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Follow UsAfter ten long years, Australia have beaten India in a Test series again and, by doing so, have reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 3-1 scoreline feels like a fair reflection of the series, considering that the Aussies, after Perth, completely dictated proceedings and let India play catch-up for the most part.
Even then, this was a series filled with ‘what ifs’. Of course, ‘if what if’ does not exist in sports, but such were the fine margins in this series that you cannot help but wonder what would have happened had certain scenarios panned out.
We’re going to be looking at a few such ‘what ifs’ that could have completely modified the scoreline and the complexion of this series.
What if Mohammed Shami had been fit?
India’s lack of depth in the pace department got exposed in this BGT, with the visitors’ third and fourth seamers - Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Reddy - averaging close to 40 while going at four runs per over. A combination of this and Mohammed Siraj being inconsistent meant that Australia still scored plenty of runs despite Jasprit Bumrah putting in one of the greatest performances of all time.
Makes you wonder what would have happened if Mohammed Shami had been fully fit. Shami’s presence would also have pushed Siraj to be the third seamer, a position for which he is a much better fit.
What if Cameron Green had been fit?
This is a fascinating ‘what if’. What would actually have happened had Cameron Green been fit? Would he have batted at No.4 with Steve Smith continuing to open? Or would he have batted at No.6 with Mitch Marsh being dropped? Maybe Nathan McSweeney never debuts and its one of the middle-order batters who end up going to the top of the order.
But could you imagine how much more lethal Australia’s bowling would have been if Green was present? Sheeeeesh.
What if Josh Hazlewood never got injured at the Gabba?
Across the MCG and SCG Tests, Scott Boland took 16 wickets at 10.75. He bowled Australia to victory in Sydney and struck consistent, crucial blows in Melbourne. Needless to say, he pretty much owned Virat Kohli throughout the series.
Now, what if Hazlewood had never gotten injured? Do India end up winning the SCG Test? Do they end up walking away with a draw at MCG? Or would we have seen the same result?
What if India had batted ‘slightly better’ on day one in Perth?
Now, this is another fascinating ‘what if’. We know that the Optus Stadium wicket completely flattened out on days two and three, but Australia couldn’t make use of it because they’d been reduced to 67/7 by stumps on day one.
But what if India had batted slightly better on day one and, say, scored 220-odd?
Maybe Australia end up scoring 400-plus because of the conditions and win the first Test. Maybe *that* Bumrah spell never happens and maybe Bumrah does not end up having the ridiculous series he ended up having.
Heck, maybe Nathan McSweeney scores a ton and seals his spot, meaning Sam Konstas never gets a look in at MCG and SCG.
What if Steve Smith had held on to KL Rahul’s catch at the Gabba?
With India reeling at 51/4 at stumps on day three, still trailing Australia by 394, KL Rahul gave catching practice to Steve Smith on the very first ball of day four. But Smith put down the catch, which was an absolute dolly.
As it turned out, Rahul, who was on 33* when he was put down, went on to score 84 and helped India avoid the follow-on. Ultimately, it was the innings which ended up helping the visitors salvage a draw in a rain-marred game.
So, if Smith takes that catch, maybe Australia bowl India out for 120-odd, enforce the follow on and win?
Or, who knows, maybe India ends up drawing the Test anyway, which affects the Australian bowlers because they have extra miles in their legs due to Hazlewood's injury.
What if Yashasvi Jaiswal had caught Marnus Labuschagne at 99/6?
Marnus Labuschagne was on 46 and Australia 99/6 with a lead of 204 when Yashasvi Jaiswal put down a sitter on the fourth day of the MCG Test. Mind you, the momentum was fully with India at this point, having reduced Australia from 80/2 to 91/6 in the blink of an eye.
But from this point onwards, Labuschagne went on to make 70 as Australia stretched their lead to 339. The rest, as we know, is history.
What if Jaiswal had held on to that chance? Maybe India end up rolling Australia over under 150 and end up chasing the target and going 2-1 up. Ouch!
What if Bumrah had been fit to bowl for the second innings at SCG?
This is probably going to haunt India for a while. Bumrah had the ‘spiciest wicket of the series’ right in front of him for a chance to help India retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but all he could do was watch because his body had given up 10 overs into the first innings of the game.
Australia had 162 to get and that was a lottttt even without Bumrah. With Bumrah, that 162 would have looked like 375.
Maybe Australia end up chasing it anyway, but, undeniably, Bumrah being fit would have really made the chase an incredibly difficult one as opposed to the 162/4 Australia managed in the 27 overs, where they picked apart the other Indian seamers.
