones of the wait for his 71st, but aided by a bit of luck and the team situation, he hit his stride and brought it up with his usual class. An in-form Kohli brings a different dimension to the team’s dressing room.    

The opening wicket partnership was worth 201 runs, a record for India in Australia, and something not very common for teams visiting Down Under. This stand put the game out of reach of the Aussies, and even a mini-collapse in the middle did not stop them setting an impossible 534 run target. Then Bumrah returned to work his magic once again. McSweeney and Labuschagne looked like the proverbial rabbits in front of headlights. Smith, one of the greatest test batsmen of this generation, was kept quiet for the second time in the match.

Bumrah accounted for 3 wickets in the second innings, taking his match tally to 8, and rightly earned the Man of the Match award. He had prised open the door to lead India’s fight-back on the opening day and then stamped his authority on the game. This truly was a walloping for Australia, all the more satisfying for India as the hosts had never lost at Perth’s Optus Stadium. India had won at the WACA too, in 2008, when winning there was considered well nigh impossible for a visiting team.  

This team is developing a habit of breaching cricketing fortresses in Australia. They did so at the Gabba in Brisbane on the previous tour, with a virtual third eleven in the absence of their top regulars. They were a walking wounded team. Then too, not many had given them a chance. In the Sydney test before that Brisbane game, the Aussie captain Tim Paine had pompously said to Ravi Ashwin, ‘see you at the Gabba, mate’, as if they couldn’t lose there. Inspired by Pant’s heroics, the Gabba was breached.

The next test is now the Pink Ball test at Adelaide, and Australia have never lost in 7 of these played so far. It is also the scene of India’s 36 all out, that inspired Rahane and his men to raise their game and win the series. Questions are being asked in the Australian media, there is talk of there being a rift in the team, of heads rolling, of batting frailties, of an ageing bowling line-up, but there is no more talk of taking India lightly.

This win sets up a very exciting series, and the Aussies will surely be smarting from this defeat. Trust them to come hard at India, but for the moment, let’s savour ‘the plunder at Perth’…!

About author: Amarinder Sangha is a former Punjab (India) cricketer now based at Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. He writes frequently on national, international issues related to the sport.