The Indian team are in complete control after the end of Day 1 play in the opening test against Australia in Perth. In response to India’s 150-run total, the hosts are struggling at 67/7. However, the start of the day did not take off in favor of the Indian team.
Mitchell Starc opened the floodgates for Australia, as he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck in the third over. Then, Josh Hazlewood got rid of debutant Devdutt Padikkal for a 23-ball duck. During his entire stay, Virat Kohli (5) didn’t look comfortable, as Hazlewood set him up beautifully with a shorter ball and found extra bounce to induce his outside edge.
KL Rahul, who was looking fine and handling the pressure well for the visitors. However, his innings was ended in a controversial manner by Mitchell Starc, as there was no conclusive evidence of Rahul (26) nicking off to keeper Carey. At lunch, India were at 51/4.
In the second session, India were rocked by early wickets of Dhruv Jurel (11) and Washington Sundar (4). However, the pair of Rishabh Pant and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy brought India back in the game with their positive intent. The scoop and reverse scoop shots were all in display as the duo built a solid 48-run stand before Pant was dismissed for 37 by Pat Cummins.
In the end, India were dismissed for 150, with Reddy emerging as the finest batter with a knock of 41 off 59 balls, with six fours and a six. His wicket also brought an end to the riveting second session of play, with India getting back their confidence.
Jasprit Bumrah breathes fire to stun Australia
Defending their low total, the visitors needed early breakthroughs to get things started for them. Although, Nathan McSweeney (13) started out with a couple of boundaries, Jasprit Bumrah’s full-length ball seamed in with the angle, which trapped him LBW.
Although, Bumrah had the chance to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne in the same over, Virat Kohli dropped a dolly at the slip cordon. However, the Indian captain soon used the angle perfectly to force Usman Khawaja to edge the ball, which was caught by Kohli. In only the next ball, legendary Steve Smith couldn’t judge the line of the ace pacer’s ball, which came in with a sharp angle and ruffled the batter’s pads.
Thereafter, debutant Harshit Rana was exposed to the in-form Travis Head, who struck him a couple of boundaries off his half-trackers. However, Rana crashed Head’s stumps, as he bowled a peach of a delivery to send him packing for 11.
Mohammed Siraj also opened his account by dismissing Mitchell Marsh (6), as KL Rahul plucked a stunning catch at slips. The right-arm pacer ended Labuschagne’s resistance. as the right-hander scored 2 off 52 balls.
In the end, Bumrah made his counterpart, Pat Cummins (6) get caught to Rishabh Pant, as Australia eventually ended the day on 67/7. Alex Carey (19*) and Mitchell Starc (6*) are at the crease for the hosts. Meanwhile, Bumrah has so far claimed figures of 4/17.
