Brisbane is 9450 kilometres from Hyderabad, yet in a cricketing sense they became twin cities on Sunday as hope triumphed over probability.
Australia hadn’t lost to the West Indies at home in 27 years. A 24-year-old, Joseph Shamar, playing only his second Test ran through them with seven wickets. Another 24-year-old, Tom Hartley, playing his first, claimed seven too and pushed India to only their fourth defeat at home in 11 years.
If that wasn’t sufficient, in Melbourne a 22-year old fought from two sets down to claim the Australian Open, although Jannick Sinner’s victory wasn’t as surprising. Still, it made for an Underdog Day afternoon.
