The opening day of a long-awaited Test summer was an intriguingly tight tussle as Australia edged ahead thanks to three late Indian wickets.
The scalps were a just reward for a disciplined bowling performance throughout the 89 overs.
And while a probing Aussie attack created a host of half-chances throughout the day that weren’t quite grasped, the biggest scalp of all was gifted to them — complimentary wrapping and all.
After putting on 88 for the fourth wicket with Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane’s reckless ‘yes’ call to an offside prod against Nathan Lyon in the 77th over would be the defining moment of the day – an action that left his skipper stranded.
Kohli had earlier brought up his second-slowest Test half-century (off 123 balls) but from there began to look more comfortable at the crease and on-track for a defining innings in his only match of the series.
But Rahane’s ‘yes, no, sorry’ would swing the momentum back to the home side.
The day began with a real sense of excitement after a protracted build-up to the Test summer.
A competitive ODI and T20 series had nicely whetted the appetite, but while those results will soon be forgotten, these most certainly won’t.
Mitchell Starc, yet again unfairly maligned after a lacklustre white-ball series in recent weeks, ensured the buzz was dialled up even further with a brilliant piece of bowling to remove Prithvi Shaw in just the second delivery of the summer.
Two balls later, last series’ permanent crease occupant, Cheteshwar Pujara, was edging only just short of Tim Paine behind the stumps. He survived, but the crowd were on their feet early.
There was also a palpable sense of anticipation of when debutant Cameron Green would make his first contribution to the match. Thrown the ball earlier than expected, he was all set atop his mark but Paine — in some cruel change of heart — decided against the bowling change and kept going with Pat Cummins.
But when that moment came, he didn’t disappoint. Green’s ambling approach to the crease belies the pace and bounce he then generates. He drives through the crease and stays nicely upright in what is an aesthetically pleasing bowling action.
His nine overs for 0/15 were the most economical of the five Aussie bowlers and ensured the tourists’ batsmen had no respite throughout the day.
After India scratched to 1/32 off 18, Cummins removed Mayank Agarwal with a beauty that seamed back through the gate, and the Aussies had their tails up.
But they also knew the hard work was to come. Pujara and Kohli then batted for over 30 overs, and while they ticked along at just two-an-over, the contest was captivating throughout.
Enough chances were created in the intriguing tussle, too, to suggest the pitch isn’t the batting paradise Adelaide can sometimes be.
Pujara struggled at times against Nathan Lyon while Kohli awkwardly fended off bouncers from both Cummins and Starc.
After Lyon eventually dismissed Pujara for 43, India found some fluency through Rahane and Kohli.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Taking over the captaincy after this Test and looking for healthier returns than in the 2018-19 series (217 runs in seven innings), Rahane looked assured and in control in the middle.
As the pair ticked along at three-an-over — an expansive rate compared with other periods of the day — Paine was left to rue earlier opting against using the DRS for a caught-behind decision against Kohli off Lyon in the 36th over. Replays showed the ball brushing the Indian skipper’s gloves as he looked to work off his hip but, despite having three (rather than two) reviews per innings this series, the Aussies did not use the technology.
As cricket coverage goes, the story became bigger as Kohli began to hone in on what would be a monumental century for his country. But as it was, Paine and company’s blushes were saved when a poor — and potentially pivotal — unforced error from Rahane ended Kohli’s stay.
Further, the assuredness that had defined Rahane’s innings seemingly left him after running out his captain, and he too was soon back in the sheds courtesy of Starc.
And when Josh Hazlewood trapped Hanuma Vihari in front, the Aussies ensured they had edged ahead in the contest with India closing at 6/233.
Two summers ago, India reached just 250 in the first innings of first Test in Adelaide but went on to claim victory, one that would prove pivotal in their historic 2-1 series win.
If they were to scratch their way to 300 on Friday afternoon, they’ll fancy their hopes of doing the same thing again.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Man, India was in this thing with that lead. then... 36? God, that's more embarrassing then the Black Caps.
Tanmoy K.
Guest
To stay in the Series, India need to win this Test match with Kohli playing as Captain and in the absence of David Warner and William Pukovski, otherwise they will be out of the Series right from the beginning.
Tanmoy K.
Guest
But at the beginning of the next day India collapsed and bundled out for 244 only. Though their bowlers bowled well and restricted the Aussie to only 191 to get some advantages back.
Hari
Roar Rookie
If only Aussies were nicer, they would have declared their innings after everyone batted twice! Nope.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think you make a very point about Indian batsmen in general but Pujara in particular, being a tad "gun-shy", given he hadn't picked up a bat in a 4 or 5 day game since February and the rest probably coming to terms with the conditions. That said, I'd have thought he should have been settled enough after say 50 deliveries, to start looking for singles, but it wasn't part of his mindset yesterday. Perhaps things will change in the second innings.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Not if it leads to vandalism or leaving others in the vicinity feeling intimidated. Abusing cricket equipment, even your own, is a violation of every code of conduct at any level, for example.
Paul
Roar Guru
what people do in the privacy of the change rooms is up to them.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Australia’s average scoring rate across all Tests in the 1960s was 42.6, which is slightly less than India’s supposedly glacial rate yesterday. I’ll bet Ian Chappell’s scoring rate was also under 50.
Captain Obvious
Roar Rookie
Really? I think the Australians finished clearly on top.
JGK
Roar Guru
Yeah agree. India had slightly the better day yesterday so I think would be feeling good.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Thanks Jeff, that's all very interesting.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I just had a quick look at his stats. About half his innings didn't have balls faced recorded, so not possible to know his career SR, but of his centuries that do record BF (10 of 13), his SR (rounded) were: - 49, 41, 62, 41, 34, 55, 42, 34, 35, 68. Compare that to say contemporaries with SR centuries: - Ian Chappell (11 of 14): 81, 52, 52, 60, 67, 54, 55, 44, 44, 52, 37 - Keith Stackpole (4 of 7): 58, 41, 64, 48 - Bob Simpson (5 of 9): 42, 53, 50, 59, 50 - Ian Redpath (8 of 8): 46, 51, 66, 48, 44, 59, 39, 44, And those SRs in the 30s were: - The Oval '68: scored 135 out of 324 and was batting when Australia went from 1-136 to 6-188 - Old Trafford '64: scored 106 while Simpson scored 311 at a SR of 42 - Gabba (WIN) '68: 107 out of 296 and only Ian Chappell (117 @ SR 44) scored more than 17. So a little slower, but not a huge difference really, noting opening the batting in that era was a much greater emphasis on seeing off the new ball. And as you note there were some slow innings, but in the context of the match/match situation, seem appropriate.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Sadly, I was not able to watch the whole day's play but what from I saw and read, I thought it was a great contest. Australia bowled really well but I also think Pujara, Kohli and Rahane batted very sensibly. It really was great test cricket. Kohli's run out may have turned the game and we may have been robbed of watching a great century. I thought Paine captained well and we were a little unlucky with a few catches that didn't go to fielders. Rahane's "yes, no, sorry" made up for our lack of luck though.
Steele
Roar Rookie
It’s in the balance for mine, if they get over 300 I’m leaning towards India.
Steele
Roar Rookie
Agee Mario, he prob would have been just as good. He has the same test average as the two of them and a better strike rate than Hazlewood. Also a better batting average and first class record. But hey, not a bad option to have waiting in the wings, same with Neser.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I agree. Lyon didn't think it was out and Paine's appeal was half hearted. I don't think any of the close in fielders had any confidence. I would hate to see batsmen (sorry batters) given out in those circumstances as the technology is not 100% and as they say, the DRS is there for the howlers. This was not one.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I think it's fair to say that it's been the bowlers (+ Warner and Smith, and more recently Marnus) who have kept us up towards the top of the heap the last few years. I expect at this rate we'll probably have the batting strength we crave just shortly before the bowling starts to fall apart :silly:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Ian Chappell said on air 14 summers ago to Tony Grieg “Bill Lawry was not the perennial slow scorer that everyone makes him out to be … I batted with William Morris Lawry on a number of occasions and the thing about batting with Bill was you always used to get lots of strike – he used to turn that over quite regularly”. I have also seen some good you tube of Lawry and he looks a fine batsman. I think the stereotype originated from one or two isolated innings and once stereotypes are established they are near impossible to break down, unfortunately.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Agreed Bernie. Best collective performance for yonks. There were more good spells than the Harry Potter collection.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah true. If you get him for 30 first test, he will eat himself up over it and score 100+ every other innings.