Australia's decision to forego a challenging bowling session before stumps on the penultimate day of the Boxing Day Test against India highlights the team's weariness and strategic focus on resource preservation. Instead of aiming for a 'nasty little session' reminiscent of memorable moments in Australian Test cricket, the team opted for a cautious approach, prioritizing rest for their bowlers and acknowledging their limitations in the later stages of the series.
Pat Cummins bowling Joe Root. Dennis Lillee knocking over Viv Richards. Shane Warne bamboozling Basit Ali. Scott Boland dismantling England.
In the morning, against Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball, there was always the logic of believing that it would get easier to bat, and to score, later on. But what that decision also said is that Australia are at this point trying to preserve dwindling resources as much as possible. Statistics about their declining individual performances over long matches and series would bear this out, as do their records as a collective.
Third and perhaps most worryingly, Nathan Lyon has not had much of an impact on the series. India have played him smartly so far by milking Lyon for runs without taking too many risks. When he coaxed Washington Sundar into an edge on day three, it was one of just six wickets for the series – 23 behind the irrepressible Bumrah.
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