Brief Scorecard at Stumps Day One:
Match Played at Perth, Western Australia from November 22 -26, 2024
India 1st Innings 150 All Out in 49.4 overs (Nitish Kumar Reddy 41, Rishabh Pant 32, KL Rahul 26, Josh Hazelwood 4/29, Mitchell Marsh 2/12, Mitchell Starc 2/14, Pat Cummins 2/67)
Australia 1st Innings 67/7 in 27 overs (Alex Carey 19*, Travis Head 11, Nathan McSweeney 10, Jasprit Bumrah 4/17, Mohammad Siraj 2/17, Harshit Rana 1/33)
Australia Trails by 83 Runs with 3 first Innings Wickets at Hand
Brave India exchanging fire with fire took control of first test of the very important Border Gavaskar test series yesterday at green top pacey wicket of Perth.
Winning the toss and elected to bat less experienced India was bundled out for 150 in less than 50 overs by the world class Aussie pacers. Indian pacers led by their captain Jasprit Bumrah proving equal or better decimated home team to 67/7 at stumps. Given the way the test unfolded, it can be concluded that India holds the advantage. 17 wickets on the first day of a test set a new milestone.
All in the cricket world knows how important it is now for either of the two top ranked teams to make a winning start of the series. India had a disastrous home series against New Zealand getting surprisingly whitewashed. Australia played very poorly against Pakistan only few days back off course in ODI. But teams had special preparation for the very important series. India appeared with a new look team with two of their main stays Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Sami not available for different reasons. Even Shubman Gill was not a match fit. India inconsideration of the state of the wicket rested spinning all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandra Ashwin. Two rookies Nitin Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana were baptized. Australia on the other side appeared with a settled side baptizing only Nathan McSweeney in place of retired David Warner.
Perth wicket looked green and hard. Surprising all Jasprit Bumrah leading the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma opted to expose his batsmen to the fire of world class Australian pacers on a juicy wicket. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Mitchell Marsh soon ran riot. Yashavi Jaiswal and Nitin Kumar Reddy were blown away by Starc and Hazelwood Blitz. Virat got a brute of a delivery of Hazelwood. KL braved for a while but was consumed in a controversial manner. He believed he did not nick the ball while given out caught behind off the bowling of Starc. Rishav Pant (27) tried to rally with the late middle order. But he was also undone by Cummins. Through efforts Debutant Nitish Reddy (41) India could somehow reach 150 before getting bundled out. Josh Hazelwood taking 4/29 was the peak of the Aussie bowlers, Marsh (2/12), Starc (2/14) and Cummins (2/67) also contributed.
Team India did not lose heart. Feel sympathy for the debutant Nathan McSweeney. On his debut, he was exposed to a world class fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah on a pacy, bouncy wicket. He was a bundle of nerve and was consumed early. Bumrah also struck two deadly blows removing Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith in no time. Australia losing 3/19 was in all sorts of crisis. Crisis compounded as Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh were soon removed by Harshit Rana and Mohammad Siraj. Marnas Labuchagne struggling for his 2 runs in 52 balls also fell to Siraj. Bumrah returned to remove Cummins. Australia looked pathetic at 67/7 at stumps still 83 runs in arrears. Given the state of the match advantage is now with India. But there is still a lot to play in the test. This test may still witness a heck of a contest. Record crowd at Perth has already been entertained with world class pace bowling of either side.
BDST: 1152 HRS, NOV 23, 2024
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