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India batted with negative mindset
The best India can hope for from this Test is a draw. To me, there doesn't seem to be any possibility of a miraculous victory, writes Allan Border.
The best India can hope for from this Test is a battling draw. To me, there doesn't seem to be any possibility of a miraculous win by the home side. Australia are in a strong position, and the chances of their becoming the first team since Bill Lawry's side of 1969-70 to beat India in India, are bright to say the least.
The Indians batted rather strangely in the first innings. It was almost as if they had gone into the Test with some pre-conceived 'negativity' regarding the wicket. Remember all the talk of a green-top on the eve of the game? Well, the truth is that while the strip has something in it for the new-ball bowlers, it is a great track for batting once the shine wears off.
The ball softens up around the 25-over mark, which means that the batsmen can play their strokes freely. But the Indians seemed to have decided even before going in to bat that they were going to have problems batting on this wicket. They looked almost afraid to play shots and dug themselves into a hole.
