The Aussies had a great opportunity to finish off the work with the ball when Day 3 resumed first thing this morning but not what we wanted unfortunately off the back of India’s stunning lower-order batting extravaganza that kept them going like Washington Sundar’s 50 while their fast-bowling all-rounder scored his maiden Test 100 after only four caps at 21 years of age in Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Yes, it’s been a bitter pain pill to swallow from the Aussies when they just couldn’t make the most out of their catches while letting runs slide against their way.
But they only got a wicket to finish off now albeit with a reduced 116 run lead at 358 as the Aussies will need to bat again since they can no longer take advantage of the follow-on option now that Day 3 has already passed due to bad light and rain with two more days to go in this Boxing Day Test of 2024. We will need to count on our new opener and cult-hero Sam Konstas to deliver the goods quick smart like he did on Day 1 when the Aussies won the toss to bat with his debut Test 50 (scored 60) as his 2nd spell should be the key to keeping this series alive with one Test to go (a draw wouldn’t be bad to bring this to a decider) even though he’s just getting started at the ripe age of 19.
I mean, wow, two youngsters making a name for themselves at such a young age from the moment they were born in the mid 2000s to making a name for themselves through the ranks from juniors and now both of them have made a statement for themselves in front of 70,000 to 80,000 odd people – how good!!
This is what we love to see from the best of our characters in this long-running game in red ball cricket through one era to another that makes his contest so special and competitive to be fair. No doubt we will get to see more and more youngsters like these being thrown into the deep end, especially at the highest of levels like Test Cricket over the next couple of years.
For now, India are doing so well thanks to their lower-order batting saving grace while the Aussies need to think quick in a bid to bring this match home with the win. Meanwhile, yes, We got the Domestic T20 Big Bash League going through each and every night including tonight for at least the next month. But if you can’t get enough of sport, there’s always the United Cup Tennis at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney with the Aussies also in action first up in their group v Argentina.
Okay, the women’s singles tie was a bit out of reach for a start but we got Alex De Minaur though to try and turn this around against Tomas Etchverry and also our double pairs too in Matt Ebden and Ellen Perez if he wins this match. Update: De Minaur did bounce back fair and square in straight sets, just a shame our mixed doubles efforts fell short unfortunately that gave Argentina the 1st series match win 2-1 at the hands of Etchverry once again this time with Maria Loudres Carle.
Now they would need to be at their very best against Great Britain on New Year’s Day Wednesday but Monday’s result between GB and Argentina would of course depend Australia’s status in this United Cup group phase (Pool F).
