Australia and India draw 4th Test: Legend fumes over Aussie idiocy

An Australian cricket legend has been left venting his frustrations after one star produced yet another masterful display.

The fourth and final Test between India and Australia has come to an end with both skippers shaking hands in the middle of the final session on day five, with the match ending in a draw.

Australia entered the final day behind on the scoreboard, but showed from the outset they were happy with a draw as they slowly batted away.

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Travis Head fell short of notching a day five century as the fourth Test wicket proved to be a batters dream with more than 1200 runs being scored and only 21 wickets falling inside five days.

The result means India win the four-Test series 2-1 after having already retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

1226 runs, 21 wickets, 424.2 overs, no outright result, Somewhere between this pitch and the previous three is the ideal track. #IndvAus

— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) March 13, 2023

Both teams will now lock horns in a best of three ODI series which kicks off on Friday at 7pm (AEDT).

7.25pm - Head falls agonisingly short of century

Travis Head’s hopes of raising his bat on the final day have fallen painfully short after being clean bowled by Axar Patel on 90.

Head’s innings came to an end after facing 163 deliveries and saw him hit 10 fours and two sixes.

Despite falling just short, Head’s innings acts as another reminder of the Australian selector’s idiocy in dropping him for the opening Test of the series.

A decision Aussie legend Matthew Hayden once again took issue with during commentary on the fifth day of play.

Travis Head departs for 90, his highest Test score outside of Australia.

After being dropped for the series opener in Nagpur, Head has top-scored for Australia in the second innings of all three Tests he’s played.#INDvAUS

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) March 13, 2023

“What an absurd decision not to play Travis Head in that first Test match. Missed a real trick. Coming off a great summer, a great 12 months,” Hayden said on Fox Cricket.

“There’s so many people in a change room looking at stats to make decisions and fair enough, if you use the numbers well.

“But an in form player like Head after his summer should have been first picked. I said that straight away in the first Test match.

“You just don’t flirt in cricket when you have great form on the board. You carry that into different series.”

6.50pm - Head, Labuschagne cruising along

Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne have brought up their 100-run partnership and given Australia a lead.

Head is 77 not out and edging slowly towards a sixth Test century, while Labuschagne is unbeaten on 37 at an extremely low strike rate.

Travis Head making batting in India look easy. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)

5.45pm - Australia into WTC Final

Australia and India can breathe easy. They have both officially qualified for June’s World Test Championship Final at The Oval.

The match-up was locked in after New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka in a last-ball thriller in the first Test in Christchurch, meaning Sri Lanka can’t leapfrog India in the overall standings.

3.20pm- Kuhnemann gone in umpiring howler

Poor old nightmatchman Matt Kuhnemann lasted only a handful of overs before Ravi Ashwin trapped him lbw for six.

Conscious of not wasting a review, Kuhnemann opted not to go to DRS, but replays showed the ball would have missed the stumps down the leg side and he should have sent it upstairs.

Cricket.com.au’s official Twitter account said: “Not ideal for the Aussies!”

Matthew Hayden said in commentary: “Had this have been a batsman I’m convinced there would have been a review.

“Because straight off the eye I thought it was missing. Did not turn an inch. In fact it was going the other way.”

Matt Kuhnemann shouldn't have been given out. Photo: Fox Sports.

The ball tracker from the Kuhnemann wicket, Australia opting not to review...

📺WATCH #INDvAUS on Ch. 501 or stream via @kayosports: https://t.co/3kCiokpvCj
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🔢MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/fjZZWMg2Qdpic.twitter.com/2cxq330DWD

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) March 13, 2023

Two reasons Matt Kuhnemann should’ve challenged. He’s an opener, not the No.11. It wasn’t Richard Kettleborough who gave him out. #INDvAUS

— Andrew Wu (@wutube) March 13, 2023

Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket the Aussies should have reviewed but Kuhnemann was a “sacrificial lamb”.

“If they did go upstairs they would have been vindicated because it was sliding down to miss leg stump,” Waugh said.

“Not a great decision by the umpire in the first place, lots of doubt there. I think he gave it out because he is a No. 11. If he was a top order player, I don’t think he’d have given it out.

“I reckon Kuhnemann knew he wasn’t out. He was looking to Travis for just an ounce of ‘Yeah go upstairs’, Travis Head gave him nothing.”

Brendon Julian added: “There’s no way a No. 11 can refer it. They’re not allowed to.”

3pm – Khawaja injury update

Australia are sweating on the fitness of star batter Usman Khawaja, who fell awkwardly attempting a boundary catch on Day 4.

Khawaja comes from the field after an awkward landing from this catching attempt.

📺Watch #INDvAUS on Ch. 501 or stream via @kayosports: https://t.co/3kCiokpvCj
✍️BLOG: https://t.co/f7LgZ3K8y2
🔢MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/fjZZWMg2Qdpic.twitter.com/reV9xbi3by

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) March 12, 2023

News Corp confirmed today Khawaja was sent for MRIs after play on day four but there was no indication of a fracture.

He was complaining of soreness to his lower left leg and had a lengthy chat to coach Andrew McDonald before play on Day 5.

He didn’t bat in the nets and it’s unlikely he’ll take any further part in the Test, meaning India would need to take just nine wickets to win.

Usman Khawaja after he was injured attempting to take a catch. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Usman Khawaja of Australia speaks with coach Andrew McDonald as he undergoes a fitness test before Day 5. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

2.45pm - Stakes high for India

India haven’t locked up their spot in the World Test Championship final yet, and a draw or loss won’t help their chances too much.

If the match ends in a draw, India have to hope Sri Lanka don’t beat New Zealand 2-0 in their Test series that is currently underway.

The Kiwis are chasing 285 in the fourth innings to win after a century from Angelo Matthews put Sri Lanka in a strong position.

Australia would have to get ahead and then pile on enough runs to try and bowl India out, which proved exceedingly difficult in the first innings.

But there’s some hope for India.

Brad Haddin said on Fox Cricket “when Australia go into bat, they have nothing to play for”.

He said that could be all that decides a result as “it’s dangerous to bat when there’s nothing to play for.”