Australia showcased nerves of steel as they managed to turn things around in the final session of Day 5 to secure a 184 run win in the Boxing Day Test. Needing seven wickets to win, an all round effort by the Aussie bowling unit meant that the hosts will head into the final Test leading the series.
Starting the day with the bat, Australia did not add too many runs with the bat as Jasprit Bumrah picked up a much-deserved fifer to hand his side a target of 340 runs. The Indian openers came out with intent and managed to see out the first overs of the new ball. However, back to back wickets in the 17th over saw India being reduced to 25/2. The incoming Virat Kohli looked ready for the challenge as he curbed his attacking instincts. That lasted only for 28 balls as the former Indian skipper slashed at a full Mitchell Starc delivery to leave India reeling at 33/3 after the first session.
Just when the hosts would have believed that they had the wind in their sails, Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal played out a tricky middle phase. The duo saw out a fiery Mitchell Starc spell while getting runs off Scott Boland, who struggled to get any control in the game. The closest Australia came to a wicket was an LBW shout that gave Jaiswal a reprieve on umpire’s call. Post that though, the duo shot shop and played out the remaining session with Australia running out of ideas. With the scoreboard reading 112/3, India found themselves in a great position to push the series into a decider at Sydney.
Much like Australia believing they were in the game after Lunch, India walked out after Tea with the same confidence. And exactly as it happened with Australia, India were in for shock. Rishabh Pant had a brain fade moment where he tried to attack Travis Head leading to the hosts getting the breakthrough they desperately needed. The incoming Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy did not last too long on the crease as India found themselves in a host of trouble. Jaiswal, too, had a hot head moment where he tried to pull Cummins only to clip it to Carey. While Washington Sundar and Akash Deep put up some resistance, it was far too late. With Lyon dismissing Siraj in the 80th over, Australia secured the game by 184 runs.
Sir Gavaskar
Aussie wins
Australia wins the boxing day test and leads the series by 2-1 pic.twitter.com/wRi6vwddBh
— Beast (@Beast__07_) December 30, 2024
Australia win the Boxing Day Test by 184 runs, take 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/8FE7tXyftx
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) December 30, 2024
Ater a decade
What a win
Australia wins the match, pic.twitter.com/o2zjBzB6Sj
— Aziz Khan (@AzizkhanISF) December 30, 2024
MELBOURNE ERUPTS IN JOY. 🔥
– AUSTRALIA WINS THE FOURTH TEST AGAINST INDIA. pic.twitter.com/5ZNTPz0loM— 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞 (@CallMeSheri1) December 30, 2024
Mental mass
Blame game
Everyone blaming Pant while Chokli escaped all the criticism. Bsdwalo BCCI fans, Pant is not the problem. Carrying Chokli, a 30 average batter, is the reason for not winning in Australia this time.
Imagine getting bitch slapped like this every inns!pic.twitter.com/ko0LXdApwP— ; (@171off90) December 30, 2024
12 years ago, this man on debut batted out 376 balls and his team 148 overs scoring at 1.6 RR to save a Test in Australia. They went on to win the series.
Make this Indian team watch this and the Delhi blockathon (143 runs in 143.1 overs to try and save a Test). pic.twitter.com/ir6wacvWFc— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) December 30, 2024
All out
