The much-anticipated first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23 got underway at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday (9 Feb). Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and did a no-brainer by opting to bat first. However, the Indian pacers made Cummins doubt his decision as they sent back the Australian opening pair of Usman Khawaja and David Warner in the first three overs itself.
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While Mohammed Siraj trapped Khawaja LBW on the very first ball he bowled in the match, Mohammed Shami clean-bowled Warner with an absolute jaffa. However, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith implied the rescue act and built a partnership. The two batters added 82 runs for the third wicket before Ravindra Jadeja got into action.
The India all-rounder who is making a comeback to cricketing action after five months put his hands up straight away in the second session as he dismissed both Labuschagne and Smith. Jadeja made good use of the turn on the offer as he first bamboozled Labuschagne and got him stumped out. The left-arm spinner then outfoxed Australia’s best batter with a peach of a delivery.
Jadeja left Smith in tatters as he cleaned him up through the gate. After bowling a couple of regulation deliveries, Jadeja slid one and Smith just fell for it. The Aussie batter played for turn while the ball sneaked between his bat and pad to rattle the stumps. Smith looked baffled as he could not comprehend how he missed that variation.
While Australia had made a good recovery and added some quick runs, India made a befitting comeback through Jadeja who just looked unplayable at times. The leftie looked in such a good rhythm that it never felt like he is making a comeback. The fans too lauded this exemplary bowling effort from Jadeja.
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