Ind Vs Aus 4th Test: India Fight Back After Khawaja, Green Run Riot

India had to contend with two resilient batting stands on a day which provided little to no help to the bowlers. After managing to bowl Australia out for 480, the hosts stood at 36 without loss at the end of the day’s play.

Australia still hold a massive advantage as their three spinners are likely to get more purchase than their Indian counterparts going into the third day.

Khawaja’s marathon knock of 180 lasted 10 hours and 11 minutes and he faced 422 balls, which is effectively 70.2 overs of the total 167.2 overs faced by the Australian team.

Green’s maiden Test hundred, an eminently attractive 114, laced with 18 boundaries, was a good counter-punching effort on a track which was easy to bat on and which gives value for shots playing within the ‘V’.

Their 208-run stand that lasted 59.4 overs will certainly add a lot of confidence in the Australian dressing room, after failing to cross 275 even once in the five completed innings during the first three games.

Ashwin brought India their first breakthrough of the day. Going for a sweep, Green gloved one down the legside to the keeper Srikar Bharat. The all-rounder walked back at 114. This was his maiden Test ton.

One dismissal brought another as Alex Carey threw his arms at an Ashwin delivery which turned away from him, but could muster only a leading edge towards Axar at short third man.

The Australia total hadn’t moved too far ahead when they lost two more wickets in the form of Mitchell Starc and Khawaja.

At 409/8, India would’ve looked forward to batting soon, but Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy had other plans. The duo added 70 runs for the ninth-wicket, tiring the India fielders further on a hot day. Finally, it was Ashwin who got their wickets to bring the Australia innings to an end.

During his 6/91, Ashwin became India’s leading wicket-taker against Australia in Test cricket. He overtook India legend Anil Kumble in the process. The off-spinner now has 113 Test wickets against Australia as compared to Kumble’s 111.