December 10, 2024: Matthew Hayden, the former Australian cricketer, provided his analysis of India’s bowling performance after the day-night (pink-ball) Test between India and Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Speaking on Star Sports, Hayden offered a balanced view of the match, which saw Australia bounce back in a big way, defeating India by 10 wickets at Adelaide Oval.
Australia’s dominant performance, highlighted by a counter-attacking century from Travis Head (140 off 141 balls) and brilliant bowling spells from Mitchell Starc and skipper Pat Cummins, allowed them to level the five-match series at 1-1. The victory also extended Australia’s undefeated streak in pink-ball Tests at Adelaide Oval, with the team now having won all eight of their matches at the venue, reinforcing their dominance in this format. For India, the loss was a significant blow, not only to the series but also to their ICC World Test Championship hopes.
Hayden, reflecting on the bowling performance, noted, “Bowling, I thought, on average was pretty good. When you think of the freakish innings that Travis Head played, 140 off 141 deliveries, that was just something else. Sometimes, batsmen have their way.”
His comment acknowledges that while India’s bowlers put in a solid effort, Head’s remarkable innings was simply too much to overcome. The Australian batter’s aggressive knock set the tone for the match, leaving India’s bowlers with limited opportunities to break the partnership or make inroads. Hayden’s insight is a reminder that in cricket, sometimes individual brilliance can overshadow even the best of bowling attacks.
This defeat marks a setback for India, but they will need to regroup quickly as the series moves on, with Australia gaining momentum. The next few Tests will be crucial for both teams, as India will have to bounce back to maintain their standing in the World Test Championship race.
