NewsBite

Australia v India, Fourth Test Day 5 from the Gabba: India defy the odds to win series

India have ended Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at The Gabba, retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy in dramatic circumstances.

Peter Lalor and Adrian McMurray
14 min read
10:29AMJanuary 19, 2021.
Updated 9:00PMJanuary 19, 2021

India have ended Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at The Gabba, retaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy in dramatic circumstances with a three-wicket win on day five. The visiting side won the series 2-1. Read and watch how it all unfolded below.

Adrian McMurray 7.04pm: India win series for the ages

Great scenes as India do a lap of the Gabba with a huge flag, pure joy for an inexperienced side who have won over cricket fans around the world I’m sure.

Pant named player of the match, Cummins player of the series.

Paine says he’s disappointed, that there’s a trend of the side found wanting in key moments.

Rahane says he doesn’t know how to describe the victory, praising Pant and adding Sundar provided good balance for the side. The Indian captain presents a signed shirt to Lyon for his 100th Test. Classy stuff.

Rishabh Pant celebrates victory with his teammates during a lap of the Gabba. Picture: Getty Images
Rishabh Pant celebrates victory with his teammates during a lap of the Gabba. Picture: Getty Images

Well then, that’s it for the series. And what a series it was! Thanks for joining us, there will be plenty of coverage online and in the app tonight as well as in Wednesday’s print edition. And don’t miss what I’m certain will be a must-listen episode of the Cricket, Et Cetera podcast (which will be released later tonight) as Peter Lalor and Gideon Haigh dissect this result.

Adrian McMurray 6.39pm: India win by three wickets

Dot ball, Hazlewood looking to keep Pant on strike and give Lyon a crack at Saini at the other end. But Pant has other ideas, hitting four on the last ball of the over for victory! India win by three wickets, they take the series 2-1 and Australia’s unbeaten run at The Gabba dating back to 1989 is over.

Adrian McMurray 6.36pm: More late drama

Pant finds the boundary and falls the ground off balance playing the shot. India need six to win and he goes for glory but manages a single. Thakur adds two runs, three needed for the win. Then WICKET! Thakur caught by Lyon off the bowling of Hazlewood. India 7-325 now. WOW.

Adrian McMurray 6.30pm: Sundar gone

Washington attempts the reverse sweep and gloves through to the stumps. WICKET! He’s gone for 22. Thakur to the middle. India 6-318, India need 10 runs from 25 balls.

Adrian McMurray 6.25pm: Just 15 runs needed

Nine of Hazlewood’s over, Pant up to 76no, Sundar 21no. Just 15 runs to go for the visiting side. India 5-313.

Adrian McMurray 6.20pm: India need 24 to win

Oh.My.Word. Pant hits successive boundaries off Lyon, then four byes – what was that? The crack’s turned off break to leg break. Fifteen (!) from the over, India 5-304. They need 24 to win.

Adrian McMurray 6.15pm: India on track for victory

Sundar tempted into the drive by Cummins, it’s in the air but falls short of Labuschagne at mid-off. Sundar then hooks Cummins for six! He follows it up with four, and my word, India 5-289, needing 39 runs from the last seven overs.

Adrian McMurray 6.05pm: Time running out for Australia

Six from a Cummins over, two off Lyon and a maiden from Cummins. India 5-275. Nine overs left for India to get 53 runs, five wickets needed for Australia. It’s getting to the point where a draw or India win are the only outcomes unless wickets fall quickly.

Adrian McMurray 5.55pm: Cummins gets his fourth

Six off a Lyon over, but it looks like Cummins has Agarwal. Big shout for caught behind, not given and it’s sent for review! The Australians go up, they think there’s something on hotspot, but nothing on sniko and the decision stands, the review gone. The very next ball … WICKET! Wade takes the catch, Cummins gets another – that’s his fourth of the innings. Sundar to the middle, India 5-265.

The pair add a single each off Lyon. India 5-267, 12 overs remaining. India need 61 runs.

Look how the betting’s changed … this has been crazy.

Adrian McMurray 5.38pm: Pant brings up 50

Pant brings up fifty with a single off Hazlewood – he’s backed up his SCG knock with a very handy innings here that isn’t over yet. He did so off 100 balls.

Five off the next Cummins over, India 4-259, needing 69 runs with 15 overs to play. Time for a quick drinks break, no more breaks now until stumps.

Adrian McMurray 5.25pm: Runs an issue for Australia

Big appeal for lbw from Hazlewood on Agarwal, but it’s not given. Paine will be glad he didn’t review, he got bat to it. Nine from the over, runs increasingly becoming an issue for Australia. Seven off Cummins. India 4-248, needing 80 runs for victory. We’ve got 17 overs to play.

Adrian McMurray 5.12pm: Pujara gone

WICKET! Second delivery with the new ball, Cummins finally gets Pujara lbw. India review, but it’s umpire’s call on hitting the wicket, so the decision stands. What an innings, 56 from 209 balls. This match takes another turn!

Agarwal to the middle now. The Australians are up and about. Agarwal off the mark with a nice shot down the ground, running two, adding two more off a similar shot the next ball. India 4-232. They need 96 runs from 19 overs.

Adrian McMurray 5.09pm: Rain, new ball

Starc goes up, big lbw appeal on Pujara but it’s not given. Australia opt not to review, and that looks wise after the replays: that was nowhere near hitting the stumps.

Strangely, rain starts to fall – it looks oddly heavy despite the sun shining at the Gabba.

India 3-228, needing 100 more runs for victory with 20 overs to play. And there’s the new ball. They take it, as you’d expect.

Adrian McMurray 4.54pm: Fifty for Pujara

Labuschagne introduced for Starc, and a boundary brings up fifty for Pujara off 196 balls. Superb knock, he’s kept India in this despite all the damage the Australian quicks have done to him.

Starc returns down the other end, just one of his over, a single off the next Lyon over. Australia appear to be keeping things tight ahead of the new ball. With 24 overs to go, India 3-219 needing 109 for victory.

Adrian McMurray 4.39pm: Chance to get Pant goes begging

Chance goes begging for Australia. Pant dances down the wicket, he’s beaten by Lyon, but it also spins away from Smith and Paine for four byes. Chance for a stumping there. Ouch.

Lyon generates some huge spin finding one of the cracks his next over, but Pant attacks the next ball belting it over long on for six. Starc leaks eight off his over, India 3-209 needing 119 for victory. Eight overs until the new ball.

Adrian McMurray 4.13pm: Three maidens to begin the session

Right, here we go. Hazlewood first up after tea. He begins with a maiden, likewise Lyon down the other end. Hazlewood backs it up with another one. It doesn’t hurt, but they’ll want wickets. India 3-184.

Meanwhile, yep, the Indians have copped a barrage this series.

4.00pm: Where the money is

Australia were $1.75 to win this Test and the series before play this morning – with one session to go, they have blown out to $3.30.

TAB Sportsbet had the Indians as $11 outsiders at the start of the day and when they lost the wicket of Rohit Sharma, they drifted out to $21. But by tea they had come back in to $3.60.

The draw, a $2.40 chance before play, is in to $1.95.

As they say, gamble responsibly – which may mean stay well away from it in this case. Anything could happen.

Peter Lalor 3.50pm: All results in play

One session to go and all results are in play on the last day of the series.

The new ball is 17 overs away. India need 145 runs to win and with Rishabh Pant at the crease that is possible.

Australia need seven wickets.

Cheteshwar Pujara is playing the tortoise on 43 from 168 balls.

There was a suspicion Nathan Lyon was bowling too straight to early and it looks apparent now he has begun to land the ball outside off, spin it sharply and start to trouble the batsmen.

Adrian McMurray 3.45pm: One session to settle the series

India add another 16 runs before the tea break, finishing the session at 3-183. Phew! Another session full of twists and turns. With Pujara (43no from 168 balls) and Pant (10no from 23 balls) at the crease anything could happen here. India need 145 runs in the final session for victory, Australia need seven wickets. WinViz has an Australian win at 21 per cent, an Indian victory at 14 per cent. We could be in for a pretty wild few hours here.

Adrian McMurray 3.20pm: Momentum shifts: story of the series

Rahane is following Gill’s lead, he and Pujara making light work of Hazlewood and Lyon, including this monster six.

Incredibly, WinViz has swung back the way of India.

But just when it looks like India are well on top … WICKET! Cummins gets Rahane, the captain gone for 24 from 22 balls. It looked as though he was in two minds, and edges to Paine who takes the catch. Check out what this has done to WinViz.

Story of the series – as soon as one side gets on top, the other fights back. Gripping stuff! India 3-167, Pant to the middle.

Adrian McMurray 2.56pm: Pujara battered, review lost

Jeez, a Hazlewood bouncer strikes Pujara on the glove, he is in some real discomfort tosses the bat aside. The Indian medical team make their way out again and an early drinks break is taken.

He plays on – what an effort from Pujara.

Next over a big shout for lbw on Pujara off Lyon’s bowling. It’s not given, but the Australians review. Umpire says no shot offered from Pujara … Hmmm … but ball tracker shows it was going well over. Review lost.

Pujara cops another blow, this time around the grill, nasty stuff. The neck guard flies out, he’s checked again by the physio, but again carries on. My word. Plenty of concern from the Australians there too. India 2-139, Pujara 26no and Rahane 7no.

Adrian McMurray 2.31pm: Lyon gets the breakthrough

WICKET! Lyon replaces Starc and gets the breakthrough on the last ball of his first over back. Wicket 398 for Lyon.

Gill out for 91, edging to Smith in the slips. What an innings, Pant-esque, but is this where Australia press on? India 2-132, Rahane to the middle.

Adrian McMurray 2.25pm: Monster over for India

A huge over for India – 20 runs off Starc. Wow! Gill finds the rope in three consecutive shots, including a monster six, and Pujara gets a four of his own. Gill races to 89no from 139 balls. We thought the rain might have been Australia’s biggest problem on day five, not Shubman Gill. India 1-127.

Adrian McMurray 2.16pm: Pujara hit again

Potentially a huge moment here as Hazlewood strikes Pujara on the left arm, around the biceps. The physio makes his way out and tests the arm … but he’s playing on! He’s copped some punishment but is living up to his ‘rock’ moniker in more ways than one. This pair are working beautifully: Gill is chasing runs while Pujara is keeping things tidy down the other end. India 1-107.

Adrian McMurray 2.01pm: Gill, Pujara carry on

Cummins resumes, handed first use of the ball after lunch. Starc too carries on down the other end. Gill is dealing with the short ball with ease, a pull shot producing four off Starc.

Pujara, meanwhile, has now faced over 100 deliveries …

He joins in on the fun though with his first boundary of the innings off Starc. That brings up 100 for India, with Pujara 15no and Gill 73no. India 1-100.

Adrian McMurray 1.06pm: India 1-83 at lunch

Gill with an uppercut all the way into the stands for six – cracker of a shot, and a great catch taken by one of the punters at The Gabba as well!

Huge shout for caught behind on the last ball before lunch, but it’s not given. Paine thinks about it but chooses not to send it for review, and replays show that was the right call – it brushed his torso en route to Paine’s gloves.

Well! Huge session for the tourists, losing one wicket and adding 79 runs. Gill (64no from 117 balls) has been superb, Pujara (8no from 90 balls) has been … Pujara. But it’s working for India who are 1-83 at lunch. They need 245 more for victory, Australia still need nine wickets.

Who’s going to get the breakthrough for Australia? Is time running out? We’ll find out this afternoon.

Adrian McMurray 12.54pm: Plenty of short stuff

A couple of nasty moments – first Wade is hit around the top of the chest/throat area when the ball bounces up into him at short leg.

The next over, Cummins strikes Pujara on the back of the helmet. The short ball doing the damage, Pujara gets checked but is cleared to play on.

Starc takes over from Lyon, and it looks like the Australians have heeded Warnie’s words: short stuff from both ends now. India 1-71.

Daniel Sankey 12.37pm: Warne spray at Aussie tactics

A frustrated Shane Warne has criticised Australia’s tactics as they’ve struggled for a second breakthrough in the first session of the final day in the must-win Fourth Test.

After Patrick Cummins struck Cheteshwar Pujara with a short delivery in his first over back from a spell, Warne issued a frustrated monologue while commentating for Fox Cricket.

“It’s only taken 90 minutes. Why haven’t they thought about this … maybe bowl short occasionally?” Warne said.

“You don’t need a computer to say he’s batted 90 minutes, he’s faced 62 deliveries and he’s looked comfortable.

“Why haven’t they changed it earlier? I think this is what everyone in the world that is watching the game was criticising the Australians for in the first innings. Not ruthless enough, didn’t try things! They’ve taken one wicket in an hour-and-a-half and Pat Cummins, with his first ball, has struck Pujara.

“Why haven’t they done this earlier? There’s that many coaches around the Australian team … say something! It’s ridiculous.”

Peter Lalor 12.33pm: Tense times in the field

Getting tense? The Australians look and sound like they are. They’re quiet on the field, searching for a breakthrough but not looking that likely to take a wicket.

You might think we’ve been here before but on the last day at Sydney India was already three wickets down.

Cummins got the only breakthrough, dismissing Rohit Sharma.

Nahthan Lyon should have had Pujara lbw given it is a bowler umpiring the game but the decision was not given on the field despite no shot offered and was adjudged “umpire’s call” off it.

Pujara is soaking up a heap of deliveries with little effort to score.

Gill has moved past 50 and looks great. He is one of the finds of the series for India.

Just a note: more than 50 per cent of the ball has to be hitting the stumps to overturn a decision. According to Simon Taufel on Channel 7: “In the case of height being at play the bails are not taken into consideration and the 50 per cent is measured from the top of the stumps not the top of the bails. This is because ball tracker is not as accurate with height as it is with width.”

Adrian McMurray 12.20pm: Concerns for Starc, no bat pad

How about this from Gill?

Starc comes from the field, hopefully just some running repairs and not anything more serious.

“Australia need him today,” Shane Warne says in commentary for Fox Cricket.

Hazlewood takes over, a maiden, and Starc is back out in the field not long after. Phew.

There’s a lot of talk in the Fox Cricket commentary box about a bat pad (or the lack thereof) on the offside for Lyon. Warne is adamant he needs one. Runs aren’t really an issue today, but Australia need to start picking up wickets. Why not give it a go? India 1-61 after 28 overs.

Adrian McMurray 11.49am: Lyon denied crucial wicket

Lyon replaces Green, and the Gabba crowd approve of that change. He’s three off 400 Test wickets. On the last ball of the over, big shout for lbw on Pujara!

Is this wicket 398? Umpire doesn’t give it and they’re sending it for a review. Just the ball tracking needed here … umpire’s call for hitting the wicket so the original decision remains. Lyon is filthy. Importantly, no review lost, but that was so close to being overturned. Would’ve been huge getting Pujara this early. One off the next Starc over, Gills finds the rope off Lyon in the last over before drinks. India 1-44.

Adrian McMurray 11.31am: India begin to chip away

Gill starts to chip away at the deficit, six off a Hazlewood over, three off Green (who’s replaced Hazlewood). Starc joins the fray, giving Cummins a rest. Fair old first spell from the world’s No 1 Test bowler: four maidens, one wicket for four runs in his six overs.

Pujara off the mark after facing 22 deliveries, not particularly convincing so far. All the action is down the other end though, as Gill continues to play some masterful strokes, seven from a Green over taking him to 28no. Pujara 2no, India 1-37.

Peter Lalor 11am: Patience pays off for Cummins

Good signs for Australia, they quicks Hazlewood and Cummins are bowling patient lines and not searching for cracks or wicket balls.

Success comes early when Cummins has Rohit Sharma well caught by a diving Tim Paine.

Cummins is getting some sharp seam off the pitch and a bit of movement in the air.

Rohit was the sort of batsman who could set up an India win with his aggression. Pujara and Rahane who follows are not so brisk. Pant is another who can bring a “power play” to the proceedings.

Adrian McMurray 10.57am: Cummins strikes early

WICKET! Cummins gets first blood, Sharma gone for 7, nice length and the Indian opener edges to Paine who takes the catch diving low to his right. One down. India 1-18. India’s rock, Cheteshwar Pujara, to the middle.

Peter Lalor 10.40am: All on the line for Australia

Interesting that Mitch Starc did not open the bowling this morning.

He reached for his hamstring after his first delivery last night. Watch this space.

A lot on the line today. Australia should be clear favourites to take 10 wickets and defend 300 on a pitch that is cracking and unpredictable but it is a credit to this never-beaten Indian team that there is anxiety about the task.

Mitchell Starc. Picture: AFP
Mitchell Starc. Picture: AFP

Captain Tim Paine needs his team to win, he does not want to be the skipper in charge of two Border Gavaskar failures at home.

They lost it last time and had an excuse, they have to win this time. A draw is not enough to retain the trophy or avoid some harsh cricitism.

The minor kerfuffle on the last day at Sydney was blown out of proportion and will be rekindled if there’s a loss here.

Victory guarantees a kinder review.

Lyon has 7 wickets at 59 for the series. He has a chance to step up today. Starc has not been at his best but has opportunity here.

Adrian McMurray 10.35am: Day five begins

We’re in for an absolute treat: this is just about as good as it gets in Test cricket. Sharma and Gill resume for India, who are 0-4. The visiting side need a total of 328 for victory, Australia need 10 wickets. It’s overcast in Brisbane, no rain for now though after a wild night of weather in Queensland. Hazlewood finishes off his over from yesterday, dot ball, Cummins begins down the other end. One run off his over, India 0-5, 97 overs to come from here.

Peter Lalor 10.20am: A last day for the ages

On the fifth day of the fourth Test the future residence of Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be decided. Weather permitting. Cricket permitting.

Australia has a 328-run lead. India has 10 wickets in hand.

There are widening cracks running the length of the pitch. A delivery from Mohammed Siraj to Pat Cummins early in the final session caused the batsman some immediate discomfort as it hurtled off its line towards his body, but a moment later Cummins smiled as the implications became apparent.

Read the full story here.

Ben Horne 10am: Lyon, Starc missing their mojo

Bowlers Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc must rediscover their missing mojos if Australia is to strike gold in its exhausting quest for the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Nathan Lyon. Picture: Getty Images
Nathan Lyon. Picture: Getty Images

In an alarming sight for Australia, Starc appeared to be grabbing at his hamstring during and following his one over at the India openers last night, but Steve Smith backed the left-armer to play through injury “and get the job done.”

Lyon has had a quiet series by his standards, but three wickets on day five at the Gabba would not only clinch him his coveted 400 wicket milestone in his 100th Test, but would drive Australia a long way towards a famous Test victory.

With just seven wickets at an average of 58.71 runs per wicket – it is one of the driest series of Lyon’s career.

Read the full story here.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-v-india-fourth-test-day-5-from-the-gabba-a-last-day-for-the-ages/news-story/ab4cc3722098e8c17d4717a30c90ba51