Cyclone Dhawan destroys Australia

Source: The Daily Telegraph

STOP the tour. Now. Before England laughs even harder.

Australia's grip on the Border-Gavaskar trophy is effectively gone after Indian debutant Shikhar Dhawan yesterday went berserk to make history and leave the tourists on the canvas in the third Test.

FULL SCOREBOARD AND BALL-BY-BALL COVERAGE

On a remarkable day of action, Cyclone Dhawan hit world cricket with full force after clubbing the fastest century by a debutant in Test cricket's 136-year history.

The 27-year-old with an Australian wife resembled an Indian tsunami as he blew the tourists away, cracking 21 fours to post his maiden Test ton from just 85 balls.

It eclipsed West Indies Dwayne Smith's 93-ball ton on debut in 2004 - and has effectively wiped Australia's hopes of retaining the silverware in this four-Test series.

At stumps on day three, India were 0-283 in reply to Australia's first-innings 408.

At this rate, they will make 700.

It seems all hope has evaporated. And the answers are few as Dhawan (185 off 165 balls) and Murali Vijay (83) batted like Indian clones of Bradman to make Australia's hapless attack look like members of the Bankstown under-11s.

Dhawan's knock was salt to the wound for Australian duo Mitchell Starc (99) and Steve Smith (92), who fell agonisingly short of maiden Test tons yesterday.

"We didn't bowl our best but Shikhar obviously batted very well," Starc said.

"We were as patient enough as we should have been, we gave him too much to hit."

Starc lamented his heartbreaking dismissal, the paceman edging quick Ishant Sharma to MS Dhoni, who also denied Smith (92) with a slick stumping.

"I felt a bit nervous and it probably felt a bit harder to play the spinners and all bowlers when you get to 99," he said.

"I'm disappointed. It's something I can learn from but I'm still happy I got that far."

Dhawan's attack was as savage as it was incredulous.

Replacing the axed Virender Sehwag, Dhawan was ferocious, finishing the day with 33 fours and two sixes as he became the first Indian in history to reach 150 on debut.

"I still remember when I debuted in one-dayers for India I got 0 against Australia," Dhawan said later.

"I was nervous that I would get a 0 again ... but everything went well and I am really happy. It was very satisfying

"I have an Australian wife, she is half-Bengali and half-British and lives in Melbourne.

"I have got two daughters in Melbourne. I would like to thank them because they have been praying for me a lot back home ... it is a great moment for me and my family."

Australia's selectors can't work miracles but it is hard to argue they didn't botch the selection of this touring party.

Exhibit A is Xavier Doherty, who must never play Test cricket again after leaking 57 runs from 10 overs yesterday.

But Doherty wasn't alone, with Peter Siddle (0/35), Starc (0/46), Moises Henriques (0/38), Nathan Lyon (0/69) and Smith (0/24) all going wicketless.

Selection boss John Inverarity should publicly explain how Doherty was selected for this tour when he had two Shield wickets this summer at 80 and a Test average of 102.

But the damage has been done. Australia's 400-plus score seemed competitive ... until Cyclone Dhawan hit.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Cyclone Dhawan destroys Australia

Dengan url

https://duniadiggi.blogspot.com/2013/03/cyclone-dhawan-destroys-australia.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Cyclone Dhawan destroys Australia

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Cyclone Dhawan destroys Australia

sebagai sumbernya