Delhi: Australia’s batters face their moment of truth after India’s lower order responded to one of the best performances of Nathan Lyon’s career with a daring counter-attack that has left the second Test on a knife’s edge.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy could be on the line on Sunday after two enthralling days of numerous momentum shifts in Delhi.
Travis Head, replacing the concussed David Warner at the top of the order, handed Australia the edge with a rollicking 39 off 40 balls in only his third time opening at first-class level, but the visitors are still a long way from safety given their history of collapses on the subcontinent.
Travis Head fires as opener. Credit:Altaf Qadri, AP
After dismissing India for 262, Australia reached stumps for the loss of only Usman Khawaja, out to a screamer for the second time this game, on 1/61.
The highest successful fourth-innings run chase at this venue is 276, overhauled five down by both the mighty Viv Richards-led West Indies in 1987 and a 2011 India side that had all-time greats Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag.
“I’m not going to give you a number. Whatever we get we have to make sure it’s enough,” Lyon said. “That’s the mentality we need to do, we need to come here tomorrow and be really brave.
“We need to trust the guys’ methods when they have the support of the whole change room to go out there and play the way they want to play and the way they think they can combat the quality bowling India have.”
Enjoying their best day of the series, the Australians threw everything at India but were denied what should have been a sizable first-innings lead by a priceless 114-run stand between spinners Axar Patel (74) and Ravichandran Ashwin (37), who were both put down in the 20s.
Their partnership was the third highest by an eighth-wicket pair for India against Australia, further underlining the hosts’ considerable advantage in batting depth from having three high-class spinners with first-class tons in their resumes.
“They’re not the lower order, let’s get that clear. Axar and Ash could easily bat in the top six in a few teams in Test cricket around the world in my eyes,” Lyon said. “They have a very long top order, let’s just say that.”
Pat Cummins’ men did not pay the price for burning all three reviews on highly ambitious calls but missed chances by Steve Smith and Matthew Renshaw hurt.
Smith, at slip, did not stay low enough to take a ball at his feet from Patel, who was on 28, while Renshaw made the same mistake to a similar opportunity at leg-slip from Ashwin, then on 20.
By the time Lyon led his team off Arun Jaitley Stadium after Patel and Ashwin fell as part of a late flurry of wickets with the second new ball, Australia’s lead was just one – but every run will count in this game.
The tension in the India camp was evident when Virat Kohli turned around several times to glare at local umpire Nitin Menon after failing to overturn an lbw decision to Matthew Kuhnemann. The incident is likely to come under the scrutiny of the match referee.
Lyon has claimed larger hauls but few have been more important than his 22nd Test five-for, coming with the heavyweight series precariously placed for his country.
The man dubbed the GOAT appeared short of a gallop in the first Test after almost four weeks off but this was Lyon at his best.
India were in control at 0/46 before Lyon set off a clump of wickets in the top order by dismissing KL Rahul, who was trapped in front to the straight one. It was part of a stunning burst of four wickets in 26 balls in the morning session, which included the prized scalp of Rohit Sharma, whose century was pivotal in the first Test.
Nathan Lyon in action. Credit:Pankaj Nangia, Getty Images
Though the pitch was expected to play low and slow, there was enough in the track to bring in Lyon’s bounce and drop, which, combined with near-faultless accuracy, made him a constant threat.
Operating from around the wicket, Lyon challenged the inside edge of the right-hander with his ability to either spin the ball back or straighten down the line a la Ashwin. Three of his wickets were from bowleds or lbws.
“Bowling spin anywhere around the world is just consistency and being able to land the ball in the same spot over and over and be able to challenge their defence for long periods of time,” Lyon said.
“Bowling around the wicket in this game I’m still trying to target off stump.”
Vindicating selectors’ gamble to play three frontline tweakers, spin claimed nine of the 10 wickets, and Cummins used himself for just 13 of the 84 overs.
Todd Murphy was not as potent as his debut Test but, after his belated introduction in the 25th over, hardly bowled a poor delivery in another strong showing.
He was rewarded with the important scalps of Ravindra Jadeja with the sort of slider that has brought Jadeja scores of wickets in this part of the world. His dismissal of Patel, whose cross-batted bullet found Cummins at mid-on, gave him a return that reflected the control he displayed.
Debutant Matthew Kuhnemann was targeted by Patel, who launched him for several bombs, but did not drop his bundle, as seen when he came back with a second new ball to dismiss a slogging Mohammed Shami.
Whatever happens from here, he will forever be able to tell his friends, his family, that his first Test victim, Kohli, was one of the all-time greats.
