India vs Australia third Test: It was a fighting partnership from Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, says Daniel Vettori

Australia's assistant coach Daniel Vettori discusses enforcing the follow-on, India's rearguard action, and injury crisis at Gabba.

Australia’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori asserted that enforcing the follow-on was always on the agenda. While talking to the media at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday (December 17, 2024), Vettori said: “The only way to force this game (third Test) was to enforce a follow-on. There was a desperation to get that final wicket and we thought we had a really good chance when (Ravindra) Jadeja was dismissed, but it was a real fighting partnership from (Jasprit) Bumrah and Akash (Deep).”

Asked if India’s rearguard action surprised the Aussies, Vettori was quick to deny: “Any batter on any given day can step up and deliver. If you look at their averages, you might think there’s not much there. But Bumrah has proven that he can put on partnerships, can attack and can defend. I think Akash is better than the number 11.”

Dealing with an injury-crisis related to Josh Hazlewood, Vettori explained: “He is pretty despondent. Obviously he fell this morning in warm-ups. It’s just unfortunate for him to come back after another injury from the first Test and then to pick up a calf injury here. I think the weather allowed us to operate in terms of the breaks, it allowed Mitch (Starc) and Pat (Cummins) to be able to come back on multiple occasions, whereas if we had played out the full 90 overs, it would have been tougher.”

Vettori added that first innings runs were crucial while the weather can still affect strategies: “The first innings runs were going to be vitally important and you don’t really want to plan for the weather. The conversation was mainly around making the most of the first and then trusting a very good bowling unit to deliver on this pitch. Unfortunately, the amount of time lost in this game has made it difficult.”