Declaration decision shows Aussies still spooked by ghosts of Gabba loss four years ago

Have Australia been spooked by India’s remarkable series-winning victory in the last Test of the previous tour four years ago?

Once captain Pat Cummins had righted a sinking ship on day four of the Boxing Day Test should he have declared to press for a victory Australia needs to take a lead in the series?

Cummins arrived at 6-91 and was his team’s equal second highest scorer with 41 behind Marnus Labuschagne’s 70 as the tail wagged. Australia ended Sunday at 9-228, an overall lead of 333. In the MCG’s almost 147-year history no team has scored that many to win a Test batting last.

An extra eight overs have been added to the final day on Monday, making it 98 overs in total following rain earlier in the match, which may have swayed Cummins’ thinking.

But only one team has scored more than 300 in the fourth innings at the MCG to claim victory, England almost a century ago.

Should Cummins have pulled up stumps instead of letting Nathan Lyon (41 not out) and Scott Boland (10 not out) continue until the end?

A terrific uppercut to the boundary by Boland midway through the 73rd over gave Australia that 300 lead and after the change of innings would have left the Australians with seven overs to if Cummins had declared.

However history was irrelevant when India played a fourth and, during that series, final Test four years ago, at the Gabba. The best fourth innings chase there had been 7-236 by Australia against the West Indies during 1951-52.

A patched-up India chased down victory with 7-329, costing Australia the series and a place in the inaugural World Test Championship final, which New Zealand ended up winning over India.

Even so, Australia must win this series to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy they have not held for a decade and firm up their chances of defending the World Test Championship title next year. The previous four series have been won by India, including two in Australia.

If India bat out a draw on Monday then Australia must win the last Test in Sydney, which has been regularly marred by rain. While Australia beat Pakistan by eight wickets at the SCG last season, six of the last 10 Tests there have been draws.

And Australia have failed to win their previous three Tests against India at the MCG, with two loses and a draw.

Regardless of any potential declaration, Australia would be facing a losing position had Cummins not rescued them again.

Pat Cummins. (Photo by Morgan Hancock – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Is he the difference between Australia being a team of substance or a bunch of big names who flatter to deceive?

It could be argued that one of the world’s best fast bowlers has once again been one of Australia’s most important batters as he dragged his country back into the match. It followed his 49 in a partnership of 112 with centurion Steve Smith during the first innings.

Australia would have lost last year’s Ashes series but for Cummins winning the first Test by scoring 44 in an unbroken partnership of 55 with Lyon. The series was drawn after Australia’s batters threw away the chance at Headingley to go 3-0 up.

Already a rung below the great teams of Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting that won 16 Tests in a row, this series will have a significant impact on the legacy of this ageing side. With Sam Konstas debuting at 19, there are no players in their 20s in the team.

These Australians gave up the chance of greatness when they failed to win last year’s Ashes series in England thanks to some below-par batting.

And if they fail to win this series it will be the first time in 13 years and 23 series that Australia have failed to win successive series at home after losing to the West Indies in Brisbane in the final Test of last season, leaving the contest at one-all.

Figures tell us that the Cummins captaincy era is one of the most successful in Australian cricket history. Already 32 Tests into his leadership role he has a winning percent of 58.06, behind only Steve Waugh (71.93), Don Bradman (62.5), Ricky Ponting (62.34) and Lindsay Hassett (58.33) among Australians.

This is from 18 wins, seven draws and six losses from his 31 completed Tests.

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates dismissing Sam Konstas. (Photo by Daniel Pockett – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Yet for a team which has some of Australia’s all-time greats they have failed to nail the biggest moments.

Of Cummins’ 12 series in charge Australia have lost just one, to India in India, Test cricket’s hardest tour, and he came home for the second half because his mother was seriously ill. The hard-fought 1-0 victory in Pakistan was certainly something to be proud of.

But Australia have drawn two of their last four series when they should have beaten England at Headingley and the lowly West Indies in Brisbane.

There is much riding on Monday.