Perth, Nov 22 (IANS) Fast-bowler Josh Hazlewood took 4-29 off 13 overs, while the rest of the fast-bowlers took two wickets each as Australia bundled out India for just 150 at tea on day one of the first Test at Perth Stadium on Friday.
Electing to bat first, Australia were relentless with their lines and lengths to put good pressure on India, and were helped by good movement and bounce on the pitch. India had little to show about their batting performance, as nine batters were caught behind the wicket.
Only KL Rahul (26), Rishabh Pant (37) and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) were able to make sizeable contributions for India after electing to bat first. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal got a big fat edge on an uppish drive off Starc and gave a regulation catch to debutant Nathan McSweeney at gully to fall for an eight-ball duck.
Rahul was tested hugely by fast bowlers, especially with Mitchell Starc asking relentless questions on his outside edge and Pat Cummins joining in the exam later on, but he continued to be watchful of anything outside off-stump.
From the other end, Devdutt Padikkal struggled to break free, as Starc kept testing his outside edge, followed by Hazlewood rapping him on the pad, thigh and targeting the armpit with a short ball. Padikkal’s uncomfortable stay ended in a 23-ball duck when he defended off a length ball from Hazlewood, which just nipped away to take the outside edge to the keeper.
India got its first boundary when Rahul tried to get away from a shorter ball by Cummins and took the edge to fly over the slip cordon for four. An unconvincing Virat Kohli, standing outside the crease and being overly eager to play on the front foot, was beaten on both edges by Hazlewood.
The pacer eventually had the last laugh as he got extra bounce on an outside off-stump delivery and found Kohli’s outside edge, which was caught by first slip. Rahul grew in confidence to hit two off-side boundaries, but was given out on 26 when caught behind while trying to defend off a length ball from Starc.
Australia got the decision on Rahul in their favour, but replays showed two noises and more crucially, the third umpire Richard Kettleborough wasn’t provided with a front-on angle from the offside, bringing in the question if there was enough conclusive evidence to give the batter out. Rahul’s fall ensured that Australia won the first session easily, thanks to the relentlessness of Starc and Hazlewood.
Australia began the post-lunch session with further success as Mitchell Marsh drew Dhruv Jurel forward and forced him to push with hard hands, as the outside edge was caught safely by third slip. He followed it up by having Washington Sundar poke away from the body and was caught behind, leaving India at 73/6.
In between this, Pant threw the kitchen sink at Cummins and got a flying four over the slip cordon, followed by hammering Marsh through mid-off for another boundary. From the other end, Nitish shined by playing an inside-out drive off Nathan Lyon on four, and followed it up by cover-driving him.
Nitish stunned everyone by playing two magnificent reverse sweep off Lyon going behind backward point for boundaries. On the other hand, Pant was given life at 25 when Cummins dropped a chance off his miscued shot and left everyone jaw-dropped with the falling sweep going over fine leg for six.
India’s counter-punch continued when Nitish brought out a crisp straight drive back past Hazlewood for four, but the partnership for the seventh wicket ended at 48 runs when Pant looked to flick off Cummins and the fuller scrambled delivery took a thick leading edge to second slip.
Despite losing Harshit Rana, as the third slip took a catch off a diving gully’s deflection off Hazlewood, and Jasprit Bumrah, who nicked behind off the pacer, Nitish continued to impress by upper-cutting and driving Cummins for six and four respectively before a top-edge on his pull was caught by mid-wicket.
Brief scores: India 150 in 49.4 overs (Nitish Kumar Reddy 41, Rishabh Pant 37; Josh Hazlewood 4-29, Mitchell Marsh 2-12) against Australia.
–IANS
nr/ab
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by TodayIndia.news and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of TodayIndia.news We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, TodayIndia.news takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
