Ricky Ponting call backfires as Aussies grab 2-1 lead with stunning win in fourth cricket Test
Pat Cummins was widely questioned over a head-scratching decision - but ultimately proven correct.
Ricky Ponting's move to question why Australia captain Pat Cummins didn't declare late on day four of the MCG Test has backfired after Australia pulled off a stunning victory on Monday. Australia took seven wickets in the final session as India collapsed to hand the hosts a 2-1 series lead.
Ponting had earlier pointed to the 96-year history India had to defy to win the fourth Test, and the decision to come out and bat again on the final day left the Aussie legend baffled. Cummins (41) and Nathan Lyon (41) both made valuable runs to stretch Australia's lead to 333, but many thought the Aussie skipper should have sent the tourists in to bat in the tricky period before stumps on Sunday.
Lyon and Scott Boland (15 not out) batted for more than an hour in a final-wicket stand of 55 late on day four. But Australia's lead looked more than enough, considering no side has ever chased down a bigger target for victory at the MCG. You have to go way back to 1928 and England's 332 for the biggest successful chase at the ground. But Cummins' controversial decision to keep batting suggested the Aussies were more concerned about losing the Test, rather than trying to win it.
With history on their side and the world's best bowling attack at their disposal, it begged the question as to why Cummins wasn't more aggressive, particularly with rain forecast for the fifth and final Test in Sydney. The New Year's Test at the SCG has been interrupted by rain more often than not in recent years and has had more days lost to bad weather than the famously wet Manchester's Old Trafford ground.
Ricky Ponting shocked Pat Cummins didn't declare
Cummins even sent Lyon and Boland back in for a brief spell at the start of the final day, but the pair only added another six runs to give Australia a big lead of 339 runs. It was a head-scratching call and one former Australia captain Ponting said he was shocked about considering the odds that were in the home side's favour and how crucial victory could be in determining who wins the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
“I’m a bit surprised to be honest,” Ponting said on Seven's coverage before the start of play on day five. “I thought Australia would have pulled the pin and declared and got as much at India as they could today to give themselves the best chance of winning the game. They’re 333 runs ahead. We know it will be an all-time record if (India chase down the target). They have their reasons for it, having India in the field longer (and) as you know we have a slightly longer day today as well.”
Commentator Tim Lane added that a draw at the MCG was a much better result for India than Australia, with the tourists just needing to avoid defeat in Melbourne and Sydney to retain the trophy. “That (a draw) would mean Australia have to win the test in Sydney (to win the series),” Lane said. “We’re told that there is rain hanging around up in the Harbour City.”
Aussie Test great and former coach Justin Langer also suggested Cummins and the Aussies may have had a record chase from India at the Gabba in the back of their minds when deciding not to declare. Three years ago in Brisbane, the Indians famously posted a massive 7-329 in the final innings to snatch a remarkable a series-clinching fourth Test victory over the Aussies.
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Cummins did his best to ensure there would be no repeat of that on Monday morning at the MCG after taking two quick wickets in the first session to ram home Australia's advantage. The Aussie skipper - who also took three wickets in the first innings - continued his brilliant form with the ball by removing Rohit Sharma for nine after the under-fire India skipper edged one to Mitch Marsh at gully. He then removed KL Rahul for a duck moments later, with Usman Khawaja holding on to an edge in the slips. Khawaja had his second catch of the opening session just before lunch when Mitchell Starc tempted Virat Kohli (five) into a cover drive caught the superstar's edge to leave India reeling at 3-33.
The Aussies went wicketless in the afternoon session, but seven fell in staggering scenes before stumps as Australia won by 184 runs. In the end Ponting and Lane were wrong and Cummins was proven a genius.