Aus vs India

2023 - 2 - 9

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Image courtesy of "Fox Sports"

'I was damaged goods': The torment behind Australia's most iconic ... (Fox Sports)

In the first part of a three-part series on foxsports.com.au, Australia legends Adam Gilchrist and Jason Gillespie reflect on the first Test of the 2004 ...

“Rather than getting caught up in my own uncertainty or doubt on how I was going to play.” Gillespie and co. [Green the latest Aussie loss as India delivers four-spinner ‘prepare turners’ warning](https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/cricket-news-2023-nagpur-pitch-australia-could-confront-three-or-four-spinners-in-first-test-in-india-latest-inspection/news-story/f3ab8d68c4e660ffbdcdd56eb320b556) [3-1 AUSTRALIA? “Everyone had a lot of trust and faith and belief in each other, and belief in what our strategy and plans were, and just going out there and getting the job done.” “I dived into it actually and it turned out to be a really valuable - not distraction – but a valuable opportunity for me to just focus on the bigger picture,” he said. While the plan with the ball was to be disciplined and patient, the Australians would need to be more proactive with the bat, otherwise they would be a sitting duck for Harbhajan or Anil Kumble. “What we felt was a good option was to maybe attack the stumps more,” Gillespie said, “which in turn bowls to the India batters’ strengths. The Australians were armed with a new bowling game plan, but first had to set the tone with the bat having won the toss for the first Test in Bengaluru. “I speak from a bowling point of view, we learnt that you couldn’t bowl like you bowl in Australia on the subcontinent, which we tried to do in ’01.” Sure enough, Gilchrist was elevated to the top role and tasked with the massive assignment of plotting an Australian Test series win in India. In the first part of a three-part series on foxsports.com.au, Australia legends Adam Gilchrist and Jason Gillespie reflect on the first Test of the 2004 Border-Gavaskar Series. Earlier – and in many ways, this remains the case – the holy grail was winning a big away Test series, with India being the toughest place to tour.

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Image courtesy of "ESPNcricinfo.com"

India, Australia, and the start of a larger-than-life cricket yarn (ESPNcricinfo.com)

The high-profile series plays out against the broader narrative of a World Test Championship final.

[is Australia](https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;home_or_away=2;host=6;result=1;spanmax1=08+Feb+2023;spanmin1=08+Feb+2013;spanval1=span;template=results;type=team;view=results). [in Pune](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/ind-v-aus-2016-17-1030197/india-vs-australia-1st-test-1062573/full-scorecard)six years ago - is minimal. [Virat Kohli](https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/virat-kohli-253802)put out a story with the words "Sitara" meaning star, and "the future is here". [happens on June 7](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/wtc-final-at-the-oval-from-june-7-to-11-1357809). But Australia are here and they usually have a way of [getting his blood pumping](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/virat-kohli-accuses-australia-of-crossing-the-line-on-drs-1085719). [chewed up and spit out](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/david-warner-gives-up-appeal-against-captaincy-ban-says-review-panel-wants-public-lynching-1348427), he is trying to be better. When Cheteshwar Pujara [plays through pain](https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-videos/cheteshwar-pujara-on-his-gritty-half-century-in-brisbane-in-2021-1357352), he is trying to be better. But that loss is mitigated somewhat by a feeling that these four matches could pretty much put the blue tick (wait, it's gold now, isn't it?) against [their next superstar batter](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/sidharth-monga-breaks-down-shubman-gills-batting-technique-1357372)and [the return](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ind-vs-aus-ravindra-jadeja-eager-to-play-after-recovery-from-knee-injury-1357472)of one of their biggest match-winners. And considering their [win-loss record at home](https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-videos/india-s-unparalleled-home-dominance-1357195)over the last 10 years is 42 and 2, they'll be fancying their chances. Much more recently, he has [shrugged off the notion](https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/virat-kohli-reveals-his-mindset-and-mantra-while-going-out-to-bat-for-india-1353215)that what he does on a cricket field is what defines him. When Steven Smith yells "no run" after straight up leaving the ball, he is trying to be better. There are no absolutes except for the absolutes, one of which is time and how everything fades in front of it.

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