Picture Credit: Cricket Australia
On Friday, December 6, Australia dominated proceedings on day one of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test match against India, bundling them out for just 180 runs before losing just one wicket in the final session of play. Mitchell Starc was by far the pick of the bowlers for Australia, registering the best bowling figures (6/48) in his career, following which the likes of Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne stayed unbeaten at the crease at stumps on the first day.
After winning the toss on his return to the Test cricket, Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, decided to bat first on a cloudy afternoon at the Adelaide Oval, and his decision was instantly proven wrong as Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed on the first ball of the match by Mitchell Starc, trapping him in front of the stumps. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill got into the 30s, and stitched together a 69-run stand for the second wicket before India lost three quick wickets at the end of the first session.
Mitchell Starc, who picked up three wickets in the first session including the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, cleaned up the lower half of the Indian batting order in the session session, to help Australia bowl them out well under 200 runs in 44.1 overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy was the top scorer in Indian innings after batting well with the tail enders, scoring 42 runs in 54 balls, an innings which included three fours and three maximums.
In the final session, Indian fast bowlers were quite exceptional with the ball in the first hour, not allowing the Australian batters to get away, which led to Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Usman Khawaja for 13(35). The drop catch from Rishabh Pant off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah, when Nathan McSweeney was on just three runs, proved to be a bit costly for India as the opening batter stayed unbeaten on 38*(97) at the crease at stumps on day one alongside Marnus Labuschagne 20*(67), to help Australia reach 86/1 in 33 overs.
The Indian bowling lineup will be looking to improve their lines and lengths at the start of play on day two, not allowing the Australian batters to leave the ball with ease earlier this evening, which could prove to be a difference maker as the Test match moves along at the Adelaide Oval.
