Australia’s fourth Test in India heading for draw

Oliver Caffrey | March 13, 2023

The fourth and final Test is meandering towards a draw with Australia taking a 67-run lead in to tea on day five against India on a lifeless pitch in Ahmedabad.

Even without star opener Usman Khawaja, who is unlikely to bat after suffering a leg injury, Australia got to the end of Monday’s second session at 2-158.

Travis Head fell just short of his sixth Test century, falling to a stunning piece of bowling by Indian spinning allrounder Axar Patel for 90.

But Head more than did his job, crushing any hopes India had of running through Australia quickly in a bid to push for an unlikely victory.

The knock was his highest Test score outside of Australia in an impressive comeback after the 29-year-old was left out of the first match of the series based on his poor record in Asia.

Head, a regular No.5, was promoted to open after David Warner’s series-ending injury during the second Test in Delhi.

Acting skipper Steve Smith (0 no) joined No.3 Marnus Labuschange (56 no) at the crease shortly before tea.

The Test is likely to be called off early with teams able to shake hands and stop an hour before the scheduled close of play if there is no realistic possibility of a victory.

India piled on 580 in their first innings thanks to Virat Kohli’s first Test century in more than three years and opener Shubman Gill’s brilliant 128.

Regular No.11 Matt Kuhnemann was the only wicket to fall in the first session after the spinner was sent in as a nightwatchman on Sunday with Head in place of Khawaja.

After making a marathon 180 in the first innings, Khawaja is struggling with an unspecified leg injury after hurting himself in the field.

The 36-year-old was only a chance to bat if Australia found themselves in serious trouble trying to save the match.

He did not bat in the nets before play on Monday and tried to test out the injury with some slow running after a scan on his left leg proved inconclusive. 

India will retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy after winning the first two Tests of the four-match series.

Australia could have secured a rare 2-2 series result with a win in Ahmedabad after their famous nine-wicket triumph in Indore in the third Test.

But Australia and India will meet again in June with the powerhouse teams qualifying for the World Test Championship final at The Oval in London.

Australia’s next Test tour to India is in 2027.