Former captain Ian Chappell believes India’s coming out cheaply on the first morning of the third test here, on a pitch with a vicious turn and uneven bounce, was key to Australia’s turnaround in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Indian batsmen were unsubmitted and dismissed for 109 and 163 in two innings of the match, which Australia won by an emphatic nine wickets to seal their place in the World Test Championship final. Australia’s victory came after they lost the first two Tests at Nagpur and Delhi within three days.
“The key was to bowl India out cheaply in the first innings. Once they (Australia) did that, they gave themselves a chance to get a decent lead. It wasn’t a huge lead, but on this pitch it was a useful one,” the legendary Chappell was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
“And then, in the second innings, chasing a low score alone after Australia lost an early wicket and when Head in particular decided to attack in the second innings, Australia took the game.
“So for me the key was getting India cheap in the first innings and that took a lot of courage to turn things around from what happened in the first two Tests,” he added.
Chappell said the visitors knew what they had to do to turn things around on the tour, but the first two games lacked implementation.
“Australia talked about what to do, talking about is an easy part, doing it is hard and Australia did it in this test match,” he said.
The 79-year-old called Travis Head’s non-selection in the first two tests “ridiculous” and said common sense ultimately prevailed in the Australian tour selection committee.
“That was ridiculous non-selection, stupidity that was, but at least the Australians have recognized their error,” he concluded.
The fourth and final Test of the series will be played in Ahmedabad from March 9.
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