DRS is here, India; don’t complain to anyone

Umpire refers upstairs for the DRS (photo: Google Images)

Such is the controversy over cricket’s Decision Review System (DRS), the Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) has completely banned it from any series involving their national side.

Just how much longer remains a big question, however, with the Cricket World Cup literally on our front doorstep. 

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Brisbane: India tries and misses; Australia triumphs amidst last innings wobble

Says it all: Mitchell’s Marsh and Johnson celebrate a win, as India look away (photo: Getty Images)

Thank you, India.

You have come to Australia with a desire to be competitive; yet, in the thick of things, that has proven to be a bit of a shaky statement.

Australia sealed victory in the second test at Brisbane on Saturday by four wickets, mainly thanks to Chris Rogers (55) in the second innings.  It was, however, somewhat overshadowed by the fact the hosts were a fair way behind at the end of day two, which set the match up for a very intense finale.

Cricket: Australia v India: David Warner steals Day One show

David Warner holds his helmet high dedicated to Phil Hughes as he celebrates a century (photo: Getty Images)

A sunny and dry Adelaide greeted Australia and India, on what was a heartfelt but heavy day for cricket.  Tributes to Phil Hughes flowed pre-game, as Australian skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and confidently chose to bat.

His decision was ultimately justified by the powerful David Warner, who decided to put Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron to the boundary three times in his opening over.  His very first delivery was smashed with precision timing to the cover ropes.

Cricket: One of Big Three coming up short

Cheteshwar Pujara heads to the pavilion as India crumble (photo: ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

It is extremely difficult – yet so easy – to understand why India is not setting the world on fire.  England trounced them 3-1 in the test series after losing the second test, making them look third-class.

Let’s have a look at India’s numbers in the past 12 months in regards to international matches (Test, ODI and T20I):

26 ODIS (back to the series against Zimbabwe, July-August 2013)

11 Tests (back to the West Indies series in November 2013)

5 Twenty20 Internationals (including 2014 WT20)

Cricket: India v Australia: Test Series Analysis and Review

Michael Clarke & MS Dhoni pose w/ the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
(from examiner.com)

Australia was thrown a curveball from the moment they stepped on to the sub-continent in February.  In the end that curveball proved to be the side’s ultimate downfall.

Batting and bowling failures alike culminated in a shocking (and at times horrifying) 4-0 series loss to India.

There are plenty of words to describe each test, each player, and each moment, but none more so than disappointing.  Even travelling with a team that had largely not played in Indians conditions before, Australia was rolled, crushed and decimated over the past month in a way no-one expected.