With a race against time, weather and World Test Championship points at stake, India face an uphill battle to salvage some pride and at least four WTC points with a draw from the ongoing third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane.
Even with rain playing spoilsport for a majority of day three, forcing as many as eight rain breaks in Gabba on Monday, India find themselves on the back-foot after another top-order collapse, leaving them at 51/4 in response to Australia’s first-innings 45.
With only two days left in play and both sides locked in on the race for the WTC final, a win will be pivotal for either side in this Test. With a hefty 395-run lead still in their hand, Australia will fancy their chances to bundle India out early on Tuesday, given that the visitors have only crossed the 200-run mark once in five innings this series. Should they hold a sizable lead by then, Australia will perhaps opt for a bold follow-on call with the weather also likely to hamper days four and five in Brisbane.
India’s come-from-behind attitude will be in the back of the hosts’ mind, with Gabba 2021 and Eden Gardens 2001 high on that charts. But will Cummins and Co. hand the follow-on ignominy, should an opportunity emerge this time?
India’s follow-on question: When was the last time India was asked to follow-on in Test cricet?
Interestingly, India was last forced into a follow-on by the opposition 13 years ago in 2011. During a disastrous England tour that ended in a 4-0 whitewash defeat, India were asked to follow-on in an eventual innings defeat at the Oval.
India’s overall Test record after being asked to follow-on
Overall, India have been asked to follow-on in 33 Test matches. The first instance occurred against England in 1934 in a drawn game at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Kolkata would also mark the first instance for India to follow-on in the 21st century, against Ausralia in March 2001. An epic comeback would mean the hosts would go onto flip the scales and register a 171-run victory, making it only the third such result in history.
India have onky managed to salvage a draw on eight occasions while following-on and have lost 24 Tests under such circumstances. In the 21st century, India have followed-on in seven matches, winning one, drawing two and losing four Tests.
Why should you buy our Subscription?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be misled and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package
