Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock: Win, lose or draw, Monday at the MCG could define a generation

Monday at the ’G could define a generation, writes Robert “Crash” Craddock. An Aussie victory will help get the Border-Gavaskar trophy back. Lose, and there will be a stain on the legacy of some legends.

Monday could be the day that defines a generation.

This is big. Huge in fact. Win this fabulous Test and Australia are sitting pretty to get their hands on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which has stayed out of their reach for four frustrating series in a row, all lost 2-1.

Lose and the trophy will be India’s – again – and an outstanding generation of Australian players will finish their careers in the next few years with the permanent lament they could not beat India in three consecutive home series.

If the match is a draw and the series is deadlocked 1-1, India will head to Sydney with their noses ahead because they hold the silverware.

Pat Cummins will be front and centre on day five. Picture: Martin KEEP / AFP

What a finale that would be. There was something about India’s surprising subdued body language in the last hour on Sunday that suggested they may well reckon a draw is not a bad result.

The bookies have a draw ($2.20) most likely with Australia $2.30 and India $5.30.

The day-five legacy factor is enormous. If India win it would not surprise if besieged captain Rohit Sharma retires after the series. Virat Kohli might not be far behind him.

Kohli has been in and out of trouble all game yet he looks a driven man. In team huddles he and not Sharma has done most of the talking and his passionate body language says how motivated he is.

This is the Test that the summer has been craving for. The first two Tests were lopsided. The third was a damp squib.

Now these two fine though not flawless teams have their arms wrapped about each other’s throats in an epic, old-fashioned five-dayer with one day to go.

Nathan Lyon has not had a great series but he is so often the man who bobs up just when you think he is out of form and his last wicket resistance with the bat would have boosted his confidence.

It would not surprise to see him become a decisive last day warrior.

Mitchell Starc looked sore in the first innings but he had a great ability to play with niggles and will go hard again, even if it means missing Sydney.

India’s veterans will need to stand tall if they are going to claim victory. Picture: Michael Klein

The state of the pitch remains an intriguing mystery. Statistics tell us that it was twice as hard to bat on day four than day one yet, near the end of the day, Lyon and Pat Cummins were hardly quaking in their boots.

If India win – and it would be a mountain climb – it would continue their astonishing record of retaining the trophy in Australia.

In the first 11 series they played in Australia, India won just five Tests.

Just as Australia often floundered desperately in India, so did the Indian struggle in Australia under their latest surge.

But they are now a relentless and brave opponent. Just how brave we are about to find out.

Originally published as Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock: Win, lose or draw, Monday at the MCG could define a generation