Plenty of lessons were learned by India in their four-wicket second Test loss to Australia in Brisbane.
But the most important now appears quite obvious – don’t poke the bear.
India skipper MS Dhoni admitted they would have to reassess their plans to counter Mitchell Johnson this series after the Australian X-factor inspired the hosts’ unbeatable 2-0 lead.
The visitors appeared to have Australia at their mercy at 6-247 in reply to India’s first dig of 408 on Friday.
Then they thought they would sledge Johnson at the crease.
He responded by thrashing 88 off 93 balls in a Gabba record seventh wicket stand of 148 with captain Steve Smith (133) that turned the Test on its ear.
Then he grabbed an inspired 4-61 as India at one stage lost 4-11 to be knocked over for 224 on Saturday, setting a paltry 128 for victory.
Fittingly, Johnson was at the crease when Mitch Marsh stroked the winning runs.
“It’s not a good idea, is it?” Australian opener David Warner said on Saturday of India’s tactic of sledging his teammate.
Even Dhoni appeared to agree, saying his side would go back to the drawing board ahead of the Boxing Day Test after trying to counter Johnson with a bumper barrage along with on-field constructive criticism in Brisbane.
“It didn’t really go our way,” he said.
“We kept changing out plans – it wasn’t fixed to say we will only bowl short.
“We tried each and every plan.”
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were the worst offenders for India, ripping into Johnson as soon as he got to the crease in Australia’s first innings.
The visitors obviously felt Johnson was vulnerable after he went wicketless at the Gabba in India’s first innings – the first time he had failed to notch a scalp in an opponent’s opening dig in a Brisbane Test since 2010.
“It (sledging Johnson) probably isn’t too wise, is it?” Australian captain Steve Smith said.
“It was just amazing the way Mitch came out and took the bowlers on from ball one.
“That was a big turning point in the game.”
Perhaps fittingly Johnson was at the crease when Mitch Marsh hit the winning runs with a boundary late on day four.
