Is it really the Australian summer or what? But the heat is on between India and Australia. Every game in the series has gone right down to the wire and this one hasn't disappointed anyone. Right from the word go, the players from both the sides have pulled up their socks and lived up to the expectations.
Here are the five things that we learnt from the third match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19:
Sledging is no longer a one-way affair: If you have missed a decade of Indian cricket due to several reasons, you have missed something, boy. Right from the famous “Monkeygate” to this. You will be surprised to see how this team actually fares. They had an apt reply to whatever the Aussies threw at them. They are no short of emotions and they do show it on the pitch.
Pujara is the “new wall”: A lot has been written about this right from the beginning of his cricketing career. Although the shoes have been too big to be filled. His strides have been noticeable and worth some admiration. Performing outside the subcontinent has always been a major concern regarding his stature in the game. But looks like he has left it well behind him. And “the leading run scorer” of the series speaks tons in itself.
Pat Cummins is an all-rounder: Gone are the days when the bowlers just brush away the tail. Modern day cricket demands for tailenders who are defensively sound and who could just add those extra 60-70 runs in the end. And Pat Cummins is a perfect example of that kind and more. He has exhibited all the qualities of a proper batsman. To match this up, his bowling spell in the second innings has been inspirational as well. He will certainly be a force to reckon with in the upcoming matches.
Australia just couldn't replace Warner and Smith: How would a team without its captain and vice-captain look? You don't have to go too far to find an answer. The current Australian squad is an example of that. They do miss the duo and they miss them badly. The top order batsmen have failed time and time again in this series itself. And this game was not an exception to that either.
No shortage of support for the visitors: If you look at the crowd, it's hard to believe that the game is not being played in Mumbai or Kolkata. The MCG had a blue cover all over it. They were appreciating their stars on a regular basis and were right behind the team throughout the game.
