Australia will need to win the final Test match at The Gabba if they are to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy. India beat Australia in the Test series in 2018-19 doing which they regained the trophy. Meanwhile, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has made a huge statement ahead of the final day’s play at their fortress. India still need 324 runs to win while Australia need 10 wickets to win the Tets match.
Meanwhile, speaking to cricket.com.au, Ricky Ponting said that a drawn series would not be an ideal result for the Australian team after losing the previous Test series when both the teams played in Australia the last time around.
“I think a drawn series will be worse than the loss a couple of years ago. That’s the way I look at it, considering how hard India have found it going through 20 players in a series, (Australia) having Warner back for the last couple of games, Smith back for all them that they didn’t have last time around. A draw would not only feel like a loss to them but be a worse result than last series,” Ponting told Cricket.com.au.
India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia back in 2018-19. They beat Tim Paine’s men 2-1 who were without David Warner and Steve Smith.
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India’s resilience has got to give up at some stage: Ricky Ponting
The former Australian skipper said that Team India have got to give up their resilience at some stage and the final day of the Test match might just be that day. He lauded India for being persistent and resilient throughout the Test series so far.
“India’s resilience has got to give up at some stage. They can’t keep doing what they’ve been doing, being so resilient, and tomorrow it might be that day. The last day of the series, potentially playing for another draw, I’ve just got a feeling that something’s got to give. And Australia on the other hand, they know they have to go flat out and give everything to win the series,” he added.
India, after conceding a 33-run first-innings lead, bundled out Australia for 294, with pacers Mohammed Siraj (5/73) and Shardul Thakur (4/61) doing the bulk of the damage.
Also Read: Australia vs India 2020-21: Steve Smith Gets Past The Greats At The Gabba