The fourth and final Test match between India and Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicked off in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Thursday. India lead the series by 2-1, having won the first two games. Australia, with the third Test in their kitty, would look to carry the momentum into the fourth and finish the series with a 2-2 draw.
A win or a draw for India here would mean that they would clinch the series and also a spot in the Test Championship final would be guaranteed. Otherwise, India’s fate in Test Championship would depend on Sri Lanka’s results going forward. Australia, on the other hand, secured their berth in the final, which will be held at The Oval in London on June 7.
Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat first in Ahmedabad. Australia went with an unchanged playing from the third Test, while India rested fast bowler Mohammed Siraj for Mohammed Shami.
Travis Head given reprieve!
Travis Head and Usman Khawaja opened the innings for the visitors, and it was a strong opening stand in the first hour of play. Neither of the openers were dismissed during the time but Head was given a huge let-off. He was dropped early on off Umesh Yadav by wicketkeeper KS Bharat in the sixth over of the innings, when he was batting on 7.
Here is the video:
KS bharat drop here. You can see he takes a step to the legside. (Second photo) So already he is unbalanced, and then he doesn't quiet get to the ball, he reaches out (last photo) very tough to take a opposite step then come back in. Technical error #INDvsAUSTest #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/7pwSdIPUKu
— lucas (@LucasR32sky) March 9, 2023
It appeared that Bharat had made a preempted move to the leg side, causing him to move to the opposite side to get his hands on the catch. The ball came to him off a thin outside edge and did not go very wide off the keeper. However, the initial movement by Bharat meant that he could not get his gloves entirely behind the ball in time. Hence, the ball popped out of his palms and Head survived.
Head was later dismissed for 32 off 44 by off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the 16th over as he mistimed a shot on the on-side, resulting in a straightforward catch to Ravindra Jadeja in mid-on.
