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After their horror show in Adelaide last week, where they lost by eight wickets and were hit for 36 in their second inning, tourists were desperate to get off to a good start.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah (2nd L) appeals a decision against Australian batsman Cameron Green (2nd R) on the first day of the second cricket test match between Australia and India at MCG in Melbourne on December 26, 2020. Image: AFP.
MELBOURNE – A resilient India rallied from its embarrassing first test exploits to take Australia out by just 195 and control the second test in Melbourne after a riveting opening day on Saturday.
After their horror show in Adelaide last week, where they lost by eight wickets and were hit for 36 in their second inning, tourists were desperate to get off to a good start.
And they delivered after Australian captain Tim Paine won the draw and chose to hit in front of 27,615 socially estranged fans, just below the maximum allowed under coronavirus restrictions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
On a pitch that offered twists and rebounds, the hosts struggled to face a high-quality attack led by Jasprit Bumrah (4-56), Ravi Ashwin (3-35) and the impressive Mohammed Siraj (2-40), making debut of the injured Mohammed Shami.
Marnus Labuschagne scored the maximum with 48, but that was the best he could.
He left Indian starters Shubman Gill, also on debut, and Mayank Agarwal needing to trade 40 minutes at the end of the day.
Agarwal was not up to the task, caught lbw by a Mitchell Starc inswinger in the first over.
Gill was brought down in five by Labuschagne, but otherwise looked comfortable, hitting five limits to reach 28 and help lead India to 36-for-one at the close with the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara unbeaten in seven.
“In the first session we were just trying to bowl in the rights areas,” said Bumrah, who praised Siraj for “playing from the heart.”
He added that Sunday’s plan was for hitters to be positive, rather than conservative.
“We only seek to control the controllable ones, not being reckless but trusting.”
With Ajinkya Rahane captaining the team in place of Virat Kohli, who returned home for the birth of her 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 used his luck, surviving two review decisions, to lead a recovery, putting 86 with Travis Head (38).
Head got off to a nervous start but grew in confidence before Bumrah pulled in a lead that drove Rahane into the ravine, causing a collapse.
Labuschagne looked ready for a ninth half century, but a brilliant capture of Gill ended his vigil and handed Siraj his first test window.
All-rounder Cameron Green grounded 12 before he, too, fell to Siraj, then an excellent catch by Hanuma Vihari off Ashwin represented Paine (13).
Nathan Lyon made a 20th cameo, but Australia’s tail didn’t budge.
STILL IN THE GAME
“We probably had three innocuous layoffs that we probably didn’t need, frustrating layoffs and they were guys who were ready,” Labuschagne said.
“I just need to be better there … that whoever walks into the day, be it myself or anyone else in the higher order, let’s make sure we get great scores.”
But he added: “I think we are (still) in the game.”
With David Warner still injured, the hosts entered the game unchanged, with Burns starting alongside Wade.
Burns hit an unbeaten 51 in Adelaide to ease the pressure a bit after a long lean period, but his performance on Saturday will once again raise questions about his place on the team.
He looked tentative against Bumrah and got a nickname for a delivery that he should have left.
At the other end, Wade got away in four, but began to find the gaps before attempting a big hit with Ashwin, proving his downfall in the 30s.
Ravindra Jadeja took the catch, but only with Gill also underneath. The couple collided but Jadeja managed to hold on.
Ashwin then claimed the crucial scalp from Smith, who was undone by an off-break with Pujara holding a catch on the slip after the world’s best hitter faced just eight balls.
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