Can Australia still win Border-Gavaskar trophy? Here’s what data says

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Shailesh Khanduri
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Travis Head India vs Australia

Travis Head

Perth: With India taking a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series, it is highly likely that Australia has a chance of losing the series, the data suggests.

As India proved its ability to bounce back after a crushing home whitewash against New Zealand, Australia need some soul-searching before the Adelaide test starting December 6. India is set to play the Day/Night game with regular skipper Rohit Sharma.

With four Tests to go, being 1-0 doesn't rule out the chance of a comeback but Australia have won just one Test series after being 1-0 since 1970 (home and away). 

After Australia are 1-0 down, they've lost 24 series and drawn five, and three of the five drawn series were two-match series.

Monday’s loss at the Perth is also Australia’s first test loss on this ground.

Earlier today, Jasprit Bumrah led a feisty bunch of Indian cricketers to their most dominant Test victory on Australian soil, winning by a massive 295 runs in a remarkable turnaround that will find a pride of place among the country's golden moments in international cricket.

The stand-in skipper led by example with a match-haul of 8/72 as India bowled out the hosts, who were in pursuit of a mammoth 534, for 238 in 58.4 overs on the fourth afternoon of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy here.

The victory propelled India back to the top of the World Test Championship standings with 61.11 percentage points.

India's previous biggest winning margin in terms of runs was 222 during a 1978 game in Sydney when Australia played an under-strength side due to mass exodus for the Kerry Packer World Series.

While Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul will be among the heroes with their solid second innings batting performances, it was Bumrah's unbelievable skill-set and self belief during Australia's first innings rout that formed the cornerstone of India's win.

Not many teams have come back after being 150 all-out on the first day but this Indian team has time and again showed that it is built different.

Prior to the Test, Bumrah spoke about embracing challenges and he did walk the talk during all four days.

It was evident from the manner in which he allowed Mohammed Siraj (match haul of five wickets), debutants Harshit Rana (match haul of four wickets) and Nitish Reddy (41 and 37 not out and one wicket) bowl from the Member's End so that they can get extra help due to the ball keeping very low.

Washington Sundar (two wickets and 29 runs), who was preferred after the team management felt that Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja with 850 plus Test wickets between them, would not be as effective on this track, also did his bit in mopping up the tail.

Nervous Aussies

Starting the day at 12 for 3 in pursuit of 534, it was about how much time would it take for Australia to capitulate and they eventually did despite a counter-attacking 89 by Travis Head that only delayed the inevitable.

On the last two tours, India started the series at Adelaide, which is believed to have friendlier batting conditions but this time, Australia decided to make the first move putting India on the bounciest surface in the country.

The move only worked for a session and a half before it backfired completely. The Australians had factored in India's vulnerability but decided to punt on their own batting line-up which has been woefully short of runs.

Steve Smith, one of the modern day greats, and Marnus Labuschagne, who has always been obsessed about batting, have had their forms desert them for the longest time.

Then they inducted a rookie in Nathan McSweeney, who isn't particularly tested and also not an opener. It indicated that just like India, Australia will also face a transition, and it's case could be even worse.

Josh Hazlewood had thrown the towel on third evening itself and one shouldn't be surprised if the Australian team management plays on flatter batting decks in the coming matches in order to nullify Bumrah's threat.

But Bumrah is the sort of bowler can tighten the noose whenever he desires and irrespective of conditions.

On the fourth afternoon, he came back to dislodge Head, who was putting on a fight.

That was possibly the best of his eight wickets in the game. It was pitched on length and the compulsive driver that Head is, he didn't expect it to climb from length and it took the outside edge.

India vs Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy Adelaide Adelaide Oval Perth Test Border-Gavaskar series India vs Australia test Border-Gavaskar Test