NEW DELHI: Australia skipper Pat Cummins on Sunday admitted that their
pre-determined ploy to use sweep shots to counter spin backfired for them at the Kotla pitch in Delhi.
An over-reliance on sweep shots hastened their collapse on the third day of the second Test as
they suffered a six-wicket loss to hosts India, who now take a 2-0 unassailable lead in the four-match series.
The visitors resumed on 61 for 1 but lost their remaining nine wickets in just over 90 minutes to fold for 113 in a dismal morning session on a tricky, low-bouncing Kotla pitch. India spinner
Ravindra Jadeja, who returned career-best figures of 7 for 42, dazzled with seven wickets to bring down the curtains on Australia.
“Disappointed, we were ahead of the game but we slipped. Everyone controls their own game, some balls just have your name. But I think there will be a review. Shot choice, did we go about it the right way?” Cummins said after his team’s second straight Test loss inside three days.
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Jadeja stars as India hammer Australia to take 2-0 Test series lead
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<p>Ravindra Jadeja returned career-best figures of 7/42 to lead Australia’s hammering by six wickets inside three days to bring India to a 2-0 Test series lead. </p>
<p>Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin to dismiss Australia for 113 in a morning session when the tourists’ batting imploded, thanks to an overused sweep shot on a tricky pitch. </p>
<p>India romped to their victory target of 115 in the second session to guarantee them retention of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in the four-match series.</p>
<p>India have won their previous three series against Australia and are now close to securing a spot in the World Test Championship final.</p>
<p>India lost skipper Rohit Sharma, run out after a fluent 31, and Virat Kohli, who surpassed 25,000 international runs, stumped on 20.</p>
<p>But Cheteshwar Pujara stood firm with 31 in his landmark 100th Test to steer the team home with a winning four as Srikar Bharat (23*), looked on. </p>
<p>Nathan Lyon took two wickets to return a match-haul of seven. </p>
<p>Australia crashed from their overnight 61-1 to get bowled out in 31.1 overs after losing nine wickets for 52 runs in just over 90 minutes of mayhem. </p>
<p>Jadeja improved on his previous Test best of 7-48 to add to his three in the first innings. Ashwin grabbed the remaining three. </p>
<p>The third match is in Indore from March 1. </p>
Six of the 10 Australian batsmen including Steve Smith and David Warner‘s concussion substitute Matt Renshaw fell after attempting the sweep or reverse sweep as Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, who took three, wreaked havoc.
“I thought they bowled really well, it’s not easy out there, but perhaps some guys went away from their methods,” Cummins told reporters.
“Each batter has their own way to go about it. I don’t think there’s any one size fits all rule. Unfortunately, quite a few of us got out with kind of cross-batted shots, which might not be our preferred method,” Cummins added.
Australia posted a competitive 263 in the first innings with India coming one-run short of the total on Saturday in what had been a closely fought match.
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India-Australia 2nd Test: Top action pictures
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<p>Australia’s opener Usman Khawaja raises his bat to celebrate after scoring a half-century during the first day of the second Test against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.<br /><br /></p>
<p>India’s Mohammed Shami was the leading wicket-taker in the first innings as he took 4 wickets in 14.4 overs against Australia.<br /><br /></p>
<p>India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took 3 wickets each during the first innings of the second Test.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>Australia’s Peter Handscomb raises his bat to celebrate scoring a half-century during the first day of the 2nd test match between India and Australia.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Axar played a gritty knock of 74 runs off 115 balls which included 9 boundaries and 3 sixes. Axar along with Ashwin who scored 37 runs, saved India’s sinking batting.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Australia’s Nathan Lyon took a five-wicket haul in the first innings. His bowling figures were 5/67 in 29 overs which included 5 maiden overs.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Ravindra Jadeja rattled Aussie’s batting line-up in the second innings by taking 7 wickets. Jadeja’s tally was 7/42 which is also his best bowling figure in a Test match.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>Rohit started off well to pave the way for India’s victory by scoring 31 runs off 20 balls before getting run-out.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>Pujara and Bharat notched a crucial partnership that led India to win the match and also retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.<br /></p>
The third Test starts on March 1 in Indore with Cummins hopeful of making a turnaround in the series.
“That’s quite an experienced change room, a few of the batters have scored runs in similar conditions before, they found a way. So absolutely, it’s still a series to draw,” Cummins said.
Australia lost Warner to concussion after he got hit on his head in the first innings but Cummins hasn’t ruled the opener out of the third Test.
“Davey is still a bit sore and sorry. So we’ll manage and see how he goes over the next few days,” Cummins signed off.
(With inputs from AFP)
