It was clear communication between the two that both R Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari pointed to as the backbone of their record effort that denied Australia Test victory in Sydney and series lead.
Although their alliance was just 62 runs, Ashwin and Vihari battled for 256 deliveries, the fourth longest ever partnership recorded for the sixth wicket in the fourth inning of a test in a win or draw. Both players faced the same number of deliveries, 128, and the vigil earned Ashwin the honor of ranking fifth on the list of most balls faced by a No. 7 India in the fourth inning.
The most notable aspect of the partnership was that Ashwin was battling a back problem while Vihari had to hit with a strap on his right hamstring, which he suffered early in his innings while completing a single. Yet both men swallowed the pain and relentless questioning of the world’s best trial bowling attack to come back injured but undefeated.
It’s no wonder then that Ashwin said the pair were “numb and blank” counting one of the best days witnessed in modern test cricket even though the result was a draw. “It was very, very special,” Ashwin said. bcci.tv after Monday’s game. “In fact, we were both numb and blank for a while; we didn’t even celebrate towards the end because we didn’t know what to do.”
Sitting outside the visitors’ dressing room at the Old World member’s booth at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the afternoon sun shining on their faces, both men were exhausted, but refreshed by the result. So what was the plan? How would they survive?
“Communication was very, very good,” Ashwin said. “I’m not sure if the runs were very important in that association. It was more about the batting time. Whenever we felt comfortable with a bowler in a certain period, we wanted to stay on that side, especially with his tendon injury. from the hamstring and my back.. Also, we really didn’t want to keep cutting, shifting and losing focus or playing a shot or two. We really stood our ground. Because we were so channeled into facing a particular bowler and keep blocking, keep hitting. “
Ashwin had already praised Vihari in his talks with various broadcasters and once again called the performance “outstanding”. Vihari did just 20 runs but mitigated the Australian fast bowling attack calmly and confidently. “Vihari’s effort was outstanding in the way he was able to grind and dig deep.”
Vihari, playing only his 12th Test, was nervous as he was also hitting for position after poor results in the first five innings of the series. In the end he was proud. “It was something you can only dream of, hitting on the fifth day of a Test Match,” Vihari said. “The series is unique and if you can do it for the team, that satisfaction will slowly sink in and you will realize what a great effort it was.
“Ash [Ashwin] (He was) like an older brother, he was communicating. Every time he felt like he was a little lazy, he would tell me ‘let’s focus one ball at a time and throw as deep as possible.’
Overall, India hit for 131 overs in the fourth inning for the tie. It was only the sixth time for a team to hit by more than 130 overs (from six balls) to save a test in Australia and only the second since 1971. The last time it happened was in 2012 when South Africa fought for a draw in the Second. try to keep the three-game series at 0-0.
That match became historic due to the bravery and patience of Faf du Plessis, who hit nearly eight hours and a full fifth day for his 110 non-eliminated, taking 376 deliveries and denying Australia a win despite being asked South Africa to continue.
And it was du Plessis, Ashwin said, who was on his mind when he went to sleep Sunday night, with India 309 drifting off target. “If you talk about premonitions, from last night when I went to bed with back pain, I was saying to myself: if I can keep dead hitting everything like Faf du Plessis did in Adelaide, I can give myself a good chance.”
Ashwin’s confidence never wavered despite the constant pressure of the Australian-paced attack and the constant probing around his stump by Nathan Lyon. He may have been uncomfortable against fast pitchers, and even had to resort to a chest protector after being doubled in two by Pat Cummins, but against Lyon, Ashwin was in complete control, finding the ball in front of his pads. However, as Ashwin explained, the back pain was relentless.
“When I came in to bat, Nathan Lyon was bowling. And for the first 3-4 balls I stretched, my back (pain) was shooting from my lower back to my neck. So I went and told him (Vihari) that He shouldn’t have played that overhand shot because he completely modified it. And then if I gave him a break for a change, my back was getting stiff again. So I told him I’d stay here and keep playing because otherwise. The game He stiffens and I have to put my bib on.
“In the middle of a spell from Pat Cummins we find ourselves in the eye of the storm. We were a bit lucky but we had a pretty good time.”
It is understood that Vihari will miss the final test and probably even the home series against England in February, but he was happy to have played an important role in a memorable test. He felt that if he was fit, India might even have won the Test. “Getting a draw was a fabulous result. If he was fit, if he wasn’t injured, and Puji [Cheteshwar Pujara] If it were there for some time longer, we would have had a different result, perhaps. It would have been a fabulous victory. However, 10 points from this game is a huge score for us. “
Nagraj Gollapudi is news editor of ESPNcricinfo
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