India bounced back from their embarrassing first Test exploits to bundle out Australia for just 195 and take a grip on the second Test in Melbourne after a riveting opening day yesterday.
After their horror show in Adelaide last week, where they lost by eight wickets and were skittled for 36 in their second innings, the tourists were desperate to start well.
They delivered after Australia captain Tim Paine won the toss and chose to bat in front of 27,615 fans, just short of the maximum allowed under COVID-19 restrictions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Photo: AFP
On a pitch offering turn and bounce, the hosts found it hard going against a high-quality attack led by Jasprit Bumrah (4-56), Ravichandran Ashwin (3-35) and the impressive Mohammed Siraj (2-40), making his debut for the injured Mohammed Shami.
Marnus Labuschagne top-scored with 48.
It left Indian openers Shubman Gill, also on debut, and Mayank Agarwal needing to negotiate 40 minutes at the end of the day.
Photo: AFP
Agarwal did not make it, trapped LBW for no score by a Mitchell Starc inswinger in the first over.
Gill was dropped on 5 by Labuschagne, but otherwise he looked comfortable, smacking five boundaries to reach 28 and help steer India to 36-1 at the close with the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara unbeaten on 7.
“In the first session we were just trying to bowl in the rights areas,” said Bumrah, who praised Siraj for “bowling his heart out.”
The plan for today is for the batsmen to be positive, rather than conservative, he said.
“We’re just looking to control the controllables, not being reckless, but being confident,” Bumrah said.
With Ajinkya Rahane captaining the side in place of Virat Kohli, who has returned home for the birth of his first child, India got off to a perfect start, getting Burns (0), Matthew Wade (30) and Smith (0) before lunch.
It left Australia in trouble, but Labuschagne rode his luck, surviving two review decisions, to lead a recovery, putting on 86 with Travis Head (38).
Head had a nervous start, but grew in confidence before Bumrah enticed an edge that carried to Rahane at gully, sparking a collapse.
Labuschagne looked set for a ninth half-century, but a brilliant catch by Gill ended his vigil and handed Siraj his first Test wicket.
All-rounder Cameron Green ground out 12 before he too fell to Siraj, then an excellent catch by Hanuma Vihari off Ashwin accounted for Paine (13).
Nathan Lyon hit a cameo 20, but Australia’s tail otherwise failed to wag.
“We had probably three innocuous dismissals that we probably didn’t need to, frustrating dismissals and they were guys who were set and in,” Labuschagne said. “Just need to be better there ... that whoever gets in on the day, whether myself or anyone else in the top order, we make sure we get big scores.”
“I think we’re [still] in the game,” he said.
Burns looked tentative against Bumrah and got a nick to a delivery he should have left.
At the other end, Wade had an escape on 4, but started finding the gaps before attempting a big hit off Ashwin, which brought about his downfall for 30.
Ravindra Jadeja took the catch, but only just with Gill also underneath it.
The pair collided, but Jadeja hung on to the catch.
Ashwin then claimed the crucial scalp of Smith, who was undone by an off-break with Pujara holding a catch at slip after the world’s No. 1-ranked batsman had faced just eight deliveries.
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