Australia Carries Out ‘Surgical Strike’ on India, Hazlewood Shines

India recorded their lowest total in Test cricket when they ended the second innings at 36 for 9 on the third day of the day-night Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

None of the Indian batsmen reached double figures. India’s dramatic collapse at the Adelaide Oval is now their lowest score in Test cricket – lower than the previous record of 42 against England at Lord’s in 1974.

Heading into day three of the first Test between India and Australia in Adelaide, the match was hanging nicely in the balance as both teams had a real chance of emerging victorious. However, it only took about 40 minutes on Saturday morning for the Australian fast bowlers to absolutely finish off the contest.

India’s inning finished at 36/9 (with Mohammed Shami retired hurt) as Australia were left with a target of 90 runs.

This is India’s lowest ever inning total in Test cricket.

There have only been seven instances in Test history of a bowler taking a five-fer while conceding fewer than the eight runs Josh Hazlewood managed today. There are only three since WW2. #AUSvIND

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 19, 2020

India, which started the day on 9/1 from six overs in their second inning, was leading by 62 runs. They would have hoped to bat for most of the day and end up giving a target of at least 250 to Australia.

No batsman reaching double digits in a Test innings:

South Africa (2nd inns) vs England, Birmingham 1924
India (2nd inns) vs Australia, Adelaide 2020#AUSvIND

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 19, 2020

Once nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah hit it straight back to Pat Cummins, India’s batsmen went down like ninepins.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane got out for zero, captain Virat Kohli could just manage a four behind square on the off, Mayank Agarwal scored 9 off 40, Hanuma Vihari and Wriddhiman Saha hardly contributed, while Ravichandran Ashwin perished for a golden duck.

India broke their previous lowest ever total in Test cricket – 42 – by six runs against England at Lord’s in 1974.

This is also India’s lowest total against Australia in Test cricket as the earlier mark was 58 made at Brisbane in 1947.

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India had also made 58 against England at Manchester in 1952, followed by 66 against South Africa at Durban in 1996. India had also crashed to 67 against Australia at Melbourne in 1948.

Overall, this was the 25th time India was getting out below 100 in Test cricket in an inning. Earlier, India endured a torrid first hour at Adelaide Oval, securing another piece of unwanted history.

Although India’s collapse was truly sensational, nothing could be taken away from the phenomenal fast bowling by the Australians.

Australia has won the match with eight wickets and lead the series 1-0.