India vs Australia 1st Test: 5 talking points of the match

DISCLAIMER: The opinions in this article are solely the author’s and not necessarily those of SportsKeeda.

Let’s make this clear from the start. We are looking at 5 talking points and not the best 5 contributions in the match. These are moments that were discussed, moments that created a controversy and moments that were applauded.

So here are the 5 talking points of the match:

64.2 overs, Australia 206/5: Michael Clarke’s reprieve

The second last over before tea, India was on the attack. They wanted a wicket before the break while Captain Clarke and debutant Henriques just looking to stay in there. Ash to Clarke, second ball of the over, the ball takes the bat’s edge and short leg holds on to the catch. Appeals galore but Umpire Dharma-say-na doesn’t react. Clarke looks at the umpire with a ‘pup’py face and stands there as if nothing happened.

The 6^th wicket partnership that was worth 53 added 98 more valuable runs and gave the Aussies the 3^rd session of Day 1.

89.2 overs, Australia 304/6: Ashwin takes six

Ashwin hit the six-wicket mark as he trapped new boy Moises in front of the stumps. Just as the Aussies were beginning to think that this was completely their day, India pulled something back. Also, the end of the day momentum went with Indians, as they finally broke into the tail of the line-up.

5.3 overs, India 12/2: Sachin’s romance with Chepauk continues

As the world tried to figure out what Sehwag was looking at as the ball fell on to the stumps, the Little Master walked in. All eyes were on him, some full of hope; most filled with scepticism. Pattinson runs in, full outside off and gets suitably punished. It looked good. Next ball, one could almost sense that the ball will pitch on middle and come back in to test Sachin. Not to be, another gift from JP and the same result. A false shot the next ball, only to be beaten, and a glance down the leg side off the final ball for yet another boundary. In 4 balls, Sachin doubled India’s score and one almost forgot that the openers even existed in that innings.

32.0 overs, India 113/3: Off you go, James!

Pattinson was on fire. A spell of 3 overs at the start of the innings to snap the openers, then coming back to clean out Pujara in his next spell; the Indian hearts had a sense of fear in them. Was he going to completely kill the game for India with another wicket or two? No, he wasn’t. Siddle replaced JP, and that was the last of Pattinson that Indians were going to face. 20 overs were bowled in the day after the replacement but Clarke didn’t give Pattinson another over. “Phew!” whispered the Indian hearts, “Why?” questioned the cricketing brains.

71.3 India 227/4: *Activate Counter-attack mode*, MSD : Roger that!

Post Sachin’s dismissal, Kohli and Dhoni had added 31 in roughly 8 overs. At 15 off 21 balls, Dhoni didn’t look very convincing. In those 21 balls, Dhoni edged a couple, was camping on the back foot and trying to save himself. Ball no. 22 fell right in his arc and he lofted it over mid-on for four runs. Took two off the next delivery, and the one after that confirmed that he was going to play his natural game, swept the ball from way outside off stump towards deep midwicket for a boundary. Those two shots gave him confidence, and he realized that this was the right way to play. What followed was a magnificent 224 at a strike rate of 84.52, consisting of 24 fours and 6 sixes, a maiden double hundred for MSD and a huge lead for India.

As we look back at this match, I believe these are the 5 moments that made us think about where the match was heading; these are the moments where we formed an opinion; these are moments that we will talk about, and even enact the scenario to those who missed it.