Australia v India | First Test | Day One
In an extraordinary display of fast bowling, highlighted by Perth’s characteristic pace and bounce, India orchestrated a stunning turnaround after a shaky start in their first innings, leaving Australia precariously positioned as they battled through the initial clash of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
During a tumultuous final session, Australia’s batting crumbled spectacularly under relentless pressure, leading to an alarming 7-67 at stumps, which put them a daunting 83 runs behind India.
Despite the dire circumstances for the home team, a glimmer of hope emerged in the form of Alex Carey, the standout batsman of the ongoing season, who will resume play on 19 runs tomorrow. Nonetheless, he seemed hindered by soreness in his left knee during his brief 28-ball stint at the crease.
This fierce commencement of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth Stadium culminated in the most dramatic flurry of wickets witnessed in a day’s Test cricket in Australia since the explosive conclusion of a two-day Test against South Africa in 2022, where 19 wickets fell.
4-17: Every ball of Jasprit Bumrah’s devastating day one showing
In a swift dismantling, India was bowled out for a mere 150 runs in fewer than 50 overs, with their captain Jasprit Bumrah leading a ferocious pace attack reminiscent of their victorious tours of Australia in recent years.
The home side stumbled pathetically, losing their first five wickets for just 38 runs in a frantic hour of batting, marking their worst start to a Test innings on home soil since a dismal defeat against South Africa at Hobart in 2016, which preceded significant team changes.
Bumrah, in conjunction with fellow fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, was nearly unplayable with the new ball, while Harshit Rana, making his Test debut alongside teammate Nitish Kumar Reddy and Nathan McSweeney of Australia, added to the chaos on the pitch.
After McSweeney fell lbw to Bumrah in just the third over, Australia quickly succumbed as Usman Khawaja (8), Steve Smith (with a sobering first-ball duck), Travis Head (11), and Mitchell Marsh (6) fell in rapid succession, illuminating the home team’s batting frailty.
Virat catches, then drops, Labuschagne on zero
The calamity for Australia could have escalated further if Virat Kohli had managed to secure what appeared to be a straightforward catch at second slip from Bumrah’s second delivery, directed towards Marnus Labuschagne, who was still searching for his first run.
Labuschagne’s trials embodied the larger issues at hand as he struggled through 24 balls over the course of 48 minutes before finally scoring, enduring a hapless display that included a dropped catch at slip, a near-gloved chance, and a painful blow to his midriff.
Ultimately, when Labuschagne was dismissed for just two runs after a laborious 95 minutes at the crease, his team had descended to 6-47, staring down the barrel of their lowest completed innings since they were bowled out for a mere 91 by India at Nagpur last year.
It wasn’t merely the stark difference in scores that revealed the divide between two teams composed predominantly of bowlers.
In a notable contrast, while debutant McSweeney was the sole player in Australia’s starting XI under 30, India fielded a youthful lineup with six players aged 25 and under, having opted to leave seasoned spin-bowling all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja out of their squad.
Clearly, this match indicated a potential shift from previously predominant batting displays, where first-innings totals hovered slightly above 450, as it became apparent early on that this contest would be bowler-dominated.
The evidence lay in the conditions: the lively grass on the pitch, which had suffered due to unseasonably cool and damp weather, contributed to the bowlers exploiting a batting lineup that struggled to adapt.
A standout statistic from the opening session highlighted India’s top-order batsmen, who took almost an hour of play to achieve their first boundary on an otherwise quick and bouncy pitch, hindered by a slower-than-usual outfield, all while quickly losing two wickets.
After reaching 3-32 following the series’ first drinks break, the situation worsened to 4-47 when Rahul was controversially adjudicated caught behind upon review, despite a convincing belief that his bat had brushed his pad instead of the ball.
Finally, a resilient partnership was established between Rishabh Pant and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, who combined for a 48-run stand from 85 balls, injecting some much-needed stability into India’s innings.
This alliance blended steadfast defense with audacious strokes, notably Pant’s remarkable scoop over fine leg for six and Reddy’s innovative reverse sweeps that countered Nathan Lyon’s spin expertly.
‘Jaw-dropping’ Pant hits half-volley for six over fine leg
However, when Pant edged a catch to second slip for 37, the tailenders of India mirrored the collapse of their top order, as the last four wickets fell for merely 29 runs.
India’s lackluster first innings might have been even more dismal had it not been for Australian fielding lapses, which saw a couple of catches dropped, coupled with ineffective use of DRS that failed to match the precision of their bowling efforts.
Conversely, India’s wicketkeeper displayed remarkable skill in claiming nine of the team’s ten wickets, with the highlight being Labuschagne’s instinctive reflex catch to dismiss Rana, following a low dive to the left by McSweeney.
The day was rife with thrilling action, featuring intense exchanges between India’s Kohli and Siraj during a fiery final session, all commencing under more subdued circumstances, marked by the presentation of three new Test caps.
McSweeney receives Baggy Green No.467 from Lehmann
Mitchell Starc’s opening delivery set an inauspicious tone, lacking the finesse of Steve Harmison’s errant start in 2006 but falling short of his spectacular delivery that removed Rory Burns in 2021, as it fizzed harmlessly past leg stump for four byes.
A no-ball later in the over meant that India had progressed to a score of zero by the time Starc began his second over, which yielded the first wicket following an ambitious drive by the left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, ultimately providing McSweeney with a highlight in his early Test career.
Starc found his rhythm and repeatedly challenged Devdutt Padikkal but it was Hazlewood’s replacement who took the honor of dismissing the left-hander, as Padikkal struggled significantly in his second Test appearance, ultimately falling for a duck after 23 deliveries.
With the score at 2-14 and batting stalwart Kohli at the crease inside the first hour, India’s struggles were encapsulated when they finally managed their first boundary in the 12th over—a strike that seemed more an act of fortune than a planned execution.
Kohli attempted to counter the Australian bowlers by stepping well outside his crease to negate their movement; however, even he was rendered ineffective against Hazlewood’s relentless accuracy and bounce.
After a flurry of singles and a surprising push for three runs off Cummins, Kohli’s day ended prematurely; he failed to handle Hazlewood’s challenging bounce and offered a catch to Khawaja at first slip from a high bat position.
The introduction of the local hero, Mitchell Marsh, proved insightful immediately following lunch, as India’s reserve keeper Dhruv Jurel fell victim to an angled bat, resulting in another catch behind the wicket.
This deluge of wickets climbed to six shortly after, with Washington Sundar, a previous hero in India’s series-clinching victory at Brisbane, failing to hold onto his wicket as he provided a straightforward catch for Carey.
Although Australia held a grip over the match at 6-73, the visitors summoned surprising resistance, not solely stemming from skill but also from lapses in decision-making on Cummins’ part regarding reviews.
Cummins misused his team’s second review on a suspected catch from Pant, which was determined via review to have merely brushed the batter’s shirt, while he opted against seeking off-field adjudication when Reddy appeared to glove a delivery from Starc down the leg side to Carey.
Pant, opting for a flamboyant counter-attack, combined extravagance with moments of brilliance, yet his aggressive tactics were ultimately short-lived as he and Reddy fell prey during the high-octane final session of play.
NRMA Insurance Men’s Test Series v India
First Test: November 22-26: Perth Stadium, 1.20pm AEDT
Second Test: December 6-10: Adelaide Oval, 3pm AEDT (D/N)
Third Test: December 14-18: The Gabba, Brisbane, 11.20am AEDT
Fourth Test: December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne, 10.30am AEDT
Fifth Test: January 3-7: SCG, Sydney, 10.30am AEDT
Australia squad: (first Test only) Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar. Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
What are the key lessons for Australia following their poor start in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and how can they improve in their second innings?
**Interview with Cricket Analyst, Rahul Verma**
**Host:** Welcome, Rahul! We just witnessed a thrilling first day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India appeared to have the upper hand, but how significant was their performance and what can we take away from today’s play?
**Rahul Verma:** Thank you for having me! Indeed, today was quite extraordinary. India’s fast bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, demonstrated exceptional skill on a pitch that aided them well. Bumrah’s figures of 4-17 highlight his dominance and remind us why he is one of the best in the world.
**Host:** Australia fell apart during their innings, especially losing their first five wickets for only 38 runs. What went wrong for the home side?
**Rahul Verma:** A combination of factors played into that collapse. Your batting technique needs to adapt to such lively conditions, and it seemed that the Australian batsmen were quite tentative against the Indian seamers. The psychological pressure, especially with the series at stake, showed as players like Steve Smith and Travis Head fell early. This was their worst start at home since 2016, which speaks volumes about the situation.
**Host:** There were moments, like Virat Kohli’s dropped catch and Alex Carey battling injury, that could have changed the game’s flow. How do you see these incidents impacting the match?
**Rahul Verma:** Those moments are critical in Test matches. Kohli’s drop would have certainly added to Australia’s woes and put them under more pressure. Similarly, Carey’s knee soreness means he’s not at his best, which is crucial for a team that’s already struggling. If he can’t play to his full potential, it will burden the rest of the batting line-up.
**Host:** India’s innings wasn’t without its hiccups either, with only 150 runs on the board. What do you think about their first innings?
**Rahul Verma:** India indeed struggled, and it was notable that their top-order couldn’t capitalize on the condition as effectively as they perhaps should have. A few dropped catches from Australia were a blessing, but the lower order has to step up more. Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy showed promise but were let down by the tail-enders collapsing.
**Host:** Moving into day two, what should both teams focus on to regain momentum?
**Rahul Verma:** For Australia, they need to consolidate around Carey and focus on forming partnerships. They must endure the early tough spells and build a stable innings. For India, the key will be to stay disciplined with their bowling and maintain pressure. If they can extend the lead further, they might put Australia under pressure to the point where a significant collapse becomes unavoidable.
**Host:** Thanks for your insights, Rahul! This Test match promises to be an exciting one, and we look forward to seeing how it unfolds on day two.
**Rahul Verma:** Thank you for having me! It’s going to be a thrilling contest—let’s see how both teams respond under pressure!