A win in the face of defeat
After an enthralling contest in Dubai between New Zealand and Pakistan, the trend of captivating Test cricket continued with the first of Australia and India's four-match series. An absorbing game ended with India as the victors and served as a reminder of the beauty that the longest format of the game has to offer. The following is a report from Australia's Sydney Morning Herald on the outcomes of the first Test:
Three cheers for India, two for Australia, and an encore for the game. It is still possible to play a hotly contested game of cricket and win with grace and lose with dignity, after all. Circumstances made this both a Test match and a test event, for a better polity. On both levels, it charmed to the end.
When the last catch was held, Indian captain Virat Kohli whirled for a moment, then went to the disconsolate Josh Hazlewood, to the umpires and to Nathan Lyon as he rose from his haunches at the other end. Hugs and handshakes followed all 'round.
All eyes followed Kohli, of course, for he is this series' lightning rod. At the fall of the ninth wicket, he had released the tautness in his viscera by spiking the ball into the ground. This no one surely can protest. You can celebrate your wickets as theatrically as you like as long as you don't flaunt them in the face of your opponent. Australia ought to understand this.
The first four days had passed without incident or incendiaries. The last day might have been a trial of the sangfroid of both teams, as well as their detente. It consisted of two long and teasing sessions, in which victory appeared to dance away from India without ever quite coming within Australia's reach. Wickets fell only at long intervals, but runs were at a premium, too, which left plenty of time for dwelling, and for giving offence and taking it.
All this could easily have acted as sandpaper to good sportsmanship. It did when they met in India last year. It did for Australia in South Africa this year, leading to that infamous implosion. It was why they were starting this series at first base instead of their usual third.
Tension and apprehension were palpable, but still little niceties were observed. When a Jasprit Bumrah bouncer cannoned off Mitch Starc's helmet, bowler and batsman made reciprocal gestures of understanding, as tennis players do. When a Mohammed Shami lifter crashed into Nathan Lyon, Shami asked if he was OK and Lyon replied with a thumbs up. These might seem small matters, but at other times and places they were not this seemly.
Good manners did not win India this match, nor did an excess of them lose it for Australia. A pitch that held up and the application of Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Starc, the immovable Pat Cummins and finally Lyon and Josh Hazlewood almost stole it for Australia. A potent three-pronged pace attack and the unflagging toils of off-spinner Ravi Ashwin finally saved the win for India, with special mention to wicketkeeper Rishbah Pant for his 11 catches (and condolences about a record 12th that squirmed away).
India led from pillar to post, but somehow, this became a narrow thrashing. Australia still needed 64 at the fall of the ninth wicket. But Lyon and Hazlewood cemented themselves in, the score kept mounting and the crowd were drawn in to another Adelaide cliffhanger.
Dots were clapped individually, singles hailed like Caesar, boundaries rejoiced in as if they were national holidays, but between times silence reigned. Suddenly, every run had the weight of two, every near-miss a nick out of hearts on both sides. An Ishant no-ball was a twisting of the knife, Hazlewood's deliberate tip over slips another, yet still they bit their tongue while Australia swallowed its stomach.
And then, in an instant, it was all over. In the tetchy humour of previous series, there might have been questions about the last catch but Australia did not go there and India would not be led to it. It was as if there was a pact to be better than that.
Diplomatic relations may yet fray, but at least we can be fairly sure that won't be a policy of calculated provocation and affected victimisation on both sides, as per recent clashes.
Manpower and inexperience lost Australia this Test but they can console themselves that they did pass one of the tests they had set for themselves this series, of poise and propriety. In the other, they were outplayed throughout, but almost won anyway, and so will convince themselves that all is not lost yet.
SCORES IN BRIEF
INDIA: First innings 250
AUSTRALIA: First innings 235
INDIA: Second innings 307
AUSTRALIA: Second innings 291 all out (Marsh 60, Lyon 38 not out; Bumrah 3-68, Ashwin 3-92, Shami 3-65)
Result: India won by 31 runs.
Player-of-the-match: Cheteshwar Pujara.
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