Australia vs India | Australia dismissed for 195, India reach 36/1 at stumps

While Australia are unchanged, India made four changes to its playing eleven

December 26, 2020 05:03 am | Updated 01:19 pm IST - Melbourne

Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first in the Boxing Day Test at MCG.

Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first in the Boxing Day Test at MCG.

India were 36 for one in their first innings in reply to Australia's 195 all out at stumps on the opening day of the second Test at the MCG here on Saturday.

Debutant Shubman Gill was batting on 28 in the company off Cheteshwar Pujara (7).

Mayank Agarwal was the lone Indian to wicket to fall for a duck.

India still trail Australia by 159 runs.

Earlier, an inspired Indian bowling unit, led by the menacing Jasprit Bumrah (4/56)and the crafty Ravichandran Ashwin (3/35), steam-rolled Australia for a meagre 195.

The other debutant for India, Mohammed Siraj (2/40 in 15 overs) also repaid the faith shown in him. While Marnus Labuschagne (48) top-scored for Australia, Travis Head and Matthew Wade made 48 and 30 runs respectively.

Brief Scores: Australia 1st Innings 195 all out in 72.3 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 48, Travis Head 38, Jasprit Bumrah 4/56, R Ashwin 3/25, Mohd Siraj 2/40).

India 1st Innings 36 for one in 11 overs (Shubman Gill 28 battiing, Cheteshwar Pujara 7 batting; Mitchell Starc 1/14).

Rahane's strategy pays off

Rahane''s first punt was introducing Ashwin inside the first hour of play after Bumrah had forced Joe Burns (0) to nick one to Rishabh Pant.

Ashwin, who varied the pace of his deliveries cleverly got some turn and bounce straightaway as he drew Matthew Wade into coming down the track and skying one for India''s best fielder Ravindra Jadeja to take a well-judged catch running backwards.

After one that jumped and turned beating Smith and Pant, Ashwin kept the next a tad straighter and the former Australian skipper''s glance was pouched by Cheteshwar Pujara at leg gully.

All this while, Bumrah was beating the bat at the other hand.

Interestingly, Rahane didn''t give the debutant a single over before lunch break as he knew that Siraj''s strength is generating pace and movement with semi-new and old ball.

Siraj, initially bowled a bit short at Labuschagne and Travis Head (38 off 92 balls) as they added 86 runs for the fourth wicket.

It was Bumrah, who provided the post lunch breakthrough with a delivery that held its line and the left-hander''s thick edge was taken by Rahane at gully.

Siraj''s maiden wicket was a lucky one as the ball was drifting down the leg-side which Labuschagne tried to whip but Shubman Gill, stationed at backward square leg, snapped it inches off the ground.

However, the Hyderabad pacer''s second wicket was a much fuller ball with a hint of inward movement that caught Green plumb in-front.

Skipper Tim Paine (13) couldn''t script a rescue act like Adelaide as a classical off-break saw him guide one straight into the hands of Hanuma Vihari at backward square leg.

Bumrah didn''t take much time after that as he and Ravindra Jadeja (1/15) polished off the tail in a jiffy. and getting those breakthroughs just when it mattered on a pitch that had retained moisture. As it turned out, Rahane didn''t lose a bad toss.

The Indian team looked way more galvanised despite being without regular skipper Vurat Kohli, who is on paternity leave. Some great catches were taken and the intent was way more visible.

Scoreboard:

India 1st Innings:

Shubman Gill 28 battiing, Cheteshwar Pujara 7 batting

Total = 36 for one in 11 overs .

Australia bowling

Mitchell Starc 1/14

Australia Innings:

Joe Burns c Pant b Bumrah 0 Matthew Wade c Jadeja b Ashwin 30 Marnus Labuschagne c Shubman Gill b Mohammed Siraj 48 Steven Smith c Pujara b Ashwin 0 Travis Head c Rahane b Bumrah 38 Cameron Green lbw b Mohammed Siraj 12 Tim Paine c Vihari b Ashwin 13 Pat Cummins c Mohammed Siraj b Jadeja 9 Mitchell Starc c Mohammed Siraj b Bumrah 7 Nathan Lyon lbw b Bumrah 20 Josh Hazlewood not out 4.

Extras: (B-10, NB-3, W-1) 14 Total: (All out in 72.3 overs) 195

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-35, 3-38, 4-124, 5-134, 6-155, 7-155, 8-164, 9-191, 10-195.

India bowling:

Jasprit Bumrah 16-4-56-4, Umesh Yadav 12-2-39-0, Ravichandran Ashwin 24-7-35-3, Ravindra Jadeja 5.3-1-15-1, Mohammed Siraj 15-4-40-2

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