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https://scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2081536/bad-tempered-india-australia-test-series-set-showdown-dharamsala
Sport/ Other Sport

Bad-tempered India-Australia test series set for showdown in Dharamsala

Two sides begin the finale of a bitterly fought series on Saturday, with home skipper Virat Kohli keen to silence attacks

Australia captain Steve Smith is looking forward to the deciding fourth test. Photo: AP

India and Australia begin the finale of a bitterly fought test series on Saturday, with home skipper Virat Kohli keen to silence attacks that even Australia’s ex-skipper Michael Clarke has warned are “getting out of control”.

Kohli, who has been compared in the Australian press to US president Donald Trump, has had a series to forget so far after scoring only 46 in the first three tests and injuring his shoulder in the process.

The 28-year-old, who scored a record-breaking four double centuries in the four previous series, has come under scrutiny both over his form and his conduct under pressure after his controversial outburst against his opposite number Steve Smith at the end of the second test in Bangalore.
India captain Kohli has had a series to forget and has struggled for form. Photo: AFP
India captain Kohli has had a series to forget and has struggled for form. Photo: AFP

Smith, who was accused by Kohli of abusing the Decision Review System (DRS), had the last laugh by scoring a massive 178 in the third test which ended in a draw on Monday, leaving the series on a knife-edge at 1-1.

Despite clear-the-air talks before the Ranchi test, more bad blood flowed during the match with India taking offence when Australia’s Glenn Maxwell made fun of Kohli’s injury by clutching his shoulder in mock agony.

Even the chief executive of the Australian cricket board, James Sutherland, has been stirring the pot by telling a radio interviewer that he didn’t think Kohli “knows how to spell the word” sorry.

A defence of Kohli has come from an unlikely quarter, with Smith’s predecessor Clarke slamming the sniping and saying: “This is getting out of control.”
Kohli holds his injured during the third test. Photo: AFP
Kohli holds his injured during the third test. Photo: AFP

“I don’t think Virat Kohli has done anything that Steve Smith wouldn’t do or that I wouldn’t have done as (Australian) captain,” Clarke told the India Today television network.

“I see the Australian in Virat Kohli. That toughness that he displays on the field, that was the way I was brought up by all the champions in the team that I came into.”

Clarke also warned that a match-winning innings from Kohli could be just round the corner.

“He may come up with a big century and win India the series in Dharamsala,” he said.

India’s outstanding batsman of the series has been Cheteshwar Pujara, who spent more than 11 hours at the crease in the last test as he ground out a double century.
Kohli shakes hands with Australia’s Matthew Wade at the end of the third test. Photo: AP
Kohli shakes hands with Australia’s Matthew Wade at the end of the third test. Photo: AP

While full of praise for Pujara, Kohli made clear after Ranchi that he would not temper his swashbuckling style in a bid to get back in the runs.

“Everyone has different style of batting. I would not change mine,” he said.

After his team held out for a draw in Ranchi, Smith said the momentum was now with Australia going into the final game, with the tourists only needing to avoid defeat to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

However, defeat could see Australia overtaken by South Africa as the number two test side behind top-ranked India, with the Proteas currently playing a series against New Zealand.
India’s players appeal unsuccessfully for the dismissal of Australia’s Peter Handscomb during the third test. Photo: AP
India’s players appeal unsuccessfully for the dismissal of Australia’s Peter Handscomb during the third test. Photo: AP

“One-all in the series – massive game in Dharamsala, really exciting and can’t wait,” said Smith after the Ranchi test.

Peter Handscomb, one of Australia’s heroes in Ranchi, said the tourists were confident of finishing the series in style in Dharamsala, a Himalayan hill station which is one of cricket’s most picturesque venues.

“Already we can walk away from this series with our heads held high, and if we keep performing the way we are in this final test we can definitely come away with a win,” he said in Dharamsala.

Whatever the result, India will retain their number one ranking at the end of a season which has seen them host a record 13 test matches against four different visiting teams.
Handscomb plays a shot in the third test. Photo: Reuters
Handscomb plays a shot in the third test. Photo: Reuters

Kohli has hinted that fit-again fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who recently claimed four wickets in a domestic one-day final, could be brought into the starting lineup in Dharamsala.

Australia are expected to be unchanged for the match.

Squads

India: Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund.

Australia: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O’Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Pat Cummins, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade.