Michael Vaughan feels Australia are still ahead in the Perth Test

India’s captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane batted with a lot of grit and determination to keep Australia at bay on the second day of the Perth Test. India ended the day on 172/3 and still trail by 154 runs in the first innings. Both the batsmen are set and raring to notch up their respective centuries. One would say that the visitors are ahead in the game but Michael Vaughan doesn’t think so. He is of the opinion that the home side is in the ascendancy still albeit only just.

It was an exceptional day of Test cricket at the Optus Stadium. Australia first resumed play on 277/6 and Tim Paine and Pat Cummins didn’t give away their wickets easily in the first hour. There was an air of frustration among the Indian camp and fans but Umesh Yadav bowled a peach to send back the latter and, for a change, the Indian bowlers ran through the last three batters.

From 310/6, Australia were bundled out for 326 and then it was upto the visitors to bat well on a deteriorating pitch. They didn’t start well and lost their openers with only eight runs on the board. This is where many thought that the home side will roll over the under-fire batting line-up.

Kohli, Pujara and Rahane fight it out

But that wasn’t the case. Virat Kohli strode out and scored a flurry of boundaries while Cheteshwar Pujara played with patience. Both tired out the Aussie bowlers while Ajinkya Rahane took the attack to the opposition as they were bowling short balls at him. The fourth wicket partnership grew in confidence with time and the last hour, after some attritional and disciplined cricket, belonged to India with the runs coming at a fair clip.

Though they ended the day on a high, some brilliant bowling and fielding from Australia has ensured that India are not dominating. They will need the unbeaten batsmen to play equally well tomorrow which is why Michael Vaughan feels that Australia are ahead in the game. India will also bat last on this pitch and need a significant lead to nullify the threat of the same.

Having said that, the former England cricketer was delighted to watch proper Test cricket being played down under and it will be interesting to see how things pan out on the third day.

Here’s what Vaughan tweeted:

Magnificent day of Test Cricket … bloody loved it … Still rather be in the Aussie camp … Just … #AUSvIND #Perth

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 15, 2018

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