[Shumi_21]

What a disappointing day for India. Started with allowing Australia to reach 474 from 311/6 was painful, with Akashdeep and Siraj being absolute garbage. As a result Bumrah was yet again over-bowled, with only Jadeja for support. Lesser said about Rohit's struggles with the bat and tactics, the better. Doesn't seem to have the drive at all.

Kohli is having a horror of a test match. Unpopular opinion, but I don't think nudging an opposition player is bad. But Kohli should have gone after someone of his own stature like Smith, trying to bully a 19 year old doesn't cover Virat in glory, much to the horror of his "alpha male" fans. And by running Jaiswal out and then nicking off himself, Kohli has decisively turned the game in Australia's favour.

We are still 300 odd runs behind and Pant, Jadeja, Sundar and NKR will have to find a way to score them if we are to have any chance. Unlikely, but all these guys have pulled off unlikely feats before.

[Vinod_nair]

SA vs PAK 1st test

Pak 211 1st innings
SA 280/9
Bosh 62 not out, excellent for a tailender.

[rx100]

Originally Posted by Vinod_nair

SA vs PAK 1st test
Bosh 62 not out, excellent for a tailender.

He is not a tailender, rather a proper all rounder averaging 40.5 in first class cricket.

[AtheK]

Whether it was Kohli fault or not can be debated, what is unfortunate is getting run out in a test match while trying to steal a sneaky single. T20 has totally ruined it. There was absolutely no need for Jaiswal to even attempt that single.

Also Kohli bullying a 19 year old kid making his debut, what a shame, aggressive nature is one thing, but that was in such bad state, good he got booed. Seems he had a word to say to some spectator as well while returning to dugout after getting out. This guy has lost it.

Rohit Sharma is the joke of the year in test arena, wish they had an award like that, he would have won it with 100% majority. We are literally playing with 9.25 players.

I hope someone shows the spine and throw these two out now and make bumrah full time captain. This is beyond stupidity now.

[NomadSK]

It was painful to see but it looked clear Kohli had time to sacrifice his wicket once he noticed that Jaiswal had run the whole length of the pitch. And he should have done so. Should have crossed to let the superior batsman on that day attempt to chase his second hundred of the series. But King’ don’t sacrifice, it’s the lesser mortals who do. My coach would have killed me for doing something like this for a bloke playing in 80’s. In front of the stumps is always the striker's call, I'm afraid, sending back the striker when you're at the bowlers end to a shot to mid on when it was danger end for Jaiswal is hilariously bad cricket with no basic sense. He was ball watching rather he should have trusted his partners call. And if he didn’t wanted the run, he should have been screaming to his partner for a big “No” and not with his back towards him and arms up. Oh man they don’t even know the basics of cricket.

The worst thing about it was that Kohli effectively gifted Australia with 3 wickets because of his idiotic selfish childishness and then getting booed from the audience. And then you have some weirdo commentator stating that Jaiswal's runout disturbed Kohli's concentration resulting in his dismissal.

Now at this point, it’s the selectors & GG’s fault honestly. They’ve shown what they are capable of. Please for god sake remove the deadwood or can someone do what Harbhajan did to Sreesanth to both Kohli and Sharmaji.

You cannot build a dominant winning team when your captain says it's 'okay' to lose one series in 12 years after being completely outplayed in all 3 matches. Shows the mental capacity.

Finally, Sharmaji’s statement in press conference after the series loss : Losing BG trophy once in 10 years is allowed.

[PPS]

If you wanted someone to play out the day's play, should have sent in Jadeja at no.5 who has a decent defensive technique! When you have so called batting depth, why send in someone who batted at no.11 in the previous innings? With 3 days left, only Rain can save Team India now. Don't wish to repeat the same things over & over again!

Originally Posted by NomadSK

He was ball watching rather he should have trusted his partners call. And if he didn’t wanted the run, he should have been screaming to his partner for a big “No” and not with his back towards him and arms up.

This happens due to age! Kohli of old would have scampered down the wicket & trusted his partner's call. Its another thing that the single wasn't on & I don't understand the logic of taking risky singles when you have such a insipid batting lineup.

[Emvi]

Nitesh Reddy has become India's version of Angelo Mathews, and that too in just the four tests he has played for the country so far. What a find!

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by Emvi

Nitesh Reddy has become India's version of Angelo Mathews, and that too in just the four tests he has played for the country so far. What a find!

For me he is #4 replacement, he has been the best batsman in this series for us, very consistent.They should not try to make him an all-rounder, groom him as a frontline batsman who can bowl a bit when needed to give frontline bowlers some rest.

[NomadSK]

This looks like a wicket where Jaiswal could've had another big hundred and we'd be looking at an evenly contested test match here, idiotic Kohli man. Ruined everything.

A toothless day for Starc, that’s what happens when you keep fast bowlers on toes for 80+ overs.

And if someone missed gavaskar bashing Pant’s “stupid” shot selection, must see.

[Vinod_nair]

Nitish and Washi are the real heroes of this test match. Well done lads, keep hanging on and trudging along.

OT: where is Gautam? Not seen in the dressing room or dugout, has been locked up in the room or sent to Christmas Island for rehab

[Eddy]

It is stupid of Gavaskar to be this harsh on Pant.

The way Pant bats, he will look silly sometimes. In the previous BGT, all of us and Gavaskar applauded him for the 6 he hit off Lyon right after being beaten by a huge turning delivery. Imagine if he had got out to that shot.

As long as these shots come off way more often than they don't, he should go on. He has been our best test batter in the last few years.

[antz.bin]

Originally Posted by antz.bin

Ashwin And Jadeja did outscore Rohit and Virat in both innings.

Originally Posted by antz.bin

Across both innings:
Rohit + Virat = 27 Runs
Ashwin = 29 runs.

The top 5 stole 1 batter from the bottom 5.

Still, normal service continues.

Jadeja + Sundar (Ashwin's replacement) > Rohit + Virat

Bottom 5 scored more than the top 5.

Is there a red card concept in Cricket? India with 10 men will probably be better than the current eleven by removing you know who.

There was chatter on Cricinfo that NKR / Washington could've been replaced with a proper frontline bowler and the workload on Bumrah could have been reduced.

But without even one of those 2, we would be playing our 2nd innings right now, staring at defeat in the morning session tomorrow. If only India found a way to not play their #11 in the opening position. If Bumrah plays so much in the top order, even he will probably score a fifty every 15 innings.

[Revvatron]

If we can close this day out without damage and get close to the total tomorrow morning we have really good chance. With some Bumrah magic if we can restrict them to 250 we can chase it down. For some reason our second innings bowling has been good. Maybe repeat of last test. Only concern is our bowling is super thin.
Edit: Is the pitch showing any signs of life for the bowlers in last two days?

[SoumenD]

Oh man you got to feel for Nitish Reddy. After all the hard work, always running out of partners match after match. Should not have gone for the 2nd run knowing it was the last ball of the over. Nerves man!!! He must be kicking himself now.

As expected Bumrah is gone and mostly Siraj will follow suit. It will be sad to see him stuck at 99*

Edit 1: 1 ball for Siraj to survive. Phew!!! He did it.

Edit 2: Finally a maiden century in Australia. Take a bow young man. Very well deserved

[Col Mehta]

Who says Test Cricket is boring? These last few minutes have been more heart thumping and emotional than any T20!! Brilliant! Nitesh Kumar Reddy - take a bow!