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Daniel Vettori commented on Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah’s late partnership and felt that their efforts have hampered Australia’s plans of enforcing a follow-on to force a result.
Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah’s partnership ensured that India would not have to follow-on in the 3rd Test. (Image: AP)
The former New Zealand skipper and now Australia’s assistant coach, Daniel Vettori feels that India’s late charge led by Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah may have hampered the Aussies’ plans to enforce a follow-on.
The Indian batting unit was not able to stand against the Australian bowling unit barring KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja who scored valiant fifties but it was the tail-enders that ensured that the visitors did not have to follow on after what has been a disappointing effort with the bat once again.
“I think the only way to force the game was to force the follow-on,” Vettori said at the post-day press conference.
“There was a desperation to get that final wicket. We thought we had a good chance when Jadeja was dismissed, but it was a real fighting partnership between Bumrah and Deep. Unfortunately, just the amount of time that’s been lost from the game has made it difficult,” he added.
With India needing 33 more runs to avoid the follow-on, India relied on Akash Deep who made his first Test appearance on Australian soil and chipped in with a handy contribution of 27 runs along with Bumrah’s 10 to take them over the edge.
Australia were also tested after they lost Josh Hazlewood who suffered a calf injury which ruled him out for the rest of the match. But Vettori mentioned that the frequent breaks due to rain helped them manage the bowler’s energy levels.
“Weather allowed us to operate in terms of breaks with Mitch and Patty able to come back on multiple occasions. If it had been a full 90 overs, it would have been a lot tougher to manage. We always have the luxury to bowl Nathan (Lyon). So that alleviated a little bit of the concern,” he commented.
“Because of the breaks, it didn’t feel like we pushed them too hard, and it was a tricky situation at the end there where the ball was incredibly soft and getting wet, but to try and push them just that little bit longer to try and get that last wicket,” he added.
With a result unlikely in this situation, it remains to be seen if either side would fumble under the pressure and give the other team a shot at taking a win.
