For the second time in three days, India's batsmen revealed a shocking lack of application and spirit, handing Australia a commanding 337-run victory and a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series on a platter.

Bowled out for 196 in not unIndian-like conditions on day two of the first Test, a line-up replete with some of the most commanding batsmen of their generation had an outstanding opportunity to court instant redemption. In the event, the Indian second innings was more disappointing than the first, and you wouldn't have thought that possible! Resuming Saturday's penultimate day on six without loss chasing 499 for victory, the Indians were rolled over in less than five hours for 161, allowing Australia to extend their winning streak to 15 Tests and giving everyone an unscheduled day off on Sunday.

Always up against it after being asked to rewrite history, India were miserably caught in two minds. The game plan most certainly entailed each individual playing his natural game -- what else could you do in such a situation? -- but so much have batsmen tinkered around with their approaches that most looked to have even forgotten what their respective natural games are!

Trapped between prolonged periods of non-scoring and an unseemly rush to get on with things, India played themselves to their doom. In their quest for self-destruction, they were gently nudged along by Australia's discipline with the ball on a surface that demanded determination and application, not flamboyant stroke-making. Australia outclassed India in every department, and most tellingly in the execution of plans meticulously worked out in the change room. India had their own plans, for sure, but they were found hopelessly wanting in the execution stakes.

The ability to adapt and adjust to conditions alien to this part of the world was the biggest triumph of the Australian pace bowling triumvirate, led admirably by new leader Brett Lee and superbly backed up by Mitchell Johnson and the tireless Stuart Clark. The Aussies suffocated the Indian batsmen, choking the flow of runs and building the attendant pressure to the degree that means had to be engineered to keep the board ticking over. It was intelligent, common sense bowling, made to look even more threatening by the lack of spunk in the Indian ranks.

No single batsman can put his hand up and profess to having done even half the job required of him. Rahul Dravid was assured and less antsy than in the first innings, steadfastly holding his ground for two and a half hours before being dismissed -- again -- in the last over before lunch. VVS Laxman was fluent and classy during his three-hour stint until being outdone by a combination of misjudgement and the ball gripping the surface and stopping on him. They were the batsmen that occupied the crease the longest amongst the Indians; five and a half hours combined, however, was simply not good enough, and most definitely not with 499 to get and 180 overs to negotiate.

India suffered an early jolt inside the day's first half-hour, Wasim Jaffer disinterestedly wafting Lee to Adam Gilchrist -- who went on to supplant Ian Healy as Australia's most successful wicket-keeper. The right-hander was the first of four from the top seven out to poor stroke-selection. Only Dravid, misreading the length and playing back to Andrew Symonds' off-spin that ducked back and hit back pad, and the feisty Sourav Ganguly who was done in by a Brad Hogg toppie, can point to being victims of middling to good deliveries. Hogg also accounted for a nervy Yuvraj Singh with the perfect flipper. The rest, including an attack-minded Sachin Tendulkar, fell attempting the outrageous as Australia were left wondering if Christmas had really passed them by!
There were promising signs from Laxman and Ganguly, but it was no more than a flicker when a multitude of rays had to conjoin. Australia sensed hesitancy in the Indian ranks right from the start, when the score board again shuddered to a halt, and moved remorselessly in for the kill. Lee and Clark were exceptional, while Hogg's growing confidence was all too obvious. Johnson hastened the end as India lost their last four wickets for four runs, sliding to their third heaviest defeat ever. And to think that day one belonged to the visitors!