The Error By Team India- India’s bowling side started well on the second day of the first test match between India and Australia. Thanks to Jaspreet Bumrah, India got two quick wickets and sent Australia’s openers back to the pavilion for less than 20 runs. However, a mishap in the fielding caused the Men In Blue to lose an important Wicket in the 17th over which might prove to be fatal for the Indians.
Will It Cost Team India The First Test Match?
Team India ended the first day on a high, scoring 233/6 after a not-so-good performance by the top order. However, coming on to bat on the second day, the Indian batsmen were quickly sent off by the Australian bowlers. India’s first innings score summed up to 244.
The Australian openers then came in to bat their first innings. However, Jaspreet Bumrah acted quick and sent both the openers – Mathew Wade and Joe burns, back to the pavilion. However, it was also Bumrah whose fielding errors led to a catch drop that is the talk of the town.
— Sandybatsman (@sandybatsman) December 18, 2020
During Australia’s ongoing first innings, Mohammad Shami came in to bowl the 27th over. In the last ball of the over, Marnus Labuschagne, then batting on 12 off 14, flicked a carelessly driven shot towards the boundary line, with Jaspreet Bumrah ready to grab it. To everyone’s shock, the Indian fast bowler dropped the catch. It was not a sitter, but a comparatively easy catch.
Dropped! Labuschagne gets a life on 12! #AUSvIND live: https://t.co/LGCJ7zSdrY pic.twitter.com/ooHxon8aCE
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2020
Marnus Labuschagne is in the tremendous form currently. He is even world number 4 in test ranking. The Australian can easily punish India for dropping his catch. As of now, he is batting on 26 off 41 and his partner Steve Smith is accompanying him.
After the end of the first day of the day-night test match, Legend Sachin Tendulkar gave Virat Kohli some on-air advice.
What Sachin Tendulkar Said About The Game
The Master Blaster Said, “Whatever I have seen with the pink-ball Tests, you have to be extremely aware of the clock. Whenever the sun is going down and the temperature drops and before dew sets in and the grass is nice and cool, there is going to be a little extra lateral movement of the surface. That is when you do not just respect the bowler but you also respect the conditions.”
“Here in a pink-ball Test, your first session could well be the one where you cash in where you take a little more chances and play more aggressively. Maybe in Australia, the sun goes down later than what it did in Kolkata. In Kolkata, I felt from 4:30 to 6:30 was a critical time where the batsmen had to respect not just the bowler but also the surface and build those partnerships. Once the ball gets wet, you can start playing a little more shots.”
What The Master Blaster Concluded By Saying?
“Maybe towards the end of the second session and the beginning of the last session. This might be the phase where the ball does a little bit extra. It is where you need to hold back your aggression and natural instincts and be a little more disciplined.
“Also when I met the team in Kolkata and spoke to the team management and obviously there was Virat, if there are two wickets, do not look to score those 20 runs extra. You are better off declaring at that time and getting their top three batters. You might be short by say maybe a 20-runs. However, you would have possibly saved 120 runs there.”
As we can witness now, Sachin’s thoughts are very much aligned to what we are seeing on the second day. Let’s hope that Team India can improve in the upcoming sessions. They have had a positive start. However, the advantage still lies with the home side at present.