It was fitting,in a way,that Khawaja and Green would combine for such a big stand;their 208-run partnership the highest in Tests between Australia and India since Ajinka Rahane and Virat Kohli put on 262 at the MCG in 2014.
Some of the most affecting scenes of the second season of the Amazon documentary about the Australian team feature Green and Khawaja talking abouthow to play spin in Sri Lanka. Later in the same episode,Green is captured shedding tears in the dressing room after a low score.
“He’s so young,such a young cricketer,people forget that,” Khawaja said of Green. “I’d love to see him go on with it tomorrow. But even if he doesn’t,I just know he’s got a long career for Australia,just got to keep working hard and make sure he doesn’t put too much pressure on himself,and continues to get better.”
The day began withthe news of Maria Cummins’ death after a long and emotional road since the return of her breast cancer. Australia’s players and staff were informed half an hour before play,and Green and Khawaja donned black armbands before walking out.
Otherwise,though,the pair resumed batting as though virtually no time had passed since the final over on the first night. They were watchful in the early overs,while India’s captain Rohit Sharma sought to impose some pressure while keeping the runs down.
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Green raised his 50 in the opening over,then scored mainly through singles and twos before unleashing a flurry of drives when Umesh Yadav pitched full in search of some swing. The precision of Green’s footwork,getting well forward but ensuring his front pad never got in the way,allowed him to pierce the off side field with striking regularity.
In this manner,Green punched his way to 95 at lunch and,about 10 minutes after the resumption,cut Ravindra Jadeja behind point to raise three figures. Thoughtful even at this moment,Green pondered how to celebrate,before giving the team viewing area a joyful downward slam of the bat.
“It was really special,obviously[on 95] over the lunch break,that 40 minutes felt like an hour forty,but I was batting with Ussie the whole time,there was experience at the other end and he was batting beautifully and that helps a lot,” Green said.
It was a surprise to all when Green,shaping to sweep a ball well down the leg side from Ravichandran Ashwin (6-91),touched it into the gloves of K.S. Bharat. Given such a start,Alex Carey’s exit was wasteful,slogging at Ashwin and skying a catch.
For a few overs it looked as though Australia would struggle to reach 500,before Murphy and Lyon frustrated India in much the same the manner as Axar had befuddled them in Nagpur and Delhi. The task of wicket-taking looms ahead.
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