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Depleted India out to breach Australia’s Gabba fortress
BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 13, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Injury-hit India head to
Australia’s Gabba fortress for Friday’s final Test with high hopes of
retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy after securing an epic draw in Sydney to
leave the series locked at 1-1.
The visitors only need to avoid defeat in Brisbane after their heroics in
Sydney, when they batted out the final day against Australia’s much-vaunted
bowling attack.
Australia have come under fire for captain Tim Paine’s sledging and
accusations that Steve Smith deliberately scuffed up batsman Rishabh Pant’s
guard during the tense fifth day. Allegations of racist abuse from the crowd
also overshadowed the Test.
But Australia will be optimistic of snatching a series win at the Gabba,
where they are unbeaten in more than three decades, especially as India have
been hit by succession of injuries.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja became the latest ruled out on Wednesday after
dislocating his left thumb in Sydney, while Indian media reported that fast-
bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah could miss out with an abdominal strain.
The visitors were already without experienced quicks Mohammed Shami, Umesh
Yadav and Ishant Sharma, and batsman KL Rahul, while captain Virat Kohli is
on paternity leave.
If Bumrah cannot play, their already inexperienced attack will be led by
Mohammed Siraj, who has only played two Tests, alongside Navdeep Saini who
made his debut at Sydney plus one of the uncapped T. Natarajan or Shardul
Thakur.
They also have doubts over the fitness of number six batsman Hanuma
Vihari, who tore his hamstring during his 161-ball vigil for 23 runs that
helped earn the unlikely draw on Monday.
Fellow Sydney hero Ravi Ashwin, who spent more than three hours at the
crease with Vihari in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand to save the game, has a
back issue.
Despite the horror injury-run, India’s former great Sunil Gavaskar
believes they can win in Brisbane, where crowds will be capped at 50 percent
to guard against possible coronavirus infections.
“I know that the Gabba in Brisbane is Australia’s fortress but India have
the ability to take on the Australians,” he told Indian media this week.
“They (Australia) have not lost there since 1988 but there is always a
first time. If Ajinkya Rahane and company do it, I won’t be surprised at
all.”
– ‘Shocked and disappointed’ –
Australia go into the game after stinging criticism of their desperate
last-day antics in Sydney, with Paine forced to apologise for his ugly tirade
at Ashwin.
Paine had already been fined for dissent after an expletive-laden rant at
umpire Paul Wilson on day two, with some pundits saying his days as captain
are now numbered.
Smith told Australia’s Daily Telegraph that he was “shocked and
disappointed” by the reaction to footage of him raking the crease with his
studs.
But with Australia losing the second Test in Melbourne and failing to bowl
India out for victory in Sydney, there is pressure on the home side not only
to perform, but also to keep their behaviour in check.
“I’ve said from the start of this series that it’ll be the survival of the
fittest, both mentally and physically,” said Australia coach Justin Langer on
Wednesday.
“The distractions are just part of the theatre and drama, it is now and it
always has been,” he added.
Australia have their own injury worries with young opener Will Pucovski
facing an anxious wait after suffering a partial dislocation of his right
shoulder while fielding in Sydney.
Langer said that if Pucovski wasn’t fit, Marcus Harris would likely step
in as opener alongside David Warner, who is also not 100 percent as he
continues to recover from a groin strain.
Meanwhile off-spinner Nathan Lyon will play his 100th Test needing just
four wickets to reach a career total of 400.
“We’re going to get ourselves back up and be ready for this Test match.
Bring it on,” said Langer.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1600 hrs