Emerging of Bumrah and dream debut of Mayank corroborate India's Historical win At MCG

There comes the end of the most iconic and awaited test match of the year, the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where Test no.1 side India comes out victorious beating the 5th placed, Australia by 137 runs, leading the series 2-1. Thus, the visitors have retained the Border Gavaskar trophy as the hosts won't be able to win the trophy as the series will be  levelled at 2-2 only if the latter wins the final test match at Sydney.

India won the toss and chose to bat first thus validating the fact that Kohli have a higher overseas test winning percentage while winning the toss(India have won 8 out of 9 times when Kohli have won the toss, while the other match being ending in a draw).

The visitors were directly on top right from the start as their new opening batsman, Mayank Agarwal was brilliant with his bat, scoring a valiant 76 on his debut innings. At the beginning,
he wss well supported by Hanuma Vihari, who was promoted as an opeing batsman, but the latter could not last long as he departed for only 8 runs off 66 balls. The rest of the first day and the 1st session of the second was dominated by the two pillars of the Indian batting line up, Pujara and Virat. Pujara scored yet another century(106) and Virat missed out on yet another ton falling to Mitchell Starc for 82. 

There was a good considerable support at the middle order by Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant who scored 34 and 39 respectively and steadied the ship. Thus, the the visitors declared their innings at 443 for the loss of 7 wickets with Rohit Sharma still at the crease with a well made
63 not out. 

The Aussies couldn't match the batting standards of the Indians as they were bundled out for 151 courtesy Jasprit Bumrah's majestic bowling who ended the innings with the figures of 6/33. None of the batsmen from the Australian side could cross the 50 run mark with their captain, Tim Paine and their opening batsman scoring 22 each, who are the higest scorers of their innings.

Although India had a chance to enforce a follow on with already 292 runs lead at the end of the first innings, they decided to increase the lead and post a mammoth target for the hosts. This time the Aussies came back hard on the Indians as Pat Cummins was on the top removing both Kohli and Pujara, the most dependable batsmen for India, as both of them returned to the dressing room with ducks beside their names. This time Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal somehow managed to take the score to 106/8 before they had declared the innings again.

Thus, the Aussies required 399 runs to win the test match. Obviously, the Indians started off furiously with Jasprit Bumrah again leading the attack well supported by Md. Shami and Ravindra Jadeja as the hosts tumbled down at 215 for the loss of 8 wickets. Just when it seemed that the hosts were set to claim the test match at the end of the 4th day, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon stood gallantly in the crease fighting hard to save the test match for their nation as they managed to finish the 4th day undismissed, making things tough for the visitors to win the test match with Pat Cummins ending the day with a brilliant half-century. 

When the final day of the test match began, things seemed difficult for the visitors to win the test match as little showers indicated that the hosts had saved the match. But, the ultimate luck was not on the Aussie side as the game had resume again and the Indians didn't waste a single moment to remove the Aussie tail for 262, thus winning the match by 137 runs.

This was a very important victory for the No. 1 test side, as they had to rectify many loop holes in their performance, the most notable of them is the opener saga which was gallantly solved by Mayank Agarwal whose wonderful batting at the debut shut down many of his critics. He batted with responsibility in both the innings especially in the second innings when the wickets were falling in tandom on one side he stood strongly on other side before being dismissed for 42. Not only with bat, he also took a magical blinder catch of Harris in the short leg position.  

Mayank's responsible batting was a fitting reply on the face of the Aussie commentator Kerry O'Keefe who had demeened his domestic performances especially his 300 against the Railways as "Apparently, he got the triple (ton) against the Railways canteen staff". Atlast India have got a perfect test opener who can be partnered with the young sensation, Prithwi Shaw once the latter comes back from his injury. Mayank was waiting for quite a longer time to get his chance in the Test playing eleven of the national side after his consistent performances in the domestic side, and when he finally got his chance, he proved his worth. 

The most notable positive side from an Indian point of view was the man of the matc, Jasprit Bumrah's performance as he ended the test match with the figures 9/86 in the 2 innings. With every passing day, he is becoming India's go to bowler. Shaun Marsh's dissmisal in the first innings with a slower yorker was nothing short of his sheer brilliance.He has proven his worth by becoming the third highest wicket-taker in the debut year with 48 wickets after T Alderman(54 wicktes) and Curtley Ambrose(49 wickets). 2018 was great for the 25 year old lad as he performed tremendously in all the three formats of the game and gaining the no.1 position in the ODI format.

All over it was a breathtaking victory by the Indians as they validated the numero-uno position and retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy. They will be highly delighted with their wonderful all round performance. As they will be heading towards Sydney for the final test match of the series, they will carry an extra air of confidence with them. On the other hand the Aussies will be desperate to turn things around and ending the series on a higher note. They need to work on their batting a lot. Another scintillating clash is awaiting at Sydney for the final encounter of the series which will begin on 3rd January, 2019. 

Photo Source: Google

Writer: Avirup Roy

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