Australia vs India, 4th Test Day 1: Five Talking Points

#4 Aussie bowlers ineffective in landing the ball right, absolutely clueless against Pujara

Aussie bowling

The hosts have never really recovered from the sandpaper scandal that eventually became the proverbial iceberg to their Titanic, as big names Steven Smith and David Warner found themselves being barred from the international circuit. Since then, Australia have been accountable for solitary wins here and there, but never a series in its entirety, in what is their driest run ever in the 140-year-old history of the game.

All that being said, the Kangaroos are currently at their rock-bottom, trailing to India 1-2 in a home Test series. Never before have they lost a home Test series to the Asian frontrunners, and they are fighting hard to keep that record safe - only that this time, the fight is not up to much avail. While Smith and Warner's lack has opened a gaping void in Aussie batting, it has also exposed a weak Australian bowling unit which was once all-so glorious, in the presence of bowlers like Johnson and Siddle.

In the match today, Aussie pacers and the spinner Nathan Lyon - all of them produced disappointing spells which were initially highlighted by a barrage of ill-planned bouncers, followed by good-length deliveries as the ball aged, allowing Vihari and even Pujara on occasions, to leave their usual "protect" mode and start attacking.

Nathan Lyon would usually come to the rescue of the speedsters in case of any contingency, but even he could not do much today as Agarwal, Pujara and later Vihari played their roles only too well.

Rahul, Agarwal and Kohli literally threw away their wickets, while Rahane's dismissal also had a stroke of luck in it for the hosts. In summation, their bowlers missed out big time on any possible sense of purpose, like what was witnessed in the second game, for instance. A prolonged display of the same order would only spell trouble for them, and they may as well get ready to surrender the series to India already.