Boxing Day Test is make or break for India after losing second Test, Robert Craddock writes

Test cricket in Australia normally has one theme — annihilation. Whether Australia wins or loses, the series is normally a blowout but against India it’s different, so far at least, and after losing the second Test, there is one big question looming over the visitors.

Does Virat Kohli and his team have what it takes to bounce back after a Test loss away from home?

Modern Test cricket series in Australia normally have one theme — annihilation.

In Australia’s last 11 series wins on home soil the opposition hasn’t even won a Test.

The winning margin each time has been two or more Tests.

But the knock ‘em down, drag ‘em out theme has a fascinating flip side.

When Australia has lost in this period to England and South Africa (three times) it generally got seriously roughed up as well.

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Losing margins were often landslides rather than licks.

As for gently-swaying arm wrestles? Apart from the very rare close shave Australia doesn’t do them much at all.

Until now …

The charm of the series against India is that it could be that rare cricketing beast — a Test series in Australia not decided by who connects with the first haymaking punch.

India won the first Test and lost the second.

Does Virat Kohli and his team have what it takes to bounce back after a Test loss away from home?

Most teams who stumble in Australia never regain their footing, the potent cocktail of harsh wickets, short bowling, hostile crowds and a probing media leaving them dazed and doomed.

Which brings us the key question of the series — did India’s loss in Perth bruise or break them?

Have they got the fibre to bounce back or will they follow the same spiral of so many touring teams in Australia for whom a lost Test fractured their entire campaign.

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The sacking of their opening combination Murali Vijay and KL Rahul has India on the back foot even before they face a ball.

One heartening factor for Indian fans is this team — while not proving world-beaters away from home — are a hardy bunch whose competitive spirits have been varnished by abrasive forces far removed from the cricket field.

When the Aussies have their tails up on home soil, they’re hard to stop. Picture: Getty

Spinning all-rounder Ravi Jadeja is the son of a security guard and grew up in a one-room house. His mother died when he was 17 and his elder sister took the mum’s job as a nurse and took responsibility for raising Ravi.

Tireless fast bowler Mohammad Shami moved Uttar Pradesh to Kolkata to play cricket, occasionally sleeping in tents before rising to the game’s top tier.

Keeper Rishabh Pant moved cities three times in his teens to fast track his cricket career.

Even the great Virat Kohli, though the son of a lawyer, was no silver spoon kid.

His father died suddenly when he was not out in a domestic cricket game overnight and he resumed his innings and made 90.

They are a robust group who should not be written off but history tells us they will need every bit of their fighting spirit.

Once Australia get their house in order on home soil they rarely let an opponent sneak through the back door.

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