Explore the dramatic events of Day 2 at the MCG, featuring Jaiswal’s impressive fight before the team’s unfortunate collapse. Get all the cricket insights here.
Introduction:
Australia really tightened the screw in the fourth Test at the MCG, thanks to an inspired performance from Steven Smith and a late bowling charge led by Scott Boland. Smith’s brilliant hundred- his second in successive games-set the stage for an imposing total while Boland’s inspired spell in the final overs of the second day dismantled India’s resistance, leaving them teetering at 175 for 5.
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Smith and Cummins Build Australia’s Platform
Australia started the day on 311 for 6, with Smith and Pat Cummins taking the seventh-wicket stand up to 112 runs. Smith scored his 34th Test century with a vintage cover drive, which once brought him the tag of the world’s most feared Test batsman. Cummins played an innings of a captain when he scored a brisk 47 before being dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja.
India’s bowlers were unable to prevent a run flow in the morning session as they conceded 143 runs in just 27 overs. Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep particularly failed to stem the tide. However, Jasprit Bumrah was the lone bright spot of the session with his tight lines.
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Australia’s innings came to a close on 438, and Smith made 121 to anchor their total. Throughout the entire innings, he was sublime, which was reminiscent of his peak years. He’s now 51 runs away from the celebrated 10,000 Test runs milestone.
India Early Woes
India’s response began on a sour note as captain Rohit Sharma was caught in the first over to Cummins, after mistiming a pull straight to mid-on. Sharma’s dismal run of form—not to mention 155 runs for an average of 11.07 in his last 14 innings—has left folks wondering if he has it in him to be taken seriously in the Test arena.
KL Rahul followed soon after, bowled by a stunning delivery from Cummins that nipped back to crash into the stumps. At 51 for 2 at tea, India’s hopes rested on Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli.
Jaiswal and Kohli Offer Hope
Jaiswal, who had been struggling to score runs earlier in the series, played with panache and aplomb to rebuild India’s innings. He combined calculated aggression with solid technique, unfurling ramp shots over the slips and elegant drives down the ground. The highlight of his innings was a towering six off Mitchell Marsh that cleared long-on.
Kohli, meanwhile, batted with grit, determined to shake off a lean patch. Discipline saw him leave balls well outside off and punish anything loose, including a textbook flick through midwicket, off Mitchell Starc.
The two added 98 runs for the third wicket and raised hopes for a comeback. Disaster loomed in the 80s, when Jaiswal asked for a risky single, driving to mid-on, while Kohli hesitated and Pat Cummins threw sharply to Alex Carey which found Jaiswal short of his ground.
Boland’s Magic Under the Lights
The MCG crowd erupted as Scott Boland produced a masterclass with the ball. Only two overs after Jaiswal’s run-out, Boland got an edge from Kohli off a probing delivery outside off stump, sending the Indian talisman back to the pavilion. The wicket, celebrated wildly by the home fans, left India reeling.
Boland struck again in the last minutes of the day, sending night watcher Akash Deep back with a sharp bouncer that was caught at leg gully. His spell of 2 for 12 from five overs left India at 175 for 5, a mountain to climb to avoid conceding a massive first-innings deficit.
A Day of Contrasts
For India, the day began with a below-par effort in the field and ended with a shocking collapse with the bat. The dismissal of Jaiswal followed by Kohli put the finishing touches on the hapless display by the team when put under pressure.
For Australia, it was a demonstration of how one team was dominating in every aspect of the game. Smith’s hundred and Cummins’ all-round play set up the game while Boland’s fire in the evening confirmed their hold.
What’s Next
India are in a tough spot to redeem the match now. At 263 runs behind and having lost five wickets, they have to bank on their lower order to make a difference. It is up to Ravindra Jadeja and KS Bharat to carry on a rearguard action against the Australian attack.
Australia, feeling elated by their play, will look to get the Indian innings over early on Day 3 and may even enforce the follow-on. A win at the MCG could well be decisive in determining the eventual outcome of the series.