India Vs Australia- First Day’s Review!
After a dominating series against England, the battle gets bigger as the top 2 Test team in the world have locked horns for a mouth-watering series. It’s the Border-Gavaskar trophy. The stage is set for the 1st Test of the series at MCA stadium in Pune which became 25th Test Venue for host.
Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch which looks to turn from Day 1. The two left hand openning pair in Warner and Renshaw walked in to put a solid foundation. Looking at Renshaw,one could get glimpse of great Matthew Hayden..Same height built and style. India went with 3 spinners and 2 seamers in playing XI. For close to an hour both Warner and Renshaw batted with patience and steered score board past 50. Spin got introduced early and Jayant Yadav was almost lucky to clean bowled Warner with a beauty on leg stump, but to his surprise, the umpire announced it a ‘NO Ball’ and replay confirmed how big a crime waas by a spinner to over step with such huge margin.
Umesh Yadav was introduced into attached and he couldn’t ask for a better start by getting Warner’s wicket on second delivery of his spell with an inside edge onto the stumps. Soon after Warner’s departure Renshaw suffered Dyspepsia and went off field as retired hurt. Sigh!
At Lunch the visitors were 84/1. Post Lunch Umesh Yadav started getting reverse swing which goes to show how this pitch will behave in this test. The two Yadav’s — Jayant and Umesh were in bowling in tandem and attacking from both ends . Soon Jayant got Shaun Marsh caught by Kohli on leg slip. Ishant Sharma had few good deliveries but went wicket-less in his two spells.
Just before Tea break, Sir Jadeja trapped Handscomb and in next over Ashwin got big wicket of Smith ,caught at midwicket by his captain.
At Tea break the Aussies were 153/4 with exciting last session on cards as Renshaw back on field with Mitchell Marsh.
The refreshing Tea break seemed to work for host as they claimed 5 wicket with Aussies from 153/4 went on to 205/9. Umesh with 4, Ashwin and Jadeja with 2 and Jayant Yadav with 1 wicket. It was expected that the Aussies woud be bowled out soon and spectators might see few overs of Indian openers bat, but as they say Cricket is unpredictable game which seems true as last pair Starc & Hazlewood added 51 runs with a quick fire 57 of 58 balls from Starc.
At stumps Day1.Aus 256/9 with an exciting second day of play expected. Stay tuned for the rest of the intersting test match.
ShamsnWags
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