Perth: A more sensational script couldn’t have been written for the opening day of the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
As many as 17 wickets – all claimed by pacers — fell for 217 runs on Friday as stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah led a spectacular Indian comeback with yet another magical performance with the red cherry.
Bowled out for just 150 after Bumrah’s bold decision to bat first on a bouncy pitch, India left Australia gasping for survival at 67/7.
Getting the ball to move both ways at good pace, the deadly accurate Bumrah trapped debutant opener Nathan McSweeney leg-before wicket in his second over. In his fourth over, Bumrah had the other opener Usman Khawaja edging to Virat Kohli at slip and catching the prolific Steve Smith leg-before for a golden duck.
Debutant pacer Harshit Rana got into the act by hitting the dangerous Travis Head’s off stump with a beautiful ball that nipped away to beat the left-hander’s defensive bat.
Mohammed Siraj then accounted for Mitchell Marsh – brilliantly caught by KL Rahul at second slip – and the stubborn Marnus Labuschagne (2 runs off 52 balls), before Bumrah dismissed opposite number Pat Cummins.
No Aussie batter has crossed 20 so far, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey unbeaten on 19.
The Indian batters earlier struggled against Josh Hazlewood (4/29) and Mitchell Starc (2/14), losing 4 wickets before lunch. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Paddikal – filling in at No. 3 for injured Shubman Gill – both failed to open their account, while Virat Kohli (5) extended his run of low scores as he was done in by a Hazlewood delivery that bounced and took him by surprise.
Rahul, asked to open the innings in Rohit Sharma’s absence, resisted the fire of Aussie bowlers with some sturdy defence only to be adjudged caught-behind off Starc by the third umpire. Rahul left the field shaking his head in disbelief, suggesting that the spike shown in the replay came from the impact of bat hitting his pad.
Dhruv Jurel and Washington Sundar didn’t make much headway, as India tottered at 73/6.
It was a counter-attacking partnership of 48 runs between Rishabh Pant and India’s other debutant Nitish Reddy that helped India post 150. Pant’s knock of 37 included a jaw-dropping falling scoop for 6 over fine-leg off Cummins.
Reddy didn’t show any nerves and displayed remarkable composure and skill to top-score with 41 before being last man out.
Brief Scores
India 1st innings: 150 in 49.4 overs (Nitish Reddy 41, Rishabh Pant 37; Josh Hazlewood 4/29, Mitchell Marsh 2/12, Mitchell Starc 2/14).
Australia 1st innings: 67/7 in 27 overs (Jasprit Bumrah 4/17, Md Siraj 2/17).
First Test to continue on Day 2 at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
