Preamble
What a Test match we have. It’s always my preference to have the bowlers on top, as it makes runs more valuable and tends to make the contest closer. Adelaide has consistently been the most sporting wicket in Australia since it switched to day-night matches and the new drop-in pitches, and this year the dial was turned up a bit more with a couple more millimetres of grass on the pitch. Cricket is a game of millimetres, after all.
To recap: 21 wickets have fallen in the first two days, sending us headlong into the third innings. (A few correspondents have quite fairly pointed out that when a Test in India proceeds at this pace, voices overseas decry the quality of the surface.)
India made a slender 244, but overcase a rash of dropped catches and still managed to restrict Australia to 191, a vital lead of 54 runs. The Indian openers had to bat for six overs, during which time they made 9 runs and Prithvi Shaw was bowled for the second time in the match. So India resume today with Mayank Agarwal partnering the nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah. Should make for interesting beginnings.
The lead is 62. You’d think that anything over 150 could end up being a testing total batting last. Though of course India will want to double that.
Both bowling attacks have been excellent so far. It’s down to which of them can maintain it, and which batsmen can better resist. Shall we?
