Boria Majumdar in Melbourne
Australia were in control when, almost against the run of play, Washington Sundar got the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne. Once the cheers subsided, the Australian section of the crowd started to almost celebrate. Coming out was Travis Head – the best batter on view in this series and someone who has singlehandedly tormented India multiple times in the past. The second new ball was still close to 15 overs away and India were facing the daunting prospect of bowling to Head with an old Kookaburra.
That was when Rohit Sharma handed the ball to Jasprit Bumrah. Head v Bumrah is a contest within a contest, and, clearly, Bumrah was all fired up. He had been unlucky against Head the last few times, but on Boxing Day at the MCG, the biggest stage of all, he bowled the ball of the day to dismiss Australia’s vice-captain. Watching from the press box, it seemed too good a ball for anyone to negotiate. Soon after it pitched, it deviated a shade and that’s what put a doubt in Head’s mind.
How could a ball which was close to 70 overs old do what it had just done? The movement induced the mistake and the leave was intended for a ball that wouldn’t have deviated while also bouncing over the stumps. To the amazement of over 87,000 people present at the MCG, it hit the top of the stumps. Head, after back-to-back centuries, was dismissed for a duck.
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
It was pure drama. India had their man and, all of a sudden, the match was back in the balance. Bumrah, unsettled to an extent by Sam Konstas, had come back to do the job and the talk was again all about how good he is. As for Head, he knew he had made a mistake and he started the long walk back to the pavilion with a slight grimace on his face.
Cricket, yet again, was the great leveller. Head, who seemed invincible in Adelaide and Brisbane, was out for zero. It took time for that reality to sink in and once it did, the Indian fans found their voice. They sensed that Bumrah was on top, and soon after, he picked up Mitchell Marsh as well to get India back into the game. It was one of those moments for which people pay money to come and be a part of the action. That moment of magic which made Boxing Day worth it. And also gave India a chance. While Australia are ahead, the Head wicket meant that they weren’t able to run away with things. India are still very much in the contest.
For Bumrah, who had a rare bad first two hours, it was a comeback spell par excellence. Three wickets to close out the day, as India’s premier bowler yet again shouldered the responsibility. He has picked twice as many wickets as any other bowler, and been head and shoulders above the rest. But that’s where things become problematic for India. While Bumrah could produce a peach to dismiss Head, the truth is that he continues to lack support. It is now on the others to put up their hands on Friday morning and wrap things up as soon as possible.
Also Read: Kohli accidentally bumped me: Sam Konstas on intimidation tactics by India