STUMPS: India 233/6
The day could have possibly been a lot better for India if not for that run out. For now, there’s still little that separates the two sides but Australia will consider themselves to have an upper hand with India’s lower-order not famous to make big contributions. Join us again tomorrow to see if that can be proven wrong.
WICKET: Vihari falls to Hazlewood
The second new ball is giving Australia what they want. Vihari is caught plumb in front with one nipping in. India lose their sixth on 206 and have quickly fallen behind in the game after Kohli’s run out.
WICKET: Rahane bagged by Starc
The second new ball offers some movement in, and Rahane’s feet go nowhere in countering it. He is struck plumb in front and walks off before being forced to take a review by Vihari, but to no avail. He’s dismissed for 42 as India slip further behind.
WICKET: Kohli is run out for 74
Aijnkya Rahane sells Kohli down the river, calls for a quick single but turns him back as mid off comes across quickly. Cummins is quick to get the ball to Lyon with Kohli stranded midway while turning back. It ends a 88-run stand and an important breakthrough for Australia with the second new ball due. Won’t be an easy start for Vihari.
India march ahead
The fifty partnership between Rahane and Kohli has come at a quicker rate than the one beween Kohli and Pujara. The duo have not missed out on boundary opportunities but the threat of the pink ball under light remains. Australia continue to find some movement that’ll keep them interested.
Fifty for Kohli
It has taken him 123 balls today to get to the milestone but it’s an important one for India. They’ve not fallen away against some good bowling and that’s largely due to the discipline shown by Kohli and Pujara. They’ll need him to convert this into a bigger one now to get to a competitive first innings score.
Here comes the twilight session…
Will the bowlers continue to have the upper hand and build on it? We’ve seen in the past that this time can be troublesome for batting. India will feel the pressure now as the ball starts to do a little again.
TEA: India 107/3
WICKET: Lyon send Pujara back
Pujara nearly walked off after getting a big inside edge onto his thigh and then to leg slip. The umpire was shaking his head but Australia review and get it in their favour. It’s a typical overspinner from Lyon with the extra bounce does Pujara in. He departs after a 160-ball 43. It also ends a 68-run stand with Kohli.
A patient fifty partnership
It took them 165 balls but the duo have been doing a solid job in giving India a good base to work with. The bowling has been on point but so has been the batting albeit with some luck.
Something’s got to give?
Both teams have not conceded an inch with nearly half the first day done. This is engrossing cricket even without runs flowing.
Kohli hit on the thumb
He’s bleeding too after what looks like a chipped nail. The short one from Starc zipped away and struck him flush on the thumb. He’s lucky again that the ball didn’t go to hand.
How did Kohli and Pujara practice for Nathan Lyon?
With help from Washington Sundar. Read Bharat Sundaresan’s insights from the nets here to know more.
Close shave for Kohli
The second over after the Dinner break sees Cummins nearly bagging Kohli. The short nip-backer takes a bit of glove and thigh before ballooning in front of Wade at short leg. He lunges out but takes it on the bounce.
DINNER: India 41/2
Both sides have had their moments in a tightly contested first session. Australia though will have a slight upper hand having got rid of both the openers, and a tricky twilight period to come later in the day. Batting does not promise to become any easier for India but to their credit, have largely stuck to their guns and have not made too many unforced errors even against some very good bowling. Join us soon for the next session which promises to be as good or even better.
Kohli vs Hazlewood
WICKET: Cummins gets Mayank
The scrambled seam from Cummins ends up nipping in sharply to beat Mayank’s prod. The stumps are rattled again and that brings an end to India’s obstinate vigil. Mayank falls for a 40-ball 17. But the score hasn’t moved too far, India are 32 for 2.
Pujara, Mayank grind it out
Australia have packed the legside for Pujara, threatening him with the short ball as well as getting him to flick in the air. A couple of chances don’t go to hand but Australia have been very disciplined with their attack in the first ten overs. The duo too, equally, have been patient enough to wait for the really full ball and have not made too many mistakes outside the off stump so far. But Australia’s quality of attack comes to the fore now because it’s the No. 1 Test bowler Pat Cummins who can come in now and try cash in or build on the pressure.
The new ball’s talking
Starc and Hazlewood have got the new pink ball swerving and bouncing. Both batsmen have been tentative and a little fortunate as edges fell away from the fielders. Can Australia bag more soon?
WICKET: Starc nabs Shaw second ball
Just a hint of movement in for Mitchell Starc and that’s enough for Prithvi Shaw to get an inside edge onto his stumps. First duck in Test cricket for Shaw and a great start for Australia.
Toss: India opt to bat
Teams:
Australia (Playing XI): Joe Burns, Matthew Wade, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim Paine(w/c), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
India (Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
Hello, welcome and thanks for joining us here. You must be as excited as us as another India tour of Australia kickstarts. This series, like the ones before, promises to be a lot of fun. We have had a lot of good stuff for you to read and keep yourself updated about before the start. How the teams have trained, what are their issues, who is Marnus and a lot more. You could catch it in the thread we have below.