Heading into day three of the first Test between India and Australia in Adelaide, the match was hanging nicely in the balance as both teams...
Heading into day three of the first Test between India and Australia in Adelaide, the match was hanging nicely in the balance as both teams had a real chance of emerging victorious. However, it only took about 40 minutes on Saturday morning for the Australian fast bowlers to absolutely finish off the contest.
India’s innings finished at 36/9 (with Mohammed Shami retired hurt) as Australia were left with a target of 90 runs. This is India’s lowest ever innings total in Test cricket.
India, who started the day on 9/1 from six overs in their second innings, were leading by 62 runs. They would have hoped to bat for most of the day and end up giving a target of at least 250 to Australia.
But what happened at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday morning was simply a jaw-dropping experience.
Here’s how India’s wickets fell:
1/7
2/7
3/15
4/15
5/15
6/19
7/26
8/26
9/31
9/36 (Shami retired hurt)
Once nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah hit it straight back to Pat Cummins, India’s batsmen went down like ninepins.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane got out for zero, captain Virat Kohli could manage just a four behind square on the off, Mayank Agarwal scored 9 off 40, Hanuma Vihari and Wriddhiman Saha hardly contributed, while Ravichandran Ashwin perished for a first ball duck.
To make matters worse, pacer Shami...
