Amazing bowling from Bumrah-Ashwin-Siraj keep India on front foot on Very first day

Report card: AUS VS INDIA 2nd TEST 1st DAY, MELBOURNE

 

   No doubt that the bowling circuit of team India is pretty much good than previous Aussie tours. Indeed India’s batting was disappointing on first test but the bowling was able to take an 50+ lead in first innings. In Aussie soil this is not a matter of joke at all. Such tremendous bowling quality is also carried forward in the historic Boxing day test at MCG. MCG is very much famous for high scoring matches. In 2014/15 tour Australia and India scored 530 and 465 respectively. This high scoring battle was totally absent today. All credit will go to skipper Rahane and his bowling brigade.

     Team India today played with lots of change. In the absence of Kohli, Rahane can definitely demand his permanent position as test captain. Ravindra Jadeja and Rishav Pant have entered in the team along with debut of two young stars like Shubman Gill and MD. Siraj. Though Jadeja (1/15) took only one wicket but his economic spell is enough to prove why he is important in this team.

    In the beginning Two openers Matthew Wade (30) and Joe Burns (0) dismissed quickly due to wonderful bowling of Bumrah (4/56) and Ashwin(3/35). But the main success is definitely the wicket of skipper Steve Smith (0) by Ashwin. Smith’s form in ODI series is totally absent in Test. MCG is a dream venue for Smith and we never forgot 192 runs knock against India in 2014/15 session. Ashwin and Bumrah put India in safe zone for morning session.

   After the disaster in top order, Australia had been try to recover slowly from 38/3. Travis Head (38) and Marnus Labuschane (48) slowly but surely make a good partnership. Bumrah dismissed head when they were in 124. A good partnership was possible between set batsman Marnus and Chris Green but debutant Siraj ( 2/40) dismissed both of them in appropriate moment . Throughout the day he bowling a really well with good economy rate. It will really wrong to evaluate his pace talent by seeing his recent IPL performance. His father should be very happy by seeing his son’s performance from the heaven. Australia did not progress so long after 155/6 and totally destroyed within 195. Nathan Lyon’s quick 17 balls 20 gave Aussies some hope at lower order but it was totally inadequate before the Pace-spin combo of Bumrah-Ashwin.

    In reply of 195 Mayank Agarwal was bowled at very first over without opening his account. Till the of the first day India is now on 36/1. Anything can happen from now. But the sincere batting of Upper and middle order will definitely possible for making 300/350+ score. Debutant Gill is now on 28*. He is really a promising cricketer and we can assume that his quick run making skill will be definitely carried forward on Day 2.

 

   After all this is a new team India and a strong team India let’s see what happen next.

 

 

 

Match Summary

Australia 195(72.2 overs).                             India 36/1 (11)

             

Marnus Labuschagne 48(132).                      Shubman Gill 28(38)*

Travis Head 38 (92).                                         Cheteshwar Pujara   7(23)*

 

Jasprit Bumrah 4/56 (  16).                              Mitchell Starc 1/14 (4)

Ravichandran Ashwin 3/35 (24)

 

    Aditya Shankar Chattopadhyay on behalf of Kheloverse