India vs Australia, 1st Test Day 4 Quick Singles: India, Australia turn the heat up Down Under

Not sure how long this episode will continue, but it will definitely inject fire into the series.

Indian fielders celebrate Shane Watson’s wicket. (Source: AP)

The emotions were running high in the build-up to this much-awaited Test battle between India and Australia. Phillip Hughes’ tragic death exposed the soft side of the Aussies, who continued with the same approach during the first half of the Test match.

A Mitchell Johnson bouncer to Virat Kohli didn’t turn the heat on Day 3, it attracted concern. Johnson was not fired up like usual and was not using the short stuff that often. David Warner celebrated his ton with the trademark jump, but no-so-usual emotion.

The post lunch session on Day 4, however, will definitely change the way this series will be played now. Varun Aaron has for sure got the Aussies back to what they do best – play hard cricket.

Aaron vs Warner vs Dhawan vs Watson

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After seeing his side struggle for as many as 31 overs, Aaron got his first hit at the Aussies in the 32nd over. There was nothing in the strip, which was assisting spinners, for the quicks. The speedster warmed up in his first over, and exploded in the second.

Warner was all calm and easy before Aaron disturbed his woodwork on what turned out to be a no-ball. Before the umpires checked for the front-foot, Aaron celebrated in a wild manner and gave a send-off to the Aussie, who gave him back after surviving.

Aaron went back to his mark, but Warner was all charged up. A comment after the next ball didn’t please Shikhar Dhawan who charged at the opener and exchanged a lot of pleasantries. Seeing his mate in a heated exchange, Watson rushed to rescue but was interrupted by India skipper Virat Kohli, who, for a change, was seen calming things around.

Not sure how long this episode will continue, but it will definitely inject fire into the series.

Kohli tries everything

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At the back of his mind, he would know that his side is a spinner short on a track with enough rough to keep the tweakers interested. Nathan Lyon, not known to be a threatening spinner, ran through the Indian batting order.

Lyon’s figure, if nothing else, suggest how good a strip it has become for the slower bowlers. A debutant Karn Sharma, who is still coming to terms and a part timer Murali Vijay seemed Kohli’s only options and all he could do was rotate them, shift their ends and keep the pressure on with constant chirping.

Unlike the first innings, he didn’t give the new ball to Aaron. Held him back. Mohammed Shami bowled a short spell before he was taken off, Ishant bowled in short bursts, Rohit Sharma, too, rolled his arm over.

Apart from Ishant, who is not a spinner (pun intended), no bowler looked like taking a wicket. Looking at the resources at his disposal, Kohli needs to put the thinking hat on and hope for a miracle.

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