Thoughts on the game:
- Australia were immense for the first 2.5 days and it s really a body blow to lose from that situation. I kept saying how they had all the luck go their way in this test for the first two days but it deserted them when they needed it the most and Pujara and Rahane somehow got in and made them pay. They were very unlucky to not to have dismissed one of them, esp. Pujara, early on.
- The pitch or the previous both were test standard AFAIC. As long as this is not the norm I dont mind odd wickets that help bowlers this much. But FWIW, this pitch was much more of a lottery to survive on than the last one and if anything, I would have minded it far less if the idiot Broad called this one poor. Last one was not poor. It was predictable in what it did and INdia's incompetence with the bat was the reason we got bowled out for 100 odd each innings.
- India finally showed the fight they never did at Pune from day 2. As I said, it was a good sign even if it would have been for zilch had Australia kept their composure during the 3rd and 4th innings this match. They were definitely back to the old #intent game. Whether that was Lehmann or Smith himself, they need to understand that you are not gonna punch your way out of trouble in India in test cricket. Need attrition, calm heads, bit of humility and leaving the ego back in the dressing room. Everything they did so well for the first 6 innings of this series.
- I am not too fussed about Smith and team asking the dressing room. If it was more than once, sure, they deserve the spraying Kohli gave them. If not, Kohli should cop a ban for basically accusing them of cheating publicly. But I think it was an excellent presser overall. Aussies have tried to get under his skin way too much since 2011 and guess they just hate someone giving it back to them. Social can lie all he wants about India being sledging leaders but his green and gold tinted lying wont fool anyone. Aussies love sledging and hate it when given back in equal measure and that is just wonderful to watch.
- Ranchi is usually slow and low and favors a lot of attritional cricket where small mistakes like batsmen throwing away starts will matter a lot. So Aussies need to go back to what they did for the majority of the series and not do the stuff they did on days 3 and 4 of this test. They are still in with a very good shout as it is totally possible India are the ones to throw it all away in some hubris after winning this test. Can only hope Kumble being there will help limit such things.
Really loving the whining and the whinging and the waaaahing from social and stephen this thread.. This is why beating Australia is always great. TJB still caught in the Trisangu Haven between going completely old school TJB and being this new Warner-esque poster he is trying to be now.. Love this!!! 
