New Delhi: India bounced back on the second day of the Border Gavaskar Trophy opener against Australia in Perth. A day after both teams shared equal halves of the much-anticipated Test series of the year, India were on top of their games after the bowlers, led by stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, gave a healthy lead of 46 runs in the morning.
Australia were bowled out for 104, which was their third lowest total in an innings in Tests at home since 2000, as Bumrah claimed his third five-wicket haul down under. The Indian openers shrewdly played the Australian quicks to wear them out for two sessions of the day. Below are the talking points which summarise the Indian team and Australia’s laxity in the day.
Bumrah gets rid of Alex Carey to push Australia on backfoot
If Bumrah ran through the heart of the Australian batting order on Friday, he dented their chances of building a potential partnership with the dismissal of wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey on the first ball of his spell of the day itself. Carey was the last recognised batter for the home side and with Mitchell Starc around him, the South Australian player has the calibre to score runs thriving under pressure, let’s not forget his contribution in the World Test Championship final. Bumrah became the first visiting captain after Anil Kumble in 2007 to claim a five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Starc, Hazlewood avoid embarrassment for Aussies
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood resisted, denying the Indians the final wicket almost for more than an hour, apart from adding 25 run-partnership. The duo showed solid defence against the pacers with Starc maintaining to retain the strike at the most instances. Hazlewood wasn’t in mood to throw away his wicket as the home side crossed 100. Although the duo couldn’t get a lead, holding India helped to cut the deficit to 46 runs at the end of the first innings.
Jaiswal, Rahul up the ante for India
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul forgot their own struggles from the first innings. The young southpaw was dismissed for a nought by Mitchell Starc and Rahul’s wicket turned into a contentious decision, putting the spotlight on the technological use in the DRS. Nonetheless, the Indian openers remained unfazed from their shortcomings from the previous day and unleashed their different versions.
Yashasvi was proactive with the runs while Rahul carried his resolute run with the bat. Both mustered their first fifties of the tour with Yashasvi inching closer to score his first Test century in the toughest conditions of cricket. The pair was unbeaten on 172 to extend India’s lead to 218 at the end of Day 2.
Australia were bowled out for 104, which was their third lowest total in an innings in Tests at home since 2000, as Jasprit Bumrah claimed his third five-wicket haul down under. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
