Virat Kohli achieves special, Lyon, Warner wins 1st test match for Australia
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Saturday, 13 December 2014 By Unknown
Virat Kohli has travelled a long way in Test cricket since he was out c Baugh b Edwards twice on debut in the summer of 2011. From being India's only centurion on the 2011-12 tour of Australia, after nearly losing his place, to struggling at home against England, then producing stirring centuries in South Africa and New Zealand, to averaging 13.40 across five Tests in England this summer, to landing in Australia as captain of the team in MS Dhoni's absence.
It will take time to understand the significance of his two centuries in the Adelaide Test. In England, Kohli endured a terrible time, out repeatedly to impetuosity outside off stump. While in ODI cricket he remained India's batting lynchpin and a proven finisher, in red-ball cricket his reputation had taken a beating after the England tour. In Adelaide, he was leading India for the first time in Tests against the backdrop of a woeful overseas record since 2011. It was a massive challenge.
Five days on from walking out for the toss, Kohli has scored twin centuries to become the first Indian to achieve the distinction on Test captaincy debut, and second overall after Greg Chappell. With a second consecutive innings of poise he has secured his place as one of the most exciting young batsmen of this era. To lead a chase of 364 on day five is a huge accomplishment, and though he was unable to finish the job, nobody can point fingers at the 26-year-old.
Kohli's mantra of late has been the need to be ruthless in closing out cricket matches and he led by example, battling immense pressure with a superb 141, his highest Test score. He was leader hell-bent on victory.
From the time he came out to bat, with India 57/2, Kohli was alert to taking singles. This was a feature of the previous team - featuring Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman - that was not always as prominent and which often let India down overseas; the ability to put pressure on opponents by rotating strike and forcing fielders to remain active.
He and Murali Vijay worked hard for every run, were prepared to tap and run and were overall assured with their footwork against pace and spin. On track from which Nathan Lyon achieved big turn and bounce, such traits were critical. Lyon bowled a few shooters too, but both batsmen shut that out of their minds. When the ball was overpitched Kohli was able to score off it, well aware that Lyon could produce some unplayable deliveries.
This is not to say that he didn't retain his elegance of play some attacking shots; Kohli swept Lyon for controlled boundaries and when the offspinner dragged short, flat-batted a superb six over midwicket. In fact, the sweep shot was a profitable shot for the India captain, not a natural sweeper of the cricket ball, and played the shot comfortably and competently to negate Lyon's threat. There was a definite plan to his batting: he was trying to score off every opportunity. The getting across to Lyon's turn wasn't premeditated.
In England, Kohli dedicated full net sessions to just sweeping but came undone against Moeen Ali. Here he was sublime. There was also his trademark whipped drive through extra cover, hitting against the turn to send the ball sizzling across the grass to the boundary. With each shot played, Indian hopes soared. Even when Vijay was out for 99 to Lyon, expectations floated.
But then came a wobble that fast turned disastrous. How India managed to lose eight wickets for 73 runs in 18 overs is something only they can explain. From 242/3 following Vijay's exit, they crashed to 315 all out. Test cricket is known so because it tests the mental and physical levels of cricketers. Unfortunately for India, they were ultimately let down by the temperament of clutch batsmen.
Ajinkya Rahane can be excused because he was incorrectly given out caught at leg slip off Lyon, but Rohit Sharma's fourth consecutive meek dismissal in Tests and Wriddhiman Saha's absolutely reckless charge at the same bowler, off the final ball of an over in which he had swatted a six and two fours, made for tough viewing. All this, while at one end Kohli was playing the innings of his career. It beggared belief.
All it needed was application. Some rotation of the strike. Support to Kohli. Respect for Kohli. It did not come, instead we got harakiri from Saha and another lapse in concentration from Rohit. As Sourav Ganguly put it, Kohli's team-mates "lacked common sense".
You cannot really fault the tail, but in today's generation bowlers are expected to be able to contribute. Mohammed Shami swung to mid-off, Varun Aaron missed a straight ball and Ishant Sharma ran out and was stumped. A bit of fight was expected. To bat out time, attempt to eat overs, push for a draw, lessen the margin of defeat at least. Shami has a Test fifty to his name and Ishant is no mug with the bat. Sadly for India, the fight had entirely gone out of the team.
Anyway, let us not be overly critical. Who expected India to be two down at tea? Who thought Johnson's impact would be negated? Who expected Kohli to come back from the horror of England with twin centuries? It was an incredible end to a wholesome Test match and Brisbane cannot come any sooner.
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