AUS vs IND, 2nd Test: Starc stars with six-fer as Australia fights back against India

Australia saw the light on a Friday night. At a packed Adelaide Oval and on a rather unusual day in which the expected rains stayed away while the floodlights malfunctioned twice, the host scored 86 for one in reply to India’s first innings score of 180.

The second Test’s opening day was a tale of two parts. The first revealed a vulnerable Indian stint and the second highlighted Australia’s desire to fight back in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, in which the host trails by 0-1.

Australian openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney survived the first 10 overs before Jasprit Bumrah caused the initial breach. Khawaja redirected a Bumrah special to Rohit Sharma at first slip. A twitchy Marnus Labuschagne then survived an inquisition from Bumrah before finding his voice.

McSweeney too freed his earlier dour arms and that found an echo through Labuschagne’s bat as the 62-run unbeaten second-wicket partnership took shape. Pat Cummins and his men would perhaps believe that they are marginally ahead even if they still have a 94-run deficit to clear.

In the afternoon, Rohit won the toss, elected to bat and India had the services of R. Ashwin, who was preferred over Washington Sundar. The atmosphere around the ground was like a carnival, fans trooped in from all corners with a mix of the local yellow and the Indian blue shade. There was a Village Green enclosure where members of the South Australia Cricket Association gathered for banter and refreshments.

DAY 1 Highlights

The venue got an instant adrenaline boost when Mitchell Starc dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with the match’s first ball. Trapped right in front, Jaiswal left. A patient K.L. Rahul and a keen Shubman Gill then anchored India. Gill, with two fielders under his gaze and a waiting slip cordon, drove carefully. Rahul defended astutely even if there were a few play-and-miss routines.

Gill tucked into Starc and Rahul opened his account off the 21st ball he faced. There was drama too as he edged Scott Boland and it turned out to be a no-ball, and then Khawaja dropped him in the slips. Gradually Rahul began to cut and drive but once he fell to Starc, with the catch flying to McSweeney, India went through a delicate phase.

Nitish Kumar Reddy of India bats during day one of the Test match series between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval.
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From 69 for two, it became 81 for four as Virat Kohli and Gill, became tentative, as a bat was grazed and pads got ruffled. With Rohit walking in at six and Rishabh Pant for company, India needed an alliance extending past the break. It was not to be as Boland got one to nip back and cramped Rohit while Cummins surprised Pant with a delivery that climbed steeply.

At 109 for six, India leant on Nitish Kumar and Ashwin to hustle the runs, which they did partly well. After Starc accounted for Ashwin and Harshit Rana, Nitish (42) turned aggressor and Boland felt the heat as reverse-scoops and pulls yielded a six each. Once Nitish fell, the Indian first innings concluded and Starc had his rewards (six for 48).