The Ashwin-Lyon battle for the top spot as the finger spinner is officially over, with the Indian genius retiring after the Gabba Test. No other country suffered more at the hands of his wizardry. But that’s not to say he wasn’t responsible for any number of wickets on Australian soil. Just ask Steve Smith.
All those concerns around Josh Hazlewood’s fitness came to a head unfortunately at around 4.20pm local Brisbane time on Tuesday when he was officially ruled out of the third Test and the rest of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series. Could it have been avoided?
It’s a tale of two ends as a once-in-a-generation bowler is outflanked by a bowling unit equal to any throughout Test history.
Steve Smith and Travis Head’s 241-run stand at the Gabba was the perfect marriage of the flavour of an Australian summer: Smith making a classy century, and Head blasting his way to 150.
Steve Smith is due for a big score. He’s looked good for a big score. And in the Brisbane nets, he’s brought back an old batting quirk from when he was at his peak.
The clash between Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj has come in cricket’s sanitised era where most holds are barred. And as for crossing the line, don’t even bother getting near it.
How the script has flipped. Two weeks ago, Australia were the Test team in turmoil. But if history has proven one thing it’s that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is the ultimate rollercoaster ride.
Adelaide’s famous son is always in a hurry. The game is always on fast forward with him on the stage. Everything else gets pushed aside – it’s all about watching him bat. Travis Head is Tex Walker and Mark Riccciuto rolled into one.
The Australian fast bowler creates his own lyrics with a pink Kookaburra in his hands. Like he’s done at the day-night Test so many times, he played his greatest hit against India.
The ‘tune in, tune out’ fans seem to be the loudest when declaring a crisis. The criticism of Pat Cummins and his team after the Perth Test may have been over the top, but it will be nothing compared to what awaits them should they lose in Adelaide.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/bharat-sundaresan/page/4