The Border-Gavaskar series Down Under this year was seen as a golden opportunity for the Indian team to finally register their maiden Test series win in Australia against a side without its two main batsmen and leaders – Steve Smith and David Warner.
But it was not going to be easy. India had toured Australia previously and failed to defeat similarly weakened Australian sides. In 2003-04, the Indians took on an Aussie team without bowling spearheads Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne but ended up with a 1-1 series verdict despite having arguably the most talented batting line-up in its history.
In the ongoing Test series, Tim Paine’s Australia have a top class bowling attack so the hosts were always going to be in with a chance. Which makes India’s 31-run win in the Adelaide Test special because this time Virat Kohli isn’t forced to be content with an oh-so-close defeat like he had to in South Africa and England earlier in the year.
India lost the first Test against South Africa at the start of 2018 by 72 runs. They ended up losing the series 2-1. Kohli’s team lost the first Test in England in August by 31 runs. The No1 Test were then spanked 4-1.
In both series, India tasted success only by the third Test. But the hosts had gained critical momentum by that time. Such was India’s consistency in getting into the groove by the third Test in away tours that it was joked India should play the third Test first up.
In all three series openers, India played remarkably well and pushed the home team all the way until the end. On all three occasions, the results could have gone either way but for one individual effort here or there. It is in Australia that luck, including the all-important toss, went Kohli’s way and he can now assert himself more.
Make no mistake, the toss has played a major role in Tests of late. According to ESPNcricinfo, the last time any team batting second won a Test after falling behind was back in 2015 when New Zealand triumphed despite a 55-run deficit against Sri Lanka in Hamilton. Which means winning the toss and batting first has become the go-to option, unless the wicket is exceptionally helpful on Day One.
And Kohli needs to start winning the toss more often -- not sure how he can do that but India's record when he does...
— Ashish Magotra (@clutchplay) December 10, 2018
Tests: 20
Won: 17
Draw: 3
Kohli won just the second toss in away Tests this year when he called correctly in Adelaide. All he needed was the batsmen to put up a decent first innings total, which they did thanks to a brilliant century by Cheteshwar Pujara. From there, India were in the driver’s seat as their bowling attack of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Ravi Ashwin were always going to assert themselves because they had the pressure of the scoreboard working for them.
Also, the rub of green went India’s way in the field. Pujara’s lbw decision that got overturned in the second innings – when on 17 – baffled many while in the first innings he nicked one behind when on 89 only for the Aussies to not appeal. The top order batsman scored 123 and 71 in a low-scoring Test.
Yes, Australia almost pulled off a miracle win but the fact is India held the upper hand from the moment they posted 250 in the first innings. As the teams move to the second Test to what promises to be a fiery pitch in Perth, the coin toss will once again play a crucial role. And as long as the team that bats first gets the basics right, expect the same template to be followed.
