Australia gains more than India at the Kotla

Forget losing Anil Kumble to retirement. After having scored 600+ runs in the first innings and with 3 days to spare, India was not able to inflict a defeat on Australia in the third test that ended in at Delhi today. The Kotla was supposed to be a “spinning track” and one where India has won most of its recent matches. Australia does not have a full-time spinner, let alone a wizard like Warne or even McGill. And Ishant Sharma was playing in home conditions. And yet, we managed to let Australia dig themselves out of a fairly deep hole. Thanks to some pretty ordinary fielding, not only was India not able to enforce a follow-on, but we also let Australia bat right through to nearly the end of Day 4 and get to within striking distance of India’s mammoth first innings total.

The bottom line- Australia go to Nagpur with their confidence on a high after the severe dent at Mohali. India, on the other hand, must be a worried lot. If the Nagpur track is going to assist spinnersthis time (now that Shashank Manohar is part of the BCCI and there is no obvious rift with the Vidarbha Cricket Association), Kumble will be even mre sorely missed. One hopes Harbhajan has recovered from his toe injury and is match fit and that Amit Sharma will get better support from the fielders.