Melbourne: Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Ashwin starred with the ball while Shubman Gill scored an impressive unbeaten 28 as India, after bowling out Australia for 195, ended Day 1 of the second Test at 36/1 in Melbourne on Saturday (December 26).
Having to negotiate 11 overs before stumps, India lost Mayank Agarwal in the first over. But Gill, after getting a reprieve, played some attractive shots to score 28 as he and Cheteshwar Pujara held fort to take India past 30 before stumps.
Earlier, after unchanged Australia elected to bat, Jasprit Bumrah struck in his third over of the morning as Joe Burns edged one to the wicketkeeper, Rishabh Pant.
India introduced R Ashwin into the attack in the 11th over and he got his first wicket in his second over, dismissing Matthew Wade for 30 after Ravindra Jadeja, despite a collision with debutant Shubman Gill, completed a fine catch.
That concludes a brilliant, absorbing Day 1 of Test cricket from the MCG.#TeamIndia 36/1, trail Australia (195) by 159 runs.
Scorecard – https://t.co/lyjpjyeMX5 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/9WX21dr2lF
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 26, 2020
The off-spinner then gave India a massive breakthrough as he got Steve Smith out for the second time in the series. The Australian right-hander was caught at leg slip for a duck – his first against Indian in Test cricket.
While India continued to keep things tight, Marnus Labuschagne, who survived a couple of close calls, and Travis Head took Australia to 65/3 at lunch on Day 1.
The two continued their good work and showed solid resolve. However, Bumrah broke the 86-run stand between Labuschagne and Head after skipper Ajinkya Rahane took a sharp catch to give India their fourth wicket.
Mohammed Siraj, making his debut, then scalped his first Test wicket as Gill grabbed a good low catch before Australia moved to 136/5 at tea.
Tim Paine survived a close run-out shout in the final session. But, India continued to dominate the proceedings, dismissing Cameron Green and Paine.
While Siraj got Green out LBW, R Ashwin had Paine caught at backward short-leg to reduce Australia to 155/7. Mitchell Starc was done in by a sharp Bumrah bouncer as Australia lost their eighth wicket. Although Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins played a few shots, Bumrah and Jadeja got Lyon and Cummins out respectively as India bowled out Australia for 195.
Brief Scores: Australia 195 all out (Marnus Labuschagne 48, Travis Head 38; Jasprit Bumrah 4/56, R Ashwin 3/35) lead India 36/1 (Shubman Gill 28*, Cheteshwar Pujara 7*; Mitchell Starc 1/14) by 159 runs.
