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Australia are struggling to stay in the first Test in Nagpur despite the best efforts of rookie spinner Todd Murphy.
The 22-year-old, who has played just seven first-class matches before this Test debut, took the first four wickets to fall including the prize scalp of Virat Kohli.
Murphy was a bee’s appendage away from claiming a five-for on debut when he had a lengthy lbw review against Ravindra Jadeja denied on an umpire’s call. The ball hit the batter on the line of off and was heading for the stumps but the review saved the Indian by the tightest margin.
Murphy watched on in agony as the decision went against him.
However, the young Victorian wouldn’t need to wait long for his luck to turn; another LBW shout against Indian keeper KS Bharat proved successful, handing him a remarkable debut five-wicket haul – joining an illustrious club that includes current teammates Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon.
Murphy was playing club cricket in the Northern Territory just a year ago and has fewer than ten first-class appearances to his name. His parents, flown out for the occasion, were regular targets of the camera crew as they celebrated in the stands.
Heading towards tea, India were 5-226 with Rohit Sharma pounding a stunning unbeaten 118.
Murphy caught nightwatchman Ravichandran Ashwin LBW – with an assist from keeper Alex Carey, who recommended the review – before tempting Cheteshwar Pujara into an ill-advised sweep around the corner that landed in the hands of Scott Boland.
He had Kohli caught behind for 12 when the superstar batter nicked down the leg side and Alex Carey juggled the catch.
The overnight prognosis was poor for Australia. Their stand of 177 was being to look awfully short by the confidence of Indian opener Rohit Sharma, who dumped Nathan Lyon into the stands for six, but a pair of Murphy interventions shifted the tide.
Early on, things only seemed to be going one way. Though the pitch offered some assistance, with more than a few keeping low, there was always an out for the Indian batters. Both Sharma and Ashwin plundered sixes in successive overs early on.
The Australian attack has rarely been properly tested under Pat Cummins, but came through this one relatively well: when they couldn’t provoke wickets, they stopped the scoring options and slowed India to a crawl. Scott Boland, in particular, kept them in check: he was running at less than one run conceded per over with Carey stood up to the stumps.
Cummins rediscovered his form after a rare poor spell last night and Murphy continued to threaten. Eventually, the pressure told and the debutant struck.
The run rate had nearly stopped and suddenly Pujara came in. He had recorded his fastest-ever century in Bangladesh recently, but a reputation crafted over years of blocking precedes him every time he faces Australia.
Nevertheless, the new man managed six off four before attempting one aggressive shot too many and top-edging to short fine leg.
Heading to lunch, it would be hard to call it Australia’s session, though things were much more even than they might have been.
Renshaw taken for scans
The selection dramas that saw Matt Renshaw retained and Travis Head discarded took an extra unfortunate turn for Australia as the 26-year-old was absent from the stadium, having been sent to hospital for scans on his knee.
Renshaw, recalled as recently as the Sydney Test in January after several years in the international wilderness, was out first ball in Australia’s innings and now finds himself unable to field.
The knee injury was identified prior to the warm-up this morning. Renshaw was taken away for scans, with Head fielding in his place. The extent of the problem is yet to be announced.
Another injury is the last thing that Australia needed: they are already without Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc due to finger issues, while Josh Hazlewood is struggling with an Achilles complaint.
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