ON paper, the Sydney Test cricket match between Australia and India might look to the non-cricket purist like it listlessly ended in a draw.
But that final day encapsulated everything I and others who love the redb-all game love about Test matches.
It was a day of fluctuation – Australia started on top, then suddenly India looked right in it, and then a couple of quick wickets and it was Australia back in control.
It seemed unlikely India could avoid defeat with the top half of their batting order back in the sheds with more than 40 overs remaining in the day and their sole remaining specialist batter Hanuma Vihari barely able to move due to a hamstring injury.
But he and all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin – himself also struggling with injury concerns – fought out the day memorably.
Neither passed 50 runs – Vihari finishing with 23 from 161 balls and Ashwin 39 from 128 – but they weren’t out there to score; they were trying to keep their team’s series hopes alive and they succeeded.
Now the teams are battling in Brisbane and hopefully this match is just as gripping.
