Virat Kohli’s second-innings century in Perth is proving a major outlier on his dire recent record after the Indian great failed to dig his side out of trouble in Brisbane with the series in the balance.
Brisbane’s wet weather could prove India’s saving grace in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series, with the tourists languishing at 4-51 at stumps on day three, still 394 runs behind Australia’s first innings total of 445.
Persistent rain on Monday at the Gabba caused players to leave the field on eight different occasions, with ground staff earning their pay packets on a frustrating day which saw Australia bat for another 16.1 overs before India went to stumps having faced 17 themselves.
When Kohli edged Josh Hazlewood to wicketkeeper Alex Carey for just three runs, incoming batsman Rishabh Pant didn’t even have time to face a ball before another downpour again drove the players back to their dressing rooms. It was the story of the day and left Australia considering the possibility of enforcing the follow-on should wickets tumble on Tuesday.
“I guess it’s always nice to see the back of one game’s greats,” said Australia’s Mitch Marsh after play. “We’ve got six wickets to take first. We know we’ve got to take 20 wickets to try and win this Test match.
“Hopefully, the weather holds off and then tomorrow it’s just about having a crack and seeing where we get to.”
Australia celebrate after Josh Hazlewood’s dismissal of Virat Kohli.Credit: Getty Images
Kohli played and missed at his first ball well outside the off stump and never looked settled, with Hazlewood snaring India’s prized wicket for the fifth time in his career.
After being knocked over by Hazlewood for five in the first Test in Perth, there were concerns Australia had bowled Kohli into form when he scored a second-innings century to set the game up.
Since then, Kohli has been a shadow of his former self, registering scores of 7, 11 and 3 for a return of 126 runs at 31.5 in the series. He has never averaged below 37.5 in a series against Australia in Australia and has looked nothing like the player who smashed 692 runs at 86.5 in the 2014-15 series.
Before his century in Perth, Kohli averaged 26.4 from his previous 14 innings. If the 36-year-old cannot steer India to a series victory, questions will be asked about his future and ability to perform at the highest level.
“There’s no real talk about that [Kohli’s form],” Marsh said. “I think it’s more just every time it comes to the crease we know he’s a big wicket for them. He’s one of the greatest players ever. So it’s just about being really diligent and trying to execute plans.”
India’s high-profile batters were once again bamboozled by Hazlewood (1-17 from five), Starc (2-25 from eight) and Cummins (1-7 from two) on the middle day of a five-Test series that is locked at 1-1.
The visitors slumped to 2-6 when Mitch Marsh took back-to-back catches – first at forward square leg and then a spectacular diving grab at gully – to help Starc remove Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) and Shubman Gill (1). Opener KL Rahul showed some resistance, making his way to 33 at stumps.
Starc shot a knowing glance at Jaiswal, who had taunted the Australian paceman in Perth about bowling too slow. Since then, a golden duck at Adelaide has dented the confidence of Jaiswal, who has learnt just how hard success can be in Australia.
Mitch Marsh takes a screamer on day three at the Gabba.Credit: Channel Seven
“Fielding at gully is probably the most nervous I get because [Cam] Green is probably going to go down as the best ever,” Marsh said. “If you drop one there, they always compare you to Greeny.”
Warming up near the boundary before going out, Jaiswal clipped a ball off his pads along the ground that hit Cricket Australia’s video guru Tama Stockley in the ankle. The young batter immediately apologised, but given the ball was also whacked towards Australian players, the team looked unimpressed. His dismissal shortly afterwards was certainly sweet.
With Pant also back in the sheds after edging Cummins through to Carey for nine, Australia require another 16 wickets for victory, provided India do not mount a major comeback.
By late in the afternoon, Nathan Lyon had bowled just six balls across the previous 22 days. He sent down one over from the Stanley Street end before players walked off the Gabba for the eighth time in the day. The last time was due to bad light.
Earlier, Australia had added important late runs courtesy of Carey (70) and Starc (20) to register their highest total since the 487 they made against Pakistan in Perth last year.
Up to 50 millimetres of rain could fall across Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving Australia with precious little time to take their remaining wickets.
