But then a ball change within the eleventh over unsettled the India bowlers as Head and Labuschagne counter-attacked with a flurry of boundaries. Ashwin was seemingly let down by the change of ball which proved to be softer and Australian batters discovered it simpler to attain off.
Commentator Dinesh Karthik after the match identified that the change of ball did make a distinction and labored in favour of the guests.
“Ashwin is a momentum bowler, when he gets a wicket, he generally adds two-three in his spell. Ashwin after that first wicket bowled a lot of balls that troubled Head,” Karthik instructed Cricbuzz.
“Ashwin bowled really well in the first 10 overs, kept good length, but the moment they changed that ball, they were not happy with the ball, probably the stitches had given a little way near the leather,” Karthik defined.
With Australia 13/1 after 10 overs, the ball developed some challenge close to the seam and needed to be modified. In the following over left-hander Travis Head, who was on 5 off 22 balls, stepped it up hitting the premier India off-spinner for a boundary and a six to grab management.
“The changed ball made a lot of difference. It was not as hard as they expected. Probably, it didn’t have the bite the ball could have had if it was harder. From then on things just turned completely Australia’s way.”
With the modified ball, Ashwin leaked 13 runs within the eleventh over and Karthik termed it a “critical” juncture of the match.
“It was critical over in the sense he gave away two loose balls a bit fuller and from that moment Travis Head didn’t look back. He said that’s it, I’m on the charge now. I feel good, my defence is coming well. You make a small error and the batter pounces on it.”
“Yes, you’re chasing a low target, so pressure was different. But Head made sure the moment he got those boundaries, he didn’t look back,” he stated.
The win secured Australia a spot within the World Test Championship closing. India now face a should win state of affairs within the fourth and closing Test starting in Ahmedabad on March 9 to make the WTC Final.
(With inputs from PTI)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com