It was not at all surprising that Rishabh Pant destroyed the Australian attack with his stroke play in the second innings, but his ultra-defensive approach on day one indeed was, the head coach said on Saturday Australian Andrew McDonald. Pant had worked his way to 40 off 98 balls, taking several hits to his body during his 149-minute stay on the wicket. Pant had said he was not in a state of mind to attack. Pant, however, shifted gears effortlessly in the second innings, hitting Mitchell Starc for two huge sixes. Scott Boland and Beau Webster were not spared either as they too were bowled out for a six each.
“First of all, it’s not surprising the way he plays. We were actually a little surprised from the first rounds, by the way he did his job. He has an uncanny ability to put the pressure back on the bowlers,” McDonald said, doffing his hat to India’s greatest winner in Test cricket in recent years.
However, Australia did not allow Pant to walk away completely as Pat Cummins dismissed him just when things seemed to be getting out of hand.
“We’re planning for that though, we’ll be planning through the summer. We bounced back on a few shots there and clearly kept going against the limiters and we were getting through it and no, it was a round that looked like it was good for that moment.
Boland was a tough match for Kohli
Virat Kohli was run out eight times in his nine innings as he floundered on deliveries on or outside the off-stump and Australia’s head coach praised his bowlers, particularly Scott Boland, who dismissed the Indian prop four times in five Tests.
Does it seem easy to get Kohli out? “No, it’s never easy to get Virat out,” McDonald, trying to contain his smile of satisfaction.
“I give full credit to the bowlers and execution of the plan. It’s one thing to have a plan, but being able to execute it is another. This put him (Kohli) under immense pressure. And look, he tried some things. “He tried to get out of his territory. He also tried different tactics. But clearly the relentless nature of our bowlers, particularly Scottie (Boland), the match-up was incredibly difficult for him to combat. But it’s never an easy wicket, no.
It’s a field for even competitions
The traditional SCG wicket is usually a batter’s paradise and also helps spinners towards the end, but the ongoing Test played on a green top with variable bounce on offer.
McDonald made no secret of his appreciation for the ground crew for preparing a fair track.
“The ground staff did an incredible job of creating a wicket with something in it. Traditionally here it’s pretty benign and we’ve had a lot of dummies, so a lot of people have talked about the dummies, so you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. So this game is accelerated.
“I think he tries to produce an even fight between bat and ball. There is no doubt about it. It makes for interesting cricket.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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