Australia, India 2014: Steve Smith declares late, finishes match early in draw

STEVE Smith’s declaration has polarised opinion, but the skipper’s decision to call an end to the match with four overs to spare is just as controversial.

Day 5 Test India v Australia

STEVE Smith’s conservative declaration has polarised opinion, but the rookie skipper’s decision to call a premature end to the match with four overs to spare has proven just as controversial.

It was only six years ago at the SCG that Michael Clarke took three wickets in one over, with just six minutes left to play on day five, to secure a freakish victory over India.

Clarke’s efforts were mercurial but proof that a match isn’t over until it’s over.

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But with four overs left in Tuesday’s Boxing Day match and just four Indian wickets to get, Smith determined the game was going nowhere and shook MS Dhoni’s hand to declare the third Test a draw.

It was a strange call, which fitted the theme of a weird and confusing day of tactics by an Australian team that normally prides itself on winning at all costs.

India’s tail have folded at regular intervals this series, and there was a feeling that one breakthrough could spark an avalanche.

But Smith was convinced his bowlers were cooked, the wicket was holding firm, and a win was out of the question.

At the end of the day, the third Test was there to be won at the MCG and Australia fluffed it.

Smith’s captaincy will take a blow, but this was always going to be a tough day for a 25-year-old skipper in just his second Test in charge.

The draw in Melbourne was a collective failure by the Australian team.

The hesitance to declare is hard to go past as the difference between Australia taking a three nil lead heading to Sydney, and the frustrating draw that ultimately played out.

But the fact is, Australia should have won anyway.

On a flat wicket, chances were always going to be at a premium, and once again dropped catches and missed run-outs gave India enough get-out-of-jail-free cards to survive.

Chris Rogers grassed a simple one at point, Shane Watson a tough one at slip and Nathan Lyon made a mess of the best of two run-out chances.

Australia’s fielding in the first innings was even worse — and Smith says it was that sloppiness which lost the game.

The tactic of relentlessly sledging Indian star Virat Kohli also backfired for the second innings in a row — with his half century on the last day proving crucial.

Kohli made a scintillating 169 in the first innings and then scoffed at Australia’s attempts to psychologically bring him down.

In the second innings, Kohli was almost run out early and the Australians — led by Brad Haddin — let him know all about it.

But at the end of the day, Kohli withstood the trying period when India were 3-19, and his 50 was enough to see the tourists to safety.

Opinion was divided on Smith’s conservative declaration.

Shane Warne led the chorus of those scratching their heads as to where Australia’s positive attitude had gone.

But there were an equal number of critics accepting of the fact the wicket was good for batting, and India’s star run-makers capable of chasing down a total as they showed evidence of in Adelaide.

After all, Australia were up 2-0 in the series, and a draw was all they needed to claim back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Still, it was a weird day at the MCG, as Australia abandoned its killer instinct.