The test started with Australia’s poor start where Mohammed Shami took David Warner’s wicket and Mohammed Siraj got the wicket of Usman Khawaja. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are believed to bring Australia back from a poor start. In the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy that is taking place at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, Australian captain Pat Cummins decided to bat first against India. Whereas Suryakumar Yadav and KS Bharat were the test debutants for India, right-arm off-spinner Todd Murphy has made his debut in the Australian test.
Indian 11 players: Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Australian 11 players: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Scott Boland
On February 9 India and Australia started their four day test match in Nagpur. It is the debut match for our players KS Bharat and Suryakumar Yadav. While Suryakumar yadav was an important member in the India’s white-ball squad, it will be the first match for Bharat for India.
Rohit Sharma tosses the coin and loses against Australia who chose to bat first.
India will have an advantage on the Nagpur pitch as they are preparing in advance but we need to wait and watch it.
9:28 am : Both the team players were on the ground for their respective National Anthems which started with our guest Australia followed by the Indian National Anthem.
9:37 am: A decent first over of Mohammed Shami where he gave only two runs to the Australian team.
Aus 2/0 (1)
9:41 am: Mohammed Siraj was able to take the wicket of Usman Khwaja. It was a lovely delivery by him and super attentive review for LBW by Indian players. Usman departed for 1 off 3 balls.
Aus 2/1 (1.1)
9:50 am: Another one was sent back to the pavilion by a terrific bowl by Mohammed Shami who took the wicket of David Warner. Both the Australian openers were sent to the dugout in just 13 balls of the game with a terrific start by India.
Aus 2/2 (2.1)
9:55 am: Mohammed Shami’s outside off stump made Steve Smith hit a four. It was a classy shot by Smith.
Aus 20/2 (4.3)
10:04 am: Ravindra Jadega introduced Spin in his first over of bowling which was faced by Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith was at the other end of the wicket.
Aus 25/2 (6)
10:10 am: Axar Patel was the next bowler after Ravindra Jadega. In a total of 12 spins Australia was able to score only one run from a leg bye. Both Smith and Labuschagne were not in a hurry to score more at this point.
10:32 am: The duo Smith and Labuschagne were able to score 27 runs off 65 balls. Australia were in trouble after two early wickets at the start of the day but with the help of these two it was supposed to be a mini comeback.
Aus 29/2 (13)
10:40 am: It was a comfortable Four by Marnus Labuschagne in the Mohammed Shami’s over. At this point he was on 19 off 55 balls. They were playing slowly and steadily.
Aus 33/2 (14.5)
10:42 am: Virat Kohli dropped the catch of what would be the third wicket of Australia which was of Steve Smith. It was at first slip on the bowling of Axar Patel. Smith got a thick edge which landed the ball on Kohli’s right hand which slipped in no time and Smith survived in the game.
10:48 am: Though it was a good ball by Ravindra Jadega, Smith flicked it over mid-wicket for a four.
Aus 40/2 (17)
10:49 am: On the bowling of Axar Patel, Marnus Labuschagne uses the depth of the crease to score another Four. It was a cut shot from the backfoot that went for a boundary.
Aus 44/2 (17.4)
10:54 am: Again a beautiful Four by Marnus Labuschagne on the delivery of Axar Patel. The short mid-wicket fielder tried but could not stop the ball comfortably for the boundary.
Aus 48/2 (19.4)
11:05 am: With a four from Steve Smith it was a 50 run partnership between him and Marnus Labuschagne. This pair revived the innings after Australia lost its major two wickets.
Aus 54/2 (22.4)
11:20 am: Marnus Labuschagne drives the full delivery ball from Ravindra Jadega to a Four. He was able to find the gap between the mid-on and mid-wicket fielders and used it to get the run.
Aus 65/2 (28.1)
11:25 am: A paddle shot by Marnus Labuschagne led the ball to hit a four past the short backward square leg fielder. In the very next ball he scored a single making him at 47.
Aus 75/2 (30)
11:39 am: It was lunch on the first day of the India Vs Australia test series. India though started tough on Australia wherein Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami was able to take two wickets of the opponents but Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith added unbeaten 74 runs led the comeback of the Australian team.